Today I filmed the first scene of my movie. Me and my dad set up his bedroom for the shoot, we rotated the Bed around 90 degrees & moved the TV and everything modern out of the room.
First I filmed a simple shot of the radiogram starting up, with the record 'Running Scared' on it.
After that i set up the tripod for the first shot, a slow pan past the bedside table, revealing the main character, i planned to have a couple of slow panning shots at the beginning, with fades between them.
The shoot went well and the only shot which we had trouble with was the final shot, as I could not get the angle i wanted past the door. and so i ended up doing a high shot, looking down at the dead body, whereas originally i planned to do a low shot looking straight across at the body.
Next I will edit all of my footage together in two parts, once in Premiere & once in After Effects
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Monday, 30 January 2012
Set-set-Setup
Before filming i have prepared the set.
I have a bedside table, with a lighter, some cigarettes & a glass of whiskey.
Old-looking bedsheets to show the age of the film.
A radiogram in the corner of the room - to play music on
Removed any clocks, TVs & electrical equipment
I have a bedside table, with a lighter, some cigarettes & a glass of whiskey.
Old-looking bedsheets to show the age of the film.
A radiogram in the corner of the room - to play music on
Removed any clocks, TVs & electrical equipment
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Costumes
The costumes i have chosen for my characters are quite simple. I have chosen a typical 'Hero Cowboy' outfit for the main character, denim jeans, a white shirt & an unbuttoned black waistcoat. The other character, who is killed at the beginning will be wearing all black, as he should be portrayed as the 'bad man'. I have gone for very simple costumes, as i wanted the main character to be portrayed as having a simple, easy lifestyle; he has no need for expensive clothing as he needs to blend into the background for his job.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Updates to Script Etc
No longer using Handgun prop - 12 Gauge Double barrel side-by-side.
No longer using Jukebox - Old fashioned Turn Table - Lighting will come from dim ceiling light
Script update - (Additional Shot(Lighting is also dark, as in room)) after shot is fired, cuts to outside of door, man laying on floor with gun in hand (breathing slightly), pans across to main character, seeing the gun in his hand (smoke coming out of barrel) & panning up to face, he aims gun at the man on floor & fires again - then cuts to white/titles etc
No longer using Jukebox - Old fashioned Turn Table - Lighting will come from dim ceiling light
Script update - (Additional Shot(Lighting is also dark, as in room)) after shot is fired, cuts to outside of door, man laying on floor with gun in hand (breathing slightly), pans across to main character, seeing the gun in his hand (smoke coming out of barrel) & panning up to face, he aims gun at the man on floor & fires again - then cuts to white/titles etc
Script / Props / Shot List ~ First Draft
SCENE 1
FADE IN. FROM BLACK
INT. 60’S MOTEL ROOM/BEDROOM – NIGHT
The motel room is darkly lit, with a jukebox in the corner, dimly lighting the room. A 50 year old MAN sits on the side of the bed, his light wrinkles catch the light from the jukebox, next to the bed is a small bed side table, sitting on here is a GUN a lighter and a box of cigarettes. The man picks up the gun and stares at it, in his right hand.
He lifts a cigarette to his mouth with his left hand & then lights it with the old metal FLIP TOP LIGHTER, the light of the flame glows on his face, and for the first time you can see his wrinkled face fully, the darkness of his veteran eyes. He is wearing a plain dark waistcoat and a black shirt, undone at the top.
After a couple of seconds he looks at his watch, on his right wrist, walks over to the illuminated jukebox & presses the corresponding buttons to the song ‘Running scared’ by Roy Orbison which, after a few seconds begins playing, the man walks back toward the bed, taps his cigarette over the ash tray and sits back down, staring at the door. Waiting.
The door flies open and a non-descript shadow of a person, around 6ft, stand in the doorway.
QUICK FADE OUT. TO WHITE - WITH LOUD GUN ‘BANG’ NOISE
THE NAME OF THE MOVIE IS PRINTED IN BLACK ON THE PLAIN WHITE
FADE IN.
EXT. MOTEL/HOUSE - DAY - SUNNY
MAN (V.O)
I’ve been doing what I do for 38 years,
it took me 25 of them to become the best.
For normal jobs you need a conscience.
(Slight pause)
This isn’t a normal job.
The door of the HOUSE/MOTEL opens and out steps the same man from the bedroom, in the same clothes, it is suggested to be the next morning. He squints slightly around as the sun blazes down on him, he places a pair of thin framed sunglasses on & walks along to the edge of the pavement, where he opens the door of a typical 1960’s American muscle car & enters, after a couple of seconds he starts the car and pulls away slowly.
PROPS - INT. /SCENE 1
GUN - .44 MAGNUM REPLICA/COLT PEACEMAKER/9MM M9 BERRETTA.
LIGHTER - STAINLESS STEEL/CHROME FLIP TOP LIGHTER.
CIGARETTE PACK - BROWN PACK, NO SPECIFIC MAKE, NO VISIBLE WARNING LABEL.
CIGARETTE - READY MADE CIGARETTE, PERIOD LOOKING
BEDSIDE TABLE - WOODEN CARVED - ORNATE TO GIVE EXPENSIVE FEEL TO THE ROOM.
JUKEBOX - TYPICAL 60’S JUKEBOX - WILL GIVE FEEL OF EXPENSIVE ROOM.
PROPS - EXT. /SCENE 2
CAR - MUSCLE CAR - 1966 BUICK SPECIAL
SHOT LIST
FADE IN.
INT. 60’S MOTEL ROOM/BEDROOM – NIGHT
LIGHTING – ROOM LIT BY JUKEBOX – ON SHOTS WHERE JUKEBOX IS NOT VISIBLE, OTHER LIGHTING WILL BE USED FOR EFFECT, FROM DIRECTION OF THE JUKEBOX.
Establishing shot of the room, slow pan from door to JUKEBOX, silent.
Shot looking from next to the jukebox, over at character sat on edge of bed, with bedside table to his left.
Shot from next to the bedside table, at table height, facing man, as he picks up the gun.
Close up of cigarette box, as a cigarette is removed from box.
Front on shot of man, as he places cigarette to lips & lights the lighter just in front of him, as he moves it to light the cigarette, his face becomes more visible, as cigarette is lit he snaps the lid shut and shot becomes very dark again
Shot close up of man's right hand side as he stands and begins walking to jukebox
Shot from side of jukebox (Light of jukebox showing his face)taking puff; smoke looks atmospheric, he puts on record 'Running Scared - Roy Orbison'
Shot from doorway - walking back to bed, sitting down & taking puff of cigarette and picking up & cocking gun.
Shot from right hand side of man (same as before) door starts opening - Single shot fired at door -
Fade Out (white/titles)
Scene 2 - Ext.
Fade in - From white(Voice Over begins)
Close up of feet - Cowboy Boots - panning up, meeting right hand and following - places glasses from right hand on face - looking into distance (past camera to the right of shot) then walks in this direction away from camera.
wide angle shot of back of car & man walking toward it - starts opening door
Close up from passenger side of car, man getting into car & closes door
High shot behind car - car starts & man drives away
Fade out - Black (Voice Over ends)
FADE IN. FROM BLACK
INT. 60’S MOTEL ROOM/BEDROOM – NIGHT
The motel room is darkly lit, with a jukebox in the corner, dimly lighting the room. A 50 year old MAN sits on the side of the bed, his light wrinkles catch the light from the jukebox, next to the bed is a small bed side table, sitting on here is a GUN a lighter and a box of cigarettes. The man picks up the gun and stares at it, in his right hand.
He lifts a cigarette to his mouth with his left hand & then lights it with the old metal FLIP TOP LIGHTER, the light of the flame glows on his face, and for the first time you can see his wrinkled face fully, the darkness of his veteran eyes. He is wearing a plain dark waistcoat and a black shirt, undone at the top.
After a couple of seconds he looks at his watch, on his right wrist, walks over to the illuminated jukebox & presses the corresponding buttons to the song ‘Running scared’ by Roy Orbison which, after a few seconds begins playing, the man walks back toward the bed, taps his cigarette over the ash tray and sits back down, staring at the door. Waiting.
The door flies open and a non-descript shadow of a person, around 6ft, stand in the doorway.
QUICK FADE OUT. TO WHITE - WITH LOUD GUN ‘BANG’ NOISE
THE NAME OF THE MOVIE IS PRINTED IN BLACK ON THE PLAIN WHITE
FADE IN.
EXT. MOTEL/HOUSE - DAY - SUNNY
MAN (V.O)
I’ve been doing what I do for 38 years,
it took me 25 of them to become the best.
For normal jobs you need a conscience.
(Slight pause)
This isn’t a normal job.
The door of the HOUSE/MOTEL opens and out steps the same man from the bedroom, in the same clothes, it is suggested to be the next morning. He squints slightly around as the sun blazes down on him, he places a pair of thin framed sunglasses on & walks along to the edge of the pavement, where he opens the door of a typical 1960’s American muscle car & enters, after a couple of seconds he starts the car and pulls away slowly.
PROPS - INT. /SCENE 1
GUN - .44 MAGNUM REPLICA/COLT PEACEMAKER/9MM M9 BERRETTA.
LIGHTER - STAINLESS STEEL/CHROME FLIP TOP LIGHTER.
CIGARETTE PACK - BROWN PACK, NO SPECIFIC MAKE, NO VISIBLE WARNING LABEL.
CIGARETTE - READY MADE CIGARETTE, PERIOD LOOKING
BEDSIDE TABLE - WOODEN CARVED - ORNATE TO GIVE EXPENSIVE FEEL TO THE ROOM.
JUKEBOX - TYPICAL 60’S JUKEBOX - WILL GIVE FEEL OF EXPENSIVE ROOM.
PROPS - EXT. /SCENE 2
CAR - MUSCLE CAR - 1966 BUICK SPECIAL
SHOT LIST
FADE IN.
INT. 60’S MOTEL ROOM/BEDROOM – NIGHT
LIGHTING – ROOM LIT BY JUKEBOX – ON SHOTS WHERE JUKEBOX IS NOT VISIBLE, OTHER LIGHTING WILL BE USED FOR EFFECT, FROM DIRECTION OF THE JUKEBOX.
Establishing shot of the room, slow pan from door to JUKEBOX, silent.
Shot looking from next to the jukebox, over at character sat on edge of bed, with bedside table to his left.
Shot from next to the bedside table, at table height, facing man, as he picks up the gun.
Close up of cigarette box, as a cigarette is removed from box.
Front on shot of man, as he places cigarette to lips & lights the lighter just in front of him, as he moves it to light the cigarette, his face becomes more visible, as cigarette is lit he snaps the lid shut and shot becomes very dark again
Shot close up of man's right hand side as he stands and begins walking to jukebox
Shot from side of jukebox (Light of jukebox showing his face)taking puff; smoke looks atmospheric, he puts on record 'Running Scared - Roy Orbison'
Shot from doorway - walking back to bed, sitting down & taking puff of cigarette and picking up & cocking gun.
Shot from right hand side of man (same as before) door starts opening - Single shot fired at door -
Fade Out (white/titles)
Scene 2 - Ext.
Fade in - From white(Voice Over begins)
Close up of feet - Cowboy Boots - panning up, meeting right hand and following - places glasses from right hand on face - looking into distance (past camera to the right of shot) then walks in this direction away from camera.
wide angle shot of back of car & man walking toward it - starts opening door
Close up from passenger side of car, man getting into car & closes door
High shot behind car - car starts & man drives away
Fade out - Black (Voice Over ends)
Friday, 20 January 2012
Re-written New Film Synopsis
Tag-line: When you get to be as good as he is, you don't just quit.
Synopsis: An aging gun for hire decides he wants to get out of the business & have a normal life. After collecting his last pay packet he tries to leave, but is stopped by two other contractors, who attempt to kidnap him & kill him.
After escaping, the aging assassin must find and kill the owners of the agency he used to work for. Alone, he must find a way of getting to them and killing them, only then can he be free; without there protection, he has no way of being safe from jail.
After finally getting to his final target he feels relieved he can finally settle down and live a quiet life.
Synopsis: An aging gun for hire decides he wants to get out of the business & have a normal life. After collecting his last pay packet he tries to leave, but is stopped by two other contractors, who attempt to kidnap him & kill him.
After escaping, the aging assassin must find and kill the owners of the agency he used to work for. Alone, he must find a way of getting to them and killing them, only then can he be free; without there protection, he has no way of being safe from jail.
After finally getting to his final target he feels relieved he can finally settle down and live a quiet life.
Development of Company Ident and Second Ident
I have created a short video which details the stages of creating my company ident for 'The Man in a Doorway, Productions'
Whilst designing my ident i changed the name, by adding 'The' to the beginning, this meant that the final image would be more centralised, with the 'man in doorway' picture, in the middle of the shot.
I have created a second company ident for 'Scarepigeon Entertainment' a name which was suggested by a friend of mine; i have used a picture of them in the ident (With their permission).
{Video soon}
Whilst designing my ident i changed the name, by adding 'The' to the beginning, this meant that the final image would be more centralised, with the 'man in doorway' picture, in the middle of the shot.
I have created a second company ident for 'Scarepigeon Entertainment' a name which was suggested by a friend of mine; i have used a picture of them in the ident (With their permission).
{Video soon}
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Character Research
'(A Gunslinger)is a 20th century word, used in cinema or literature, referring to men in the American Old West who had gained a reputation as being dangerous with a gun' - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/gunslinger.
I plan to create my main protagonist as an aging gunslinger. I have looked into the idea of cowboys & gunslingers, from old western movies, from the 60's. The characters I have looked at include 'Rooster Cogburn' from 'True Grit' 1969 & 'Rooster Cogburn' 1975 as well as multiple characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood most of whom are credited as 'The Man With No Name'.
At the moment my dad is the most likely to play the main role in my movie, as he is the correct age for the role & looks good for the role.
I plan to create my main protagonist as an aging gunslinger. I have looked into the idea of cowboys & gunslingers, from old western movies, from the 60's. The characters I have looked at include 'Rooster Cogburn' from 'True Grit' 1969 & 'Rooster Cogburn' 1975 as well as multiple characters portrayed by Clint Eastwood most of whom are credited as 'The Man With No Name'.
At the moment my dad is the most likely to play the main role in my movie, as he is the correct age for the role & looks good for the role.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Time Period Research & Planning
To create my western, i have lookedat some of the most popular western movies, such as 'The Good, The Bad & The Ugly' (1966) and 'True Grit' (1969). As well as movies set in more modern times, such as 'Dirty Harry' (1971) i plan to create my movie as a cross between these movies, set in the 70's, but with the feel of an old western movie, as if the ways of the gunfighting cowboy never died out.
I plan to use my parents bedroom,as most of the furniture is pre 70's. My dad owns an old western shotgun & i own a replica revolver, this means that i will be able to keep my props period, this will keep the continuity and time period correct.
I plan to use my parents bedroom,as most of the furniture is pre 70's. My dad owns an old western shotgun & i own a replica revolver, this means that i will be able to keep my props period, this will keep the continuity and time period correct.
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