Review of Test Shoot

 Review of Test Shoot

Overall, this test shoot was very helpful for our group to see how our idea translated to film and what parts needed developing and improving. In saying that we like the concept of our idea and with improvements think it'll be effective and grip the audience. 

Our test shoot was 1 minute long. Our time frame is 2 minutes. We have decided to extend the beginning before introducing the main character.  

After watching our test shoot we thought that the pace is too fast at the beginning. So, we are going to make the start slower with more shots of the girl terrified and different areas of the club. Then, when we are introduced to the main male character we the pace will speed up, so it will be more effective and action based.  

One thing we did think was successful in our test shoot was that the narrative comes across and is clear to the viewer. We like the concept and storyline of our opening sequence. We have a good base and with proper planning and storyboarding it'll come together. 

We didn't think as much tension was created in our opening sequence as we liked. But with our new order of shots and development from our test shoot, I think It will be successful in gripping the audience. 

Some angles we really liked. For example we liked the blood dripping off the hammer and the close up of the floor with drips of blood falling. 

However we didn't really like the angle of the girl crying. So we will develop this into something more believable. We thought maybe close ups of her hands shaking, her eyes / face as well as mid shots of her scared. 

We also didn't like how the main character went to go and pick up the hammers. Why would he just leave them lying round?

Adding more of the girl at the beginning will help us make the stakes higher for the sequence. We believe that in order to make someone scary or 'cool' it's import to show the reaction of other characters not just the main characters action. So, the girl being horrified and scared shows the viewers that this man is terrifying. 

Something that didn't work was the everyday outfit of the main character in our test shoot. After discussion we have decided to dress him in something memorable and unique. Hopefully this will make his character more intimidating and interesting. Possibly a big jacket and some sort of head piece or cap. On the other hand we like that he starts shirtless and then puts on a jacket. The shot of his back with tattoos and neon lightings hopefully will be striking. 

To conclude this review I think we are on the right track and have picked up on some good points to improve. Without this test shoot we would have stumbled into these problems on the day of shooting which would've wasted time. So thinking about these things now will help us create a more interesting, suspenseful opening sequence.