Finished Production Company Logo!

This is my completed production company logo. It is a little different to how I wanted it to be. Instead of the butterfly landing on the dot of the first 'I' I decided to make it land on the top of the 'A' as this was more central and looked better. I found it quite difficult to do but found a tutorial to help me. However there were some aspects of the tutorial that I couldn't get to work so I had a play around with things until it looked right. For example, with the angles of the wings the tutorial gave me made the butterfly seem as if it was spinning rather than flapping its wings. so, instead of making them meet all the way I reduced the angle which made it look as if it was actually flapping its wings. I originally wanted the colour scheme to be black and white with a black and white butterfly but I realised that if I did that the butterfly would merge in with the background and look rediculous so I changed my mind and went for a baby blue colour instead. This could perhaps represent the sky and freedom or maybe a blue mood which may hint at what the films are like. Overall, I am really happy with my production logo and I am quite pleased that I actually managed to get it to work!

Fashion in the 1940's

Filming

Today I did number 2 of the storyboard. I filmed the postcards, pictures and letters that were on the table doing a panning shot with a zoom into a picture at the end. It was quite difficult to get the camera up high enough to get a birds-eye view of the photos even with the camera extended as high as it would go. So, I stood on a chair but made sure that the camera was level using the level bubble on the side. It took a few takes to get a good enough shot which I narrowed down to 2 different ones. The first shot pans more slowly across the table whereas the second goes much faster and zooms just at the end. This is so that if I need to fill a long gap in my clip, I will have a long enough shot to do that because it's always better to have too much footage than not enough.

Starting to Film!!

Even though I haven't found anyone to play the woman 'Marie' in my opening sequence, I thought that during the Christmas holidays I could film the parts that don't include the woman in them to get them out of the way whilst I have time and before my exams in January so, today I started to film the very first part of my opening sequence. After rearranging the furniture in the house to make sure nothing else was in shot, I managed to get 3 shots of the picture of the soldier zooming in and zooming out ensuring that I left enough time before and after the clip to use when I edit. Even though there was noise in the background, this doesn't matter as you can edit it out during the editing stage. Next, I will do the panning shot of all the old postcards, letters and pictures covering the table making sure that there isn't anything that shouldn't be in the shot in view.

Costumes for my Actors

 Obviously I need it to fit in with the era of my opening sequence to make it look much more authentic and realistic like it is actually filmed in the 1940's.
As finding clothes from the 1940's is quite difficult I decided to see what I already had available to use and made costumes adapted from what I already had. In addition I also asked people I knew to see if they had anything that i could use. From this I managed to get a fur coat to use in my film opening.
This is a list of the costumes that I will need for my actors:

Marie:

• Fur coat
• 1940's style dress
• 1940's style black court shoes
• 1940's style hair an make up

Woodchopper

• Boots
• Checkered Jacket
• White t-shirt
• Blue jeans

Audience Research

I did some research into my audience and to who I thought would be an appropriate target audience for my film. In my opinion I think that my film is targeted at women as it has a fairy tale element to it and I don't think that it would appeal to young teenage boys as they typically seem to like action and my opening sequence doesn't include much action.

I spoke to some people asking them questions to get some research on the kind of films that they like and what they look for in an opening sequence.

Person 1- Male, age 16

1. What kind of films do you like?
I like action films like fast and furious 5 as I really enjoy all the car chases and action involved in it. I also like comedies such as Pineapple Express as I find it really funny and it also includes lots of action too.

2. What is your favourite film?
My favourite film is fast and furious 5 because it has lots of action and car chases and also has the element of surprise as you aren't always sure where the storyline is going to go which I like.

3. What do you look for in an opening sequence?
I like opening sequences that don't give too much of the film away. I want to be left wondering what is going to happen.

4. Do you like period dramas?
No I absolutely hate them. I find them really boring.

5. Would you be interested in a period film?
No, not at all I think it would be really boring.

Person 2 - Female, age 16

1. What kind of films do you like?
I like romantic comedies.

2. What is your favourite film?
My favourite film is 'The Notebook'. I really like it because it has a lovely storyline which I love and it always makes me cry at the end.

3. What do you look for in an opening sequence?
In an opening sequence I like there to be hints of what the rest of the story may involve and how the storyline might develop but I don't want the whole film to be given away at the start.

4. Do you like period dramas?
Not really, they are a bit boring for me.

5. Would you be interested in a period film?
To be honest I really don't think I would be, like I said, they are a bit boring.

Person 3- Female, age 17

1. What kind of films do you like?
I like romantic comedies because they make me laugh and cry at the same time.

2. What is your favourite film?
My favourite film is Marley and Me because it makes me laugh with all the funny things that Marley does but makes me cry at the end when he dies.

3. What do you look for in an opening sequence?
In an opening sequence I like to have some idea of what the film might entale.

4. Do you like period dramas?
Period dramas don't really interest me. They are too old fashioned and boring.

After asking people of the same age as me it showed me that people of this age clearly are not the right audience for my film so I decided to ask some older people.

Person 4- Female. Age 46

1. What kind of films do you like?
I really like westerns and films set in the olden days.

2. What is your favourite film?
My favourite film is True Grit

3. What do you look for in an opening sequence?
I want the opening to hint at what the film might be like but not give too much away.

4. Do you like period dramas?
Yes, I watch them all the time. I watch Downton Abbey and Cranford. I really like them because the time era interests me and I really like the costumes that they wear.

5. Would you be interested in a period film?
I think I would be, I think it would be really interesting to watch.

Person 5- Female age 28

1. What kind of films do you like?
I like romantic comedies, comedies and films like that and good old fashioned disney fairytales.

2. What is your favourite film?
My favourite film is Mary Poppins because it is funny, happy and I love the costumes that they wear.

3. What do you look for in an opening sequence of a film?
I like opening sequences that leave me wondering what is going to happen.

4. Do you like period dramas?
Yes, I really like period dramas and I watch things like Pirot and Miss Marple all the time.

5. Would you be interested in a period film?
I think I would be because I like watching things from a different era.


Person 6- Male age 45

1. What kind of films do you like?
I like comedies and action films

2. What is your favourite film?
My favourite film is 'The holy Grail' by Monty Python. Its really funny.

3. What do you look for in an opening sequence.
I like something interesting to see in the opening rather than just some credits rolling across the screen and also I like there to be hints that suggest where the story may go.

4. Do you like period dramas?
Not at all, I hate things like that. I find that they are very very boring.

5. Would you be interested in a period film?
No. It would bore me too much.


After asking 6 different people about their opinions on what sorts of films they like. I have come to the conclusion that older women would be the target audience for my film as they seem to be interested in period dramas opposed to males of a similar age and younger people. In addition it seems that everyone likes to have subtle hints at how the film may develop throughout. This has been extremely helpful in deciding what kind of things to include into my opening sequence and who I should target it to.

Shooting Timetable

Shooting Timetable

Date to film	What to film
Christmas holidays 17th December- 4th January (actress unavailable)	·         Panning shot of the soldier ·         Shot of all the postcards and letters on the table ·         The opening shot of the trees ·         The point of view shot of Marie running
Sunday 8th January (actress available)	·         Marie reading the letter ·         Marie walking into the woods with the baby ·         Marie walking out of the woods without the baby ·         Marie running away
Sunday 29th January	·         Film chopping wood ·         Wood Chopper running ·         The axe ·         Baby left in woods
( If unable to film on Sunday 29th film) Sunday 5th January	See above.

Script

“NOWHERE TO BE FOUND”

FADE IN:

EXT. WOODS. DAY.

Tall trees loom above as black birds noisily swoop overhead contrasting against the white sky.

INT.KITCHEN TABLE. DAY

A small framed photograph of a soldier lies on a wooden table covered with old black and white photographs, greetings cards, postcards and newspaper clippings.

INT. KITCHEN TABLE. DAY

MARIE BROWN, a twenty-two year old woman sits at the kitchen table in her navy blue polka dot sleek dress, her mouth drops a little as she reads through a letter clasped in her small hand. She neatly places a hand on her perfectly styled dark hair and sits back in the wooden chair. After a moment, she slaps the letter back on the table, quickly stands up and walks off.

EXT. WOODS. FROSTY DAY

MARIE clasps a baby close to her chest in attempt to stay warm. Wearing a knee-length cream coloured Mack MARIE wearily steps towards the dark woods and glances around her, her breath visible until she disappears into the darkness.

EXT.WOODS.DAY

The baby is neatly wrapped in a warm pink blanket placed next to a small wooden structure deep within the woods. Sticks are entwined with each other creating a small shelter from the harsh weather.

EXT.WOODS.DAY

MARIE walks through the woods, this time she does not carry a baby clutched to her chest. She instead carries sadness on her face. Quietly stepping delicately over fallen trees and sticks she makes her way back through the woods. A Faint sound of chopping is heard in the background.

EXT.WOODS.DAY

A woodchopper chops wood deep within the woods surrounded by trees. He suddenly stops and looks up.

EXT.WOODS.DAY

Marie’s delicate, small feet run by, the floor passing under her feet rapidly. She is quickly followed by the large heavy footsteps of the woodchopper. A large axe reflects the sunlight as it is swooped down in one chop.

who would be the perfect actor...

I feel that the film I plan on creating is similar to that of the genre of 'Pearl Harbour'. I guess this is the film that actually inspired me for my own. I really like 'Pearl Harbour' and think that it is a brilliant film which portrays the events of the war in a good emotional way.

As 'Pearl Harbour' is set in the same times as the film I am creating an opening sequence to, I can use 'Pearl Harbour' to help me.

'Pearl Harbour' falls into the genres Action, Drama and Romance. I think that the development of my film after the opening sequence can fit into these genres.

Ideally, I would love Kate Beckinsale to play the role of Marie as the character she plays is exactly as i envision Marie. She has the long, dark brown curly hair and the red lips. She is a typical leading role woman that would be in the film as she is very attractive. I also think that she played the role really well and I believe that if she were in my film she would be able to bring a lot of emotion into it.

Seeing as I unfortunately can't use Kate Beckinsale in my opening sequence i will try to find someone who looks similar to her. Perhaps with the main features such as dark brown hair. I will definitely find an actress who is in their 20's so that it looks much more realistic than using someone my age such as one of my friends. I can use my sister if she is willing to be in it as she is 27 and has dark brown curly hair or I could perhaps ask one of her friends if she doesn't want to.

This image really captures the emotion between

 the two characters and I think that Kate

 Beckinsale plays the role really well.

Props

Obviously I will need some props in my film opening to make it look more authentic.

This is a list of the props that I think i'll need:

• Picture of a soldier
• Old photographs/ postcards
• A small dark wooden round table
• White table cloth
• Hand written letter
• Fur coat
• A baby
• A small blanket
• Wooden axe

1940's Make up

Here is a useful website about 1940's makeup to give me a good idea of the make up style to use in my film. 1940'S MAKE UP

Storyboard

1940's Hairstyle

This could be a possibility. It looks pretty difficult to do to be honest but I think with a little practise I could perhaps get it to take on some resemblance to an actual hairstyle.

This is called the Reverse victory roll. This was a very popular hairstyle in the 1940's due to the fact that as a result of the war there weren't many ways in which women could express themselves with fashion due to all the rations so, they decided to make their hair look as pretty as they could.

Here is a tutorial which I'll use to help me do the hairstyle.

Who is my Audience?

I think that the kind of people that would want to watch the film I plan on creating will fall into the Aficionados category or perhaps mainstream plus. These are the kind of people who rarely watch mainstream films and prefer to watch films that are different and more 'specialised'. Some people who fall into this cateogory may even go to the extent to say that they are 'Anti-Hollywood' even though they do occasionally watch mainstream american films.

Audience Profile

Jodie is 34 and a housewife. She is very family orientated and is married to 36 year old Robert and has 3 young children; Jamie, Jacob and Judith. Robert is a manager of a local bank and is at work all day until late so she often left to look after the children herself most week days apart from the odd days that Robert has off work and at the weekends.She doesn't like watching glamourous hollywood films as she doesn't like to watch beautiful, super skinny, fashionable women on screen as it just makes her feel down. She prefers to watch foreign language films, especially french ones as she wanted to be a French teacher when she was younger. She also likes watching films with a dark sense about them such as 'Changling' starring Angelina Jolie and the 'Lovely Bones' which do in a sense have a happy ending. These kind of films make her appreciate how lucky her life is and she goes to the cinema at least twice every 3 months in a bid to escape from her hectic life of looking after 3 hyperactive children all day. She occasionally gets Robert to come along much to his distress at her taste in films as he would rather watch a typical action film. Her favourite books are ones like 'The Timetravellers Wife' which take you on an emotional ride but always have a happy ending which she likes the films she watches to have too so that she can go away feeling happier and uplifted.

Film Synopsis

Title: Nowhere to be Found

Genre: Thriller

Audience: Aficionados- People who like to see something less mainstream and different to what would normally be shown at a cinema.

Logline: Set in the 1940's a woman goes missing and years later her child tries to discover what happened to her.

The sky is dull and birds are flying out of the dark woods as if they have been startled by something. A picture of an Army officer stands in the corner of the room on a table with many postcards and Christmas greeting cards nearby. A woman, MARIE sits at the table reading a letter she has received from her husband telling her that he will be returning home from war but in the meantime, she has given birth to a child that does not belong to him. She picks up her coat and hat and wraps the baby up tightly in a blanket. She takes the baby in her arms and walks into the woods behind her small house. It is silent apart from the dainty footsteps of Marie snapping twigs under her feet as she walks and the faint chopping of wood from a wood chopper in the distance. She reaches a small wooden shelter deep within the woods and places the bundled baby neatly inside it; lingers for a while, turns her back and walks away. As she walks back towards her house the chopping noise gradually becomes louder and louder as she gets closer and closer to the wood choppers location having taken a wrong turn. Their eyes meet and Marie gives him a shy smile and changes direction. A quick glance over her shoulder and she sees the wood chopper following her. Her little black shoes get smeared in mud as her pace quickens followed closely by the heavy boots of the wood chopper. Her pace quickens and so does his and a loud chop is heard. Then silence.


Where will my plot go?

After the opening two minute sequence I envision my story quickly changing to 25 years later with an old woman talking to a young woman, Grace about what happened to her mother, Marie. This then continues with the young woman trying to find out what actually happened to her mother by trawling through newspaper archives and revisting the now abandoned house which hasn't been touched since the day her mother went missing. After long hard days of questionning people and research she almost gives up but eventually finds the man who saw her last- the wood chopper who is now a fragile old man and discovers that he did actually kill her mother.

My Story

In lesson we did an exercise to help us think about a story for our idea. We started with a sentence that we all wrote but could choose an age of our own choice. We then wrote a paragraph introducing the character and the setting which he was in. We then passed our story to the person next to us and had to carry on the story we were passed.

This is my story:

Ross, a 67 year old male woke and looked around him, he was in a place he had never been before, surrounded by bustling people hurriedly trying to reach their destination. He looked lost in this fast moving world as he quietly shuffled around in his comfy blue slippers and woollen cardigan with amazement on his face. His fluffy white hair moved in the breeze as a car drove by. He pulled his checkered shirt and cardigan tighter around him rubbing his arms in attempt to get warmer.

His teeth chattered and his half-moon glasses fell onto the very bridge of his nose. Passers-by seemed almost oblivious to Ross' existence and it was this that made him feel so incredibly alone; his pace slowed and he slowly came to a stop and sunk drearily onto a nearby bench. A tall, extravagant business woman sat beside him, talking into what seemed to be some alien technology in her ear, he was most confused to say the least.

She stopped talking and shut the device and turned to him. "What are you staring at?" She said defensively. Ross looked taken aback. " well this may seem strange, but i don't know where i am." Maybe she could help him. " you're in Covent Gardens" She replied raising an eyebrow.

He looked at her with a gentle innocence. People often spoke to him in this patronising tone. He then smiled at her, his eyes glittering in a friendly way, " as time continues- I struggle to recall what happened yesterday. When I was young, i treated the world as if it would always be here. I never expected to grow up and to get old." His eyes gleamed brighter as if he could see the image of his past. The woman barely took notice, but he continued despite this. " It's almost too late.  Time doesn't change any more. Every day could just be the same as the one before..." His mouth twitched anxiously, and he raised his eyes again to match hers.

He seemed somewhat proud of his make-shift speech. As he went to get up off the bench his foot slipped on a banana skin. His hip slipped out of place and he tragically died on the roadside.Unfortunately no-one realised he was dead. The woman sitting beside him happened to be a local producer in a theatre company. She thought he was asleep so she picked him up and used him as a prop in her latest production. The question is, was Ross' death an accident, or was the banana skin placed there deliberately by the woman?  

1. When writing the first paragraph the idea I wanted to develop was how Ross had wondered out of an old people's home into this 'new world' full of technology and fast moving cars. I then pictured him growing a relationship with someone in this 'new world' perhaps a young boy who would take him back to the home he came from but Ross would meet him everyday telling him about his past becoming more and more of an influence on this young boy.
Compared to how the story actually went, it didn't differ greatly at the start. Ross still met another character and touched on his past. The only difference was it was a business woman. However the ending was complete different to how I pictured it with Ross slipping and dying then being used as a prop in a theatre production but I guess that brings a bit of comedy into it...?
2. I'm not sure whether the complete story would make a good short film however i think that it definitely has the potential to but some things may need work on to make the different sections fit together.
Overall, I do like where the narrative of my story went and it could be a possible future idea for a short film.