Changing Title Sequence

For my re-shoot I'm going to change the narrative so there is some continuity. So, I am going to change the actor as someone who more fits the role and is more open to what I want done.

When I re-shoot, I will film clips of my person running around the estate to show that they are running from someone(the police?) which will create an enigma and make my title sequence more effective. I will use various camera movements(POV, handheld, pan and zoom) to ensure my sequence is visually interesting and that they link with the narrative.

Changing my title

The title of my film started as Nasty Nasty, but I changed this to Declension as it fitted more with the narrative of my film. However, since looking at the film on the title sequence I feel it's not the right kind of word for a British Drama, it seems it would fit more of a horror film. So, I have finally decided on SOUTH-EAST DESCENT as my title, the reason is it's set in the South-East and so fits with context and descent means moving downwards, dropping or falling. The storyline involves the main character dropping in terms of social class and also becoming involved with drugs and crime.

The next step in terms of improving my sequence

Now that i've received feedback and have become aware of what needs to be done I can go back and improve my sequence until it's successful. To do this I will re-shoot considering more of  a narrative, in order to create more of narrative I could bring continuity into my sequence;

• Someone running away
• Someone walking through the estate

Once I've re shooted these clips I will place them in final cut pro, creating a more chronological order.  The soundtrack will remain the same but I want to change my film title and font as they remind me more of a horror genre and not a British Drama.

Title Sequence rough cut feedback

After presenting my rough cut to the class and my treacher, I recieved feedback on what worked well and what could be better. The general points were; to make it link more to the narrative and what the genre is as this is not clear and ensuring the videos are chronological in terms of a narrative and times in the day.

First rough copy

This is my first cut which I'll be presenting to the class. Once I've presented it, I will receive feedback and will then look for any improvements and see if anything needs to be shot to complete the sequence.

Filming Journal- Shooting in Thamesmead

For my final shoots, I went too Thamesmead where most of my title sequence will be filmed. I went round many areas including the lake and the tower blocks, using different shots, shot lengths and angles. I've taken over 70 videos and will organise these and eliminate the ones not needed.


The purpose of these shots was too set a context for the viewer, showing them what the area looks like and how it links to the narrative of the film (dull and rough). Below are some images of what I shot and how I shot them.

Handheld shots 

Filming Plan- Shooting in Thamesmead

Today I will be shooting in Thamesmead, the location in which my film is set. The weather is moderately cold with grey skies, this is fine as I want the tone to be dull and grey and the sun may ruin the shots. I have my equipment which is a DSLR camera and a tripod, this is all I need for the shots I want; the camera will give good quality filming and the tripod will allow for still shots(the tripod has a handle for handheld shots also)

I hope to get shots of the buildings, graffiti and my character and I will then review them before inserting them into Final Cut Pro.

Filming Journal- Second shoot

For my second shoot, I filmed in my house and got one of my actors too smoke a cigarette. Again, I took many videos, experimenting with shot types and then reviewed too see what worked best.


The purpose of the cigarette was to create iconography of a negative representation, as this is a theme which runs throughout the film.

Filming Journal- First Shoot

Now that i've done my storyboard and discussed it with my teachers, I want too start filming. I'll be doing a filming journal, documenting all the takes I do, where I do them and how I do them.

First Shoots

My first shoot was a landscape view of the area around Thamesmead, which is quite industrial. I took many different clips experimenting with shot types and camera movement. I then went home and looked over them and all and decided what one would fit best. Here's an image of me shooting, you can see I've used a tripod to keep the shot steady.

Filming plan- Characters Costume and Make-up

                                                                   Make-Up
The make-up will be pretty simple; foundation and mascara. The reason for this is I don't want the girl too look very colourful as the themes in the film are grey and dull and bright make-up wouldn't fit this.

Costume

 My actor will wear an over sized checkered shirt, this is a relaxed and simple piece of clothing that isn't too glamorous and so fits my theme and the narrative of the film.

She will also wear black skinny jeans, again these are relaxed and simple, and so fit the theme of the film

 Also, my actorwill wear black classic dr.martens, shoes which are popularly worn by skinheads and are part of British culture. This emphaisies the fact the film is British and that Helena has taken inspiration from the skinhead style. 

Planning- Animatic

An animatic is an animated storyboard that is used to preview what a clip will look like. Animatics are used widely in media industries to test films,commercials, video games etc. I will be creating an animatic for my title sequence as part of my planning to get an idea of what I want and it will help when it come to shooting. I'll be drawing a storyboard and then scanning it in where it will be but on Final Cut pro to be put together. Here is my animatic:

Editing -Chosen song

This is my chosen song which I found on Audio Network, a website for un copyrighted music. It's from the genre of urban trip-hop. The beginning of the song starts off as the recurring drum beat thats is played through out the song, it is then followed by the dymanics of the other compontents that make up the body of the instrumental after the musical rest of the introduction. The strong drum beat allows the intensity to build and may be a music technique to perhaps immertate a human rate beat. The drum beat shares similarities with solider marching, this may also be a techniques that the Composer, David O'brian, has used to incorporate the elements of fear and tension. I believe that this is the right song choice for my title sequence as the intensity created will add to my narrative, my camera movements and the genre. My genre is drama, and so dramatic music will fit well.

Song Choices

These are the songs I've found on Audio Network that I have to chose from.

Cold City by David O'Brien

This urban trip-hop song is fast paced, it has a strong drum beat that builds intensity and so will be good for a genre of drama.

Ghetto Nightmare by Dave James

It has a moderate tempo, the strings are plucked and short, as well as high pitched to add a sharpness to the feel of the instrumental. I believe this could also be a good candidate for my soundtrack due to the moderate tempo; It's not too fast but not too slow.

Film Re-pitch

Film pitch 2 from jasminelecomber

Film Pitch-feedback

Film Pitch- Presenting

Title Sequence Setting

I've decided where I'd like to film my title sequence, which is Thamesmead(a council estate in South-East London which is soon too be knocked down). The reason for this location is it's appearance, it's gritty and the architecture is dull and grey. These aspects link to the idea of 'social realism', which I want to look at, as the buildings show poverty( they're not very nice looking and looks like a council estate, which is usually provided by the council for people who can't afford housing. The area has a real character too it, it's different to a usual road with houses on, and it's easy to find unusual abandoned objects and graffiti. Whilst looking there was also alleyways and quite spaces. Here are some images I took:

Equipment for filming

I will be filming my title sequence on a DSLR camera, with HD quality. DSLR's aren't too difficult to use but are good quality and easily portable. With the sound quality, I won't be using dialogue and so recording sound won't be a problem as this will be added in post-production. The camera I'll be using is the Canon EOS 1200d with a 50mm lens:

I'll be using the 50mm lens instead of just a normal one as it allows for a shallow depth of field, meaning my subject will be more in focus and background blurred. However, I may use the standard lens as for some shots I may want the whole shot on focus. 

I will be using a tripod for some partsas even the tiniest shakes can look bad. However, I will also do some filming handheld as shakes and sudden camera movements can be effective and can be in sync with the non-diegetic sound.

For shots where the subject is running, I can use a steadicam to keep the camera smooth: 

Title and Credits font

This are my options of font for my title and credits that I found off dafont.com. I printed the ones I liked then asked my peers to vote on what one they think would suit my genre the most, the most popular was the bottom option 'HACKED' so I thought I'd try this one first.

Film Title choices

Here are some options for the title of my film:

NASTY NASTY- Inspired by a song by The Prodigy, it's quite gritty and indicates violence and bad behaviour. It fits with the narrative of my film but may be to loud.

Declension- meaning declining or deterioration, this linking to my narrative as the main character comes to a downfall in her life. 

Downfall- simply meaning a loss of status or prosperity, similar to declension. Again, it links to my narrative as the main character comes to a downfall in her life.