Final Draft - The eZ life

Timeline of Shots and Titles

Today I created a timeline of shots and titles of the first Draft of our opening sequence:

However i realised that once i had finished this i in fact forgot to add the titles to the timeline. Below is the 1st minute of the timeline of shots and Titles:

1st minute timeline:

2nd minute timeline:

3rd minute timeline:

Film Poster - Marketing

James once the film poster was created placed the Poster in various ways at which the film could be Promoted as shown below:

Film Poster at a Bus Stop

Film Poster in a Cinema

Film Poster in a Bedroom

Second Draft of The eZ life

Today we finished the long journey of planning , filming and editing and below is The eZ life final film opening sequence.

Script for News Broadcast

Today Issak wrote the script for the news broadcast for our final scene in our film sequence.

Representation

The eZ Life from eaglej09

Why we choose our Music

Our group recieved feedback at which we were queried about our music selection. This blog post will address some criticism and doubts of the music choice that our group recieved whilst created the eZ Life.

The lyrics used actually help to create imagery and help to add more meaning to the viewing experience. Remember, The eZ Life is a film to advocate helping drug users with their problems.

Below are the lyrics which are featured in our opening, and with them, an explanation as to how it relates to our convention and film:

[INTRO]

"Niggas need a spot where WE can kick it"

- Since thugs don't have a sense of belonging in many places, they require a 'Thugz Mansion' where they can chill and kick it. A place where they can relax and escape from the society where they're oppressed. This reflects the drug culture which our film is aiming to present to it's target audience.

"A spot where WE belong, that's just for us"

- The lyric is basically saying that since society tends to get all bent out of shape when it looks at drug consumption, Tupac wants place where he actually feels like he belongs. Not a place where he's looked down upon by society, but instead a place where he's accepted. This reflects how the drug consumption is exclusive.

"Niggas ain't gotta get all dressed up and be Hollywood"

- Tupac's describing his heaven as a place where people can be relaxed and not worry about being fake. This represents how the drug is real, and not just "Hollywood".

"Y'knahmean? Where do niggas go when we die?"

- This line reflects the concept of 'life after death'. This fits perfectly with the effects that eZ have upon consumption.

"Ain't no heaven for a thug nigga"

- This statement helps foreshadows how the drug doesn't create heaven, infact it has detrimental effects upon the user.

"That's why we go to a thug mansion"

- This line simply is a metaphor for entering the party and also taking eZ.

"That's the only place where thugs get in free and you gotta be a G ... at thug mansion"

- Basically, the party is the utopia, but also eZ creates a dystopia.

[VERSE]

"A place to spend my quiet nights, time to unwind"

- The drug, eZ, is envisioned to be stress free and the opposite to time on Earth.

"So much pressure in this life of mine, I cry at times"

- This lines outlines how drug users usually have a stimulant to their addiction or desire to consume.

"I once contemplated suicide, and woulda tried"

- This line suggests how drug users sometimes rely upon drugs to live. This creates an interesting idea as obviously eZ turns you undead.

"But when I held that 9, all I could see was my momma's eyes"

- This line shows how things in drug users' pasts prevent them from ending their lives.

"No one knows my struggle, they only see the trouble"

- Drug users are generally labelled and are considered trouble.

"Not knowin it's hard to carry on when no one loves you"

- People are ignorant to drug consumption and the problems which it causes.

"Picture me inside the misery of poverty"

- This line makes the audience think about the pain and anguish which negligence of drug users causes.

"No man alive has ever witnessed struggles I survived"

- The media only portray drug users in a bad light, and not rehab or anything similar.

"Prayin hard for better days, promise to hold on"

- Through every dark night, there's a bright day after that.

"Me and my dawgs ain't have a choice but to roll on"

- People who have a drug habit are forced to continue on their path without any help.

"We found a family spot to kick it"

- This line suggests how drug users have regular locations and take drugs with the same people.

"Where we can drink liquor and no one bickers over-trick shit"

- Drug users commonly share what they have.

"A spot where we can smoke in peace, and even though we G's"

- Again, this portrays the regularity of the locations which they select.

"We still visualize places, that we can roll in peace"

- This line shows the oppression against drug users and how they should be helped peacefully rather than violently.

"And in my mind's eye I see this place, the players go in fast"

- Drug use is becoming more of a problem as more and more people take them.

"I got a spot for us all, so we can ball, at thug's mansion"

- This line suggests the influence which drugs have on vulnerable people and if they're promised a euphoric experience, they're more than likely to return.

Filming for the final cut

After the feedback we recieved and our own group discussions we decided what we felt we would change and improve in order to make our film better. On the right is us filming the zombie time-lapse of Issak turning into a Zombie. Issak sat in front of the green screen so that we could edit behind the time-lapse.

This process was very difficult as it was very time consuming, taking a couple of hours to complete. I applied face paint whilst James took pictures throughout the process.

First draft feedback

Today we watched our first draft film opening for our group and we then gave feedback to our fellow peers. We also received feedback. Below is feedback from our fellow peers, we received good feedback with various scores which exceeded 40. Below is a mixed set of feedback which was between 38-48. We received some high strong feedback which reached to 55 although we also received some criticism seen below.

Film Poster

Today Issak created the film poster using a photograph which i took a few nights previously. Issak edited the picture on his iPhone using an app called Aviary. Aviary is a simple app which uses professionally designed filters, creative stickers and frames , touch up tools and more to create and share pictures.
Issak increased the brightness and contrast and decreased the amount of shadows. He enhanced the picture with a hi - definition filter. He then used Adobe Photoshop to place text onto the poster which my group found suitable to the genre our film fits into. He then placed the zombie hands to the left and right sides of the poster in order to show the zombie theme. He then placed the institution logo onto the poster and then finally added the group's names onto the top of the Poster.

First Draft - The eZ Life

This is our first draft of our film opening sequence. We handed in our draft so that we could recieve feedback from media students , teachers and other helpers. As a group we will collect feedback and take criticisms and try to address them. Together as a group we were originally concerned with the ending and the titles we felt were not good enough.

Filming

Today we agreed that we would film for a consecutive night. We filmed the car scenes with the help of Mrs Brooks, who kindly agreed to assist us.

We filmed at a road opposite the school. Here, we shot the scene of Zach exiting the car approaching the party. James filmed and I directed whilst Issak played Zach.

Conveniantly, the house opposite had a driveway with very good lighting which I spoted. We decided to shoot a scene there, making a full use of the opportunity. We felt as though this shot would also help with our film Poster.

Below is a recce shot of the location spotted:

Shot List

Today in lesson James made a list of shots of which is in our opening film sequence.

Shooting Schedule

Today I created our shooting schedule of each day that we were filming and what we shots we are doing. 

Tenacious D Inspiration

As a group we watched this scene from Tenacious D after Issak suggested it. The idea of having a clip of the visions Jack Black has and then putting he clip of reality right after was both funny and made the genre obvious. We can incorporate an idea like this into our film the eZ life. Also the start of it is one of many ways to show drug taking. We will be showing it differently but it is good to see there are other ways we can do it.

Institution



Film4 is a British digital television channel available in the United Kingdom, owned and operated by Channel Four Television Corporation, that screens films. We choose film 4 to distribute our film as it is a well known brand with a good Reputation.  Film 4 channels many independent and mainstream films. Film 4 was first launched on 1st November 1998. It has made huge blockbuster movies such as 12 years a Slave but it has also made small movies such as The Double. It distributes a wide variety of films.

Props Research and list

Aspirin Pill: This is needed to represent the pill eZ which our film is based on

 

Black Hoodie: This will be used in the scene where the drug deal takes place, it will be worn by the dealer

 

iPhone: Needed to show texts between durg dealer and Zack

 

Mirror (in bathroom): for scene where Zack looks into mirror after taking eZ pill

 

Lampost (outside): Needed for drug deal scene for light

 

Green screen: To edit party scene on Adobe Premiere

Music Research

Issak has been looking for various tracks which could suit our film opening for The eZ Life.

Firstly, the song 'Hell of a Night' by Schoolboy Q caught my notice due to the out of body feel which the synth gives at the beginning of the song. The lyrics are also very relevant to the film.

'Hell of a Night' can be heard below :


Next, the song 'Dancin (KRONO Remix) caught my attention due to its upbeat and lively tempo which would suit a party scene.

Dancin Can be heard below:


The music video and song 'PMW' by ASAP Rocky ft. Schoolboy Q caught my notice due to the lyrics relating to things which happens at parties.



The song '2Pac vs. Banks Thugz Drowning (Carlos Serrano Mix) caught my attention due to the high tempo and lyrics.