Directions Evaluation - Prisoners (DIRECTIONS UNIT)

Directions Evaluation 

Opening Statement

The directions unit has been an independent, challenging, inspirational and a exciting opportunity. To experience the challenges, pros, cons and the positive conclusive achievements a director can accomplish for a film project. This new unit has been challenging as it has taken me out of my comfort zone by being a director to my chosen individuals/ actors, who aren't any members of my peers and by hiring individuals who i do not often work with. This was sometimes a nervous, however, refreshing element to have when making my directions film. Having new crew members other than my peers and using more of the equipment has helped to grow more of my confidence, trust and ability by using those resources to support my directions unit.  

Chosen Director/ Directors Statement (Prisoners)

Denis Villeneuve 

What Went Well/ What I Have Learnt

I already had a motive, and interest to choose the film director Denis Villeneuve. I have always taken a lot of interest and inspiration about his talented directing.Villeneuve is talented in creating a dark atmosphere, characters struggling with their emotions, the mind of self conscienceless and actual conscience. By deciding what chosen film Villeneuve has directed in the past, i wanted to try and re create a few chosen scenes of the film Prisoners (2013). I chose Prisoners, as it's a film about family, the feelings of guilt, loss, and not believing in yourself or not having any responsibility in the issues of family. I felt in terms of resources, possible recreation locations to film, the chosen scenes would of been possible to re capture, and none of the elements would of been too expensive, complicated and impossible to film. I felt if i had chosen other films by Villeneuve, for example Enemy (2013), Arrival (2016), and Blade Runner 2049 (2017). Those films would of been more challenging, a more complicated process and more expensive to film and recreate those specific type of films and scenes. When i created the directors statement, i believed i thought about the chosen tone, the appropriate locations, the demographic group of people, and explaining in detail and in depth about the plot of the film. I felt i analysed enough, and with support from my research, to continue and develop more for the progress of filming my chosen scenes of Prisoners. 

Prisoners (2013)

Even Better If/ Develop For the Future

When creating the directors statement, i think i could of included about the colour/ lighting i wanted to pick and achieve. To further the development for future projects, i shall research into more about the specific colours, and by thinking the most appropriate colours when it comes to the tone i wish to create for further projects. When choosing Denis Villeneuve as my chosen director, i think i could of watched more of his earlier, low budget films, before Villeneuve started directing Prisoners, and that would supported my research and understanding more about Villeneuve's style in filmmaking. To watch Villeneuve's earlier films as well, it could of given me more options to choose other realistic, relevant concepts, and not just having Prisoners as my only possible option for being chosen. I overall felt i had chosen Prisoners as a mature choice, it didn't feel or seem complicated or expensive to film, however if money was not a issue, i could of taken a further challenge in trying to re create a few scenes from Villeneuve's recent and expensive films. 

Pre - Production(Prisoners)

What Went Well/ What I Have Learnt

Pre - Production of the directions unit, was a very productive, challenging and had a very positive outcome. When finding cast members had a lot of changes throughout the progress, i felt the final outcome of the cast members really created a positive, yet unknown feel before the production. I felt very proud for the first time, by using a casting agency, and i actually got a applied applicant as the character Grace Dover. The applicant who applied, sent me over an audition video and after watching the video, i was truly impressed and replied by informing that the actor had achieved the acting role. I continued my casting search, of contacting a past school friend and then having the thought of also contacting another past school individual. As well contacting the other past school individual, that individual is a graduate student and i wanted to contact the graduate friend to show for his benefit and revisiting the experience of the directions unit. I asked the graduate to participate as the role of Detective Loki, he accepted the role and the individual offered to myself for the production team, about taking photos for behind the scenes and which was a appreciative thought before the filming day came to present. Just before the filming week happened , having lots of difficulties from drop outs involving the main lead role, i had to ask an individual from the year above about asking to play as Keller Dover, the main lead character. Explaining with short notice about the filming happening the next day and the unfortunate of the previous individual having the drop out. Thankfully though the individual from the year above me, accepted to play as the lead role the day before filming and it truly was a breakthrough to officially begin the filming of Prisoners.

Another aspect i needed to make sure to achieve, was by contacting the council and the authorities. Contacting the council for permission on location at a public place, which was a success from acceptance and from the authorities about using a toy gun for one scene of the film. The authorities were aware of the actions that shall be happening for the day of production, after i explained to them in detail and by talking in a formal attitude about what shall be happening in the scene, the timings of the production shoot, the location and of course the date of when Prisoners was happening.  

Even Better If/ Develop For the Future

In terms of casting members having to drop out of the production team, for further improvements i will make sure to have back ups. Contacting other individuals about an acting role and if a previous actor would quit the opportunity, i would use those specific back ups, this would also save time and any delays for myself and the production progress. Another improvement for future projects, when i was creating my email about the timing schedule, catering, weather forecast, the main location of the filming to take place and from which i had mentioned all of those elements. I didn't mention about specific costumes the actors should where for the production shoot, however two of the cast members immediately contacted me and asked about costumes. I shall for the near future, make sure to include in the filming schedule about targeted costumes the actors should where. This will benefit myself for more preparation, making sure all of the cast members are aware, prepared for the appropriate dress code and for the production shoot comes to present.

When the filming was only a day away, with cast, crew and other pre - productions elements were prepared for the shoot. I could not have the possibilities of filming a neighbours camper-van and which was for the intention of using for one of the characters own vehicle in the film. I contacted the individual to inform him about the filming happening the next day and unfortunately, the individual explained to me that he was away off location with the vehicle . I was also told that i did not inform him on when the filming was going to take place, and from my argument point of view, i explained to him in person when the date of filming was going to happen. However, as i can recall when i asked permission to film and use the vehicle, it was quite a long time ago and it was during the early days of the pre - production stage. To improve on these type of circumstances for the near future, i shall inform borrowed vehicles, owners as soon as possible. For preparation and availability for any owners can be aware when future production shoots shall be happening after getting the permission.

Filming(Prisoners)

What Went Well/ What Have I Learnt

The production shoot of Prisoners was a very productive and successful day. Managing to capture the entire targeted scenes and shots from one entire day. The whole production team attended at the location, at the right time that i requested for. All of the cast and crew members all worked together very well, from my peers (the crew), and to the cast members all worked very professionally. We used all of the appropriate filming equipment, using the Sony EX 1 camera for picture, a microphone with a boom pool for sound. Tripod for all of the scenes, to capture static shots and to imagine my own style compared to Denis Villeneuve's style in atmospheric filmmaking. None of the scenes were shot from a handheld point of view, as i didn't think any handheld equipment would of been appropriate for the right tone i wanted to achieve. I had also borrowed a dolly with a track and some  sandbags to support the dolly and track without anything falling apart. LED panels for lighting, when we only filmed on location for all of the interior shots and scenes. Unfortunately, as having as much filming equipment i borrowed from, we didn't use exactly all of the equipment. We didn't use the track, dolly and any of the sandbags, however not using any of them did not delay whenever we were filming, and i had a lot of trust in only using the tripod to the support the camera. Instead of not using the dolly, track and sandbags. I did have to change a couple of the schedule scenes in a different order, which was due to being a little behind the timing schedule, with an intense and long dialogue scene and for the actors to really work hard remembering the lines. When we concluded the production shoot, we were an hour late then i expected. I didn't take that outcome as a negative though, as we still achieved all of the scenes in that entire day, and we finished at a appropriate time for it not being to late. For any of the production team not feeling tired, stressed or any other limited, negative feelings that didn't interrupt the filming. When concluding the production shoot at an hour later time, i aimed at the conclusion for 17.00 - 17.30, however we finished at approximately at the timing of 18.00 instead. From starting to film the first scene of the production schedule, my confidence, trust and enthusiasm to continue the shoot was starting to increase the positivity for the films achievements and final outcomes.

Even Better If/ Develop For the Future

When filming out on location for exterior scenes, we didn't take along any of the LED panels with us. This was mostly on the final scene that was set during the early hours of the evening, and when i was informed about difficulties not seeing a clear picture on the camera's screen, i was having some concern about what the outcomes shall look when i moved into the post - production stage. I didn't think the LED's would of been needed when working onto the location scouting, i came across lampposts near and around where my actors were going to be positioned. I thought the lampposts would support us for when we were going to film for the final scene, in the evening. For future film projects, i shall make sure to always bring along the LED's, and to show more support from public lampposts, to the LED's of improving more on the lighting aspect. To improve as well, i could of spent more time at the public footpath to the film the final scene. To make the filming pacing feel more slow, and to create the tension a lot higher. I felt we rushed filming the final scene, and i wanted to capture more coverage for the final scene as well. With bringing along the tension to feel a lot higher and as well including more of coverage i could of filmed with.

Post - Production (Prisoners)

What Went Well/ What Have I Learnt

The post - production stage of Prisoners, had a lot of involvement in terms of independence and of course changes to be made. I was very surprised how the footage came onto the editing software, and my main concern from before, was the involvement when we filmed the final scene, with no LED panels during the evening. Out of all of the different stages through the productions stages, i felt the editing was the most successful element to be completed. Each of the scenes, cuts and shots had many positive outcomes to be presented on the screen, and as i was developing the editing progress, i was starting to feel on a personal note that this has become my best work. Which is due to all of my directing, editing work and effort being included into this directions unit. I felt confident and motivated to continue the progress when i was being given feedback from my tutor, and a few members of my peers in my year group course as well. The feedback included about the pacing to be improved on, from having too many video transitions and which was a distraction to the pace of my film. Showing on the screen the multiple, cross dissolve transitions that gave a distraction and fast paced feel from one shot, to the next shot and finally to the next scene. I have learnt how certain video transitions can be problem when it comes to pace, tone and showing a important shot to show the films priority of it's atmosphere. When editing my final cut, i decided to have a different aspect ratio and i wanted to try this new technique, to show my film in a more of a cinematic feel. It was a useful interesting element to see on the software, how to make upcoming films in the editing a process for a more cinematic feel to it. I shall be using that editing technique for future film projects, and to make my future film projects as well more professional, creative and unforgettable. 

Even Better If/ Develop For the Future

I think to develop more future film projects, i shall try and focus more on improvements on audio adjustments and the graphics. For audio, i should research into some video tutorials about the depths and new elements on the editing software about audio. Instead of just making adjustments onto the volume side, making the audio sound more clearer and make the audiences feel that they are inside the films story, plot and world. With graphics, i should take more time making the graphic titles and credits. Browsing more fonts on Adobe Fonts, creating the graphics with tools on the software i am not aware of, and should take advice on using those tools when creating unforgettable graphics.

CONCLUSION(Prisoners)

In conclusion, the directions unit has been more of an enjoyable, motivated project compared to the script to screen unit.  I have experienced the responsibilities and roles a film director has to take in as a challenge, opportunity and the achievements a director can make. I have enjoyed very much working with actors, that i haven't before and peers from my year group as crew members. Experiencing as well by contacting the council, authorities and knowing the stages of getting permission for filming locations. Overall working as a film director, shall be one of the few aspects in filmmaking and i will take those responsibilities, challenges, opportunities and achievements again for definite.