'The Woken Woods' - Completed Film Opening

Here is the final edit of our opening scene:

Here is a screenshot of the entire timeline of 'The Woken Woods' including video, audio, effects and titles:

Preliminary Task:

Evaluation (Questions 1-7)

Construction: Music

I have edited non-diegetic sound in order to create soundtracks, sound motifs and sound bridges, resulting in incidental music - in this case, the music/sound effects enhanced the eerie factor within the opening 2 minutes of 'The Woken Woods'.

Here are all of the sounds that I used to produce the music:

0:00 - Jacobs ladder electricity

0:02 - Humming electricity

0:09 - Low, soft eerie, harsh sounds on top

0:26 - Criminal radio 

By including a radio discussing murder in the first scene, it alludes to the nature of the rest of the film.

0:46 - Radio static

Radio  static creates an uneasy feel within the audience; they are unable to access all of the information provided by the broadcaster. Additionally, by adding static it allowed me to cover up words spoke by the broadcaster that didn't fit in with the plot of the film.

1:08 - Guitar, chirpy

The guitar music provides a binary opposition between the audiences original preconceptions of the film because, in the previous scene, the sound suggested that something bad was to happen however when the graphic match acts as a flashback, happy music is heard. This makes the audience confused.

2:00 - Heartbeat

3:16 - Ghost-like, woods

4:36 - Ultrasound

5:08 - Quiet crying

5:40 - Tension rise

5:55 - Uneasy guitar picking

6:10 - Creepy and windy (low)

8:49 - Creepy (high)

This is a screenshot of the finished audio for the opening 2 minutes:

For the audio transitions, I used an exponential fade in 
order to gradually decrease the volume of the previous track, allowing a smooth conversion into the next score. Here I have faded the sound of the ticking clock out, allowing the diegetic sound of the footsteps to be loud and clear.

In order to create tension to make the jump scare more tense, I added a constant gain to a low sound of symbols constantly crashing; by gradually increasing the volume of the music, it puts the audience on edge.

I have created a sound bridge in which the guitar, chirpy music fades out as the volume of ghost-like, woods gradually increases.

Construction: Sound Effects

This is an edit of our opening scene with all of our sound effects within it but it hasn't yet got music behind it.

 

Sound Effects

As we forgot to attach the mike into the camera for a scene, I had to import footstep sounds in the clip. I found this problematic; I had to attempt to match each footstep with the movement of the characters. I also faded the non-diegetic 
sound out to portray how they walked past the camera.

I added a ticking alarm clock sound alongside the countdown.  in order to make it more intense. I also managed to match the sound in time to the numbers ticking down.

Once I reviewed our footage, I realised that there was discontinuity regarding sound due to the wind being extremely prominent in one scene but hardly noticeable in the next. To solve this problem I selected the diegetic sound from the windy clip and copy and pasted into the rest of the scene to ensure that it was continuous.

Construction: Editing

This is a screenshot of the thumbnails of out footage, titles and music.

This is a screenshot of our unedited footage:

We then made choices deciding which clips to keep and which clips to discard of considering which shots were framed the best, had the best lighting, had the best sound quality and had the best line deliveries. We also chose to delete some scenes; they were unnecessary as they didn't provide the audience with any context or character.

We have edited the footage and cut it from 27 minutes to 1 minute and 44 seconds. This is only a first draft of our opening scene as we were mainly focusing on getting the correct clips and ordering the sequence of events. We have began experimenting with sound, visual/aural effects and titles however these will need to be developed on.

Construction: Visual Effects

Here I have a graphic match. The camera slowly zooms into the photograph on the newspaper and then, by using a cross dissolve transitions, the photograph turns into footage of the teenagers walking across the field.

The beginning titles all fade to black in order to create a flowing nature from one title to the next. The amount of black frames also help to create an eerie atmosphere before the viewing of the film has even begun.

The titles that appear as the film is occurring fade in and fade out providing a smooth transition - I did this by using an addictive dissolve to fade in the text and then a film dissolve to fade out the text.

Construction: Considering Titles

We have decided to overlap our titles over our footage; it creates a more interesting visual. In order to achieve the best titles suited for our film opening, we will need to consider the titles fonts, sizes and placement.

 Font: Chalkdust

I think that this font isn't suitable for our titles because it looks tacky and slightly childish - it doesn't give off a professional vibe.








Font: Chalkdust

I decided to use the same font but experiment with the sizes and placement of the titles. By doing this, I have realised that I want the titles to remain straight (not slanted) and for sizes to be the same.

Font: Avenir Narrow           

In comparison to the previous font, chalkdust, these titles look a lot more professional although they lack visibility.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   







Font: Avenir

This is the same font however I have adjusted the boldness of the letters so that they are readable. I like this font but I think it looks extremely bland.

Font: Courier New

I selected this font as it matches the newspaper at the beginning of the opening scene; it seems like an old-fashioned newspaper - it doesn't stand out though.






Font: Courier New

I have made our names bolder to make them the focus point - but this then makes the actual title not as visible.

Font: Courier New

I have made the title 'Edited By' bolder instead so the audience know what we've done, however now our names aren't as clear.






Font: Courier New


By making the entire title bold, it ensures that the audience can clearly read them. I then experimented with the placement of the titles. In this case, the titles cannot cover the lighter area due to the white font which blends in with the background.


           
                                                                    Font: Courier New


I then moved the titles into a darker area so the text had a large contrast against the background therefore becoming easily readable.

The Main Title

For our main title, we have decided to have a font which features the theme of the woods within it in order to emphasise the significance of the woods.

OPTION 1 - This font is striking and bold however I don't think it fits with the genre of film; it 

                     looks more fitting for a light-hearted film rather than a horror.

OPTION 2 - The twisting branches within this font helps convey the eerie nature of the film.

                    As well as this the font is extremely bold and would stand out.

OPTION 3 - Although this font incorporates the mysterious factor into the opening scene, it  

                    may not stand out against the background due to the white lines overlapping      

                    black letters.

OPTION 4 - The font, though it is of a wooden theme, looks more like planks which doesn't   

                    express the ideology of a creepy forest. It also isn't as distinct compared to 

                    other fonts because white is the prominent colour.

This is out selected title:

Construction: Evidence of Filming

Here are the bloopers from the opening two minutes of 'The Woken Woods':

Planning: Practising with the Camera

For my film opening, I have decided to record with a  Canon eos 100D. In order to experiment with focus pulls, zooming and different shots and movments, we practised with the camera.

Planning: Filming Schedule

A filming schedule is a plan of what dates/times and locations your cast and crew will be doing the filming part of the production in addition to how many scenes or shots you're aiming to shoot in the time frame you have set. It is also important to make note of what cast member are needed for different scenes and what crew is required for each day which ensures that everybody knows when and where they are needed.
This will make the filming process a lot easier for us as we will have set an organised plan of what we need to achieve each day of filming so we are using the time we have efficiently.

Location for both days: The quarry

Day 1: Thursday 18th February                                      Day 2: Friday 19th Feburary

12:00 - 15:30pm                                                              13:00 - 17:00

Shots/Scenes to be shot:                                             Shots/Scenes to be shot:

All of the Daylight scenes.                                              Any of the shots we may not have                            

                                                                                        had time to shoot and the dusk                                       

                                                                                                            scenes. 

Cast and crew required (both days): 

Cast

- Jack

- Rachel

- Tom
- Neave

- Ashley

All of the cast is required for these scenes in order to establish their relationships and personalities in the opening two minutes. 

Crew

- Charlie

- Julia

- Leah

All three of us need to be present during the filming process as we need one person filming, one person holding the boom microphone recording the audio and the third person will need to prompt the actors with their lines and will need to refer back to the shot list. 

Planning: Mise-en-Scene

Mise-en-Scene is an important element within a film; it enables the audience to decipher the visual codes and create impressions on the characters based on their costume.

Here we have listed each characters costumes and our reasonings behind them, as well as including the props and equipment our group will need on the day:

Planning: Producing A Shot List

 A shot list acts as a checklist and schedule which ensures that all of the shots we need get done. As well as this, it can help us with organisation; we may be able to bunch shot numbers together when filming in different locations, which means we are using our time more efficiently. 

Here is our shot list for the opening scene of 'The Woken Woods':

Shot No.	Shot	Movement	Angle	Details
1	Establishing shot	Shakiness		The camera is behind the group so the audience can see them walking towards the woods.
2	Long shot	Tracking backwards		The camera is now in front of them.
3	Mid-shot	Crabbing sideways		Closer to Adrian who is on the phone with his mum. Zac is behind him who gradually comes into focus to show how he is mocking Zac.
4	Mid-shot	Horizontal arc		The camera moves to face the front of the pair.
5	Close-up	Crabbing sideways		Make sure it is obvious that Adrian is talking to Zac.
6	Crane shot	Panning	High angle	Camera goes from looking down at the group to the woods.
7	POV	Shaky		Looks around trees and the group.
8	Long shot	Shaky, focus pull		From inside of the forestry. Leaves go in and out of shot.
9	Mid-Shot	Shaky		The group are going into the trees near the campsite.
10	Extreme-long shot	Panning around		See the group walking towards the campsite and it also shows the rest of the campsite.
11	Extreme close-up			Damon is sharpening a stick.
12	Long shot		High angle	Adrian and Zac are chilling in their tent.
13	Mid shot	Zooming forwards		Inside of the tent. First jump scare – Alona pops thro  ugh the tent flap.
14	Close-up			Adrian and Zac’s reactions.
15	Mid shot			Outside the tent of Alona laughing.
16	Long shot		High angle	Shows Stephanie struggling with her tent.
17	Mid shot			Stephanie carries on ranting.
18	Over the shoulder		High angle	Stephanie tells Damon off. Damon is laughing (you can see his shoulders moving)
19	Close-up			Damon carries on laughing.
20	Mid shot	Panning to the side		Camera pans from Alona to Stephanie.
21	Over the shoulder		High angle	The camera is behind Stephanie looking at Damon.
22	Close up		High angle	Camera is facing the campfire.
23	Long shot	Horizontal arc		Camera rotates around from the campfire to reveal the rest of the group seated around.
24	Close up			Directed at Alona when saying ‘guys’
25	Mid shot			Directed at the others for their response to Alona.
26	Long shot			Rest of Alona’s sentence. Shows most of the group.
27	Mid shot	Zoom in		Camera goes from a mid shot to a close up of Alona
28	Mid shot			Camera faces Adrian.
29	Mid shot			Camera faces Zac
30	Close up			Adrians reaction.
31	Mid shot			Camera faces Damon.
32	Long shot	Zoom in		Shows Damon and Stephanie with a mysterious figure in the background who is later revealed as Zac.
33	Long shot			Camera faces Alona.
34	Mid shot			Shows all the reactions of the teenagers.
35			Worms eye view	Shows the group huddled around.
36	Mid shot – over the shoulder			Shows Alona talking to the group
37	Mid shot –over the shoulder			Shows Zac responding to Alona
38	Mid shot – over the shoulder			Shows Alona speaking
39	Close up			Adrian’s face looking at his phone
40	Extreme Close up			Shows Adrian’s phone with the time set to 12;04 just before it dies
41	Extreme Close up			Of his mouth saying “Crap” from the profile of his face. (You can see his breathe)
42	Mid Shot			Of both Stephanie and Damon sitting together
43	Mid shot	Horizontal arc		Camera is just behind Alona but the others are in view looking at her as the camera urns to focus on Alona face as she speaks
44	Mid shot			Of Zac flexing
45	Close up			Adrian looks disgusted about Zac.
46	Mid Shot			Stephanie and Damon exchange glances.
47	Mid shot			‘As I was saying”
48	Mid shot			Zac being defensive.
49	Close up			Side of Alona’s face. Finishes the rest of the sentence.
50	Over the shoulder – long shot			Can see Stephanie over Alona’s shoulder.
51	Mid shot			Adrian ‘Not mine please’.
52	Close up			Shh
53	Long shot		High angle	View from outside the circle looking in.
54	Long shot			View from outside the circle looking in.
55	Long shot			View from outside the circle looking in.
56	Long shot			Facing towards Stephanie, Damon and Adrian to show her screaming.
57	Mid shot	Pans to the right		Zac speaks, the camera then moves up to Damon.
58	Close up			Adrain – ‘can we just get this….’
59	POV of Adrian			Everyone nodding, Stephanie looks unsure.
60	Close up		High angle	‘Is anyone here”
61	Extreme long shot	Shaky		View from the trees into the campsite.
62	Long shot			Stephanie stands up and starts ranting. Proceed to film this from other angles until twig snaps.
63	Close up			Alona’s head slowly swings round.
64	Long shot	Shaky		Camera is within the woods looking in at the campsite. Everyone’s heads swing round.
65	Long shot			Side view of everyone standing up.
66	Long shot			Side view from the other side of everyone getting slightly closer to the location of the sound.
67	Mid shot			Shot of all of them from the front, looking out.
68	Mid shot			Shot of Damon.
69	POV			Damon is looking out into the woods.
70	Extreme close up			Damon turns on a torch.
71	POV			The torch comes into shot; he shines it around the trees. Something pops up
72	Mid shot			Camera is behind Damon but slightly to the left so when he stumbles backwards you can see his facial expression.
73	Close up			Damon from the front
74	Mid shot			Both Stephanie and Damon in shot. Stephanie says her line.
75	Mid shot	Crabbing		Damon ignores her and stumbles forwards.
76	Long shot			From the tree line Damon is seen trying to get his torch to work as it flashes.
77	Extreme close			Damon’s eyes.
78	Close up			Damon’s head looking around. Only the voice and his breathe can be heard.
79	Mid shot			Stephanie getting closer to Damon as she shouts for him.
80	Mid shot			Stephanie turns Damon around.
81	Close up			Damon and Stephanie are facing eachother, profile of their faces. Campfire can be seen in between them.
82	Over the shoulder			Over the shoulder of Damon. Stephanie says ‘Look at me’
83	Over the shoulder			Over the shoulder of Stephanie. Damon makes eye contact.
84	Close up			Profile of Stephanie and Damon’s heads. Fire in the background distinguishes.
85	Mid shot			Of Adrian, Zac, and Alona
86	Mid Shot			Of Damon and Stephanie but can see the others in the background.
87	Crane shot		High angle	All characters in view.
88	Mid shot			Adrian suggesting to get torches
89	Close up			Damon’s face as he hears the voice again. Not in focus is Adrian running to his tent to get a torch.
90	Over the shoulder			Over the shoulder of Zac we see Damon turning his head asking if anyone else can hear the voices.
91	Mid shot			The rest of the teenagers are seen, Alona says her line.
92	Close up			Stephanie’s face from the side, see her breathe as everything goes silent after she whispers her line
93	Close up			Adrian’s face saying his line, can see his breathe.
94	Mid shot			Zac starts talking at Damon. ‘Damon quit it’
95	Close up			Damon beginning to turn.
96	POV			Damon staring into the camera.
97	Mid shot			Of Damon and Zac. Damon is slowly getting closer.
98	Over the shoulder			Able to see Zac.
99	Over the shoulder			Able to see Damon. Stephanie rushes us. Damon pushes her.
100	POV	Shaky	High angle	From Damon’s POV. Stephanie is on the ground.
101	Extreme close up			Extreme close up of hand. Camera is behind Damon.
102	POV			POV of Damon. Everyone is trying to calm him down, suddenly their facial expressions change and they look scared.
103	Mid shot			Camera from the side. Damon strangles Zac.
104	POV			POV of Damon strangling Zac.
105	POV			POV of Damon. Camera is tilted on the floor as he was knocked out. Camera slowly begins to get up.
106	Long shot			Damon gets to his feet.
107	Close up	Shaky		Shows Damon looking confused.
108	POV			POV of Damon. See’s his scratches, cuts and bruises.
109	Mid shot / crane	Focus pull	High angle	Starts off with a mid shot, as Damon turns around the camera focuses onto the background where the bodies can be seen.