Production Concept Unit: Project Update

The last component to our package, the case files for each character written by Lauren. We wanted them to look like prison documents so I included the department logo which is used on other documents I researched. The three main characters each have a front page with a barcode, as we predict their databases will be more advanced in the future. There is also the signature of approval from Warden Donald Wise. On the other pages are further information and details of their description, a photo, their charges and a longer profile on the back page. All contained inside black leather wallets as mentioned within the script. 

Here's the DVD containing the storyboard and title sequence.

And everything as a whole. 

Production Concept Unit: Storyboard

Another piece I made was the storyboard for the teaser in the form of a moving image sequence with added foley sounds. Here is the final product. I have mentioned in an earlier post how it was put together. 

Production Concept Unit: Title Sequence

And finally, the finished title sequence. I'm very happy with the final choice of music and the editing style. Some footage such as the clouds and lamp swaying have be sped up and I dropped some frames to get the twitchy effect. I added layers of the film I took and various effects. Plus the image of the prison is used subtly within the film, with movement by using keyframes. I also added movement to the text so it feels as if it moves with the image. 

Here are a few stills. 

And the final video. 

Production Concept Unit: Branding

I picked the book up yesterday, and we finished off our printing of the posters and bound the script. I'm very pleased with the look of the book, I feel it comes together as a whole professional piece, with a lot of information. 

Here are some photos of our work. 

Script cover

And the full poster design for use on billboards and social networking sites. The style is kept simple and quite abstract. Featuring the tagline, and the relevant information at the bottom. 

And the individual posters used inside the character profiles are below, the original images were created by an artist I know. I then used these images to add our own style over the top. 

Production Concept Unit: Branding

Just noticed another new True Blood promo image in a similar editing style to the Man Alive banner I did last month. Instead of using red in the shadow parts of the image which they have done, I used our shade of blue! 

Production Concept Unit: Storyboard

From the shot lists, here are my initial sketches:

I then scan these in and use them as a template to draw over with my tablet in photoshop and add some shading to look like this (these are slightly squished because of the aspect ratio):

After drawing up each individual shot, I put these into FCPX, changed the timing of each, added any movements for dramatic effect, and some transitions. I also added the dialogue over the top. Initially, I was going to add the direction at the bottom of each shot, but didn't feel it was necessary, and it would've altered the pacing. Finally, I added in some foley to get a sense of the space and help to show the actions of the characters, similarly to the sound unit of The Journey. By Thursday, you can see the finished product. 

Production Concept Unit: Storyboard

These are the shot lists I drew up in collaboration with Lauren's script. By breaking up the scenes I could go on to create sketches for the storyboard. 

PC Shot List Man Alive 1

Shot List Man Alive 2

Production Concept Unit: Title Sequence

Before I finish the title sequence, I thought I'd share the shot list and ideas I had and how I came to the finished product. 

These are the themes I used for ideas: 

CORRUPTION/VOYERISM/MEDIA CONTROL/GLOBALISATION/PRISON

Shot List/ Storyboard:

CU/ECU Blackbirds - beaks, feet

ECU Eye blinking and moving 

ECU Pair of eyes looking/staring 

CU Fences/gated

CU Barbed wiring

MS looking through fence (field)

MS Looking through barred window (exposed for outside)

WS Tower

CU Numbers sprayed on wall

MS Clouds (timelapse)

CU CCTV Cameras

ECU keyboard

MS/CU/ECU computer screen, coding, scrolling, pressing play

Location: 

Tower
Field with fencing
Dockyards


Post-work:

Images of actors as mug shots/drawings
Random pictures - circle animation
layered shots
Inverted
Textures - blueprints
Twitchy zoom in
Letters/code raining across screen 
Main title screen - animate titles, textured background
Add Blue TV light over eyes


So once I upload the finished titles this Thursday, most elements appear. As it's only a short title sequence, it's difficult to show all the shots specifically. But overall, I think all the different shots and editing styles which I have used reflect back into the themes of the show. 

Production Concept Unit: Branding

The book was sent off a while ago now. After some tweaking, adding content, rearranging layouts and editing. As a whole piece I think it represents our brand and it reflects the show as a professional, well-thought concept. I'm really pleased about the depth Lauren has gone with the story and all the elements to make it feel like a real series with a back story. We're just branding and printing the other components to match.

Meanwhile, I've been storyboarding the opening teaser, finishing the title sequence and finishing the main poster to be printed. I've just noticed one from True Blood for HBO. I liked the style and simplicity of the colours used. The typical features of a poster you would expect to see would be the tagline, and then the show name, air date and channel branding. Using a stylish, quite enigmatic picture. I've used these elements within our poster, so hopefully it matches up against our competition!

 

Weird thing was, it reminded me of The Beach poster too...