Friday, 21 November 2014

Digital News Production - Filming the 'Live' RSPB Interview

Today we filmed our "Live" piece on Lodge Hill. We went to Lodge Hill, and met up with Rolf Williams the communications officer for the RSPB, he was very helpful with our interview and answered all of our questions and handled it in a very professional manner, he also gave us the answers which we were looking for.










The problems that occurred was with the sound element of the shoot. We were using the Fostex and 2 clip mic for Charlie and Rolf the mice were working fine, however the foster was the issue. As I have very little experience with working with the fostex I didn't know all the functions properly. Every time we tried to feed the sound from the clip mice to the fostex, it would drain all it's battery life away. This made it impossible to use it as it was phantom powering the clip mic which meant it sent all it's battery life to the mics, which wasn't needed as they had their own battery support. In the end we had to use the sound from the Canon, this is something I wasn't happy with as the sound element from the Canon isn't very good and all the wind that passes will be picked us and ruin the sound and shot.

After returning the fostex to Ferg, I told him our problem and he told me that it was the phantom powering that was on. He then went on to tell me that it could have been turned off in the menu settings.

Overall from this experience I have learnt to always know the equipment that I book out and know it's important function which could come in handy on a shoot. Also to check if all the equipment has battery, a simple but yet effective tip.

Digital News Production - Contacting Representative of RSPB


Today we went onto the RSPB site to see who we could find to interview for out story on the Lodge Hill. We sent out an email to the Medway Local Group who are dealing with this story and who are against it and trying to put an end to the reconstruction of Lodge Hill.

In our email we stated who we are and that we wanted a representative from the RSBP to speak to us about to issue.

This way of talking with people I don't normally like as it's not face to face or even over the phone, which could make it a lot easier for them to either ignore us. I will hope for a contact number so we can proceed with this in a better and faster manner.

Thursday, 20 November 2014

Fiction Adaptation - Props List

I will need to obtain these props for my film to add to the scene and make it look realistic.


  • Golden Ring - This is for Darren, he will be wearing it when he stabs David. Then later on when you see the running over scene he will be wearing it again. This will tell the audience and David that it was Darren who stabbed David and why.
  • Fake Knife - This is for the stabbing scene. I will cut off the end of the knife and add blood to it, this is so when Darren stabs David you see the end of the knife pressed against David's side. On the close up it will look like the knife has gone through.
  • Flower Pin - This will be warn by David's friend James - This is for a verse of the poem, which will relate to the pin on his shirt.
  • Old Fashion TV - This is for the forrest scene. David will see what he has done wrong in his life through the TV screen.
  • Fake Blood - This will be needed for all the scene to add to the scenes. 
  • Blood Drip - This is for the hospital scene to show that it's a hospital.
  • Stethoscope - This os for the doctor to wear during the hospital scene
  • Car - This is forth running over scene to show the David in a Car 

Fiction Adaptation - Location Ideas

For my film I will need 4 location to film. I need a Pub preferable with an outside area to film David getting stabbed scene.

Something like this would be ideal for the scene. If I can't find a pub with an outside area or I can't film outside for some reason I will look for a back up and film inside. 

For the next scene I want to find a forrest for the David and Death scenes. 

I want a forrest as I want to show a "Limbo" state of David's mind, as he hasn't yet passed on but is close to that point. Also I want it to be creepy and a forrest is the best place for that.

For the next scene I want a hospital bedroom, for the hospital scene.

I want the room to be dark, this is because I want to show that this is a dark time for David as he is dying. Also with the advantage of a dark room I could use any bedroom and hit a spot light on the bed and make it look like a hospital with only a doctor and a few props. 

My final location is for the Ruby run over scene, I need a quietish road side for this scene.

Something like this would be good, as I need a road that isn't too quite that hardly no cars come, but not too busy that too many do. 

Finding these locations are the key to my scenes and will make them believable and without them I think the story will fall apart. 

















Fiction Adaptation - Filming Dates

I have set some initial filming dates which I hope to stick to, unless of rain or character complications occur.

Filming Day 1 - Friday 21st November - Ruby ran over scene

Filming Day 2 - Sunday 23rd November - Pub scene

Filming Day 3 - Tuesday 25th November - Forrest scene and Hospital scene

Fiction Adaptation - Casting for Actors

I have placed ads out for my production on 3 different websites.
 Casting Call Pro, was the first site I uploaded my advert to. In the advert I mentioned the story synopsis, what I am adapting from and character roles needed. 

The role I advertised are;




 I hope with sending these adverts out early, that I hear back from people sooner and can cast people quicker and start the filming process much sooner. This will prevent any rushing around at a later date.


Fiction Adaptation - Presentation of Idea

Today we had to present our initial ideas to the class and Helen. We went in alphabetical order which meant I was in the middle. When it was my turn, Helen had to step out of a while leaving Simon to take over, I didn't mind this change, however I really wanted Helen to hear my idea as I wanted to hear what she thought about it as she's making us and not Simon. I presented my idea to Simon, I was a little nervous so I don't present it the way that I wanted. As a result of this I didn't tell my idea as clearly as I wanted to, which left a few people confused. Also I only had my story plot fully developed and didn't know what all my characters were going to be like.

Simon's feedback was to make sure I knew fully who my characters are as  he said, once you know that you can put them in any scenario and you'll know how they would respond to that scenario. I took this into consideration as I knew that this had to be done. He also said I need to consider locations and make sure they fit for the scene. Again I knew that I had to do that in order to fully understand my scenes and know the potential of what I can do in them.

From that feedback I knew that I have a lot to do, I need to fully understand each and every character in my story, so that I can use what I know about them and make more interesting plots and scenarios in my story. Furthermore I will look carefully into location which I can film my scene in. I need to make sure that the locations I pick, perfectly fit the scene and scenario on the scene, this way I can take full advantage of the location and make the scene look good.

After this I went to Helen and asked if I could speak to her about me idea as I still wanted her input. We went into a room and I pitched my idea again to her, this time I was more relaxed and pitched the idea more clearly and fully with our mission anything out.

Helen was very pleased with my development from the last time I spoke to her, when I hardly an idea. She said again to make sure I know who my characters are and locations.

Overall I am very pleased with the feedback which I got from both Simon and Helen, as they both helped me to understand what I needed to do and where I needed to go, in order to finalise my story.

Wednesday, 12 November 2014

Digital News Production - Workshop - Fremlin Walk Feedback

https://vimeo.com/109234816

After the edit was finished we showed it to Helen and the class for critical feedback. After viewing the feedback we got was quite good, Helen said that it was very well shot, all the frames were steady and in full focus. She also said that the film flowed nicely. The only negative comment was that, we shouldn't cut from the same person to the same person. In one of the scene we cut from the reporter back to the reporter, she said that we should have added in a some cutaways before we cut to the second shot of the reporter. 

From this I learnt to not cut from the same person back to them, to always cut to something different. I felt that from this mini project I've learned good communication skills when contacting people for permission for filming. Also to check all aspects of the camera before taking it out to the set and finding somethings wrong. Lastly,I learnt about coverage, take as much shots as possible so that you're covered in the edit. 

Digital News Production - New Ideas - Veg Box and Kent Life

We have come up with two new ideas, this is just incase one of our original ideas falls apart. The first idea is the Kent Veg Box company. They are a company who sell and deliver fresh fruit and veg produce to people on demand. The story would be focused on, is their produce better, taste, value for quantity. We will loom at their produce, get a good sense of where they grow the stuff, howe they do it and maintain them. Then look at how they price up and deliver them to people. We will then look at the super markets, to see how they price the same produce and how much the charge for them. We will then rase both and compare them, to see which taxes better, costs cheeper of most quantity and how they look maintained.

I looked at the site;
http://www.kentvegbox.com

I looked at what they say, why their produce is the best. They have a list of reasons why they think that it's best to buy fruit and veg from them rather from the super markets.
http://www.kentvegbox.com/pages/why-us

I then looked at where they state that their produce comes from and how fresh it is. I will check this out When we go down.
http://www.kentvegbox.com/pages/faq-s-and-other-stuff

I then looked at the people who run the company, Steve and Becca and their story.
http://www.kentvegbox.com/pages/about-us

Lastly I looked at what they sell, they have different sizes of boxes and different amount of things you can have in each box. Also they have a list of different produce for you to choose from.
http://www.kentvegbox.com/pages/what-s-in-the-boxes-this-week

Our second idea is Kent Life, they are a company who specialise in training young people in the kent area the trade of farming, so that they can carry it on into a career.
http://www.kentlife.org.uk

Every saturday at Kent Life farm they hold a group called the Cobtree group, at these group they learn all the important aspects of farming and caring for the wild life and crops.
http://www.kentlife.org.uk/discover-kent-life/farmyard-and-nature.aspx

Fiction Adaptation - Essay Research

I've looked at several books on adaptation;

FILM ADAPTATION, ALTERNATIVE CINEMA AND LYNCHIAN MOMENTS OF TRANSPOSITION, Nick Van Vugt (2011) At: http://www.nickvanvugt.com/NickvanVugt-MRP.pdf

Adaptation Revisited Television and Classic Novels, Sarah Cardwell (2002) At: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HKkb5LGC4JEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=TV+adaptation&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jb5XVNHxN8LisASUgoHYBw&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=TV%20adaptation&f=false

I then looked at the novels of the shows, "Dexter and Game of Thrones, so that I could start to compeer them to the show visions.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BOz8aqfoDWMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=darkly+dreaming+dexter&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5G1jVIb2C4GHPcjtgcAC&sqi=2&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=darkly%20dreaming%20dexter&f=false

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3Wf_ffkFQmgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=game+of+thrones&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ym1jVNebBoO3PNuegdAH&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

From doing this research I think that this will strongly help me to start and write my essay as I have a lot of reference points. Also I can take some good quotes out of the adaptation books, that will help fill my essay, and help explain my points.

Fiction Adaptation - Ideas for TV Show to base in Essay

For my essay I will be focusing it on a couple of things; I will be looking into the TV series "Dexter" and also the novel "Darkly Dreaming Dexter" and comparing and contrasting them. I will look at the difference from book to show and see how much or little the show has changed from the novel. Also I will look at the different types of adaptation; Transposition, this is when a show strictly to the novel and doesn't change anything. Commentary, this is when you keeps some parts of the novel but change others and Analogue, this is when you take the idea of the novel but change everything else when adapting it. I will look at which type of adaptation "Dexter" fits best into.

Another part of my essay I will look at the TV show "Game of Thrones" again I will look at the show and novel and compare them. I will look at the difference from book to show and see how much or little the show has changed from the novel. Again looking to see what type of adaptation it fits into.

After this I will look into the post modernism theory to see where the theory come into the shows.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=BOz8aqfoDWMC&printsec=frontcover&dq=darkly+dreaming+dexter&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5G1jVIb2C4GHPcjtgcAC&sqi=2&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=darkly%20dreaming%20dexter&f=false

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=3Wf_ffkFQmgC&printsec=frontcover&dq=game+of+thrones&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ym1jVNebBoO3PNuegdAH&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

Fiction Adaptation - Essay Draft 1

Tuesday, 11 November 2014

Fiction Adaptation - Character Profile

The main character in my story is David Anderson. David is 27 years old and is from London and moved to Maidstone, he lives in a fancy apartment by himself and he has a maid thats there more than he is. He just sleeps the his apartment and spends most of the day at work and out. David has dark brown hair, quite tall and a slim build.

David had quite a good childhood, his parents weren't too poor or rich but put him through a good education. David was inspired by his uncle and looked up to him. He was a successful stock broker and earned a really good wage, he put people down so he could become more successful. David wanted nothing more but to grow up and be just like him. David is a successful stock broker like his uncle.

David is quite stubborn and thinks he's always right. In any incident he would try to resolve the problem with his power of success or power of his money. However if things get bad he would run away from it and start over. David has many friends and a couple close ones, but no romantic partner or close family. Davids motivation has always been money and to earn as much as he can, no matter what he has to do for it.


This is an idea of what I would want David Anderson to look like.

















With the character of Darren, he is a good man and boyfriend, he has a good sense of humour and is very considerate and kind. He is deeply in love with his girlfriend Ruby, as they've been together since uni (8 years ago). He works as an accountant making an ok wage and i devoted to his job unless family matters get intervene. He want to marry Ruby and have a big family with her, as he was raised in a big family when he was a boy. He has two bothers and 2 sister all older than him, and he wants to lead by their example. His Loving mother raised all his sibling and himself after loosing their father before Darren was born. He does not care for riches just enough to enjoy life with his family, friends and girlfriend.



This is what i'd imaged Darren to be like.
















Ruby is Darren's girlfriend, she is almost a twin of Darren with her personality as she cares for the same things, like a family together not a lot of money ect. She came from a similar background as Darren and are a perfect match. She came to study in the town which Darren lived in, they met during a warming party for their class and been in love since then. She works as a finance manager for small time companies and makes an ok living just like Darren. She;s sweet, caring, polite and pretty.




This is what i picture Ruby to look like.










David has tow friend which have been with his during all his selfish needs, they are his wolf pack and are there for him no matter what, even if it's against the law. They follow his selfish and arrogant lifestyle, by pushing other down in order to climb up. However under that thick skin are two nice and caring people who need a priority check.

There are what I picture them to look like.





















Doctor Brian, a successful and passionate doctor who is very dedicated to his work. He make sure that he does everything that he can do before giving up. He has a loving wife and tow kids. He is loved in his work and at home.

Here's what I want his to look like


Lastly there 'Death', this character speaks for himself. He's the angel of death who takes people away when they pass on. I also want to concentrate on the side of his which takes people away who he believes deserve to die. I want a stereotypical version on death, as he will appear in the 'limbo' state of David's mind so i want him to be clearly identified. 

These are some ideas for his look


Like this but without the skeleton hands and weapon as i want to portray him as a simple as possible.


He has to be all blacked out, so no faces of hands or feet are simpler out, this add to the creepy element and makes the scene more scary. 


This is the type of costume i'd get, as the face is blacked out and it's an all in one rode with no details to ruin the shape of the figure. Also i won't use the skeleton glove or his weapon. 


Digital News Production - Kent Life - Final Script

Digital News Production - Presenter Script Final Draft

Fiction Adaptation - Script Draft - Painful Regret

Monday, 10 November 2014

Fiction Adaptation - New Idea - Story Break Down

This is a line by line break down of the poem 'The Dearth Bed' and what I want to happen for each line.

I want to start the story off with David (Main Character) getting out of a car and going into a pub. He walks all the way through the pub to the back. I want to use POV shots of David as well as MCU's and CUs to establish who and what the David is like. He walks out back to the outside part of the pub and meets him friends. They have fun drinking telling stories and laughing, this lead to them all stud up talking. As one of his friends goes to the bar, a guy (Darren) comes up from behind David and stabs him in the side. As he stabs him all you see in the hand go in and a gold ring which he is wearing. Everything goes quite.

The poem starts, 'He drowsed and was aware of silence heaped. Round him, unshaken as the steadfast walls' During this I want a POV (black and white, slightly slow mo) shot of David looking round, no one has noticed yet, not even himself still in shock from it. 

(Next Line) 'Aqueous like floating rays of amber light, Soaring and quivering in the wings of sleep.' Druing the next lines I want a MCU or CU of David, his eyes start closing, head wobbling. Then to a POV of David (B&W) he looks round as his head wobbles, his friend(Sarah) see his fro the bar, she starts noticing that somethings wrong.

 (Next Line) Silence and safety; and his mortal shore, Lipped by the inward, moonless waves of death. From this I want, POV of David (B&W) looking at Sarah, she still looks worried, he starts to fall and you see Sarah run over. Wide shot of David falling, people start to notice and gather round.

'Someone was holding water to his mouth. He swallowed, unresisting; moaned and dropped' David is on the floor, with people and his friends around him. One of him friends (Mike) is holding his head on his knee, he has Davids head in one hand and water in the other. Other people are holding towels on his wound applying pressure. David drinks the water from Mike.

(Next Line) 'Through crimson gloom to darkness; and forgot. The opiate throb and ache that was his wound.' In this part I want, David finishes drinking, a shot of Mike as he looks pleased as if progress has been made. David tilts his head back and slightly down, he looks at the guy holding his wound. POV (B&W) of David looking at the guy holding his wound, his vision getting fussy and things getting darker. He follows the guys arm down to his wound, as the guys hands come slightly up, you see blood pouring out (Blood in colour), his head tilts back up.

(Next Line) 'Water-calm, sliding green above the weir. Water-a sky-lit alley for his boat, Bird- voiced, and bordered with reflected flowers.' With this I want, David to have his head tilted back almost falling unconscious, but this is interrupted by Mike as he makes him have another drink. Cut to CU of David drinking, then to a POV (B&W) of David looking at the glass. CU shot of Mike nodding again, then David stops drinking. POV (B&W) of David as he looks up at Mike, he looks at Mikes flower pin in this shirt (Pin in colour).

(Next Lines) 'And shaken hues of summer; drifting down, He dipped contented oars, and sighed, and slept.' After David looks at the flower pin, his head slips down, CU shot of Mike looking panicked. POV (B&W) of David looking down, his eyes start shutting and everything is getting darker. Mike lays him down, saying encouraging things at him. CU shot of David as he tries to stay awake but becomes unconscious.

(Next Lines)  'Night, with a gust of wind, was in the ward, Blowing the curtain to a glimmering curve.' In this part I want a wide shot of David laid on a black floor, all dark, goes to a Mid shot of David laid down. A gust of wind blows David's shirt. 

'Night. He was blind; he could not see the stars. Glinting among the wraiths of wandering cloud' With these line I want, a mid shot of David laid down, you can see the space above him, clouds start to appear, then starts. (Next Lines) 'Queer blots of colour, purple, scarlet, green, Flickered and faded in his drowning eyes.' I then want blots of colours flash over him. CU of Davids face, then extreme CU of Davids eyes, as the colours flicker over them. 

(Next Lines) 'Rain-he could hear it rustling through the dark; Fragrance and passionless music woven as one' In this part I want a wide shot of David laid on grass in the middle of a forest. Extreme CU shot of rain drops fall on his hand, as quite windy music/soundtrack starts to play in the background.

(Next Lines)  'Warm rain on drooping roses; pattering showers. That soak the woods; not the harsh rain that sweeps' Mid shot of David, more rain falls on his face, 

(Next Lines) 'Behind the thunder, but a trickling peace, Gently and slowly washing life away.' For this part I want to have thunder sounds, while the rain gets heavier. 

(Next Lines) 'He stirred, shifting his body; then the pain.Leapt like a prowling beast, and gripped and tore. His groping dreams with grinding claws and fangs.' When these lines come up I want to have, a mid shot David still laid on the floor, he moves a little and the pain from his wound kicks in and wakes him up and looks around scared. 

(Next Lines) 'But someone was beside him; soon he lay. Shuddering because that evil thing had passed.'  MCU shot of David sitting up holding his wound tight. A dark shadow passes from behind him and starts whispering. David lays back down with a scared look on his face. 

(Next Lines) 'And death, who’d stepped toward him, paused and stared.' With this part I want the shadow to go in front of David, POV of the shadow (through tights on lens) looking down at David. David looks back scared, the shadow then covers the screen.   

(Next Lines) 'Light many lamps and gather round his bed. Lend him your eyes, warm blood, and will to live.' In this part I want to got to a shot of David unconscious in a hospital bed. A CU shot of David's friend's hand turning the lamp next to the bed on. A MCU of a doctor looking at David'c chart, then a POV of the doctor looks at the charts. A mid shot of a drip with a blood pack which is attached to David, then a CU of David's friend holding his hand. 

(Next Lines) 'Speak to him; rouse him; you may save him yet. He’s young; he hated War; how should he die. When cruel old campaigners win safe through?' In this part I want to have a MCU of David as his eyes slightly open, then a POV of David with a mid shot of Davids friend trying to talk to David, then same POV of David but with the doctor holding up some fingers, as Davids eyes close again. A CU of Davids peace tattoo. 

(Next Line) 'But death replied: ‘I choose him.’ So he went'  Death appear in the back of the hospital bedroom, he is looking a David. The camera pans behind him, when it reaches the other side of him David is laying down in the forest. Mid shot of David as he gets up slowly and still holding his wound, and walks forward passed the camera. 

(Next Line) 'And there was silence in the summer night' Mid shot of David walking forward, he then comes to a shot, he in staring at something. The camera pans round to behind David's head, we then go to a POV shot of David looking at a TV screen, the screen is showing static imagery. CU of the screen as it starts showing film. (Flashback) You see a video of David driving a year ago, and as he's driving, up the road you see a couple dancing, the couple are stood at the edge of the pavement, as Ruby twirls and heads towards the road, Darren lights a cigarette. David drives closes as he nearly gets to where the couple are he becomes distracted and looks away fro the road. Ruby steps onto the road, the car hits her, David stops as Ruby hits the pavement. David looks back at the girl, he then decides to drive off. Darren runs over to Ruby and holds her head, he's full of anger and sorrow, he looks over at David's car and notes down the license plate. CU shot of Darren's face, full of anger and sorrow. 

(Next Line) 'Silence and safety; and the veils of sleep.' A CU shot of David's face, he's all upset, crying and afraid. MCU shot of death as he points at David.

(Final Line) 'Then, far away, the thudding of the guns.' Wide shot of Death slowly walking towards him, covering the screen the whole screen. Wide shot of David in hospital, CU shot of the David's life monitor as it beeps, each beep sounds a little like a gun shot, when finally it flat lines. Fade to black

By creating this break down, I feel that i'm more prepared to write my script and have a more concrete story planned. This has helped me to picture each shots and scenes in full detail, as I've added detailed description in each sections. 

Friday, 7 November 2014

Fiction Adaptation - New Idea

After my discussion with Helen about my previous ideas, she got me thinking about my ideas and if they were good enough for the main idea. The main thing that she left in my head what make a wow factor. She told me to make something different, not obvious or typical. So I thought about my ideas and thought that they didn't work as they were too obvious and typical and no were fresh. I then looked at the poem and started to break it down 2 lines at a time, with this I started to see more easier ideas but still didn't have a good story. After a long chat with Ruby about ideas she helped me to adapt a new story which I really liked and from there I used the break down method and started to piece together a story and shots. For every 2 lines I would have a different shot and meaning that would move the story on to the next 2 lines.

My new idea is about a guy called David Anderson, his is a wealthy, selfish stock broker who puts his work before anything. He is out celebrating with some work friends for another pay rise he gotten. As they are having fun, a guy comes from behind David and stabs him in the side, he then leaves. At first David doesn't really realise what has happened, but it then takes affect. He drops to the floor, bleeding. His friends and other people gather round him, they try to give him water and hold down on his wound, but he becomes unconscious. He passes into a 'Limbo' state. He wakes up in a hospital on a drip and death is there. He then goes back to the 'Limbo' state and is in a forest with death as he shows he his wrong doing.  He is shown the footage of him running over the stabbers fiance a year ago and driving off. After that death takes him away forever.

When Helen hear the idea she was very pleased with it and liked it alot and thought it was different and fresh. I told her about all the aspects of the idea and how I would do it, she was pleased that I had a fully working idea which was going somewhere.

From this positive feedback I was happy and glad that I had Helen approve and could confidently move forward with the idea and produce a script and casting actors. From this I had learnt that good planing helps a lot for a good production.