Total Film Cover Annotations

This is one of the magazine covers that had been analysed in order for us to become familiar with the elements and conventions used in magazine covers, when comes to creating our own. We were also able to see what effects magazine covers have on the audience and what attracts the readers attention.

Finished Teaser Trailer

After manipulating all that needed to be done and perfecting the trailer to the best of our ability, we were able to produce the final product which we felt satisfied with having taken on board all advice and criticism.

The group hope you enjoy it. (This is the Low Quality version)

Teaser Trailer Soundtrack

When our teaser sqequence was set in place, we realised that one of the elements that did not make it scary enough was the music to accompany it. The groups initial idea was to not use a soundtrack, but to use sci-fi effects and sounds throughout.

In an atempt to do this we searched through YouTube but it was proven too difficult so we reverted back to using a soundtrack which may be relevant. It was a choice between four songs, so we used it alongside our trailer to see which worked the best.

To our surprise, the group was able to find a song (Megas XLR Music - Orchestral Horror)that fitted prefectly with our teaser trailer from slow sequences to when the pace increased as well as the song finished at the climax of the trailer giving a greater impact on the audience watching.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOptZ60T_1c)

Editing So Far

During this session of editing (coming back from half term), the group were able to refresh our memories by watching out teaser trailer so far, this time picking up on elements that could be changed, removed or improved.



After some feedback from the teacher, she advised us to shorten some of the cuts and add in text to make the narrative seem more clear and some together, as so far, it is very difficult to understand the teaser trailer unless you read/hear the narrative of the film. There were only two slots that we had planned to place text although between the shots, which later did not work as large amounts of text would be placed there in such a short period of time, giving the audience too much information at once and taking there attention away from what is happening at the current moment.

Later the group was able to rectify the situation by adding more slots where text would be placed, although it was difficult trying to think of sentences that would impact the audience there and then, it was a task that was achieved.

Chosen Name For Production Company

I am currently part of a media team called New Age Vison, i thought it may be a good idea to incorporate their logo into our teaser trailer as a professional graphic logo has already been created, it would be origional as no other company has used it, and it could also promote the complany to the veiwrs gaining their intrest and perhaps encourging them to do futher research on it.

Futheremore, it would give the group an oppurtunity use differnt types of technology being exporting other types of media onto our teaser trailer, and using it to our advantage.

Here are a few still images of the logo which we will be using:

Editing Session So Far

We began by watching each of the shots we had recorded in order to choose the best ones, list them next to the storyboard so it go in the order of the narrative. once the sequence was in order, we cut and lengthened pieces according to the seconds we had written down on the story board and what would have a greater effect on the audience. This happened over the course of 5 lessons.

Due to the fact that we had planned so carefully i.e. timed each scene we had shot, it made the initial stages of editing fairly easy.

The next stage was to sort out the effects of each of the scenes in terms of speed, colour (brightness and contrast) or other effect that may be relevant to our teaser trailer. Our first successful effect was 'Ghosting', this distorted the scene, making it look as it two videos were played at the same time with a 0.5 second delay. Additionally, the scene was of Lucy breathing heavily and looking around so having that effect almost created a sense of confusion for the character, panic and isolation which could attract the audience drawing them to the teaser trailer and wondering what may happen next.

Previously, the group had an idea of using night vision, and as there was not a function on the video camera we were provided with, we searched for a tutorial on YouTube we followed to the best of our ability but it may have been a possibility that the version in the tutorial was different to the one we were using, so it did not come out exactly the same, with slight colour differences and size. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt2eiYvRpy4)which)

Later the group had realised that throughout the video, the 'Media Students' in the teaser trailer did not have any props- recording equipment with them so it did not look as though they were filming for anything. as a result we had to alter our story line that the media student were out looking for a location for their media project. By doing this, night vision at the beginning of the trailer would not be relevant and Lucy would have had to be holding a hand held camera which she didn't have at any point of the teaser. So we had to revert back to our original footage of Ghosting as the only effect used.

Above is our groups attempt at night vision, with the aid of YouTube.

Day Three Of Filming

The third day happened to be the most stressful due to the fact that props were very hard to get a hold of especially the fake blood, resulting in us using three different products- ink, red paint, and fake blood from a 'fancy dress' shop. This came our to be very realistic including the paint drying on Shreena's hand to give a cracked effect. Consequently, it led us off schedule and had to use other free periods to film scenes that needed to be done.


One of the last shots was of Lucy (Shreena) wiping her bloody hand on the clear plastic, giving the impression that she was wiping the camera lens. It was the most anticipated yet feared as we only had one take to do it which had to be done with extra precaution. I believe it came out successful and hope the audience will have good feedback towards it.


The final scene we were to shoot was the turning on of the light switch, just before the title of the film is displayed on screen. To do this, we had to search around the school for the perfect light switch, ask for permission from the teachers, and had to continuously wipe the switch down thoroughly after every take. After watching back the few sequences we had done through the video camera, we had finally chosen the right one and finished filming with a great sense of satisfaction.

Day Two Of Filming

The second day of filming took place in Streatham in front and behind an abandoned Church which we had suggested earlier. The first shots that were filmed were the pan of the front of the Church from a low angle and as the Church was so large, in order to capture it all in the camera frame, we had to shoot very near to the road. In doing so, members of the public did not consider what we were doing and walked past disrupting the shots, causing us to start again delaying time.

The next section was us walking to the back of the Church, again the group wanted to experiment with camera angles yet capture as interesting shots as we could. This time we chose to balance the camera in a group members shoe, so that it was as near to the ground as possible yet not affected by the snow which could be damaging. It turned out to be one of the most successful shots that we filmed.

Finally we shot at the back of the church and due to positioning of the camera, and becoming familiar to the location, we changed it last minute from Lisa looking directly into the camera, to her walking away from the camera and standing still. This was to allow the audience to ponder on why she stopped (as well as being the only character left in the frame) and also to prevent discomfort for the character and the audience- having someone stare directly at them.

Day One Of Filming

This was a very interesting experience for the whole of the group. although we had previously worked together to make our parody's where we were able to joke and laugh and the atmosphere was layed back, we had to change our mindsets and look at it at a professional prospective, considering the fact that the scenes we were filming we serious and aim to capture the audiences attention by making it as realistic as possible. Being in the seclusion house was a much better place to start as it was in a familiar environment where we could be relaxed.

However, a few problems whilst filming happened to be to that there were staff who were working in the same building as us at the same time, so we had to speak to each of them individually explaining to them that there would be a number of loud noise/screams/running especially when filming the scene where Riley (Maria/Me) had to be thrown against the wall and dragged across the floor. This problem was resolved by trying to shoot with minimal mistakes, being alert of the time, and listening to each others ideas carefully i.e experimenting with different camera angles and positioning.

These are a few images that were taken on the day of the shooting.

Problems With Filming

As the filming for the trailer was scheduled to shoot on Wed 1st December, due to weather condition (snow), our school was closed and transport became very difficult resulting in the group having to reschedule and reconsider which days may be appropriate to shoot first. the verdict was to begin shooting in the seclusion house (originally being the second part of filing), the church on the second day, and the recording studio on the third day where short sequences could be filmed and would have more access to props that may be difficult to purchase elsewhere e.g. sheet of clear plastic.

Filming had been rescheduled to resume on the 8th December.

Shooting Schedule

A member of the group being the producer was responsible for the construction of the shooting schedule which was Shreena, this was to be closely followed in order for the group to shoot on time and be able to edit in greater detail.

As minimal props were needed and it appeared to be fairly simple as well as the locations being local, the group hoped it was all go successfully.