Locations (Cambridge)

Camera Work

Filming

Title font

This is the font we are planning on using for the titles in our film. We have chosen this font because it reflects the urban theme of the film and also the gangs in the film.

Story Board

Title: A3E

For the title of our film we have decided on 'A3E'. The number 3 instead of C is influenced by the film 'Se7en' and the fact that there are 3 main characters of the film. We chose the word ACE because this would be the name of the main gang in the film that we show as the antagonist. It also stems from the fact that the gang 'A3E' is the leading gang in the area and the one that everybody wants to be in because they are the most violent but also the one you sometimes hope you dont see because they are very threatening. - relating to the playing cards when you may really want to get an ace but you really hope you dont see anyone else have one because they would win.

Location

For our location we chose to use Cambridge for a number of reasons. Firstly, it provides a lot of buildings for the free running and it is a built up urban area which suits the gang related theme we have chosen. Secondly, the actors we are using already use Cambridge for recreational free running, so we decided to take advantage of the knowledge of locations they have. We also tried to find locations within Cambridge that gave us good light and on the second day of filming we waited until late afternoon so that we could get light to create silhouettes.

More Inspirations

In the opening two minutes of our film we have decided to include bird's eye view shots of various newspaper clippings related to gang violence. This idea was influenced by the film Se7en because we thought it created a lot of tension and suspense in Se7en. It would also increase the Thriller vibe because a lot of our shots may come across as looking like they are from an action film; we wanted to include something more sinister. The newspaper clippings would also relate to the current view of youths in city centers as being violent and aggressive and the fact that newspaper usually have a bad interpretation of young people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZK7mJoPLY

Filming 20-11-11

On Sunday 20th November 2011, we travelled to Cambridge to do some filming. Each of us filmed some of the footage and we think we have enough to start some substantial editing. During the day, we also took photographs which give examples of the stunts we are incorporating and some possible camera angles.

Character Profile: Tyler

Tyler: As one of the chasers Tyler will be taking part in the free running element of our film. His character will be brave and threatening which is portrayed through the speed of the chase scene.

Character Profile: Matt

Matt: Throughout the film, we have decided to use Matt as one of the chasers. This is because his free running stunts will speed up the film and add more excitement. His character will be portrayed as brave and fairly violent through stunts and the planned final scene which will suggest a brutal fight or even gang related murder.

Character Profile: Ronnie

Ronnie: Although we are using Ronnie as the victim in our film he will not be involved as an actor as much as Matt and Tyler. This is for two reasons: firstly, Ronnie is also involved in a lot of the filming making and because he will not be doing any free running stunts in the film, if he was in it, it would decrease the tension we intend to create through speed.

Inspirations

District 13 contains the type of free running we would like to include in our film. The victim in this film is the free runner, but we have decided that the chasers should be free running as they are from an infamous gang. This film has also influenced our location. It is based in a city center and the mise-en-scene has also given us inspiration and we have decided to use urban clothing as well as the impression of gang rivalry in the initial plot.


Bourne Ultimatum also contains some scenes if free running Eg: 1.44 - 1.47 is Matt Damon jumping from wall to wall on top of the buildings, we would like to include this as it would anticipate the audience. At 1.02 there is a birds eye view of the main character looking upon the detective; we think this shot would be suitable for the chasers point of view shot.

Free Running

The photo shown above has influenced us to use a similar low shot of this frame. This angle makes the building look higher and the gap in which hes jumping over wider. This creates excitement and tention in the audience.




This photo emphasises the beauty of this sport as it shows a silhouette flipping in mid air infornt of a sunset. In our storyboards we have shown and mentioned that we would like a sunset silhouette similar to this.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMythProductions#p/u/0/UdlSO0ObDa4

This youtube clip shows what kind of stunts we may and will be using in our film. Take note on the camera angles and music as this suites the street life atmosphere we will to add to our clip.

Music

We have decided that we will use Garage band as our music in our short video. We have already made 1 minute of the music, which includes the instruments of Drums, bass and electric guitar, these two instruments are normally used in a street films. Drum and Bass music is known for being played in heavily built cities. If for a reason we do not finnish or use Garage band for our music we will use Eminem- Lose Yourself instumental version for our background. We have chosen this track as there is pulse effect that builds up tension and would suit the camera shots we are using making it faster and more gripping. The audience can relate to this type of music as Eminem has a reputation of being involved in gang life, he also has a street image that also helps the characters to relate to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WloBl0Yq8UM

First shoot

On saturday the 12th of november, annie polly and holly ( with our two free running actors; matt and tyler) travelled to the heart of cambridge where we took location photos, shot some footage and took photos of the kind of free running we would use. we shot 2 minutes of matt and tyler free running, for example we shot a birds eye view of their silhouettes, jumping to a roof.

Plan B

We are planning to film on Sunday 20th November, in Cambridge with three actors ( matt, Tyler and ronnie) however if one one fails to attend we have decided that we would use a substitute or one chaser instead of two.

Focus group part 1

Final Idea

1 original gang split by disputed over stolen property.
1 gang is chasing the leader of the other gang showing how vulnerable they are on their own.
Each gang would where different symbols like a tatoo for instance to show that they are part of that gang.
The film will be a continual fight between the two gangs showing violence and sexual assult between the two gangs. This shows the thriller aspect because the gangs are quite sick in the way that they follow and torment each other and their families. We could have a scene of the characters being followed without seeing the actual figure to build up suspense.
We will set it in cambridge and use free running scenes of the gang chasing the rival gang off of their territory and include credits influenced by se7en whihc show crimes in the papers etc.

The costumes in attck the block have influenced our own because we think it would represent the stereotype of a typical london/city gang. We also like the lighting used in this picture because we think it looks more sinister (thriller like).

For the woodland setting in our film we have chosen to use Haverhill east town park. this would be a good long/establishing shot of the scene. The trees conote the death in the film and set the mood.

Original ideas

Our first idea was influenced by 'attack the block' directed by Joe Cornish in 2011.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3tOFejxPH0

The main influence was the free running scenes which we think will build up suspense in our film.

We are planning to base our film around the idea of a chase and our first idea was to have an urban city like scene of free running. This will allow us to use a lot of different camera angles and we think we could use a worm's eye view very effectively to show the runners in the chase scene jumping over a wall.

Our second idea was based on the main character running away from something rather than someone chasing someone else. this would include a woodland setting and we think if it snowed this would add to the effects through pathetic fallacy and symbolise the coldness of the film. it would involve point of view shots and worm's eye views showing the snow on the ground in contrast with a small amount of blood (not too much so that it becomes a horror rather than a thriller).

However we have decided to use both ideas - going from an urban landscape to a woodland which would elongate the suspense of running and would stop the free running from looking more like an extreme sports video. This would allow us to include the technical features we want to whilst also having an end to the opening in the woods where the character could be dragged through the snow (or leaves if it doesn't snow!)