PRODUCTION MANAGEMENT

PRODUCTION MANAGEMENTstage 2proposal & PitchRobbie Hickman

You should use this to structure your stage 1 response. Add slides where necessary and illustrations. All You have to do is click on the box under the question/info!

outlineSilhouettes (2017) Short Horror Film Silhouettes is a short psychological horror film loosely based on the story of the Copper Family, who moved into a new house in Texas during the 1950s and apparently discovered a shadow falling from the ceiling within a photograph that was taken of them within the house. It is implied that the family will have either sought help or desired to leave their new home as soon as possible out of fear. Silhouettes develops the story of the Copper Family by exploring a scenario that is quite similar, albeit with a group of teenagers exploring a derelict building in the middle of a vacant town which is apparently haunted. One of the teenagers captures images of the interior of the building and, whilst browsing through them on his computer later on, discovers a shadow hanging or falling from the ceiling in one of them. The character does not recover from the initial shock of seeing the apparition in the photo and becomes increasingly paranoid whilst attempting to comprehend what is actually happening in the picture. He does not hear from his friends (who accompanied him to the location) again and becomes convinced that his own life is in danger. Over the course of a year, he repeatedly visits the location and receives malicious text messages informing him that he is going to get killed and that its coming. The mental state of the character worsens until he begins to hallucinate and hear voices in his head, as well as engage in very odd behaviours such as wondering aimlessly.

Synopsis of your proposal what is your film about? What happens in it?

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Market fitSilhouettes is a short horror film that will have an overall duration of up to five minutes. The film will contain characteristics of the genre of horror, including scenes with low-key lighting, a strong sense of mystery, foreboding atmosphere and frequent usage of close-up/extreme close-up shots that will enable the audience to identify things like horror and fear in regard to the character. Because my film is a psychological horror, it will not necessarily focus on supernatural elements such as hauntings, ghosts, demonic possession etc. My short film will evoke fear and tension within the viewer(s) by highlighting the unstable mental state of the protagonist, which worsens over time within the film. People who watch horror films tend to expect dark and disturbing themes, mystery and an eerie soundtrack/sound effects. My short film should provide all of these and therefore satisfy the demands of the market, as well as the audience itself. However, most horror films that have been released in recent years tend to contain supernatural elements as opposed to being psychological; my short film will therefore differ significantly from existing horror films. My opinion is that my film will be quite unique compared to most horror films because it will explore the genre in a different way, therefore it should intrigue production companies who desire to produce successful horror films.

How does your film fit within its market/genre?Consider your research and justify your position

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Rip-o-matic

charactersThe main protagonist of my short horror film Silhouettes is 18 year old Hector, an I.T. student whose main intentions are to be as hardworking and focused as possible as he progresses through the second year of his course, along with his fellow classmates Sean and Logan. Having endured years of bullying and neglect, Hector is a socially awkward and introverted individual unlike his other friends. He always appears depressed (as noted by his friends) and is concerned for his own future. The deuteragonist is Hectors troublesome friend Logan, who often acts in a witless manner and expresses curiosity over almost anything unusual in his hometown, including the rumours surrounding a derelict building situated not too far from the town. His unpredictable behaviour often gets his friends into trouble. Other characters include Hectors best friend Sean (who he has known for many years) and Seans younger brother Trey. Sean often comes across as apprehensive and sometimes perturbed about his own life, even though he is highly intelligent and has received outstanding grades during his school years. Seans anxious personality proves to be an issue when it comes to visiting a derelict structure that is seemingly haunted. Being two years younger than the others, Trey has a somewhat irritating personality and is resented by his older brother as a result.

Details on characters, their motivations, backstory, etc.

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Target audienceThe planned, main target audience for my short horror film Silhouettes is 15-25 year old males who are fans of the psychological horror genre and fit into the Aspirer and Explorer psychographic categories. According to research I undertook previously, teenage and/or adult males are less likely to have an adverse reaction to graphic violence, gore or disturbing themes/images, as opposed to female audiences/children who are more likely to be susceptible to violence within films. Therefore, the secondary target audience for my short film is females aged 10-15 years as they are not the planned, main audience. My primary research also indicates that my target audience would be intrigued by the presence of mystery within my short film, which could do well to increase the level of enjoyment for the viewer(s). Silhouettes will appeal to this audience by providing focus on the characteristics of the subgenre of psychological horror, particularly the presence of tension and suspense, along with disturbing themes. My short film will also contain dark tones, as well as a strong sense of dread throughout. The unstable mental state of the protagonist will also be explored. In addition, the presence of characters who are male adolescents should enable my target audience to relate to the protagonists and their ordeals more.

Who is you film aimed at? You could summarise your research and use this to justify your choice of audience. How does you film fit/target this audience?

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locationsChalkland Way, Chapel Hill Pocklington This location is a public footpath situated not too far from where I live; therefore anyone can use it. The footpath can be considered a good vantage point due to the fact that it is located up a hill; filming here would be a good opportunity to obtain intriguing scenery (of the surrounding countryside) for my short film. It could also be an ideal location to obtain Foley sound such as birds singing, trees rustling or the sound of footsteps. I intend to place the DSLR camera I am provided with onto a fence in order to enable me to obtain still shots (particularly shots of myself walking/running down the path from different angles). Ideally, I should film during the day as opposed to evenings because it would be too dark to capture sequences of action at night; the presence of Night Shot scenes within my short film could potentially hinder the overall visual quality of my short film. The location isnt necessarily busy; only the occasional dog-walkers are present on the footpath, however I should be wary of people who might confront me and accuse me of filming them. I should also be mindful that I will be filming close to a farm, therefore I should avoid filming in certain areas so that I do not spook farm animals such as horses.

Pocklington Woods The woods located on the outskirts of Pocklington can be considered an ideal place to film at due to the fact that it is not busy in any way and I should be able to capture aspects of nature such as trees. It would be a good idea to film sequences of action during the day or at dusk; shots of the sun shining through tree branches could be quite visually intriguing to the viewer, and the overall quality of my short film could be improved even further by shots of this type.

Details on proposed shooting locations and images from recces and research. For extra detail explain how you intend to use the environment, where are you going to put the camera, consider time fo day for shooting and practical considerations [is it busy? Do you need to book it? Are there any legal restrictions/permissions to consider?].

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Locations (part 2) York Racecourse Situated not too far from York College, this location is an ideal place to film because of the visual appearance of the racecourse itself (which can be shown in an extreme long shot as an establishing shot for a scene), as well as the presence of a footpath, a wooded area and houses on the other side of a fence. In my opinion, these locations could do well to create an overall setting for my short film which takes place in a rural area. I intend to utilize a tripod to stabilize the camera, which will be positioned on the side of a footpath. Scenes in this area will be shot in the afternoon (or at midday) due to the fact that I can only operate in this location whilst at college. I should be allowed to film around the Racecourse or on the tracks as long as there is no event taking place whatsoever; for my own safety as well as my cast and crew, it would be ideal to stay off the tracks because a horserace might be taking place. The area should not be too busy because it is located far away from the York city centre, as well as the college. Again, only the occasional dog-walker is likely to be present at the location. I will not be required to book the location because it is located near a public footpath. I will be using this environment to film the protagonist running away from an unseen individual.

Bishopthorpe

Bishopthorpe is a small town situated only a short walk away from York College on the other side of the A64 dual carriageway. The location will act as the hometown for the protagonists, who will meet up in a certain area and walk towards the derelict building (which will likely be a parking garage depending on whether or not I am able to find another location which could do well to act as a haunted structure within my short film). Some areas of the town are quite bustling, whereas others arent as busy. It can be considered ideal to avoid filming in crowded areas as people could become paranoid or confront me during filming.

Details on proposed shooting locations and images from recces and research. For extra detail explain how you intend to use the environment, where are you going to put the camera, consider time fo day for shooting and practical considerations [is it busy? Do you need to book it? Are there any legal restrictions/permissions to consider?].

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resourcesDSLR Camera, SD Card and Battery I intend to obtain a DSLR camera from the Media Department within college. This type of camera should enable me to capture high-quality scenes, images etc. and is also free to use, however I should bear in mind that I am fully responsible for this equipment, including loss of it (theft) as well as damage which I am likely to be required to pay for. An SD Card will also be required to enable me to store all of my footage and transfer it to a computer, where I will begin assembling the footage together in Adobe Premiere. Two or more batteries will be needed for each shooting day; these will ensure that I can film for long periods of time without being forced to stop when a battery runs out. In my opinion, it would be beneficial to take more than one battery so as to prevent one of my shooting days for my short film getting cut short, in which case the overall quality of my short film would suffer. Tripod A tripod will be required to allow me to stabilize the DSLR during filming; this kind of equipment is advantageous for the production of my short film because it will provide my short film with visually pleasing scenes that could potentially mirror professional standards as the camera is not shaky in any way. If the camera is shaky within my short film, it could create the negative impression of a lack of sophistication in regard to the production stage. A tripod is also ideal as it would reduce the need to place the camera on the floor, onto a fence etc. in an effort to stabilize it in different, less efficient ways. Shoulder Rig A shoulder rig is also ideal for the production stage as it will enable me to stabilize the camera whilst walking or even running for long distances. The shoulder rig could also enable me to capture point-of-view shots of the main character looking in different directions e.g. up and down or left and right whilst standing in the middle of a street or a wooded area. The usage of a shoulder rig could enhance the quality of my short film even further by enabling me to capture long, tracking shots of the environment as well as the protagonists walking down a street or exploring an interior location. Both the Shoulder Rig and the Tripod will be supplied by the Media Department alongside the DSLR Camera. LED Light An LED light could also be provided by the media department and, throughout my short film, could create the illusion of a flashlight, the glare from a computer screen or a characters phone, particularly whilst the characters are exploring an area with limited lighting. An LED light could also improve the quality of my short film by adding an effect to the majority of the scenes. Foley Sound Recorder I will also need a Foley Sound Recorder, which should enable me to capture sound effects for my short film, most notably footsteps, leaves rustling, birdsong, splashing, heavy breathing, machinery etc. I should be able to obtain a Foley Sound Recorder from the Media Department. Employing a device of this kind can be beneficial for my short film because it will make specific sequences of action (such as the protagonist running through the woods) feel far more vivid for the viewer(s) who might be able to relate to the action taking place on-screen more. The action could also be made to appear more believable to the viewer. Classroom/Computer A classroom with computers (or a computer suite) will serve as one of the primary locations for my short film, where the protagonist will access a computer and discover the supernatural presence in one of the photos he took. A location of this kind shouldnt be room difficult to obtain, however I will need to request permission to use the room prior to beginning the production of my short film. A location of this kind can be considered important for my short film, particularly in regard to its narrative which explores a small group of I.T. students at an unnamed school/college.

What resources do you need/intend to use for you production? How do you intend to obtain these

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Crew requirementsDirector/Producer The role of director/producer for my short film will be taken on by myself as I am fully in charge of the production stage and I am responsible for ensuring that my overall short film is as visually pleasing as possible. As the director, I will be required to possess a great deal of patience and be able to deal with any issues (should they arise) during production in an efficient manner; anticipating any problems during production (such as the battery running out or instances of bad weather which might prevent filming any further) is ideal because this ensures that I am prepared. I am also fully responsible for the safety, as well as the general wellbeing, of my fellow crew members. It is important not to stress my crew members out as they could be overcome by fatigue, thus hindering the quality of the production. I am also responsible for any damage to equipment, as well as loss of equipment (especially the camera and tripod which are highly expensive). Camera Operator The camera operator will be required to possess a great deal of patience also, as they will be forced to film regularly as well as perform multiple reshoots. The cameraman will also be required to be highly skilled in regard to using a DSLR, as well as obtaining visually intriguing camera shots and angles (such as long-shots and high-angles), along with tracking shots. I am going to provide fellow student Matthew Pinkney with the task of operating the camera and capturing multiple sequences of action from different angles for the majority of the scenes that make up my short film, including the protagonist fleeing in terror through the woods. Based on coursework completed in the past, most notably stop-motion production, I believe that Matthew is highly reliable when it comes to using a camera of almost any kind and is also skilled whilst capturing sequences of action even without the aid of a tripod which stabilizes the camera. Sound Recordist This production role entails the usage of a Foley Sound Recorder, which will be employed with the sole purpose of capturing various sound effects e.g. footsteps (rampant and slow), tree leaves rustling, splashing etc. along with instances of heavy breathing (which will be used as panting). This production role is fairly straightforward, however it does require a great deal of precision as my short film requires intriguing sound effects which should make the scenes of my short film more believable. The sound recordist will be required to spend extended periods of time attempting to capture sound effects; multiple attempts will be required in order to provide me with increased sound to choose from during the post-production process. I consider Richard Acaster to be more suited to this role because he possesses a great deal of patience in regard to production and is also skilled at capturing the appropriate sound effects for a scene; regardless of what the scene entails, Richard is mostly able to find a way to record a great deal of sound effects as requested. A good example of Richards skills can be found in our Foley Sound production which involved a clip from the film Shaun of the Dead earlier on the course.

Details on requirements for production team and any specific skills needed. Who are you going to use?

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Crew requirements (part 2)Set Designer The role of Set Designer will be provided to the whole group, with each crew member assigned a specific task (whether it be setting up the camera and tripod), arranging things like furniture, placing posters on walls etc.). This task can be considered fairly difficult as it requires careful consideration of almost everything that will appear on-screen (aside from the characters and the editing), including the aesthetic arrangement of props and aspects of the film world in order to create meaning. However, because I am responsible for ensuring the production stage goes smoothly, I will be in charge of exactly what the sets will look like (particularly the interior ones) and I will therefore direct the other crew members throughout the assembly of each set. Editor During the post-production process, the role of editing will be taken on by myself as the overall process of assembling the footage and synchronizing things like sound effects and music is required by the brief to be an independent task. The process of editing might be considered quite daunting as I will be forced to work by myself, therefore there will be limited ideas regarding how to perform editing as well as a lack of teamwork. The benefits of working alone, however, are that I am unlikely to become distracted and there will be no disagreement amongst team members over a specific decision regarding the editing, simply because there is only one person placed in charge of the production process. The overall process should be relatively straightforward as I will have produced a shot list which will, at the very least, provide me with a great deal of ideas in relation to how to assemble my overall short film. I will be required to take regular breaks during editing so as to prevent me from becoming overcome by fatigue and/or stressed out, as well as protect the health of my eyes as staring into a computer screen for hours on end can potentially be a strain. Prompter Some areas of my short film will require characters to speak, however I understand that significant amounts of dialogue are not necessary. Fellow student Richard Barber will be tasked with holding a sheet of paper containing the script for a specific scene in order to remind the subject what he will be saying. This job role is possibly the easiest out of those aforementioned as the prompter is only required to hold a sheet of paper, however he will be required to ensure that the subject is able to read the lines easily, as well as alternate between individual sheets of paper to reveal separate lines. I consider Richard to be more suited to this job role because he is highly reliable and there is a good chance that the actor will not be forced to squint at the paper due to the former holding the script too far away from the subject. Richard was able to tackle this job role with skill during the production stage of our factual documentary The Death of the Sun, thus highlighting the reason why I have selected him to perform a job role of this type. Lighting TechnicianRichard Barber will also be provided with the role of lighting technician; the role entails the installation of an LED light at a specific area of the room, particularly a room with low-key lighting. The LED light may be positioned in a corner, in front of the characters or just next to the lens of the camera in order to provide a dramatic effect to the short film. The lighting technician will be responsible for adjusting the glare of the light whilst simultaneously ensuring that he does not unintentionally cause harm to the actors as the glare can be extremely bright and could briefly blind the actors. In my opinion, Richard is ideal for this job role because of his creativity; he is very likely to be able to locate an ideal place to position the LED light, as well as achieve a form of lighting that is most intriguing. Evidence of Richards expertise in regard to lighting can be found in the production of the silent short film Luck which was a group project that took place within the studio next to the Media department.

Cast requirementsHector The main protagonist of my short film Silhouettes will be portrayed by Richard Barber, who has been provided with a wide range of acting roles in previous works of my own, particularly my music video for Modern Way by Kaiser Chiefs (November 2015) as well as the silent short film Luck (October 2016) and the Factual Space Documentary The Death of the Sun (February 2017). As proven by the overall finished products, Richard is an efficient actor who is able to persevere even when repeated takes are required at the request of the director. Richard is also a very convincing actor, as shown by his role as the character Derrick Ian Rector (Mr. D.I. Rector) who was featured in the factual mockumentary we produced (November 2016). Richard is also always able to remain calm and focused, and I believe that he is ideal to portray the protagonist of my short film because of the variety of skills he possesses, including accurately portraying a stunt double in my music video, impersonating different kinds of stereotypical individuals successfully, and displaying convincing emotions such as shock, frustration and joy whilst acting. All of this should prove effective in regard to portraying a character with a tough background who is beginning to become paranoid in response to a situation beyond his comprehension. Because Richard is on the same course, it should be easy to obtain him for the role and he might be likely to assist me in any way he can for the production of my short film. Logan The deuteragonist i.e. secondary protagonist of my short film will be portrayed by myself. This decision has been influenced by the fact that the character Logan is a troublesome individual and I feel that I can easily emulate this type of personality simply by dressing in a specific way i.e. by wearing a dark hoodie and walking around with one hand casually resting in a pocket and the other trailing at my side which should make the character appear confident, as well as somewhat intimidating. In essence, I will be utilizing body language to communicate the attitude of the character as opposed to dialogue. Sean Matthew Pinkney will portray Sean, a supporting character who is Hectors best friend. Although highly intelligent, the character is extremely apprehensive in regard to specific situations and is also rather clumsy. I believe that Matt will portray Seans character really well because he is a highly convincing actor who can speak for long periods of time in a confident manner, as shown in the York College Introduction Video (September 2016) in which Matt described the positive aspects of the Level 3 Creative Media Course. I think that Matts assured persona will enable him to tackle the role of Sean really well and also communicate the personality of the character accurately. Matt is also very dependable and I am confident that he will be committed throughout the duration of the production stage, even when multiple takes are required. Trey The tiresome younger brother of Sean will be portrayed by Richard Acaster, who possesses a wide range of skills in regard to acting, as well as patience. I believe that Richard should suit the role of the character Trey due to the fact that he is able to adopt a wide range of personalities (as shown within the Portal stop motion video [September 2016] and the Factual Mockumentary [November 2016]); within the latter video he successfully impersonates a student who is careless. Richards character within my short film will be depicted as an irritating and troublesome individual, and I feel that Richard himself might be able to accurately depict the character due to his acting abilities.

Who are going to play the characters in your film? Explain you decisions, how have you overcome issues with getting them? Do you have a backup?

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budgetIn order to capture the necessary footage for my short film, I will be required to use the college bus to get to and from York College; the college bus is usually paid for in installments every 1-2 months as 2 coach tickets are required per day in order to travel to college and back. A total of 40 per month is generally paid for the college coach, therefore travel costs should not be considered whilst I am producing my short film. Food is also paid for weekly; I normally spend 12-15 on lunch whilst at college (over the course of four days). In regard to equipment booking, I plan to spend just over 540 on two DSLR cameras (still and moving image cameras), a monitor, Shoulder Rig, Slider, Flycam, Foley Sound Recorder, LED light, tripod and clamp. The rest of the money will be spent on 3 batteries for the DSLR, along with an SD card which will allow me to transfer footage into Adobe Premiere. I understand that the total amount of money I will spend on my overall short film must have a 10% contingency. This contingency will be 60 in total as I intend to subtract this amount from the 600 I will be spending overall, thus leaving me with 540. Whilst highlighting the equipment I would need for my short film, I have found that I will be required to supply an additional five pounds to cover the cost of all the equipment. The total amount I will spend on equipment is therefore 545.

A breakdown of how much intend to spend making the film, this should consider travel, consumables, equipment booking, fees, etc. Your total should also have a 10% contingency for problems, etc. Your main currency for equipment from college and facilities [green screen, lighting, studio, etc] is our cryptocurrency [G-Units?].

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scheduleDay 1: I intend to capture footage of specific aspects of my hometown (Pocklington), particularly wooded areas, farmland and public footpaths which should provide me with additional shots to work with, as well as ensure that my short film appears as intriguing as possible. The presence of footage depicting areas of my hometown should benefit my short film as I will most likely be able to create the illusion of an abandoned location; the primary purpose of this footage will be to provide a brief montage of sorts within my short film. Day 2: The second day of filming will primarily involve capturing shots of the main characters exploring the town of Bishopthorpe (which is located only a short walk away from college); the town will act as the primary setting for my short film. Specific types of shots will include long shots, tracking shots, close-ups and high-angle shots (of trees, houses etc.) Day 2 will also involve capturing sequences of action at the derelict structure which will serve as the haunted location within the film. Day 3: Day 3 will involve shooting scenes around the York Racecourse, particularly at the woods and public footpath next to it. Sequences of fast-paced action will be filmed here; I should bear in mind that this can be quite hazardous and a great deal of care will need to be taken in order to ensure my cast and crew do not get injured in any way. Scenes at this location will mostly involve the main protagonist, Hector. Day 4: The final day of shooting will take place within York College; a vacant computer room will be required and filming is likely to last 2-3 hours during the day. A full week or so will be required for the post-production process; I intend to pay close attention to detail in regard to every aspect of my short film and employ a wide range of editing software (as well as Adobe Premiere) to ensure that the scenes within my short film are as visually intriguing as possible upon its completion. Overall, the post-production process will involve selecting footage and assembling it in Premiere, after which I will synchronize it with sound effects and music I have obtained (I should make sure that the sounds I use are royalty-free). I should be able to create a continuous and uninterrupted sequence of action overall.

You have a rough schedule already in place due to the college calendar. How do you intend to use this time? How are you going to keep track of this?

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