Wednesday 30 November 2011

Petrov's Outfit

Today a Photoshoot took place, photographing Petrov's actor in for prop images that will go onto a form, which in the trailer is handed to Frank to alert him that Petrov has escaped. The pictures are mug shot pictures that are conventionally and realistically taken when a criminal is being convicted and processed of his or her crime. The images for this will soon be uploaded as will the final edits to make the images look authentic. 

This got the group thinking about uniforms, and costumes. Frank had already had both his outfits sorted out, also the Henchman for Petrov will be wearing black suits, just to show the success the gang has in the Gangster life, however, although it was decided for Petrov to be wearing a suit, the colour of the suit and the shirt hadnt been decided. 

A 2010 film called KICK ASS starring Aaron Johnson and Nicholas Cage, as superhero crime fighters, but at a comical view, brought a fresh, new modern look to the stereotypical gangster of today. 

Frank D'amico, a high up gangster of New York, sets out to kill Kick Ass in the film, however this isn't why the film is being brought to your attention. The costume that Frank D'amico wears is a silk grey suit, paired with a bright red shirt, probably to symbolise danger. 

The reason the Henchman are going to be in black is because if you notcie in the first picture, all of Frank D'amicos henchman are in a grey suit also, so the group never felt he stood out, however in the picture below, you can see that the red shirt really stands out, also makes Frank look really dangerous. 

The search is now on to find this red shirt, for the grey suit is already owned by a group member, Charlie Morgan, who after long consideration and silent auditions, where the co workers audition without even knowing, found he would actually be best suited to this part.

a post will be added shortly on the cast, and picture profiles to go with it.



-Charlie Morgan

Sound Beginning

This Blog has mainly looked at the Video side of the the project, and has briefly talked about the sound,so this blog post will be dedicated to that.

The decision has been made to purchase any sounds that the group cannot create through there own recording sessions such as a specifc gun shot to a specific weapon, then that sound will be found on http://www.freesound.org/, and website that was mentioned in the pitch.

Currently taking place are recording sessions where a microphone set up has been provided to create punching, slapping and contact sound effects. This is just a basis of what will be attempted for the group are just getting familiar with the set up.

Genre Research

It has been brought to attetnion that very little research has gone into this films Genre and Hyrbid Genre


here is a large list of the most popular film genres


Action films usually include high energy, big-budget physical stunts and chases, possibly with rescues, battles, fights, escapes, destructive crises (floods, explosions, natural disasters, fires, etc.), non-stop motion, spectacular rhythm and pacing, and adventurous, often two-dimensional 'good-guy' heroes (or recently, heroines) battling 'bad guys' - all designed for pure audience escapism
Adventure films are usually exciting stories, with new experiences or exotic locales, very similar to or often paired with the action film genre. They can include traditional swashbucklers, serialized films, and historical spectacles (similar to the epics film genre), searches or expeditions for lost continents, "jungle" and "desert" epics, treasure hunts, disaster films, or searches for the unknown.
Comedies are light-hearted plots consistently and deliberately designed to amuse and provoke laughter (with one-liners, jokes, etc.) by exaggerating the situation, the language, action, relationships and characters. This section describes various forms of comedy through cinematic history, including slapstick, screwball, spoofs and parodies, romantic comedies, black comedy (dark satirical comedy), and more. See this site's Funniest Film Moments and Scenes collection - illustrated, and also Premiere Magazine's 50 Greatest Comedies of All Time.


Crime (gangster) films are developed around the sinister actions of criminals or mobsters, particularly bankrobbers, underworld figures, or ruthless hoodlums who operate outside the law, stealing and murdering their way through life. Criminal and gangster films are often categorized as film noir or detective-mystery films - because of underlying similarities between these cinematic forms. This category includes a description of various 'serial killer' films.
Horror films are designed to frighten and to invoke our hidden worst fears, often in a terrifying, shocking finale, while captivating and entertaining us at the same time in a cathartic experience. Horror films feature a wide range of styles, from the earliest silent Nosferatu classic, to today's CGI monsters and deranged humans. They are often combined with science fiction when the menace or monster is related to a corruption of technology, or when Earth is threatened by aliens. The fantasy and supernatural film genres are not usually synonymous with the horror genre. There are many sub-genres of horror: slasher, teen terror, serial killers, satanic, Dracula, Frankenstein, etc. See this site's Scariest Film Moments and Scenes collection - illustrated.






After looking through all of these, G.O.O.D realised that the overall Genre of the film would be action, however the sub genre would modern british gangster warfare, also the Hyrbid genre is an Action Adventure Romance.

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Legal Restrictions and Permissions for Props



Since previous issues with the police and toy guns, or BB guns in recent years, there has been a law attached to the usage of when you can and can't use BB guns. BB Guns aren't illegal, because there are Airsoft tournaments and venues all over the UK. Airsoft is a name for a BB gun war. 

Researching into the legal restrictions and Permissions of the usage of  a BB gun, or plastic guns is all in the below extract

            Airsoft guns should be legal, but check local laws. I think in some parts or all of NYC, there are restrictions, and there may be similar laws elsewhere. It's never good to run around with guns in a public place, but block off the hallway, inform everyone, etc, you should be ok. And as always, treat them like real guns and put them down if the cops show up, then explain.

I would ask the owner of the complex, and he/she will probably have you go around and tell each person that you're filming a movie, and no one is actually getting shot. I believe that since the complex is private property of the owner or whatever, as long as you have his permission you good to go.

The first thing you need to do is contact the local mayor's office about filming in general. Most places don't have anything in place for filming permits, but some places do. In life-in-general, it's often easier to apologize than it is to ask for permission, but in business it's usually a bad idea to just go for it, and hope you don't get caught (or hope the penalty's not too bad if you do).

I'd wait to bring up the question of guns until after I'd gotten all of the info I could on filming in general. It's also a good idea to contact the governor's office of film and TV (every state in the union has some version of that) as they can give you a lot of information that your mayor's office might not have. It's also a great way of demonstrating that you're serious about what you're doing - open with "I've been going over the State Office of Film and Television's information package, and I wanted to talk to someone here on the local level about what we need to do..." and you'll get a lot better response in general.
You'll also need to go door-to-door (or at least leave flyers) explaining that there's going to be a film crew shooting in the apartment building, but that's pretty much the last step in the process. If you're not shooting blanks or using squibs, the guns are the least of the problem, so far as the neighbours are concerned.

After reading this you will now understand that there are complications, however i did find when reading this that this is about the views in America. G.O.O.D is going to contact it's headmaster, or whoever can grant the team the mare of KENT's business address. Then the team will construct a well written letter, that will be double checked by teachers to ensure the language is of a good quality, and then hopefully the go ahead will be given to be legally allowed to use dummy guns. 

The Short Films Begin

Youtube has proved more than helpful to this project, and surely it wont stop there. This Blog will be a short one, and it will entail a brief analysis of this video

This here is a short film found on YouTube. It is created and directed by a single person, it isn't a group effort, besides the actors of course. This suggests that if one person can get this good quality and skill of video by a single effort, then three minds all gifted in unique ways, can achieve a final edit three times as good as this. Research has gone into the editing side of this  clip, however now all that needs to be undertaken to perfect a fighting scene is as follows:

Research into Conventional Camera Angles such as Steady cam, high angle to low angle, tilts also a very unique and new to film technique called the three cam set up. A blog will be posted on this but all it is in its briefest form, is three cameras set up side by side by side. 

                                 [ o ]-[ o ]-[ o ]        LIKE THIS

ON EACH CAMERA STARTING FROM WHAT EVER WAY YOUR ACTOR IS MOVING YOU ZOOM IN BY LENGTH OF CONVENTIONAL SHOTS 
 [ o ]                  [ o ]                 [ o ]    
LONG SHOT-MID SHOT-CLOSE UP

THIS ALLOWS YOU TO ZOOM IN WITHOUT DISTORTING THE IMAGE, IN AREAS YOU WANT CLOSER THAN OTHERS. MOST FAMOUSLY USED IN A FILM CALLED 300 DIRECTED By Zack Snyder


This is it to perfection
Action Essentials 2

Action essentials are a plugin for after effects, made by an online tutorial company. YouTube research has found easy and free trial access to these plug ins which will be used for the trailer. Below are lists of YouTube url links. Under these links are basic and complex tutorials on how to create action scenes and the special effects they use.

G.O.O.D lead editor, Charlie Morgan, will be learning these as will the rest of the group, and then every member has a clear idea of what is happening and how it is happening.
GUN MUZZLE FLASH
CAR EXPLOSION

IM SURE THERE WILL BE MORE COMING BUT THIS IS IT FOR NOW, AND ANY MORE THAT ARE FOUND USEFUL WILL BE POSTED 

Keeping You Posted

   -Charlie Morgan

Props and Prep

As you know, G.O.O.D has recently recorded their first set of clips, they will be uploaded when the entire group has approved them as good to go, or usable, if they are not and the clips are in need of re-recording, then they will be uploaded at a later date, under a post of scrapped footage.

enough of that, this post is about the props. G.O.O.D's trailer, is obviously in need of props, and because recording will be undertaken on a regular basis, the props will need to be available, so guns, handcuffs, and any other props were acquired for future shooting, and have been detailed to look as real as possible. Some weapons aren't usable in some areas of the country, therefore the use of them will be restricted so allot of thought will have to go into that, however some of the weapons are fine, and a post will be added taking you through the steps that need to be taken for legal reasons.

Anyway, below are images of the props already acquired at this stage, also pictures from a workshop of detailing the weapons were taken and will also be posted in this post.





These are pictures of an unprofessional work shop, however the skills undertaken were of a good quality and skill, so the outcome was no where near different to a professional Workshop.


This weapon is an M16 1/3 scale replica. this will not be used for close ups more just as an out of focus prop, perhaps for a scene with a henchman of Petrov, where the guns are likely to be small and weak, in contrast to Frank's, large weapons with cool military attachments.

These are four great guns that have been acquired because they are real movie props, used from the films HELL TO PAY starring Dave Courtney, a fairly popular gangster film star. They are made of real metal and fit lifelike scale 1/1 brass bullets, that fit perfectly into the revolvers(gun type)6 or 8 holes. these guns are the guns being talked about in the above briefing because they aren't legal in all areas of the country, they must be constricted in suitcases also in Non-public places.

Two out of Four of the weapons, will be used by Petrov (bottom two on this image), mainly because this style of gun, will often be used by a Gangster, or Drug dealer, mainly because of its historical nature. Also a magnum revolver is the most powerful pistol in the world, so that may be another reason it is chosen in films, to add a toughness to the character







Below, are images of two watches, both of which will be worn by Frank as part of his outfit, but also fits under props because they will have some relevance in the film.



This image is modelling two props. The gun pouch is a prop used by Frank in the film to add a stealth, Special Forces effect to his costume, the well equipped costume, however the gun inside is a prop that will be used for scenes where the risk isnt willing to be taken of damaging the weapon perhaps a fight scene or a stunt scene, so this will be known as a replacement prop used for long distance shot.




This image shows partially the same features as the one above, however this pouch holds a knife not a gun. The knife is made of rubber, not for legal reasons, but for safety reasons. when fight scenes with a knfe take place, G.O.O.D arent willing to take the risk of damage to an actor/actress, with a real, damaging blade. An identical blade to this, however a harder material has also been purchased so that any scenes that require contact with the blade, such as a stabbing visual, or a block, then the harder material will be used so there is no bend in the material, therefore no unrealistic footage. 



                                              Gloves to be worn as part of the Revenge costume

Bullets to be put into the revolvers







rubber bullets used for the shotgun belt, worn by any actor the gun is assigned to.


    War/face paint, used for the solider look. maybe will be worn by Frank

harder material knife


              MP5 used by the special forces, Frank will use this to symbolise the fact that he once was a Special Forces Soldier. Equipped with a strap made in a workshop.




The shotgun that was spoke about above. Originally a fully silver weapon, but half was spray painted black so that this gun could be used by any actor from any side of the story, whether it being an Enemy or Frank. When decided upon the gun will be spray painted accordingly. Black for Frank, Silver for Petrov. This may be confusing as you may be thinking about the rule often used in films of Black being used to symbolise evil, and white being used to symbolise good, but in this case black is used to create stealth, and silver is used as the effect of the presence of jewellery, for a gangster likes their jewellery, so a silver weapon to them is like a jewel. 


 Handcuffs for arrest scene, metal ones are used for close ups, plastic are used for long shots, when Petrov is resisting arrest. 




-Charlie Morgan

Friday 25 November 2011


When searching for Krav Maga videos on youtube, which are now placed in my video bar, i found these videos. They are behind the scenes videos made from a youtube short film creator, called FreddieW. I have known about him for ages, and haven't really thought about looking to him for help, however i found these behind the scenes videos and they have given me ideas and ways that we can film and possibly edit, when filming for our shots.

Tuesday 22 November 2011

Pictures After Shoot

These are all the images that were taken, when the Team participated in their first shooting of the film clips. The clips shot were all close up shots and was agreed upon to do so in a studio, in a low key lighting set up. The reason for this is to get the best quality for a close up possible, because outside when filming close ups the image could become pix-elated. This photo shoot will be put in a folder under Week 1. Also this post is a few days late from the date it should have been posted, however this now allows this post to tell you that some of the clips have already been edited, and therefore will be uploaded soon. Some will be uploaded as prep or practice.

Whilst editing the clips, a filter was invented by the Lead Video Editor, which will be placed over most of the clips to capture a action effect, but also a desaturate effect to bring out red colours and lower highlights in other colours  so the red shows through more to express the anger and aggression.