BLACKOUT Final Film Opening

This is our final cut of the film opening.

We're allowing there to be freedom to change small things once we have some more feedback, though we may not need to change anything.

Work in Progress- Rough Cut 2

This is our second rough cut for the film:

Changes we've made, and what we'll work on:

• Fixed the ending- added in the right diegetic sound for each clip and cleared up the music for the ending
• The beginning music still didn't sound right as it felt too jolted, so we've decided to use the stems for the track in our to gradually layer up the sound and to make the transition between present day and flashbacks smoother. As you can see, it's still a work in progress.
• We need to alter the jump cut transition from the second flashback to the present- make more of an impact.
• We'll use the melody during the ident as well, so everything flows well in the opening.

Work in Progress- Rough cut 1

This is the first rough cut to our thriller opening.

Audience reaction:

• They liked how the colours and lights looked in the street, and that it aqppeared to be very cinematic
• They enjoyed the shallow depth of field the lense provided (Canon 550D with an F1.4 lense created this effect)
• The flashbacks were constructed well as it was clear that it was an event in the past.
• They suggested the first soundtrack should continue through the first flashback else it becomes anti-climactic and jolted.
• instead of the hump cut back to the present it should be edited so that the hand comes into the frame as the other leaves, else it also looks too jolted.
• The editing is slightly unclear due to sound, but as it was unfinished this didn't help- we think that with the voicemail and the finished edited sound will make it easier to understand. 

What we are aiming to improve/finish: 

• Add filter on golden hour flashback so the colours are richer and warmer
• Clear up diegetic sound at the end: at the moment we only have the sound on the film the had been recorded on he camera not the microphone
• Sort out the ending- with diegetic sound of the voicemail to fit the visuals
• Play around with sound levels to build tension at the appropriate times
• Finish and import the ident
• Add graphics and end title

Prelim Task

This preliminary task was filmed back in October. We learned how to use:

-180 degree rule
-match on action
-shot reverse shot

Final Ident

After filming another version of our practice with a simpler image, we decided to go with our practice as we felt it looked more effective. The title has been edited so it appears on top, and rotated the clip so that it fits the frame. We will take out the sound in the final edit. 

Storyboard for Opening

Shot List

indent- fade to black. And sound bridge will be heard of cars driving and then the first shot will be seen.- fade to black. This black screen will have a sound bridge of cars driving.l then be s

1. Wide shot. Cars driving across the screen from both sides of shot - camera on the side of a busy road, with the protagonist sat at the bus stop on the opposite side. All diegetic sound is heightened.

2. Medium close-up. We are on the same side of the road as the young woman now, the camera at positioned at the end of the bus stop bench. Protagonist seen on left, traffic seen driving past on the right.

3. Close up. The woman's face is seen, her eyes glance to the right. She stands up and begins to walk, her face hence removing itself from the frame.

4. (Soundtrack begins here, there is now no diegetic sound). Medium wide shot. Road on left, woman on right - walks from the right to the left of the frame.

5. Close up. Back of head and body - camera follows closely as she walks.

6. Close up. Face and front of body - camera walks with her.

7. Medium wide shot from behind as she turns corner to walk down her road.

8. Panning shot of feet walking.

9. Medium wide shot of her slowing down and stopping to look at the cafe sign.

10. Match on action to close up of face as she looks. (Different soundtrack begins here).

11. Eye-line match to the cafe sign.

12. Same shot of cafe sign, different light (golden hour flashback begins here).

13. Over the shoulder shot (from man's POV) of laughing/smiling face of the woman.

14. Close up of man's hands holding a coffee cup, pans up to his happy/smiling/talking face.

15. (End of flashback). (Soundtrack stops here). A key being put in the lock of the front door, key twists and unlocks door. All diegetic sound is now heightened.

16. Match on action shot to inside - camera is positioned in hallway, protagonist seen walking in.

17. Wide shot of woman walking through hall - camera positioned on left, she is seen both in the hallway and in the hallway mirror.

18. Long shot of the woman walking down the corridor to the kitchen; centre framed, silhouetted by the light from the kitchen.

19. (New soundtrack begins here). Medium wide shot as she enters the kitchen and takes her phone out of her pocket.

20. Close up. Match on action of her taking phone out. Looks through contacts and pauses on a man's name, then presses 'call'. (Diegetic sound can still be heard.)

21. Close up of head as she puts the phone to her ear. Dialling can be heard.

22. Medium close up of head and upper body - eyes move suddenly to focus on something behind the camera.

22. Eye line match to the kitchen side where a knife glints in the light.

23. (Second flashback begins, soundtrack becomes louder.) Medium close up of dark figure seen with a utility knife.

24. Extreme close up of blade/weapon.

25. Close up. The hand of this figure wields the weapon with an obvious intent to harm - the hand moves out of the frame.

25. (End of flashback). Close up of hand slamming on kitchen side, pans up arm to protagonist.

26. Close up of phone at ear - voicemail message is heard.

27. Sound bridge to black screen and film title as the answer machine sound beeps.