Storyboard for Film

Before we began filming our film opening we decided to storyboard it and structure it carefully. We drew pictures of all the shots, included a description of what will be happening during that shot and included the type of shot it is.

We decided to use post it notes so that if we were to change our minds about the order of shots then it would be easy for us to change them around.

The purpose of storyboarding our film opening was to ensure that we have the order of the shots right and so that we can see whether what is happening makes sense for certain. Also, it makes it easier and helps us during the process of filming so that we know what we are filming, the type of shot it is and what shot is next.

Practice with video equipment

During the lesson on 23/10/09 each group was given their equipment to film our production which consisted of a video camera, tripod, tripod plate, two DV tapes and a few wires.

As we were the first group to be handed the equipment it meant we had the most time to experiment with the video camera.We took advantage of this time and wasted no time in beginning to film!

First, we headed off to the grounds around our school, set up our equipment and started to film each other skipping around the trees to practice smooth pan shot follows.

Then, we wanted to film parts that are in our production to gain practice. So we found a set of steps around Enfield Town and filmed Sophie walking down them and included pan shot follows and extreme close ups of her feet.









Whilst we were in town, we came across 'The Cheeky Girls' who were launching the opening of a new store and we filmed them just to experiment with different lighting as they were inside under false light and we were filming under natural light before.












The opening of the new store were handing out balloons so me and Sophie took one each and along with the rest of my group, Emma and Elle, we came up with the idea of laughter in a two shot and we let the balloons go and Elle and Emma filmed them going up which was a weather shot. Although we are not including a weather shot in our production we still considered it important to gain an understanding of it.


We also filmed the scene of running across the bridge, the lift scene which included an extreme close up, the escalator scene which was a pan shot follow and the park scene with the newspaper which was also a pan shot follow and extreme close up.


I thoroughly enjoyed this lesson as we experimented with different types of shots and we all feel comfortable with the video camera and we have adapted to the different modes and when and how to use them. I am confident with using the video camera for our production and we will start filming within the next couple of days and I am really excited!

Brief description for film opening

The idea of the beginning being the end and the two minute film opening being all a flashback and then ending with how it started-present day.

• Begins with the title, 'The Music Box' being typed on a typewriter but no hand or fingers are visible.

• Flashback-there is a man sitting in a car and there is a music box on the dashboard and he begins to wind up the box-over the shoulder shot.

• Zoom into the ballet dancer inside the music box spinning around which then fades into a ballet dancer dancing the same way in a ballet studio.

• Fades out back to the music box and the man slams down the box and the ballet dancer who is dancing in the studio falls over at the same time as he slams it down.

• Flashback-the ballet dancer stretches and bends down and we see the mans reflection in the mirror whilst she is down and when she stands up straight again he is not visible.

• Meanwhile, the text from the typewriter overlapps the previous studio scene writing, 'It was just an average day.'

• The ballet dancer takes her belongings and walks out the studio, turning the light off(extreme close up) and sees the music box in a corner playing music, she feels puzzled but does not take any notice of it.

• She walks out of the studio down some steps and begins to make her way home where she experiences a series of events(all this will be filmed during the night to enforce the thriller theme)

• First she walks through a park and the man is sitting on a bench reading a newspaper and we zoom in on his eyes as this is all she sees(point of view shot) and the music from the music box is playing in the background.

• Then she walks down a Jack The Ripper styled alleyway, the man is present(over the shoulder shot of him watching her) and she hears the music again and becomes confused but continues walking.

• Afterwards, she is going up the escalators and the man is going down the escalators next to her and they come across each other and all se sees of him is his hat.

• Finally, she walks into a lift and as she turns around she sees the music box playing the music before her and the typewriter is brought into perspective again and overlapps the current shot with text reading, 'Then everything became clear.'

• All becomes clear that she is being followed as she then flashbacks with rapid transitions back to the eyes, the hat the several sightings of the music box, realises the music box symbolises his presence and so presses the lift buttons frantically to go up and escape.

• Meanwhile, the stalker man is still following her and heads downstairs thinking that is where she is heading too.

• Then, the girl runs across a bridge towards the right and beneath the bridge the man is running in the opposite direction.

• The focus is then on the girl with a rapid heartbeat playing in the background and as she turns her face to see who is behind her all becomes pitch black with just the sound of the music box.

• We are brought back to present day to the typewriter and based on the text during the flashback the audience are led to believe that the girl is writing this account.

• However, it is a twist as it is actually the man writing on the typewriter who writes the last piece of text, 'Part two' which implies that he is going to follow another girl.

• The camera then focuses on a window with a different girl walking passed then goes back to the man who puts on black gloves, picks up the music box and heads out the door.

• The next shot is back in the same park as before with him holding a newspaper again but instead zooms in on his mouth and smirks which informs the audience that he is going to strike again and do the same thing to this girl as he did with the other girl.

• The closing credits consisting of our names is presented by the typewriter again as it relevant to our film ,reinforces the idea of telling a story and shows finality.