Health & Safety Considerations

As our film features some violence - due to the riot theme - and also some props which can be dangerous, we need to consider all the health and safety aspects whilst filming.

Locations

The Den 

The Den will actually be quite safe as it is set in Colette's living room. However, whilst setting up the scene, we need to be aware of the weights of furniture we are moving, and be careful around any objects which may be hidden. 

Heavy furniture like the sofa can be hazardous

The Newsroom

The newsroom will be quite safe also. The only time we will have to be particularly careful is when we are setting up the props and room. 

An example of a newsroom (BBC)

Roaming Locations

Roaming locations are when we are outside filming the faux riot scenes. For example, in one of these locations, we will be making a fire. For this we will have to be very careful for. We will need supervision for this and will have to have a fire extinguisher on standby. Also, we will need to make sure the fire is very small. Also in these roaming locations we need to be aware of any traffic on the roads, and any pedestrians or animals. 

Fire extinguisher

Props

Some of the props we need to use will be hazardous and we will need to take extra care with. These are below:

A very sharp knife

In one of our cross cutting scenes, we will be using a very sharp knife. For this we must take extra care, as otherwise it could cut someone or seriously injure someone. We will also be using a chopping board to ensure the location we use will not get damaged. 

The knife 

Matches 

When we use the matches (for a scene which involves lighting a hob), we will have to be extremely cautious. Matches could cause a fire to break out, as well as injury to the people around them. To be safe, we will only strike them when absolutely needed, and will make sure that the person who uses them knows exactly what they are doing with them. Also, there will be a fire extinguisher near by just in case a fire breaks out. We will also use extra long matches to make them safer. 

Matches

Hob 

The hob will be hazardous as if left on gas will leak out, which is very dangerous. Also, when it is lit, we will need to be cautious of the fire. To improve safety around this, we will make sure the work surfaces surrounding it are clear and nothing that could catch fire would be near it. Also, we will make sure that it is not left on or turned on without absolute need. 

Lit hob 

Lights 

The lights we will be using to film some scenes in our film will be very hot and therefore could cause burns to someone. Therefore, we will make sure the lights are not on unless needed so they do not overheat; no one will touch them without the gloves on; they will be no where near anything flammable; and they will be used with extreme care. 

Lighting 

By Shannen

Sound Design

Now we have a clear idea of the shots that we are going to be using and the scenes in our short film we can start deciding on sound which we want to use. We will be adding non diegetic sound over the top of the exsisting diegetic sound to reinforce and strengthen the sound. These are a few ideas which we could use.

Soundtrack- We are not going to be using much music in our film until near the end. We want the opening credits and scenes to have an eerie feel to them, and in doing this we will keep the opening credits silent except for the sound of fires. Soundtrack we will use is:

• Newsreport opening and closing jingle
• Lighthearted, pleasant music at the very end of scene 10 and into the credits after the 'reveal'

Foley- Folie effects will allow us to manipulate the sound better and experiment with our own recordings instead of using sound effects already on the computers. We will mainly use folie for the fast cuts in the cross cutting sequence in the grannies' home:

• Match being struck
• Pan being put on stove
• Cane falling on floor
• Knife on chopping board

All of these sounds are particular to our film so they would be hard to find on the stock sfx on the Macs. Also, folie effects allow us to add on extra sound, as the diegetic sound in the film may not be loud enough for the effect we are trying to create.


SFX- We will use the pre uploaded sounds on the Macs when we need simple, ambient sounds or sounds to add over the similar exsiting ones. These will include:

• Men shouting during riot scene
• Screaming during riot scene
• Fire during riot scenes and opening credits
• News report opening and closing jingle (we may make this ourselves)

Likely issues-

• The sound effects that we need are not available in the stock sounds on the Macs and we have to create our own folie sounds for them
• Health and Safety- we have to be careful with the sound recorders when recording folie for the match being struck

By Colette

Audience

Expected Audience

Our expected audience's gender is actually both male and female. This is because the genre of comedy generally can be enjoyed by both sexes. Also, the riots element would attract more males, as it has an action element. 

Our expected audience's age is from 15-24. This is because the riots were based around youth and teenagers. However, elder people might enjoy our film too, as the ending is quite light hearted and funny regarding the older generation. 

Finally, our expected audience's social class would be working class. This is because this is primarily who was in the riots. Also, the grannies at the end are working class too, so the audience can really relate to all of the characters. 

Expected Viewing Platforms

Ideally, our film would be screened online through social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, and on Youtube. This is because our expected audience is the younger generation, and the best way to contact them is through social media. 

This is just like the initial release of Paranormal Activity.

 

  Paranormal Activity trailer 

By Shannen

Animatic

Below is our animatic. We drew each shot by hand on sticky notes. Then Colette filmed them whilst talking through them.. The animatic was then edited by Shannen.

Media Language

Recap: "Media Language refers to the tools used by any text to communicate meaning. Each media text is a collection of Signs, Codes and Conventions that communicate meaning and generate responses for the consumer."

Some of the techniques we are going to use for our film are:

Cross Cutting: This is a technique that we used in our Foundation Portfolio film last year. We are using it this year to speed up the action and create enigma. It will also make the audience question what they are seeing and wonder what is happening next.

Cross cutting can be seen in the 'Gumtree' advert at 0:04

CCTV Style Footage: This will be a challenge for us as it's a technique neither of us have tried before however it will work very well if we get it right. We want to create the feeling that the rioters are under surveillance by the CCTV cameras.

There are a lot of tutorials on YouTube to help to create CCTV style footage

Handheld/Mobile Phone Shots: For the shop looting scene we will use handheld, shaky camerawork. This fits the connotations of a social realism film- in the riots people filmed what was going on on their phones. We will try to use an iPhone for this but if the quality is bad we will resort to using a handheld film camera.

TV Interference: We want to use this on the TV during the Establishing shot. It will create a slightly creepy feeling to the film. We liked this idea after we saw it on the opening credits for Paranormal Activity.

The credits (at 1:30) show the 'interference' technique we wish to try

Action and Enigma Codes: We will be using  various action and enigma codes, as seen in Roland Barthes' theory of Narrative Codes. These can be seen HERE in our Narrative post.


By Colette

Narrative

Recap: Narrative is the order of events e.g. different scenes. Story line, directing the audience, how the stories told, structure. Can be used to push things to the audience.

Throughout our film we are going to use restricted narration. We are going to hide the identity of the rioters from the audience until the very end. This will keep the audience hooked and wanting  more and will also create a comedy effect when the characters are revealed at the end of the film.

At first we decided on a chronological, linear structure to our film, however we used this narrative style for our Foundation Portfolio last year and we wanted to experiment with something more complex. After much deliberation we decided on a circular narrative. This will allow us to show the end of the story at the beginning of the plot and in doing so, we hope this will create an enigmatic feel. The credits will show the destruction to the streets after the riots, although in the story this happens at the end.

Examples of Circular Narrative in popular films:

• Pulp Fiction
• The Orphanage
• District 9

As the narrative is non linear, we will be using cross cutting from the riots and from the old ladies' house. Although these events are not happening at the same time in the story, they will work well together in the plot to create a fast paced, disorientated feel.

David Bordwell and Kristen Thompson- The Difference Between Plot and Story
Their theories say that the plot works around the story. The plot involves various plot points throughout the film but can miss out information from the story to create different effects on the audience. for example, films of the Thriller genre often miss out parts of the story (restricted narration), to create enigma and suspense.

Our film will support this theory- certain events are hidden from the audience to hook them and leave them wanting more.

Roland Barthes- Action and Enigma Codes
Roland Barthes theory states that film makers use 5 Narrative Codes. Two of the most useful were 'Action Codes' and 'Enigma Codes.' These are used mostly in restricted narration. Action Codes are codes used to tell the audience that action is about to take place. They enable us to "engage actively by predicting the plot." Enigma Codes are a mystery in the text,"a question raised by the text that the spectator is motivated to answer by close and active engagement with the narrative."

We are using a lot of enigma codes in our short film. They will mostly take place in the cross cutting scenes where we see extreme close ups of objects inside the old ladies' house (knife, walking stick, match.) As we are unable to see what they are (extreme close ups) they look threatening and cause enigma. 

The plot of our story is set up to create enigma and suspense through a non linear narrative. This will build the audience up to expect a terrifying end to the story which will contrast with the shock comedy ending. 

Brief Overview of the Plot:

Scene 1:Inside of grannies' living room. 
Scene 2 :News Report
Scene 3:Close ups in grannies' house (hob, match,pan.)
Scene 4:News Correspondent and Riot Footage (and stock footage)
Scene 5:Close ups of Knife etc
Scene 6:News Correspondent and shop looting
Scene 7:Close ups (walking stick, shoes)
Scene 8:Wrap up of news report
Scene 9:Track out of TV and into grannies' house
Scene 10:Revealing the grannies!


By Colette

Animatic filming

We are currently filming our animatic! Yay!