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

Group Meeting 4 - Progress Report

Meeting Details
Meeting held @ 9.50am in PA7 on Wednesday 26th January 2011. All team members present. Meeting finished @ 10.55am.

Issues and Ideas Discussed
 - Character Developments
 - Presentation Preparation
 - Delegating tasks for each team member to complete for next group meeting and before the proposal pitch
   - Frank : Character Drawings and Annotations
   - Eoin : Post synopsis of film and produce summary of planned opening sequence
   - Narishma : Institutional Information, Genre and Target Audiences
   - Olivia : Practicalities

Targets Set
 - All notes, posts, drawings, etc. completed for tomorrow
 - Be ready to put together A4 Handout

Next meeting @ 1pm on Wednesday 26th January 2011 in PA7

Posted by Narishma

Inspiratons - The Incredible Hulk (2008) Opening sequence

The opening credits of The Incredible Hulk (2008) is a good reference for our opening sequence because it is from a similar genre (Superheroes) and this particular sequence is approximately 2:30 minutes which is near the time limit we have for our coursework project.

The most interesting aspect of this opening sequence is that the montage gets the audience up to speed with what has gone on previously and the general storyline very quickly.

Click here to view the opening credits of The Incredible Hulk (2008)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHVUCVVE4ek

Posted by Narishma

Group Meeting 3 - Progress Report

Meeting Details
Meeting held @ 12.30pm in PA7 on Tuesday 25th January 2011. All team members present. Meeting finished @ 1pm.

Issues and Ideas Discussed
 - Pros and Cons of each initial idea
 - Chosen 'The Savante' as our final idea

Targets Set
 - Develop final idea more with storyboards, script, etc.
 - Start on presentation preparation

Posted by Narishma

Group Meeting 2 - Progress Report

Meeting Details
Meeting held @ 7.40am in PA7 on Monday 24th January 2011. All team members present. Meeting finished @ 8.30am.

Issues and Ideas Discussed
 - References
 - Research (Watching similar opening sequences and editing techniques)
 - 'Real Superhumans' and the consideration of 'real' superpowers
 - UltraGirl Film Idea

Targets Set
 - Present ideas to BLK and DYM for feedback on initial ideas
 - Develop ideas further

Next meeting @ 10.50 in PA6 with BLK to discuss initial ideas

Posted by Narishma

Upoming Superhero Movies

http://blastr.com/2010/09/upcoming-superhero-film-g.php

The link above is an article from Blastr talking about the upcoming superhero movies that are expected to be big blockbusters.

Posted by Eoin

Kick Ass Research

Why Kick Ass might not have done so well in the box office:

Accidental Marketing

A possible hypothesis is that Lionsgate just didn’t know how to market the film. There was a lot of red band material, but it was all shown to people already interested in going. Plus, most of the television spots all high-lighted the humor and camp... which, some believe, led certain possible movie goers to think of it as a spoof along the lines of Superhero Movie (which opened with less than $10 million back in March of 2008).

So i guess playing down the comedy aspect a little would make sense?

Posted by Eoin

Group Meeting 1 - Progress Report

Meeting Details
Meeting held @ 12:30 in PA7 on Friday 21st January 2011. All team members were present. Meeting finished @ 12:45.

Issues and Ideas discussed:
- Superhero theme
- Genre? --> comedy, romance (love/hate relationship?), dark/thriller- Contrast between normality and 'supernatural'
- Comic/Storyboard effect (Marvel as inspiration)
- References --> Scott Pilgrim & Kick Ass
- Build Up??

Targets Set:
- Individual Ideas exploring different genres within superhero category
- Research
- Get blog started
- Skype?

Next meeting @ 7:40 on Monday 24th January 2011 in Media Block


Posted by Narishma

Final Treatment

 one location = seward studio
- angus, jessica, couple bullies
...Stage 1 = immersed in his own world
Stage 2 = jolted out of his world
Stage 3 = Left on his own
Stage 4 = Powerplay
Stage 5 = Interaction with Love Interest
Stage 6 = Left alone again
TITLE SCREEN

final treatment