Impressions on pest control from David Smith on Vimeo.

Podcast answering questions on "Pest Control"

analysis from Jack Stokoe on Vimeo.

Video Evaluation

 

THIS IS JUST BRIEF THERE WILL BE MORE EVALUATING!

The Final Cut

Nearly the final cut!

Uncopyrighted music.

we needed some music for our production and our budget cannot strech to a chart topping artist so insted we have decided to use this website (http://www.freeplaymusic.com/) which has a range of uncopyrighted music for free music.

Title cards sorted

We have sorted out the title cards and found a soluion! We used the solarise on premier pro video effects and turned the threshold to around 49 to get this effect. We also used the title cards to try and get the effect of snatch.

First rough cut of Pest control.

The name has been decided upon to be now named pest control after deep thought and analysis of our footage we thought it would suit our film better that the division.

This is the first rough cut without music, voice over and deeper editing.

Overall I am very impressed with the footage so far:
-The pan ins are smooth
-The shot reverse shot in the last scene works well and is very effective.
-most of the shots are of a good quality
-the transition wipes that we are currently sampling look effective (but may still be changed due to the fact this is only rough)
- A wide range of shots have been used which gives off the tension that the charcters.

Due to the nature of a rough cut I can see what works and what dosent so what needs to be changed:
- The telephone scene is of a different quality with the rest of the footage so this scene will be re-shot soon
- During the freeze frames we need an effect simmilar to the one seen in "snatch". As you can see the solarise (the red freeze frame) dosent look too great and we need to figure out how to get the same style as the one seen below. This may have to be done in After effects. 

Lens flare causing an issue

After looking at our footage we have noticed huge lens flare in some of the shots which is an issue due to the fact it doesn't look the professional standard that we want to achieve. The lens flare was due to the camera being in contact with the sun's raise.

Fortunately we took allot more shots and this was the only shot that was effected so much so we cannot use it.

Final storyboad film.

Final sequence filming

After looking at the footage that we had it's clear that more needed to be taken. We filmed at 9:00 pm so it was extremely dark and due to our small budget we cannot stretch to hiring studio lights or even a camcorder which doesn't fuzz in the dark. This was found out when we looked back over the footage. The lesson learnt from this is schedule filming when there is natural light ( preferably mid day 12:00 ) that is even if we need to film outside, another option is to film inside so there is a constant source of light but due to the film being set in a London urban environment this scenery needs to be in the scene to establish to the audience where the film is set.

Another thing was the amount of camera angles used. We need to go back and film using different types of shot t. What we've filmed so far has a very small range of shots and it doesn't look professional. I want to use many camera angles because I thought in the opening to fight club it looked really effective.

The production checklist

The production company

After much thought and analysis we have decided that for "The Division" it would be best for our studio and co producers to be FILM 4 productions. This is because Film 4 productions have produced the films that we would love "The Division" to be in the same style and to sit alongside with. Films such as "Dead Man's shoes" ,  "This is England" and "Trainspotting". which are massive inspirations with "The Division"

FIRST BIG CHUNK OF FILMING DONE!

This is a glimpse of the division in which we catch our first glimpse of "Danny" a young man mentally scared by the murder of his father seeking for his killers.

This shot was inspired by the first shot in the football factory when the main character is walking down the street. We used the same long shot but we decided for a better effect to break down the third wall and make the character look at the camera almost like an eye line shot with the audience to exudate dannys fierce and agressive facial expressions.  

Final Opening of The Division.

It will fade into overlooking ,tilt, CCTV footage of an unknown character being interrogated about their knowledge of a character named "Danny Smith". The inspiration for the interview came from Scarface, Me and David thought it was a good way way of establishing character to the audience because all of the crucial questions (who , what, where, when, Why). This scene will feature a variation of shots (long shot, extreme close up, medium shot)  of the character being interviewed. There will be a lack of information given about the interviewer to show the significance of the character being interviewed.

The Final Crew call sheet

This call sheet will be copyed and presented to all of the crew so they know their roles. 

Opening sequence idea

I like the opening titles on the football factories and it's a simple concept that we could adapt to our stroy of showing pictures in a montage.

Final script.

Hey there, I’m Danny, that bloke on the right, he’s my partner Sammy, Not like that though, I’ve Known him and I’ve known his dad longer, good kid. Training him up for the world of London business, none of that stock market shit. Enough about him, my stories not about him, well not entirely, it’s about the damn hardest group this side of east London you’ve ever seen, you wanna know about them, well… (Transition of something moving.)

I’ll start with Ricky, Ricky’s always been a gambling man, almost gambled his whole life away on a horse, always on the phone he is, well except when Dave’s on the scene, well, he’s not there for long, Our Dave will steal anything if its not bolted down, Then I guess we got the two lovebirds, I think, in an out it is with them, In more ways than one.

Boy these fellers don’t seem like much but there rock solid. While they get on me nerves to no end, I wouldn’t change em for the world. Hmm ain’t that a lovely story, but no story’s good without a bit of action eh Cos the four of us, when we get together... ain`t noone gonna take us down."

From here the opening titles begin and we can see random shots of violence. There is the inclusion of a title card with 4 cast names, the producer, the director and the film 4 mention.

The working script

THE SCENE BEGINS AND WE SEE A SERIES OF SHOTS WHICH EVENTUALLY SETTLES ON TWO MEN TALKING RATHER AGRESSIVELY, ONE OF THE MEN IS ON THE FLOOR AND IS HEAVILY WOUNDED AND IS HAVING TROUBLE SPEAKING.

DANNY: This is the last time I’m gonna ask yer, Where’s the 40 Grand!!!

SAM: One More week, just one more week mate im beggin ya---

DANNY: DO NOT FUCK WITH ME SAMMY, I DONT CARE WHICH WAY THIS GOES, IM GETTING 40 GRAND.

SAMMY: Why yer bothered so much, it’s only 40 Grand, That’s nothin to you...

DANNY: I don’t think you understand what you’re gettin yourself into Sammy.

SAMMY: What happened to you Dan, I thought we were mates

DANNY: That does fuck all for me at this point Sammy, If you aint got the money, You’re not worth the time that you’re wasting.

SAMMY: What now eh, what happens now...

DANNY: You ain’t got the money,

SAMMY: YOU FUCKIN PR---------

THE CONVERSATION ENDS RIGHT THERE AS DANNY KILLS SAMMY BY A SUPPOSED IMPACT TO THE HEAD WITH A BASEBALL BAT THAT HE HAS WITH HIM.



DANNY BEGINS HEAVY BREATHING AND A STARTS A PHONE CALL WITH HIS SUPPOSED BOSS



DANNY: Alright, It’s Dan

BOSS: All Sorted?

DANNY: Not Quite, He didn’t have the payment.

BOSS: Put him on the blower.

DANNY: I can’t, He’s dead.

BOSS: FUCKIN ‘ELL DANNY… I’ll send someone round… Ill Ring ya later Danny son, just… Get outta there, Okay?

DANNY: Sorry Mate, I didn’t ----(DIALING TONE)

SHIT. (Danny begins walking away from the body, he briefly stops and says) I’m Sorry Sammy, Its only business.

(THIS IS THE POINT WHERE THE CREDITS WILL BE PLACED)

Possible names

After much thought and consideration here is the final few names for our British gangster film.

• The Crew
• The Company
• Syndicate
• The Division
• Pest Control

We are still Not 100% on the name but until shooting the stand in name will be the division.

Ideas for the name for our final production

For my final project I will be creating a British gangster film. I'm doing research into the "greatest" Gangster films to see if a patten occurs with the names that I can use to help name my production.

Below are IMDb's 25 greatest gangster films of all time.  (http://www.imdb.com/list/Y6p3SySD7SA/)

1.

Goodfellas(1990)

 

 

2.

The Godfather(1972)

 

 

3.

The Godfather: Part II(1974)

 

4.

The Departed(2006)

 

5.

City of God(2002)

 

 

6.

Pulp Fiction(1994)

 

 

7.

A Prophet(2009)

 

8.

Scarface(1983)

 

 

9.

The Usual Suspects(1995)

 

 

10.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels(1998)

 

 

11.

Miller's Crossing(1990)

 

 

12.

Once Upon a Time in America(1984)

 

13.

Boyz n the Hood(1991)

 

14.

Elite Squad: The Enemy Within(2010)

 

15.

Reservoir Dogs(1992)

 

16.

Road to Perdition(2002)

 

17.

Elite Squad(2007)

18.

Casino(1995)

19.

The French Connection(1971)

20.

25th Hour(2002)

21.

Amores Perros(2000)

1

22.

The Untouchables(1987)

23.

Mystic River(2003)

24.

Eastern Promises(2007)

25.

Leon(1994)

 

 

From what I have seen the greatest gangster films names consist of mostly two words and often "the" being one of them. I will have a think and post back with a number of names that will be taken into consideration. 

SNATCH OPENING

After seeing snatch I have decided this is the style of film I want my production to be in. This is one of my favoured openings to a film of all time. Due to the fact it establishes all the characters so that for the rest of the film the audience knows who the charchters are and how they act. This was a Guy Richie film and you can see from this first clip he keeps to his style which he's known for.

The thing which I think looks most effective is the title cards that are used. It shows the name of the character in a stance that personifies them. This is something I'd like to incorporate into my production but I'm not shure how to do it on premier pro. I may need to look on the Internet to see if I can do this effect in after effects and transfer it over to a premier pro file.

Casino Royale

 

Casino Royal is one of the most recent James Bond Films and last written by Ian Flemming.

 

Firstly The main thing that is noticed when watching this opening sequence is that there is a filter of almost black and white. This gives an air of suspense to the scene, an unease that something cold come from the dark. This is done to make the audience feel uncomfortable and tense. The colour filter is kept even when the setting changes too keep the disorientation within the audience. I'm not sure why this is done in the outside cricket scene but the colour filter works best in the fight scene in the bathroom, although i cannot put my finger on why it adds something to the scene that captivates the audience but it does. This filter may be used in my production in the opening scene to give an air of disorientation within the audience.

One thing that stands out with this opening scene and most Bond opening scenes is that it has no connection to the rest of the film. This is very much like pulp fiction in the way that it gives the audience a taster of whats to come. But unlike pulp fiction the film establishes the main charchter , James Bond, and not the mentality of the people in the film. I like this aspect as well that this introduction establishes the brutal yet cool charchter James bond is by just a three minute clip. In my production opening the main aspect, like james bond, will be to establish the main charchter/s      

The Firm



This is the 2009 remake of "The Firm" by Nick Love.

(I could only find the video of the whole film so only watch until 2:42)

 

The film is about a power crazed football hooligan firm leader named "Becks" And how he befriends a young lad named "Dom" and how he joins the firm and loses grip of who he actually is when he's thrust upon this world of football violence. 

 

 

 

To establish the character in this scene (Becks) he has a conversation with his wife which , like Scarface , is almost like an interview and gives light on the crucial questions that the audience would be asking " Why are you going dressed like that?". The second part of the introduction is a moving dolly shot of Becks walking past eighties style housing to establish the environment and time period in which the film will take place in. Even the way he walks establishes to the audience his great self confidence. Same for the way he was looking in the mirror pleased with his self reflection. Little hints like the way he looked in the mirror can establish to the audience the mentality of the charchter thus the audience can empathise with them.

Scarface.

 

Scarface

This is one of my favourite films of all time. Al Pachino plays the role of a political prisoner who flees to America from the new political regime that has been set in his homeland of Cuba. The story goes on to him working for drug cartels in America and eventually becoming more power full to the point of the famous last scene in which he is hunted down by all the rival drug gangs in his mansion.

But one of the most iconic scenes from the motion picture is the introduction in which he is being integrated by boarder patrol to see if he should be allowed into America. This is a great device in which to establish so many things about the main character

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYb7Kmy-x8

 

 

From this scene alone we can establish the personality of the main character the way he answers the questions and how he makes jokes in a serious environment. The use of the interview also gives the audience the back story which is a crucial part of a introduction. Out of all of the crucial elements this introduction has ticked them all. This may be a a big inspiration of my final piece.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Producers, Studios Distributors?

Producers are the people that make the film. The producers are the people that actually make the film and most things seen on screen. They hire the costume and prop designers, film crew, directors, of tern actors and everyone needed for the production.


A few examples of famous producers are



     Famous for: Shrek , Kung fu panda and Madagascar.
Famous for : The Mummy, Blues Brothers, E.T , Back to The Future and many more.



Famous for Hannibal, Gone With The Wind and The Wizard of oz




Studios are the people with the cash. They fund all of the producers needs. They set the budget of a few million dollars and hopefully a profit is made at the end whic they will gain from. A majority of film studios do not own their own studios they just rent other peoples for productions.

A few famous examples are:

 Famous for Space chimps, Stewart little and the simpsons movie.


Famous for the Inbetweeners Film, Shaun of the dead and This is England.



Distributors are the people that get the films out to the cinemas and eventually DVD. They are also responsible for all aspects of the general public knowing about the film by the use of advertisements.

Some famous distributors are :


 Columbia pictures as well as producing films they are also a distribution company and a studio for motion pictures. This is not uncommon much like 20th century fox and universal they can afford to do everything on the motion picture.Columbia Pictures can do this because They are owned by the multi billion dollar company "sony Pictures" who have the money to as well as fund the production but make it. Some examples of their work: Ghostbusters, The karate Kid , Muppets from space and many more classics.


 Warner Brothers are again a hybrid of all three distributors, producers and a studio. They also own new line cinema and some famous productions of theirs are Nightmare on elm street, Dirty Harry , Oceans's 11 ,12 and 13.