Directions Unit-Roxanne Directing 2

This is the second clip I directed, same script.

Directions Unit-Hannah Directing

This is a clip was directed by Hannah Darby, the actors were Charlie Ansell and Danny Hewitt. I was the camera operator for this clip.

Directions Unit-Steve Finn Directing

Steve Finn did a directing the script just after the class did.

Directions Unit-Acting for Charlie 2

Directions Unit- Directing Task

This is a clip from the Steve Finn workshop where I am the director and I have two actors Andy Cox and Danny Hewitt. Something seems to have gone wrong with the sound but I'm putting the clip up with no editing.

Directions Unit-Acting for Charlie

During the Steve Finn workshop we did two scripts in which we either acted, directed, worked on sound or on the camera. In the clip I am acting and Charlie Ansell.

Directions Unit-Acting for Mike

During a workshop with Steve Finn we needed to Act, work sound, work the camera and Direct. This is a clip of me and Danny Hewitt acting for Mike Hoad

Directions Unit-Interview Fiona

This is an interview with Fiona, this is a clip of us discussing the dates of the shoot and how she is busy during the dates. This is only a clip of the interview, the rest was just small discussions about the questions I had lined up.

Directions Unit- Auditions

I produced a document for some of my crew, this is so that if we still have a actor in the audition that Hannah had some notes on the actors. 

Auditions 30th January

Jason Baker-11:45

Applying for Male lead, script he will be Robert. Can he interpret the script as a depressed man.

Richard Battrum-12:30

Applying for the role of the extra, reading Robert only needs to read a few lines can he try portray depression.

Fiona Johnson-12:45

Applying for extra, reading the part of Helen, can she try and show contempt.

Emily Husk-13:00

Applying for extra, reading Helen, can she try and show contempt.

Rebecca Seaman-13:15

Applying for extra, reading Helen, can try and show contempt. 

Directions Unit- Audition script

Goodbye

I did not create a title page for this as I needed it just for the auditions. I was given this script by Steve Finn in a workshop.

Directions Unit-Props

I have decided to have the home location littered with items, bottles and pill packs. 

Directions Unit- Research

Directors Unit- Sorrow

This is a short film about time passing and how after a loved ones death that as time passes the need to visit the grave can become less and less symbolising a type of emotional healing. This was a 9 min film with a static shot of a grave a wall and occasionally a women. They worked out the weather well, including that the moon would not need to be in shot every night but more spread out then that. I found that parts of the film were over exposed. This static shot can also fatigue the audience there fore they will lose concentration and the director loses there attention from the film.

Directors Unit- Sorrow

While looking around for Sorrow related films to watch I found this, a horror film about Sorrow. I found this an interesting concept. Whats  also interesting about this trailer is that there is almost no sound. In places like when she is hit by the bat you expect loud noises but there are none present.

Directions Unit- Alfred Hitchcock

Secrets of the Psycho shower
It is one of the most notorious scenes ever filmed – yet Hitchcock and Janet Leigh didn't tell the truth about it. Will Hodgkinson on a real-life story of body doubles and murder

'They concocted a lie' ... Janet Leigh in Psycho. Photograph: Allstar/Cinetext/

In the run-up to the release of Psycho in 1960, Alfred Hitchcock did everything he could to build up the suspense. "No one will be admitted to the theatre after the start of each performance," declared the poster, bearing a sulky-looking Hitchcock wagging a finger. The director bought up all copies of the original novel, which he had optioned for a paltry $9,000, so that hardly anyone would know how the story ended. He also filmed on a closed set and forced cast and crew to sign an agreement promising not to mention the ending to anyone. There were no advance screenings.

Alfred Hitchcock as the director of Psycho went to great lengths to keep the ending under wraps, as the first film of its kind he wanted the ending secure. This would of helped the experience of every viewer to have been un spoilt and non tainted.

The rest of the article provides some interesting facts about the film and the people in it.
The rest of the article can be found:
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/mar/29/psycho-body-double-marli-renfro-

Directions Unit- Psycho

During a lecture/screening day we watched Psycho the 1960's Alfred Hitchcock film. After we watched the film we analysed some of the scenes that were created and looked at how they were made to look to the audience. For example the shower scene seems natural but through out the scene the small bathroom seems to expand and have more room, like a room inside a room. We watched the camera movements and how they presented characters to the audience.

After watching and analysing some of Psycho I had some new ideas for my film. These included some longer shots, the opening shot could start with the clock moving over glass and pill bottles to a "bed" with a young man sitting on the edge. This would be a sort of mid panning shot. I decided to change the package slightly, instead of the package being a paper bag, I decided that the pill bottle will be wrapped up in newspaper. This is inspired by the money the character puts in the newspaper. I also decided that I will want to use higher angles as if to make the character to look small and weaker. This is inspired by the way the camera moves in the scene with the detective and Bates. I have also decided to try make my James character look more sinister using shadow on the face, this will not be to hide the face but to show a method of James trying to hide from the world with the use of a hood. This is inspired by the shower scene and how the face of the killer is not seen by the use of shadow.

Directions Unit- Crew

Crew for my four min film-

Camera Operator- Aimee Saunders
Audio- Danny Hewitt
Runner-Sophit Marriott

I have now booked the camera out for the 8-9 February.

I will be having auditions which I will also be using a camera for. I am have a small group with me to help me with the audition process. The auditions will be filmed for my reference.

Hannah Darby
Aimee Saunders
Sophie Marriott

Directions Unit- Auditions

I posted a note to all applicants of my film that the auditions would be held on the 31st of January, as the day is coming closer I thought I would update my audition list as to who is coming and who can not attend that date. As a few of the applicants for the roles of James and Sean are not currently responding to my messages through Star Now I have re-listed the role for two more days, this will hopefully get some response.

Directions Unit- Hannah Darby

During the filming of The Journey Through…..Loneliness, for Hannah Darby. I tried to get a range of shots as I was the camera operator. This included panning without a tri pod and standing in some bushes as to get the correct angle. Hannah was directing the piece and gave me some good ideas on how I can use the camera and the different angles I can get out of it. This was a good collaborative experience.

Directions Unit- Research and Note Taking

I took some books out from the library and am slowly reading through them to hopefully get a lot of relevant information, I am hoping to have gone through the books before my shoot and auditions. The first book Directing the Story, is about story boarding, capturing the attention of the audience  with what you plan to put on screen and how to keep everything relevant to the story. I hope to have taken all my notes before I start my story boarding process. The second book is Directing Actors, this has chapters on auditions, casting and script analysis. I am hoping to have taken all my notes on this book by the time I had auditions on the 31st January.

Directions Unit- Locations

These are some of the locations I have chosen to use.

Directors Unit-Theory Research

Directions Unit-Sound design project

Directions Unit- A director

The definition of director is

• a person who is in charge of activity, department or organisation. 
• a person who supervises the actors and staff in a film, play or similar production. 

Others think that a director is the driving creative force in a film's production, and acts as the crucial link between the production, technical and creative teams. Directors are responsible for creatively translating the film's written script into actual images and sounds on the screen-he or she must visualise and define the style and structure of the film, then act as both story teller and team leader to bring this version to reality. 

The director needs to make a directors statement to convey to its team and to others. The directors statement is a compliment of the creative decisions made my the director before the production stage. This includes; casting, locations and cinematography. All creative decisions should be included in this document. The photos below show the ideas that can be put into the directors statement, using examples of the type of atmosphere you would like to create with different props and use of location.

Directions Unit-The Journey Through Sorrow Script

The Journey

Directions Unit- Audition Schedule

I have created a schedule to keep my self in order and to tell the actors when to turn up.

Directions Unit- Brain storm

As I am trying to collect my ideas about Sorrow I produced for myself a Sorrow brain storm as to try link the different aspect of sorrow that I can identify and then to write over in black pen some Directing ideas.

Directions Unit- Directors Statement, the beginning

I have decided to start writing ideas for my directors statement. It's hard to think of the ideas I had at the start of the project and to put the explanation into words. I am trying to write it by hand first as to try get my ideas down and plan where I can insert pictures from parts of what I am thinking and what could inspire me.

Directions Unit- Location Ideas

Directions unit- Auditions

Today I contacted all the people that applied for roles in my short film.
My message to them was;
"Hello my name is Roxanne Meats and you have applied for a role in the short film I am creating. I have had a look at your profile and would like to offer you an audition on Thursday 30th January. Please contact me if you are still interested, you will not be paid for this work but your name will be in the credits."
 I sent this message to 12 applicants and I am writing a chart as to keep track if they come in for the interview.

Directions Unit- Visual mood board creation

Directions Unit-Mood Board

I decided to look up mood boards for inspiration, this is what I found on google hopefully this may help me with my ideas.

Directions Unit-Blue

The colour blue can be used to simulate cold and sad. It can also be associated with Winter. I typed "blue" into google and found some interesting images.

 This image is one of a person with a blue background, this makes me this of sadness and loneliness.












This is a wonderful landscape in a cold light.

This image I can see as being disorientating as well as in a way representing something happy. 

This is a image where we are looking a what seems to be a cold sky, the colours of what looks like the sun coming up really stand out and make it seem like the happiness coming through the cold and sad.

Directions Unit- Change in character

After reading the script over I decided that I have the wrong character for the role of the second character in The Journey Through Sorrow. So I have changed the character from Sean to Taz.

Taz is a 36 year old women with a child, she sells drugs on the side of her job as a cleaner at the club James works at. She has a child named Hayley, Hayley is 8 years old and goes to school. She spends weekends at her dads house in London. Taz currently does not have a partner  but is known to have a string of one night stands, after working at the club she stays and enjoys the music and drinking. She prefers to stay in the club due to the fact she can get free drinks. Taz grew up in London, she lived in a flat in Bromley, with her two parents. She met Hayleys dad when she was 18 and they stayed together until a year after Hayley was born, this lead to Taz moving out of London and to Kent.

Directions unit-task

Directions Unit- Casting

For the four min film I am producing January/February time 2014, I have decided I want extras and I need two actors.

I want four extra's, as to walk in the streets around the actor during the filming as to add atmosphere.

I have not yet come up with the statement yet to post online to the casting sites. 

Casting Call Pro offer a 30 free day trail. 

Casting Now offer free registration. 

Casting Networks ask for the director to post projects. 

I posted an advert onto star now a free website to have a basic profile. I have posted on there for two male actors to play in a four min short film. I have posted the adverts together so that I can have the lead and the co-star together. In the advert I have mentioned that I can send them a page of the script for auditions that will be late Jan. 

I posted on star now my four extras roles, due in January, to work febuary