Short Film Production
(CDM 354)
To start off our final and main project of my first year, which is all on creating a short horror film, we started by looking at narrative structure within film; Whether being a classic 3 act structure (having a start, a middle and an end). Or more structured with 4 acts (having a set up, the rise towards action, the crisis and often a resolution or just the end), if the movie is much more detailed, therefore using a "Beat Sheet". From this, I used this knowledge to pick apart a few of my favourite movies and make a "Beat sheet" and engagement graph for each one- Including as a few notes on the overall plots as well.
Following on from narrative structure, we moved swiftly onto character development within film. Character development is the representation of a characters changes as the narrative continues. The development often ranges from things on a deeper level (such as the persons mental state, therefore changing their personality and frequent emotions, and even their likes and dislikes, which then affect their hobbies and day to day doings) or smaller but still important things (including social status or family structure). These traits and changes will occur throughout the show, usually due to a circumstance which also played out for the audience to watch earlier in the programme. Changes can be quick and simple, or overtime, and often help gain an audiences emotional connection to the character; Which is important to keep viewers engaged and sympathetic for the characters, often wanting to watch and find out more about these gradual changes.
With both character development and narrative structure understood, I was able to move forward onto creating a plot and ideas for my own short horror movie. The theme we were given was "Isolation", which I wanted to interpret in two ways; Feeling alone although company surrounds you, and covid as we were isolated through lock down. I created pitching slides of my film idea, using mood boards and a synopsis to help people vision my image.
From this, I then had to pitch my horror movie idea, using my slides, to my horror film group. I used my mood board, character outlines and other slides to help convey my idea, and recorded my pitch for evidence.
After pitching my idea to the group, and them also pitching theirs, we chose a main one to base our short horror movie off of; As well as linking in ideas and additions of everyone else's. We all really liked the idea of including reflections and mirrors, which became a definite add in to the horror film chosen. Then, from this, we started to combine and create- Making our first script draft for our short film, which we named "Copy Cat". This script was then added to and adjusted further into our deciding process.
Draft One
Draft Two
Draft Three
Draft Four
Draft Five
Before editing, and creating our final script, we made sure to gather some feedback from our peers and also one of the teachers. With others opinions in hold, we were able to tweak and add to our script so readers could fully understand what we had envisioned. Here are the peer review notes we were given:
Final Script
After our "Copycat" script was finished and finalised, with it also being looked over to make sure it was as good enough as we believed it was, I then made my group a short story board with all ten scenes on it. I made this story board on plain paper with a pencil, and a rubber at hand in case; And spent roughly an hour sketching it out, before scanning it onto my computer and turning down the brightness, as the sketch was fairly light and didn't show up well in picture. I chose to draw out each of the main shot/image of each scene, to get at least a clear vision of what I, and my group as I asked for their opinions with each sketch, had in mind shooting wise.
With our idea fully created and ready now, with each little thing, including character backstories had being thought through, we then began our individual visual treatments which were an overall breakdown each of our chosen horror movie idea. These visual treatments had to include a synopsis, mood board, character briefs, a log line and notes location- As well as these I also then added some scene inspiration from some well-known horror movies to help people visualise our story. My treatment lasted ten slides long, and to make it visually interesting and aesthetic, I added as many images as possible to help create a clear vision.
We then began to create all the needed documents for this horror movies unit; As well as including an audition script for our potential actors. This audition script consisted of things which were not in our final script, for we needed more dialogue to watch our potential actors perform.
Audition script
Daily Shooting schedule
Call sheet Tuesday
Script Lining
Kit list
Master Shooting schedule
Call sheet Wednesday
Risk Assessment
Shot list
Eighths
Call sheet Thursday
Recce
Call sheet Friday
Makeup HOD
Moving forward, we turned our shot list into a full shot by shot storyboard. For this, we drew out each individual shot to help us visualise the style which we all had in mind. Due to having an odd number of shots, some of our group who were much more comfortable at drawing were given a few more shots than others (Me drawing out 11, Sapphire drawing 9, and the others drawing out 8 each). We split out the script into six parts, and I got the last eleven shots of our shot list to draw out; Which I were extremely excited for as I had a clear vision of how I wanted the face tearing of our creature 'The Mimic' to look.
We then also made lighting diagrams off all the master shots within my groups shooting script. These diagrams included where we would be placing our filming and lighting equipment, as well as where other practical light sources (such as lamps and sunlight from windows) would be visible. We shared out the scrips master shots, and I were given the task of drawing the lighting diagram for Scene 5- The cereal scene.
With everything fully planned out and ready to get going, my group and I went to go and film. We had ourselves an actor, Angelique, who had responded to our audition script and been interested in the role of Molly and The Mimic- And fitted perfectly for the vision which we all had. Our location was the small Air BnB ran by one of the group members (Maddisons) neighbours, and we were filming for two nights but staying longer due to sound recording and practice time. After filming, once back, I began on my explanation of our filming days; In the behind the scenes write up and my evaluation.