Filming Day 2

07^th October (Sunday) – We filmed on the moors in Whitworth to get some establishing shots done hoping that if we film in the morning there wouldn’t be that many people around as well as the fact that it is a wide open area would make it look more barren. We got some extreme long shots done to create more atmosphere to set the scene for the film.

Filming Day 1

06^th October (Saturday) – We filmed a lot of interior shots inside a factory in Whitworth. A lot of the footage we filmed is very atmospheric and will be used in our final edit hopefully. As it were secluded, we were able to use the toy rifle without having to warn anybody, although a couple of kids came to play on their bikes in which we told them beforehand what we were doing so they didn’t get scared or startled. Tom was filmed primarily during the day with me and Max working on the filming and setting up the props and mise-en-scene for the location. As it was our first day recording, it took us a while to get ready but after the slow start we managed to film a lot.

Planning: Props

As our production is going to be a post apocalyptic genre film, it would be conventional for characters to have some form of protection as they navigate through an inhospitable environment with potential threat around every corner. Here, pictured left, is a toy rifle replica with detachable stock and barrel (in order to act within the law). Guns connote action, danger and risk which will all be part of our production - it can also be used in the trailer as an enigma code; why is the gun being shot? at who? It is also noticably worn, connoting years of use in a harsh environment, and is typically found in farmhouses and lodges - making it conceivable that it has been scavenged following the cataclysm.

We have ascribed different weapons to different characters for specific reasons; here we have Curtis as The General brandishing a toy replica of a Raffica because it is far more sophisticated and expensive piece of weaponry than the hunting rifle, leading us to infer that he is more affluent (in addition to the smarter clothing). Obviously in the production the toys will appear real.

Then we also have a brief shot where Tom has a broad metal pipe as a makeshift weapon. This further applies to our genre as real weapons will be sparse and more of a commodity than anything. It also bares connotations of survival, as you would expect integral in a post-apocalyptic environment.

 

We also utilised gas masks, opting for the cheaper industrial masks that don't fully cover your face so that you still gage who the character is and reduce connotations of horror and mystery, as gas masks are fairly disconcerting to look at, which we didn't want to be attributed to our main characters.  Again, this decision was made in congruence with aforementioned props chosen to illustrate the world as inhospitable. Numerous props are needed for this purpose considering we cannot simply show a wasteland environment as we haven't the means nor the manpower to create these. We have to interlink the few locations we have chosen with the props in order to generate the desired meaning for what is going on i.e. we cannot as effectively portray the world as ravaged and desolate with just a location but must accentuate survival and risk with weaponry and provisions for safety in order to stress that it is a post apocalyptic setting.       

                                                                                                    

When the group was searching through the abandoned factory location for areas to film in, we discovered a shattered box and an assortment of pictures flung across the room. Some of the pictures seemed to be family photos, most beset with water damage or worn by age. Considering they were just left there and neglected for years, we believed that taking one and using it in our production was justified as we planned to catch light to the picture with fire (in our garden/garage with plenty of water nearby) and film it slowly immerse with flames - and we couldn't do this with our own family pictures! It wasn't that we just wanted to pointlessly set things on fire like hoodlums since we had the idea since before filming. Not only is it quite an arresting shot, but it would provide significant character exposition within just a few seconds (ideal for trailers) but it creates strong, and equivocal, interpretations in the audience from it being symbolic of the main characters tragedy to it being a sign that his delusions of a reunion is diminishing, and so on. 

We incorporated a map into the Curtis scene to create connotations of management, strategy and tactics, all qualities an audience would expect of a 'villain' leader of the same ilk as government executive 'baddies' in espionage thrillers such as in the Bourne Trilogy. There are also photos pinned up to the board behind him, which we used to suggest that he and his organisation are taking a deductive approach towards capturing the hero characters, further reinforcing the inference that he is meticulous and wilful.

 However, contrasting from typical villains and calculated killers, we also, from the inception of the post apocalyptic idea, decided to implement subtle, and not so subtle, props to imply that the 'villain' is not as black and white as he may appear, and is in fact quite an idiosyncratic villain archetype. We added additional homely novelties and commodities from every day life nowadays to accentuate that Curtis's character is just a human being, a human being that enjoys a cup of tea in his favourite mug reading ''I <3  football'' every day, whilst laid back on his chair supported by a novelty cushion with a union jack printed on it (the irony being that he has had some part to play in Britain's remnants misery as his organisation are out for themselves and have little to no interest in aiding them, to the point that he will hunt down people that risk their discovery). They are existential, and hopefully poignant, reminders of world lost; a symbol of humanity enduring when there is so little left. 

 We didn't want to go overboard with props of this intention as it would risk making him risible as opposed to fearsome, and that is the complete opposite of what we wanted to go for. Instead, they are in juxtaposition to his real quite malicious actions and act as a glimmer of humanity, and sanity, which only makes his actions appear worse since the suggestion is that there is some hope for him - I got inspiration for this from The Governor character in The Walking Dead series and he is portrayed similarly.

 

Planning: Post Apocalyptic Conventions

Obviously it is imperative for a trailer to show variety in all its aspects such as location, shots and dialogue. We will achieve variety by using a POV shot from the main protagonist’s perspective, perhaps showing him running, an Establishing shot which scans across the environment in a panoramic sort of style and shots of destroyed/desolate buildings, dried up land, craters and forests which could show hope that perhaps life can continue as it once did.

The genre of our film will be a Post-apocalyptic thriller. Some key genre elements that we will employ are large panoramic establishing shots which will reveal desolate and neglected buildings, connoting death, desertion and devastation. We really want there to be an ambience of hopelessness coming from the locations we choose (grim weather is also needed). We will use Non-diegetic lines from the script over different scenes and will mention bible quotes within it as religion can be seen as hope and a light in the darkness. We will involve a nuclear explosion/ cataclysm at some point to allow the audience recognise what genre the film is and know a bit of what has happened in the film.

We have seen through analysis of this genre that costumes and props help bring believable settings and characters to life. To get across to the audience that the protagonist and other characters he meets along the way are living in a destroyed and desolate landscape, we will make them dirty and scruffy; with characters (maybe even the protagonist) having a dishevelled beard and plenty of winter clothing as obviously there will be adverse weather conditions. Other props will include food cans, bin bags and items that would be scavenged and used in a Post-Apocalyptic setting.

Other ways we will establish genre in regards to sound, will be a dissonant Post Rock song that begins melancholic, intermittently fades out for dialogue and then gradually builds tension to a heavy guitar crescendo. Non diegetic and diegetic lines of dialogue can cross over from scene to scene and can be used as slight narrative exposition. Sound effects such as explosions, gun shots and footsteps will also be added to again build tension and stimulate immersion in the films’ world. Regarding actual content of the dialogue, we have seen from many Post-Apocalyptic films and games, that hope is a big factor in a characters’ survival e.g. in The Book of Eli he carries a Bible and an iPod to keep him entertained, and in The Road the Father and son talk about God to keep them motivated to complete their journey. So we plan to use a Bible quote or two that relates to the narrative.

The key point of focus of our trailer will be the locations we use supporting the points of desolation, although we will expose some form of life other than humans which could also show hope and that there is a chance of survival. Another focus of ours is a time elapse of the sky, showing ever-changing weather conditions and environment.

Marketing points for our film will be that it has a bit of everything within it, such as a bit of action, drama, thriller etc. The director has done films such as ‘The Tester’ and ‘Obsession’ so he can bring in an audience due to his name being behind famous thrillers.

The film will first be shown in festivals such as the Sundance festival and the Cannes festival. It will then go to cinemas across the world being a worldwide release, to cut down on pirating. We would also have worldwide premieres to promote the film.

Our target audience for our trailer is most definitely an adult male demographic, due to subjects of violence, war and a detailed narrative. Usually more female orientated films will include romance and humour, as well as a classic ‘Hollywood’ narrative that is simple to follow, although we will broaden the appeal by showing variety in locations and scenes, containing action, humour and drama together. The film itself will continue to draw these elements together, as trailers that miss-sell the final product tend to annoy audiences and spoil initial high hopes.

Planning: Storyboard

Storyboard Finished from Kieran Brooks on Vimeo.

This is our storyboard for our film trailer. This will be used as a guideline for our trailer, however, our finished product may not look exactly like this due to some problems we may have on shoot.

Planning: Synopsis

Post-Apocalyptic

Following a global economic meltdown, hostilities mounted between the East and the West culminating in a Second Cold War. The Asian superpowers eventually severed most trade links with the UN, broadening the East's monopoly on world manufacture and trade and resulting in frozen foreign assets, heated dispute over goods and oil shortages. In the global turmoil, sporadic cases of societal breakdown cropped up worldwide, even to the extent of pockets of civilisation secluding themselves from others. With rule of law having been stripped of all credibility and the old times becoming more ethereal each passing second, people fight over diminishing resources as society and nature crumble to dust.

With the world already on the brink, a localised explosion occurs in Manchester, causing a calamitous uproar in the world stage. Then it happened. Noone, save a few, know exactly who started it, but all we do know is that the world has changed. Ravaged and war torn by weapons of untold annihilation, the remnants of humanity try to rebuild the broken world or, naturally, fight for what little remains. War never changes. A journalist bereft of his family, searches helplessly for reclamation when he finds a wandering soul who takes him under his wing upon recognising the journalist’s tenuous mental state. He too is emotionally damaged but, somehow, they make a perfect unity. The two plan to escape the quarantine but what they soon unravel is a myriad of lies, corruption and insanity.

Planning: Script

Excerpt of Nuclear Warning message by Harry Shearer for BBC

Radio Announcement from the Prime Minister: 

PRIME MINISTER

This is the Prime Minister. Stay in quarantine; I assure you, everything will be alright.

EXT. WATERFOOT - DAY

A conversation between the journalist (TOM) and the war veteran (MAX) establishing a relationship between them. 

TOM

       Friendly!?  

 

MAX

   I’ll be whatever you want for that can of beans

EXT. COWM RESERVOIR - NIGHT

Cuts to another conversation between Tom and Max at night around a fire.

TOM

I just want to escape this place, forget my past.

MAX

I know a way out, but I’ll always wander these wastes.

Montage of news report: 

NEWS ANNOUNCER

“Global economy is in meltdown. *Static* Food supplies short. *Static* Revolution is upon us.

INT. COWM RESERVOIR - NIGHT

Enclave sat in a room (any room with chiaroscuro lighting).He slams shut his laptop and then he marks a map whilst saying “they’re here” when pinning it. Then he cocks his gun.

EXT. COWM RESERVOIR - DAY

Montage of dialogue with a non-diegetic voice over:

MAX

            Tom? TOM!

TOM

We gotta leave!

Non-diegetic voiceover of Tom:

     TOM

I knew this place once. I knew these people, I knew these streets. I knew myself.

Planning: Sound

Sound including; soundtrack ideas & influences (any music used must be non-copyright, you need to have references to the composer, track name and website in your blog and you must acknowledge them in your tiles; sound effects; voiceover & dialogue.

Soundtrack

Acoustic: Pearl Jam – Masters of War

Post Rock: Sigur Ros, Helios, Explosions in the Sky, Isis, Album Leaf. Malabar Front or Roots From Needles – If These Trees Could Talk

Copyright Commons: Epic Soul Factory, Nine Inch Nails. Cloudkicker – I’ll Admit It I Was Scared, or #

Other: Red eye by Album Leaf, Behaviour – Shanghai, Johnny Cash – A Man Comes Around/ Ain’t No Grave and Gods Gonna Cut You Down. 

These choices will allow us to establish a mood and imply a structure in the trailer e.g. at the beginning the music is bleak and paints a miserable picture of the world and the Journalist’s life, but then by the end of the trailer there is hope, and the music changes to a more upbeat sound. The soundtrack will also cut out at certain points so we can hear dialogue, and important scenes etc.

Sound Effects

Perhaps a clip of a nuclear explosion or a nuclear warning system.

Sound effects of Nukes (possibly get them from games)

Children’s laughter.                       

Planning: Shot List

1. Shows Tom walking
2. Shows him scavenging
3. Shows him again
4. Pre-recorded footage
5. Panoramic shot of a desolate area
6. Shot of a wall/memorial
7. Bible quote graffiti’d on a wall
8. Shows Tom with Max (dialogue focused)
9. Shows enclave guy. (dialogue)
10. Really quick paced, gun fire, someone shouts a name and it goes black.
11. Shows a POV shot of Tom looking a photo
12. Extreme long shot of a deserted building
13. Close up of conversation
14. Medium shot of conversation
15. Over the shoulder shot
16. Running hand held with steady cam
17. Cuts to medium long shot of building
18. Zoom into a radio (radio announcement continues into next shot)
19. Top down shot looking down on Tom walking
20. Montage of dialogue – medium shot
21. Close up shot
22. Medium shot of curb stomp followed by
23. POV Shot of curb stomp in motion
24. Crab shot of location
25. Tracking shot
26. Panning shot
27. Shot of Tom checking corners
28. Comes round corner
29. Medium shot of food on counter/table
30. Quick POV pan from Tom looking at another door as a can being dropped can be heard. (cuts to black)
31. Title of the film appears
32. Low angle shot took from behind the door as Tom opens it.
33. Close up of his reaction (fade to black).(OR)
34. Over the shoulder shot high angle (looking at photo/memorial) then drops it.
35. Medium long shot of head raising and walking off into the distance (end with dialogue/bible quote.)

Planning: Cast, Costume and Character

Cast

Max- War Veteran who has moved to the blast area to scavenge

Tom- Freelance Journalist (Protagonist)

Kieran- Minor roles such as the News Reporter and Henchman

Curt- Enclave Leader

Costume

Black Jeans

 

 Walking Boots

 

 Bomber Jacket

War Veteran – Bearded, wearing ripped jeans, bomber jacket, toy rifle (looks like a hunting rifle), woolly hat, walking boots and paintball gloves.

Journalist- Casual style of dress, wearing trainers and contemporary clothing, however at different parts of the trailer he will be dirty and could be in different clothes. e.g. ripped shirt

Computer Hacker- Glasses, dirty patched shirts, a coat, boots, broken laptop in a carrier bag, and backpack full of supplies.

Enclave Officer- Formal attire consisting of a suit jacket, with white shirt, tie, black pants and polished shoes.

Each character has a different dress code, to connote who they are, e.g. protagonist changes from normal contemporary, freelance journalist to a wasteland dweller, looking more ‘beat up’ and filthy, hence connoting he has been there for a while. This gives some subtle narrative exposition as well as establishing the Post-Apocalyptic genre of the film.

Personality and Character

War Veteran- still thinks about his past and doesn’t want to consider what has happened. Believes in conspiracy theories involving the Government and has almost given up on life, and has lost all motivation for it due to his involvement in several conflicts, what he has seen cannot be undone; it haunts him every day.

Journalist- an Intelligent, witty and decisive young man who has not experienced anything like this due to living in a secure period of peace time. He is strong both physically and mentally, he uses this strength to overcome any obstacle. His prudence and sense of adventure can sometimes help, but sometimes hinder, being overly motivated and stubborn with his thinking, these are his fatal flaws.

Computer Hacker- although a control freak who is quite nerdy, his organisational skills, intelligence and dexterity with technology allows him to hack into and control parts of the blast area, he can also utilize exterior networks, giving him access to schematics for weapons and tools, maps of different locations.

Enclave Officer- Will play only a small part in the trailer, acting as the antagonist who seeks to prevent our two heroes from uncovering the truth. He is resourceful, highly dangerous, meticulous and deadly in his planning, using his network of contacts to complete his tasks for him.

The personalities of our characters are, like their costumes, meant to be different from one another to create variety throughout the trailer, they will also have to work together, which creates enigmas for the audience as to how they will do this. They are also, in some cases a bit stereotyped, but this allows easy identification of who they are and how they fit into the plot.

N.B. We have removed the computer hacker from the characters as we only have 1 minute and 30 seconds to get across the main characters and the most important narrative elements, although it is likely he would remain in the full film.

Characters in other Post Apocalyptic films

War Veteran:

 

Justin Timberlake plays Private Pilot Abilene, an Iraqi War Veteran in Southland Tales, which is a post apocalyptic film. He is mainly used as a narrator. This can be seen to be similar to our character of the War Veteran as he has been made cynical and wiser because of what he has seen.

Journalist:

The journalist was originally by the character of Frank West from the video game Dead Rising. Although the game is Post Apocalyptic, it more focuses on zombies; so obviously we had to change some aspects of the character. In the game he seeks to uncover the truth about the cause of the zombie outbreak, and we thought this was an interesting element to add to the character and the story.

 

Enclave Leader:

Gary Oldman plays the Villain (Carnegie) who is searching for the prize of the book. We used this for Curt's character as he seeks the prize of stopping Max and Tom from uncovering the truth. Carnegie also controls henchmen who do his dirty work for him; this is where we got the idea for a fight scene between Kieran as the henchman and Max.

As for his personality he is very controlling, harsh and shrewd in his shady business of controlling a town. He is portrayed like this through his dress of his suit connoting power and affluence which the hero does not have. The mis en scene in his office is also important as it further reinforces these qualities as well as his intelligence (as he reads a lot of books) and ruthlessness when it comes to handling his wife and daughter - this all inspired Curt's character and the mis en scene of his office.

 Dialogue examples

"The accelerated conflict in the Middle East placed significant restrictions on American access to oil. Alternative fuel sources became a lucrative commodity. Americans were transfixed by the terrorist's threat, and were willing to prevent another attack by any means necessary..."

"In the aftermath of nuclear attacks in Texas, America found itself on the brink of anarchy."