12B Pablo Fernandez: 2016

Friday, 25 March 2016

THE END

My coursework has sadly come to an end, however i have learnt a lot throughout the whole course, from editing to directing a full scale movie. Some mistakes were made along the way but nonetheless we learnt from them and hope to improve for next year.

Evaluation question 5 - How successful is your product?

Response to video:

I agree with the view of the project’s initial idea being interesting and creative, while the outcome ending being under the required standard. However, I think that the outcome wasn’t that far off from the original idea, with the time constraints having the most damaging effect on the film’s production value.

These time limitations, caused by the vehicle renting service, also rushed our camerawork. We were unable to create match on action sequences as our camera crew could not film from multiple angles for a number of reasons. One being the limited number of cameras, while the other being the limited number of vehicles from which we could have filmed, as most vehicles during the chase scene were being used by actors, and had to be captured by the camera.

On the other hand, we did include match on action elements in scenes where the use of vehicles was absent, such as the shot sequence of Nikita getting onto his quadbike. Also, shot length, angles and the zoom of the shots varied, presenting the actions of the characters from different perspectives.

The choice of soundtrack and sound effects was indeed good, which is what stood out as a positive factor according to the interviewee. I found most of the sound effects, cycling through numerous effects for gunshots, explosions and ambience. Me and pablo chose the soundtrack used in Mad Max: Fury Road, which made a good link between the two similar films.

Acting was not an aspect of the film which was considered as a primary target, as simply finding the right number of people for a cast was far more important. As said by the interviewee, acting would have been improved if our group would have revised the roles, and if we had time to practice doing the scenes on the set.

Special effects could have been reworked, modified and improved if more time was put into the visual effects process. Visuals such as explosions could have been twitched and adjusted, as well as motion- tracked to add aspects of realism.

Although the interviewee stated that the props looked realistic, while the katana was a great touch to the collection of the film’s arsenal, the sniper rifle was pointed out as being incomplete without its scope. Actually, the scope, was present on the firearm, which was a steam- punk telescope attached to the top of the rifle. Unfortunately, this attachment fell off while we were unpacking the weapon on the set of the film. As we could not afford to spend time fixing the gun, we decided to keep the weapon without its scope.

Edited by jack

Evaluation Question 4 - How did you integrate technologies-software, hardware and online- Into this project?

Edited by me

Evaluation Question 3 - How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

Drawings by Nikita, editing by me

Evaluation question 2 - How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed?

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Evaluation question 1 - How does your product use or challange convetions and how does it represent social groups or issues?

Editing by Nikita

Editing setup

Alternate weapons

Created by nikita

Making of props

Created by Nikita

Thursday, 24 March 2016

Filming: Day 2

Filming day 2

For the second day we were much organized, people put on their props before shooting and renting the quad bikes. We had a better idea of were to put the camera aswell as being more organized with the props

Peopleputting on props before filming

People got to their positions faster

More organized setup

Plot Summary

Our film "quicksand" is a post-apocalyptic film set in the near future and portrays the empty wasteland which humanity has created through unknown consequences. this wasteland is portrayed through an empty desert, where every aspect of madness is emphasized, and every character having the need to survive by killing. As our project is only an intro for a film, it does not revolve around the plot too much, having the audience question the prologue of the setting and characters. Two groups of scavengers are presented in the intro, one being a large convoy transporting valuable goods, These goods are the aim of the second group, who are introduced to the audience as a recon squad, waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike while waiting and observing in silence. In contrast the larger convoy is introduced as a loud, not so thoughtful and professional gang. A key aspect of the project are props, which demonstrate the downfall of society through their rusty, dirty and hand crafted characteristics. Weapons also play a big role in the films intro, showcasing the last of mankind's resort-killing and destruction. The weapons have similar rusty and homemade looks to match the post-apocalyptic theme. Our film starts off with the convoy driving by with each of the convoys members introduced. The next scene presents the swift recon team observing their enemies. A member of the recon team then executes a gunner in the convoy, initiating the action within the intro. Two other members of the second squad begin to head towards the convoy using their quad bikes, who collide with the convoys defense. Demonstrating the arsenal provided by ongoing wars in the wasteland, a passenger in the convoys dune buggy pulls out a grenade launcher, executing a member of the recon squad. The launcher-wielder is then shot by a sniper who is providing covering fire for the recon team. A member of the convoy who uses a katana blade to kill the recon teams second member, prompting the sniper who is also the recon leader to drive down using his quad bike. After executing all members of the convoy apart from their main driver, the two character collide in a gun duel, with the intro ending just as the shot is fired.