Midterm Submission

I was overall reasonably particular about the use of long takes and minimal sound to evoke a sense of boredom. This effect was important because it improves the audience's understanding of the motivations of the two characters, and what they would eventually set out to do. I wanted to include a couple of extreme shots in composition because it adds a light instability to the normal order of the opening. This is beneficial to the effect I am trying to produce because it promotes the psychological element of the film. Additionally, distantly-given dialogue, like a phone conversation, is occasionally given more interest when the camera angles are changing. I decided to use close-ups to focus on the openness in the conversations seen from the characters. Whenever the camera angles deviate from character's faces, it is known that they are concealing some unwanted truth to themselves or to their friend. The lighting for Jacob is darker to foreshadow the future events he will be put through, and Alex is in a brightly-lit area to express his change in emotions that would emerge in the later progression of this film in theory. There were sound effects utilized for when Alex dropped his flash drive because it would provide narrative importance and signify that Alex has some well-hidden secrets of his. There was a purposeful absence of movement because these characters are both supposed to portray an obvious disinterest. The abrupt phone call also provided an additional mystery to the story, which is supposed to build upon minute details until Jacob makes a particular realization later in the film (not in the opening). This makes some type of conflict known, but not especially not known for the characters involved. This use of dramatic irony would add to properly developing a realistic set of events and a realistic world in this film. The combination of a library and office room in total provides a great effect because it provided a great location for informal dialogue between the two main characters and it fit into established conventions of psychological thrillers. The font I use matched with the one I had envisioned on the storyboard. This sharp font is effective for the film opening because it provides enough clarity and instability that would indicate to viewers that they are watching some type of thriller or horror film. I improved the clarity of the font even more by providing a slight drop shadow. I also varied the location of the credits which is something I saw in a few film openings. For the phone conversation, I varied shots and audio between on-screen audio and off-screen audio. This provided a good and dynamic effect to the opening, to prevent it from becoming too repetitive. The audio for dialogue heard from off-screen is given an audio effect that resembles a recognizable phone line.

Scheduling Filming: Majority of Opening

Before filming: I scheduled for an afternoon filming with both of the main actors. The viable locations of the library and the bedroom will be utilized. My goals are to complete all listed shots I want and have an abundance of film of varying shots. Varying shots of the same type will allow me to create a even more accurate and greater meaning when I review the shots during editing. I will include all indicated scenes from the library as well as the bedroom. I did decide to make an alteration to the usage of the prop of a Rubik's Cube to a Flash Drive.

After filming: The shoot went very well for the both actors, especially the one for Alex. The main scenes were shot in a library, and Alex's acting was suitable for the audio levels expected in such places. Additionally, there was a plentiful amount of ambient noise within the library that added to the authenticity of it. The actor for Alex and I both had apt time to make any final changes to the script that would benefit the production and to take multiple shots of the same action to be able to experiment in post-production. In fact, Alex did make minor changes to the script for his dialogue to fit and accommodate the character and his conversation with his coldly familiar friend. There was an issue involving audio levels and brown noise. The other location of the office was excellent because it provided the right amount of lighting to provide some difference between the characters. The problem with the freedom to position the camera was almost apparent when shooting in the office location.
Here are shot of my shots:

Scheduling Filming: Sunday

Before shoot: I informed the actor for Jacob one day before the shoot. My goals for this shoot were to record the entire set of shots he is in. This shoot included portions of the opening of the film in his perspective. This perspective was supposed to be within his household. I also asked the actor to utilize any props that would add to Jacob's character of technology use.

After shoot: This shoot was on Sunday of December 16th, and I experimented with the dinner table location that I had initially dismissed. This location was almost workable in terms of camera angles, but it was indeed slightly restricted. This shoot also had complications with lighting. Therefore, I will require lighting equipment the next time I film.

The lack of lighting progressively worsened the clarity. Although, dark shadows and properly placed lighting is usually well-suited for psychological thrillers, there wasn't suitable lighting available on-site.

Casting

The protagonist of this film, named Jacob, is a naive and paranoid individual who tries to find something interesting in everyday living. He is constantly burdened by boredom, and he works as a consultant programmer and is a student at school. The actor, Eredis, best fits this role because he can demonstrate various emotions without dialogue. He also understands technology more so than the average individual, this matches some traits to Jacob. He is capable of making apt changes in acting styles.

The antagonist of this film, named Alex, is a stoic intellectual, he particularly dislikes unpreparedness and he is constantly burdened by boredom as well. He is well-versed in conversations with other people which is something Jacob doesn't excel as well at. Alex's cube is a motif closely associated with him. He desires a proper challenge that would cause him to work past what he considers the minimum effort. Alex is an extremely capable individual who will genuinely try to destroy Jacob's life. Despite his newfound excitement for this dare, he remains reserved and 2 steps ahead of Jacob. The actor, Ruben, will best fit this role because he can easily express negative emotions except for sadness and he has a particular view on self-improvement that I believe will improve the acting of this character. He is also in the age range of 16-21, which is what I was seeking for during casting.

I will act as an extra during a single shot in the opening. This extra is bewildered from the words of Alex and he is quickly dismissive. He only appears for about 6 seconds in this opening. I believe I fit this role because it is ultimately not as important as the roles for Alex and Jacob. I believe I bode well as a general "grey man," or unnoticed individual.

Scouting Locations

Option 1, Dinner Table: This was a filming location that was considered because it is consistent with the ordinary domestic settings seen in multiple psychological thrillers. This location could be used as a particular variation to shooting in a library or creating a variation in the location of dialogue (events describes in the shot list  and storyboard). It was ultimately not viable because it is too clustered to produce varied shots and the actors couldn't perform here.

Option 2, Bedroom/ Office: A domestic, household setting is another location I could film at. This is a viable location because lighting can be controlled and, once again, it matches the ordinary domestic settings of psychological thrillers that I have researched. This location also helps characterize Jacob and develop the foil between Jacob and Alex due to the technological props that will be used.

Option 3, Bedoom/ Office: This location is a slight variation to the other option, it just provides a lower range of colors in lighting. [A domestic, household setting is another location I could film at. This is a viable location because lighting can be controlled and, once again, it matches the ordinary domestic settings of psychological thrillers that I have researched. This location also helps characterize Jacob and develop the foil between Jacob and Alex due to the technological props that will be used.]

Option 3, Library: I chose to film in this location because it provides a useful contrast to the bedroom and it is a fitting location for calculating individuals. It provides context to the character in terms of his motivations due to this location. This location works the best because it provides ample space and lighting. I would always prefer well-lighted areas because I would have a greater range of choices of color correction and lighting in post-production.

Storyboard

Shot list

Revised Script

This film is a psychological thriller in which the protagonist is a naive, flawed individual who makes eventually is forced to make dark decisions. His motivations for these actions are not well known until a seemingly ordinary-living person at his school makes a proposal. Mischief and pain begins with the person's words of "I dare you to ruin my life," which was initially thought of as a light joke to ease the burden of boredom.

Script

This film is a psychological thriller in which the protagonist is a naive, flawed individual who makes dark decisions. His motivations for these actions are not well known until a low-living person at his school makes a proposal. Mischief and pain begins with the person's words of "lets try to ruin each other's lives," which was initially thought of as a light joke.