CCR

The following is the link to my CCR:

Click here.

Final Draft

https://youtu.be/iA5gmKCN0Fk

Above is the link to my final draft. As requested on my peer reviews, I brightened the first scene and added music to create a suspenseful atmosphere. In choosing my music, I was inspired by the villain of Nintendo cult classic EarthBound, Giygas - an otherworldly monster that is the root of all evil. I likened the discordant tune of its leitmotif to my opener's discordant plot and filming style. I decided not to refilm the first scene because I felt that it was a suitable predecessor to the later scenes.

Peer Reviews

The above images are of all of my peer reviews. Many of my viewers praised the documentary or "found footage" style of the movie, as well as the way it was acted. However, a common criticism of the opener was that the plot was confusing, or that I wasn't revealing enough of it for the viewers to work off of. Many of them also say I need to add background music, with which I completely agree. That is going to be my first priority when editing my film opener; adding background music that is not only royalty-free, but fits the opener well. I'll add a segment where the main character explains briefly why he thinks the plot is happening (possibly some ancient deity got angered? I'll figure it out).

Week 7 + 8 - Editing

The above images are of me editing my film opening. The software I used was Wondershare Filmora; the editing process was streamlined thanks to its intuitive GUI. I took a strong glitch effect and applied it to the last few shots, so as to make it look as if the haunted Sun is interrupting the footage (this is based on a real life solar phenomenon, wherein X-rays emitted by the sun may interrupt electronic communication). I considered adding a color effect in place of this, but felt that the glitch effect fit the horror genre more. Filming the beginning and ending shots was fun, and editing it was even more so. The credits consisted solely of my brothers and myself.

1st Draft Link

https://youtu.be/ujtqK-D_auw

Week 4 + 5 - Filming

The above videos are small clips that I plan to place in between credits and titles. They were shot behind the Boys and Girls Club of Collier County. I had to shoot them later than I'd hoped due to time and weather constraints. As for filmic techniques, I made use of low angle shots and used the lighting of the sun to my advantage. The shots are meant to detail the pliggt of a main protagonist as he is afflicted with the paranormal power of the sun. I hope that my technical skill is enough to make up for my general lack of high-quality recording equipment.

Week 3 - Storyboard

My storyboard for the movie opening centers around the sun being supernaturally evil in some way. I want the whole opening to be a single continuous shot seemingly with an old camera. The camera will run out of battery extremely fast to showcase one of the effects of the haunted sun. I have even set the mock 'release date' to June 21 - Midsummer, the longest day.

Week 4 - Filming Ideas

Since I am filming my movie opening on my own, the number of actors, costumes, and other such variables will be limited. It will likely be only me in the opening, as my two brothers understandably object to the idea of being filmed. I will be wearing plain clothing, with no real 'costume' in mind. The idea of my opening is a horror movie that centers around a supernatural effect of exposure to the Sun on human behavior and physiology. As such, it will be done on a Sunday in the middle of the day (around 3 o' clock or so) and ideally on a clear day where the Sun can be clearly seen. I want to film it as a 'found footage' type opening, with a major character speaking and acting while holding the camera to himself. There will also be shots of the Sun itself (occluded by clouds, of course) and I will use video-editing software to create an effect of the sky becoming more and more red as the opening continues. There is place outside my apartment complex with a great view of the Sun during the day, which is where I will be filming it. I have not yet written my script, but it will be somewhat short.

Week 2 - Film Notes

RISE - Lots of close up shots in this opening. - There is no dialogue throughout the opening - Music is somewhat upbeat, suitable for a training montage such as that in this video (David Dallas - Runnin’) - Music stops at the staredown scene in the end, which creates a darker, more serious air OFFLINE - The studio title and director names are ‘typed’ onto the screen as an implication of the premise of the movie - Lowkey lighting is used to provide an eerie, dreadful atmosphere - The rest of the opening cycles between well-lit shots of a girl on her phone to dimly-lit shots of another girl tied up in a cage. DEAR LOVER - Peaceful music (Wayne Jones - A Quiet Thought) - Close up shots of the main girl writing the letter - Also has close ups of the two girls conversing - Generally quiet and introspective feel DARE TO THRILL - Dim lighting, nighttime atmosphere - The camera is off of the mysterious object in the trunk that causes the students to recoil, creating mystery - Shaky camera for a realistic, genuine feel to the opening ALWAYS WATCHING - The camera alternates between shots of two people conversing and shots of the main boy in various locales - The scenes get progressively darker as the opening continues - The directors describe it as ‘a relationship between two best friends that has taken a deadly turn’ - The talking scenes have high-key lighting, while the others have low-key lighting THE BLUE BOAR - The music is originally composed by the director herself - The main girl wears an old-fashioned dress and bonnet - maybe it takes place in the historic past? - She makes a boar glyph in the grass using picked shrubs, presumably the focal point of the film WHITE COAT - From the very beginning and the title one can immediately discern the medical theme - The lighting is very low-key to create eerie atmosphere - In close shots the main doctor performs an experiment on a tied up young man - the nature of this experiment is left vague STALKER - The video has a slightly lower quality than others - intentional? - The stalker’s presence is made clear but you can never see them on screen - Has a vintage horror movie feel to its camera work and quality - reminds me of Hitchcock’s Psycho NOSTALGIA - The movie centers on an old woman and her assorted memorabilia - It begins with a pan shot of a picture of an Italian(?) countryside - At the end, the woman seems to change back into a little girl in the same clothes LOST & FOUND - The opening begins with a flipbook animation of two people dancing - The rest of it I see that the common denominator here is camerawork. Each opening’s camera angles and filming style sets it apart from the rest, and through those things one can really get a sense of who the director is. I plan to use ‘found footage’ style shots in my opening, so as to differentiate from these openings (not to say that those openings are not good!). Stalker’s opening especially caught my eye, as it appeals to my penchant for the classic horror movies. The horror genre seems to be prevalent in this project, and the bar is set high; I hope that with my own film opening I can make a positive mark.

Week 1 - Genre

As mentioned in previous post, horror is among my absolute favorite genres, and the one that I selected for my movie opening project. In particular I envision my work being at least somewhat similar to the opening of Wes Craven's legendary production Nightmare on Elm Street. Its masterful use of indoor space to create a claustrophobic effect and lights and sounds to add tension are both things that I believe epitomize the genre. Horror is just as much about fast-faced action as slow-paced scenes, and the movie does both excellently. I prefer classic horror movies such as Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, William Friedkin's The Exorcist, and the works of Stephen King, but exceptions do exist, mainly Ari Aster's Midsommar. This film follows a young couple who become embroiled in increasingly disturbing events when their friend takes them to their hometown in Sweden, which happens to be home to a deranged sun cult. I was considering something similar as a plot device that I can use in my opening, as my infrequent horror writings often feature celestial bodies such as the sun and moon as the main villains.