Real Location Recce

Due to not being able to film on the location of our original set near Greenwich station in an unexpected dangerous construction site, we resulted to looking around locations nearer to our own homes.

We decided to go into Dartford town centre and came across the Gala Bingo Hall located on Spital Street, Dartford. Due to the Bingo Hall being shut down and bought by Net Church, we were able to contact the Church and ask for permission to film in the cellar and basement of the newly bought building. This fit our theme and plan for our Thriller film even better than our original location which was really important for us to match. We went down to the basement and cellar for our recce and we noticed it was primal, dirty, dark and frightening - which is significant for the set and design of where our hostage is going to be temporarily held. Another positive for us was that the whole building was being reconstructed apart from the basement, meaning we had no disruption for the filming of our recce and our actual filming. 

This is the outside view of where we filmed our location recce and also where we shall be filming our Thriller film 'The Sacrificial Lamb'.

Original Location Recce

We visited the location of our original planned location recce... but an unexpected occurrence happened - the building construction site was active and rather hazardous as there was at least 3 large drills, cranes and also wet muddy floor on the whole of the site. This immediately put us in the position of not being able to use to site for protection and safety of our equipment, cast and production team. The risk assessment influenced our decision of abandoning this location. 

Script

This is the short exchange of dialogue which will occur in our thriller opening sequence between the female assassin and the male victim.

We had to cut down the length of our script as we realised that we had too much dialogue for an opening scene; we reminded ourselves that it was the opening scene and that too much couldn't be revealed as we need to grab the audience's attention by increasing the enigma codes but minimising what is revealed in the 3 minute opening sequence.

Test Run

 Needs to be uploaded & edited (trimmed & sound effects) with description 

Shot List

This is our shot list. It shows each shot (in the correct order) that needs to filmed to create our desired thriller opening sequence. The shot list will help make sure we shoot all the shots and will help use to shoot them correctly as initially planned. As we are now more prepared with this shot list, it should enable things to run smoothly on the days of filming and allow them to be shot easily and quickly without any hesitation or incorrect filming. 

Production Schedule

This is our production schedule for our planned Thriller opening scene. The '/' are the days which we must exclude due to some of our actors or production team not being able to make the date. However, the blank dates are the days which we can all make so that filming can go ahead. As the production crew, we must arrange dates of which all the cast and crew can do so that we can be organised with timing and dates ahead. 

We have the Christmas half term to complete our filming and also 2 weeks after this deadline so that errors can be edited and re-filmed if necessary.

Assets List

We have created an asset list in a mind map format to show everything that we will need on the days when we are filming. The list will ensure that when the day of the filming arrives we will be fully prepared and not forget any important piece of equipment or props.

We have separated our assets into 4 groups; Equipment (which us as a production team need to bring), Props (which we as a production team needs to bring), Female Actor's Props (which our female actor Jasmine Wrapson needs to bring) and Male Actor's Props (which our male actor Shivam Patel needs to bring).

Risk Assessment

The Sacrificial Lamb Anamatic Storyboard

This is our Anamatic Storyboard for our Thriller film 'The Sacrificial Lamb'. We created this by taking photos of the main aspects that take place in our film production. Adding to this, we also edited the clips to make them colour corrected.

Final Actors in Costume

Jasmine Wrapson = Female Assassin - Action Chick/Alpha Female

Shivam Patel = Male Victim

Female Assassin in Costume

This is Jasmine, she is taking up the role of the female assassin in our opening sequence. The costume is a smart black jumper/top with a long black coat, with black trousers/leggings and black heels. In addition she will be wearing red lipstick and she will also hopefully be wearing a floppy black hat for the real shots, if we are able to find one appropriate for our piece. 

Male Victim in Costume

This is Shivam, he will be playing the role of the male victim in our opening sequence. The costume is a messy shirt, that will not be tucked in, also he will wear a tie that is all messy and out of shape. In addition he will be wearing suit style trousers and shoes with the laces partially undone to reinforce the messy/distressed look. 

Costumes: Male Victim

This is an ideal costume for the male victim, he is the one who is going to be held hostage in the chair. We want him to look smart so wearing smart trousers, shoes, and a white shirt however we think the shirt should be slightly dirty and messy, with it half tucked into the trousers and half out. We also think that the costume should include a red tie - as it matches the 'smart' appearance but also the red symbolises death and danger. 

Costumes: Female Assassin

This is the idea for the costume of our female assassin. We think she should be quite a dark and mysterious character which is why the costume idea is mostly black to create mystery and to try and hide her identity, also we think she should look very important and of a higher class and kind of business like. However we want the costume to include red lipstick and red heels to symbolise both death/danger and also to symbolise lust.

Casting Auditions

This video shows an audition for the man being held hostage. The clip shows the man struggling and in distress as he is tied to a chair. He then says the line 'We know what you did in Budapest' and in the audition he says it quite calmly whereas we need to have the character say it in more of a panic and shocking way as it is an important part of the sequence as it cues the plot twist. 

This video shows another audition for the man being held hostage. The clip shows the person reciting the lines that are in our script. He is also struggling in the chair to show he is trying to escape, he also said the lines in quite a scared and pleading way which is really good as that is the intention for this character. I think this audition was really good and the person really got into the role of the character and said his lines correctly and with the correct intention. 



This video shows an another audition for the man being held hostage. The clip shows the person reciting the lines that will be used in our script and showing clear distress and struggle as he tries to break free from the rope at the end of the audition - we used a clip from James Bond Casino Royal to help the person in the audition understand the aim of the character and the expectations we have. His facial expressions were very good and showed his emotions and distress and he said the lines in the correct and appropriate manner for the scenes. I think this audition was really good and I think the person will fit in well with our expectations and requirements. 

 

This video shows an audition for the female assassin. The clip shows the person reciting lines from the script that will be used in the opening sequence. The person took on the role as the strong, determined, stern and powerful character (like the action chick from the film Kill Bill) very well, she tried very hard to portray the correct role through the use of her lines and mannerisms. She also looks quite high status and action chick/business likes just by her build and appearance which would fit this role well. I think this audition is good and the person met our expectations for the character. 



This video shows another audition for the female assassin. The clip shows the person reciting the lines form the script that we are planning to use in our opening sequence. I think the person auditioning didn't get into the character as much as we had anticipated although her interpretation of the script with the emphasis on certain words was very good. I feel she rushed through the script which held her back and there was more potential as in costume she does fit the right look. However on the other hand she does look slightly young and is shorter than the ideal height we are looking for so overall I don't think this person will fit the female assassin character.


This video shows another audition for the female assassin. The clip shows the person reciting the lines from the script that we are using for our opening sequence, I feel she portrayed the character well through the way she spoke the lines and her mannerisms, I also think that her appearance fits the role however I feel she does look slightly young and small so may not come across as being powerful or intimidating like we anticipated for the character. 

Ciara's casting auditions 

Unfortunately due to certain problems with some of our desired actors we were unable to receive auditions from the men which Ciara had planned on auditioning for us for both the roles of the victim and assassin employees. However luckily we were able to find many men who were willing to audition to appear as both the victim and assassin employees in our thriller opening sequence and we were still able to select good actors to play the characters.

Audition Contacts

I've contacted someone from a drama school who has agreed to audition for the role of the female character. She also has told me that she is able to find some men/boys to audition for the roles of the assassins and the man held hostage in our sequence. I emailed her a brief description of the auditions and am expecting the audition videos sent back next week. 

Back-up Location Recee

For our back-up location recee, we chose to film an area in Dartford town centre which has similar features for a Thriller film such as: primal walls and streets, busy paths, dark alley ways and also several sets of black metal stairs which lead to the outside of buildings. We chose to film our back-up in an alley way which had a dead end meaning that the 'victim' had no escape. The alley way consisted of graffitied and primal walls and a tunnel which we will enco-orperate our title slates into.
Our back-up location will be the location we film our Thriller opening scene on if anything unexpectedly goes wrong with our real location in a construction site near Greenwich station.

Fakebook Profiles

William Somerset's Fakebook Profile

We have chosen this character from 'Se7en' as his character is very in-depth and shows it was well thought about whilst being produced. 

The Bride's Fakebook Profile

We have chosen this character from 'Kill Bill' as the Bride has a very similar personality, attitude and stereotype as the alpha-female we are basing our Thriller opening sequence on. 

Sub-Genres and Conventions of Thrillers

Enigma Codes

Enigma codes are questions which the audience ask when the film's opening sequence is introduced. These questions are then answered shortly after or later on in the film as the plot is revealed. These questions persuade the audience to get intrigued by the film as they are determined to find out the answers. The advantage of enigma codes is that they encourage the audience to watch the rest of the film as they want to know the answers.

These can be questions such as: Why is he tied up? Why is he the villain? Why has he just killed him? Who is she? Why is she doing that? Why are the two main characters enemies?

The Usual Suspects' Enigma Codes

In the Usual Suspects, the audience want to know: Why is the man surrounded by dead bodies? Why is he setting them alight with petrol and fire? What did these people do to deserve to die? Why is he keeping the man alive for longer than the rest? Who is really the villain out of the two men? Why does he shoot him? 

Reservoir Dogs' Enigma Codes

In Reservoir Dogs, the audience want to know: Why are they being chased? Why has he been shot? Who is chasing them? Where are they going? Who are the characters?

Enigma Codes Used In 'The Sacrificial Lamb'

• How did the male victim get tied to the chair in the isolated room?
• Who put the male victim in the chair?
• Why is he being targeted?
• Who is the female lady?
• Why was she tied up in the chair previously?
• Why is she now looking for revenge?
• Where is the female lady going at the end?
• What will happen to the male victim after his throat is slit?
• Whats the backstory to these two characters, how do they know each other?

The Sacrificial Lamb: Title Sequence Timeline

(Our production group logo will be shown before the title slates at the opening of the clip)

1. Dynamic Productions Presents
2. A film by JEL Media 
3. 'The Sacrificial Lamb' 
4. Jasmine Wrapson
5. Shivam Patel
6. Production Designed by Warren Moon
7. Props by Ryan Hemsky 
8. Casting by Ellis Blunden
9. Script by Rocky Starr
10. Camera by Toronto Jackson
11. Sound by Leah Gray
12. Music by Sian Gilhooly 
13. Costume by Amelia Robson
14. Hair & Makeup by Lexi Cox
15. Edit by Jack Street
16. Co Produced By Steven Smith
17. Line Producer Aaron Columbus 
18. Produced by JEL Media
19. Assistant Director Tracey Stansted 
20. Directed by JEL Media

Our Thriller Opening Storyboard

Shot one is the very start of the sequence where there is a short shot of a woman's legs being dragged along a floor. We are opening our thriller opening sequence as we have chose to create it starting with the very end scene of the film so that the audience will have an insight into what the outcome will be but don't know who's legs they are, why they are being dragged across the floor, who is dragging them across the floor and what happened to the person for them to now be in this position. 

Shot two will be the same as shot one but will focus in on the ladies heels. 

 

Shot three will be a transition from the ladies legs being dragged across the floor to a shot of her walking over to her dressing table in the same heels seen in the first two shots.

The next shot after the transition will show a lady, wearing the same heels as were just shown in the first two opening scenes, walking towards her dressing table. The camera will be low so you can only see part of her legs and her heels showing that the focus on this stage is on the heels to show that it is the same lady who was at the start of the sequence. 

Fifth will be of the lady applying her red lipstick, it is planned to be a close up of her lips so that her face is still hidden and the audience will be left for longer wondering who the identity of this lady is. The lipstick will be red as it is classy and will appeal to our male target audience. 

The next part of the sequence will be the lady tightening her scarf around her hands and then swiftly wrapping it around her neck. The close up of her wrapping it round her fists shows the tension, anger and frustration she is feeling as well as symbolising the rope which is used later on in the sequence. 

The next shot will be the lady grabbing her bag.

The next shots will then be of the lady walking along streets to the warehouse location. 

The next shot will show the lady arriving at a warehouse. The past few shots will be done using ellipses as we are just highlighting important parts of her getting herself prepared and travelling to the main location. 

Next will be shots of the male victim, also known as the ex-boss tied up to a wooden chair inside the warehouse with his mouth gagged. This is challenging typical thriller stereotypes as normally the male would play more of an action role or playing the villain yet in our sequence we are reversing and challenging the stereotypes so the lady is not the damsel in distress but the action chick/alpha female.

The next few shots in the sequence will be of the two characters sharing some dialogue with the lady having the most screen time as she is the more dominant and important character in the sequence.

The next shots will show the lady pouring petrol from a petrol canister on and around the male victim.

Then the next shot will show the lady lighting up a cigarette as if to tease and threaten the male victim who will be scared at this point that she will throw the cigarette onto the petrol.

The lady will then be seen in the next shot taking a slow puff fro the cigarette showing that she is tormenting the man even more and this will leave the audience in suspense as to whether or not she will in fact light up the petrol and kill the man tied up.

However the next shot will transition with a very quick and sharp cut as suddenly the man tied up will say a trigger word which will change the whole situation. 

The next shot will then show that the trigger word caused two big men wearing all black to appear in the warehouse with guns pointing towards the lady. 

The last shot of our sequence will be a close up of the lady dropping her cigarette, however we will not show where the cigarette lands or what happens after or whether or not the cigarette will start a fire and kill the man tied up in the warehouse. 

The Sacrificial Lamb Pitch

This is our pitch for our Thriller film opening of 'The Sacrificial Lamb'. 

Parity Order of Shots & Title Slates

Below is a plan which orders each shot we have to record for parity as well as a plan of our title slates and what shot they will be put over the top of.

Due to an unexpected problem we encountered when trying to get permission for our required location, the filming and production of Parity was halted just after we finished the planning stages.

Parity Animated Title Slates

To help us prepare and plan for the filming of Paritiy we drew out rough pictures of each of the different frames for each shot and included where we would be the title slates.