Final Post

This blog is now closed!
The project has officially come to an end. It has been a long and tiring process but we have had alot of fun and are proud of what we have achieved.

We have tried to make it as easy to navigate as possible through the use of labels and posting in date order.
We hope you enjoy having a look around.

Group 3

Update on what needs to be done

• Upload shot list DONE
• Scan in shoot schedule & storyboard DONE
• Post audience feedback discussion DONE
• Text summary of audience feedback DONE
• Sort out labels DONE
• check all posts work (links etc) DONE
• Add candidate numbers DONE

Audience Feedback Questionnaire Discussion

After our screening, we compiled the questionnaires together and went through them as a group. Below is the video of our responses to the results.


To summarise:
- The majority of the audience enjoyed the sequence and would watch the rest of the film
- Most people were able to predict the general plot of the film
- Special effects and graphics were the most succesful aspects of the sequence as many people favoured this over other factors such as plot, etc.
- Overall feedback was positive but the improvements suggested were to make it clear that there was a teacher present and there should be more explanation into what relevance the opening drawings had in relation to the plot.

Audience Feedback - Test Screening

We held a test screening to get some responses from our audience, which proved really helpful and encouraging. Sadly, the footage had to be edited on windows movie maker so the quality is not high - which makes me appreciate good film editing programmes like adobe premiere so much more!

Advertising 'Exceptional'

To help draw in a larger audience for our test screening, we put up posters around the school. We specifically targeted the sixth form area as 17/18 year olds were nearest to our average target audience age of 20, in addition to the fact that our friends were more likely to attend to support our project.

In the poster displayed in school, the top line is, actually, in one line - apologies for the technological distortion.

Exceptional Poster Group 3

Final Script

This is the final script for the opening minutes of our film 'Exceptional', a superhero film aimed primarily at men and women aged between 15 - 25. Over the course of pre-production and production the script underwent many ammendments as the film was adjusted, but the premise remains the same: an unpopular male teenager is shown to be a social outcast, but it is revealed that the has the power to move things with his mind. He is almost caught by his love interest, and procedes to have an awkward conservation with her in which she is shown to not know who he is.

Our action and dialogue had been agreed on before shooting commenced, but due to a voice-over that we needed to add in post-production, a couple of ammendments were made during our editing time. These were done to fit the voiceover in well with our filmed footage, in addition to recommendations made to us in feedback during editing. The final result can be viewed below.

Exceptional Script

Shoot Schedule

Shoot Schedule 1

Shoot Schedule 2

Shoot Schedule 3

Lichtenstein Pop Art Effect Test

Original Image

Image after photoshop

Using photoshop I applied a poster edge to the image and played around with the edge intensity and thickness. Then I added the extra objects to create the comic book feel, such as the text, speech bubbles, shapes and a border.

PRODUCTION UPDATE

We have now replaced our lead actress with Olivia due to time clashes with our initial actress.

We have scheduled three more shoots for this week, which are:

• Tuesday 8th March - Period 2 + 3 - Green Screen Pencil
• Tuesday 8th March - 4pm until 5.30pm - Love Interest Scene
• Thursday 10th March - 4pm until 9pm - Extras and Love Interest (MAIN SHOOT)

By the end of this week we hope to have all of our final footage, titles nearly completed and for our shots to be ordered completely.

Final Treatment

This is our final treatment of the film, following advice from others and bearing in mind issues that arose, such as cast changes.

final treatment

Last part of opening cartoons

I have created two versions, however, I am not sure about the lens flare version, as I don't know if there should be a physical manifestation of Angus' power. On the other hand, as it is a comic-style drawing, a lens flare makes it look more like there is some sort of power making the mugger fly back instead of Angus having pushed him or something. I have, however, used liberal amounts of motion blur and poster edges.

Actor Contract

Group 3 Actor Contract Form

This is our actor contract which we have created for our main actors/actresses and any extras that will be taking part in our main production shoots.

Final Storyboard

Although this is our final storyboard, the shots went through revision before reaching the state shown in the film opening.

Shot Lists

Group 3 Shot List for Love Interest Scene




Group 3 Shot List for main shoot

Cartoons to be put in the opening scrawl

I have yet to complete the third in the sequence, so currently, Angus looking down at his hands makes no sense. Poster edges is a fun tool.

Possible Soundtrack

During Friday's lesson we found a possible soundtrack for our piece that we like as it builds tension and also connotes the superhero genre.

The track can be found at the link below:

http://www.audionetwork.com/production-music/style-genre/film-styles/epic/results.aspx?&order=10&page=2

The name of the track is the 'Course of History'

Dialogue References for the Test Shoots

GROUP 3 Test Shoot Dialogue references

For the test shoot concentrating on the second half of the clip, we used prompt lines to help us match the sound to the action, which enabled us to rough-edit the test footage while the script undergoes final adjustments.

Audience Research Feedback/Results

Below are some graphs to show the results that we received from our online questionnaire



In conclusion.......
We have learnt that even though superhero costumes are a notorious signifier of the genre, they are actually the most hated factor of superhero films according to the results from our survey.
The most popular damsel in distress was chosen to be Mary Jane Watson from the Spiderman films.
According to this survey the most successful superhero film was The Dark Knight.

We can use these results to help us when constructing our final piece, we will take into consideration that costumes are a big no-no for our film and the love interest that was most successful was the typical American sweetheart.

The Floating Pencil!

Hi guys,

I've been thinking about your floating pencil issues and I have come up with the solution.  We will shoot Eoin doing his freaky hand movements without the pencil in shot.  We will then green screen the pencil and add it into the shot.  Then you can move it around as much as you like!

Chris

Cartoon effects

Hi guys,
here's that blog we were looking at earlier:

Link to the cartoon effects blog

cheers
Miss B

Test Shoot

A series of shots from our first test shoot, in which we started working with our actors, lighting and location.

Narishma, Eoin and Frank looking over final preparations

Setting up the Clapperboard

Positioning the master Shot and lead actors

The first take of the shoot

Framing the opening shot

The 'animated drawing' shot

Experimenting with Low Angles

Rehearsing the Paper Throw

Sound test for Angus' power

I've compiled two possible sounds to use for Angus' power of telekinesis.

The first is a combination of 3, creating an extremely distorted effect.


http://www.mediafire.com/?0dnawixahub6y08

The second is a low rumble that sounds a bit closer to what I thought it might sound like, but less dramatic.


http://www.mediafire.com/?3b26xyinpyi2s6y

I'm not sure which is the best, but we'll either use these, or find something better from the internet.

Character Study: Angus

Inspirations for Angus

Anthony Michael Hall in The Breakfast Club



Michael Cera in Superbad



Tobey Maguire in Spiderman



Aaron Johnston in Kick-Ass



Jesse Eisenberg  in Adventureland

Online Audience Research Questionnaire

We used kwiksurveys to set up an online audience research questionnaire, so that we could use the results to help us make sure that our film would appeal to the target audience and secondary audiences.

Below are some screenshots of the questionnaire.

To view the survey click here

Original Treatment

This is our original treatment for our film opening.

initital treatment

Shot List Draft

OUR INITIAL DRAFT OF THE SHOT LIST

shooting schedule

Plan of Action for Week 3

Now that we have the green light our plan of action for week 3 of the project is:

• To complete the required paperwork (i.e. equipment release form)
• To complete our screen (actors), technical (camera, lighting, post-production) and location tests
• To complete the script and storyboard for the final idea of the opening sequence
• To organise and carry out audience focus groups to get their reactions and ideas about the proposal.

Group Meeting: Pre re-pitch

Group Meeting

This meeting took place at 11:00 am, 28th January.
Our ammended pitch will take place on the afternoon of the 28th.

Current Alterations to our initial pitch

1. Removal of opening scene in Angus's bedroom.
2. Angus is drawing during the lecture scene, the class mock him but Jessica tells them to stop.
3. Character of Luke is gone.
4. Removal of the coming home/mugging scene, and the following bedroom scene.
5. To be replaced with a Canteen scene, in which Angus reads a comic - a typical action v/o reading out the captions.
6. Angus realises everyone else has gone to class, and, irratated at himself, swipes away the comic & glass of water with his mind.
7. Makes like he plans to move the table, but regains composture and walks out.
8. Title Card, with new title

Pitch Feedback

Pitch Feedback

ISSUES THAT NEED WORK

1. The style of the opening needs to reflect the genre
2. Use Unbreakable as an influence
3. Work towards realism, so drop the comic book style transitions
4. There is too much going on the montage
5. Too many location changes
6. How to clearly portray characteristics of Savant Syndrome in 2 minutes?

OUR CURRENT PLANS

1. Remove opening scene set in the bedroom
2. Restructure and lengthen lecture hall to emphasize social awkwardness of main character
3. Remove comic book style transitions
4. Use muffled sound at beginning and with the mugging to show social divides
5. Possibly give love interest a boyfriend
6. Merge classroom scene and lecture scene

Savant Synopsis

A young boy with autism discovers he has strange new abilities. Scared of being further alienated from his peers he hides his ability and runs away from home. After being thrust into the public eye for being seen stopping various crimes and then sought after by many gangs, media and even superhero fanatics, he is confronted by a popular TV figure who is desperate for the chance to be special. Escaping his clutches, freeing the girl he loves and saving the world from a power crazy celebrity, the boy accepts his position as the protector of the city and returns to the shadows of the streets. Only venturing out when needed; to avoid the inevitable confrontation of the very people he protects.

Our Target Audience

CORE TARGET AUDIENCE

• 20-30 Year Old Males
• Techy
• From around the comic book generation
• Interested in the realistic aspect of superheroes - e.g. Dark Knight

What aspects/features of our film appeal to this audience?

• Different and more believable superhero
• Instead of the same old comic book, standard superhero action comedy our film will be more in line with superhero drama (similar to Misfits)
• Offers escapism

SECONDARY AUDIENCES

Due to a number of factors our film could appeal to a wide range of audiences because there is something for everyone, we tried to use the idea that 20th Century Fox had with Avatar (2009) in order to ensure that the film has a wide reach.

The factors are:

• Love Interest/ Romance storyline = appeal to teenage girls
• Action = appeal to the fans of action films
• Realism/Unsuspected Superhero = those who want to see something different
• Mise-en-scene (locations and costume) = anyone can relate to how he is feeling at some point during the film

Soundtrack

Music

Orchestral Music - a dark spin on conventional superhero theme tunes.

A level music students to compose on composition software available in music department.

Alternatively, we can use free tracks from music websites.

Effects

Effects

Bed to Street Transition - Green Screen in Media Dept - confirm with Chris before finalising storyboard.

See clip below for examples of greenscreen effects, also used in a superhero context.

Moving glass Options to explore:
 Thin wire edited out in post
Tipping table
Under table magnet

 

An option for pencil levitation scene

Health and Safety
Gloves for production assistants
Goggles 
Mat to catch glass on

Titles
Made to come up during opening sequence – comic book effects to be found on computer

Props

Props

School Equipment - books, pens, rucksacks etc: All members of team carry on a regular basis

Digital Alarm Clock - Eoin

Stack of comic books - Team to gather collection from friends

Glasses of water - Olivia

Mattress - Drama Dept

Duvet and pillow - Eoin

A* homework - Frank

Location

Locations Required


One male bedroom (Eoin or Frank)

Seward Studio – speak with co-ordinator to book slot during/after school

Classroom (Maths corridor) speak with Mr Pannel about after-school use

Albert Road Recreation Ground
- Need to experiment with lighting faces, will they show on camera with just streetlight?
- Torches or Paglight may be needed
- Near Olivia's house so meeting point available.
- Family Park - not too busy in the evenings

The view of the path on the rec

Casting

Angus
Gabriel Chernik
-17yr old male
- Trained in acting
- Friend of the group

Luke

Mariano Priebe

- 17yr old male

- Friend of the group

Jessica

Jasmine Brady

-16yr old female

- Friend of the group

Extras

Our Production Team

& possibility of other available friends

Breaking the Conventions

This article is about how recent superhero movies have broken out of the conventional storyline for the genre.

http://io9.com/5290442/8-superhero-movies-that-broke-the-mold-please-copy-them

The Incredible Hulk

While they may not have been the biggest box office hits, we can look at their unique differences and build on them to make our proposal more original while still incorporating the successful aspects and features of the conventional superhero film.



Hancock



Superhero Genre Conventions

Typical themes and Narrative Events

- GOOD VS EVIL

- Morality

- Superhero saving the city/town from the dangers of everyday life and from their arch enemy (the Supervillain)

- Ordinary people obtaining superpowers by accident

- Journey to dealing and discovering their powers

Mise-en-scene

 - Body Tight/Spandex/Cape = identifiable costumes
 - Large towns and cities
 - Often use of latest technology by the Supervillain
 - Both hero and villain usually have masks to conceal their identity

Character Types

 - Superhero (often unexpected)
 - Supervillain (Superhero's nemesis)
 - Love Interest of the Superhero (often becomes the damsel in distress)
 - Defenseless citizens
 - Superhero's best friend/sidekick
 - News Reporter obsessed with fame who is trying to expose the superhero's identity

This can be shown through the example of Spiderman:

Meet the Characters!

Frank has drawn the images to visually represent how we picture our characters

Interesting Article: Four rules for a successful superhero film

The link below is an article containing some handy rules that we can consider when planning our film idea and opening sequence. I think it raises some good points, especially about costumes and casting because it would be easy to fall into the traps it is warning you to stay clear of in this genre.

http://idler-mag.com/2010/12/10/four-rules-for-a-successful-superhero-film/

Inspirations: Adam (2009)

Adam (2009) is not the same genre as our proposal idea but it is a Fox Searchlight Pictures production and it features a similar theme about the main character Adam overcoming his disability. Therefore it is interesting to compare and use techniques from the film within our coursework project.

Posted by Narishma

Film Institutions

As a group we have decided that we are an independent UK production company called Offbeat Productions.

Fox Searchlight
Fox Searchlight Pictures will distribute and market the film because they are both vertically and horizontally integrated which we can use to our advantage because they have experience and expertise in getting films similar to 'The Savant' to their target audiences.

Moodboard of Fox Searchlight Pictures biggest grossing films:

Posted by Narishma