Costumes

Emily sawtell: as Emily is a common teenager we decided general basic teenage clothes such as coloured jeans, a scarf and a zip up hoodie. Using the brighter colours represent how her personality was meant to be seen, a happy bubbly girl. Little things were also added like the iPod at the woods scene as iPods are used by mostly every generation. Another little part added was the mascara as it still gave her a feminin identity.

Daisy McQuaid: daisy was very basic as she was a mother so using a simple cardi with a scarf, long basic straight hair and the skirt with tights. It was still modern for a mother but still was kept her to age.

Tim Roberts: A general modern boys type of clothing. The leather jacket with the printed jumper with the army stencil fonts on it which I think connects to the film nicely. We chose browns and blacks as they are boy colours but to also represent the personality and His death.

Feedback 2

As our old plot used the stereotypical 'stalker in the woods' we thought to change it but still keep it in so we have and our plot and it makes sense is to make it seem that Lucy was dreaming/imagining it as she isn't in the right frame of mind after what happened to her brother. We have this scene filmed anyway as she goes to turn around to look for the stalker but the stalker is not there. A new plot could be linked in now to how she is feeling and that she isn't thinking straight...

Representation of gender

I think mine and Ellen's film is a great way to look at the representation of gender and how men seem to still have authority and power. Firstly we show the feminist theory when one of our characters claims that Lucy can't go into the army as she is a woman. This sentence is a key point in our film to show the division between female and male as going into the army is seen as male based and not female. Close up shots of lucy (Emily) we use a lot to show her emotion and feeling of how she feels against this as women are seen to be more emotional and show feelings more than men. A scene is also used with Lucy and her mother which is a stereotypical way of women as she is in the kitchen cleaning/washing up. This was and used to be the role of women as they were housewives and men were the workers who would bring in the money.

Teachers feedback

We got some feedback of our film so far and what could be changed or improved. A comment made was at the end of the film instead of her being in a room crying that we actually film her in the room having to carry on everyday an what she does. We needed some more action as our film gives off the impression something upbeat is about to happen so maybe a fight or dispute between the attacker is needed to be bring up the tension. Also music, some upbeat drums to add tension which we can find on the music of iMovie or we coulda make on garage band.

Dividing up our work

Me and Ellen did a joint film so both of us had different inputs and ideas so this is what I cr
Up with and what Ellen came up with. Starting in order of the film I came up with the idea of doing a picture montage of our protagonist Tim with a voice over as that could tell you the context of the story without it seeming like it was dragging on. Me and Ellen gathered photos of Tim and Emily singular and together which we thought were appropriate for the scene. After the picture montage scene I came up with idea of doing a 5-7 second transition of it saying 'Matthew Moltell' and the date he was born and died to add the to effect of what happened and the emotion. This is followed with a church scene what I wanted as a back base to the pictures so it had something to link with. I filmed a bit of the world war 1&2 stand in the church to show the dedication and the respect made years ago and how it was important. I started with a low angle on Emily walking in so it could show her feet as she walks in. I used a mid angle on the church and zoomed in on the ww1&2 stand so people could read it and undertanad why it was used. The next scene is in Marlwood local library which Ellen came up with. The script was made up by both of us but she filmed this section. The next scene is between the mother and daughter (daisy McQuaid and Emily Sawtell) Ellen came up with the idea of using a family member as she did want to use a grandad but to do that/find a old person was quite difficult so I said about using a mum as that would be easier. I thought about using the 30/80 degree rule so it showed a normal conversation and Then i thought about doing a mid long shot outside with the window open so we could see both of them. The following scene is at the woods which Ellen filmed. We both had different inputs of it but Ellen filmed it. The scene at the end Ellen suddenly decided that the wood scene cut off to easily without an explanation which made it seem more confusing for our audience, Ellen decided about doing a very quick/short scene at the end to show Emily crying and that she was still alive so it seemed there was a sequel actually to the end of it and it's quite like a cliffhanger.

Audience Feedback

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhjTIJIAYGU&context=C432c3c4ADvjVQa1PpcFPUD5sIIjRZ9gpWf579qh-j2GAdTxHtJK8=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3wUYhy0tGo&context=C4958a7eADvjVQa1PpcFPUD5sIIjRZ9r9DP1dlsN-T3S4YBex2Ob8=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBaH7A7IycE&context=C47a23eeADvjVQa1PpcFPUD5sIIjRZ9uDDmwTtSawyES4jxBKX8QA=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxXcAUnTKU8&context=C4055ce5ADvjVQa1PpcFPUD5sIIjRZ9tXs9r4Lb6M6OrqpvMOtbZ0=

Storyboard

This is my current storyboard of mine and Ellen's film broken into 22 clips. Most clips vary in time length as we had to keep it as short and to the point as possible (10-20 seconds).

Our first shot starts with the title of our film leading onto the montage and then titles showing the characters who are in it and a 'Nicole and Ellen media production'. The shots then follow onto the church scene, the scene at school with the protagonist and her friend. An ellipsis is used as the following scene is at our home talking to her mother. She then takes off for a walk and starts imagining she can then see her brother.

BBFC

The British Board of Film Classification is an independent, non-governmental body which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912 and videos/ DVDs since the Video Recordings Act was passed in 1984. The BBFC is a not for profit organisation, and its fees are adjusted only as required to cover its costs. They have to look at everything associated to media and give a age restriction on it, by doing this it allows the right age and audience to watch something suitable for their viewing. They do this by looking at:

• Language
• Discrimination
• Sex
• Drug use
• Horror
• Imitable behaviour
• Nudity
• Violence
• Sexual Violence

The age ratings:

• Universal
• PG
• 12
• 12A
• 15
• 18
• R18

Third script..

The third script is the third scene with Lucy and her mother. Lucy walks into the kitchen and has a conversation with her mother why she hasn't had a good past couple days at school as she has had no support from friends. She goes to confine in her mother but when Lucy explains to her mum what she wants to do Lucy's mum is angry and hurt 'what Lucy?! Why would you want to do that, I've already lost one child and I'm NOT losing another!!!' they both start shouting at eachother and I think is one of my favourite scenes as it really captures their emotion. It resembles family life very much I think which was an aim to do as it was meant to show and represent real life.

Script 2

The second script is between the protagonist and her friend months after the tragedy happened. The friend is discussing and asking why Lucy hasn't answered her calls and if she wants to speak about it. Lucy goes on to tell her fiend how she is feeling and how she feels the only way she can connect with her brother is if she goes to war like he did. Her friend is shocked and doesnt give any support. Lucy is hurt and upset and walks off upset. I think this scene is important as it starts to show the audience how Lucy is all alone and she has no-one to care about her feelings. This then leads onto the next scene with her mother...

Script 1

Our first script in mine and Ellen's film is our protagonist Lucy speaking about her
Brother.
'have you ever had somebody you trusted and depended on so much that you feel lost without them? I did, my twin brother Matthew. He was a kind, generous person who you could always count on and he was my best friend. Matthew went
Off to the army after his GCSEs and within a year he was out in Afghanistan. whilst he was out there Matthew stood on a IED, which is the most common, newest explosive bomb type in Afghanistan and he died. All of my feelings have been
Crushed and I lost my best friend that day'. The script uses the context to tell the
Story of the past and I think works well against the pictures as it has emotion in it which moves the audience. It is quite a different start to a film but I like as it has passion. When our protagonist spoke the scprit she paused after each sentence or comma to add effect and dramatise what she was saying so it was more emotive and clear to the audience.

Filming terms

• C.G.I - Are computer generated images
• Cinematography - Is moving imagery which are used in films as photographs
• Dissolve - This means when two shorts merge together then disappear into each other
• Stereotype - Is something we all do and it is making a judgement of a particular subject or somebody
• Archetype - Is the strongest example if a stereotype and this is a pattern of behaviour
• Crane shot - This a shot from above so you can see everything which is being filmed or to make somebody look small
• Trombone shot - This combines zoom and track shots
• Asynchronous sound - The discrepancy between shots
• Ambient lighting - The basic light which is available when filming
• Mise en scene - The props/objects which are on set
• Non-Diegetic sound - Musical sound effects that do not fit to what is on the screen
• Semiotics - This is the study of signs and symbols
• Pull out - When eerything is pulled out of the frame
• Pulling focus - Blurring a subject then putting it into focus
• Residual meaning - What's left after other parts are taken away
• SFX - Special effects used to create a certain feel for the type of film
• Symbolism - Something that is used to create a particular meaning
• Convention - An informal rule
• Open frame - The frame is cleared for action
• POV - Somebodies point of view
• Connotation - Something which symbolises a meaning for example: Red = Love, Danger, Hot 
• Foley - The sound effects made in a studio if they can-not be produced in real life
• Action code - When to signify a action
• Fast editing - A quick cutting technique
• Kinetic camerawork - A gand held camera using a lot of energy
• Convergence - is the tendency for different technological systems to evolve towards performing similar tasks. Convergence can refer to previously separate technologies such as voice, data and video

Characters

Lucy Mortell - Emily Sawtell

Mathew Mortell - Tim Roberts

Lucy and Mathews mum - Daisy McQuaid

Lucys friend - Chloe Bennett
Stalker - Ellen Wilson

These characters were used for certain reasons. Emily our main protagonist had a really clear voice which I liked because we knew when she did the voice over she would be clear and professional. Her and Tim her 'twin brother' both had blonde hair with green/brown eyes so they had a good match to be seen as family. Daisy the mother was tall with a professional manner to, she had mother like qualities such as her hair and the way she dressed. She also had a clear voice so when she shouted at Lucy she sounded very much like a mother. Chloe was a good person to use as she was friends with Emily so they could act as natural as they could together as they are friends in real life, Chloe was opposite to Emily which I liked as she looked a friend as she was different to Emily.

Voice Over and Montage

For the start of the film I thought about doing a 20-30 second montage of pictures of Lucy and Mathew or just Mathew with a voice over telling the story in a nutshell by Lucy. Instead of trying to film Mathew in Afghanistn being blown up or their lives I thought that it could be just context with Lucy explaining the story.
I think a voice over with pictures can make it seem more realistic and emotional as it is just one voice with images and it makes that persons voice seem more important and dramatic as that is the only thing you hear but it also draws you in/emphasis it more.

Here are some of the images I chose and why:

This image I think shows how they are non-identical twins as they are both at school on their last day sharing their memories together. Their facial expressions make it seem humorous.

This is a picture of him looking smart and smiley which I think would be used for something like a montage to represent somebody as it's formal and classic.

Plot Change

Linking to feminist theory, mine and Ellens plot has changed. Our plot line still has the genre of war type but we have changed our main character to a woman as it would be something different because men are always seen to be the protagonist so changing it to a woman would make it seem more a bit unique and different.

The Plot-
Lucy and Mathew are eighteen year old non-identical twins who are inseperable. Lucy is still a student at sixth form-college and Mathew as soon as he finished school applied for the army and within the first year he was transported to Afgahistan. Whilst he was out there Mathew stepped on a IED (Improved Explosive Device) which is the most common and newest bomb type in Afghanistan at the moment which obviously caused his death. Lucy and her family are distraught over the loss of their son/brother and Lucy hits depression. Lucy wants to try get back in touch with her brother but the only way she feels she can do this is by joining the army like Mathew and to follow his footsteps/memories. Lucy tells her mother and friends her plan but it doesn't go down well with them at all. Lucy feels hurt and alone so decides to run off to the woods for some alone time but realises as she is walking with her headphones that she is not alone...