Team Meeting 31/10/2013

We all met up around about half 3 earlier today to discuss everything from our location scout the day before and we had to come up with an idea for our five minute film as time was really starting to get on now. 

We all decided that Wharncliffe was definitely our chosen location and after about an hour of discussion, we all decided to centre the piece around a sort of experimental rural piece. we would follow the camera into the woods and come across a ritual scene. as we wouldn't be having any characters in this piece, we thought the path could be led by torches and we would basically be seeing it from the characters point of view. I think this is the most effective way to meet our brief and achievable in the time we have left. Also as there is no characters and this is an experimental piece there will be no dialog and therefore no script to do a scene break down so I will use the shotlist to make them.

Below is the treatment and one page outline Jordan has written.

Crew:             Jordan Deakin – Director

Paul Manning – Producer

Luke Harrison – Cinematography

Joel Danby-Irons – Sound Design

Lewis Hague – Editor

Amy Jackson – Art Director

Working
Title:               Into The Woods Length:           5-7 Minutes

Premise:         An exploration of an isolated woodland area and the secrets deep within.

Synopsis:        The film opens with an establishing wide shot of the open fields with the outskirts of the woodland area at the far side. Everything is calm and peaceful at first but a flickering light can be seen from within the depths of the woods. We follow this into the woods to reveal a flaming torch still alight, evidence that someone or something has been there.

In the background, further into the depths of the woods a second flickering light can be seen. Upon further investigation we realize a trail of beacons are leading deeper and deeper into the woods, eventually reaching a clearing. A circle of torches illuminates the clearing, highlighting a wooden spike in the center of the circle. A rotting human head sits upon the spike, at the base of the spike a satanic symbol is displayed. It is apparent that a ritual for the occult has recently taken place. As we explore the area further the paraphernalia from the ritual can be seen scattered around the clearing; blood stains, strange markings on trees, and various weapons. As we are exploring the scene a strange presence can be felt, twigs snap, movements in the bushes and unsettling strange noises. Suddenly, one by one the torches of the circle extinguish, plunging the clearing into the embrace of the woods darkness. Looking back along the line of beacons that have guided us this deep into the woods, the torches that mark the path back to safety go out one by one, leaving us lost deep in the woods, with no way of escape. 

Visual

Realisation:    An exploration of a woodland area that will use both sound and camera to show it to an audience in a way it has not been seen. A minimalistic approach will help create and atmospheric and tense piece and the camera will utilise shooting at a higher frame rate so in the edit it seems to almost glide through the location. Dark and gritty in colour and in visual style.

Statement

Of Intent:       To create a suspenseful piece that will keep the audience on their toes, guessing what will be displayed in front of them next.

                My first response to this treatment is that I don't have enough time to build a realistic severed head with shooting to commence over the next few weeks, it just wouldn't be achievable. I think the best thing to do here will be to switch in a real life pig head and see what Jord will think to that first.