the murder - recce

This is a recce of the murder which will take place in the woods in Bransdale, Yorkshire. This recce was taken in my garden and was for the sole use of showing the two different ways that I am most likely to light this shot.

The mirror was used as a substitute for the mirrored sunglasses which I didn't have access to at the time, however it provides the same effect that the mirrored sunglasses will.

The actors used in this recce are not the same as the ones who will be playing the parts in the actual opening.

My recce showed me a lot about how I should light my murder scene. Overall the lighting in the recce was very dark as I only used one mains light and in shot with the mirror this light was partially blocked to make the face more visable. In this mirror shot however I added one more very low light that I held under the girl's face which lit up her face and gave it a yellow light making her face more visible and spooky in the mirror.

In the first long shot showing the strangling itself I also only used one mains light, this amount of light was sufficient for this location which was my garden. However, I think when I am filming on my actual location the space will be much bigger and therefore I will need more lights to create the same effect.

storyboard

Animatic of my storyboard: (without sound)

introduction to film - part 2

IN THE UK FILM MARKET, AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF SCREENS AVAILABLE TO SHOW FILMS HAS NOT LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FILMS BEING SHOWN. WHY?

Though there has been a recent increase in the number of cinema screens in the UK, there has not been an increase in the number of films being shown because films still take the same amount of time and cost in production. It is also very competitive for films to get screen space in cinemas unless they are major Hollywood movies, such as the likes of Skyfall, Avatar or Harry Potter. In a cinema where there are 10 screens, at least half of these will be showing one major blockbuster film, making it very hard for smaller British films to even get shown.

WHAT MIGHT ACCOUNT FOR THE FACT THAT CINEMA ATTENDANCES HAVE FLUCTUATED BEWEEN 139 AND 176 MILLION BETWEEN 1999 AND 2008?

Admissions for films have fluctuated between years since 1999. Looking at what films were released in years such as 2002 which had extremely high admissions.

IN 2001, UK FILM DISTRIBUTORS INVESTED £330 MILLION IN ADVERTISING THEIR NEW RELEASES AND ON 35MM FILM PRINTS. IF AROUND 450 NEW FILMS RECEIVE A THEATRICAL RELEASE IN THE UK EVERY YEAR. HOW MUCH ON AVERAGE DO DISTRIBUTORS SPEND ON DISTRIBUTING A FILM IN THE UK?

£733,333.33

WHAT IS THE DOWNSIDE OF ALL THE EXCITEMENT GENERATED AND CONSUMER DEMAND FOR FILM PRODUCERS IN THE UK?

It means that small independent UK companies will find it very hard to produce a film because of cost issues, and then even if they do get their film into cinemas it is most likely competing for attention with at least one major Hollywood film, i.e a film you can classify as an 'event'.

IN 2004 THE OVERALL AVERAGE COST OF PRODUCTION/DISTRIBUTION PER FILM OF RELEASING A US FILM DOMESTICALLY WAS $102.8M. WHAT EFFECT MIGHT THIS HAVE ON HOLLYWOOD PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION IF THESE INCREASES HAVE CONTINUED? 

The cost of making any film now, even a very low budget film, is that production and distribution will cost at least £1 million. Therefore independent UK producers trying to make low budget films will find it very difficult to launch a film, and even if they can then their distribution outlets will by limited due to cost.

WHY ARE MORE 'MIDDLE AGED' PEOPLE GOING TO THE CINEMA IN 2011? WHO IN YOUR OPINION ARE THE CURRENT MOST BANKABLE LEADING ACTORS FOR THE 'YOUTH' MARKET IN THE UK?

In recent years the number of 14-24 year olds going to the cinema has decreased, where as the number of 25-39 year olds going has considerably increased. This is partly due to the types of films being made which are attracting older audiences and cast older, more established and experienced actors and actresses. It is also partly due to the increase in film piracy across the globe, many young people are more often illegally streaming films off the internet rather than going to the cinema to watch films. This is more common in younger people because they generally have less money and so are less willing to buy a cinema ticket when it is free for them to stream films from the internet, where as 25-39 year olds in general are more concerned about the quality of the film and are more likely to be earning money so would rather go to the cinema.

In my opinion the current most bankable leading actors for the 'youth' market are actors such as Will Smith or Johnny Depp who are in major Hollywood movies. Most of these actors and actresses who attract young people to the cinema are based in the US, however there are also a few British actors such as Daniel Craig, mostly due to his role as James Bond in the major Bond franchise, who also attract young audiences to watch films simply because they are part of the cast.

HOW MANY OF THE TOP 10 FILMS IN THE US LAST YEAR MADE THE STUDIOS A PROFIT?

7 out of the top 10 made a profit for the studios.

IS JERRY BRUCKHEIMER STILL A 'HIGH CONCEPT' PRODUCER? DOES  MICHAEL BAY DESERVE HIS REPUTATION FOR FILMS THAT ARE HIGH ON EFFECTS AND LOW ON NARRATIVE?

Jerry Bruckheimer still seems to be a fairly 'high concept' film producer as he is still producing films such as the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' series. Michael Bay has a reputation which says that he produces films with high effects, this is true as he has produced films like 'Transformers'. However, whether the films also have low and poor narrative is a matter of opinion, personally I believe that the films do lack a strong narrative and therefore are less good because of it.

WHO ARE THE 'INDIEWOOD' TYPE FILMS OF MAJOR HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS AIMED AT?

The film companies Paramount Vantage, Fox Searchlight, Sony Pictures Classics and Focus Features in recent years have started to produce many more 'Indiewood' style films. Fox Searchlight in particular has recently produced the film 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel', this film was aimed at a middle-aged audience due to its storyline and cast of very well established, older, British actors. However 'Martha Macy May Marlene' is a film aimed at a younger generation. There is a range of new, low budget, 'Indiewood' films that are becoming increasingly popular over the past few years.

actors

shot list

NUMBER	CUT	TYPE	VISUAL CONTENT	SOUND	LIGHTING	TIME (secs)	LOCATION	ACTORS & PROPS
1	-	-	Black screen	None	Black	2	-	-
2	-	-	Title appears on screen “anatomy of a murder”	Loud dramatic music starts	Black background with grey/white titles in front	4	-	-
3	-	-	Black screen	Music	Black	1	-	-
4	Fade or straight cut	Very low angle Mid shot	Girls footsteps run across screen, then mans footsteps calmly walk past.	Dramatic music continues Loud footsteps Heavy breathing	Very low key lighting Dark shadows of trees	6	Woods Exterior	Freya Ed
5	Straight cut	Long shot	Still see girl running, man still calmly walking behind	Dramatic music continues Footsteps Heavy breathing	Low key Shadows	3	Woods Exterior	Freya Ed
6	Straight cut	Close up	Girls face looking over her shoulder, she slows down to a walk	Dramatic music continues Heavy breathing	Low key Shadows	3	Woods Exterior	Freya Ed
7	Straight cut	Low angle Mid shot	Girl walks slowly around tree	Music slows for suspense	Low key Shadows	3	Woods Exterior	Freya Ed
8	Straight cut	Point of view shot Tracking around tree	Point of view of the girl walking slowly around tree turns into man’s chest standing there	Music comes to an abrupt halt when she bumps into man Heavy breathing	Low key Shadows	3	Woods Exterior	Freya Ed
9	Pan upwards	Point of view shot	Man’s face with reflection of girl in his glasses,he gives a slight smile then reaches out and strangles her	Heavy breathing Choking sounds as she is strangled	Shadows across mans face Higher key - to show innocence on girl’s white face	6	Woods Exterior	Freya Ed
10	Straight cut	Long shot Low angle	Girl falls to ground, lying there silent Killer turns back to camera and walks away	Music slowly starts up again - slower more disturbing music	Low key Shadows	4	Woods Exterior	Freya Ed
11	Fade	-	Fade to black screen	Sound bridge of music from last shot	Black	1	-	-
12	Fade	Establishing shot Panning round to focus on character	Man standing leaning against lamppost holding lighter flicking it on and off	Same slower disturbing music Sound of lighter	Low key	3	Lewes Street exterior	David Edgar
13	Straight cut	Long shot Slow zoom	“Godfather” figure sitting in chair holding a cigar cutter	No music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon Interior	Clive
14	Straight cut	Close up	Cuts cigar	Sound of blade of cigar cutter enhanced	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon Interior	Clive
15	Straight cut	Long shot	Young boy walks in to frame with hands in pockets, checks over shoulder and stops by the first man	Same music Footsteps	Low key	2	Lewes Street exterior	David Edgar
16	Straight cut	Long shot Slow zoom	Smokes the cigar smoke distorts/covers his face	No music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon Interior	Clive
17	Straight cut	Two shot	Boy starts telling the man about the murder	Same music Talking	Low key	4	Lewes Street exterior	David Edgar
18	Straight cut	Long shot Slow zoom	“Godfather” figure sitting in chair still smoking cigar	Boys voice still talking about the murder Sound bridge Same music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon Interior	Clive
19	Straight cut	Close up	We see the mans reaction	Same music	Low key	2	Lewes Street exterior	David Edgar
20	Straight cut	Close up	"Godfather" gives slight smile	Same music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	2	Wimbledon Interior	Clive
21	Straight cut	Two shot	The man replies	Same music	Low key	4	Lewes Street exterior	David Edgar
22	Straight cut	Long shot Slow zoom	“Godfather” figure sitting in chair still smoking cigar smoke covers face	Same music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon  Interior	Clive
23	Straight cut	Two shot	Man tells the boy to give a message back to "Mr ..."	Same music	Low key	4	Lewes Street exterior	David Edgar
24	Straight cut	Long shot Slow zoom	“Godfather” figure sitting in chair still smoking cigar smoke covers face	Same music Sound bridge of man speaking to boy	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon interior	Clive
25	Straight cut	Close up	"Godfather" figure checks his watch	Same music Sound bridge of man speaking to boy	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon Interior	Clive
26	Straight cut	Close up	The man gives the boy his payment and tells him to go	Same music	Low key	4	Lewes Street exterior	David Edgar
27	Straight cut	Long shot Slow zoom	"Godfather" figure turns cigar in his hands	Same music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon interior	Clive
28	Straight cut	Close up	Man lifts hat of his head and runs his hand through his hair as the sighs	Same music	Low key	3	Lewes Street exterior	David
29	Straight cut	Long shot Slow zoom (close up by now)	"Godfather" figure exhales smoke in front of face one more time and puts cigar down (don't see ashtray)	Same music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon interior	Clive
30	Straight cut	Mid shot	He gets up from chair	Same music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	2	Wimbledon interior	Clive
31	Straight cut	Long shot	Picks up jacket hanging over next door chair	Same music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	2	Wimbledon interior	Clive
32	Straight cut	Close up	Cigar left in ashtray still smoking	Same music	Middle key Filler and mains lights	3	Wimbledon interior	Clive
33	Fade	-	Black screen	Music ends/fades out	Black	2	-	-