Monday, 12 May 2025

LO2: The Issues and Risks of Proposed Multiple Effects

LO2: The Issues and Risks of Proposed Multiple Effects


Some issues that could be raised during the production of multiple special effects include:

Back or eye strain when editing footage/effects for extensive periods of time

Risk of bringing a fake firearm into a public location

Risk of crashing or damaging high value equipment when using car practical effect

Glamourisation of drinking alcohol

How to Prevent Issues

Take regular breaks when editing footage

Use a clearly fake firearm or hire out private location with forewarning for it's use before filming

Drive safely and refer to Highway Code when appropriate; being mindful of others in crew when using practical effect

Do not portray any actors under the age of 25 drinking alcohol

LO3: Source Special Effects

LO3: Source Special Effects

Source Special Effects in Line With Production Plan & Review & Edit Sourced Footage

Title Card

I created the title card I wanted to be presented in the short film on Photoshop; it's base source came from the 'Bebas Neu' font applied onto a golden background filled via paint bucket too create a simple colour contrast of white on the 'Old Fashioned' cocktail inspired colour palette. This colour choice was inspired by other (crime) dramas like Killing Eve which transition from a scene of similar colouration into a title card that reflects the very same colour scheme, creating a cinematic transition. I also used the shape tool to turn the apostrophe in 'I'm' into a star to further the theme of 'luck' within the film's visual style.



Credits

Similarly to the title card, the credit sequence I wanted to be comprised of multiple photoshop images edited to fit the style of the film and its climactic ending. As a base source, I used the font 'Ignotum' due to it's conventions within film posters or film credits, especially in the zeitgeist of the 1970/80/90's which the film draws inspiration fro in relation to other 80's media like 'The Big Lebowski'. I then rasterised the type and applied a blood spatter effect with a red splatter tool brush and created a worn down black background effect with the same brush and varying opacity settings. 








Adjustment Layers 

To further the low-key-lighting conventional of crime-drama film, I wanted to make some scenes darker in the final production of the film therefore, I sourced adjustment layers on Premiere Pro and changed their lighting values to create a darker image. I then extended the length of the adjustment layer on the film's timeline as appropriate for each relevant scene.







To edit the colour tones in a scene, I edited the RGB curves to make the central lighting darker and reduced some of the red tones to create a colder image reflective of the dark connotations of the genre.








Vignette


When sourcing the vignette for the short film, I used the circle feature/effect within Premiere Pro and applied stencil alpha onto the adjustment layer the circle was placed upon as my base source for the effect. I then increased the centre and radius of the effect to make the circle larger and feathered the edges to create the illusion of a vignette on screen, with edges that become more opaque as they bleed into the centre of the scene.









Apply Planned Visual Effects to Sourced Footage

Implementing Title Card


I wanted to apply a panning effect to give the title card some motion, therefore, to achieve this I enabled 'toggle animation' and increased the 'scale' stat 
on the effect controls panel to create a panning effect. I then overlayed it onto the film to create the title card effect.

Implementing Credit sequence

When applying the credit sequence to the sourced footage/film, I imported each of the images I had created in Photoshop previously and edited their respective lengths so they would cut to one another in synchronisation with each other (with the razor tool). I also applied a 'dip to black' transition on the last screen of credits to create a natural end to the film rather than a hard cut as it ends.

Implementing Adjustment Layers


Adjustment layers could be created within Premiere Pro, removing the requirement to import them therefore, I overlayed them onto my source footage and altered their RGB colouration for each relevant scene as was appropriate for the need of artificial lighting.



Implementing Vignette

Similarly to adjustment layers, I extended the vignette's duration in the film's timeline for as long as it was relevant to further any tense connotations I wanted to convey to the audience.



Monday, 14 April 2025

LO4: Implementation of Effects & Evaluation

LO4: Implementation of Effects 

Exporting Footage Into Planned Format


I exported my film file as an MP4 (as planned) as it allows for the film to be easily distributed and shared across social media channels such as YouTube for uploading in the highest possible quality.







Evaluation and Final Product

Final Video (With Planned Effects)


Evaluation

Overall, the production was changed from the original production plans to some minor extents: the primary examples being the change of scene 2 from a trip to a supermarket into the protagonist making a cocktail in a similar montage sequence. Reasoning for this followed filming permissions in a public place and the representations of strangers within the final product however, this change still allowed the story to progress in the same way. This also didn't alter any major special effects in the scene as they were limited to text/title-cards: the way the title card is presented has changed from an on screen effect which would appear alongside the rest of the footage, into a hard, panning cut in sync with the music. However, practical effects like props of whiskey bottles (and the cocktail) furthered the characterization of the scene in comparison to the previous plan in depicting the protagonist as an 'unemployed bum'. 

A major change from the original planning documents was the inclusion of a handgun within the first and last scenes of the film as a practical effect. However, undergoing legal consideration, I decided against bringing a (realistic) prop firearm to a public establishment. Otherwise, any other special or practical effects such as adjustment layers for artificially intense lighting, on screen text, title-cards, credits, drug bag, car and vignettes were included in the relevant scenes as planned in storyboard and special effect planning documents.

Planning Documents Against Final Special/Practical Effect Footage

Waiter Delivering Drinks (Practical)




Gunpoint (Practical)

Car (Practical)

Drug Bag (Practical)



Cigarette (Practical)


Title Sequence (Special)









Friday, 31 January 2025

LO2: Justification of Effects

LO2: Justification of Effects


Special Effects

Adjustment Layers


The use of adjustment layers to augment the lighting of scenes is essential to creating tone through the connotations of low and high-key lighting. Artificial lighting would therefore, be used within the 'bar' scenes of the short film production; this is due to the connotations of danger which the protagonist is in when meeting with the mob boss. Through the 'adjustment layer' function in Adobe Premiere Pro, these effects are achievable without any risk to production beyond extended export time due to the introduction of additional clips which adjustment layers are labelled under. 
Constraints on the creation of these assets would include time however, their implementation into the short film is quick. 

Gunshots/Blood Splatter

To immerse audiences in the scene beyond the veil of sound, applying visual effects to a gunshot creates visceral enjoyment (Rick Altman 1999). The first example is a misfire which is caused to induce panic in the characters within the present scene where Custeau and Giovanni meet Jackie as they're stalked by a lurking danger. A potential issue for this effect, including it's implementation in the final scene, is the practicality/feasibility of its creation under the context of amateur production; lessening viability.  However, the effect of visual response to the sound and reactions of a gunshot and a character's response, would further aforementioned immersion. This is particularly true in consideration of the last scene where the mob boss is mysteriously assassinated. Visual feedback via responding blood spatter would further the visceral pleasure of the scene and heighten audience immersion. Constraints on the creation of these assets would include time due to the implementation of animation and key-frames which are time consuming.

Title/Credit Sequence


Pertinent with the assistance of sound with a corresponding gunshot effect to the mob boss' assassination in the final scene, one final shot signifies the end of the film where the credit sequence follows. Issues for this are relatively benign due to the ease of implementation: I plan to use photoshop files to create stylized effects which fit within the connotations of the film through blood splatters on the text (composed to be splattered on the characters signified to be shot). Constraints on the creation of these assets would include time however, their implementation into the short film is quick and semantically add to the motifs of the film. Crediting each member involved within the film's production is also vital as a potential ethical issue. 

Practical Effects

Handgun 

Tension is furthered within the 'bar' scene through the denotations of a handgun via special/practical effects. One issue which arose with the denotation of a realistic handgun prop is in bringing the prop into an establishment; this being especially in a public place. Therefore, special effects being used to portray any weapons would alleviate this problem; replacing it with a time constraint to produce production materials/assets to be portrayed instead. This denotation is important however, for the tone and omission of tension within the scene and to convey effectively the crime drama genre.  

Drug Bag

In comparison to the handgun, the issue of holding a drug bag whilst filming is less of an issue due to a discreet planned film location and the properties of the bag being conveyed through context rather than specific denotation removing any requirement to be overtly explicit. As a prop necessary to further the film's story, its implementation is viable.

Car

As a transition sequence, the car exists as a means of verisimilitude to characterize how Custeau and Giovanni move from scene to scene; Giovanni's requirement of Custeau to drive for him furthers the characterization of their dichotomy in an exploitative way.

Export File for Film

To ensure high film quality, I will export the film as an MP4 to allow for easy distribution and HD 1080p quality. 

LO2: Storyboards







LO2: Footage Log

 Footage Log 


Name: Oliver Clements 

Date: 6/01/25 

 

Production Title: I’m So Lucky 


tape  

Shot 

Take 

Description 

Quality 

Time code IN 

Time code OUT 

1 

pan 

1 

Panning shot to introduce pub location  - Special Effects: Adjustment layer to create ambient lighting

1080p 

00.01 

00.05 

2 

Close-up 

1 

Close-up of the mob-boss' hand 

1080p 

00.05 

00.08 

3 

Cowboy-shot 

3 

Shot of mob member walking into pub 

1080p 

 

00.0.8 

00.12 

4 

Close-ups/pan 

1 

Short shots (montage) panning to mob member’s clothing 

1080p 

00.12 

00.22 

5 

Medium Shot 

1 

Shot of mob member walking to mob boss’ table; bartender delivers drinks 

1080p 

00.22 

00.38 

6 

Extreme close-up into over the shoulder 

1 

Shot-reverse-shot of mob members talking 

1080p 

00.38 

00.45 

7 

Cowboy Shot & montage 

3 

Shots of Custeau entering bar and same montage panning to articles of clothing 

1080p 

00.45 

01.02 

8 

Tracking Shot into low angle cowboy-shot 

2 

Shot follows Custeau as he walks to the table where the members are seated 

1080p 

01.02 

01.12 

9 

Medium-close-ups 

1 

Shot-reverse-shots of the three characters talking, high angle of the other mob member to juxtapose low angle of Custeau for eyeline match 

1080p 

01.12 

01.24 

10 

Wide Shot 

2 

Shot of Custeau between the two mob members as they talk 

1080p 

01.24 

01.30 

11 

Medium close-ups 

1 

Shot-reverse-shot of the two mob members talking 

1080p 

01.30 

01.40 

12 

Tracking-shot 

2 

Shot follows the other mob member as he leaves and switches focus to Custeau as he sits down 

1080p 

01.40 

01.52 

13 

Medium close-ups 

3 

Shot-reverse-shot as Custeau and the mob boss speak 

1080p 

01.52 

01.57 

14 

Panning 

3 

Shot pans from table downwards to reveal a gun pointed at Custeau - Practical/Special Effects: Handgun 

1080p 

01.57 

02.00 

15 

Medium close-ups 

3 

Shot-reverse-shot of Custeau and mob boss speaking 

1080p 

02.00 

02.22 

16 

Medium shot into close up  

2 

Low angle medium shot of the mob boss which cuts to a close-up of Custeau as the shot transitions into scene 2 

1080p 

02.22 

02.31 

17 

Close-ups, tracking shot 

3 

Eyeline match of Custeau looking at a bottle; tracking shot as he gets up 

1080p 

02.31 

02.36 

18 

Medium shots & close-ups 

5 

Montage sequence of Custeau playing music in sync to him making a cocktail 

1080p 

02.36 

03.15 

19 

Panning shot, full shot 

2 

Shot pans up on Custeau drinking; transitions to him on a sofa as he gets a phone call 

1080p 

03.15 

 

03.28 

20 

Over the shoulder, back to full shot, into close-up 

1 

High angle over the shoulder shot of Giovanni calling Custeau; cuts back to his phone ringing in the full shot. He answers in a close-up 

1080p 

03.28 

 

03.47 

21 

Sequence of tracking shots and full shots 

1 

Phone call sequence as shots cut as Giovanni & Custeau speak. Transitions to scene 3 

1080p 

03.47 

04.13 

22 

Wide shot 

2 

Wide shot of Custeau and Jackie sharing an elaborate handshake 

1080p 

04.13 

04.18 

23 

Tracking over the shoulder into medium shots 

2 

Camera tracks Custeau & Giovanni as they walk to the car; upon arriving a shot reverse shot denotes them speaking 

1080p 

04.18 

04.27 

24 

Close-ups, wide-shot 

2 

Shot transitions to a new location as a foot gets into and out of Custeau’s car to signify the transition; Giovanni & Custeau talk as they get out – wide shot 

1080p 

04.27 

04.38 

25 

Tracking shot (medium) into wide shot 

2 

Shot follows Giovanni & Custeau walking to a new location atop a staircase, signifying the transition to scene 4 

1080p 

04.38 

04.46 

26 

Panning medium close-up 

3 

Shot pans around a tree to reveal Jackie smoking and listening to music as Giovanni suddenly appears into frame and wakes him up 

1080p 

04.46 

04.58 

27 

Medium-shots, two shot 

2 

Shot-reverse-shot of Jackie talking to Giovanni as the shot introduces Custeau to him through a two shot of Giovanni & Custeau together 

1080p 

04.58 

05.03 

28 

Wide shot 

1 

Wide shot of the three talking as they’re interrupted by a gun shot where Jackie throws a case at Custeau and runs away - Special Effects: Gunshot passing through scene, Practical Effects: Drug bag

1080p 

05.03 

 

05.28 

 

29 

Wide shot 

2 

Wide shot from outside the car as Giovanni and Custeau talk 

1080p 

05.28 

05.39 

30 

Close-ups 

3 

Shot reverse shot of close-ups as Giovanni convinces Custeau to take the drop-off 

1080p 

05.39 

06.02 

31 

Medium shots 

2 

Low angle back to the mob boss in the pub in a short shot-reverse-shot between him and Custeau in scene 5 

1080p 

 

06.02 

06.08 

32 

Medium-close-ups 

4 

Tracking shots of medium close-ups denoting Custeau being held at gun point as he and the mob boss walk outside Special/Practical Effects: Handgun

1080p 

06.08 

06.16 

33 

Medium-shots 

2 

Eyeline match of a medium shot of the mob boss being shot and falling which transitions into a low angle of Custeau looking at him in horror Special Effects: Gunshot hitting mob boss, blood splatter

1080p 

06.16 

 

06.25 

34 

Wide shot 

2 

Wide shot of Custeau looking around frantically. cut to credits. Special Effects: Credit and title sequence

1080p 

06.25 

06.29 


LO2: Script

LO2: Script Scene 1 INT. The West End Pub Low-key smoky/tungsten lighting Light chatting from everyone around (nothing much about nothing) a...