[01/10/2013] Contextual Studies: Production 02 - Contextual Aproach.

The changes or enhancement that took place and how they affect the overall narrative.

We had another tutorial session last week. Where Mr. Charles sees a few scene we shot and edited and commented on it. He asked us to re-film a few scenes. So last Thursday, we stayed back and re-film the scenes he asked us to re-film.

He always said how he wanted more close up and not just the same wide angle for every scenes.

Therefore, we re-film the scene where Zara (Farah), Serena (Ching Hsin) and Alex (Annabel) were talking on the phone.

Because we filmed it in a way where the angle is a semi-wide angle instead of close up. Since usually in movies, they close up the characters faces when they are having a phone call with someone.

This was what we first filmed for this scenes.

Even though the phone calls between Serena and Zara was actually a close up shot but we decided to re-film and make it more close up with different angles.

After looking at few references here and there, such as these ones.

We came out with something like this.

We filmed Zara's one from side view to give a variation towards the scene.

and another one is where Alex came to Zara's office to talk about the "project" Zara was interested in collaborating with Alex.

The first attempt of this particular part is just focusing on two people in one shot. Even though Zara has the dominance in this shot but audiences might get confused on which one to focus when they start talking.

So when Mr. Charles told us that we should film it in a way where when one person is talking the person who that person is talking with should be blurred and not focus on that person but at the person who is talking.

or we film it in a way where we'll film with 2 cameras, one camera does a close up on that person and another camera does a close up on the other person talking. So when we edit it, it would be like changing the parts. 

Maybe something like this? but of course in an unedited way.

So we filmed in the way where one camera focus on one person.

In this video, the camera is only focusing on Zara talking and we can hear Alex talking in the background, but I don't know where's the video for that. 

But I was thinking of telling them to film it in this way?

Like blurring the person who's not talking but just focusing on the one talking. I noticed a lot of this kind of scenes in Korean drama.

How they affect the overall narrative?

- I think it affect the overall narrative in a positive way? I see no difficulties in filming all the scenes according to the narration we created.

Current implementation of the metaphors in the context. Is it fulfilling or is it on the right track?

In this part of the narrative. Where Farah narrated in the beginning for this scene.

When she said "where police sirens fail to alarm anyone at all." it can also relate to the problem we're having in the real world. Nowadays police are not as useful as it was back then especially in Malaysia.

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[30/09/2013] 2 Dimensional Design: What is Your Square?

Last Monday (23/9/2013) Miss Lisa came in class and said she's gonna give us a different task to do instead of continuing doing the lanterns. She talked about Principles of Design and at the end of the slideshow, she told us to put square in your mind and expand it. Is it romantic? Is it dominant or is it feminine? By using coloured paper, we had to come out with a few themes so that she can decide on it. I came out with 6 themes, it was feminine square, romantic square, star/cloud square, music related square, abstract and vintage. She asked me to stick on music related square since it will be easier for me to do sine she won't let me use the cutting technique because of my fingers injuries. I had to use another alternative which was colour the part where I am suppose to cut.

She also asked to do one symmetrical and one asymmetrical with a motion/movement to it. I had a hard time thinking on what to do for the symmetrical one. Since I feel like my theme is hard to do symmetrical. I'm still not satisfied with my work. I don't know if mine are good enough. But I did both in time to send it. Sadly I still haven't got the chance to buy a mounting board, so I'm buying it today and make it more nicer looking and exhibit in class on Wednesday.

I'll upload the trial and error I had doing this assignment by tonight.
I had a lot of trial and error because I wasn't skilled in doing paper cutting. I feel like all of people in my class, I'm still lacking at using the blade perfectly. But since I don't want to pressure my fingers, I decided not to do it by cutting. I did try both techniques, the cutting and colouring but I think I'll stick to colouring.

I'll be writing the 100 words synopsis of my work by tonight, after I finish doing the work.

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[24/09/2013] Contextual Studies: Production 01 - Report.

In my point of view, our progress can be said already 50% done for the filming part.

We're doing great so far! No complains whatsoever. Everyone is contributing in everything.

Unfortunately, I personally think I didn't contribute enough in the group. Simply because, I live the most farthest from campus so I have a difficulty in coming or staying late. Especially when they decide to film during the sun set. Where I try not to stay too late as I am taking the public transport home so for me it's dangerous as I already experienced unlucky incident happening to me. So I told them I can't help out and they always say it's fine, they understand my situation. Sadly, I sometime think they might think otherwise. Also because I'm not involve the particular scene they were shooting that time, so I try not to go even though I think I should be there to help with the filming. I wasn't there to help them twice now, so I feel guilty.

Nonetheless! They have been so understandable so I feel like I am in debt with them. I'll try my best to contribute more! As I am also the assistant director.

Anyway........

The scenes we have left to film are;

1. Adauza (me) killing scene. 
2. Zara's (Farah) killing scene.
3. Zara going to Alex's (Annabel) office to see Adauza. 
4. Some scenes in Pulau Pangkor.
5. The ending scene where it involves Alex, Elle (Eka) and Serena (Ching Hsin). 
6. Cannibal scene (re-shoot)
7. Clinic scene.

We are trying our best to find free time to do all these left over scenes.

So far we plan to film the clinic scene this Thursday after our Visual Culture class which finishes at 2pm. If nothing happens, hopefully we can film it that day and also on Saturday since the whole campus is going to be block as there will be 2 big events happening on that day, we decided to go back to my house and film the scene where I die. 

Last Thursday, we shot at my house.

Here are the screen-caps of it.

This part of the scene, we took it from 3 different angles.

Where first we shot it from outside where we focus on Eka rushing towards the door.

Second, from the inside to focus on Eka's face from afar.

Third, is a close up shot of Eka's face looking panic.

The highlight of this scene is when we focus on the Adauza's hand opening and unlocking the door.

and the suspense of the story starts here. Where the narrative goes like this:

As I gave Elle her drink, she starts talking to me about Zara's death and how I reacted to it and she talked about how she saw Alex and Zara before the black out happens and insisting how Alex killed Zara and I didn't believed it.

For this part, we shot in 2 angles, one where the camera focuses on Eka's face and the other one on my face.

My contribution: BTS camera, lighting, acting, my house, my room, my toilet, my cat, food and drinks, my stick to stick the mic.

Last Saturday, excluding me, they filmed the office scene. Where we used an empty classroom in campus and set up the table to look like an office.

With 3 different type of offices.

Alex's office.

Serena's office.

Zara's office.

All the stuffs we used are all brought from home.

There's a scene where we focuses on Serena, Zara and Alex's faces when they were talking on the phone.

a behind the scene picture of Serena on the phone.

We'll be editing these talking on the phone scene where it will be side by side in one frame. So it will be more interesting. It is also going to be a challenge for us to edit it.

I didn't contribute anything for this scene as I wasn't there to help :c

Well I wanted to put out BTS video here but we're going to edit everything and put it as a one video. So I am only able to show these BTS photos instead.

Here's a group picture of us...... well Farah photoshopped Ching Hsin in it but oh well.

and here's a picture of me wearing make up done by Ching Hsin hehe.

F.

[13/09/17] Contextual Studies: Production 01 - Contextual Approach (Part 2)

Yesterday the 4 of them (excluding me) shot the very first scene of the film.

This is the part where Zara (Pathologist) was walking with Alex (Electrical Engineering) and talking about the project.

I find this scene really interesting because how well they shot it.
They shot it from the front where they focused on their faces and their conversation and move along their back as they are walking outside the lab and they stopped for a while where Alex said "Wait. Did you hear that?" and both of them ran towards the noise which will change to the scene where they are running towards the stairs.

At this scene we shot in 3 different angles. From the back, from the front and when they reach at the destination.

You can see the perspective/space we used in each angles. The first one where I took from the back has that perspective vibe to it and also it looks like they are running up the stairs even in a still image like that. The second scene where Eka shot in that angle. We focus more on their faces as they are running up the stairs and the third scene where I shot it in a semi-wide angle. Which also involves the rule of third in this shot.

As of lighting usage.

In the part where Alex and Zara was walking and we shot it from the back of them. The lighting references can be taken from this photograph.

Where their bodies become a silhouette and the lights comes more from front of them.

An example of a scene where we shot that has a great example of the light usage.

This where Zara was walking back towards the lab/office. The walkway to the lab has that underground feel to it as you can see above. I labelled Zara in the red box as that is a silhouette of her walking towards her office. To show that the light is more towards above her than towards herself.

F.

[13/09/17] Contextual Studies - Production Report 01; Contextual Approach.

We finally finished planning our project.

Character names:

Fauza: Adauza (Neurologist)

Annabel: Alex (Electrical Engineer)

Ching Hsin: Serena (Secretary)

Farah: Zara (Pathologist)

Eka: Elle (Physiologist)

Settings (places we'll be shooting):

My house.

Taylor's campus.

Restaurant.

Annabel's house.

Clinic.

Shooting days:

Most probably Saturdays but also other days where we are free.

Positions:

Director 1: Annabel

Director 2: Fauza

Camera Director 1: Eka

Camera Director 2: Fauza

Make Up Artist 1: Farah

Make Up Artist 2: Ching Hsin

Editor 1: Farah

Editor 2: Eka

Costumes/Make up:

Lab coats and masks.

Casual/Formal (for the secretary).

A dark look (for Elle at the end of the movie).

So we gathered together yesterday to officially start filming well excluding Ching Hsin as she wasn't around during that time. 

We sat down in Subway to discuss how and what to film the scene.

We had extras to help us in doing the scenes that day.

Jean as the cannibal. Hui Yu as the policewoman and Jamie as the victim who will get bitten by Jean.

PART 01,

Jamie doing that because the sun was directly in front of them heh.

In the beginning of the film. As Zara and Alex was walking to their office, they heard a noise (more likely a scream) and went running towards the sound. And they saw the cannibal (Jean) trying to eat the victim (Jamie) alive and Hui Yu as the policewoman trying to stop Jean.

We took this using few different angles to make it more interesting. This angle is more wide as it is able for the audience to see it from this point of view.

A close up view of Jamie's "bitten mark".

Done by Annabel, herself.

The original position when Jean attacks Jamie.

PART 02,

This is the scene where Zara and Alex was running towards the scene where Jean attacking Jamie. 

Eka chose to shoot this angle so you can see that they are running from their office and up to the stairs. It has the perspective vibe to it in some ways.

PART 03,

This is the aftermath of Jean's attack. Where Jamie dies lying on the ground. Where Zara will come towards Jamie's body to check if she's still alive or not and the result is.......... she's dead.

We took a closer up shot of this where we focus on Zara's face when she says that Jamie's dead.

STORYBOARD.

Just a draft/sketch on how we are going to shoot all the scenes. With the lighting/shadows effects on each scenes.

SCENE 01 & 02

SCENE 03 & 04 & 05

SCENE 05

F.