Risk Assessment

Probability - The likelihood of me and/or the participants involved in shooting my opening, realistically encountering the subjected risk.

 1. Very unlikely 

2. Unlikely 

3. Possibly 

4. Likely 

5. Very likely 

Health Risk - The scale at which the outcome of the subjected incident would effect your physical, mental or psychological health.

 1. Very low danger 

2. Some danger 

3. Relative danger 

4. Substantial danger 

5. Very substantial to fatal danger

Risk: Tripping over an object. - I will minimise this risk by searching the filming area before hand and marking out larger objects with bright tape. Probability of this would be 3/5 and I think there would be a 3/5 health risk.

Risk: Being hit by a car - I will minimise this risk by filming in below 30 mph areas for the most part. I will make sure I bring an extra person to observe and warn us for oncoming traffic on the main roads, when filming. Probability of this would be 2/5 and the health risk would be 4/5.

Risk: Being attacked by stranger with a weapon - To minimise this risk I would make sure we film all scenes in the morning in full daylight, make sure I have the ability to contact the emergency services and have an adult fairly near to where we are filming. Probability of this happening would be 1/5 and the health risk would be 5/5.

Pitch for my Ideas

What is it?

'Great allegiance'  

Genre - Crime/Thriller (British Gangster adaptation)

Context - Modern day Bristol. Corrupt estate with low economic status and class.

Target Audience - Primary: Men and Women aged 18 - 30, preferably working class, that are able to identify and relate to the circumstances in some cases. Secondary: Men and Women aged 40 - 50 from a middle class background, who are interested in seeing a much different culture.

Budget - Low to Medium

Synopsis - A young police officer from Bristol, Jamie Carter, is scapegoated into a last-throw, undercover operation, in one of the most dangerous, gang-dominated estates in the UK. Risking everything, this breath-taking urban experience follows his relationship with the ruthless, Ade Freeman, who is desperate to maintain his legacy.

Pitch - This film is guaranteed to excite, shock and entertain our target audience. It is set to be one of the truly defining Crime/Thriller films of the 21st century; with unrivaled uniqueness, edge and character. I believe this film both plays up to the traditional British Gangster conventions, with aspects like a voice over and British quick-witted humour, and also pushes the boundaries once set by the tiresome jokey undertone, most directors seem so desperate to cling on to.

The opening would sell this film to the most pedantic of critics. It is an impacting chase scene which will feature an array of empowering and exciting shots. The honesty of the location will allow my target audience to identify strongly with the setting, and not to mention the protagonist, who being an undercover police officer, will add an element of uniqueness to the storyline. From the off your audience will be captured by the effective Mise en Scene we will convey in our scenes. The opening will be perfectly balanced, intantly intreguing and undeniably unique.

One word to describe this film? Fresh. This is reflected in our primary audience, but I also believe this has the potential to be an extremely versatile film at the same time. It is not only a thrilling piece of drama, but also a look into a very much real reality many people face. This project is 100% worth your backing in my opinion and I believe it could be a major opportunity to create a leading British film which will be talked about for decades.

Film/Edit Schedule

Initial:

December 2014

Week following Monday 8th...

Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th (AM - 4pm) = around 4 to 6 hours - First filming. I will try and get most things right however I think that after review I will be likely to need more filming sessions.


Week following Monday 15th...

Monday 15th and Thursday 18th AM lesson time (5 hours) - Editing time. If lesson time is able to be utilized for just coursework, I will look to get the majority of my editing done then.  

Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st (AM - 4pm) - Second film slot. Will be used for improvements and finer/extra details.

Extra
- On Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, I will be able to stay after college and do extra editing - between 3-6 hours edit time.

Plan 

When it comes to editing, I plan to use 'Adobe Premier Pro' to do it. As I'm on my own I will try to manage my time as effectively as possible, dedicating at least 3 afternoons for extra edit time. Hopefully this will allow me to get the opening finished relatively quickly, and to a good standard. I will keep looking at previous students' more successful work as influence, looking specifically at their editing techniques, and also the resources available to improve the opening. I will also look at real Crime/thriller openings again to see how they are effective. Hopefully all this will increase my final grade.

Storyboard

Scripting/Drafting

*Voice over*

Rob: If you ask me whether I'm an easy-going sort of guy, I would reply yes. In fact, I'm the nicest man you'll ever meet. In many ways I'm your best friend. Matter of fact, (beat) I'm the only one you got.
- If you ask me whether I'm fair, every single man, woman and dog will have the same answer, and why wouldn't they? They all deal with me, because I make them my business. I look after this estate because I care about them all, they need me to, ya know, (changing tone) keep things ticking over. Obviously with this commitment to them, it's only right that I'm duely paid for my services.
- 20 years ago Marxfield was a shit-hole. Guns, violence, rape and drug abuse rates were at their highest ever. I watched my own Mother be brutally beaten to death in the corner of my maggot-infested room, while those cowards walked free on our streets. What did our majesty's beloved justice system do about this? Fuck all is the answer to that one, (changing gear) so now when we see a police officer on my streets, we use their life as a commemoration to my Mum's. It's only fair really.
- But let me ask you a question. What do you do when a no-good, back-stabbing copper gets on your nerves one too many times for your liking? You remind him just who he is, and who you are.
- The rest takes care of itself.

*End Scene*

Rob: (laughing at the start and not giving Ethan his full eye contact) It's funny really... How ya know (pause) people like you and me always seem to end up in these situations.

Ethan: They're coming for you Ade. You better leave now before...(interrupted)

Rob: (shouting now) People like you, don't beat, me.


Ethan: You know what... Fuck y...(Ade signals and a bag is placed over Carter's head)

Shot List

1) Establishing shot of estate. High angle. Crane Movement.
2) Long shot of wall and hedges. Low angle. Tracking movement. (T1)
3) Mid shot of first building. Low angle. Tilt up to reveal full scale. (T2)
4) Extreme long shot of boss character. Tracking in.
5) POV shot of boss walking down road. Mid angle.
6) 3rd person, over-shoulder shot of (C1) with phone to ear. Tracking movement.
7) Extreme long shot of protagonist.
8) Long shot of (C2) against garage door. Track in. (T3)
9) Mid shot of (C2). Tilt down.
10) Close up of (C2) face waking up.
11) Extreme close up of phone.
12) Close up of watch face.
12) Close up of face in realization of his mistakes. (C2)
13) Long shot of (C2) getting up and sprinting away. Tracking movement.
14) Long shot of (C1) standing still with phone to ear.
15) Close up of (C1). Panning shot which rotates around his head.
16) Close up of (C1). Tilt down to phone in hand.
17) Mid shot of (C1). Track out as he begins to walk off.
18) Long shot of (C2) running. Tracking movement.
19) Close up of (C2's) feet. Low angle.
20) High angle. Long shot of (C2) running. Arc movement.
21) Long shot of (C2) going around corner. Stedi-Cam.
22) POV shot from (C2) running.
23) Close up from the back of (C1) looking left.
24) Close up from side angle (C1) looking right.
25) Close up of (C1's) facial expression.
26) Extreme close up of eyes (C1).
27) Extreme close up of eyes (C2).
28) Long shot of (C2). Tracking movement.
29) Mid shot of (C3and4) grabbing (C2) from round the corner.
30) Panning movement as all 3 struggle.
31) 3rd person over shoulder shot (C2). (C1) walks into view.
32) Side angle. Long shot showing all characters as (C1) approaches.
33) Shot reverse shot for duration of dialogue between (C1 and 2).
34) Close up of (C1).
35) Close up of (C2).

Footage of Locations

Costume Planning

Protagonist

• Blue Trainers
  - Blue jeans
  - Dark Hoodie
  
  

  Boss

  - Grey Suit
  - Coat
  - Watch
  
  
  
  
   
  
  

Planning of Music - Soundtrack

Main Soundtrack

https://www.freesound.org/people/day_tripper13/sounds/126401/ - This soundtrack will be played on a loop throughout most of the 'wake up' scene. I felt this sound was edgy and effective which allows me to convey my genre well. When finding a film score soundtrack, I took a lot of inspiration from crime dramas like Luther. What I noticed was that a lot of the time they would use bassy, looped beats that left the viewer feeling nervous but unaware as to what could happen next.

Secondary Ideas...

• https://www.freesound.org/people/DirtyJewbs/sounds/125364/ - This soundtrack could lend to a more confrontational scenario. Depending on how my filming develops and eventually ends up, this could be an interesting non-diegetic backdrop. In terms of keeping to my genre it fits well, it is urban and on-edge which fits in well with my location and storyline.
  -  https://www.freesound.org/people/Flick3r/sounds/48489/ : To be honest, I doubt I'll use this. It's got more of a Sci-Fi feel to it. The reason I even am considering it is the possibility of using it for a small part building up to the climax of the scene, as it is a very good example of how suspense can be created through non-diegetic sound.
  - https://www.freesound.org/people/davidthegreat14/sounds/245381/ - This score is very dramatic and not nesessarilly right for my opening, however when I heard it I thought it could be good in places. For example at the very beginning alongside some establishing shots.
•  https://www.freesound.org/people/TheTunk/sounds/213275/ - This maybe isn't in fitting with my genre but I feel it would be a possibility in a get away scene I am planning on doing.
  

Photgraphs of Locations

Filming Locations on PhotoPeach

Props List

- A Mobile Phone.
- A watch
- Plastic bag
- 2 Knives

Structure of the narrative

Actor 1 (protagonist): Ethan Miller
Actor 2 (Boss) Robert Rowe

Narrative: The scene will open with the protagonist waking up on the street (at time of writing it will be in Park st.) He will be awoken by the piercing ring of his phone, before looking at his watch and jetting off in sudden realization. It will essentially turn into a get-away scene, in which I will cover a few of Bristol's locations. The opening will culminate in the Protagonist and the Boss meeting up before being covered with a bag over his head. The last scene will be the Protagonist waking up in a completely different location having been captured.

Sound: Predominately, there will be a voice over which will introduce the themes and possible story line. Synchronous sound will feature at points, for example when the phone rings at the start. The more I include this, the more it will add to the edgy mood and atmosphere I'm trying to create. I think a key aspect of the opening will be the non-diegetic soundtrack as it will set the tempo in a get away scene.

Preliminary Task

Planning of titles

Moodboard

My moodboard on PhotoPeach

Initial Planning Ideas

Crime/Thriller/British Gangster 

Through research and looking into previous videos I have decided I will go down this sort of root. I feel it adds a much newer and more fresh look on a British Gangster genre (which in my opinion, is slightly too comical for what I want to try and create.) The reason I was influenced to add this element into my opening is because of my research into British dramas. For example, 'Top Boy'. This is an edgy, London based crime drama which would fit well into an element of what I am trying  to produce...



Another T.V drama with that edgy element I am looking for would be 'Luther'...

Ideas

Location

I will use both more urban and also sophisticated areas within Bristol. Some of my initial possibilities would be; Bristol Docks, Temple Meads train station, Park street or Clifton suspension Bridge. As I further look into my planning I will be able to look at more specific areas.

 Costume/props

Protagonist: Hoodie, jeans, chain, high top trainers, coat. I will mainly use dark clothing to keep a defined edgy look to the actor. In terms of props, I won't have any guns. Being set in England I feel it would be much more realistic to include a knife or something along those lines. Other props will probably include;
A phone
Keys
Wallet etc.

Music 

 There are a few options that I've considered which vary slightly, and ultimately it will be a choice when I've fully decided what root I want to go down:

• Deepest Shame (Andy C remix) - Plan B (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUPH6_I-Qsk)
• Flashing Lights - Chase and Status (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbsjY4vfbcg)
• End Credits - Chase and Status (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXIHXQjbtl8)
• War Rages On (Etherwood Remix) - Alex Clare (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqX4-tKdxWs)
• Run - Kill it kid ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN86htoSrpg)

To be honest, a final decision will only be possible when I have more idea into mainly who my actor will be and secondly how it will be story boarded.

 Actors (Protagonist)

Variety that would be most effective depending on what root I go
down...

Will Roberts

Rob Rowe

Ethan Miller 

Tom Maggs

Shot Types 

I will look to include a lot of close ups or even extreme close ups for intensity and drama. Long shots of the protagonist walking or running is also something I will look to utilise. Obviously to create a setting I need establishing shots, and all other necessary shots for professionalism. I think pans out and in will really change the mood and atmosphere of the scenes likewise with tracking movements. I will also try to incorperate POV shots into the intro as it creates a stronger link between how the audience will feel and the protagonist.

 

 

Sound

I aim to have my non-diegetic soundtrack in the background quite a lot of my opening. With my opening being filmed in public areas, ambient sound will inevitably be a feature (if not over-powered by the music or dialogue) and it will also add to the realism. At the moment I'm really considering the idea of having a voice-over as it is a common theme in most of the British Gangsters I have enjoyed. Asynchronous sound will add to the edginess and intensity of what I am planning, and I will look to really emphasize some of the key moments. Direct address is something I may test out, but at the moment I'm not entirely sure how well it would work.