Group Meeting - Miss Georgiou

(table needs to be inserted before talking about other meetings...)


Groups meetings were essential to allow our group to be as efficient as possible when planning a certain part of our opening sequence on a certain day. I think group planning helped our group to become more effective as it allowed us to keep up with what we have planned, what we need to complete and what we have not yet planned. In these meetings, we all discussed our own ideas and then put them all into one to create an effective plan to make sure our sequence is as productive as possible.

Our first meeting was on the 15/9/14 to help us firstly decide on our group narrative. In this meeting, we all pitched in ideas in order to highlight three different personalities and interests into one. We all had very different ideas, which made it quite difficult to put into one narrative that could actually make sense to the audience. All group members took part in this meeting and we had come up with an effective narrative on the day, then ready to plan more to make it conventional towards the thriller genre. Our planning narrative meeting was a group effort, as Harry put more attention and co-ordination in than usual. This was more helpful for me and Cara as we did not have to strain to input more ideas as the last group member decided he would help.

Planning sounds was being organised during our filming time, to help us to be more organised when the time comes to edit our opening sequence. We would all participate in choosing a range of thriller sounds we thought could be effective for our sequence. We would all do this together as a team. Obviously, we would save and download more than what was needed incase we changed our minds on what suited which scene more, helping us as a group decide which one would be better. During the search for these sounds, we was looking for a background sound in which would last throughout the whole clip, ensuring the audience of a scary moment and would then layer more clips on top of it to either help build tension or suspense. As we was organised with this particular micro-element, it helped us to be effective with our timing as we were planning ahead for future reference. There was no specific date for this planning as we would contribute a fair share around the same time we would edit clips in which were not needed.

Planning editing styles was discussed during editing clips, as we could see what we we're working with for our opening sequence, we could then see what type of editing or lighting would be effective for our production. For our editing styles, we used a Final Cut Pro and would play around with the effects before making a final decision, this helped us to know which would we believed suited the particular scenario of the film. Editing styles was not on a particular date but was starting to become more important during he end of our filming and was made sure to be finished before we had finished editing our clips to help save efficiency of time.

Planning opening credits was firstly made by each team member creating their own and essentially choosing the most effective and more conventional towards the genre of a thriller. Eventually, we chose Harry's piece as he showed an effective production of information of our opening sequence. He used good effects in which made the credits seem more thriller like, making it on edge and more thrilling.

As a group, in my opinion, could have worked on team effort as it was seen that myself and another group member Cara found ourself doing most of the work and having to come up with the best ideas whilst the last group member Harry did not input as many ideas as me and Cara ended up forced to. Some of the time was very co-operational and would get some conventional ideas of Harry, but mainly was a two man effort. I think if team working skills had increased, could of helped us a group to become more effective and would have genorously allowed us to become orangised and efficient within planning and filming our work.

Production Roles - Miss Miller

People in the group need to be allocated specific roles when creating a film so that everyone in the group is giving an equal share of creating the sequence and to make sure we are all contributing towards what we are most effective in. The main roles necessary for creating a film are things like directing, in which me,Cara and Harry all  took part in as a team effort and also one of the most important roles were acting, in which Cara took the main part in. Me and Harry both contributed towards the acting aspect of this opening sequence.

Production roles are extremely important as they help us become more effective and organised with our work. An individual would be given a role to play in order to make all members equal within the effort of making this production, but we can also switch the roles about sometimes if it makes us work more effectively or to help other team members. This shows strength and motivation towards our team. Some examples of roles we participated in whilst making our thriller sequence was producing, directing, actors, director of photography, music producers, screen play writer, editors and MES co-ordinations. The importance of these roles are very specific and help us to go into detail for each role, helping us to make the opening sequence more valid towards the genre of horror, therefore making it an effective piece.

We decided as a group who would be doing what based on trust and what we thought each member would be most effective at. Over time, some roles slightly changed due to the fact that we thought it would be more efficient if we all helped each other out, making sure we were exceeding our groups standards. In the group of Cara, Harry and myself, took on many roles. For example, I took part in being the camera woman, which was changed when I took part in some acting, playing the part of Carol and Harry would do the camera work. 

Harry was originally assigned the role of the director, but it was agreed me and Cara would sometimes come up with some interesting aspects of ideas and we would use that idea. Cara took part in the main part of acting, as she played the main character of Brittany in the opening sequence. We have all decided to play an equal role within the editing part of our thriller sequence, as we believe we would all like a say within what type of non-diegetic sound we would like to use and what type of editing technique we would like to include, for example: slow editing; why we'd like to use it and where it would be most appropriate during a scene. By creating these jobs, it allows us to become more relaxed within the sequence as we can rely on each member to play their role correctly. Using roles allows us to all play a fair part instead of one member having to do all of the work, which would clearly show lack of team skills.

Each member was given a role and was expected to do their job most effectively as possible, they were given trust and commitment. I think if anything could be changed, was to make sure all team members were organised with their roles. For example, as Harry offered to look after the equipment during the filming, to make sure the battery was fully charged before going out to film, this then could have wasted a perfect opportunity for filming. Also, this was part of our risk assessment. This then put more of a strain upon Cara and I, but as a group, we managed to all take care of it and let us learn to make sure we are all organised and prepared for this project. 

I would say the filming aspect of this sequence was effective, as we would arrange what time we would think would be most effective for filming a certain sequence. For example: we would sometimes have to rush to get to a certain place after school if it was suppose to be a during the day scene, as cold winters nights start to get dark extremely early. However, we managed to be extremely effective with this and helped us to perfect our organisation skills. Although some minor mistakes and errors that were made, I am happy with the outcome and my groups motivation to finishing this.

Risk Assessment - Miss Georgiou

Description of hazard	Prevention of hazard
Using a very dangerous, sharp knife	Make sure hand is secure to prevent it to drop and when running keep away from body
Being in a dark alley-way or forest	Making sure all members of group are cautious, bring spare lights to prevent any sort of danger
Pedestrians walk past while shooting which can ruin a certain scene	Make sure each time we are filming, no one is passing by and to make it obvious we are filming and do not want to be disturbed.
Battery draining when shooting	Make sure every time we shoot, camera has been charged to its fullest
Risk of falling in river	Stay stable, make sure actor is cautious and careful.

It is important to consider potentional risks before filming as a group member could get harmed and corrupt the whole schedule of filming, being left to postpone. As this is a thriller sequence, there will be things of iconography which could harm someone, for example a knife which could become a serious injury. This assessment helps us to be the most effective that we can be and to help us be more aware towards how we could put ourselves in danger or ruining filming.

The risk assessment will assist me with filming as it helps us a group be the most effective that we can, for example, making sure that our whole battery is charged before going out to film, this will help to allow us to get the best possible footage that we can on a specific day. We can prevent this by making sure everytime before we leave, that the battery is full or at an adequate amount to help to not ruin the filming time or anyone else's in the groups time. Risk assessments also help us to become more cautious while filming, which help us become more effective and organised as a group as we are away of our surroundings and equipment. We are more aware of our surroundings this way and then we become more careful instead of care free. 

Filming Schedule - Miss Georgiou

Shot	Date & time	Location	Content /action	Shot type & duration	Costume/ hair / make up	Iconography	Personnel	Equipment
1	Sunday 7th Dec	Buckhurst hill	Shows Brittany about to commit suicide	Long shot, zooming in 15 secs	Victim: casual clothes, natural make up	Bricks, bridge	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
2	Friday  28th	Chigwell	Showing victim in home comforts	High angle 5 sec	Victim: PJs, comfort clothes, messy hair, natural make up	TV, blanket	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
3	Friday  28th	Chigwell	Showing dangerous antagonist	Low angle 5 secs	Antagonist: dark hoodie	Bushes, window	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
4	Friday  28th	Chigwell	She sees antagonist	Long shot, shallow focus 5secs	Victim: PJs, comfort clothes, messy hair, natural make up Antagonist: Dark hoodie	TV	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
5	Friday  28th	Chigwell	Running to kitchen for a knife, antagonist disappears	Long shot, hand held 15 secs	Victim: PJs, comfort clothes, messy hair, natural make up Antagonist: Dark hoodie	Knife, kitchen	Actors	Digital camera, tripod

6	Friday 28th	chigwell	Walking home from school	Long shot 5 secs	Victim: School uniform	Trees, path way, school bag	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
7	Friday 28th	Chigwell	We see the presence of the antagonist	Extreme close up 3 secs	Victim: School uniform	Trees, path way, school bag	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
8	Friday 28th	Chigwell	The stalking is emphasised	Long shot shallow focus 5 secs	Victim: School uniform	Trees, path way, school bag	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
9	Sunday7th	Chigwell	Showing her emotions	mid shot, shallow focus, zooming in  5 secs	Victim: School uniform	Street lights, isolated setting	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
10	Sunday 7th	Chigwell	The mysterious runner is coming towards Brittany	Long shot 5 secs	Victim: formal dressing	Running clothes, hand bag	Actors	Digital camera, tripod

11	Sunday 7th	Chigwell	When runner runs past Brittany, a sense of relief	Panning 5 secs	Victim: formal dressing Runner: bright running clothes	Running clothes, hand bag	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
12	Sunday 7th	Chigwell	Shows Brittanys emotions, stalker always plays on her mind	Extreme close up 5 secs	Victim: formal clothing runner: bright running clothes	Running clothes, hand bag	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
13	Sunday 7th Dec	Buckhurst hill	Showing her emotions before death	Mid shot 10 secs	Victim: casual clothes	Bricks, river	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
14	Sunday 7th Dec	Buckhurtst hill	Carol persuades her not to jump	Mid shot/ tracking 10 secs	Carol: neutral knitwear colours victim: casual clothes	Bricks, surprise	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
15	Sunday 7th Dec	Buckhurst hill	Carol and Brittany form a bond	Long shot/ two shot 20 secs	Carol: neutral knitwear colours victim: casual clothes	Bond, bridge	Actors	Digital camera, tripod

16	Sunday 7th Dec	Buckhurst hill	They hug and now Brittany is happy	Mid shot 5 secs	Carol: neutral knitwear colours victim: casual clothes	Bridge, pathway	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
17	Sunday 7th Dec		Steves POV, watching the two girls form a friendship	Hand held 10 secs	Carol: neutral knitwear colours victim: casual clothes	Casual clothes, bricks, hand bags	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
18	Sunday 7th Dec	Buckhurst hill	Brittanys reaction to Carols murder	Close up 5 secs	Carol: neutral knitwear colours victim: casual clothes	Shock, suprise	Actors	Digital camera, tripod
19	Sunday 7th Dec	Buckhurst hill	A different camera angle of Brittanys emotions towards this death	Long shot 10 secs	Carol: neutral knitwear colours victim: casual clothes	Knife	Actors	Digital camera, tripod

20

Sunday 7th Dec

Buckhurst hill

Shows death of carol, then dramatically ends

Zooming in 10 secs

Carol: neutral knitwear colours victim: casual clothes

Knife

Actors

Digital camera, tripod

Filming schedule is important to have, especially when you are in a group to make sure everyone knows exactly what to do for each individual fraction of the opening sequence. This also helps make us effective as we can plan what would be easier to do a certain scene, for example the start and the end scenes filmed done on the same day as they link. This helps us to be more organised and effective with our opening sequence. It also benefits us when we are editing our chosen fractions for our opening sequence, to get an insight what kind of sound we would like to use for our non diegetic sound and what kind of editing method we would use to help make the scene build more tension, shock and suspense.

As a group, we followed most of our filming schedule except at the end where we had to change some of the scene to make sure it made more sense towards the audience but with only minor changes. We tried to do each scene in order to make sure there is no confusion and tried to stick to the plan of iconography. We had to so,eti,es change around our actual plan due to some days of cancellation due to other things going on. As a group, we also had a lot of trouble with the camera, as the memory card would not work, was not fully charged etc. Due to these little errors, made it impossible for us to film and therefore resulted to having to postpone.

We decided to conduct this assessment to help us to plan ahead when are are going to be doing a certain scene and what kind of time, to make sure we are organised with our times and that we are not having to postpone a scene to another day due to he early nights we have in the winter, which was suppose to be a day time scene.