Once Upon A Time In London

This is the third outing from the now established Mitpatarpot Productions - Once Upon A Time In London.

Why we chose the Gangster genre

We had many reasons for choosing the Gangster genre. We evaluated the opening scenes of films from varying genres. We viewed these films to give us information about different techniques used in the film industry.

• Horror - We wanted to see how they created tension and suspense by using a range of camera shots. The disadvantage was that some shots that were used were of high budget, this would make it hard for us to make our film look authentic.
• Action - Action was a strong candidate for our genre choice. By watching action films, we discovered how we could incorporate high-octane action whilst blending dialogue seamlessly. We established that the use of quick shots, helped to build tension and create fast paced action. We did not make an action film as we did not have the facilities needed within our reach.
• Comedy - Comedy uses a range of shots; but mainly shot-reverse-shots. They use this to show the reaction of a person after a comedic moment. We didn't use the comedy genre as our group didn't have the comic talent.

We eventually came to the conclusion that we were going to use the Gangster genre, as we felt that it was the genre we could excel in and show our true media potential.

Contributions by Ross, Andy and Jinesh

How Things went...

Now that we have successfully completed our final piece of work we can look back on what went well and the problems we encountered.

Success'

• When we planned to film we were expecting an ordinary winters evening which would have been suitable for us. However when we arrived at our chosen location it began to snow. This worked perfectly for us as this created an eerie and mysterious setting. The only problem filming during the heavy snow showers was that it was extremely cold, plus the snow began to settle on the actors and the camera lenses however this created a sense of realism.
• Our choice of non-diegetic music ( Why so serious, soundtrack from Dark Knight ) makes our piece of work seem realistic and creates tension throughout. We used asynchronous sound as well which emphasized that something key is taking place, also to illustrate the main characters. We had to choose between two different soundtracks, to use in our film, we experimented in our editing which one would be suitable, our editing came to a conclusion and we decided to mix the two soundtracks together with the "Dark Knight" soundtrack fading into the "Ave Maria" music.
• In editing we aimed to have a flowing film, with seamless transitions between shots. We feel this went well and that the film naturally flows from shot to shot.

Problems

• Half way through editing we found out that the maximum length our film could be was 2:20. At this point this gave us a huge problem as the length of our project was around 2:40. So as a group we decided what parts should be cut out to try and shorten it down to meet the requirements set by the exam board. After we completed this we had to re-time all the music and all the shot transitions.
• When capturing the footage from the camera, we found out that some shots we thought we had filmed were either to short, or weren't actually filmed. We overcame this problem with good use of editing.
• The music we chose to use was very difficult to get hold of and once we did get the music, we had the problem of trying to synchronize it to the footage. This took us valuable time but we overcame this problem with good management of time.
• When we arrived at our location to film, we encountered a big problem. The car park we chose to film in, was closed. This gave us no other option but to film outside the car park, as time was against us. Later when editing we realised that filming outside turned out to be a big advantage for us, as the sudden fall in snow made the film look eerie and created a certain atmosphere.

• Ross, Jinesh and Greg helped with further material.

Film completed

We have now finished our film, although had to go back and remove 20 seconds of footage we feel the film is better than ever.

Analysis of the opening of Casino Royale

It starts off in black and white with an establishing shot of an office building and a car pulling up outside, we are told it is in Prague. There is tense non-diagetic music in the background. The black and white effect gives the scene a cold dramatic effect and makes the audience fell as if something bad is going to happen. It then cuts to a low angle shot of a man getting out the car, this shows he has power, the next shot is the man in a lift he is looking at the numbers going up and they use a match on action shot to show this. There is then another low angle shot from behind a desk in an office, it then tracks past a chair and then there is a close up of the man who looks startled. There is then a voice from out of shot that triggers the man to turn round in shock as he turns round it cuts to a medium close up of the man talking in a chair. After this it cuts to another low angle shot of the other man, this is important because even though this other man has just broken in to his office he is still shown to have the power in the scene. The man then goes and sits behind his desk and slyly opens a draw containing a gun, this changes the mood of the scene and gives it a much darker feel. They then have a conversation and the man at the desk says that the other man has to have killed two people to have double-00 status, as he says this it flashes back to a fight scene in a bathroom in which the man kills an assailant. As soon as he has killed the man the scene flashes forward again to the man at the desk pulling the gun on the other man, the flashes are there to disorientate the audience and give a sense of confusion to the scene, but it still feels as if the man siting down at the desk has control of the scene. Next there is a medium close up of the man pointing the gun and him pulling the trigger but the gun doesn't go off and the man has a very surprised look on his face, as this happens it cuts to the man sitting down holding an ammunition clip in his hand and saying " I know where you keep your gun!". Now when the camera switches between shots of the two men they are at the same level showing that they now have equal power in the scene. The man at the desk then says (referring to the first man he killed) " you needn't worry the 2nd is.." as he says this the man sitting down pulls out a gun and shoot him, and then finishes his sentence by saying " yes considerably". The next shot is a flash back to the bathroom after the man has killed the assailant and you see him picking up his gun as he does this the man he Had supposedly killed gets up and tries to shoot him it then has an overlay of the classic Bond shooting sequence in which Bond fires the gun and blood runs down the screen, this is an important shot because it establishes this man as James Bond as this shot runs there is non-diagetic music as the soundtrack and it runs into the credits. The end scene is also important because the blood running down the screen is the first shot with colour in it which signifies the end of the opening.
This is a stunning cinematic experience which see's Bond return to his best.

original script idea

Once upon a time in London


Scene- Two unidentified characters are sitting on the boot of a car in what appears to be a car park.
Close up of a gun being held.
Greg-What the hell is this? I asked for a 9mm not a bloody cowboy gun!!!
Low angle shot looking up at the two characters.
Andy-Why don’t you get it yourself next time it’s not as though there is a large selection buying this sort of thing.
Mid shot
Greg-I mean Jesus Christ it looks like a cap gun!!!
Andy-Sorry boss
Greg-You have a lot to learn lad (slaps him playfully and puts the gun in his pocket)
Cuts to shot of a car driving, over the shoulder shot of two characters in the backseat of a car.
Car pulls in to the car park slowly; a character in the car mutters “Showtime”. Andy and Greg don’t react and sit casually with their arms folded.
Car stops and nothing happens suspenseful music starts.
Door opens slowly and a shot of a foot stepping down onto the floor
Two characters step out with a brief case and walk towards the characters on the boot of the car that also walks towards them they meet in the middle. Mid shot of all four characters facing off.
Greg-Good evening gentlemen and what time do we call this?
Ross-Traffic
Andy-yeah we had the same… (interrupted)
Jinesh-Cut the bull man you got the stuff.
Greg-Sure it’s in the boot
Andy-Have you got the money?
Jinesh-(clicks his fingers, Ross lifts the briefcase) all in 50 pound notes just as you asked.
Andy-close up of Andy looking intently on the money “wow”.
Ross-And your side of the deal
Greg-Certainly gentlemen walk this way
Leads them to the boot of the car and opens the boot a shot looking up out of the boot at Greg and Jinesh.
Jinesh-“Very” nice glances round and winks at Ross
Andy notices the wink and reaches for the gun in Greg’s pocket and pops a cap in Ross, Greg turns around abruptly with a shocked look on his face, looking at Andy who has angry eyes, he aims his gun at Jinesh and Greg Stops him.
Greg-What the hell are you doing?
Andy-He winked!!!
Jinesh-Jesus Christ what is your problem?
Greg-Oh crap we are in the crap now
Jinesh- Just let me go I won’t tell anyone I swear!
Greg takes the gun off Andy
Greg-Sorry mate can’t afford this little hiccup to get out
Long shot of Jinesh kneeling down and Greg standing over him a bang erupts and fades to black and title appears on the screen.

Cutting

We recently found out that our film can be a maximum length of 2:00 minutes. Unfortunately our final finished piece was approx. 2:41, which left us with a problem. This meant that we had to choose parts of the film which we would cut, to ensure that our film was nearer 2:20 minutes.

• The first scene what we chose to cut was our establishing shot, with the silver car pulling up for the meeting. We were left with a much shorter shot of the car but it still had the desired effect which we wanted. By cutting this scene we managed to cut 13 seconds out.
• Secondly we chose that the shot at the very end of the film (a darkend picutre of the London skyline ) could be cut right down as this was only put in to make the film look more realstic.
• Next to cut was a tracking shot of Nilesh getting out of the car and walking over to Jinesh. We saved a few seconds with this.

After finishing cutting our film we had to start again on the timeing of the non-diegetic music which took some time.

Editing

Editing has concluded on our newest project: Once upon a time in London. We tried many different editing techniques and effects; we didn't want to use too many effects so as to not detract from the storyline. We have added music to our film to add tension and create an eerie feel. We are using two songs: Why so serious? - Hanz Zimmer and Ave Maria - Christina England Hale. The only effect we have used is a fade to black at the end to give the film an authentic feel as it fades to a picture of London's skyline.

Opeing scene of The Strangers

I analyzed the opening sequence of The Strangers to see how we could edit our completed film to make it look as professional as possible. 

Before you see anything you immediately hear non-diegetic music which sounds eerie and cold. Then on a black screen orange writing appears with a deep chilling voice of man reading it out. Even without seeing one character, the audience can straight away assume that the film is of the horror genre. 

The first sequence of shots are gradually fading long shots of detached houses in the daylight. You can hear a car engine running which shows to the viewer that it may be a P.O.V shot of someone looking out of a window of a moving car. Non-diegetic music is being continuously played through these shots and as they continue to fade in and out of the screen, you can tell that the outside is slowly turning to countryside rather than suburbia. Then you hear a voice of a emergency caller saying '911, what your emergency? '. A woman replies sounding distressed and from the conversation you can tell something bad has happened. As the lady in distress tries to explain where she is there are medium and close ups of blood soaked walls, a blood stained knife and a gun. Some of the medium shots used are filmed with a hand held camera which slightly shakes which can disorientate the audience. It then fades to black and the distressed lady cry's ' There's blood everywhere ' . 

Throughout the clip non-diegetic music is played to create tension and the editing techniques help to set the scene supremely. This is an excellent film which is pretty terrifying. Below is a very good Scene from the film..

Filming Concluded

We have finalised our filming for 'Once Upon A Time In London' and we are satisfied with the quality of our short film. Filming took place on Sunday 1st February in a secluded car park in Reigate. Initially we had planned to film in an underground car park but due to the poor lighting we decided to film in a nearby outside car park. Even though this location was not our first choice it still had the lighting and size which we required. Filming was a success with us managing to get a range of shots helping the film look authentic. Whilst filming it started to snow so we had to ensure we filmed every shot we needed as we wouldn't get the same weather conditions again. Overall it was a success and we are happy with what we have done.

Analysis of the opening of Hitman

Hitman is an action thriller based on the game of the same name. The film opens with a montage showing a group of bald children receiving tattoos of bar codes and being instructed to use of firearms & martial arts. It then cuts to a scene of two children trying to escape the compound and subsequently being gunned down; this shows the danger the children are in. After this the action cuts to a scene of a car driving up to a house we are told is in London, it is raining and dark which signify this could be a bad character or something of this nature is about to happen. As the man enters his study in his house he turns the lights on to see a man sitting at his desk; the man is wearing a smart suit which signifies his power, he also has a bar code tattooed on the back of his head which is shown to signify how dangerous he is. The man asks him to sit down so they can talk, they have a brief conversation and then the action flashes back to Niger 3 months earlier.

In Niger the man was ordered to kill a target which he does successfully, he then receives a message that says he has to eliminate the Russian president Mikhail Belicoff, publicly. Flashing forward, the scene is now in Moscow where this man assassinates the Russian president and attempts to escape. When he is in the train station preparing to leave he is informed that there was a witness, Nika Boroninawhom that he has to take care of. Confronting her on the street he realises that she has never seen him before and decides not to kill her, as he is leaving an assassination attempt on him fails and he and the girl escape. This is a fast paced, tense action thriller which has you on the edge of your seat throughout.