AHEM Productions

We needed to create the name for our supposed production company for our film, so decided to combine the first letters of our first names (Alex, Hannah, Emma, Mary) to create the acronym of AHEM Productions. We used a local barbershop quartet to sing the word 'productions', and it created an effective and professional sounding finish to the film. However, it was fairly comical and we were not sure if perhaps it undermined the serious content of our media product.

Sound Effects- Ideas & Final Decisions

At several points during our film we thought it necessary to add sound effects during editing to make the film more effective and interesting. We wanted to add sound effects when:
-The 'protagonist' is in the bathroom. In this scene, we can still hear the music of the party, although now dulled via editing. The boy is washing his face and, as he looks up, he sees the figure of the murderer in the corner of his eye behind him. As he sees this, the music of the party fades out and we decided to cross fade it out with the sound of a high pitched violins to add suspense coming in. This creates a feeling of fear amongst the audience for the 'protagonists' safety. As he looks behind him to see if he is correct in what he is seeing, he realises there is in fact nobody there. He turns back to face the mirror and shakes his head at his foolishness, the music of the party in the background fading back in to bring the audience and characters back to reality.
-The stabbing scene. As we see the shadows of the protagonist being stabbed by the murderer, the scene then slows and we decided, to enhance the drama and intensity of the scene we would layer a heartbeat sound effect over the top. This we then gradually slowed to represent the young man dying. This was effective in increasing the tension and drama of the scene as it gets the audience fearful of the outcome of the situation and seems to draw out the events of the scene.

We sourced sound effects from various free sound effects websites such as:
-http://www.stonewashed.net/sfx.html

-http://www.a1freesoundeffects.com/

And these were perfect as they had many different options for one sound and they were copyright free.

Visual Effects Used In Editing Of The Film

During editing, we decided to add transitions and effects to make the film a more complete and mature production.


Cross Fade
-We used this as the protagonist walked through the streets to meet the exchange man. This created a more fluent set of shots as one merged into another and showed the character's continual movement to his destination.

Cross Dissolve Of Shots
-This was used after the exchange man sends a text to the murderer. We decided to cross dissolve a close up shot of the exchange man's face with an upwards pan towards the streetlamp. This shot of the streetlamp focused on the light of the lamp and we zoomed in upon it, until it consumed the screen. When we layered these shots it created an efect that the exchange man's head was almost splitting open, his mind flooding the screen with blinding light and consuming the scene (including the protagonist and his actions in contacting the murderer) behind him. This was the desired effect as it showed clearly the secretive and sneaky nature of this character, betraying the protagonist by setting him up and sending him to his death.
-We used cross dissolve once again during the stabbing scene to show the uncaring outlook of the murderer with a low angle shot of his shadowed figure shown through a shot of his victim as he falls to the ground. This transition was effective as it showed the contrasting characters in the 'predator' and his victim, and the cold and calculated killer merely looking on as the other man dies.

Slow Motion
-We slowed down particular scenes in the film to enhance the action in the scene.
-The Party;Cocaine Scene. The shot of an extra taking coaine was shown and the following effects of the drug were shot. We slowed down the shots of the effects of cocaine to enhance the 'trippy' and disillusioned feeling that the character then experiences.
-We greatly slowed down the stabbing scene also. After the shot of the shadows as the 'protagonist' is stabbed, the following shots are slowed to allow the audience to take in the action and intensify the scene. This was very effective as it allowed the audience to focs on the expressions of the characters.

As the 'protagonist' dies, we get a point of view shot from him. As he lies on the floor, we used a dutch angle shot to watch the murderer walk away with the package. We cut in and out of this shot to darkness to create the effect of the blinking and going in and out of consciousness of the stabbed man. Gradually, the 'blinking' slows as he gets closer to death, and as he finally dies the shot cuts to darkness as the credits roll.

Stabbing Scene-Influences & Research

We decided first to create a poll of the most effective stabbing scenes in existing films. We got a focus group of ten people to vote on which stabbing scene was the most convincing and effective:

-Saving Private Ryan
-One False Move
-Psycho
-Halloween

With 70% of the vote was Saving Private Ryan and so we decided to study this scene to gain inspiration for our own media product.


SAVING PRIVATE RYAN
Saving Private Ryan is an epic 1998 American war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II. It was directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat. It follows Tom Hanks as Captain John H. Miller and several men as they search for paratrooper Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon), who is the last surviving brother of three fallen servicemen.


The stabbing scene in this film is between an American-Jewish infantryman Stanley Mellish and a German soldier. Mellish is fighting alone against the soldier and the German slowly gains the upper hand. Mellish pulls out a knife, but the German is too strong, and pushes Mellish's hand backwards, pointing the blade towards the American's chest. Mellish starts to beg.
The German slowly pushes the knife into Mellish's chest, quietly whispering something in German.We hear nothing else in this scene but this whispering, and this creates an extremely intense movement as the knife is pushed further and further into Mellish's chest.






This medium close up shot shows distinctly who is the victim in the situation. The length that the camera has been placed away from the scene allows us to get a fuller picture of the action yet still easily see the facial expressions of the men. The lighting is dim and natural, reinforcing the dirt and filth of the scene and emphasise the blood of the action of the room. As a war epic, the production team have tried to make this film as realistic and true to history as is possible, so the costume, setting and 'grime' of the scene is true to life, and not 'sexualised' in any way to show the glamour of a Hollywood film.




This close up is a perfect shot to show both the action in the scene and the expression of the character. The lighting, as it is still natural, shows the character as shadowed which creates a more intense and fearful scene for the audience and highlights the characters anguish in his tense mouth in a defiant yet fearful position. The dagger in the foreground is where our eye is next drawn and its size in comparison to the shot is also a cause for tension. It is clear to see the tip of the knife pushing down onto his chest, and this is a greatly uncomfortable scene for the audience, knowing that the German soldier only has to push to kill the other man. The fact that the shot is in close up is key to creating the tension, along with the use of light to show a darkened effect that enhances the anguish and fear of the situation.

Misfits- Research Into Representations Of Social Class Within Youth Culture

Misfits Presentation-Research Into Representations Of Social Class In Youth Culture

Commentary of the party scene

Music Ideas For Party Scene

After editing all the shots for the party and adding transitions, we needed to find a soundtrack that fit with the shots. Of course, limited by Copyright laws, we could only gain influences from existing artists,but we decided to focus on dance, grime and dubstep artists so that we could remix via a DJ. Artists we took influence from were:
-Borgore
http://www.last.fm/music/Borgore/+wiki
-Rusko
http://www.last.fm/music/Rusko
-Kid Cudi
http://www.last.fm/music/Kid+Cudi
We took inspiration from these artists to create the soundtrack for our party and create a different feeling for each scene. We needed an upbeat track to play during the dancing of the party, but a change int he sound when the murderer enters and we see him in the party. We chose dance beats with a strong rhythm that would be typical of a youth party. The strong bass beat meant it was easy to coordinate the cutting rate of shots and also the zoom shots of the party guests.
For the murderer entering, the shots of him within the party and the 'protagonist' leaving, we needed a lower, more bass heavy track with Dubstep influences. This created a feeling of imminent attack and threat to or from the characters. As we see the murderer later when he receives the text, we will use this track again to show a clear return to him in the party scene.

Cocaine Taking Scene- Party

This scene was visually edited to enhance the drug-taking effects on the character. We slowed the scene down and blurred the edges after he took the drug to create a spaced out and 'trippy' effect.
This use of editing via Final Cut Express was effective, however we believed we focused too much on this character, and it made an impression upon the audience that he was a central character and important to the film. We dramatically cut down the shot afterwards for our final film to counter this impression and showed less of the characters face to make sure it was clear that he was merely an extra and not an integral part of the scene. We also cut down how long he spent snorting the 'cocaine'.

Final Cast for Main Task

We have decided to go with the following actors for our main task:

Protagonist
Sam Long
Sam is a good choice for this character as he fits the description required well. He looks like a normal youth, nothing out of the ordinary, a perfectly plain teenager. His blond/brown curled hair and blue eyes makes him look innocent with a round face that makes him look innocent and gentle. He is quite well built also but this does not give him a threatening look, it makes him perfect for the part of the victim in this piece, as he is easily distinguishable as a 'good guy'. He is also quite tall which would make him distinctive in the party scene as protagonist of the piece.



Corban Wishart
Corban is perfect for the 'exchange man' as he has the features required for the character. His dark hair makes him look intense and threatening, and his strong facial features show a serious character that is, perhaps, dangerous. His facial hair is also a good aspect, as it frames his face in darkness and makes him look more sinister. He is tall and so shows himself to be an authoritative figure that is control of the situation.



George Oliver
George is also a great choice for the part of murderer, as the requirements for the character are quite specific and without meeting this precisely, the film will not have the desired effect. George is a strong and well built young man with a 'butch' look that shows him as a potentially dangerous character. His strong brow casts shadow over his face making him look intense and sinister, necessary for the murderer character. He is tall and with his build this makes him look threatening; features that will all be accentuated by the costume use.

Camera Shot Task