2 minute opening to a feature film, focused on Mise-en-scene
What was the task?Our task was to create the opening two minutes of a feature film using 5 elements of mise-en-scene given to us, we had to select 5 post it notes and on each was a feature of mise-en-scene that we had to include at some point in our film.
Mise-en-Scène translates from French as 'putting on stage', and when referring to cinema, applies to everything in front of the camera and their arrangement - this includes props, lighting, actors, costume, location and set design. The incorporation of mise-en-scène helps create realism for the audience, and makes the footage believable. The elements can give context, for example they can imply where the film is set and during which era through costume etc. They can signify clear distinctions between things such as characters.
What elements of mise-en-scene were we given?
Well, there are the 5 elements of mise-en-scene in general, which are Props, Location, Cast, Costume and Lighting. Oh, and from some sources, they say Décor as well, but we probably paired that up with Props. The elements we got were:
- Props - Newspaper
- Location - Office
- Lighting - Artificial and Natural
- Costume - Muddy Hands
- Cast - Two 7-11 year old boys
We found that most of them were easy to deal with, except the Cast, since we couldn't think of anyone immediately. Eventually we did find a pair (My cousins).
Initial Plot Ideas
Looking at the elements of mise-en-scène, we came up with different genres in order to create a plot, as the genre will effect the mood of the film and therefore will need an appropriate plot to suit the mood. Our first interpretation of the mise-en-scene elements we received was to create a light-hearted film, perhaps a coming-of-age romance or a generic romantic comedy.
Romantic Comedy
An idea we thought of was using the boys as minor characters in order to bring two characters together. For example, an adult male character asked the two boys for help in order to get a girls attention, and the boys would conceive a mischievous plan in order to do this. As all the elements fitted hand in hand quite well, it would have been easy to justify why they were included. For example, the boys were playing in the park, being overseen by the male character. The boys gained muddy hands by playing around in the dirt, which is an insignificant part to the film opening but can show that the characters are adventurous. The man spots the girl on the bench on her phone - thus including the artificial light of the phone - and asks the boys to help get her attention. They find a newspaper and make paper airplanes to throw at the girl in order to get her attention and everything propels from there. The office could be included at the beginning and depict the man coming from work to meet the boys. We decided this plot wouldn't work because it's too much like a short film as opposed to an opening sequence.
Family film
Two boys are waiting in their mum's office for her to finish work. They're obviously bored and their mum is paying no attention to them. They find a newspaper on her desk and begin to make paper airplanes with it and throw it at their mum, but they stop when she scolds them. They constantly try to get her attention but she doesn't give it to them. They take their mum's potted plant and wipe the soil all over her office without her noticing. We didn't like this idea as it wasn't exciting enough to be engaging for the audience.
Another idea we came up with was two boys getting scolded in the principal's office for making a mess (hence the muddy hands). This idea wasn't in depth enough and we decided it wasn't very original or exciting.
Horror
The last idea we came up with was a man being in an office on his computer (artificial light), he then packs up to go home. Before he leaves the office, he picks up a newspaper that reads 'Two Boys Murdered' and throws it in the bin. The man goes to leave the office and tension begins to build before it become overwhelming with suspense due to tense music. At this point a man is going down the elevator, and the music cuts out when the music cuts out, making it anticlimactic. The elevator doors open revealing an empty corridor. The man leaves the building and when he gets outside he sees a child crying. The other child is then joined by his twin, who has a twisted smile on his face. The man asks if they're alright, but then he looks behind them (what's behind them isn't revealed) and looks frightened before starting to run away. The opening finishes with the man being dragged off. This idea was a little too chaotic - too much happened in the two minutes. However, we based our final idea on this.
We made a development to the previous concept: instead of the man being dragged off at the end, the children are instead introduced in the office. When the man goes to do things in his office, i.e. putting something away in a cupboard etc. the audience is made jump by the boys who appear suddenly behind him. The man doesn't see them, but he is clearly paranoid and can sense their presence, thus making it obvious to the audience that they are ghosts. This idea was a little too short and vague, the footage wouldn't have lasted 2 minutes.
Casting ideas?
For our cast we were given the must have of two 'seven to eleven year old boys', so there was no getting out of having them as our main cast. It was extremely difficult to think of someone around that age who would be willing to perform in it.
Our first idea to play one of the boys was Wendys friend's 13 year old brother, who aspires to be an actor. Even though he doesn't fit the age of a 7-11 year old, he looks and sounds very young so therefore could act as a younger child. Wendy questioned him if he was willing to be in it, and at first he was very eager. That was until she informed him that it is a horror and involves fake blood. He then refused as he is rather squeamish. He would have been an inconvenient choice anyway, as he lives 30 minutes away from where we would have filmed.
My first idea was to use my brother and his friends since they were 12/13 only just outside the age bracket but when I spoke to them I realised they look much older than they are. Therefore they wouldn't fit the age bracket.
My second idea was that the only boys around that age or similar looking to that age were my cousins, they were a convenient casting choice as the boys live in wymondham and my aunty trusts me to look after them, I text my aunty Emma to see whether they were able and willing to act for us, this is what she said. So they seem like the best option as they are both free that day and willing.
The other character we need, the man working in an office hasn't been decided yet, the two options we had were my dad, because then my aunty might feel a little more comfortable with an adult there, especially if we were planning on filming in the city centre. I asked him in person and he said he was more than willing to help, however I felt a little guilty as I asked him to act in the last opening 2 minutes we created. However if he decides he feels uncomfortable, Wendy's boyfriend said he was more than happy to help also.
Location Ideas/ Research
Thinking of a location to film the office scenes in proved quite difficult, as we had no clue as to where we would obtain an office from. We had to choose where to film, more specifically, we had to choose an office. Megan almost immediately mentioned how her dad worked in an office, and how she could check if her dad would let us into and film in the office(s). However, we did have to come up with a backup location in case we couldn't film in the first office proposal. We came up with filming in one of the offices in school, most likely on one of the days during October half term when no-one will be working in the offices. Wendy also had an idea of having an elevator scene in the opening, and we considered using the elevators in the Riverside car park. Image result for riverside multi storey car park Norwich. But we thought that it could be awkward filming, since other people are going to want to use the elevator, so we did also consider using the stairwell near them. In fact, the lighting and conditions of the stairwell is fairly creepy looking, so it'll fit the genre well.
Prop Research Ideas
The prop we required for the film opening was a newspaper. There were many ways this could have been featured, for example one of the characters could have been briefly reading it and it would be an insignificant feature in the film. We decided to use this prop as a plot device by hinting to the audience as to who the two boys featured are at the end - the ghosts of the newspaper featured characters (Two Boys Murdered). This would therefore give a subtle hint to the audience, as well as actually play a role in the film as opposed to being a pointless feature. In order to create this custom newspaper, we decided to design a front page cover to the newspaper and then fold the front cover over a genuine newspaper to add depth and make it realistic as a newspaper.
Costume Research Ideas
Both of our ideas so far have been horror or thriller based so we were going to have the boys dressed in their usual clothes, but with some fake blood, we were also given the must have of muddy hands so they will have to feature somehow on the boy, also the fact our setting is an office means the man who is getting scared will most likely be in a suit or work attire.
Lighting Research Ideas
The lighting we got was a mixture of artificial and natural light. This meant we have to use bulbs and the sun/moon. We decided that the artificial lighting could be done with the office, since it will obviously have the lights in the ceiling. With the natural light, we thought that just filming "outside the office" settings would be good, since it'll be outside and either the sun will be out or the moon might be bright enough to give a unique looking light source. However, there could be an opportunity for both at the same time; if we film later on in the day, there will probably be light from the moon and from the street lights.
Filming plan/schedule?
We checked with the actors and each other to come to the decision of filming on Monday 24th October, as this is the most convenient time. This is because some people have to travel to Wymondham via public transport, and the weekday public transport is much more flexible. Everybody was available this day. We're filming during the afternoon so we have plenty of time before it gets too dark to achieve non-grainy, visible footage. Moreover, filming in the morning was too early for the group members who had to travel, as they'd have to get up unnecessarily early.
