Obsession Opening Sequence - Rough Cut - Evaluation

After having posted this video on youtube and sharing it on my Facebook, I asked people to watch it and comment their likes and dislikes. Not all of the comments proved to be helpful as it wasn't clear that there intentionally was no audio, apart from three small scenes. Therefore many people kept saying comments similar to: "Maybe you could add some creepy music in the background to build tension" or "Same on the creepy music, but definitely keep in the loud and sudden sounds (like the straw being cut and stuff)". As I still had not added the audio, theses were not the comments I was hoping for although, they did not go to waste as they would help me with my next updated video. Therefore I was more prepared with the type of music people were expecting.

Some of the comments of the footage was reassuring and helped me decide how much of it to use. For example: "The candles and the burning paper thing was amazing"and "Ooooh creepy! Especially loved the candles being lit at the beginning and going out at the end!". From these comments I have decided that the candle scenes will be the main feature in the opening sequence. Due to the candle scenes signifying the present and the other scenes in the park signifying memories and the past, the present scenes have to be clearer and more focused than the others. However, they need to still represent the person's unsteadiness, so there will be the occasional flash or distortion. 

Second Time Filming - Video Diary

Some things I have failed to mention in the video diary are that, although the actors and the lighting didn't go as I originally intended, lots of close ups had been a part of the plan. So the fact that I was unable to achieve a long shot of the group actually helped in making the main focus clearer, due to there being confusion as to who is who and enforcing the idea that you can't always trust what you see and think to be true.
Most of the lighting was natural but there were some torches nearby in case things became darker than planned. The shade of the trees in the park meant that there wasn't direct sunlight, which would have made things unfocused and fuzzy.

Lighting Analysis

 

When preparing for Location 2, as it was in an open area, the lighting was harder to achieve but not impossible. I made sure to check the location at different times of the day to see how the sun's light would affect the shots. However, due to the trees based around the play area I had selected, I had enough shade to block out the direct sunlight while still having enough to highlight people's features and the props. After finding out what time the sun would set I had the chance to work around the light in a way that was convenient for me. In addition, I would bring along

The Missing Title Sequnce Analysis

'The Missing' title sequence explains the plot of the series perfectly through every technique used.
Even without the music the viewer is able to understand the concept of the series, however the music does truly help when setting the scene by starting off with a bang that fades out, insinuating something has already happened. Then a woman begins to sing how they 'pray each day, may you come home and be okay'. Clearly showing that someone has gone missing. The tone of voice has a dreamlike effect as she sounds distant, while the sounds we hear beyond her voice are unusual and unnerving, to create tension, and finish with a ringing sound that intensifies at the end.

The footage we see nearly all refers to a child. Such as the low angle shot in the car, to demonstrate the point of view a child would have or the swing, teddy bear, drawings and so on. Some are more direct, for instance the child disappearing into the crowd to imply that he may have been taken in plain sight. Furthermore there are shots of locations: the woods, houses, a pool... these hint at where the child was taken from or where he has been taken to. The car driving around adds to this idea as there is a toy bear in the car and, as before, the low angle shot of the car window.

Effects have been used to give a dreamlike effect by either layering footage or making the colours appear faded with usual outbursts. Some shots tend to go faster than others, giving the impression that time is running out for the child. It is also to make the viewer feel disoriented, as the child most likely would be. Other shots are slower, to give the audience the time to understand the significance of the shot. The yellow ring in the pool is even repeated several times to emphasise it's importance, although it doesn't become clear until the audience watches the show.
The titles are white and in capitals to represent the child's innocence and the urgency in being found. Most titles blur into focus to convey how everything will fall into place and make sense as the series proceed.

After watching 'The Missing' title sequence, I have found the dreamlike effect in the editing influential and have decided to incorporate it into my own opening. I found that it brings another dimension and meaning to the sequence which will work nicely the villains point of view.

Story for Thriller Opening

Idea 1 - My first idea started off as the story of a young teenage girl, who has just moved into the house next door to lonely elderly man. She likes to spend her time with friends in public places; such as the park, a bus stop, up town, shopping but sometimes even her back garden. She is oblivious to the world outside of her friendship circle, and therefore does not realise her elderly, male neighbour stalking her wherever she goes.
The villain's background story was that he is an elderly man who, after having his high school sweetheart refuse his marriage proposal, has lived alone and hidden from the world, seeking a new partner.

After further research and reflection, I decided that this was too much of a cliché and would be to obvious as to who the villain is. Hence the second idea, which was used for the thriller.

Idea 2 - This time I decided that it would be best if the antagonist wasn't as obvious so that the audience would be kept guessing for a longer period of time, with the help of Roland Barthes narrative codes.
This time there would be a group of friends, between the ages of sixteen to nineteen, where one is 'obsessed' with another member of the group but keeps it a  secret. This obsessed 'friend' is jealous of the other friend (Melissa), so jealous and obsessed that the antagonist wants to become her but for that to happen  Melissa must disappear forever. The audience does not know this for definite until the end of the thriller. However in the thriller opening it will be obvious that someone is in danger as some objects with DNA on them, such as a hairbrush, will  start disappearing. This invites the viewer to assume the victim's horrible fate as she has been targeted and a shrine and plan has already been put into place.
Melissa will not know who to trust when weird things begin to happen but all her friends remain loyal and promise to help and protect her from the world. Little do they know that the future killer has already penetrated their barrier and is closer than ever.
The group of friends consist of three women and two men between the ages 16-19, in education or starting work to demonstrate the reality of the film as the audience can relate to the characters. It also makes it more thrilling as the reality of the film weights on the viewers as people that usually commit a murder, stalk someone, abuse someone and such are, the majority of the time, people we know and trust.

Shot List

Shot list from EmelineSerex

Storyboards

The storyboard has been split into two sections at first, as there will be two different locations of filming. Then at the end of filming both storyboards will be united to create the outcome of the opening sequence. I decided to do this so that the first storyboard would show the villain's side clearly, to emphasise their obsession towards one of the friends, and have the second one join in later on in parts to link the items to the victim and the perpetrator's little 'ceremony'.
The first storyboard are the shots of the perpetrator at work in the it's 'lair'. The shots are in the first location (unidentified area to audience), leaving a lot unresolved for the audience to guess at:

 

The second storyboard are the shots of all the characters, the victims and perpetrator, in the park. The shots include many close ups on important props, in order to keep the villain's identity an enigma while creating clues as to who it may be:

 

The third is the combination of both storyboards to present how the thriller opening will be presented when both locations are combined:

Location Analysis

There will be two locations in my thriller opening. The first to be introduced shall be the perpetrator's 'lair', a room of some sorts, which will be dark, mysterious and unclear to the audience as to it's whereabouts. On the other hand, the second location shall be an open park, deserted other than the main characters, to give the false illusion that they are same as they are in the open.

Location 1:

- An enclosed, unknown to audience area

- Dark and quiet

- Only main items, 'ceremony' and perpetrator hands visible - creates enigmas

(Really it's my bedroom with the lights off in the evening for maximum darkness and the desk is where all the 'magic' happens).

Location 2:

- Clear, open space, usually empty of people.

- Full of trees around one side of the park - gives the idea that the characters are being watched. Also, the trees block direct sunlight, creating shade so that the lighting is manageable.

- Local park, allowing the audience to be able to relate to the situation.

- Normal setting, making the viewer alert to what may happen next.

(Beckenham Recreation Park)

Preliminary Task

Shooting Schedule

Filming Schedule Plan

As I only have four scheduled days to use the cameras, I need to get as much done as I possibly can in this time. For this reason I have created a 'Filming Schedule Plan' to remind me what to have with me when I go out filming, and how much I plan to film each day.

Day One - For my first time filming I shall be filming by myself, in Location 1 aka 'the villain's lair' (my bedroom desk). Although my hands will be in the shots, this will not be a problem as I will start the recording, place myself in the shot, play out the shot and then stop the recording accordingly. Any excess footage will then be deleted when it comes to editing.
When filming these scenes I will need:

• Camera and Tripod
• Three sided mirror
• Nail varnish
• Watch
• Scissors
• Straw
• Hairbrush with mirror
• Matches
• Candles

Day Two - Second day filming I plan to have a group of nine actors meet me in Beckenham Recreation Park to film the group scenes. This is where the stalker will anonymously be introduced into the crowd of friends. Here I will take long shots of the group together, making sure that no faces are visible from a far, and many close ups and extreme close ups of the props to creates narrative enigmas and snares.
When filming these scenes I will need:

• Camera and Tripod
• All actors
• Watch,
• Straw/drink,
• Hairbrush with mirror

Day Three - Finish filming any footage from Day Two (or Day One if necessary).

Day Four - Reshoot anything unfinished or that needs changing from previous shooting.