The filming process day 4

Date: Friday 15th December 2017

Time: 14:00-15:00
Moments filmed: Further research, Escape, CCTV
Personnel needed: Matthew Herriott (Camera/director/Christopher), Evie Brookes-Payne (Producer/Mya Brown)
Props: none
Equipment: Camera, Tripod

Having realised that further changes needed to be made to our Trailer further filming days were necessary in order to bring our Trailer up to its full potential.

The first half that we needed to film would allow for a wider range of angles that could be included (including an over the shoulder shot), although we did incur a slight complication in trying to capture a shot that required the camera to focus on the computer screen itself so as to show just how many files there are. It was interesting filming at this point because, whereas before we didn't want to film any moments that were too long because we were conscious of the fact that a trailer would have shorter shots, this time we had to make sure that the shots we took were long enough so that there would be sufficient material to play with in the editing stages.

As part of the second scene that we tried to film we wanted to include a shot that looked like it was being recorded by a CCTV camera. In order to achieve this effect we needed the camera to be filming in black and white. Because, in the editing stage the idea was that the scene would roughly transition from the colour to the CCTV, we were conscious of the fact that we needed to reenact the same sequence twice so that said transition could be relatively seamless.

The Trailer script (additions)

As part of making further changes to the trailer it became necessary to write an additional piece of film script so that we knew what exactly we wanted to do when it came to film the additional footage that we were going to need. Thankfully, because we only had a further four scenes to add it was not necessary to rewrite the entirety of the script.


Here is the link to the modified script.

The Trailer shot list (additions)

As part of making further changes to the trailer it became necessary to construct an additional shot list so that we could better plan the details of filming the extra shots that we wanted to include in our trailer. Thankfully, because we only had a further four scenes to add it was not necessary to rewrite the entirety of the shot list.


Here is a link to the additional shot list

Further Changes

After we had presented the second draft it was suggested that we work to make further changes to the Trailer because, although the amount of cutting work that we had done was impressive, it would still be necessary to make changes because the trailer felt as though it was taken from the opening to the film and was only setting up for the rest - the last thing that we wanted it to feel like. It was thought that the best way to change it would be to add more scenes after Mya first discovers the existence of a hidden secret so that we can increase the gradual buildup of tension that starts when Mya first enters the secret laboratories and discovers her file in the first place.

Second Draft

Having made the required changes to the Trailer, I can now present the Second Draft of our Trailer for the film Subject 984:

Making Changes

After reviewing the first draft of our trailer we realised that there were some changes that needed to be made before we published it final form, and of these there were 3 key changes:

1) Length

We needed to cut down on Trailer length - the original trailer was 2:59, far too long given that standard length of a trailer is 2:00-2:30 in length. This created a serious problem, because the primary purpose of the Trailer (put simply) is to whet the appetite of our audience. One a trailer gets too long (caused by either showing the audience too much or having moments of the trailer drag out too long) it begins to feel more like an extract from the film rather than a trailer.
In order to rectify this I went back to the trailer and cut down on any moments that felt like they lasted too long. This was difficult to do in some places because Silvia Brown's dialogue had specific requirements both as to where it needed to fit and how long we needed it to last. Nevertheless, I was able to cut down on portions that were too long so that the different bits of the film that we tease in the trailer felt more like moments than extracts from different scenes. Once all of the changes had been made, the length of the trailer went from 2:59 all the way down to 2:19 (right where we'd want it to be).

2) The textual information

Within the second half of the trailer we give a bit of a tease as to what the film's going to be like/going to be about using text that is split into four different lines. This text needs to fit several criteria:
a) it needs to make the film seem more exciting tense so that they are more likely to want to see it
b) it needs to be long enough and reveal enough to whet the appetite but no more than that
c) it needs to be on screen long enough to read, but not so long that it feels like it drags or that it overpowers the audience

After discussing it with Evie we changed the original title text which read:

"When something looks too good...and even if things are looking hopeful...asking "what if?" ... may not be such a bad idea."

We realised that this text is not gripping enough for the audience and would likely not feel too exciting to them so, after discussing what we could change it to and some tweaking on the phrasing we came up with:

"When trying to escape your demons...sometimes you run blindly...because darkness has a habit...of hiding in plain sight."

3) The ending

As with any trailer one of the things that people typically do with something that is horrifying or plot twisting is that they will hint and tease as to what is going on but what they won't do is give the game away and we realised that the end of the trailer does exactly that: give too much away.
What we therefore did to rectify this was to cut out a chunk of the last sequence such that instead of giving Mya Brown a whole dramatic reveal speech she just tells Christopher that there is something they need to talk about and that is it.

The first draft of Subject 984

Once the whole editing together procedure (both the Visuals and the Audio) had been completed we can now present the first draft to the Trailer for our film Subject 984. It may be that we need to go back and refine elements of the trailer as getting it right the first time is a rare case: