QUESTIONNAIRE - Gathering Feedback

This is a questionnaire I am giving to a group of Media students (part of the lower school) to gather some impartial feedback about my film opening. 

QUESTIONNAIRE

Film Opening - ‘stevie’s wonders’

Initial Thoughts – (Did you enjoy it, was it long enough, what did you think?)

Is the meaning behind the opening scene clear enough? 

If yes, what was the meaning?

What shots did you feel were particularly effective, if any?

Did you enjoy the music, and how did the music contribute to the overall effect?

Are the titles well placed, and are there any particular aspects of the opening titles that you felt were good or bad?

Please fill in your overall rating - ☆☆☆☆☆

Thank you!

POST PRODUCTION UPDATES - 3

Editing is taking a lot longer than initially expected, however the main basis of the opening is complete. For now, I am just spending the time to tweak any small parts that I feel are not up to scratch. For example, I am adding a small amount of music to the beginning scene as well as editing little clips that may not exactly go together either because of continuity or smoothness of the transitions.

POST PRODUCTION UPDATES - 2

I am pretty close to finishing the editing of my footage, I think its looking really great so far. I am very excited to see it fully finished! There are two things still left to complete; Steven's voice over for the beginning basement scene and the music, currently being recorded by my friend Matthew, both of which should be done this week. Hopefully, it shouldn't be too long until I have finished completely.

POST PRODUCTION UPDATE - 1

I have now finished filming, editing will begin on the 7th/8th of January when I return to school for Spring Term. I am very pleased with the footage and I think the filming went well, despite a few location issues. 

On the first day of filming (3rd Jan), the location for the second day became unavailable so we where unable to film on the 4th but instead we did the house scene in my friends dining room today instead. Losing the original location was unfortunate as my planning and shot list revolved around that dining room however, the extra two days gave me a chance to reassess the shot list, risk assessment and how to manage the actors, props and layout of the new location. 

(Image of new location) 

RISK ASSESSMENT

DAY 1 - 3rd January 2013 

Filming in a basement: 

• Lighting is going to be an issue as there is no natural light in the basement. 
• May not be enough space to film as it is quite confined, also the shots I want to film may also be altered depending on the space available.

Dealing with these problems:

I can easily create more light in the space, but also, I can use the lack of lighting to my advantage as the scene is supposed to look dreary and dark. 

DAY 2 - 4th January 2013 

Filming in someone's corridor and dining room: 

• May get in the way of people living in the house. 
• Again space may be an issue as these areas may be a little confined depending on the different shots. 
• Lighting isn't an issue as there is a lot of natural light within the space however there isn't long periods of decent natural light during winter months. 

Dealing with these problems:

As there is only one day of filming plus one of the residents of the house will be acting in it, I don't feel that it will be too much of an issue however it is just as a precaution my main aim will be to get the filming done quickly and efficiently to make full use of the house. Filming at a decent time before it gets too dark will also have to be a main priority. 

SHOT LIST - 'stevie's wonders'

1) Begins with an extreme close up of Steven, zooms out, slowly revealing the setting and circumstances (tied up in a basement) 

2) Mid shot 

3) Side angle shot, showing side of his face.

4) Back to mid shot of shot two

5) Extreme close up, showing his hands tied behind his back. 

6) Returns to mid shot of shot 4 

7) Reaction shot, close up 

8) Close up of Steven untying his hands and chucking the rope at the floor

9) Close up of Steven ripping off gaffa tape and shouting at his mother 

10) Panning shot of Steven walking up the stairs 

11) Mid shot of Steven's feet on stairs 

12) Panning shot of Steven's dining room 

13) Close up of plate with director's credit 

SCRIPT FOR FILM OPENING

This is the final script I will be using for filming on the 3rd and 4th of January. In comparison to other film openings I have looked at for research, there is little dialogue, the majority being the voice over at the beginning which will be added during post production. 

SCRIPT

Stevie - Steven. C

Stevie's Mother - Patricia. T

(Stevie, looking distressed, dusty and messy with duct tape on his mouth is tied to a chair in a basement)

Voice in Stevie's head: 

'Day 2...trapped down here...tied to this chair...'

'I have a feeling my team are dead, which means its just me left, god' 

'Ah, it smells down here... is that mould?' 

'I have been frantically trying to untie my hands for hours, not yet been successful'  

'I can't hear any signs of life...I think its only a matter of time before...' 

Stevie's Mother: "Steeeveeennn, dinner's ready...Come out of the basement... You are spending too much time playing down there. Come on, sweetie." 

(Stevie pulls his hands free, rips duct tape of his mouth)

Stevie: "MUUUUM. You ruin everything!!! -sighs- " 

(Stevie gets off chair, begins to walk up the stairs) 

Stevie's Mother: (faintly) "Don't be like that, honey." 

(Steven walks out of basement and into his dining room where his mother gives him his dinner, ruffles his hair and brushes the dirt off his shirt) 

(Steven then sighs and stares at his dinner then looks up at the camera with the same distressed face)