Blog Update - 26th January (Filming Progress/Songs Chosen for blog update)

We have been filming over the last week and have so far completed two thirds of the screenplay, Olivia has asked for a brief extension until our lesson thursday so that we can make better use of our time. So far we have done most additional shots and shots for the montage and chase scene and the full shot with Mr. Smith and Daniel (however we're going to reshoot this, as Olivia and I both felt that it wasn't funny enough).
We still need to film the chase scene in its entirety with some more extras. As well as some of some of the lines with Mr. Smith to make the delivery funnier.

We also have our soundtrack now, with some originally composed pieces as well as some popular songs:

Badass - ReeceA


 

 This song is "Badass" composed by ReeceA, given to our group to be used as part of the original score for "Hall Monitor" with the titles stating that the score is by him. This will serve as the main theme for The Hall Monitor with a fast upbeat tune and vibe.

Sound of Da Police - KRS


As a cop parody film we will have Sound of Da Police playing for the opening montage of the video, as Alex strolls down the path up to the school.

Final Storyboard and Character Designs

The final costume designs is now complete: I designed the costumes to have the same uniform but with how they were it showing something about their character. Alex's uniform is worn in a neat tidy way, but also in a somewhat silly way, while his shirt is tucked into his trousers, they are also pulled up rather high so that you can see his socks easily. In contrast to Tom, who dresses shabbier, with his tie undone loosely round his neck, sleeves rolled up, an upturned collar, and an untucked shirt, showing his disregard for school uniform policies. Jesse dresses rather neatly because she wants to impress Alex, knowing that he likes neatness, and this shows her infatuation with him.

In addition to this the story board has now been completed:

Blog Update 12-1-12 - First Concept Artwork

We've been unable to film today as we've not been able to get all the group together due to personal difficulties one of the group members is currently going through, so we have opted to spend more time developing costumes and titles.

These are the designs for the three main characters: Alex, Tom and Jessie.

I designed the costumes to have the same uniform but with how they were it showing something about their character. Alex's uniform is worn in a neat tidy way, but also in a somewhat silly way, while his shirt is tucked into his trousers, they are also pulled up rather high so that you can see his socks easily.
In contrast to Tom, who has a shabbier look to him, but not as dorky, his shirts untucked and tie isn't done up properly, this will show more about his character and his lack of care for the rules. Jessie dresses rather neatly, as she is trying to get Alex's attention, and knows he likes tidiness, reflecting her infatuation with him.

Following the second sheet of concept art I changed the design of some of the costumes to reflect their personality more, Tom now has his collar upturned and lacks a tie, to show his general untidiness more, and Alex now wears glasses (to make it easier for Daniel to portray him).

Second Draft of Script/Storyboard

We've now completed the storyboard, and the second draft of the screenplay. Things are still subject to change as we film and edit the video but most of the overall plot of the video are now set in stone, and we should be ready to film by next week.

Hall Monitor Screenplay

ALEX

Do you want to hear my story? Are you sure, it's not for the faint of heart, it's a story of immense excitement, courage, loyalty,

and the satire/parody clause to prevent us from potential lawsuits. This is me. I'm tough. (CLENCH FIST) Charming. (CLICKS FINGERS AND POINTS) And too poor to afford 3D (PUNCHES AT THE CAMERA WHICH THEN FALLS DOWN). And this is what I do.

CUTS TO ALEX, THE HALL MONITOR IS HOLDING A KID AGAINST THE LOCKER, TWO STUDENTS ARE WATCHING IN THE BACKGROUND AND ARE MOCKING ALEX AND THE KID.

ALEX

I saw you littering!

KID

No! I swear, you've made a mistake!

ALEX

I don't make mistakes.

KID

Oh God!

CUTS TO TOM WHO IS WALKING DOWN THE CORRIDOOR,HE STOPS AS HE SEES ALEX AND SIGHS WITH A LOOK OF DISSAPOINTMENT ON HIS FACE. CUTS BACK TO ALEX WHO DOESN'T REALISE THERE IS A TEACHER BEHIND HIM.

ALEX

You don't freaking litter in MY school! You get that punk!?

TEACHER

That is quite enough!

ALEX HAS A LOOK OF PANIC ON HIS FACE, CUT TO HIM SITTING AT THE DESK IN THE TEACHERS OFFICE.

TEACHER

Listen, Alex, I understand you're trying to make a difference.

ALEX

(HALL MONITOR VOICE) I AM (PAUSES THEN REVERTS TO NATURAL VOICE) making a difference! People aren't breaking the rules nearly as much now, you saw what happened to James, he may never taste again.

TEACHER

He's having his TONSILS OUT!

ALEX

(PAUSES THINKING ABOUT WHAT THE TEACHERS SAYING, BEFORE TRYING TO REBUTTLE, NOT LIKING HOW HIS POSITION IS BEING THREATENED) But if I don't make a difference, who will.

TEACHER

The staff.

ALEX

Who else will!? This school needs a hero, (HE STANDS UP AND BEGINS TO TURN TO FACE THE DOOR) someone to look up to, aspire to. Someone needs to clean up these halls, someone needs to be.. The Hall Monitor.

TEACHER

I really don't give a shit. Just stop assaulting the students, or I'll have to report you!

CUT ON ALEX'S REACTION. CUT TO A KID RUNNING DOWN THE HALL. ALEX LOOKS IN HORROR HE UNBUTTONS HIS SHIRT TO REVEAL THE HALL MONITOR LOGO, IN A PARODY OF SUPERMAN, BEFORE SPEED WALKING OUT OF THE DOOR, HE BEGINS TO FOLLOW THE RUNNING KID, SPEED WALKING.

ALEX

Stop! No running in the hall! (THE KID RUNS OFF, HE CHANGES TO THE HALL MONITOR VOICE) We got a fighter then huh?

HE FOLLOWS THE KID, SPEED WALKING OFF SCREEN REVEALING JESSIE, ALEX'S LOVE INTREST, SHE SIGHS DREAMILY AT HIM. CUT TO ALEX STILL CHASING AFTER THE RUNNING KID. HE STOPS TO PICK UP A PIECE OF LITTER, HE LOOKS DOWN AT IT.)

ALEX

It's still warm...

(AS THE RUNNING KID APPROACHES THE END OF THE CORRIDOR A BAG STICKS OUT, THE RUNNING KID FACEPLANTS INTO THE BAG AND FALLS TO THE FLOOR. TOM COMES INTO VIEW FROM ROUND THE CORNER WITH A BORED EXPRESSION ON HIS FACE.

ALEX

Well done rookie, quick thinking.

TOM

Yeah, whatever dude. I'm going to maths.

ALEX (NARRATION)

That's Tom, he's my partner, not in bed, in cleaning up the scum in this school, he's a challenge, he doesn't care much about the system, but he's good at what he does. I have many names, Alex, Master Duncan, Justice and several names which I can't tell you because we're pushing for the 12a rating.(BEHIND HIM, THERE IS A LARGE FIGURE APPROACHING) But that doesn't matter, because I know my duty, I'm here to clean up this school. I am the- 

THE LARGE FIGURE IS FULLY BEHIND HIM, ALEX TURNS AROUND AND TAKES NOTE OF THE GIANT BOY.


ALEX
Let me guess... big brother? (THE LARGE FIGURE NODS) Great... should have seen that coming.
 THE LARGE FIGURE PUNCHES HIM AND AS HE FALLS THE HALL MONITOR THEME PLAYS AND THE HALL MONITOR LOGO FADES ONTO SCREEN.

Production Schedule

We have completed a production schedule for Hall Monitor over a two week period.

Wednesday 4th - Begin final draft of script

Thursday 5th- Storyboarding

Monday 9th - Final Draft of Script/Storyboarding Complete

Tuesday 17th - Completing Storyboards and Concept Art

Thursday 19th - Filming Headteachers scenes and student chase scenes
                           (We will need to bring costumes, camera, tripod, lights)

Cast and Set List:
Alex- Daniel Wright
Tom- Andrew Bryan
Jessie- Alisha Ward
Teacher- Mr. Ges Smith
Student 1- Chris Adegoke
Student 2- Gabriel Barry
Extras- James Collins

Olivia emailed Gabriel's teachers and got him the day off of his subjects so that he can film with us and she also emailed Mr Smith and sorted out with him to clear his schedule and film with us for (most of) the day.

(Possible) Sets:

Sixth Form office
Corridor
The Bridge
Outside the school

Hall Monitor - Treatment Re-write

BiggerBoat Productions presents Hall Monitor, an action comedy "based on the comic of the same name " (not actually based on any real source material but to add depth to the convincing movie) about Alex, the school hall monitor and his cynical side-kick Tom as they uncover a plot to ruin the school prom, and have to track down the culprit and prevent its imminent sabotage. Along the way Alex must also come to realise that there is more to life than his job, and that sometimes more important things are right in front of him, but he cannot see them, such as Jessie, a beautiful, but fun loving girl who wants nothing more than to be in a happy relationship with Alex, but struggles to get herself noticed by him.


The film will combine Cop parody genres such as Mall Cop and Hot Fuzz, with the colourful energy of other action comedy films such as Scott Pilgrim vs. The World as well as Superhero films such as Spider-Man and the original Batman series.


We wish to make a witty, funny comedy that will both entertain and draw in the audience. It will be a certificate 12 allowing us to make jokes more suitable for older audiences.  

The feedback we got from our focus group was to not make is family orientated but just younger teen upwards film and so to raise the rating so that we could add in better humour than just slap-stick alone. We also were told to give the love-interest a bigger role overall in the film so that the audience can know who she is before the end reveal.

Blog Update 2/1/12 (Focus Group Analysis)

After spending some time looking through the Focus Group video and editing out irrelevant parts, and re-reading the first draft of the script, I think I have a clearer idea of the project based on how it has appeared so far. I think it is fair to say that it has deviated from what it was originally intended to be, a buddy cop parody movie, but I think this will work in our favour, drawing inspiration from other genres such as superhero and noir films, we have gained numerous more inspirations for the project which will help us create a more original final piece after all.

I have mixed feelings around our focus group, on one hand I feel that it tended to deviate from the topic at hand, often going off discussing other films less related to what we need to examine, and I feel this deviation caused a bit of a distraction, as we kept having to refocus the attention back onto the pitch itself.

However I do feel that the multiple opinions did help give a perspective of what sort of audience the film seemed to be geared towards (one member of the group said that they would go to see it with their children, but not on there own) which is something I now feel we should avoid, as kids movies are dumbed down and resort to slapstick humour rather than wit, which is part of why we raised the certificate from PG to 12a. The focus group did help me realise that.

The Focus Group also gave us ideas for a wider range of films to seek inspiration from, including Cop-mockumentary series Reno-911 as well as its film adaption and even District 9 (however I still maintain the view that a mockumentary style should be completely avoided for sake of making a more cinematic film to attract the examiners attention, with mockumentary films being a style reserved for a more cult following which would not be appropriate for A-level coursework) which helped broaden our horizons somewhat on different approaches to take on the films opening sequence.

All in all, I do think our Focus Group was more or less a success although I do feel we could have gotten more out of it with a more structured questionnaire.