Reflections and Changes!

I have now completed filming the first half of my film opening. I am a perfectionist so I took multiple shots of each scene and it took a lot longer than expected. Not only that, but it was hard to record with my whole family inside the house. We are all quarantined due to COVID-19 and it was difficult to keep them all silent during the filming process. I relied a lot on the natural light inside and I did not have to use any extra tools to enhance the lighting. I used my phone and a tripod to film all my shots. I am satisfied with all the content I recorded and I am excited to continue editing.

I am now beginning the preparation for the second half of my film opening. I felt inspired while filming yesterday and I decided to make a minor change to the script and the exposition. This half features the main character: Emily Johnson. She will be in her dead sister's bedroom mourning her death while looking at old photos and her sister's belongings. As Emily listens to the radio, she pieces information together and realizes that her sister was murdered. At this time, the public thinks that her sister, Sammy Johnson, committed suicide. Emily knew her sister very well and thought otherwise. The film opening ends when Emily finds a death threat in her sister's old textbook.

This is the new script:



The introduction that Radio Host #1 gives is crucial to the scene. It informs the audience of the setting and the conflict in the film. The radio prop I have will also convey to the audience that this is a a more classic film and the characters do not have access to all the technology we have today. 

Filming and Editing Updates!

Today I am in process of filming the first half of my film opening. This half features a montage of the serial killer's lair. Shots include the serial killer's bulletin board, books, personal information, and some of his actions. Two shots show the serial killer washing his weapons and putting on gloves.

I have decided to use WeVideo to edit my shots all together. We used this platform earlier in the year to complete projects and I found it very easy to use. Not only that, but I am familiar with all of its abilities and I will not have to spend a lot of time figuring out how to use it. Within WeVideo, I can layer audios and videos on top of one another. This will be very beneficial throughout the editing process. There are also several free audios I can use.



After I began editing, I realized I might have too much footage, and it will be hard to fit everything into 2 minutes. This is not ideal, but I would rather have too much footage than not enough. This means I will have tighter editing and cut out any useless shots. Overall, I am happy with the way my project is turning out so far.

First Day of Filming!

Today I put together the set design and began filming the first part of my film opening. In the first half, there will be a montage of the serial killer's plans, books, gloves, and extra information that will inform the audience more about him. The first thing I did was create the killer's plans on a bulletin board. This includes old photos, post it notes, notebook paper, maps, news articles about the recent murders.



Another shot contains a stack of library books and a library card. This also informs the audience about the serial killer's background.

     

I will continue to film within the daytime because the lighting is the best at that time. I would rather use natural light and a mirror light because I think it will be more efficient. Another shot that I filmed today was the serial killer washing his knives and fixing his gloves. For a steady shot, I have been using a tripod to help me film. It is not very big but it works nevertheless. Overall, this was a productive day of filming and I cannot wait to continue over the weekend.

Distribution Plans!

All of my distribution plans for my film opening will reflect its target audience. As I have already stated before, horror films target young audiences (ages 13-25) due to the immense amount of gore and thrills that they contain. Therefore, the primary source of distribution will be through technology and streaming services. This age group is known for being "tech savvy" and they access almost everything through technology. The most popular streaming services are Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Netflix. However; this is the first film I have produced and it is very unlikely that my film will be distributed on these large platforms. The most logical way to distribute my film will be through online streaming services such as YouTube and Vimeo. These platforms are used frequently by teens and allows for the target audience to efficiently access my film.

I have started to research small independent film companies to distribute my film as well. One of the companies I found was Blumhouse Productions, which is known for producing low-budget horror movies. Some of their popular releases include Paranormal Activity (2007), and The Purge (2013). Another company I found was BLACKFLIGHT STUDIOS, which is another independent production company. I have not officially decided upon a company, but this research has given me a better understanding of what I am looking for. I want to pick a realistic company that will help my film become successful.

Sources:

“About Us.” BLACKFLIGHT STUDIOS, www.blackflightstudios.com/.

“About Blumhouse.” Blumhouse.com, www.blumhouse.com/about/.

COVID-19 Changes!

COVID-19 is a dangerous virus that is spreading across the country. To stay safe, people in my community are practicing social distancing and quarantining themselves from society. My family and I have been doing the same things. This virus has caused a few minor problems in my filming process.

1. It will become more difficult for me to film outside in specific locations, since everyone is being advised to stay at home.

2. The props/tools that I had ordered online (retro radio and tripod) are not coming in time which will delay the filming process.

3. I originally planned for my friends to act as the "Bookworm" and Emily, but now I will be Emily and the "Bookworm" and my sister will be Sammy. I will cover my face with a mask whenever I play the "Bookworm" so I am able to become both characters simultaneously.

Due to all the complications, I will be postponing filming to next week as I find solutions to any more issues that arise. Not only that, but postponing filming will give the props more time to arrive. These props are crucial to my film opening because they help convey the setting that the film is taking place within. Overall, I am extremely lucky that I did not have to make many changes to the plot or filming process.

Preparation for Filming!

I will start filming the bulk of my film opening tomorrow, so today I will be putting together the set design, fixing the lighting, and arranging all the props.

According to my research, low key lighting is very popular in horror films; therefore, The first half of my film opening will have low key lighting to enhance horror genre conventions. The second half of my film opening does not embrace many genre characteristics, because its main goal is to allude to conflict and introduce the main characters. Not every horror movie has a scary film opening. For example, The Purge (2013) is a movie about people who go around killing each other during a 10 hour free for all. The film opening informs the audience about the conflict and introduces the characters, but there is nothing scary or creepy about the film opening.

To film my film opening, I will be using a mirror light, a tripod, and a flashlight. These tools will help me get the perfect lighting and a steady, clear shot.

        

Lastly, I have finalized the costume design. I went to a thrift store last weekend to acquire the pieces I needed to perfect each character's looks. I also have a few things of my own that would embrace the characters personalities.

Serial Killer:

      

Emily:

       

Script!

My film opening will begin with a montage of clips that show the serial killers lair and plans to kill people. There is no talking in these clips therefore I did not make a script for this part of the film opening. I began the script at the graphic match cut from the serial killers eyes in a ski mask to Emil's saddened eyes in Sammy's room. This is where the first pieces of dialogue begins.



My script is finalized for the most part, but everything is subject to change once I begin filming. I will start filming tomorrow with my sister since school has been cancelled and my sister is available.