Chess Film: Final Day of Filming

Closing shot 

The final day of filming was easy since we only had one more shot to complete. Since we had the whole period to film only one shot, we used this time wisely. There was a total of nine takes for our closing shot, which was the most takes out of any shot in our film. The original plan for this closing shot was a medium shot, but after our group discussed we decided to end our film with a tracking shot instead. Our closing shot is where we reveal that our main character was playing chess against no one the whole time. Using a tracking shot here makes the reveal more dramatic. 

My group also discussed other ways to create dramatic effects for this closing shot. One option we discussed was using a Dutch angle. A Dutch angle or canted angle is a type of camera shot that has a noticeable tilt on the camera's x-axis. (What is a Dutch Angle)  The combination of movement and tilt can enhance the feel of anxiety within a scene. Out of the nine shots we captured for our closing, three featured a Dutch angle, giving us the flexibility to choose the version that worked best during filming. 

The Dutch angle we filmed 

To wrap up day three of our chess film, our editor downloaded all the videos onto her computer. She and I reviewed all the footage we had shot over the three days, and I shared some of my thoughts on which takes would work best. As the director, I wanted to make sure I communicated that we filmed out of order to avoid future confusion. For example, some shots taken on the second day actually belong in the very beginning of our film. Since we had to add shots, I wanted to make sure she was using the right script as her reference to make the editing process easier for the entire team. 

Our editor starting the editing process

Chess Film: Filming Day Two

On day two of filming, our main focus was the shots featuring our main character. As the director, my goal for day two was to finish our film. We ended up completing all shots except for our closing. As a group, we wanted to explore different ways to use the tripod, so that our shots would differ from those taken on day one. 

Shot #1: This setup was used for a close-up of our main character's face. The purpose of this close-up was to show the character's emotions while playing the chess game. This way the audience will assume our main character has an opponent. 

Shot #2: For this setup, we shortened the front two legs and extended the back leg so the tripod could stand steadily on the table. This setup was used for our opening shot, which introduces our main character. 

Shot #3: This setup required the most creativity, as we were using another object for assistance. We adjusted the angle at which the phone was tilted for awhile, and once we found the angle we liked, we realized it didn't work with the tripod's legs. I wanted to find a way to still use this angle, since my group liked it. My solution was to use the chess box as something that will prop up the tripod's legs and it worked perfectly. The box brought the tripod exactly where we wanted it and created stability for the shot. 

Why shot #3? 

This shot wasn't originally planned on our shot list because we had a different vision in mind. Originally, we wanted to film a long shot and use the bush next to this table as a way to conceal who our main character was playing with. However, once we set up the tripod we realized that we had overestimated the size of the bush. In order to hide our main character's opponent, the shot would have had way too much open space, making it ineffective. So, we decided to do another shot that was closer up. However, it needed to be different from shots #1 and #2 (shown above), which is why, once we found the angle we liked, I was determined to do everything possible to execute it. 

Chess Film: Day One Tracking Shot

Expectation vs Reality

To prepare for day one of filming, I watched a video on tracking shots the night before. A tracking shot is any shot that includes a moving camera that follows or tracks moving characters or subjects. My group wanted to include a tracking shot in our film to enhance the suspense of the plot. The video I watched gave me knowledge about tracking shots, but I quickly realized that learning about them and actually filming them are two very different things. 

Luckily, on day one, we had a film assistant helping us throughout the process. Once my group mentioned that one of our shots was a tracking shot, our assistant immediately expressed concern, saying that it's one of the hardest to pull off "correctly." However, they didn't want to change our vision and luckily, they had used a tracking shot in their film last year. Tracking shots can be difficult because of how hard it is to keep the camera steady. Our film assistant suggested a few options my group could choose from to reduce the amount of shake in our shot. Some suggestions included specific ways to set up or hold the tripod. The suggestion that stuck was tying a heavy bag to our tripod. My group used the bag for our film equipment and added anything heavy we could find—our phones, chess pieces, and folders. 

Using the bag method for our tracking shot

Outcome

Using the bag method improved the stability of our shot. We attempted the shot a total of four times and were happy with the outcome. Even with the bag method, the shot isn't perfect, but we agreed that once we add music, the shot will make sense, even if there are still some slight shakes. Some of our group members even mentioned that the shakes could add to the suspense and tense atmosphere. 

Chess Film: Filming Day One

Problem 

We encountered our first filming issue almost immediately, as it happened before the camera even started rolling—one of our actors couldn't make it. Unfortunately, the teacher for one of our supporting actors did not allow him to leave class. Our whole script was written as if there were three supporting actors. Losing an actor meant we had to quickly rework our script on the spot. At first, the shots were easy to change from three supporting actors to two, but as we continued to film, the script no longer made sense with only two actors. So, we had to adjust our original idea, which meant adding more shots than we had originally planned. Our editor had her own shot list that I managed while she was acting. However, as the director, I also wanted a way to keep track of which shots we had completed to make planning for additional filming days easier. So, on my shot list, we decided the easiest way to add shots into our original script was by adding half shots. For example, the shot that needed to be in between 9 and 10 to maintain the film's chronology was announced as shot 9.5. This way, the rest of our shots would still match up with their description on the script. 

9.5 and 10.5 labeled to edit our shot list

Outcome 

Even with this problem, filming went smoothly on day one since we acted quickly and efficiently to solve the issue. One of our supporting actors had a lot more screen time than originally planned to compensate for the reduced cast, but her acting was great and fit the film perfectly. 

Our two supporting actors acting

Chess Film: Mise En Scene Through Costume

Before filming, our group needed to decide what our characters would wear. Costume is the most important aspect of mise en scene in our film. We chose costumes that reflected the deeper meaning of our film through color. Our main character would wear black, while the supporting characters, or bystanders, will wear gray. Although these colors seem similar, they carry two distinct meanings with the context of our film. 

The Power of Color Theory in Film 

The Meaning of Grey in Horror -Websites I used to explore the different meanings of color 

Main character: Black

The color black is powerful because it can symbolize a variety of different things. The color black can have a positive or negative connotation. In our film, black will be used to convey more of a negative connotation. Specifically, in our film black will be associated with mystery, isolation, and psychological depth. Mystery is a common theme in many thrillers, which is why most thriller films use darker colors to enhance the sense of suspense. The suspense in our film builds to the reveal that the main character has been playing chess against no one. This creates a theme of isolation, which is supported by the black clothes worn by the character. Since our character seems to fully believe they are playing a real game of chess, it suggests there might be a psychological issue affecting their perception of reality. This psychological depth is also supported by the colors the character is wearing.

Example: The color black used in The Matrix (1999) to represent mystery

Supporting characters: Gray 

Black and gray are similar in their association of darkness, but gray offers a more subtle approach when used in a film. In our film, gray will be used to convey a feeling of uncertainty, confusion, and isolation. When gray is used to symbolize isolation it is in a much more subtle approach. This occurs when one of our supporting characters attempts to confront the main character, who refuses to acknowledge any other characters in the film. When the supporting character is ignored, this amplifies the feeling of isolation. However, the supporting character quickly joins another, and together they exit the shot. So, unlike the main character, whose isolation is a theme throughout the film, the supporting character only experiences the feeling of isolation for a brief moment. Additionally, gray resembles the uncertainty and confusion the supporting characters feel as they observe the main character's chess game. 

Example: The color gray in Joker (2019) to represent isolation 

Chess Film: The Day Before Filming

Not Enough Actors 

Originally, my group planned on getting four actors for our film. This meant all of us could focus on being behind the scenes. Unfortunately, finding actors was a lot harder than we anticipated. We underestimated this step in our filming process, assuming everyone would want a free ticket out of class. Surprisingly, many of the people we asked said they were camera shy and not interested in being in the film. Another problem that came up was that those who were interested didn't have the required grades to skip class. We ended up with only two of the four actors we needed, which meant some of our group members had to step in. 

Group members stepping up to be in our film 

As the director, I wanted to make sure everything ran smoothly during filming, so I encouraged my other team members to be in the film. Balancing both acting and directing would have been challenging. It made the most sense for our sound designer and editor to be in the film, since the majority of their work occurs after filming. However, they still have important responsibilities during production, so we decided I would cover their roles if they were in a shot and unavailable. For example, while our editor is acting I will manage the shot list, keeping track of which shots we completed and which takes were the best. Additionally, when our sound designer is in a shot I will be the one indicate which shot and take it is. 

Communication

I made sure to contact the two actors who are not in our group the day before filming to provide them with details for filming day. These details included what to wear, location, and time. I also realized that whatever our actors wore would need to be worn again if we did not finish all the shots they were in. So, I suggested to all the actors that they should bring a change of clothes if they did not want to wear the same outfit within the same week. 

Initial messages to our actors 

Chess Film: The Film Proposal

Creating The Proposal 

As director, I was responsible for the genre statement, script, call sheet, and casting report. At first, I did not understand why there were so many papers required for the proposal, but as we began preparing for filming, I quickly saw the purpose behind each one. I filled out the video aspect of the script, while our sound designer filled out the audio aspect. Additionally, our cinematographer used the script to assist her in making the shot list. This verified that we were all on the same page. Our group communicated through every step of the film proposal to ensure all our ideas were aligned. Although I did not have to complete every element of the film proposal, as the director, I made sure I was there to support my group whenever needed, so that we could create a well-rounded and strong proposal. 

My group communicating about various factors important to our film.

Problems With Our Proposal 

My group got the 'green light' to film, so there were no significant issues with our proposal. Our mistakes were more lessons that will guide us in future films. For example, our storyboard was too short and we learned that a storyboard should capture all, or at least most of the shots that will take place in a film. A storyboard is a tool used to visualize a film and helps plan out each scene in detail. The more of the film you can visualize, the clearer the final product will be. Another mistake I made was that I filled out one call sheet for all three days of filming. I learned it is much more efficient if you fill out a call sheet for each individual day. Once I got home that day, I printed out three call sheets because I wanted our filming days to run as smoothly as possible. One last thing we learned is that scripts do not typically have shots listed on them, that is why there is a shot list. The script is more for the storyline of the film. 

Chess Film: Scouting Locations

First Potential Problem 

For our film we need two locations. One location is for the main characters and another location is for the bystanders. We wanted our main location to feel almost hidden and we thought the various plants helped create that effect. Along with the plants, cloudy weather would perfectly set the mood that we are aiming for. Although, we recognized that the sun was making this area very bright and high-key lighting isn't ideal in a thriller film. We decided to keep the location, but if the sun is casting a strong light on filming day, we have another location in mind. 

Our main location

Visualizing Scenes 

While my group was outside we started visualizing some of the scenes we had previously discussed. Specifically, we looked at different ways we could move around the tripod to capture the chess board. We positioned the tripod on the ground on both sides of the table, and also on top of the table. We decided placing the tripod on the table will be the best choice for our film. Additionally, we looked at how we could capture the bystanders themselves, as well as their point of view. More discussion needs to go into the specifics of how we will capture the bystanders point of view, but we have a starting point. Finally, we looked at our closing scene which includes an over-the-shoulder shot. As the camera was rolling I noticed this would be a great opportunity to use a rack focus. I think this will be the perfect way to end our film and reveal who was playing chess with the main character, since the audience won't know until the end of the film. 

Practicing a rack focus: Girl in focus

Practicing a rack focus: Plants in focus 

I watched this video to make sure my group could execute a rack focus accurately. 

Chess Film: Brainstorming

First Steps 

The first step my group took towards creating our chess film was establishing our roles. My role will be director. My goal as a director is to listen to everyone's ideas and make sure our film is a collaborative piece. Then, my group selected our genre: thriller. After my group established the genre for our film and selected our roles, we started to brainstorm our plot. The process of creating our plot was much easier than I had expected. We all took turns adding something to an original idea, and within five minutes, we had the basics of our plot. The only thing we must include in our film is the game of chess. My group is incorporating chess in its simplest form— the main characters will just be playing the game, but it won't be an ordinary one. 

Visualizing 

To fully visualize our film, my group looked at our storyboard, which is also required for the portfolio. The closing shot is actually what we established first as it will reveal the meaning behind our film. We will use an over-the-shoulder shot and there will only be one figure present. 

Example of an over-the-shoulder shot in Superbad, 2007

We had two ideas regarding our opening shot. One gives our main character frontality and the other gives our character no frontality. Giving the character no frontality can create an initial sense of suspense, which is necessary in thrillers. However, our opening shot needs to conceal information, which may be easier with a frontal shot. After further discussion, my group will likely use the frontal shot as our opening, but there is still room for debate. 

Chess Film: Selecting a Genre

My group quickly agreed to focus on the horror genre for our film, but after further discussion and exploring different plot ideas, we decided to narrow it down to a thriller. A thriller is a genre that shares similarities with horror films, but sets a primary focus on building tension and suspense. Our film is going to be suspenseful and we plan on creating that tension through codes. There are many subgenres to thriller films including psychological thriller, action thriller, crime thriller, and supernatural thriller. Our film is going to be a psychological thriller because it will tackle the meaning of existence. 

Genre Basics- Thrillers

Codes and Conventions of a Thriller Film

The Keys to a Mystery-Thriller Film

I used these websites for my research and I was able to narrow down which codes I can see my group using in our film. 

Sound codes- Tension music: 

Since there will be no dialogue in our film, we will heavily rely on tension music to create the suspense we want. All of these sounds would be non-diegetic. One of my group members mentioned the Killing Eve extract we watched in class and how the music perfectly added to the plot. Another example I think of is Stranger Things and the various sounds it uses to enhance the plot of the show. 

Technical codes- Cinematography: 

Close-up shots and extreme close-up shots will be used in our film to create emphasis on the chess game. These shots will also be used to conceal information. Using other shots could reveal too much information, making the suspense unclear to the audience.

Example of a close-up shot from Get Out, 2017

Symbolic codes- Mise En Scene and Editing: 

Low-key lighting, which helps create shadows, and location play a role in thriller films. Both of these aspects of mise en scene help create a dark and mysterious atmosphere. The Sixth Sense is a good example of a film that uses low-key lighting in scenes that are supposed to feel tense and unsettling. However, these aspects will be difficult to create in the middle of the day on our school patio. We cannot change the location, but our editor can go in and alter the lighting or add some filters to replicate this atmosphere. I will also discuss with my group potentially using black and white, another repeated element in thriller films. 

Low-lighting in The Sixth Sense, 1999