Our Film project was set to be a drama focusing on a young traveling boy, known only as a "The Pikey Boy" by school peers. Coming from a very close-knit family his life is planned out before he knew it himself. His Dad, a former Bare Knuckle Boxing champion is now injured due to a fight that got nasty, is certain that his son will follow his footsteps and re-instate the family name in the boxing community. This however is not what the boy wants to do, he has a strong talent and doesn’t want to be dragged along in the same light as his parents,
When considering the best way to shoot our genre of film Arthouse and low budget films came straight to mind. We both felt with the equipment available this type of filming would suit or project best and really give it the authentic rustic look we wanted. Below are a number of films we looked at and gained inspiration from.
This is England
Dead mans shoes
Ratcatcher.
I feel my main responsibility was as director and making sure the shots were done to the plan and everything fitted my initial ideas and thoughts. Although I wanted to maintain a certain amount of accuracy when coming to making the storyboard into a film sequence, I found myself changing a few things as we went along which showed my creativity and willingness to be risky and change things as I saw fit.
With the genre set it was a necessity that all our decisions were based on and around the plot of the story, for example we had to think about a time period in which our film would best fit, this came with many restrictions such as correctly dated buildings, surroundings, props and general mise en scene. Compared to my normal approach to filming I could not be as creative and imaginative as the genre was quite restricting, I found myself constantly having to reassess my thoughts and ideas to fit the project which at times became quite challenging. But overall I think the initial planning stage went well and all of my ideas and concepts fitted the genre and made a good base for the film.
When it came to the filming we decided to change the opening sequence as we went along
The scene from our film shows the confrontation between a son and his mother. For this project I decided to take on the roll of cameraman. I chose this role because I have a strong eye for composition and my work in photography and media studies helped me to frame all the shots.
Dan and I always had a strong idea about what type of genre we were going to carry out are film in the style of. As big fans of the Arthouse, low budget films we decided, with the restricting equiptment and setting this was the best idea.
As we were both interested in the genre films to research were at the forefront of our minds, we looked into films such as;
Dead Mans Shoes (2002) Dir. Shane Meadows, Made In Britain (1982) Dir. Alan Clarke, Ratcatcher (1999) Dir. Lynne Ramsey, Snatch (2000) Dir. Guy Riche, This Is England (2006) Dir. Shane Meadows
In detail we looked at Ratcatcher which really embraced the style which we were aiming to go for. The long held shots with little camera movement and dreamy surreal soundtrack with not a obvious direction where the action is going to take you.
I would say this is similar to the start of out video when the character is walking to the house, echoing every similar to the scene in Ratcatcher and poses the same questions; Who is he? Why is he running? What is he doing?
For the main body of our film I decided to look at conversation scenes from This Is England
The simple lighting and tight shots was the similarities which I wanted to use to enhance the conversation scenes
When we had done our research into the genre of the of the scene we were going to carry out we started to storyboard our sequence, we tried to do the storyboard more of a rough idea to how we were going shoot the scene, as we both had a strong idea about the kind of style we were going for it turned out rather similar.
The location was then next on the agenda, it was known that we had to have a rather dated setting and just so happened that the lady that was playing the mother (Maxine Kent) lived in a flat that was built and dated around the early 90's so was perfect to film the interior settings, and the village where the house is situated (over) is a small rural village that was perfect for the walking sequence at the start of the scene.
The filming of the sequence was all done over one day, the weather, obviously was not avalible to be manipulated, but it transpired that it was snowing and that gave the start sequence that dreamy feel. In particularly the shot from the other side of the road, when the character crossed past the camera, and a slight movemement from the camera also gave the carefree free soul that the character seems to be, however being contrasted to the quite eerie music makes the audience think that at the end of the walk there may be trouble.
Another shot that I was pleased with the outcome of was the shot through the garages when the charater.
We have deecided to commence filming tommorow (11/02/09). This may seem slightly late but it is the only oppotunity we have been able to get all of the equipment and the actor and location at the same time.
The plan then is to edit it all tommorow night on my computer so it will be ready for tommorows lesson. Where we can then do the sound track and finish editing it to the music.
Also I will be taking some photos to put on the blog to give you an idea of the place that we were filming at and the lighting that we used.
Rural, run down setting slight pan of the surrounding area, character appears follows the pan and walks up to the door of a three story flat. Quite dated decor on the exterior.
Cut to Mother inside the house. Moody lighting setting the scene immediately. Background sound of ITN news 1993. Character is looking out the window from where the boy is coming in. Light cutting though the smoke. A pile of paintings are on the table with a packet of cigarettes and a can of cider.
Door Opens, and closes
Mothers head turns towards camera
Shot from top of stairs down to boy, walks up and pas
B: *While unpacking bag in other room* Just dropping me stuff of Mum, Greg’s just got that new Quake nipping over there for a bit.. That alright?
No answer
Walks into the other room
B: *While walking into the other room* Did you hear me? *Notices the paintings on the table* What the fuck? What you doing with them?
M: Whos are they? *While taking a drag of a cigarette* I found them in your room underneath your bed
B: ... there just.. something from school, some research I am doing
M: *Pointing* Your a fecking liar, there yours they got your pissing name on them. What you thinking? *Standing up and walking over* Your Dad would beat the living shite out of you if he found out you were... were
Pause, Mother looks at son, turns and walks back to the window
B: Were what Mum?, doing a bit of painting, enjoying myself, trying to get away from the same fucking shit each day. You and Dad just planning my life for me. Your both a big fat joke that dont mean anything to me.
M: *Lights up another cigarette, holding in the anger* Tell you what boy your heading for a fucking hiding. I tell you what you can do. Forget the fucking painting, *while ripping up the paintings, shes snapped* forget enjoying yourself. You have got two choices. Stay hear under OUR rules, do what we say and nothing else....pause..*more calm and composed* Or fuck off, get out of here and never come back.
Pause (long)
*smirks, looks at him square in the eyes*
B: I tell you what... your a dirty evil, controlling, good for nothing cunt. That has no place for in my life or on this fucking world full stop. Fuck off
*Spits on floor*
Goes to leave, grabbed by Mother, throws a punch, quick cut to a stylised sequence of a bare knuckle boxing match in slow motion all closeups and surreal shots, screaming and swearing from both the fight between the mother and son. All shot and edited at a really quick pace. cut back to Son on the floor with a bloody nose.
