How technical codes create meaning in films

Shot by shot guide

1. Low angle looking up at trees 00:05
2. Pans (right to left) round the trees then tilts down to a two-shot of them walking forwards towards the camera 00:10
3. As they are walking, tracking shot from right of them (medium shot) towards the house 00:15
4. camera tilts up from legs up to face as they walk towards the camera 00:20
5. Medium shot on them walking and talking about the case 00:25
6. Eye line match on the house back to the officers walking 00:30
7. They go inside the house tracking shot following them 00:35
8. They open the box on the table eye line match and camera going from him to box 00:40
9. we see the crime scene tape at another angle extreme close up of the tape saying 'crime scene' 00:45
10. Claire is by box, opening everything inside - medium shot 00:50
11. D Seth gets glove out and puts on close up of gloves to hands 00:55
12. We see dead girl on floor close up music stops 01:00
13. We see the mark on her arm close up 01:05
14. D Seth and Claire go to sit by the dead girl to inspect medium shot of the shoulder 01:10
15. They see the mark on her arm and talk about it medium shot 01:15
16. Another angle of just D Seth talking to himself medium to close up and extended time showing his emotion and shock 01:20
17. Both of them again and they talk medium shot 01:25
18. Claire gets up and straightens jacket medium shot 01:30
19. We see mark on her arm uncovered by jacket close up (slow motion) 01:40

Storyboard

This is extremely effective as it shows the different parts of the scene clearly with effective shots and good props. It allows us to get a clear sense of just how we want our thriller to be shot. We can easily see that two people are walking and go to a table with a briefcase on it and see crime scene tape. We can also easily see that they see a dead body and and find a mark on her. This should be useful to us when we come to filming the real thing. However, if we need to make a few changes on the day, this should be a good first draft.

Location

                           

For the opening sequence of our film, we chose my house as it is easy to film here when under these harsh weather conditions during winter and it is common for someone to be murdered in their house both in the real world and in other thrillers. Additionally, it is most suitable to be inside as we can manage the lighting better.

                                However, the rest of the film would be set in town as they are middle/upper class detectives who live in a big city. This is similar to "The Sixth Sense", which is set in a town and when the characters first meet, they are in park and to the whole "Sherlock Holmes" saga, in which London is greatly involved with.

Effectiveness of moodboard

This moodboard for our film, clearly portrays all of the elements that are going to be in the opening sequence. In this storyboard, we have two images of a park at night that are clearly stating what location we are going to use and during what time of the day it will be set at. We believe that it creates suspense and fear for the audience, especially when the two characters are talking about dead bodies and serial killers. We are presented with the young, intelligent, smartly dressed Detective Seth and the also young, intelligent and smartly dressed Claire wearing glasses and is clearly on the same wave as the male. They work together but, unluckily, she's a ghost who is part of Detective Seth's imagination and our efficient picture of a pale and scary girl represents her too. We have a picture of what we would like our murdered girl to be like and we also have a picture of the mark that we will be using for the bodies. We believe that any person who views this will have some sort of understanding of what our opening sequence will be about.

moodboard of our idea - The Mark

This moodboard helps us to visualise our idea as it creates a story. We can visualise that it will be at night, somewhere deserted, and it involves a young woman and a man finding a dead body with a mark on them. The blue-ish tone in the pictures allow us to visualise it being quite ghostly. I think these images work quite well together as they allow us to create a sense of what will happen.

Actors for film and how they fit into our film

Playing the role of Claire:

I have chosen this actress to play the role of Claire as she also looks smart and mature, a suited partner to Detective Seth. As she is in her early 20's, this is helpful as it allows me to pair the two together, her being an almost psychic, helpful role to him. She is similar to Grace Gummer as they look similar as well as having similar characteristics within the roles in which they play, both being authoritative and sensible.

Playing the role of Detective Seth:
I have chosen this actor to play the role of Detective Inspector Seth as he is older, more mature and sophisticated so his physical appearance suits the character of the older, more experienced chief detective inspector who has a high level of authority. He also looks very smart which helps portray his character and his beard gives him a sense of maturity, something that I feel is important for the character to withhold. He is quite similar to Trevore Eve as they are both greying with quite serious, but kind faces. They are also both represented as authority figures and have positions of power within society.

Playing the role of dead girl:

I have chosen this actress to play the role of the dead girl as she is young, innocent looking and has blonde hair, which is a typical element for vulnerable girls who wind up murdered in films. She is quite similar to Hillary Duff as they are both blonde and are portrayed as innocent, normal, teenage girls in films.

Script

Walking up the road; talking about the new victim of the serial killer and how the killer has been tormenting in Mill Hill for months

Detective Seth: We have to think about this…these murders are occurring in the same area and we’re still at square one of our enquiries. It shouldn't be as hard as this?

Claire: Look Seth, there has to be something that gives us a clue… 3 deaths in two months. He must have left something for us to find him with.

Detective Seth: Claire, I don’t know, but we have to check the body first. I’ll get the equipment. (Goes to table and opens box on table. Takes out gloves and cotton swabs)

They get closer to the body, going beyond the yellow line “CRIME SCENE”. 

Camera shows Seth putting on the gloves and they uncover the corpse: the dead body is lying on the floor with a distinctive mark on her arm.

Claire: Wait (she points out at the mark on the girl’s arm). What’s this?  Do you think it means something?

Detective Seth:  Yes. It appears to be some ‘mark of death’. It’s very similar to the one Caron used to stamp on the dead souls in Greek mythology. I have seen this in the books I used to read back at secondary school.

Claire: Hmm…send me anything on it that you think is unusual.

Detective Seth: Ok, I should probably look for information and then send it to the DI.

Claire: Good idea.

As they are inspecting the corpse, the camera shoots from a high angle shot, showing how Seth is by himself and how Claire is not actually there: she is a ghost. They continue to inspect the body, Seth taking swab samples from the body for fingerprints to check if it is the same killer as the others.

Detective Seth: We should check the other bodies to see if they’ve got the mark too.

Claire: Bring your camera…we will have to compare the fatalities…and call the forensics. (Gets up and adjusts her blazer. Camera zooms into her wrist where we see bottom of the mark uncovered by her blazer).

END OF SCENE 

Props and Costumes

The male investigator in my opening sequence will be wearing a smart/formal outfits to represent that he is on duty and displays curiosity, intelligence and observance.

His costume will include: black smart trousers, a white shirt, a black tie, a black hat, a long grey trench coat and smart black shoes.

Final estimated result:

The other female investigator will also be wearing smart clothing as the two detectives are partners to the case and need to represent formality. Her outfit will include: a pale pink shirt, black smart trousers, smart heeled pumps, glasses and a black blazer.

Estimated final result:

The dead girl will be wearing a very casual typical teenage outfit to display vulnerability. Her outfit will include: a simple white t-shirt, blue jeans, Nike shoes and a necklace.

 Estimated final result: