Filming (Part One)

I had started filming on Saturday but only half of what I needed because Jay's voice wasn't up to the highest standard that I needed because he has a cold and a sore throat. Therefore I only filmed the first half of the opening sequence of my main task with Jason, which went well!

I will be filming the rest next Saturday and hopefully the weather will be similar then (I heard it's going to snow!) or else I shall re-film everything again.

I have asked permission from Swallow Games to film outside and inside their shop, they are fine with it as long as I don't get in the games and console names due to copyright.

When I had to film the outside where Jason had to walk into the shop, a man who works in the shop next to Swallow Games asked what I was doing, so I explained and in the end he doesn't mind me filming, just make sure that their shop wasn't in the shot! I respected his request, as I was open to improvisation within the filming.

Then when I get to film inside, it was difficult because there were so many game names out on display, so I tried my best and I should think I am able to blur any visible names during the editing process.

I had decided to film an outside of another shop which was Ye Olde English Sweet Shop for another 'sighting' of the doppelganger for the audience. I had asked permission from the shop assistance and she was fine with it!

The problem was that it was very awkward filming whilst trying to make it look like it flows whilst all the busy shoppers past the camera. But I eventually got the footage I needed and I am happy it didn't took long to get!

"Doppelganger" Filming Sequence

Here is my detailed filming sequence which I will have with me as well as a copy of Jason and Jay's script. This will help me keep track on what I need to film and when, so it will make my editing a lot more easier and I should produce professional-looking results post-editing.

“Doppelganger” Filming Sequence

*means camera movement*, [costume/prop that’s needed] and type of shot used

• *Faces front door, establishing shot* Jason [grey jacket, purple headphones in] comes out of door, checks time on phone, then heads towards gate
• *Stand near house, long shot* Jason walks towards fencing and starts to walk to city
• *Still, facing ground, high angle* Jason walks past, shot of legs and feet
• *Still, long shot* Jason walks from left to right of frame
• *Still, long shot* Jason walks from left to right of frame, but different background location
• *Jason’s POV, hand-held shot* Walking towards city
• *Still and faces Swallow Games, establishing shot* Jason walks from left of frame to the shop window, which is on the right of the frame
• *Still, same shot, establishing shot* Get the shot of him walking out of shop then exit to the right of frame
• *Still, medium shot* Jason ‘searches’ window and decides to walk in
• *Inside shop, long shot to medium shot* Jason walks through shop door and walks towards games which are near the camera
• *Jason’s POV, hand-held shot* He picks up a games which will subtly signify what’s going to happen next?
• *Still, medium shot* He puts the game down and starts to text Jay
• *Jason’s POV, hand-held shot* He texts out the message “Meet @ Game?”
• *Still, medium shot to long shot* Finish texting and walks out of shop
• *Still, medium close up* Doppelganger [black coat and glasses] walks out of shop through door
• *Still, medium shot* Shot of the sweet shop door, doppelganger walks out and walks to the right of frame
• *Still, long shot* Jason walks past the shop door, from left to right of frame
• *Still, establishing shot* Jay outside Game, waiting. Checks phone for time. Doppelganger walks past Jay, he notices
• *Still, same establishing shot* Jay rings Jason on phone
• *Jay’s POV, hand-held shot* See back of doppelganger’s head. Lost his in busy crowd. “Jason?”
• *Still, long shot to medium shot* Jason walks towards camera then answers phone. “Hello?”
• *Still, medium shot* Jason faces left, (near Waterstones) background of shoppers passing by DIALOGUE
• *Still, medium shot* Jay faces right, background of Game shop. DIALOGUE
• *Still, medium shot* Jason still facing left, ends call and looks around suspiciously and starts to walk
• *Jason’s POV, hand-held shot* Walks towards Game, then doppelganger walks in front briefly then walks away
• *Still, long shot* Jason walks from right to frame towards Jay
• *Still, medium two-shot* Each speak one line of dialogue
• *Still, 180-degree rule* Dialogue: Jay, Jason, Jay
• *Jay’s POV, hand-held shot* Looks directly at Jason. Jason looks around.
• *Jason’s POV, hand-held shot* Looks directly at Jay. Jay says “Wanna go into Game?” Notice double walk past.
• *Tracking shot, hand-held shot, close up* Looks directly into doppelganger’s eyes

"Doppelganger" Script

Here's a copy of my script that I have given to both of my actors, Jason and Jay.

“Doppelganger” Script

When Jason’s doppelganger walks past Jay who’s waiting outside Game

Jay: *confused* Jason?

Jay rings Jason, Jason answers phone.

Jason: Hello?

(BOTH ‘FACE’ EACH OTHER – JASON FACE LEFT AND JAY FACE RIGHT)

Jay: Jason, where are you going? We said to meet at Game!

Jason: What are you talking about? I’m on my way!

Jay: *very confused* Whaa? You just walked past and blanked me!

Jason: *hesitated* Jay, whoever you saw, isn’t me! I’m not far from Game, so see you soon! Bye!

Jay: *concerned* Ok, bye!

Jason ends the call and looks around suspiciously

Jason arrives at Game and meets up with Jay

(TWO SHOT)

Jay: *looks at Jason’s clothes* Um, why did you change your clothes?

Jason: Seriously, what are you talking about?

(180-DEGREE RULE – JASON FACE LEFT AND JAY FACE RIGHT)

Jay: I saw you earlier and you were wearing a black coat.

Jason: I don’t own a black coat! It can’t have been me!

Jay: I don’t know what you’re up to but you blanked me earlier!

(SHOT/REVERSE SHOT – I’LL BE THEIR POV)

Jason looks around him – seemingly paranoid

Jay: Anyway, you wanna go into Game?

Jason looks from Jay and notices on the left of Jay his doppelganger walking slowly and gives direct ‘empty’ eye contact

Preparing To Film

I really do hope both of my actors are available to film this weekend as I am pretty excited to film and very surely to produce one of my best work so far in Media!

I will use my gained skills from my preliminary task (match on action, shot/reverse shot, 180-degree rule and two shot) in this main task and really test my recording skills.

How I am going to prepare for this is to:

*make sure my camera battery is fully charged the night before.

*make sure that I have cleared enough memory in my SD card to record every single scene that I may need.

*take my tripod with me to get still, professional-looking shots when I don't need to record POV shots.

*make sure that I have a change of coat and glasses for one of my actors and his 'doppelganger' and the correct props.

*type up and print out simple scripts for my actors to rehearse over, so they are able to have a natural, flowing conversation between each other through the phone as well as in person.

*print out an extra script for myself as well as a easy-to-follow shooting sequence so it is easier for me to shoot what scene on the day.

*ask the Manager or shop assistance of Swallow Games if I'm allowed to do a bit of filming in their shop - if not , I will improvise.

*check the weather forecast on that day. I have checked on BBC Weather and Saturday is going to be sunny at the time I'll be filming! Here's a print screen:

-also, if Saturday is too soon for filming, Sunday's weather seems promising too:

*decide for sure what time of day I shall start filming. I think I should start filming at 10am, leaving plenty of time to 'start the journey' to the city whilst filming parts of the way. I shall start filming in Anglia Square at 11am then film during lunchtime-ish when I want a busy atmosphere to contrast with my actor's seemingly calm characters.

Extended Ideas And Extra Research !

I will be using my Panasonic Lumix G10 DSLR as my film camera of choice as well as my tripod for some shots for 'smoother viewing' (not all jagged and difficult to watch) which will then contrast with my Point of View shots where I'll be the character's eyes (held in hand, more natural movement).

Audience research: The target audience for my film would be for those who are 15 to 25 years of age if I were to complete the OTS into a film. The audience are a similar age range to my characters in my OTS, therefore easier to relate.
From the British Board of Film Classification, a 15 certificate states:

"Horror
Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.


Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification."

Typography: My title will show up as 'Doppelganger' in an outlined font as this would represent what a doppelganger is: the same on the outside but different, almost empty on the inside. It will be the colour black as this colour represents evil and death.


Location: My chosen locations for my main task would be from the outside of the character's house, through Anglia Square as well as the city. This makes this situation seems like it could happen to any ordinary person - whether they have been a good person or not and this would hopefully play on the viewer's beliefs and make them paranoid after watching this.

Lighting: Natural lighting from outdoors (hopefully it won't be too murky when I film). This would break the convention of negative situations happening only at night therefore playing on the viewer's paranoia as well.

Sound: I will be using diegetic sounds throughout my main task as well as subtle background music. The background music will hopefully affect the viewer's mood without them realising - like a subliminal message.

Costume: My 'normal' characters and the doppelganger will be wearing normal everyday, casual clothing.
Props: I will have ordinary props which the characters will use and these will be:
*two mobile phones
*headphones
*game case in Swallow Games
*two coats - one black and one grey
*glasses
These props will help make this main task seem realistic and believable.

Casting: I have chosen Jason as my protagonist as he's reliable, confident in front of the camera, I co-operate effectively with him and he is able to point out any problems with filming as he's a fan of films.
I have chosen Jay as my other character, as he's Jason's close friend and I know that they get along well without any complications. He's confident in front of the camera and from what I know - he used to study A Level Film Studies, therefore could help out if I come across any problems.

Storyboarding 'Doppelganger'

Here is the storyboard of my main task which shows all the shooting sequence of different shots and angles I'll be using as well as the audio.

I Got An Idea !

It took me a while to think up a really good idea for this main task. In the back of my head I always wanted to film something that's rather simple yet effective.

How I came up with the idea was thinking about playing with paranoia and things out of the ordinary. I then thought 'Hmm, what about someone feels like they're being watched or followed and it escalated?'
I thought again, realised it's too cliche and then decided to go in a little deeper.

Next I thought of someone having an exact copy of themselves and it meant a bad thing!
I forgotten the name of this so I did a little research and found out that it's called a 'doppelganger'.
The definition I found from Wikipedia:

In fiction and folklore, a doppelganger (German "double walker") is a paranormal double of a living person, typically representing evil or misfortune.

From this definition, it intrigued me, so I decided to research a little more deeper until it frightened me and made me paranoid!

The plot summary of my main task is that I'll start off with one character walk from their house and decided to head off towards to city to meet up with a  friend. I'll get shots of them of their journey up there, then a few odd occasions will pop up for the viewers and not the character.
They'll pop into a shop and whilst distracted, their doppelganger walk out of the same shop.
Another 'happening' would be the doppelganger to come out from another shop and then the character walks past the shop.
Then the scene completely changes and sees the friend who's waiting and the doppelganger walks past him and seemingly blanks the friend.
The friend's confused, thought it was the character.
Next there would be a conversation on the phone between the friend and the character about the confusion.
After the phone call, the character will seem more paranoid and looks all around them.
When the two characters finally meet in person, they start to talk, then the character will notice their doppelganger and they both will give eye contact to each other.
The clip then ends.

My chosen location shots:
*outside of my protagonist's house [establishing shot]
*areas where there's some trees in the background [establishing shot]
*outside of Swallow Games [establishing shot]
*outside of Game [establishing shot]
*outside of Ye Olde English Sweet Shop [establishing shot]