Link to FMP Brief – Unit 13 FMP PDF
Working individually, I must research, plan and produce my final product. I must complete the following:
- Relevant, sustained research that supports the design, development and production of my documentation. – COMPLETE
- Pre-production documentation that supports a well-planned, organised and safe production. COMPLETE
- A presentation of my developed idea and pre-production documentation (23/03/18) – COMPLETE
- An evaluative process that reflects upon and informs my production – COMPLETE
- The final product, with a screening edit if required DEADLINE 18/05/2018
Formative assessment (pre-production presentation) 23/03/18 – COMPLETE
Final deadline 18/05/18
A reflective diary must be logged until Friday 18th May 2018.
What to do during independent study
During my independent study, I must do the following during my activity/location for task 2.
Pre-Production
- Conduct research
- Complete analysis
- Complete pre – production
Production
- Film and edit
- Assist others with production
- Conduct ongoing research if any problems arise
Post-Production
- Complete final edit
- Reshoot as required
- Conduct ongoing research if any problems arise
Final Screening
- Complete final edit
Proposal feedback
My feedback on my proposal had important annotations on it that will help me during this task.
- Instead of creating a 10 minute short film, I will instead create a 3-5 minute length. This is a better length because it will save a lot more time and not make my audience bored.
- How can I make my camera shots the most important technical part of my film? By doing camera workshops with the technician, using different equipment and experimenting with different shots.
- For the costume design it will be helpful to speak to the students who do the college make up course as they can advise me for the costume design during the production of my short film.
- How will I use my research to define my idea?
Primary Research
Focus Group
Question 1 – What do you think will make for a compelling plot; please give me your top 3 ideas
- For your plot it should be about two characters coming together as the world is coming to an end.
Question 2 – What location should I use and what should it look like?
- Bedroom with a blank tv screen
- Bunker
Question 3 – What do you think the characters should look like?
- Very neat, clean and normal clothing for the human
Question 4 – Any further tips for me about how I should produce this short film
- Very sound heavy
- Quick shots
- Show relationship between characters through cinematography
- Little dialogue
- How will you make your cyborg look realistic
- A good film to be influenced by is ‘Seeking a friend’
Interview
Question 1 – What locations do you think work for a short sci – film?
- Spaceship
- Abandoned City
- Dystopian Future
- White rooms which are clean and pure
- Rustic Atmosphere
- Urban City
- Alien Planet
Question 2 – What shots do you think would look effective?
- Shots from ‘Blade Runner’
- Looking out shot
- Establishing shot
- Isolation shot
- Close up shot
- Dynamic shot
Question 3 – Describe what your mind thinks of when it comes to a cyborg’s appearance
- ‘Terminator’ influence design
- Chip on head
- The design must not be massively over the top
- Metal Plates
- Half Robot and Half Human
Secondary Research
Existing Tv, Film and Radio Content
Blade Runner: Tears in the rain monologue
Blade Runner is a neo noir science fiction that was directed by Ridley Scott and released in 1982. In this clip Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer) does a speech to Deckard (Harrison Ford) after saving him from falling from a building.
How can this clip influence my shot film?
This clip will influence the fight scene and ending of my short film.
AI Artificial Intelligence clip
AI Artificial Intelligence is a 2001 film directed by Steven Spielberg.
In this clip David (Haley Joel Osment), Teddy (Jack Angel) and Gigole Joe (Jude Law) are in a forest at night. David asks if the moon is really coming to earth. However, Teddy says he doesn’t know yet and David recommends they take another path.
Ex Machina – How Ava was created
Ex Machina is a 2015 film directed by Alex Garland
In this clip Nathan Bateman (Oscar Issac) and Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) are discussing about robot technology.
How can this clip influence my short film?
This clip can influence my cyborg’s backstory.
How can this clip influence my short film?
This clip can influence the beginning and location of short film.
Internet Research
This article published by communications of the ACM tech news predicts how robots will take over humans by the 22nd century and talks about how AI will be equal to humans and potentially surpass them in the future.
An example this article gives, is that some futurists believe that AI will surpass human abilities and people will be become absorbed into AI based organisms.
However, a computer scientist called Ernest Davis from New York university believes AI won’t take over humans yet. He gave an example of this in which a seven year old surpassed an AI in terms of common sense and vision.
What have I learned from this article?
From this article, I have learned that AI has the potential to surpass humans in the future. During my reading of this article I have come up with a couple of story ideas that can be used in my short film.
I have also came up with another story idea for my short film in which the main character (male) is the only human left on earth and cyborgs have taken over the world. A female criminal cyborg has gone rogue and it is up to the only human left to stop the female cyborg from continuing to go rogue.
Pre-Production Presentation
Feedback
On Friday 23rd March 2018, I had a lot of positive feedback and constructive criticism after I pitched my pre-production presentation to my media group. Below, you will see two screenshots of what they said after my presentation. They posted their feedback on Facebook.
Written Sheet Feedback
Initial thoughts
- ‘You’re very enthusiastic about your idea
- ‘Interesting future concept’
- ‘Very ambitious’
What you have done well:
- ‘Test Shots are great and the music choice is fab’
- ‘You have a storyline and seem confident in it, this will help when making your film. Nice test shot’
- Great test shots/editing
What you need to improve/consider
- ‘Possibly a better location’
- ‘Location and mise en scene’
- ‘Don’t show tracks in shot’
Important Presentation Feedback Points
- Refine and develop idea more
- Choose different location for my short film
- Refine what time period my short film will be set in
My Written Response to Pre-Production Presentation
- I will refine and develop my idea more by refining my script.
- I will look at different locations for my short film and see which one will be the best one to use depending on what time period I set my film in.
- I will refine what time period I will set my film in. I will do this by instead placing it in the 21st century in the year 2030.
Link to video of my presentation
Pre-Producton
Narrative
Act 1 – The Beginning
Set up
Wyatt lives in the 21st century in the year 2030. He works as an agent for the government. He is tasked with a mission which is to defeat a female cyborg experiment from escaping and going on a rampage. In addition, he has the goal of finding his childhood friend (Juniper) who went missing when he was younger.
Plot point 1
An 18 year old girl is hiding behind a tree as she senses someone is trying to find her. Her facial appearance is covered up so no one knows who she is. Behind the bushes, Wyatt uses his binoculars to try to find the girl. The girl is scared at first. However, she gains enough courage to leave her hiding spot and walks into an exposed area waiting to confront the person who will stop her.
Wyatt’s binoculars detect the 18-year-old girl’s location which lets him know where she is. He leaves his spot to confront the girl. Her full facial appearance is still kept a mystery.
Act 2 – The Middle
Confrontation
Wyatt confronts the 18 year old girl and says he must take her back. She shrugs off Wyatt’s comment and slowly reveals her facial appearance. She is a cyborg called Olympia.
Wyatt uses a weapon called an emp (electro magnetic pulse) taser that is meant to turn off Olympia. They have a brawl with each other and Olympia poses as a challenge as Wyatt does his best to turn her off. During their brawl, Olympia is on the path to victory and decides to finish off Wyatt with the EMP taser. However, she decides against this decision. Wyatt becomes confused by her decision not to kill him and asks why she won’t finish him off and demands an explanation from Olympia.
Olympia sighs and switches off the emp taser. She tells him that Wyatt knows her and claims to be his childhood friend ‘Juniper’ who went missing when he was younger. Wyatt becomes shocked by this revelation and doesn’t believe Olympia.
Plot Point 2
After their fight Olympia claims to be Wyatt’s missing childhood friend ‘Juniper’. He becomes shocked by her claim and disbelieves what she is saying.
Act 3 – The End
Olympia still claims she is Juniper and slowly walks up to Wyatt. Wyatt trys backing away from her in fear. Olympia stops in front of Wyatt as he sits up and hands him a toy robot. She says it will remind him. Wyatt becomes surprised as it is one of his childhood toys that went missing and claims to have not remembered what part of his childhood it went missing in.
He sits up and winds it up. As Wyatt thoughtfully stares at his childhood toy, memories of his childhood come rushing through to him and he remembers when he lost it. Wyatt lost it in a playground when he was younger, he also realises that the playground is also the childhood location of where him and Juniper played together.
Resolution
Wyatt slowly looks at Olympia and asks if she really is Juniper. Olympia’s lips slowly move and Wyatt waits to hear what she has to say. It will then cut to black creating an open ending left for viewers and the audience to figure out.
Character Bios
Wyatt (Government Agent)
Age: 20
Personality: Serious, Clever and Committed to his work.
Appearance: Caucasian, Brown Slicked Back Hair and Brown eyes.
Attire: Suit and Tie.
Goal: Succeeding to complete his mission to defeat the cyborg and to find his missing childhood friend.
Backstory: Wyatt used to have a childhood friend called Juniper. However, she mysteriously disappeared when they played together when they were younger and Wyatt has always wondered where she disappeared off to that day she went missing. When he turned eighteen years old he joined the government to be an agent and secured this job from his Uncle who works as a higher rank agent.
Olympia
Age: 18
Personality: Mysterious and Courageous.
Appearance: Caucasian, Dark Blonde hair, Blue eyes and Half Human/Cyborg.
Attire: Tanktop, Bandana, Boots and Combat trousers.
Backstory: The only thing known about Olympia is that she was created by the government and her only purpose was to assist special task forces such as the military or government agents. It is unknown how she escaped. Towards the end of the film, she claims to be the long lost friend of Wyatt and even has his childhood toy to prove her claim.
However, we don’t know if she truly is Juniper as the film is an open ending.
Treatment
Title – Olympia, This is the title for my short film. It is called Olympia because it is the name of the cyborg.
Format – It will be uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo. I will shoot my short film with a Canon EOS 750D (DSLR) and my back up cameras will be a Nikon and cameras from college.
Rationale – It will be between 3 – 5 minutes.
Budget – The budget will be a micro budget.
Style – My main genre will be sci-fi and the sub genre will be drama.
Target Audience – I will be aiming my product at young and older adults. The age range will be 18+.
Synopsis
The main genre for my short film will be a sci-fi and the sub genre will be drama. It will feature two main characters a human (male) and a cyborg (female). It will be set in the 21st century and the year 2030.
Equipment,budget, props and resource list
My short film will be a micro budget.
Equipment
- Canon EOS 750D 18-55 ml lens DSLR Camera
- Nikon DSLR Camera Back Up Camera
- Dolly
- Tripod
- Tracks
Props
- Suit and Tie for Wyatt
- Binoculars Prop provided by me
- Two Robotic Toys provided by me
- EMP taser (Zoom H4 Handy Recorder) provided by college
- Bandanna,Tank top,Boots and Combat trousers for Olympia
Crew List
Virinderpal (Sammy) Gabrria-Nivas – Director, Writer, DOP (Director of Photography) and Editor
Georgia Sheward – Actress playing Olympia
Sol Shuckerbergh – Actor playing Wyatt
Make up Artist – Tasha Wicks and other make up artists that will be acknowledged in the credits.
There is no official sound and camera operator for my short film. However, whoever does these two job roles for my production will be acknowledged in the credits for my film.
Location Recce
List of Locations I might potentially use for my short film
- Malvern Park Solihull
- Tudor Grange Park Solihull
- Snitterfield Bushes Stratford Upon Avon
- Cloweswood Earslwood
- Oakley Wood Warwick
- Rough Hill Wood near Redditch, Worcestershire
I found a useful article that helped me when I was finding locations to use for my short film.
The location that will be used for my short film is Avon Bank Gardens which is located in Stratford Upon Avon.
Above you will see a slide show of photos of Avon Bank Gardens. Since it was a large location I took my time to explore and see what area of Avon Bank Gardens will be suitable to use as the location for my short film.
Positives
- Different areas in Avon Bank Gardens that are accessible.
- A diverse range of areas to use as the location of my short film.
Negatives
- Depending on the weather the surface could be slippery or muddy.
- Equipment can become damaged or crew members could hurt themselves due to the slippery surface.
- Avon Bank Gardens is a public area and whatever problems might occur will cause the production time to slow down.
Shot List
Test Shot – To see a test shot of what the beginning/opening of what my short film will look like please click the on the link – Olympia Test Shot
Beginning
Introduction
Close up of a tree. It will then change to an extreme close up once the covered up facial appearance of the 18 year old girl is within frame.
Extreme close up of her upper body the camera will then tilt up to create an eye level shot of her sensing something.
Medium shot of the 18 year old girl still hiding behind the tree. The camera will then crab to the right assisted by the tracks creating a wipe cut. After the wipe cut, it will be of Wyatt fiddling with his binoculars behind the bushes.
Medium close up of Wyatt’s back while still fiddling with his binoculars.
Close up of Wyatt finishing fiddling with his binoculars. He takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. Wyatt then reopens his eyes with a determined expression and puts his finger on a button that will allow him to locate the 18-year-old girl.
Extreme close up of Wyatt’s finger pressing the button and puts it to his eyes so he can look through a screen to locate the girl.
Long shot panning from the left to the right of Wyatt looking around the forest trying to find the 18 year old girl.
Over the shoulder of the 18 year old girl looking on at Wyatt.
Medium shot of the 18 year old girl trying to back away further behind the tree in fear. As she backs away more behind the tree her body starts to tremble.
Extreme close up of her hand shaking against the tree. The camera will the pan to the left and tilt up to show she is looking at her hand shaking. She then takes a deep breath and clenches her fist.
Her body stops shaking after she clenches her fist. She then leaves her hiding position from the tree. The shot will then change to a long shot of her walking.
Extreme long shot of the 18 year old girl walking into an exposed area and waiting to face Wyatt.
Long shot panning to the right it will then stop as Wyatt’s binoculars make a sound telling him the location of where the 18 year old girl is.
It will then change to a medium shot zooming in of Wyatt putting his binoculars down as he has found the 18 year old girl.
The shot will the change to a medium close up of him leaving the bushes and going to confront the girl.
The following shots will be used when Wyatt takes his time to confront the girl.
Long shot and Medium tracking shot.
Middle
The Confrontation and the Reveal
Extreme long shot of Wyatt finally confronting the 18 year old girl.
Over the shoulder shot of Wyatt looking at the 18 year old girl and herself looking at Wyatt.
Medium shot of Wyatt making eye contact with the 18 year old girl as well as her doing it too.
Close up of Wyatt taking a deep breath and telling the girl his mission is to take her back.
Close up of the girl shrugging of Wyatt’s comment and slowly taking her bandana off.
Over the shoulder of her taking off her bandanna. Overlapping close up of Wyatt witnessing the full reveal of the girls facial appearance.
Close up tilting up to show her full appearance which is a cyborg. Her name is revealed to be Olympia and does a sarcastic smile.
Close up shot of Wyatt grabbing his EMP taser and slowly waking up to her.
Extreme eye level shot of Olympia looking at Wyatt this will be done twice. Along with Wyatt looking at her to as he still walks up to her.
Close up of Wyatt reaching his distance and Olympia still looks at him.
Medium shot of Wyatt reaching his full distance at Olympia and fainting at her. She becomes startled by this.
Extreme long shot of Wyatt quickly dashing to use his EMP to turn her off.
Fight Scene
Over the shoulder of Olympia dodging Wyatt’s attack. Medium shot of Olympia kicking him in the stomach and punching him in the face which causes Wyatt to fall back a bit.
Dutch tilt of Wyatt falling back a bit and recovering himself.
Close up of Olympia smiling at Wyatt in a cocky way knowing that she is going to be a challenge.
Close up shot of Wyatt looking at Olympia while gaining back his composure.
Medium shot of Wyatt thrusting his arm and kicking Olympia’s shoulder. Medium shot of Olympia punching him in the stomach and then kicking his arm. Wyatt slightly loses balance but punches her on the shoulder.
Wide shot of Olympia losing balance. Close up shot of Wyatt thrusting his arm it will then switch to a Medium shot of Wyatt using his weapon against Olympia’s stomach. Following this is a wide shot of Olympia kicking his shoulder. It will then switch to a Medium shot of Olympia punching him twice in the face with the final punch causing him to fall to the floor.
Low angle shot of Wyatt falling and his weapon falling out of his hand. He then does his best to get back at up but Olympia pins her foot against his stomach.
Worm’s eye of Olympia smiling in a triumphant way knowing the victory is in her favour.
Low angle shot of Wyatt quickly figuring out what his next move will be to escape. He then kicks Olympia’s arm. The shot will then change to a Worm’s eye of Olympia falling towards the side due to the impact of the kick and there will then be a wide shot of her falling a bit and grabbing her arm. Meanwhile, Wyatt quickly gets back up.
Close up shot of Wyatt looking at Olympia and then grabbing his weapon. It will then change to a wide shot of Wyatt dashing while having his arm ready to thrust at her once again to subdue Olympia.
Close up shot of Olympia while in the background Wyatt is dashing at her to turn her off. It will then change to a eye level shot of her sensing the attack. Following this, it will change to a wide shot Olympia of quickly turning around and tightly gripping Wyatt’s arm.
Close up of Olympia gripping Wyatt’s arm. It will then change to a medium shot of him in pain and falling back a bit due to the power of Olympia’s grip. Following this, it will change of a wide shot of Olympia quickly standing up and kicking Wyatt in stomach which causes him to fall backwards.
Low angle shot of Wyatt falling to the floor along with his EMP taser falling out of his hand again.
Wide shot of Olympia grabbing the EMP taser and confronting Wyatt who is doing his best to get back up.
Close up of Olympia gritting her teeth and playing with the EMP taser in her hands. She stops playing with the EMP taser. She grips it tighlty and presses a button that makes it go to its highest meter which will be used to finnish off Wyatt.
Low angle shot of Wyatt closing his eyes in fear. However, he reopens his eyes to see that nothing has happened. Next, will be a medium shot of Olympia a few steps away from Wyatt, She breathes in and out so she can keep her cool.
Low angle shot of Wyatt being confused and asks Olympia why she won’t finnish him off. Next, is a close up of her staring at Wyatt long and hard. Following this, is a wide shot of him shouting at her for an explanation.
Extreme close up tilting up of Olympia sighing and turning off the empty taser. After she hesitates and puts the weapon away, Olympia tells Wyatt she is Juniper a person he knew very well.
Ending
Olympia’s claim to be Juniper
Medium to close up shot zooming of Wyatt in shock and trying to debunk Olympia’s claim.
Medium shot of Olympia telling Wyatt she is Juniper. Olympia slowly walks as says her line a long with an over the shoulder shot of her walking towards Wyatt.
Close up of Wyatt tells Olympia she isn’t Juniper and trys backing away from her.
Wyatt’s long-lost childhood toy
Over the shoulder of Olympia standing in front of Wyatt. Close up of her telling Wyatt an item will remind him. She reaches into her pocket to hand him a toy. Following this is an over the shoulder of Wyatt being surprised as he sits back up.
Medium close up of Wyatt taking the toy from Olympia and fully stands up as he recognises the toy is long lost childhood toy. Wyatt says he can’t remember when he lost it.
Extreme close up of Wyatt winding up the toy. Next, is the same shot but he becomes surprised to find out it is still working.
Extreme close up of Wyatt’s face thoughtfully staring at his childhood toy. The camera will zoom in more to his eye as he remembers at what point of his childhood he lost his toy.
Is Olympia really Juniper? and the open ending
Medium close up of Wyatt slowly looking up at Olympia and asks her if she really is Juniper.
Extreme close of Olympia’s slowly moving her lips as she is about to say something. Next, is the same shot of Wyatt looking at Olympia as he waits to hear what she has to say. However, the screen will cut to black creating an open ending.
Extra Notes
My lecturer advised me the following when I showed him my shot list.
- If you aren’t happy with a shot, take your time to do it again because it will improve your camera work.
- Take your time with the camera work and don’t rush it.
- Write a shooting script, incorporate your information from your shot list into your script.
Shooting Script
Shooting Script Begining/Introduction
Shooting Script Middle Confrontation and Reveal
Shooting Script Middle Fight Scene
Shooting Script Ending Olympia’s Claim
Shooting Script Ending Wyatt’s long lost chilhood toy
Shooting Script Ending Is Olympia really Juniper and open ending
Production Schedule
FMP Provisional Production schedule PDF
FMP Final Production Schdule PDF
Formatted Script
Updated Pre-Production
Back Up Make up Plan
Due to difficulties to secure a makeup artist for my short film my lecturer has advised my to do the following back up plan.
My back up plan is that she is a normal facial appearance however when she comes into my establishing shot Olympia’s eyes will glow a colour (red/yellow) and come down again. A cyborg noise will be used over the top of it as well. It will make the audience know she is a cyborg.
In Final Cut Pro X, you illuminate her eyes with red, yellow or green a long with the cyborg sound effect which is all you need.
Influence for Back Up Makeup plan (Predator 1987 Contact Scene)
Predator is a 1987 science fiction, action and horror film directed by John McTiernan. The Predator franchise was created by brothers Jim and John Thomas. The franchise has spawned different types of media products such as: novels comic books and video games.
In the contact scene, Sergant Mac sees the alien hunter and prepares to shoot it down.
In terms of this clip influencing my back up make up plan, the predator’s eyes and sound effect will influence the camera shots and sound at the beginning of my short film.
My influence for Olympia’s eyes lighting up
Updated Script
Due to the advice my lecturer gave me over the past two days for the week commencing 23/04/2018 I have decided to cut the fight scene from my script because it is coming nearer to the deadline of my project. In addition, I would like to keep things more simple and achievable.
Below, you will see the new version of my script which contains only six pages and changes that have been made to the story of my short film.
My new location/setting and Actors
Below, you will see the names of my new actors for my short film as my old actors dropped out due to other commitments.
Bethany Homans – Olympia
Mark Whitehouse – Wyatt
The Willows Theatre (Newsiest Location For My Short Film)
- Due to my female actress dropping out again, I have been advised by my lecturer to change the gender of Olympia to a male. Below, you will see my updated pre-production that reflects this change in my project.
Title (Olympus) – This is the title for my short film because it is the name for my cyborg character Olympus.
The New Setting For My Short Film – Modern 21st Century Inside Building.
Olympus Character
Age – 18
Gender: Male
Personality: Mysterious and Courageous.
Appearance: Caucasian, Slicked Back Blonde Hair, Blue eyes and Half Human/Cyborg.
Attire: Bandana, Ripped Hoodie and Ripped Trousers
Backstory: The only thing known about Olympus is that he was created by the government and his only purpose was to assist special task forces such as the military or government agents. It is unknown how he escaped. Towards the end of the film, he claims to be the long lost friend of Wyatt and even has his childhood toy to prove his claim.
However, we don’t know if he is Juniper as the film is an open ending.
Updated Script Version 4
Updated Formatted Script Verison 4
Updated Location Recce
I was unable to get the Willows Theatre as the location for my short film because of the final shows for the year and external companies using it the evening. So, therefore the location has been changed to the HND room (maths block), an old office in the ICT block and another room which is located in the maths block in my college. The location I will be using is the HND room. However, I will change the location to my back up locations if I am unable to film in the HND room. Below, you will see a slideshow of photos I have taken for these locations.
Updated Crew List
Sam Britton – Camera Operator
Matt English – Camera Operator and Shared DOP (Director of Photograghy)
Leighton James – Actor playing Wyatt
Joshua James – Actor playing Olympus
Virinderpal (Sammy) Gabrria-Nivas – Director, Producer, Shared DOP (Director of photography), Writer and Editor
Updated Equiment, Props and Resource List
- 2 Led Lights
- 2 Light Stands
- Rode Boom Pole
- Rode Microphone
- Canon 50ml 1.8 Lens
- Canon Wide Lens
- Final Cut Pro (Apple Editing Software) Version 10.4.2 as of 30th April 2018
- Grey Hollister Hoddie
- Red Bandana
Updated character Bio’s
My character’s appearance changed when I found new replacement actors.
Olympus’s Appearance and Attire : Caucasian, Blue eyes and Brown Hair, Grey Ripped Hollister Hoddie and Red Bandana
Wyatt’s Appearance, Caucasian, Slicked Back Curly Brown Hair and Blue eyes.
Final Product
To see the final product please click the link below.
Sammy Productions 
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