Filming Diary- 30th Fri Jan

I filmed some of the flashback scenes at my friends house. I had my friend's stage a party by dancing and drinking. This was easy to do since I'm going to edit music and hue over to look like party lights. However when editing I will need to make sure that they are okay with being used in the film otherwise I will have to cut out shots. I also improvised some beer pong shots which I will use in case space needs to be filled up when editing. To increase the chance that my friend's will let me use the footage, I used a lot of close ups and shaky camera. I didn't get all the shots since we didn't bring the tripod that day so I will hopefully use this weekend to get the rest of the footage before editing.

Filming Diary- 27th Tues Jan

I started filming the main scenes at my home with my boyfriend. We had to move photo frames and clothes to make the mise en scene look more urban. We got most shots but need more in the bedroom and bathroom. We got freehand and stable shots but I need to get more panning/ tracking shots to add variety. I on purposely took several shots even if I was happy with the first takes.
Overall we very loosely followed the shot list since I decided to change some shots but I feel the decisions were positive.
I had to film the phone to get the answer machine voice which took several times. I will have to edit the sound with the shots differently. When filming in one location I had to consider where other shots from the party location will show up. Next I'm going to film at the party location (my friend's house) to get the flashback shots which I will do on friday.

Filming Schedule

I am filming in two locations; my home and outside publicly. Most of the filming will be in my home since the other shots are flashbacks. For filming at home I will use Tuesdays and weekends, hopefully I will only need one or two days of filming. For the flashbacks and other various shots I will use this friday with my friends to stage a 'drinking party gone wrong'. I will simply film my friends drinking, which will add authenticity, so they should be easy freehand shots to get.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-Opening Credits

The opening credits start after twenty minutes much action and plot. Each credit fades after about 3 seconds of screen time like a memory and the time between one credit and the other is about 2 seconds. The key names are in caps lock to draw the audience to those more than their role in the film. 

The credits are right justified, versus the usual center justified credits.The name of the film comes in after the main credits to show the most important actors and producers of the film. I can use these ideas in my own opening credits.

 

1. FOCUS FEATURES presents 
2. an ANONYMOUS CONTENT production
3. in association with THIS IS THAT
4. JIM CARREY 
5. KATE WINSLET
6. KIRSTEN DUNST
7. ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND
8. MARK RUFFALO
9. ELIJAH WOOD
10. and TOM WILKINSON 
11. JANE ADAMS DAVID CROSS
12. DEIRDRE O'CONNELL DEBBON AYER
13. casting by JEANNE MCCARTHY, CSA
14. associate producers LINDA FIELDS HILL MICHAEL A.JACKMAN
15. costume designer MELISSA TOTH
16. music by JON BRION
17. editor VALDIS OSKARSDOTTIR
18. production designer DAN LEIGH
19. director of photography ELLEN KURAS, ASC
20. executive producers DAVID BUSHELL CHARLIE KAUFMAN GLENN WILLIAMSON GEORGES BERMANN
21. produced by STEVE GOLIN and ANTHONY BREGMAN
22. story by CHARLIE KAUFMAN &MICHEL GONGRY & PIERRE BISMUTH
23. screenplay by CHARLIE KAUFMAN 
24. directed by MICHEL GONDRY

Diary Post-Cinematography Practice

We practised panning the camera so that it following a person walking past the camera. It took several times to get the shot to be smooth, stable and to keep the person in frame. After five attempts I was able to get a good shot by telling my friend to walk slowly so that I could pivot the camera carefully whilst looking at the camera. The shot was successful in that it was smooth and my friend stayed in the middle of the frame the whole time. This was helpful for my final video since I now have practise and can consider how to use a panning shot in my film.

Practice angles and framing shots

We were given a task to turn a classroom into a dentist or hospital office. To do this we had to use props and framing to make a classroom to look like a dentist waiting room. We also practised angles such as a high angle and close up. This helped me consider my own film in terms of framing. I need my home to look as if the owner isn't too well off in terms of money so I have to use props and framing to hide expensive items that can't be moved.

Animatic Storyboard

This is my animatic for my film. I can tell that my shots will fit the amount of time allowed but I may need more shots to be able to edit them in time with the music. However my animatic is like a draft for my film; from doing this I can tell what else I need when I do the final shooting which is helpful to me.
From re-watching this, it feels very boring. Therefore, from using inspiration from 127 Hours, I will use more, interesting split screen throughout the film other than random moments.
I may change the music also. I am going to add a lot more split screen in more interesting ways and other locations. When making the animatic I didn't include intertitles but my intertitles shall include my chosen font and will move across the screen.
I may change the costume as it seem to be quite gothic and doesn't relate to young adults or teenagers as well as not showing the identity of my character.

Shot List

 This is the main outline of the events that will follow in my film opening. Despite only having around 30 shots the duration of my film will be about 2 minutes 12 seconds. There is less shots due to shots being placed together with split screen. Many of my shots are quick to engage the audience and to make the film appear exciting despite the mundane actions. The shots slow down in time towards the end to suggest the serious tone that the film will also have. I will probably add more shots and take out various ones from my animatic but overall the idea will stay the same. This will include more attention to the flashbacks as well as shots of the setting so the audience can gain a sense of the character and where she lives.

Mood Board

My  mood board highlights the main ideas and images that will be in my opening two minutes. This includes props, costumes, shots and colour schemes as well as actions.  My chosen images use common conventions from a drama film, including symbolic images from thrillers and action movies. The images also give clear indication that the main character in my opening two minutes is a female. I will have to hide expensive items or out of place items out of the shot by moving objects and using the right framing when filming.