Fantasy Opening Titles

After having taken a look at the film opening to 'The Mortal Instruments', I decided that I really liked the idea of having the title appearing during a scene. I still really like the idea of the title being used as a cut between the action of the chase scene I am planning at the beginning of my film however if I added a scene beneath the title alike to what is used in the opening scene above, it would be more based on moving action such as racing through the trees or something. This is only an idea as I may still stick with the idea I currently have of the title being on a blank screen.

I chose to look at this film opening as it has a narration at the beginning of the opening which is similar to what I have planned for my short film 'Halfbreed'. However, I really want the audio to be very clear - alike to Anthony Hopkins' narration in this clip - as the audio wasn't as clear in my previous short film opening.

Combined with elements of the film opening above, I think elements of these clips will be very useful when editing my short film.

'Halfbreed' Official Script

SCENE ONE: EXT. STREET - DAY  
A girl runs down a heavily wooded street, veering towards the trees in an attempt to loose a figure pursuing her. She falls and is caught.

NARRATOR [SIENNA]

In the days before my ascension, I was a wanted criminal. But after I was taken to the Woodland City, my fate was sealed by my own blood.

Figure smiles wickedly down at SIENNA.

MELODIE

Well, if it isn’t the halfbreed.

INSERT TITLE: ‘HALFBREED’

MELODIE leads SIENNA through the trees with SIENNA gagged and her hands bound. Two people approach and MELODIE and SIENNA hide. 

MELODIE lifts her finger to her lips.

MELODIE

Quiet.

SIENNA looks at MELODIE and screams against her gag.

MELODIE

Their deaths are on you.

MELODIE leaves SIENNA and fights the two people. One approaches SIENNA, attempting to free her before MELODIE returns and fights them too. MELODIE looks down at SIENNA.

MELODIE: 

Get up.

MELODIE hauls SIENNA to her feet.

SCENE TWO: EXT. FOREST - DUSK  
SIENNA is tied to a tree whilst MELODIE sleeps in a makeshift camp in the woods. SIENNA manages to remove the gag from her mouth. MELODIE sighs.

MELODIE

I wouldn’t scream if I were you.

SIENNA

I know you’re not going to kill me.

MELODIE smirks.

MELODIE

Oh? And why is that?

SIENNA

If you were going to kill me, you would’ve done it already.

MELODIE lies back down.

MELODIE

You should rest, halfbreed.

SIENNA

If you’re not going to kill me, what do you want?

MELODIE sighs and gets up, walking towards SIENNA and crouching down in front of her.

SIENNA

Spit it out.

MELODIE places the gag back over SIENNA’s mouth.

MELODIE

You talk too much. Once we’re in the city, you’ll be at the mercy of our leader and she will not have the same mercy I have given you.

SCENE THREE: EXT. FOREST - DAY

MELODIE walks with SIENNA to a formation of trees where the WOODLAND QUEEN stands.

MELODIE bows.

MELODIE

My lady, I bring you the daughter of the Darkened One.

The WOODLAND QUEEN turns to look at them.

WOODLAND QUEEN

Really?

The WOODLAND QUEEN steps towards SIENNA. She inclines her head and snaps her fingers. 

GUARD appears.

WOODLAND QUEEN

Take away the Lady Melodie. I will call on her when she is of more use.

GUARD takes hold of MELODIE

MELODIE

My lady? I did as you asked. I have earned my freedom.

WOODLAND QUEEN

You are a traitor to our people, as is this girl’s father. Perhaps it runs in your blood? You are - as you know - related by blood.

The WOODLAND QUEEN smiles wickedly.

WOODLAND QUEEN

You are what…cousins? Or was it half-sisters?

MELODIE

You promised me that I’d be free.

WOODLAND QUEEN

And I will decide when you have earned that freedom. For now, you still have potential and so you will obey like the prisoner and traitor that you are.

MELODIE is led away by GUARD

SIENNA looks at the WOODLAND QUEEN in fear.

SIENNA

What do you want with me?

WOODLAND QUEEN

It’s not what I want with you but what I want from you.

SIENNA

I know nothing.

WOODLAND QUEEN

We’ll see about that.

SCENE FOUR: EXT. FOREST - DAY

SIENNA is tied against a tree, bloodied and wounded. MELODIE is also tied up nearby.

MELODIE

What did I tell you?

SIEENA looks at MELODIE

SIENNA

You’re my sister!?

MELODIE

Blood means nothing to me.

SIENNA

Blood is everything! I’m your family!

MELODIE

And what has my family ever done for me! They abandoned me to rot in the forest, framed as a traitor and spy after our father left for the modern world. Do you really think that because we share the same blood that I should have felt something? I don’t even know you. I was unaware of your existence until the Woodland Queen spoke to me of you and issued me to track you down.

SIENNA

Why does she want me? Why does she even want you?

MELODIE

Our father defied her rule. He escaped and she doesn’t know how. She’s been trying to get me to tell for years. I have no idea what he did. He left before I could talk, leaving my mother to raise me on her own.

SIENNA

That isn’t my fault.

MELODIE turns away.

MELODIE

No, it isn’t.

GUARD enters and speaks to MELODIE.

GUARD

The Woodland Queen requires your presence

GUARD leads MELODIE away.

SCENE FIVE: EXT. FOREST - DAY

MELODIE is stood before the WOODLAND QUEEN.

WOODLAND QUEEN

You have failed me, Melodie. I had such high hopes for you…you’ll get your freedom when you die, traitor.

WOODLAND QUEEN snaps her finger and GUARD comes to her side.

WOODLAND QUEEN

Hold her still.

MELODIE struggles against GUARD’s grasp.

WOODLAND QUEEN

For now, I’ll send a message to all rebels out there…with the death of my traitor brother’s precious daughters. Starting with you.

WOODLAND QUEEN breaks MELODIE’s nose.

SCENE SIX: EXT. FOREST - AFTERNOON

SIENNA wriggles free from her bonds. She approaches MELODIE who is still tied up with a broken nose and bloody lip. SIENNA unties MELODIE’s ropes.

MELODIE looks up.

MELODIE

What are you doing? You’ll get yourself killed if you try and escape.

SIENNA

Come with me!

MELODIE shakes her head.

MELODIE

My mother attempted to follow our father to the modern world when I was seven. The Woodland Queen found out and killed my mother on sight. If she sees you, she’ll have your head too.

MELODIE looks back down

MELODIE

No one defies her rule.

SIENNA

You don’t understand, Melodie.

MELODIE tenses as SIENNA says her name.

SIENNA

I want you to become the Woodland Queen.

MELODIE

Why would you want that?

SIENNA

Because you want revenge…just as I do.

MELODIE sighs

MELODIE

I’ll deal with the Woodland Queen

SIENNA

But—

MELODIE

Run!

SCENE SEVEN: EXT. FOREST - DUSK

MELODIE stands behind the WOODLAND QUEEN

MELODIE

My lady…

WOODLAND QUEEN turns to look at MELODIE.

WOODLAND QUEEN

Melodie?

MELODIE attacks WOODLAND QUEEN. She falls to the floor and looks up at MELODIE.

MELODIE

No one can cast a queen from her kingdom. They can only remove opposition. Does that sound familiar, my lady? You said that to me the day you took the life of my mother.

END.

© Story by CP Media15

Fight Scene Filming Examples (Prop Wars)

Having posted earlier on studying fight/action sequences I thought I would look at examples of fight sequences before and after visual effects and the editing had been entirely finished. Although I currently have no intention of placing visual effects in my finished product I thought this video was an excellent example as to how these three filmed their short film as well as showing how editing can make the video seem so much better than during the process of filming it. Again it is obvious that the three actors practiced the choreography of their fight sequences and so I will definitely be having my actors practice beforehand. The use of all the different shots in this short film is also very useful for me to consider during filming or even editing for camera action and closeups.

Studying Fight/Action Sequences

Recently I began storyboarding for my main piece of coursework this year. Having already drafted the script (which will be posted once it is finalised) I decided that I would really like to put a couple of fight scenes in my project. However, I also discovered that I had absolutely no idea on how to shoot a fight sequence yet alone a whole scene.

I firstly watched the video above which really helped me during storyboarding. Although it conflicts with the idea of storyboarding as the director here admits to having not filmed the scene at all. Although I am still unsure of the camera movement during my fight sequence I found this very interesting due to how they filmed and the steps they took during the sequence.

Secondly, I watched another video by Tomorrow's Filmmakers. I wanted to see another example of shooting a fight scene. I like the idea of practicing the choreography of the fight scene which I kind of key which I don't think I had completely processed. Compared to the video above, this has a different take on the filming as well as the point that they actually storyboarded this scene. One thing that I did notice is that both videos mention that you can break the 180 degree rule during a fight scene which I thought was very interesting. Also, I liked the idea of having my actors record their voices and all the noises that are made during the scene after the film is edited - which is something I regret not doing after my short film opening last year when I encountered issues with editing the sound.

Further Character Development

Recently I started the casting process to look for the correct actors for my short film, Halfbreed. Although I already had a vague idea of character design when I first started planning my coursework back in July, I have finally begun to actually develop the characters further now that I have an idea of my potential cast.

Melodie
As a dryad (woodland nymph), I wanted Melodie's character to have a very nature based character and I still intend to incorporate this. Unlike my original idea of her having leaves or flowers in her hair, I have completely changed my idea on Melodie's design to something far more basic and less fairytale. In this way it would make more sense for her to blend in with the natural world when kidnapping Sienna. I like the idea of keep her makeup quite neutral and letting her hair be unbound, perhaps with a few plaits in her hair that add a medieval element which is the theme I am after, following some of the stereotypes for a fantasy genre film.

Sienna
Similar to the other protagonist, Sienna's character is designed to be quite neutral and to blend in with a medieval form of society. Her character at the start of the film is pretty naive to the troubles she is trapped in however near to the end of the film I want her true character to really shine through as an independent woman who knows what she needs to do to fix the family feud that has torn the Woodland Kingdom apart. When I first started designing Sienna's character I wanted her to be very childlike however now I know that her role as the catalyst of the major events needs her to mature rapidly throughout the film in order for her to do the final deed at the end of the short film.

| Morgana |

The Woodland Queen
When I first started planning my coursework, I decided that I wanted the Woodland Queen to have a dark yet natural sense to character portrayal. At the beginning I wanted to incorporate an idea of tribal or tattoo sort of vine marks on the two protagonists and villain, however now I am unsure as to whether this might look a little fake and therefor have decided to perhaps discard this idea. I wanted the Woodland Queen to wear a crown made from broken and old twigs which I still am rather keen on the idea of and will hopefully be making it soon. I took a lot of inspiration from the character of Morgana in BBC's television series 'Merlin' and like the way she can look so natural but at the same time so cold, bitter and dark.

Guard

| Lagertha |

Initially I wanted the guard to be a male role however over time I decided that having the nymphs perhaps take on a matriarchal hierarchy during the reign of the Woodland Queen would spin the stereotypical male roles such as guards, warriors and even the monarchy. I therefor started to think about the design of a female warrior or guard and took a lot of inspiration from shield-maidens from the viking era. A shield-maiden was a woman who chose to fight as a warrior and link to the valkyries in Norse Mythology. I wanted to incorporate this idea of strong female characters in my short film as it again defies the stereotypes of the film genre with the female character as an object to be saved and developing a character who can stick up for herself. Therefor I decided that the style and character of the Woodland Queen's Guard to be very viking based character. This will hopefully be seen by the style of hair that she is portrayed with as well as the makeup which I would like to be similar to that of the character of Lagertha in the television series 'Vikings'.



The Darkened One
The Darkened One appears in flashbacks during my short film and his design is extremely basic. As he is a mystery to both Sienna and Melodie - who both never met their father - I wanted the Darkened One to have the same effect on the audience, making them unaware of his real identity only to see a cloaked figure that haunts both protagonist's past.

Flashbacks || Part Two

Recently I have started looking at more flashbacks and decided to actually start looking at different styles of flashback. I am planning for flashbacks to take part regarding one character's past which I am hoping to make key to the storyline.

I decided to first look at a flashback from 'The 100'. Set in Octavia's past before she is discovered, I like the use of the lens flares that seem to emphasise on unrealistic almost dreamlike sense of the whole clip. Although it is only around a minute long it is extremely effective and explains a lot about the character of Octavia.

After that I decided to look into Arwen's vision in the 'Lord of the Rings'. I like how peaceful this seems to be and the soft lighting which shines, streaking out across the screen. As it is similar to the one above I think that it follows a certain stereotype.

Filtering (re Pitch Black Heist)

Over the summer I watched the short film 'Pitch Black Heist' starring Michael Fassbender and Liam Cunningham. The film made me realise that the colouring was extremely important to the whole aspect of the film, using a monochrome filter throughout the whole film as well as the black and white themed clothing of the actors adds to the theme of the whole film, especially to the title of the film. Regarding my film, I looked at a couple of different shots from my selected film genre.

I chose a scene from the 'Shannara Chronicles' and from BBC's 'Merlin'. Both shots seem to have dull themes throughout the clothing choices of the cast for example, Ander (bottom right) is dressed in a deep blue and black sort of uniform whereas Morgana (top on throne) is dressed entirely in black although on close analysis can be seen wearing different shades of green eyeshadow. Filter wise I think my film will have a sepia, dull sort of theme that links with the genre I have chosen however I would also like to bring out the natural elements of light, attempting to make sure that it is not too dark.

Pitch Black Heist

The short film 'Pitch Black Heist' has got to be one of my favourite short films out there, combining two amazing actors, Liam Cunningham and Michael Fassbender, to produce an outstanding film with a simple storyline that also provides a sense of humour for the audience. The film in general is about two men who are assigned to a heist that involves a room with no light whatsoever only for them to arrive drunk. 

I liked the humour of the film and also the ironic idea of editing the whole film so that it was only in black and white. I thought it was clever how the plot line played out, especially as I was not expecting the ending. However, watching the film right to end throughout all of the credits made me realise that the film was edited using the software Final Cut Pro which is what I will be using to edit my final piece when it comes to editing my short film this year. The way the film is put through a monochrome filter is very effective and the editing is very smooth which makes me hope that - in regards to the software - I can produce something that is just as seamlessly edited.

The film 'Pitch Black Heist' can be watched by clicking the link here.