Animatic-New and Improved

Above is the new and improved animatic, based on critical feedback from others. 

I improved upon:

• Quality of the voice overs, sound, tone and background noise.

The initial first two shots, including my production titles shown in the previous blog post.

Overall, I think the outcome of my new animatic was good and generally much better than the previous animatic I posted. I had a little trouble with the timing of the music and initially the voice overs didn't turn out as loud as I would have liked, but I overcame this and finally got there.  

Filming Schedule

Before I start filming my opening sequence, I need to ensure that I have a plan for what I would like to film each day and who/what I need and the locations.

I also must include the risk assessment, for the safety af my actors and myself.

Character Profile for Opening Sequence

Character name:
Theo Evans


Actor:
Michael Blundell-Lithco


Age:
17 years old


Ethnicity:
White British


Social Class:
Working class


Employment status:
Voluntary afternoon/evening work at the local Theatre in his town.


Education:
Music Tech course at college, four days a week. 


Hobbies:

• Playing guitar and piano
• Writing music and lyrics
• Listening to music
• Generally spending time on his own
• Small, quaint coffee shops
• Reading 

Theo lives at home with his father, after his mother walked out on the family five years previous to the present day events, due to the domestic abuse she suffered at the hands of Theo's father.

Now that Theo's mother has left the family, Theo has become the victim of his father's mood swings and outbursts of verbal and physical abuse.

Theo spends as much time out of the house as he can, which means he suffers peculiar sleeping patterns and finds himself walking around outside during the early hours of the morning, anything to distant himself from his father.

He attends a local college after receiving pass C grades in his GCSE's, excluding English, in which he achieved a B, and Music which is his speciality, an A. He is studying Music Tech at the college and finds himself a 'family' set up with three local boys also on the same course who have formed a band and have expressed an interest in Theo joining also.

Finished Animatic

This is my finished animatic. The final step towards beginning to film my opening sequence. 

The process was quite straightforward, as I have made animatics before this one. I already had my music and vocals sorted, so all that was left to do was to make sure these fit appropriately into the sequence. 

Animatic

Currently, I am in the process of making my animatic to support my opening sequence.
So far, I have already created and altered timing and effects on iMovie, exported this onto Garage Band, and recorded voice overs for the scenes required. All that is left to do, is to make sure the voice overs fit the scenes accurately and then upload my chosen music onto my animatic.

OPENING SEQUENCE UPDATE.

So, in the end I decided that my second film idea was the best choice to go for, as it is something I really want to explore and try my best at portraying.

This film idea focused on the effects of abuse in a family situation, and what it does to a young man hoping to fit in socially and emotionally into society.

I was also lucky to find an actor I think could portray such a character.
I think i chose correctly from my choice of two actors as I could only really use one for each storyline, neither of them could really have been in each others.

Theo Evans:
Played by Michael Blundell-Lithco


17 years old, currently doing a music course at his local college,keeps to himself and is considered a 'loner' by his fellow students. A band which has formed on the college course have been trying to persuade Theo to join them as they try and make it in the music industry. However, Theo has been suffering from verbal, emotional and physical abuse at the hands of his father, who started taking his anger out on Theo after his mother left many years previously. Now Theo is trying to re build his life around the abuse and fit into the social life at college.   


MUSIC:

Thankfully, the music for the background of my opening sequence is also sorted!

I know a local band, based in my home town, and they have expressed their happiness over being asked to use their music, so that's another thing off my check list.

Here is the email, proving that I have permission from the band 'Cathedrals & Cars' to use their music. 

Opening Film Sequence Synopsis

General synopsis for film:


Theo, 17, is attempting to make a new start at college and trying to turn his life around. Ever since his mum left him and his dad, due to his dad's anger problems, Theo has been abused and used by his dad as a release of anger, and has been influenced by his dad's behavior. The film follows his journey as he attempts to overcome his emotional and social issues as he tries to get away from what has happened. 


Synopsis for opening sequence:


The sequence opens with a long shot of the first location, a field, to create a sense of serenity and calm, before the film gets too dramatic. We meet Theo, but his face is not revealed in the shots used, but we can see him showing nervous traits. E.g. twisting his hands and pulling at the grass. 


We are then taken back into a flashback, showing the interior of his house at dusk, over the top of these shots we can hear his parents arguing and shouting. It is then revealed, through the mum, that his dad has anger issues. 


Back to the present day action, Theo's voice is heard over the top of the shots explaining his situation as he makes his way out of the field and into town, the next genre-establishing location. 
Right at the end of the sequence, there are shots of the band I'm using for the music, busking in the street, as a way to credit them. Theo then walks past a wall, and the actors name appears as a title. 

Scripting

These are screen shots of the finished script, until I can get it uploaded on a clearer format. I found the software challenging to start off with, but soon grasped it as the process went on!

I think my script covers all that needs to be covered and is clear and easily understood.

i will be giving out copies to each of my cast members in advance, so they can familiarise themselves with the script, characters and what is actually going on!

Storyboarding and Scripting part 4

Shot 25:

• first shot after leaving the field scenes, setting the rest of the 'film'-important to make genre and location clear.

Shot 26)

Something I personally wanted to do for the local band who agreed to let me use their music.

• Credit the band in a title
• but also have them appear as cameos in the opening sequence, as their music plays over the top of the shots.

Shot 30)

• final shot
• important to make clear how the rest of the film can carry on from that point, if it were to be filmed.
• also, another title, this time the lead actors, clear and the layout is well structured.

Storyboarding and Scripting part 3

Shot 9:

• start of a flash back.
• Important to look at lighting and differences between that and the previous shots.
• Starts to explore the theme of the film, domestic fighting in the background, giving audience more idea as to what it's about.

Shot 10:

• First on screen titles
• Weighing up pros and cons on titles appearing on screen or being physically there in the scene.

Shot 16:

• end of flashback-working on how to make transition from flashback to present action, clear.
• music also starts in this scene, how to make sure it starts in the right place between action and dialogue.

Storyboarding and Scripting Schedule

FINAL DEADLINE FOR STORYBOARDING/SCRIPTING:

TUESDAY 22nd  NOVEMBER.


By Thursday 17th (during the lesson) storyboard FINISHED.

Start scripting during that lesson if not, ON FRIDAY 18TH.





STORYBOARDING:

• 15TH(TUESDAY) /16TH(WEDNESDAY) NOVEMBER

• FINISHED BY/ON 17TH (THURSDAY) NOVEMBER

SCRIPTING:

• STARTED DURING 17TH (THURSDAY) LESSON. (PLANNING ETC)
• DEVELOPED DURING LESSON ON 18TH (FRIDAY)
• FINISHED 19/20TH.

How my film idea has developed...

During the storyboarding and scripting sessions, I feel as though my initial film idea has developed.

In a way, it's had to develop, because I've had to look through various shot ideas and really think about what will work and what needs either adjusting and cutting completely.  

So far, the initial storyline hasn't changed at all, only what I had in mind for shots. However, I didn't really have a clear idea as to how I would present them in the first place, but original ideas are finding themselves slotting into the sequence at the moment.  

Storyboarding and Scripting part 2

12/11/11

Recently I have been getting on quite well with the storyboarding process!
Although, I'm finding it difficult to actually try and draw what I have in mind for the sequence.

Shot 5

• I think this shot establishes the location of the opening sequence and the main character.
• I would like to keep the character's identity a mystery for now, especially in the first couple of shots, so the audience have a chance to become familiar with the surroundings.

Shot 7

• This is one of the closer shots of the protagonist.
• Gives the audience more information and who they should be becoming more familiar with.
• I hope it will also evoke questions such as; where is he? who is he? AND what or who is he hiding from?

Shot 8

• This flashback, so far, is one of my favourite shots, and I am really looking forward to tweaking it and readying it to be filmed.
• I don't want to include any other flashbacks in the opening sequence, as it would be a bit too difficult to digest all in one go during the first two minutes, but it will help show what the film will be about.

Storyboarding and Scripting part 1

10/11/11



During the course of today's lesson, I have successfully made a good start to my storyboard, by planning the shots, one by one. I think that this is vital because I am still unsure of what exactly will be happening in the first two minutes of the opening sequence.

 

For now, shots 1 and 2 are to be left empty, so we can fill in our production titles. 

Shot 3:

• very long shot of a field, the opening location to my sequence. This location is to confuse the audience because it starts serene and quiet, and the storyline quickly moves on from this. 

Shot 4:

(leaves blowing in the wind.)

• this, again, links in with the message from the previous shot, making the audience really think about what they have come to see and how it will progress from here. 

I also think, that by using a serene and calm location, it will give the audience time to get really established and introduced to the main character before they become immersed in the action. 

Film Ideas (brief) + cast photos

Thanks to wonderful audience feedback, I have been able to concrete two initial film ideas, giving me a wider option when I come to make the decision. Thankfully, I have two lead male actors for both, so that takes a little weight off of my shoulders!

Film ideas:

1.) (brief)

Dealing with unemployment in young people. Focuses on a young man struggling with university admission and finding an acting break- through.

2.) (brief)

Young man living with the effects of child abuse running in his family. Suffers from insomnia and other effects due to the physical and emotional abuse he has suffered. Looks at the way this effects him in social, emotiona and educational circumstances.

CAST PHOTOS:

Actor for film idea 1: Callum

Actor for film idea 2: Michael