For the logistical part, we started looking at all the props and equipment that we will need for the film. We aim to limit our budgetary spendings as much as possible, in order to ensure that we have the resources needed to fund the film, and achieve the best results.
For this blog post, I have put together, alongside my team, a detailed list of the mise en scene components that we will need, as well as the technical equipment and how we will get ahold of it.
Props
For the props, we listed them all as we won’t be in need of too many items to achieve our film opening. We heavily focused our film opening on color grading and cinematography, which allows us to stay in a low budget when it comes to the props as not many are needed.(or we are already in possession of the ones needed)
Knife- the knife will be used in the 3rd and last scene(the killing scene), to be identified as the murder weapon, and clearly convey to the audience(alongside the shift in color scheme), what the mood and actions are indicating.
Shot glasses- the shot glasses will be used in the 1st scene(with the party), which the two female characters will be drinking out of to instill the foundation of what is happening in the first scene.
Fake blood- we will need the fake blood for the final scene, to add to Finn’s clothes as well as the knife, to add to the dramatic effect of the scene and make the action clear to the audience.
Costumes
Scene 1- Party
Ivy -will be wearing black mini dress, with lace on it, along with knee high leather boots. This will showcase her eclectic, youthful style. The dark colors will convey her hidden darkness, as well as the nightlife atmosphere. The party will be Halloween party, hence the protagonist will be wearing devil horns, that will represent her darkness.
Finn(lookalike)- would be wearing an all white outfit, with white jeans and a white button up shirt , unbuttoned to a quarter, with a black tie loosely tied. He will be wearing angel wings to show his innocence and purity, as well as directly contradict Ivy’s costumes, to show their dynamic from the start.
Scene 2- Field
Ivy – She will be wearing a whitish/cream long skirt, along with a matching top. The clothing articles should be flowy to give an ethereal look.
Finn– He will be wearing a flowy white button up, unbuttoned halfway, along with light wash jeans.
*The shoes are still undetermined as we will try to film the low angle close up shot of them walking towards each other, while they’re wearing shoes and also experiment with them being barefoot, to try and give the scene a more organic look, if possible.
Scene 3- Murder
Ivy– The outfit will consist of simple dark clothes, most probably a skirt and simple top, to tie in the preliminary video, as we planned it as a prequel to the actual film opening, to offer a little bit of context on the plot of our film opening.
Finn– He will be wearing a grey t-shirt along with simple dark wash jeans to add to the moody atmosphere.
Make-up
Scene 1- Party
Scene 2- Field
IVY
Dewy makeup with glowing/shimmering tones of silver and gold.
FINN
Should have highlights that make his face glow to showcase his innocence and vulnerability.
Scene 3- Murder
Her make-up should be dark and smokey, to show the tragedy of the situation and expose her hidden darkness. It adds to the sorrow emotion that is conveyed to the audience, and creates a clear contrast between the second and third scene of our film opening.
Equipment
For this project, we were fortunate to be able to borrow a range of professional equipment from one of Luca’s friends who works in media production, creating films and advertisements in Romania. His support helped us significantly improve the overall quality of our film, and the equipment he provided included a camera, tripod, adjustable lighting, and microphones, all of which were absolutely mandatory in achieving a more professional result.
The main shots were taken using a Sony a7II, which, as I’ve mentioned above, was generously lent to us. This high-quality camera played an important role in capturing clear, detailed clips, especially as we wanted to showcase the high-contrast lighting style we envisioned for in our film opening. Using such advanced equipment helped elevate the overall look of our project.
To capture high-quality audio, we used a Zoom field recorder. Its microphones allowed us to record subtle, natural sounds, such as the footsteps. These details contributed to building an immersive and atmosphere for the audience, and increase the quality of our production.
Lighting was achieved using a GVM 800D-RGB panel. This versatile LED light was essential for maintaining consistent lighting across different scenes and environments. It also allowed us to adjust both the brightness and color temperature, helping us match the lighting to the mood and aesthetic of each scene, as well as the distinct visual identities of our characters.
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