Storyboards

Evaluation

Evaluation

Over the past year of Moving Image AS, I have produced my film 'The Block'. My film is live action and shot in black and white. I chose to filter all of my filming in black and white for a gritty and realistic effect and also watching the film in colour made me realise it lost the cinematic quality when in colour. I used a school camera to film on various weekends, though I filmed when it was snowing and raining, some days I had to cancel filming due to lack of cast. But when some people consistently did not show up I had to improvise by asking other people- which was a success. Another problem I faced when filming was that people could hear what was going on and came out of their homes in concern. I had to overcome this by telling them that it wasn't real, and that we were filming. I did experience some technical problems such as the camera running out of power when filming and had to go home, charge the battery and continue filming when it charged enough.

When some things didn't go to plan, this had a domino effect on my production materials, I had to complete many storyboards after the actual filming. I also altered the script due to some excellent improvisation from the actors in my film.

I would like to say my film was a complete success but it still could be improved, however the feedback from my peers made me feel like I had achieved what I set out to create with my film. My intention was to create a gritty and emotional portrayal of the hardships of living in a bad neighborhood surrounded with gang culture. From feedback I can tell that people felt that it did that. Another thing I wanted to put across is that it is possible to be successful no matter where you come from or live.

I have learned a lot from the process of making a short film, preparation is key- from having reliable people helping you to charging up the camera battery, it's all vital. Asking people if they'll take part is one thing but getting reliable people that will turn up is difficult as I found out when two out seven people turned up one weekend. I also learned that the skill of improvisation is very handy when filming because when things go wrong or change it's not always convenient to put filming off another week.

Rough Cut

Script

Scene 1

[Kieron jogging, gang talking]

Big G: Nah man you can't just drop out like that, (mumbles) that guys a prick

So if you see him we need to give him a lesson he'll never forget..

Hold on one sec..

Big G: Ain't seen you for time man.. (mumbles)

Scene 2

Kieron: Man what are we doing tonight

Big G: I told you what we're doing tonight, I'm jamming at my yard playing the ps3 and you're out there selling that coke for me, you get me. That's how we roll round here because I'm Big G! And you're little Kieron.

[Talk over each other]

Kieron: I got football training yeah so I'm not gonna..

Big G: Come lets go

Football! What have I told you about playing football around me bruv. Don't want you thinking your too high and mighty to be jamming around the bits

If you play football again I'm gonna slap you..straight.

If I see you, playing, just with your little friends. Clap! That's what your getting.

Scene 3

Kieron: Yo where is this guy man

Big G: Yo

Kieron: Yeah

Big G: Got the money

Kieron: Yeah.. Yeah it's right here man

Scene 4

Abdullah: Yeah Kieron

Little boy: Yeah 1 2 it!

Crowd: Give it to Kieron man

[Kieron does skills and scores- crowd cheers]

Big G: Oi Kieron come here man

[Kieron walks off]

Kieron: Good game

Ayub: Good game, nice game

Big G: What have I told you about playing football man

If I catch you playing football again you'll see if if I don't break your legs.

Scene 5

Kieron: Yo man you know we've been friends since we were little init.

Gus: Yeah course

Kieron: I kind of need your advice right now

Gus: About what

Kieron: I dunno, just about everything

Like.. You know who I hang around with init.

Gus: [nods]

Kieron: I dunno

Gus: Big G and them init

Kieron: Yeah.. but.. you know what.. he's some

Gus: He's making you shot init

Bruv you need to get out of that, I'm tellin you

Kieron: I'm gonna try. I'm gonna get into football more

Gus: Yeah

Kieron: Like seriously though, not like..

Gus: Yeah, that's your ticket outta here man

Scene 6

Big G: I'm just bare disappointed in him. I told him don't play football no more, don't play football no more and what does he go and do.. goes there and plays football.

Coach Aussie: Who is that guy

Big G: Straight up, so if he wants to seperate himself from us I say we give him a little parting gift. I say we give him a good old fashioned beat down- you with me?  

Coach Aussie: Do you play for a football team?

Kieron: Yeah but only a sunday league

Coach Aussie: What would you say to a trial at Charlton Athletic?

Kieron : Are you serious?

Coach Aussie: Yeah mate I can get my colleague to come and see you after the training session

Big G: But anyway boy all I'm gonna say is straight up is that this guy's a...

Scene 7

Kieron: Charlton man, this is my dream

Gus: Yeah you need to go for that trial man

Kieron: But..I can't let down my boys

Gus: Forget them man, they're not important

Kieron: You're right

Gus: Don't think like that, just think about your success and everything

Kieron: Yeah I'm gonna start training hard

Gus: Yeah you need to

Kieron: I'm gonna go jogging tomorrow

Gus: Yeah!

Scene 8

[Kieron jogging]

Problems/obstacles

31st Jan 09

Last weekend and today I had planned to film but last weekend it was raining and this week I didn't have enough people. I have planned to film tomorrow, I have about 6 people that have agreed to come. Apparently it's going to snow tomorrow, I'm planning to film even if it does but I really hope it doesn't.

Pictures of the setting of my film.

Synopsis

Synopsis

My production is a real-life drama based in Stoke Newington, Hackney.
The main character, Keiron, finds himself being dragged into a local gang that hang around his estate. He has been lured in by the idea of respect, money and the excitement of it. He begins to realise that he can make a choice and that he has a chance to turn his life around. He is a talented footballer with offers from lots of teams. When a scout for Charlton Athletic shows interest Kieron considers leaving his life of crime for ever and starting a good life. The film is about the choice that he makes.

The film starts off with Kieron leaving his estate in the morning, about to go for a jog around the block. He is confronted by his former gang as he starts to jog. When he looks up and they are blocking his way his heart stops for a second, he freezes. Then before anyone can say anything, turns around and dashes off leading into a chase scene. The gang chase Kieron until he is caught by one of them, then they beat him up violently. I have an idea for a shot when the viewer can see through his eyes and a baseball bat causes him to black out.

The rest of the film shows how Kieron got into the situation and it leads up to the scene that the film starts off with. When it gets to the end it cuts off quickly and the credits come on.
I'm going to have a quick sequence when Kieron leaves his friends to hang out with the hoodrats. Also I want to do a scene of a football coach talking to Kieron about a trial for Charlton, while fellow gang members watch from a distance. After the good news Kieron jogs over and tells them in a happy mood. However they are not and do not want him to go for it. Kieron realises through talking to one of his football friends that he wants to get out of gang association and play semi-professional league football, but it doesn't go down well with his boys..