Tonight Or Never - Final Version

This is the final version of my opening sequence. I hope you enjoy it. 

Feedback From My Roughcut

These are all of the different bits of feedback that i got for my opening sequence.

- Editing - nice cuts between the gun, maybe don't use a fade
- when he's walking down the corridor, the shots are quite smooth and cut well.

- Good shots
- Well edited
- Looks good

- Lots of quick cuts could make it seem like a trailer
- Some scenes are too bright
- Good use of angles and shots

- Titles - I like that the titles are very simple, just plain white text on a black background.
- Also, i like that it shows a shot & then a title & then another shot opposed to title on shot because having the title on the shot could take away some attention from the shot

- All titles are way too fast

- Editing - The shots just need touching up as they are too bright
- Just a simple contrast change will do ( to make it darker)
- Other than that very good

- Titles - Work very well, some of the ones with more text are too short

- Good use of shots and this would benefit from the dialogue, but the shots establish the characters very well

- Name mentioned too much in the titles
- Good start with the gun

- Sound - Add dialogue andn some slow paced soundtrack to go under voice over

- Editing - Nice transitions & use of effects
- Titles between shots is good, lots of exposure, at times this worked, others it didn't
- Offtopic - Try and motivate your actor in the chair more. Needs realism

I have taken all of this feedback into account and have made the changes accordingly.

Second Rough Cut

This is the 2nd rough cut for my opening sequence. the narration has been added now and the exposure has been sorted out. 

Tonight or Never - Rough Cut

This is the rough cut version of my opening sequence. It is called Tonight or Never, and tells the story of a teenager getting recruited into the British Secret Service. 

Filming Part 2

Today, was my last filming session. I filmed the second half of the sequence when the two agents are talking on the school grounds. It started off slow when we were setting up the camera, but once we actually started filming, it went okay. We even made cast diaries on how they thought filming went, which will end up on here at some point.

Editing Day 1

I managed to get a lot of editing done today, which i'm pleased with. I managed to sort through all the footage that i wouldn't need, with the footage that i did need. I also created most of the titles, and got the sound in place. I also made a start on the soundtrack, but more work will be needed on it.

The only things i need to do now are get a sound effect of someone getting punched in the face, edit the final part of the sequence, record the main character's voice-over and then finish the rest of the soundtrack. It should take the next couple of days to get everything finished.

A Real Sense of Achievement

Hmm, I've done quite a lot of things with this project that i'm proud of. But the thing that i am most happy with, is when my cast never turned up for filming. I could've panicked and never ended up filming anything at all, but i managed to get a back-up cast of people ready, and managed to film the first half of the sequence. So,...

Tips For Myself With Future Filming

1) Wait until the camera is actually recording before filming
2) Film in a location with plenty of space
3) Check that the sound is recording and the lighting of the set
4) Learn how to transfer the footage properly
5) Make sure that the locations are found before filming
6) Use a variety of different camera techniques
7) Find alternative filming locations in case one doesn't work out
8) Be ambitious
9) Don't trust your friends with acting schedules

Okay, these aren't all mine. I took some of other people's ideas, but i still think that they are important.

Filming Part 1

Okay, I'll be the first to admit that filming on Friday 13th didn't go according to plan. Not many cast members turned up for filming, so I had to wait an hour and a half for Kirk to become free. He became my new assassin, and he played the role convincingly. Anyway, i think i managed to cope well not being able to film anything in the afternoon.

Anyway, i started filming with the help of Matt L, Kirk and Tom Anderson, who was apppearing as my lead character. We found a room that could be used for a possible interrogation, and created room to film, as the room we were in wasn't very big. We did a couple of rehearsal scenes, and then filmed. We managed to get through it all quite quickly.

After we were finished in the room, Kirk and Matt went off to work on their own sequences, and Dave took over. We filmed the corridor scene, and that was done well. We used a different variety of shot types. But we didn't manage to get it all finished in time.

My New Continuity Task

This video was good. It was filmed in HD, so the quality is very good. I found this task easier this time as I knew what to do this time. Also, i found the editing good as well. I am happy that this worked out well :)

This is the continuity task that I appeared in.

More Location Shots

Location Shots

Information About Filming

When are you filming?

Tuesday morning

Any other time that my cast are filming

During the lessons at College

What are you filming?

The main character getting punched in the face by the assassin

The main character walking down a corridor

The two people standing outside the building talking to each other

Who else will be there?

My four cast members

My cameraman - Matt L

My continuity/ sound expert - Kirk

Where are you filming? (all locations)

A college corridor

Outside the College - the entrance of the site

A college classroom / a room that's good for torture

Tonight Or Never Cast

1) Tom Anderson as Archie - He's the reluctant spy who gets hired by the British Secret Service into becoming a junior secret agent.

2) Josef James as Seth - he is Archie's best friend, but unbeknown to him, he is really a junior secret agent who's been sent to keep an eye on him.

3) Luke Smith

 Agent Masters - He is the agent who recruits Archie into the British Secret Service.

4) Kirk Kemp  The Jackal - He is the assassin who interrogates the main character in the pre-title sequence. Ruthless at wh

at he does, you better not get on the wrong side of him. Sorry about the character name.

Major Issues

1) Getting all the cast together at the correct time - making sure that i have their contact numbers and remind them when we are supposed to be filming. If one person doesn't show they may have to be replaced by a member of the crew

2) Getting the filming and editing finished in time for the final deadline. I need to make sure that i don't spend too long filming and need to leave enough time for the editing. I need to film at a quick pace without making it look tacky.

3) Making sure that my cast come to filming with the correct props and the costumes required. This can be solved by making sure that I have more than one person bringing in the props.

Prpblems Likely To Occur Whilst Filming

Nuisances 

- the possible weather conditions may mean that i won't be able to film if college is shut as my filming is taking place there.

Minor Concerns

- creating a really cool soundtrack that fits the theme of my sequence

- using the new cameras for the first time and not really knowing how to use them

- health and safety issues incase an accident occurs whilst filming

Major Issues

- Getting all the cast together at the correct time for filming

- Getting the filming and editing done in time for the final deadline

- How well the cast work together and the performance that they give

- Getting the correct camera angles for the shots

- Making sure that the cast bring the right props and costumes ready for filming

my Animatic - the proper one

Different Film Opening Sequences

My opening sequence is mainly live action with the titles thrown in there just for good measure. But here are some opening / title sequences of films that I like. Enjoy!!!!

1) Quantum of Solace



I like the way they mix the animation in with the live action.

2) Hitman

Filming Times

Having spoken with my cast, the best times for me to shoot my opening sequence will be on Monday afternoons and Tuesday mornings. That means for the rest of the time, I will be free to help everyone else with their opening sequences.

Location Hunting

For my opening sequence, I will need three different locations.

Location 1 - a room. This can easily be found, possibly by using one of the classrooms in College.

Location 2 - a school corridor. The main character walks down a corridor whilst the titles are appearing in the sequence.

Location 3 - outside the front of school/college - this is where the main character's friend meets up with the secret agent to talk about the main character.

Location shots will be added ASASP!!!!

Costumes

The main character and the best friend will both be wearing school uniform. I have planned for their uniform to consist of white shirts, red ties, black trousers (like the ones you'd expect to find on secondary school kids), rucksacks. The friend will be wearing normal shoes, as his character follows the school rules and uniform policy whilst working undercover. The main character, however, will have a sort of scruffy look to him. He will be wearing trainers instead of shoes to show that his character is more rebellious.



Also, the opening sequence features the main character when he has been captured by the assassin. For that part, he will be wearing casual clothes. You know, the sort of clothes you'd expect to find on a teenager.



The Secret Agent - for the sequence, it has him meeting up with the friend at the school. For him to blend in with the crowds, he will be wearing casual clothes. That means, he'd be dressed up as a normal person you'd see in the streets, not to attract any attention to himself.



The Assassin - as his part in the sequence is set towards near the end of the film, he shall also be wearing casual clothes. As this part is set in a room, he will just be wearing casual clothes.



Cast Photos with the characters wearing their costumes, will be added once it comes to the proper filming stage.

Prop List

1) A gun (a fake one)
2) A chair
3) An iPod
4) Fake Blood - for the opening injuries
5) Rope - lots of it
6) Rucksack 1
7) Rucksack 2

This list will be altered if any more props are needed. But for the time being, they're all i need.