EPK
Click to access the-scarlett-massacre-epk.pdf
Trailer
Final Film (password protected)
Category Archives: Final Media Productions(361MC)
Over All Budget
Anything past 225 pound I paid for myself.
Evaluation for FMP.
The Scarlett Massacre part 1 has been one big roller-coaster.
My project has been a lot of hard work but I’m extremely happy with the end result.Its not just something I’ve been planning over two separate modules but this project has been in the works for years.It’s gone through different changes in style , different cast members, to different genres to finally ending up as a found footage film. With the ever evolving popularity of YouTube I believe that this is the perfect time for the Scarlett Massacre to be released. The themes are now current and my film fits in to the digital age nicely and has a good solid story that can continue growing even after part one has been released.
I believe my vision and decision on the crew members was the right call visually however something I really regret doing is not keeping someone on to do the paperwork. I thought that it wouldn’t be much of a final major project for them but I have really struggled with that side of my film and ill be the first to admit that.When you get to a certain point and think actually this is a lot of work I could do with some help, well that’s the area I should of got help in. Its a regret and something that I will not do again in the future.
One more regret is not starting the fundraiser earlier I only gave myself 20 days to raise funds. I did manage to get 250 pound in the end in cash and credit but think i could of done a whole lot better with fundraising. I had so many different ideas but it was all a little to late in the game to start them.
One of my main weakness’s through out this whole experience is writing these blogs. I struggle with what to say and how to evaluate in a academic way. I have struggled with reading and writing but this course has tough me how to attempt to write in a certain way , even if sometimes I don’t get the points across that I wanted to. I am proud of my development over the last three years in writing as it doesn’t come easy to me. The only type of writing that I find a little easier is Script. I think that’s because my brain processes things in a more visual way rather than academically. I think this also shows in my work. especially with this film. Going back to uni after a long period of time has been really challenging but I have loved the experience and am happy with what I’ve gained from it. Being able to make a film that I’m happy with is an achievement in its self and the amount of things I’ve learned and people i have met has been really rewarding.
I’ve decided to do a different release of my film rather than spreading it all over the place I’m including it in the launch of an idea I’m working on. Over the course of Making the Scarlett Massacre I have looked in to YouTube and how it works. Its Mainly dominated by vloggers but does have room for other avenues. I’ve always wanted to make a tv channel that showcase amateur work and builds up a following. Why not combine YouTube with new film and video to make a channel that solely invests its time in to showcasing new projects.
Here is my design for the idea of Believe In Film and Video , which has stemmed from my final major project. A brand New YouTube Channel Devoted to New Films and Videos. This is where I’m going to release The Scarlett Massacre :Part 1 and any other Parts that might be associated in the future. Here is where I can build an audience not only for my film but for other films,documentary and videos. It all starts with the release of a film I’m extremely proud of ‘The Scarlett Massacre: Part 1. I still plan to enter in to a few festivals the main option is Raindance and fright fest.
As for marking of the project I have set up a link with a password which will be included in the documents I upload to turn it it in. Heres the link
I would just like to thank Coventry University for its help with my development, the experience has been challenging and eye opening and will be recommending the course to others in the future.
Trailer for The Scarlett Massacre Part 1
For my trailer I decided to go with a creepy theme and only hint at what the story is about, focusing mainly on the kidnapping but not showing the event happen. The trailer reviews over the disappearance over some music that my friends Abi Lanigan and Ryan Tyrrell created. I wanted people to get the message that Scarlett is a lovely girl that got kidnapped so i picked nice clips for the start , some of her panicking in the middle and then post kidnapping clips for the end of the trailer. the one minute limit was a perfect amount of time for me to display what I wanted to.
For my fonts I stuck with the theme that I used for the main title sequence in the film. So other fonts that appeared in the trailer have the same consistent style.
I struggled with some of the sound clips sounding a bit fuzzy. This was due to my raw filming style which in a music based trailed felt a little out of place. I uploaded the trailer but still a few of the files were loud and sounded quite distorted. I brought the volumes down for the clips that were distorted and that sorted out the issues.
Over all extremely happy with this trailer. the feedback I’ve received is positive.It’s a good sign when people don’t say negative things.
Isolated (2009)[Music]United Kingdom Abi Lanigan and Ryan Tyrrell
The Scarlett Massacre Part 1 Trailer.(2015) [trailer] United Kingdom. Mark Lee
EPK
I have to admit is something I have never done , didn’t know how to do and I have struggled with presenting something that doesn’t ruin the stigma of my film. A lot of the examples I would see if promoting music bands or films and would uncover a lot of the behind the scenes qualities of the film, my project has its own realism to it and I believe creating this style of EPK would be damaging to the film. Yes we all know Paranormal Activity and The Blair Witch project isn’t real but they wouldn’t over expose the fact that there is a crew and i want my film to feel as real as it can be. The blog I’m writing on does jeopardise the release of the film but i believe I have came up with a EPK that helps the project that wont be as familiar as other projects at the university.
Actors Permission
Jodie Antonia Henstock and Richard Williamson permission slip
Richard Smith Permission
Phillip McCullough i could only get a digital Signature.
Joanna Rose
Had to get confirmation over facebook as Joanna was struggling with gettingthe document back to me.
Editing my Fmp
Editing my Final Major Project was one of the easier aspects of my project.Editing is one of my strengths and always has been and this was something I was really looking forward to doing for my film. Editing a found footage film isn’t as easy as you would think you really have to be thinking constantly of what looks and feels real.
The editing for this style of film really depends on what footage you have and if its shot correctly. With found footage specific film cuts from shots that are only one angle and one take to another completely different scene.
I used Adobe Premiere to edit the film together and Adobe after Effects to bring my effects in.
I did my bulk edit , colour grade and sound edit in premiere all put together from my vision. The style of editing I was already familiar with from projects i had already worked on in the past. One task was trying to make lighter scenes look darker I tried many methods but in the end scrapped my efforts for a slight change in brightness and contrast.
However my unfamiliar ground were after effects so it was a lot of trial and error of what looked good.There was two things I wanted to do in after effects number one was pixalating the images to cut between scenes and show breaks in the SD footage. Secondly is a moving image logo which isn’t really possible in Premiere. I took influence from the paranormal activity films in style of my logo and wanted the logo to look blurred.
One thing that I can report being a problem was I edited my film on my lap top a pc operated computer but when I went to open it to show Jodie to record voice overs in the radio room at university the project wouldn’t open. it kept saying a message saying there was no pre-sets for the file. It never opened again so I had lost my full edit of the film. Luckily I have a mac desktop which is a bit old but had always been reliable. I started transferring the files by usb which took a while as the mac didn’t have a card port and uploading from the camera to this system takes longer. When the process was over I began editing again. This time it was a lot easier editing on a bigger screen, but I was a bit gutted that I had to start again although it at least it gave me an idea in my head of how to edit the film.
There is three effects used on after effects simple to use by just dropping it on to the clip and adjusting how much the effect has and when it came in . One effect was the camera lens blur that I applied over the words. added some grain to the words again just a standard effect dropped on the the time line and adjusted how much I applied and when it was required. Thirdly I used an adobe bridge effect called block dissolve to create the block pixels for the footage same process as before .
Shooting schedule for FMP
Production day 7
Production day 7 28/04/15
This was an exciting day as we were going outside of Coventry to Birmingham to film the final scenes with Phil and Joanna. Jonathan bull was my assistant on set and drove us both there. I paid for petrol for Jonathan and Joanna and gave Phil a bottle of prosecco for letting us use his house.As well as payment for both actors.
The house had a bit more space to film and we got everything done in two hours.
(Mark, Phil and Joanna discuss the film)
We started with Joanna’s character of Hannah and filmed her private messages to Michael first.She managed to get all her stuff film in one take and new exactly how the style of filming worked. It was a nice relaxed environment, the house looked perfect for the characters showing a contrast between Scarlett’s Flat and someone who works for the police.
(Before and after with Joanna/[Proof of her holding the camera)
We filmed Michaels arrival and showing Joanna the footage this was done naturally and professionally. again I needed to put the footage on a different computer and we had to practice getting up the footage , in the end we left the computer on as we filmed so the footage was ready to pay when the character Michael opened it.
(More proof of technique left- Right two cameras Jonathan Bull getting arty)
(Phil Acting)
Jonathan took cameraman responsibility for the next couple of scenes guiding the actors through the end of the film, as This scene was another moment for me to make my cameo.
Finally we recorded some panicking audio from the actors which will be used quite subtly in the film. Jonathan also did some documenting as I wanted to show that the actor is holding the camera as well.
Very happy with the performances, the footage and was able to film it all in two hours.
Production day 5 / 6- FMP
Production Day 5
This was the day that we would be focusing on the kidnapping and the build up to the event. This shoot happened on Easter Sunday as it was the only time all of us were free over the holidays. we would be filming three scenes. two of the scenes were quite usual to what we had already done, holding the camera and filming the scene like that no real difference.
The main scene was creating the kidnapping its self. Another scene I’m extremely proud of and had practised many times before filming. I had to quickly spin the camera so I used my hand grip mount that is best for sporting events and spun and rolled the camera quickly on to the couch on to the floor. this gave the visual look that it had been dropped.
(The eye of the director)
(Rich getting technical)
Production Day 6
This was another morning shoot to get a few shots for the montage start and the walking and talking first actual scene of the film. I had research in to the style of YouTube look books and wanted to recreate this style for the start in homage to YouTube and these sort of film-makers. This was also the day i would pay Jodie and Rich for there time , we also went to breakfast after these shots which I made sure I paid for.
(Mark showing Jodie what a look book is)
(filming the d.o.p: caught filming you filming me)
(Being stalked in reality by someone in a tree-Mark discussing the scene with Jodie)
markleeyr3 