Titles

Today i started making the titles for the opening. I am using Adobe After Effects as it is very simple to use but gives the titles a professional look. However, i am still stuck on what to call the film and have been brainstorming ideas but to no avail.

Editing + 3

Today i finished editing a couple more scenes, which is good, and as a result  i do not have that many more to go. After i have finished the final scene, i will be able to start creating the titles for the film. I will then also be able to start putting all the scenes together.

Dirt Explosions

Today i managed to finish the scene that i started editing yesterday, and have now started another one. I also found a really good effect that is called "Dirt Charges", which are explosions that are made up of dirt, for example an artillery shell hitting the ground would cause the ground to erupt. I think this is a really good effect and have added it to some of the scenes. However, the ground that explodes is a different colour to the ground in my film yet i overcame this problem by clicking on "effect-colour-curves". The curve tool allowed me to change the colour of the dirt that is being flung into the air and as a result i was able to make it look like there are actually explosions in the scene.

More editing +1

Today i finished the previous scene that i was working on and managed to start editing another one. I also managed to upload some more special effects, such as blood splats and muzzle flashes, onto the computer that i am working on. However, i wanted to put some smoke effects onto my pen drive, so i could put them onto the computer, but was not able to as i did not have enough memory, but i have deleted a lot of folders and work that i no longer need so i should be able to copy the effect tomorrow.

New Scene

Today i finished editing the second scene of the film and am now starting to edit the 3rd one. I am getting used to Adobe After Effects and am now able to add the muzzle flashes and change the colour of the scene with ease.

Voice Over Troubles

Today i also recorded my dad reading the voice over script that i am going to use at the begining of the film. I recorded him reading the script 21 times, yet his voice does not match the script and is not able to make the voice over sound as good as it could be. This is a problem, because i need someone that can do American accents. I have tried recording myself speak, but it does not sound like an adults voice and as a result ruins the feel of the film.

More editing

Today i started editing another scene for my opening two minutes, which has now been converted to work on the Apple Mac using an application known as Toast. I am starting to get the hang of Adobe After Effects, and was able to change the size, scale and position of the muzzle flashes with ease.

Voice Over

I have just been writing down the script for the voice over, that will appear at the beginning of my film, just after the titles. I am doing the voice over to add to the tension and mystery of the opening scene and I am planning to get my dad to read the script whilst i record it.

Script

Before we jumped on D-Day, I made a promise with God. If I could somehow find a way to make it through the war, I would find a quiet place in the hills and settle down there for the rest of my life.

 However, sometimes things don’t always go to plan, sometimes you see things that will change you forever, sometimes, sometimes you just don’t want to go on living.

Editing + 2

Today i carried on editing one of my scenes. However, since the muzzle flashes look too much like a cartoon, i learnt how to fade them, to make them look more realistic. However, i would have liked to have started editing another scene, but unfortunately the scenes did not correspond with the computer and so had to be configured. This took a lot of time and as a result i had to carry on putting little details onto the scene that i was able to work with.

Muzzle Flashes

Today i added a few more muzzle flashes onto the scene that i am working on. I also learnt how to join the muzzle flashes together so that they are easier to use while working on Adobe After Effects.

Tenacious D Tribute Short film

Today i also managed to upload the Tenacious D task onto my computer. The task was to recreate a brief part of the music video using ourselves as the main characters. This was designed to get us familiar with the different shots and effects that are used in a music video/film.

The video is not perfect and it needs a few adjustments but it has helped me learn about the different shots that are used in films and has improved my confidence with Apple Macs.

Editing + 1

Today i carried on adding the muzzle flashes to one of the scenes in my opening. I also learnt how to duplicate the muzzle flashes and how to make them quicker. This is done by almost over lapping the muzzle flashes on the storyboard. Also, i changed the colour of some other scenes to the brownish finish.

Editing

Today i uploaded the footage that i recorded on Saturday and started editing it. I played around with the different effects that i could use. For example i added a cool colour to a scene which made that particular part slightly blue, to symbolise cold and death. I then found a shade that i am going to use for the whole 2 minute opening. The colour is known as "warm" and it gives the scene a light-brownish finish, which makes it look more like a war film. I also started looking at the muzzle flashes that i am going to use. There are a number of different ones that i can use so i just looked at a few of them and decided which ones would be most suitable. I then selected a clip that needs muzzle flashes and placed the chosen muzzle flash over the top of the video. I then decreased the size and positioned it just in front of the gun to make it look like the gun is being fired.

FIlmed!

This morning i went to the arranged location to film the opening two minutes. I managed to film everything that i wanted plus some extra little scenes that i can add later on. Unfortunately, it rained during most of the filming and water filled up the trenches and foxholes. However, this made the film look slightly more realistic, because war is not always fought in sunshine. I will add pictures of the actors once i have uploaded them onto my computer and i will start editing the film next week at school.

Actors

Here are some pictures of what the actors will be wearing. I took the pictures at night because my dad thought it would look better.

This is my dad, dressed as a WW2 U.S. Paratrooper. He is wearing the 101st Airborne Division "Screaming Eagles" insignia on his left shoulder. He also has a Thompson Sub-machine gun. This is what the majority of the actors will be wearing but their weapons will vary between M1 Garands to Thompson Sub-Machine guns and M1 Carbines to a 30.Caliber machine gun.

Camera Testing

Before i go and film the opening two minutes, i want to get familiar with the equipment, especially with the camera. To do this i took the camera and tripod to the top of my garden and practised pan shots. The idea behind this is that, the first couple of seconds of the opening will be a pan shot of a worn-torn battlefield, so to make sure that i know how to do this, i filmed various parts of my garden.

Pictures of the filming location

This is a photo of a gun emplacement. This could be a good place to film some of the battle.

This photo is of a small campfire with pots and pans around the edge of it. I like the layout of the camp fire because it reminds me of a WW2 style film set.

This is a photo of a pig-sty that has been converted into a camouflaged weapons store room.

 This picture was taken inside a wooden hut. Displayed are the weapons that i am planning on using for the opening two minutes. They are authentic WW2 German weapons and i am planning on scattering them on the ground to add to the destruction of the battlefield. Since the weapons are real, it will give the opening an authentic feel and add to the realism of the film.

This is another picture of the inside of the barn. This is just a seating area for the actors.

This picture is of a dummy dressed in a WW2 German Paratrooper uniform. I am going to use the dummy in the opening because it will  will add to the destruction and chaos of the battle. The white pickup truck will not be there for the actually filming.

This is a picture of fallen trees. These will be good to use because it looks as if a battle has just happened and gives the film a more authentic look and feel.

This is another picture of the fallen trees plus a trench running through the middle of it. This is where i am planning to film most of the opening. There is also a U.S. Army tent in the background

This is a photo of a fallen tree. I am going to use this in my film because it looks as if there has been an artillery bombardment and the tree has been hit. This will also add to the authenticity of the opening.

This is another picture of a blown up tree. In the background there are some logs and another tent.

This picture shows a larger view of the field that i am going to use. There are a lot of fallen/blown up trees and a number of foxholes scattered over the place.

This is a close up of some of the logs. A foxhole can be also seen in the centre of the screen.

I am planning to use this part of the field to shoot the opening seconds of the film because there are a large number of fallen trees and foxholes. I am also going to scatter weapons and pieces of American and German equipment over the ground. Along with the fallen trees and foxholes, it will add to the chaos of the battle and show how horrific it must have been.

This is the last picture that i took. It shows more foxholes and trees. I think this will be the perfect location to film the opening two minutes because everything i need is already there.

Equipment

Today i collected the equipment that i will need to be able to film the two minute opening. The equipment is as follows:

• 1x Camera
• 1x Tripod
• 2x Sound recording equipment

Tomorrow i am going to collect the Dolley plus tracks as i will need to move the camera along on uneven ground

Sound Effects

The sound effects that i am thinking of using for my film are machine gun fire, preferably that of a Thompson Sub machine gun, rifle fire and explosions. I am planning to use a free copy right music/sound effects website to download these sounds.
So far i have found a good website called http://freesfx.co.uk/sfx/ which allows me to search for loads of different sound effects such as explosions and machine gun fire. It also enables me to search for good music that i can use.
I have also found a website called http://freeplaymusic.com/, which has a wide range of music. There are a few scores that i like, such as "Resonat Evil". This is quite a somber piece of music and i feel that it may be a good piece to use for the opening two minutes.

Sound Track

Today i am carrying on looking for some somber music that i can use in my opening. At the moment i have a couple of good songs that i am thinking of using, but i am still looking for something that will add to the disaster of the post battle. I am looking for music that has either a piano or violin or both and has quite a slow rhythm and tone. I am also having a look at some sound effects such as explosions and machine gun fire that i can use.

Filming Arranged

Today i phoned the people i am going to use in my film and arranged a date for it to be filmed. The filming date is now set for Saturday 6th November (weather permitting).