POST PRODUCTION EDITING

After filming all of our footage, the most important element of our coursework came into play. Using the Final Cut Pro X (FCPX) software on the Macs, we edited both visual and audio effects, and finalised our film opening over a long period of weeks.

These are the main areas and tools of FCPX:

Of course, the first thing we had to do was choose our final clips and put them in order  across the editing time line. Soon after this, I added the film production company logo (Hammer) at the start of the clips, as it is best to add this before extra editing such as text and sound overlays, as the positioning in relation to the clips could be shifted after adding extra footage at the start.

The next thing we focused on was sound. As our film opening features no dialogue, sound is a highly important element for our final opening and we needed to work our way through various tracks which would be genre-appropriate as a generally overlay. We decided on these main sound clips, which we accompanied by sounds which would act as an effective jump scare sound, as we felt it was parallel to the urban drama aspects of the film opening, as well as building suspense as the opening draws out:

We also began to gather other sound effects such as footsteps and panicked breathing as the original audio from the footage was not as high quality as we had hoped it to be (-on the main day of filming, the atmosphere was quite windy so there was an excess of extra disruptive sound & white noise.)

I added sound clips at their relevant points, using the correction tool to speed up and slow down footage and/or sound so that they fitted realistically. Additionally, extra sounds and small music clips were placed in order to create extra suspense where necessary:

We then added transitions between various video clips to differentiate the separate time framed within the film opening. Instead of having ordinary jump cuts like the central sections of the opening, we used a fade-to-black transition, allowing the audience to infer that the time between the first section with the killer takes place before the sequence featuring the first victim.

LOCATION SCOUTING

As a substantial part of our coursework research, we have gone location scouting in order to find the ideal settings for our film opening.

Firstly, we decided to use my (Imogen's) house as a starting point, with the idea that we would be able to create a powerful starting setting using mise en scene, which we could accomplish through decoration and props when we film. Our main character in the film opening will be the first victim, and so will match codes and conventions of a non-conservative victim the slasher genre by being a drug user. To make the audience aware of this, we will decorate the living room in order to make it look like some sort of drug user's 'den'. As one of the small rooms in the house is in the process of being decorated, the wallpaper is partially torn, the curtains have been removed, and the room is mostly taken up by a simple bed and mattress, we think that this will act as a good setting well suited to this character, as the room looks rather neglected and mistreated. 

Next, we went outside and took photos of a nearby road; it was dimly lit by street lamps, which would be ideal for us, as we would be filming in the evening when it is dark, as this is a common convention of slasher and thriller horror. This long road is curved, which will provide the audience with the fear of the unknown, and is surrounded by the woods, giving it a hidden appearance which will be seen as eerie to the audience.

As the road was surrounded by the woods, we decided to take photos of parts of the woods seeing as it is a dark and secluded area, which is what we ideally would like to base our film opening around. The only disadvantage of using the woods would be both lighting, as we will be filming at night so it may look too artificial, as well as the fact that we would have liked a more urban setting; something less 'cliche' than the woodland.

Once we had left the woods, we found a nearby pedestrian overpass which crossed over a road. This gave us an ideal setting point as it is both secluded and of an urban 'style', and for us was the most ideal place for the victim to be stalked and eventually captured, as there are many columns which can be used as 'hiding places' for the killers, and the two staircases can present the vulnerability of the victim as she becomes trapped between the two killers who have used both entrances.

Additionally, we wanted a location for the killer to reside in and plan his murders, etc. For this we wanted a location which we could easily make appear eerie and mysterious as well as being an interior location which is nearby and easily accessible. For this, we have decided to use the photography dark room in school, as this is easily accessible and we already have permission to use it as we are both art students. We liked the dark room in particular as it has red lighting which created an eerie, dark effect.

Luckily, all of these settings are in close proximity to one another and are also within walking distance of my house- this is a big advantage to us as we do not have to spend any money to travel to and and also to use these settings as they are all public zones, free of charge to enter.