Casting Process

When deciding who to put into my film, I knew I would be using my friends. This meant i had to be very careful as I needed to make sure i could trust them to take it seriously and also to do a relatively good job.

As Martin Thatcher, the protaganist in my film,  I cast Andy Mcqueen. This was because I knew I could trust him to put the effort in and to not let me down on the day. He was always the first person on set to film whenever I needed him. He was more than happy to reshoot anything that needed reshooting and he was always trying to help me with my ideas and what could be done in a scene.

Jordan Davis, or Jim Bell.

As Jim Bell and John Stead I cast Jordan Davis and Joshua Thomas respectively. I chose these two because when i presented the idea to my friends they were the most interested to be involved. From day one they were there on time wanting to crack on with filming even when i hadn't even properly prepared.

I knew the three of them could pull off the Cockney gangster look and so that was the style I went for in my film.

Plot Outline - The Chase

For my Media Production I chose to do a Thriller opening. I chose to do a Thriller because I thought most people would try to do a Horror film, and there is only so much variety to be had in Horrors, so i wanted something different. Also I think a Thriller is the hardest genre to tackle as it is the hardest to make perfectly clear that's what it is. For Horror's all you need is a bit of blood and guts, and for Rom-Coms you just need some soppy music, whereas with a Thriller you have to show what it is just by storyline so I wanted more of a challenge.

I attempted to make a Thriller which was like classic Film Noir, with a modern gangster twist. Inspiration for my film comes from many different films, such as The Third Man, Snatch, Lock Stock... and In Bruges, which makes up the Film Noir aspects and Gangster aspects.


The Chase, is about Martin Thatcher, who, via a black-and-white flashback we see, has taken some money that doesn't belong to him and is attempting to do a runner from the country before 'The Boss'  and his boys get hold of him. 'The Boss' sends round Jim Bell and John Stead, two of his better, nastier henchmen to try and sort out Martin and retrieve the money. Only problem is, that they make their presence known to soon so Martin is able to make his escape, with the money.

From this point the film will feature many twists and turns as Martin attempts to escape the country and head into Europe to properly flee for good. He'll learn lessons about who he can and can't trust, and the people he thought were friends who are and aren't on 'The Boss's' pay roll. Unlike most films like this he won't find love in a foreign city where he may possibly jeopardise his escape and put his life further in risk, as he doesn't know who he can trust.

He attempts to make his way to his father, now retired from the business of breaking legs who lives a quiet life abroad. Who knows what will happen then.

Storyboard For Film

180 Degree Rule

 

The 180 degree rule is a basic guideline in film making that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left to right relationship with each other unless the camera should pass over the imaginary axis that is in place. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle.

For example, if Mr Blue and Mr Orange (pictured) are in conversation, then Mr Orange should be facing right at all times, even when Mr Blue is off the edge of the frame, and Mr Blue should always be facing left.

Preliminary Task

Before we were able to start work on our own projects we had to conduct a preliminary task to show that we could operate the camera and also perform some of the necessary techniques we would need to use. This video is the proof that we conducted that task. Although not in the film itself I am behind the camera.