Location Toilet

We are using a toilet as our drug location. This is because in all the research I have done toilets are frequently used for getting high. The astatic of a toilet will also look good in our film and will be emotive. This means we have to use a toilet in our film. A few options we have are: using a toilet at home, or using a public one.

The first option we have is too use mote park public toilets. During the filming time there will be less people likely to use it but we may still have to ask the council if we can use them because filming in a toilet may not be permitted. a good thing about using this toilet is it will be grimy and look astatically disgusting which is what we want in our film opening.

The other option we have is too use a toilet in out house but edit it like its part of the mote park environment. This would me we have freedom to film whenever we want and without interruptions or trouble. The problem with this is that the toilet will be clean and not look like its public. This means it will look out of place. We also cannot make it dirty and broken because we would not be aloud because of family members and cost.

I think the best idea is to use a public toilet and film it at a time when not many people will be around so not to cause disruptions or other things. We will have to evaluate this decision after filming and see if this is a good idea and if it worked well.

Heroin research

Heroin is one of a group of drugs which are come from the Opium Poppy which are known as Opiates. Other examples are Codeine and Morphine, which are commercially produced as painkillers. Heroin comes from Morphine which is a white powder in its pure form, on the street it is more of a brown coloured powder, due to the additives added. It has been known for powdered milk, talc, curry powder, washing powder and other substances to be mixed with pure Heroin to increase the volume.

Injecting Heroin is the most common way addicts will use the drug to get high Once the Heroin is purchased the preparation starts. The kit used to shoot up includes, Heroin, syringe with needle, spoon, lighter or candle, cigarette filter, belt, citric acid and water. The Heroin is put onto the spoon with citric acid, the right amount of water will then be mixed with the Heroin and citric acid, the citric acid is used to breakdown the Heroin so it can be injected. At the same time the spoon is held over the heat source so all the three substances are mixed together. Once mixed, a cigarette filter will be placed onto the spoon, the solution will then be drawn up the syringe through the filter, and this is to filter out any impurities. It is now ready to be injected into a vein usually in the arm. The belt or similar implement such as a shoe lace is tied tightly around the arm to stop the blood flow, this will cause the veins to stand out for easier injection. After long periods of use the veins will become damaged and other areas of the body are used for injecting into. Other places used are in the groin area, behind the knees or in serious cases in the neck. It has been known for addict’s veins to collapse.

Effects of heroin fall into two groups, short term and long term. Short term effects of Heroin include: - Sedation / Drowsiness, Euphoria, Reduced Anxiety, No feeling of pain. Long term effects include: - AIDS due to sharing needles, Skin infection from injecting, collapsed veins due to injecting, Poisoning due to additives added to the drugs by dealers and Liver damage.

Addicts usually don't intend to overdose. The reasons for overdosing are few but can be very serious and has in the past resulted in death. If an addict has been restricted from taking the drug for a long period of time, for example, due to imprisonment. The addict could overdose if they were to use the same amount of the drug they were taking before they had the long spell of not using. Another reason for overdosing is due to the strength of Heroin. Some dealers will mix other substances with the Heroin making it weaker. If a pure bag of Heroin was taken, this could amount to a serious overdose.  

Things to look at when finding an addict are:

·         Not mixing with others

·         Sleep pattern will change dramatically

·         Lack of money

·         Hyper and more energy than usual

·         Personal items get sold to feed the addiction

·         Money starts to disappear

·         Dramatic weight loss

·         Looking pale and gaunt in the face (no colour)

·         Eye pupils very small, with little reaction

·         Don't keep personal hygiene up to standard

I will have to take on all this research before we film the final piece. This is because I will have to show the heroin addict as realistic as I can so the film looks real and professional. All these ideas will have an effect on the final character and the atmosphere off the film so it is really important to make sure the character is effective. 

Film opening presentation

 

   

 

Evaluation of the Presentation

We were still unsure on what to call our film however was planning on choosing stimulation as we thought that fitted our genre quite well. However the class though that Grade A was a simple and good idea. Also that stimulation was a bit too posh for an Urban Drama like ours which is on a heroin addict.

 Our class liked our plan and location on where we were going to do the drug dealing area and thought it fit with the genre. however not the location of him injecting the heroin. This is cause we projected the fact that the person's life had broken down and about his spiral of decline. So they wanted to see it filmed in a public toilet instead of my toilet just so less work for us to make a home toilet look disgusting.

Also to try and do a practical on making the drugs look very realistic as well as the needle and things.

Another practical needed was to practice the dilation of the eye which would be easy to do I think would look really good if we could pull it off. Also see if someone would be able to do it on any piece of editing software.

Overall we got a few improvements and information on how to make sure when we come to filming we are more prepared.

 



Actros

As a group we have decided that we are  doing a opening sequence to a film. Because of this decision we will need to get actors to play roles in the opening sequence. As a group we have to decide on who we will feature in our film for the two roles we will need, which are a drug dealer and the main character of the film. We have a few options that we choose out off.

 

The first idea we had for actors is ourselves. Ether me, Hugo or will could play as two character's and the cinematographer. This would be good because we are reliable as it is our own idea and we are reliable and will turn up on time and commit fully to the filming. We are also quite confident people and me and Hugo did drama as a GCSE so we are not camera shy and are happy to speak out or make a scene in public places or in front of people.

 

 

Another option is a friend of ours called Cameron. Cam is a 17 year old boy who is an aspiring model. He just started up a YouTube channel and has contact with many modelling agency. He is not camera shy and he is photogenic. The only problem with him is he is always busy and we may not be able to trust him when it comes to turning up on time and coming to shoots.

 

 

 

The last option we have is to go with a girl called Lucy. Lucy is a girl in year eleven. She has a YouTube channel and her videos are edited well and don't shy away from controversial topics such a racism. She gets along with everyone and follows instructions well. She is not camera shy at all and I can trust her to turn up on time to things. She is also a girl which would make our film more emotive as a young girl is abusing the drug. I think our group are going to use Lucy in our production for this reason.

 

 

Prop Practical

Props Used 

Spoon to Heat Substance

Syringe

Candle (replicate lighter)

Things I realised after this practical

• It takes about 3 minuets to heat the honey up to an actual liquid which you can suck the honey up without it sticking to the sides.
• When heating up the honey the spoon gets hot (obviously) but if the honey spills then the sugar will burn you quite badly.
• Also I realised my camera took a while for it to focus onto the flame which means I needs to take time to adjust.
• When filming with the syringe the honey quickly became stickier in the syringe so when filming we need to get it really hot so it takes long to cool down so we can redo the practical many times.  
• If I burnt the bottom of spoon at the start it makes the spoon look used with very little effort at all.
• If we are able to get a shot of him/her flicking the needle head we need to make sure the actor is flicking it from the opposite side and also to make there is enough liquid to suck up the needle. This means that there is very little bubbles.
• I have to get the stickier sugar of the top of the liquid honey which then boils at the top. Meaning when we do it for the real thing we would have to pre boil the honey to make sure it is the right colour as well as making sure that there is no sugar that gets left in the needle.

Hot honey in the syringe

Evaluation

This practical helps me understand how long it takes for the honey to be at the right consistency and when we should use the honey in the needle. If no-one did this practical then we may of spent a lot of time waiting for the sugar to dissolve or we may of put the honey in the needle at the wrong time and could not get it out which would of slowed the whole thing down.

Sound Practical

I am going to grab sounds from other

Final name, TITLE

THE FINALE NAME WE ARE USING FOR OUR PIECE IS 'CLASS A'

Heroin scene Trainspotting Deconstruction

Screenshot 1

Looks like a belt which he must of taken from his trousers displaying how everyday items can be used to take drugs. This also tells the audience about his appearance making him look like a victim that is trapped in the drug world as a shirt and tie does not display drug user to the average person. This is will be good for the practical as we might not have to display a level of dirt and grime that people might think. The presentation of the drugs to him is like a restaurant giving him the opportunity to turn it away however, also making it look appeal which ultimately is too much for him to bare. The camera angles displayed is a close up of a key part of his body where he is going to administer the drugs as well as in what part. The main focal part of this particular image is drawn to the centre then to the arm bulging with his vein this displays what he might do. The camera angle also displays how experienced he is at dong this and maybe displays what real drug users are like. 

Screenshot 2

 The props used are the same you are just unable see them. However the needle is used in-front of the face to display the tension. He uses it like the doctors needle flicking the air making sure that all he has is drugs instead of gas as well. Him looking at the needle is almost like he is tranquillising himself into is own pit.  This is a close up shot of his face again building up the tension a bit like his arm which has trapped blood. 

Screenshot 3

The prop used in is in his arm and the needle is new with a small tip. This close up is dramatic as you are able to feel the tension in the fact he is going to be harming himself. The lighting is low key with the orange creating a bright needle maybe suggesting that it is the life a sole of his body. He is displayed not as a victim to drugs as he is optionally taking it and not trying to stop. As soon as he tries to stop and cannot then he is a victim.

Screenshot 4

This extreme close up is very good and shows the blood coming into the needle before going into him. Sound effect of the plunger creating a pull on the audience as the liquid enters his body.

Screenshot 5

This shot shows what he is feeling this displays whether it is a good of bad high something thats is very important in the narrative. We can assume from this shot that it is a good one. A negative narrative would be one where a more tense scene. At this point we can see him dissolve into the floor suggesting he is nice a relaxed. 

Screenshot 6

The close up means the audience can see his face and how white and pasty it is something you may see a ghost or dead body looking like. This could suggest why he is part of background due to the fact he is a ghost. Almost not wanting to be seen. This is despite the fact he is just lying on the floor in plane site. The lighting is low almost like his life is slowing ending or collapsing in on itself.  

Rewind Deconstruction - REWIND | Thriller Drama Short Film

This is a sort film made by an amateur film maker. The video is a short sequence that highlights a plot for a whole film. In this sequence a rewind special effect is used. The whole sequence seen is played in reverse. It is played at 1x the speed of the normal footage and so is the same speed as the footage taken by the camera. This was done, in my eyes, very effectively. The film was emotive and the re wind wasn't so fast tha the viewer could see everything that was happing. Overall I think it was done very well as the non diegetic voice over, rewind special effect and slow non cutting editing all tied in nicely and gave a very good effect overall.

Shooting Script

21st of December

• Turn up at Mote Park Skate Park at 10:30 and scout the area if weather is bad. 
• If weather is good Film the start walking scene moving from the skate park down to the public toilets.

• This should take us about 30 minuets so at 11:00 set up equipment like heating spoon. 
• Test how long the substance takes to heat up.

• At 11:30 we should start filming the heroin scene using a mixture of close ups and high angles. 

• at 12:30 we should have finished review footage and improve on any points up until then. 
• At 1:15 we finish.

Alternative 

This basic plan should work> The different scenes may tae longer depending on whether there are people interrupting or weather goes bad. If so this will be the plan.

21st of December

• Turn up at 10:30 at Mote Park with bad weather.
• Move to public toilets to complete the main heroin scene. 
• Review footage and improve on it. This will take us up to 12:30 
• Then move back up to skate park to complete the drug deal and walking stage. This will take us 30 minuets and review all footage finishing at 1:15.

Having a back up plan is always good so our group know what we are doing throughout the day so that we are able to get the filming done as quickly as possible. 

Location for mote park (Drug Deal)

Mote Skate Park Location

•        The location we are using is mote skate park

•        Here is where we are filming the pick up scene

•         We think this is a good place to set it as skate parks are stereo typically places where people do drugs and drug deals happen.

•         Therefore by using this location we are conforming to common stereotypes of drugs and skate parks.

Shows a clearer view of skate park entrance.

Tree giving gloomy effect to skatepark.

Picture of skate park bench where she could do the drugs, cameras
was high as it was getting darker outside.

Urban Drama Presentation

Mote Skate Park Location

•        The location we are using is mote skate park

•        Here is where we are filming the pick up scene

•         We think this is a good place to set it as skate parks are stereo typically places where people do drugs and drug deals happen.

•         Therefore by using this location we are conforming to common stereotypes of drugs and skate parks.

Shows a clearer view of skate park entrance.

Tree giving gloomy effect to skatepark.

Picture of skate park bench where she could do the drugs, cameras
was high as it was getting darker outside.

Sound Practical

As we now know what we are doing for the final piece we can focus on things we will actual need for our piece. one f the components to a film or TV show is sound. Sound Is one of the most important things when making a show and can overall make or break a piece of media. This means I will have to do a lot of experimenting and looking into music and special effects to use. I will need to focus on two parts of sound, The overall backing track that has to be a un-copyrighted song and also special effects that I will use to go with the visuals on screen.

I went out and collect some audio files that may be useful to use. I recorded someone on my phone and also downloaded some off of the internet from a un copyrighted place so I can use the audio files. These songs range from raining too heart beats. The sound that I think we are most likely to use is a sound I found on "the soundbible". It is off a ringing sound. I thought this sound would be quite effective if we dubbed it over a dilating pupil showing the effect of the drug inside the body.

Another good sound we are likely to use is sirens. As our film will be an urban drama police will have to take a part in our film. This means we have to have some sort of siren effect in our film to show what genre it is. This means this siren sound effect will differently be used.

Blogger doesn't allow me to insert audio straight into tis page. This means I had to upload the audio to sound cloud as I cant upload it to YouTube as it doesn't contain video pats. so I uploaded the sounds to sound cloud which lets people stream music for free. The link below lets you hear the whole audio playlist.

https://soundcloud.com/user-327993675/sets/urban-drama-sound-effects

Editing Practical

Normal Speed 

I used this practical to understand how to rewind a piece of film even though it turned out to be surprisingly easy. Firstly I used the different pieces I filmed and created a short scene of me walking through my house. I did this by cropping the individual films and then putting them in order making sure it is streamline so it flows.
1) This is the first step to rewinding a short piece.

2) Then I highlighted the whole sequence and went to a what looks like a wand and clicked on it. Then went down to reverse clip.




3)However when I played it back the clip was not in order so I moved the last clip first then the second to last clip clip second and so on. So changing the order meant it played in order which is something I didn't know you had to do. Knowing this would save time in the editing stage if we had to do this technique.

4) To increase the speed of the rewind I went back to the editing tool in which I used reverse the clip, I went onto the fast area and I had the option of changing the speed to 2x, 4x, 8x and 20x.

5) Then I sped the sequence up by 2x this didn't start the lag but shortened the time of the clip by half cause I increased the speed 2x.

6) Then I increased the speed to 4x this caused some problems of lag which meant the first part of the clip was cut out. To stop this I bladed the bit where I opened the door into two this meant it could load quicker and stop fragmenting the whole piece this worked meaning I learned another skill for our practical.

My evaluation of the practical displays that if for our real thing we will speed the clip by 4x or even 8x we would have to blade the clips lots of time to make sure the clip does not lag/jump bits of footage at all. This would take a lot of time and would prioritise out time towards the end of the editing stage. Also to save time I would order the sequences backwards meaning it could save time and also would allow us to see how long the music needs to be. Positive of the the clips moving backwards the diegetic sound, sounds like a reconstruction of the entire opening scene.