Unprecedented Issues

     As of Sunday, March 13th, the day that filming was supposed to occur, the group ran into some major issues regarding filming and the process. Sunday morning, both me and Logan got called into work at our job, ChillN ice cream. Initially, we both expected to be out of work in time to be able to film, but due to a variety of other factors, an immense amount of homework, and overall time constraints, we were all unable to film. The failure to film today throws us off our course of planning for the project, as we planned to edit throughout this and next week, but however, will be unable to start until then. 

    Our planning process, storyboard, intended vision, and shots are all completed, with a script being very bare to ensure that the found footage natural feel to the dialogue is kept. The lack of filming will likely be a large roadblock for the group to overcome, but we believe that by finding a date soon, we can still be on track to finish with plenty of time left over. Down below you can see a screenshot of our group chat as we discuss the lack of filming and announcement. 

Mise en scene and actors

     In order to prep for our filming date on Sunday, me and my group began to scout for actors, props, and costumes for our film opening. I personally asked multiple people if they would want to be in the project, and many had said yes. I think that by the filming date, we will have more than enough people willing to participate in our project, as each group member asked multiple people. 

    In terms of mise en scene such as costuming, the group scoured online for different things that we could use, along with some specific editing softwares and effects for our film. I searched for costumes for the cult members personally, looking on different halloween and costume store websites such as Party City for costumes that could be used and picked up before Sunday. Due to the dark nature of many parts of our opening requiring costumes for the cult, we decided that a minimalist approach for the costumes was acceptable. Down below you can see an image of the cloak that I thought would be most acceptable, from Walmart. 

Walmart Cloak Link

Location scouting!

     In order to conceive a more realistic project in terms of location, one of my group members went to scout out good filming locations for the project. We decided to film in two different locations, one closer, behind regional park, due to the more close location for the night scene, as it would prove to be more challenging to do a further location at night. During the day, we will film at everglades holiday park, as the sign would be available to film the entrance into the everglades for our exposition parts. Down below you can see the pictures that were photographed to film at. 

    Along with this, costuming was discussed more in depth during the class period, along with the filming locations. For the cult members, the group decided to depict them with a black cloak and a scary mask, similar to the cultish scenes in Eyes Wide Shut (1999). The friend group would wear casual outdoor clothes, such as hats, sunglasses, and fishing attire, such as long sleeve shirts and shorts. 

     To work on our script and to fully explain the storyboard, me and one of my partners went to a niche coffee shop to create our vision for the project. We added many features and fleshed out the project, adding many subtle details to the script to more accurately display our project. I explained the contents of the storyboard, the intended plot outline, and what types of shots I wanted to use in the found footage opening. Down below you can see a picture of my team member working on our project (and enjoying delicious soup).

    The day also consisted of us viewing older AICE media projects on Youtube, to analyze the works that other students have done as well. The session was extremely productive for me and my group, as it resulted in a deeper understanding of the project and what we specifically need to do in order to create the film opening. 

Storyboardin!!

     AS the project has gone further in terms of plot and story, a storyboard was created (by yours truly!) The storyboard is a very rough sketch of the final product, but produces a view of the opening, beginning with a climactic hook to draw viewers in, and concludes with the chronological opening of the film, as the group enters the everglades park. Down below you can see a full image containing the storyboard. The storyboard however, does not contain all of the intended shots, as the found footage format produces a sense of continuity in shots, and the storyboard only outlines the dynamic changes in shots. 

Plot Specificities and Writing Beginnings

     As my group and I reconvened for the first time in nearly a week as a whole, we worked greatly in class to ensure that plot ideas had been cemented and that the storyboarding and script processes had begun. We decided to simultaneously create the storyboard and script, as we thought that it would greatly assist in the process of creating a similarly oriented story and plot coming across both the script and the visual representation of the script. Down below you can see a screenshot of the beginning processes of our script writing document. 

    For the very beginning of the film, my group and I decided that a text description of the found footage events would make for a much for suspenseful and complex story, essentially allowing for a story inside of a story. The beginning would emphasize the disappearance of the kids that are shown in the footage, and will be likened similar to a film such as The Blair Witch Project. A climactic moment will immediately be cut to, and the film opening will begin from there.

Connecting and reaching out

     As the project filming date reaches closer and becomes more time consuming, I have realized that connecting is extremely important to continue the project process. This was especially hard as this week, I was not in class at all, which made it much harder to continue efforts and to remain connected with the group members. In order to remain connected, and essentially continue the planning process outside of the classroom and over more frequent periods of time, a group chat was created with all the members, and we began brainstorming locations, plot lines, and further strategies we could use to generate a successful project. Here is our group chat profile that was established. 

    As for a follow up for the previous connections that I did, reaching out to bands and musicians for possible musical input and sound for our project, it turned out to be a success. Astrobrite, one of the 90s shoegaze bands I reached out to, successfully responded, giving me full permission to use any of his work in the project. I still am unsure if this would actually be used in the project, possibly as synchronous sound as the friends drive into the everglades to set the opening off with a disturbing tone, but the option still remains open. Down below you can see the screenshot of the interaction that I had with the account. 

Finalizing plot and shooting

    As the production for the piece has continued, our plot has finally been finalized as a concrete idea, rather than just a variety of smaller ideas. The plot will revolve around a group entering the everglades for either hunting or fishing or exploring, and will encounter a cult, in which sacrifices one of the members of the group in a horrific way. The plot will be shown somewhat through the opening horror montage shown, and through the creepy entrance in the driving of the beginning of the actual sequence of events, which will begin after the title sequence is shown. 

    The concrete date for filming will be March 2nd, as the group members have all concluded that it would be a good day to begin the process. The project will take place at Everglades Holiday Park due to its nature in the everglades and a wide variety of area to cover, which will result in a good project being shown. More dates will be available to film however, as footage may not be complete and concrete for the full project. Down below is an image of Everglades Holiday Park, the intended area for filming our project. 

Forming a plan

     Due to my absence from class throughout this week, I have been essentially attempting to plan out all of our tasks and brainstorming from outside of school. My group has come to the initial conclusion that filming will take place next week, which will require extreme preparation with people, a filming site, costuming to create the scary nature and the main characters personalities (likely will be more rural country people), and a camera. Preparation will begin throughout this week, along with a storyboard that will be split up and worked on in class as well, as the creative process works much better for me in collaboration with others in person. Shooting will likely be carried out on Saturday throughout the day, with both daytime and nighttime shots being required for our piece.

    As for our initial plot description, it will revolve around a group of country/fishing gear dressed friends as they travel deeper into an everglades wildlife center. The beginning of the opening will reveal a horror inducing title sequence with flashes of scenes and the cultish antagonists, and after the title sequence flashes, will begin chronologically with the friends entering. We plan to film next weekend, and possibly begin next Wednesday, a day where an SAT testing day is occurring. The schedule of our planning process looks somewhat unconventional, but is efficient.

Organizing ideas and searching for supplies

    As our project becomes more consolidated in terms of ideas, supplies and specific incentives and ideas for the project have more or less become stronger and more unified amongst the group. In order to receive further inspiration, advice, and overall technique/musical tips, I reached out to two separate accounts, Sematary (the musician previously mentioned) and 90s shoegaze band Astrobrite, who's blurred atmospheric image has been inspirational to the product we seek to create. Although both bands and artists did not further reach back out yet, their art, music, and videos have still been deeply inspirational to the process. 

    For the camera and filming process, ideas changed due to viewing the price limitations upon the cameras. Due to the cameras extremely expensive price for the specific camcorder we sought to purchase, the group has begun to explore alternatives such as using an older iphone with certain grain filtering in post production to create the intended effect.

    The older iphones more grained and less precise quality, as shown in the image above, could be a useful alternative to the expensive cameras that we sought to use, and would be a very efficient and free alternative depending on the groups resources. Further investigation regarding filming will be taken on throughout the week, and will be essential to the project creation.

Research continued!

     As my partner and I hone in on more specific ideas, I wanted to continue to research extremes of the stylistic aura we seek to go to and horror itself. In one instance, I researched an area of the music industry, one particular artist, Sematary. The hip hop music artist includes various extreme editing choices and video designs involving horror involved imagery and intense grain and bad video quality, creating a certain theme and feeling to all of the work he creates. I seek to create similar work in the way that it conveys horror effectively, however, would make changes to create a more realistic and story centered video, rather than relying on harsh imagery solely. I think that using a naturalistic environment to convey horror would be something very new and exciting. Down below is an example of one of Sematary's videos for his music, and although very extreme and experimental, utilizes many similar techniques to what I would want. 

                                                                                                                                                                       

    I also want to utilize and create a vibrancy similar to the one created in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, which used harsh imagery, dirty mise-en-scene, and other techniques to convey horror and fearful imagery. I think that it would be extremely beneficial to the film opening, as if I want to accurately convey horror and disgust, I think harsh and dark imagery and lighting is essential. If we end up going the handheld or found footage route, lighting will be much harder to control, as the naturalistic environment would be important to our story and our themes if all goes under control. Both the Sematary video and the film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre are inspiring to the type of film I want to make, and could serve as important for our future endeavor.