Production - Studio

Today we filmed the remaining elements of our experimental film that required the performance studio.

Because we needed two actors for the footage, we arranged to use Ed as the part of the old man, as he would only be visible in a couple of shots and would have no dialogue. As the producer, Emma organised an actor for us to use named George Webster and sent him the following Email:

"Hi, I am a 1st year student studying Film and Media Production and was given you contact details as you said you are interested in being part of our short films. Currently we are looking for someone to play the main role in our experimental piece which is based on the poem 'The Tell TaleHeart' by Edgar Allen Poe.  We are hoping to be filming over the next week or two so if you are available and want to help then please let me know, either email me back or my number is 07757527796. Thanks Emma"

He was happy to take the part and we in turn used him as our lead actor in the film. Emma had already given him an idea of what the film was about and lines for him to learn and during the day of filming, whilst Ed and Emma set up the camera and lighting equipment, I briefed George on the way I wanted him to play the part. I explained that I wanted an over-exaggerated and abstract style as he walked and wanted him to speak in a manner reminiscent of Steven Berkoff's style - Very well pronounced and including some elongated words in order to highlight the films approach. Although he only faintly used this technique, he included a lot of pauses in his dialogue which increased the tension of the piece. 

Because we wanted the film to have a 'play'-like feel as to make it look artificial and manufactured, we included the equipment such as the lights and formed a floor plan out of black masking tape. I wanted the characters to act as though the room was real and had working doors and beds... I feel that we have achieved this through the way in which George crept around the door frame just as I asked him to.

For the sections of the film where the man speaks the tale of the man with the eye of a vulture, we used a dim spotlight in order to give the shot this atmospheric quality. In some shots, I asked Ed to slowly zoom out from a close-up of the mans eye to reveal his face drenched in sweat as he speaks his line. We plan to enhance this further in post production. 


Not only did we use the studio lighting for this piece, but also experimented with the use of torch light and that from lamps and the man's lantern. I wanted the only light that revealed the old man to come from the lamp beside his bed. This added a more intense ambience.