Setting up and Equipment

The equipment we will be using will be a 'Nikon D600' DSLR with a camera handle and a tripod. This equipment is best suited to our final piece as the Nikon shoots in full 1080p HD using 24.3 megapixels so the result of the clips will be in a high quality viewing which will make the overall piece much more impressive and professional looking as opposed to a camcorder of a lowing megapixel.

The camera handle attaches to the bottom of the camera with a curved handle which bends round to the top. This piece of equipment will make shooting panning shots and tracking shots much easier as the filmer can hold the camera ergonomically which will make shots steadier. The handle also includes an additional flash/ light attachment which will work well in our dark shots as we can point the camera in a direction and the light will point the same way and will not move.

The tripod also helps stability for still shots. This is because it can be adjusted to the wanted height of the filmer and is mounted steady to the ground so the shots can be completely still when wanted which will stop shaky shots in comparison to holding the camera with your hands.

For the editing side of things, we will be using an Apple Mac desktop and Adobe Premier. The Apple Mac is suited to this task as it has a high ram processor which will allow fast editing and fast rendering to the project which means things can be tweaked and edited fluently without lagging. Premier is also the most suited editing software as Apple and Adobe software work best together as Adobe initially designed their software for Apple products. Premier also is a professional piece of software which comes with all the needed tools and effects to make our product so we will be able to edit to the highest standard possible as a group.

Final Product, Animatic

Locations

For our final piece we had to think of a few locations which would suit the ideas behind the storyboard. This is so it fitted the ideas of where a teenage girl would most likely be at certain times and also where the pin board investigation scene could be shot.

For the pin board scene we can film this in school in an enclosed area like an office in the media department as we would have space to prop up the pin board in an area in which people are not going to distract the filming. This area also suits this part of the project as we can switch off the lights for a fully dark scene, so we can use a torch with the camera for the effect of a spot light on the pin board which further gives the effect of the discovery of this mapped out plan on the board of the kidnaping.

For the location of the scenes after our credit section, Chalfont St Peter common we found worked best. This is because it is an open area to people of all ages, which can be seen for the open field for adults to use and also for children as there is a park so the idea of a teenage being at this area would be considered as normal. We want this as it would be very cliche if the teenage was in an ally or an enclosed area as it would be simple for someone to kidnap somebody there and wouldn't add the dramatic effect wanted as it would be too obvious for the audience. The common also works well as there are woods in the background which further connotes the idea of the unknown.

Final Product: Props: Pinboard

Our initial opening shot consists of photographs being added to a pinboard. Pinboards are often used as memoirs; a collection of photographs or tokens to remind an individual of past events in their life; for example a selection of keepsakes. This association will be used to our advantage as the audience will be unaware of the identity of the person who owns the pinboard; is it the antagonist (stalker) or is the pinboard part of a police investigation in which the antagonist (stalker) is the target/aim? The pinboard will also give my group the opportunity to produce an efficient graphic match as the pinboard will contain pictures of the protagonist (Stephanie Jones) who will be introduced later on in the opening clip. The pinboard also gives my group the opportunity to experiment with lighting e.g. high or low key (we have discussed the use of a torch attached to the camera so the lighting and camera match and are in sync with one another) and movement e.g. pan shots. 

Final Product: Props: Headphones

Much like the iPhone, the headphones will also represent a community of young people consumed by modern day technology. The headphones reinforce the protagonists lack of alertness when in relation with the phone due to two of her senses (visual and audio) being preoccupied. The idea of music seperates the protagonist from reality and therefore from any threats which may or may not be of relevance to her.

Final Product: Props: Black iPhone

 

A black iPhone will be another prop in the possession of the teen female protagonist. The newly updated technology will represent the modern day  teenager and the stereotypical ideal that young people are consumed by media. The phone will also connote her lack of attention/focus therefore acting as a distraction causing her to be unaware of her surroundings; this puts her at risk which will be shown within the opening clip.

We will also be using a smashed phone in which will be presented through the use of a canted angle (Dutch angle). This will portray elements of distortion creating a sense of unease which will hopefully be interpreted by our target audience. The initial smashing of the phone will be unknown of cause therefore following the traditional convention of a thriller in which antagonist identities are not revealed early and the audience will be left asking questions therefore keeping them engaged within our opening 2 minute clip. We chose to show a functioning phone in use and a broken phone on the ground without cause in the same 20 seconds to symbolise the deterioration of routine and the break down of safety; this will also connote conflict which is prominent in most crime thrillers in which we found out through the research process.

Final Product-Props- Flower Backpack

The colour connotations present within the backpack will be used to portray our female teen protagonist; the floral print represents youth, beauty and innocence- three things in which a male stalker (antagonist) is stereotypically quite likely to prey on. The individual compartments of the backpack is typically associated to the life of a student or someone who attends full-time education; this will benefit the mise-en-scene as it will create a sense of vulnerability towards our protagonist (role to be played by Stephanie Jones). This will be reinforced as a school folder will be visible from inside the bag; this will portray the protagonist as defenceless and therefore cause the audience to feel fearful for the teen as the music alongside the setting will create a tense atmosphere in which her safety may or may not be put in jeopardy.