Final Production

Final Production 2

Just in case the post doesn't stream right, heres a link to the youtube site.

Cupid

Evaluation

http://www.wix.com/caroline_bates/media---cupid

Facebook

Social Networking sites like Facebook have enhanced our planning as its enabled us to communicate with each other, other than at school. This could be on such matters like, ideas for production, scheduling or updating on personal progress.

Age Group

Developing my research from film genre, I wanted to find out what age group people watch horror films.

Looking at this research I have found the age group of 10 – 30 is the most popular for watching horror films. This mainly consists of teenagers and young adults. When asking the people who watch this genre, in what environment do they watch these films?  The majority answered ‘with a group of friends at one of our houses’   

Character Profile- Sarah

Sarah

Sarah is young, recently married to Alex and is an expecting mother. After being left alone by Alex she is brutally murdered. Sarah is defenseless but sweet character.  

Actress: Chloe Ostojak

AGE: 18

Height: 5ft 6ich

·         GCSE in Drama

·         A level in Drama and Media

·         Happy and Flexible

·         Ability to drive 

·         Innocent look to create a vulnerable character

Location- Begbroke Church

Begbroke Church

Begbroke Church is the perfect location for the attack in our opening sequence. The house located next to the church and is going to be the exterior shot, to establish where the couple live. The graveyard has ironic and appropriate connotations of death. 

Advantages

·         House and church located next to each other

·         Located in same village as two members of the team so logistics is easy

·         Provides a lot of corners for our attacker to hide

·         Both the house and church have a rural, hidden and isolated setting

·         Naturally beautiful and homely feel to the scenery

Disadvantages

·         Uncontrollable factors like weather can provide visual problems

·         Located near an airport so planes may fly above

·         Considering the public (especially in a graveyard)

Location- Water Eaton

Water Eaton Park and Ride:

For the scene in which the audience discovers how truly creepy the attacker is (in which he is revealing his shrine to all those he has killed.) We chose the interior location of the abandoned factory at water Eaton park and ride.

Advantages :

·         Car parking space

·         Good establishing shot

·         A lot of space to use

·         A lot of floors to work with

·         Scary scenery

Disadvantages:

·         Technically illegal to trespass

·         Health and safety is at a risk

·         Limited lighting

·         No power source

Last Day Filming Review

This was our last day to film and we managed to complete everything set out to film. The aim was to set out and film the attack.

Environment

As good of a location Bebgroke church was, we didn’t take into consideration environmental factors. The fact we we’re filming in a graveyard meant the public came to pay their visits.

Location

Begbroke is located near Kidlington airport which is something not realised when scouting the location. This of course distributed our filming greatly however with completing all the footage needed to be filmed there was no need to go back.

Last Day Filming

Scene list

Time and Date:

·         14^th March 2012

·         1:30 – 2:00

Location:

·         Begbroke Church

Costume:

·         Black Gloves

·         Grey Coat

Props:

·         N/A

Equipment:

·         Camera

·         Tri Pod

Actors:

·         Chloe- Sarah

·         Dave- Alex

Scenes:

·         The walk

·         Attack on Sarah then Alex

CAMERA MOVEMENT #1

Point of View

A point of view shot is where the lens of the camera acts as the eyes of the character. This creates a shaky but effective quality. This creates a personal connection between the character and audience. Channel 4’s Peep Show is famous for shooting their entire episodes of 7 seasons all from a point of view, of the two main characters, mark and Jeremy.  This choice in camera movement is what made the comedy so successful and gave it an identity. When this took to the states, producers decided to ignore this choice and use typical shots, movements and angles. Giving it extremely low ratings in which it didn’t develop into any series.   

Third Day Review

Filming Review

On the 2^nd March we revisited Water Eaton to complete that location of filming. On this filming day we would build a the shrine and film the attacker putting up the photo of the characters. This scene is a vital to our production as it reveals how truly sadistic cupid is.

Follow Up’s

Following up legal issues presented last time filming have been taken into consideration. Although we were unable to get any legal passing we can do our best to not get caught or at least be a presentable to if we had to talk to the police. This was done by wearing high visibility jackets. Although this attracted attention it gave us a legitimate appearance which stopped the police from being called in the first place.

Continuity

Mistakes like breaking the chalk while drawing the tally created a continuity problem as it was difficult to rub off the walls to re-draw with out seeing the smudges.

Set

Building the set was a chance for us to use our creative skills. We used such props like photos, candles, his mask and gloves. Materials like chalk and spray paint. Once again we relied on natural light and candles to light our scene however this only enhanced our footage rather then hindered it by giving it an eerie edge.

Set - Shrine

Creating a shrine

A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which tends to be dedicated to a particular person or people, at which they are worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, or other such objects associated with the figure being idolized. Various religion’s like Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Wicca, Chinese folk religion and Shinto have been known to be associated with shrines. 

The idea of our shrine is to set up the character for the rest of the potential film. However it’s not to revel to much physical identity. It will also delve deeper into the mentally unstable creature that he is. We see the shrine to have photos and objects of the victims, candles, and various symbols.  This exposes the vast amount of couples he has killed at glorified. 

1.       Photos

The focus of the shrine will be around the numerous photos that the attacker has taken from inside the many victims house. These will possible be wedding photos, pregnancy picturs or just happy couples. This is to highlights the bitterness and psychotic nature of him and having ‘loved up couples’ relates back to the original film title name. Cupid.

   

2.       Objects

Having objects like shoes and clothing or something more sinister like hair and teeth with only add to the disturbing and uncomfortable situation presented on the screen.

3.       Candles

Candles have natural lighting and an element that is creepy. They are also used when in a romantic situation to calm the mood. Our attacker is (although violent) very calm and serene which highlights his psychotic and unpredictable behavior.  

Third Day Filming

Scene List

Time and Date:

• Friday 2^nd March 2012
• 4:00 – 5:30

Location:

• Water Eaton Abandoned Building

Costume:

• Grey Coat

Props:

• Mask
• Black gloves
• Candles
• Pictures
• Chloe and Dave photo

Actors:

• Chris Waters - Cupid

Equipment:

• Spray Paint
• Camera
• Tri Pod
• Chalk
• High Visibility Jackets

Scenes:

• Preparing shrine
• Admiring Shrine

Character Profile- Cupid

Cupid

Cupid has been killing couples for many years and Valentine’s Day is his favorite holiday. Due to his bitter past cupid cannot cope with happy couples.  Dealing with his resentment he stalks and kills couples. Because of the resent happy news of a potential baby, Sarah and Alex are next in line. To create an even scarier experience for the couples, he constantly wears a ‘baby face’ mask to hide his features other than his bright green eyes.  He goes by the name of ‘Cupid’ to match his costume and distorted motive.

Actor: Chris Waters

Age: 19 

Height: 5ft 10ich

·         Key interest in Drama

·         Bleach blond and long fringe to create a ‘baby curl’

·         Bright green eyes 

  

Second Day Filming Review

Filming Review

On the 24^th of February, me and few crew members traveled to Water Eaton to film at the abandoned factory. As a group we made the decision to spray paint the credits on location. Sequentially, it follows the shrine scene which we have yet to film. Spraying our names gives us more opportunity for camera shots, angles and movements aswell as having an artistic quality.

Lighting

Even though we we’re filming inside, lighting was taken into consideration. Having no power source, involved filming at exactly the right time. This gave us a strict schedule to complete what needed to be completed.

Health + Safety and Law 

Filming in disserted factory can create health and safety issues. Having already scouted out the location, we knew which floors and spaces would be best for and most safe. As well as safety, legality problems arose. Due to fencing around the building, crossing it is ‘technically’ trespassing. This is probably why the police we’re called. Luckily we we’re one step ahead and out of the building driving off. However safety and legal actions will be carried out for future filming in said location. 

Opportunity

Taking full opportunity of the location was key. When walking around we found a bird skeleton and as our production is a thriller genre, this was a perfect scene. We also crept up on some perching birds that with load noises, made suddenly fly away. 

Second Day Filming

Scene List

Time and Date:

• 24^th February 2012  
• 4:30 – 7:00

Location:

• Water Eaton Abandoned Building

Costume:

• N/A

Actors:

• N/A

Props:

• ‘Quarantined’ poster

Equipment:

• Spray Paint
• Camera
• Battery
• Tri Pod

Scenes:

• Establishing Shot
• Credits

CAMERA SHOTS #2

Extreme Close Up

An extreme close up contains a lot of detail with the subject and absolutely no back ground. Commonly used for facial features to express emotion. Having a shot so close to a face can be use to emphasis how uncomfortable a situation may be as it is an intimate shot. Famous extreme close ups would be two cowboys in a shoot off, in which the camera would focus on such facial features as the mouth or eyes.

CAMERA SHOTS #1

Close Up

A close up will focus on the subject in the foreground, and not have much in the background. It will take up the whole frame in order to draw attention to the item or feature. In films and television this shot can be used as to not give too much physical details away from the character but give far more clues about the characteristics of said person. It can also be an important plot reference. This is demonstrated in Harry potter and the Chamber of Secrets, when Lucius Malfoy secretly places the diary in a cauldron. There is a close up shot of him doing so. As the audience we are aware of both diary’s but later on have better understanding of the importance for one of them. For the audience sake, this shot was later referred back to reflect back previous action.

Character Profile- Alex

Alex

Alex is slightly older than Sarah and was hoping for a romantic Valentine’s Day. He is the first to get murdered after trying to reassure Sarah.

Actor: David Leek

Age: 17

Height: 6ft 3ich

·         GCSE in Drama

·         Knowledge of Media

·         Confident

·         Looks taller and older to portray a typical male role

First Day Film Review

Film Review

Today was our first day shooting, and overall it was a success. The aim was to shoot the start of the film. This consisted of the preparation of the coffee and writing in the card. Then filming the conversation in which we are planning of cut in-between the attack.

Timing

It took approximately 3 hours to finally get round to filming around 40% of our work. Such problems like running out of battery and waiting for it to charge again took considerable time out of our afternoon.

Dialogue

Although we had a script on set, having actors speak is always something can be quite tricky. Thankfully as we we’re shooting multiple shots rather than one long scene, it didn’t disrupt the filming to much.   

First Day Filming

Scene List

Time and Date:

• 3^rd February 2012
• 4:30 pm - 7:00pm

Scenes:

• Preparing
• Couple talk

Actors:

• Chloe - Sarah
• Dave - Alex

Costumes:

• Pajamas
• Dressing gown

Props:

• Kettle
• Mugs
• Card
• Pen
• Sugar
• Milk
• Coffee

Location:

• Alice’s living room
• Alice’s Kitchen

Equipment

• Camera
• Batteries
• Script
• Tri Pod

Initial Script Idea

Cupid

By Caroline Bates

(Alex brings in Coffee and sits next to Sarah on the sofa)

Alex: Morning Darling

Sarah: Oooh thanks

Alex: And…

(Hands Valentines Card)

Sarah: Hun that’s so sweet

(Opens card)

Sarah: ‘Dear Sarah, Happy Valentine’s Day Love Alex’ Arhhh thanks Al

(They Snuggle together and sip)

Alex: So what do’ you want to do later

Sarah: Well I was thinking we could go for a walk

FLASH FORWARD

Alex: So where do you want to go?

Sarah: Let’s just simply walk through the church and woods

FLASH FORWARD

Alex: Urghhh do we have too. Why don’t we just stay here and find something else to do!

Sarah: Ha no. It’ll be good to get some fresh air

FLASH FORWARD

Alex: Make sure you lock the house this time; we don’t want that weirdo’s getting in!

(They laugh)

FLASH FORWARD

Sarah: Oh and when we get back can we call my mum to tell her the good news

(She rubs her stomach)

FLASH FORWARD



Costume - black gloves

Black Leather Gloves

As well as a practical advantage, gloves will be a key part of the costume of the attacker. As we hope, most of the scenes will be a Point of View Shot. This will allow the audience to only see the hands of the attacker. For this black leather gloves would be perfect. We are trying to hide as much physical features as we can with the gloves but reveal much more about his character.

Costume - Baby Face Mask

For our attacker, he’ll be wearing a mask. To make a link between the titles ‘Cupid,’ it will be a baby face mask. Completely hiding the face creates fear in the victim as it hard to see what the attacker’s thinking which only adds to the fear that anything could happen Clever editing, limited visuals and a mask enables for the audience never to see the attacker which will play on their imagination. This can have a stronger effect than any expensive software.

< 1. Although number one is the most realistic, it may be too realistic. The facial expression is one that is screaming. This wouldn’t be appropriate for the attacker as he needs to have more of a sinister edge.  However number one does keep within the reference of the title more than the others.>

       2. The second mask has an old style to it. The grin is perfect in the sense, like the ‘Alice, Sweet Alice mask’, “the attacker is content with what they’re doing. Due to this, a sense of no-way-out arises as the attacker physiological deranged.”

<3. This mask seeps with stories and tales because of the ancient quality. Visually, this mask is the scariest.

     

  4. Although this again has a sense of realism, it can   be seen as rather comical which would highlight our attacker’s physiological issues.>

Depending on weather we want to go with realism, creepy, scary or comical will determine which mask we choose to look for.

Masks

Deciding on the possibility of our murderer wearing a mask, I must look at over films in which this was their thought process too.

       <1. The Scarecrow (Dark Night of the Scarecrow)

          2.  Leatherface (Texas     Chainsaw Massacre Series)>        

       <3. Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th Series)

      4. Jigsaw Pig Mask (Saw)>

     <5. Michael Myers (Halloween)

       6. Satan (Satan’s Little Helper)>

      <7. The Strangers (The Strangers)

      8. Scream Killers (Scream)>

       <9.  Torso’s Masked Killer (Torso)

     10. Mrs. Tredoni (Alice, Sweet Alice)>  

Having watched over films with masked killers, Mrs. Tredoni in Alice, Sweet Alice is one to take main inspiration from.  The Innocent and not typically scary face gives a physiological twist. On the mask is a fixed smile, this gives a sense that the attacker is content with what they’re doing. Due to this, a sense of no-way-out arises as the attacker physiological deranged. As Alice, Sweet Alice was made in the 70’s, the masked used, was not seen as old fashioned. However having a vintage or worn away mask creates a background story for the killer.