Hole Cam First trial

I need a small camera for seeing the cards in some of the live games. I'm organising a six player cash game and a six player sit n go tournament so I'm looking at solutions for seeing the players cards to make it more like a professional programme.

This is using a spy cam. There was no manufacturers name on the box but it looks identical to a camera called the Mini DV MD80 Camera. It was £9.99 on ebay so though I would give it a try. The results are not too bad.

The main drawback is each camera will require a small light as its just a bit too dark without it. Below is footage without a light.

Proposal Two

Proposal

The Long Grind to Vegas

Introduction

A documentary following three friends as they try and make it in the world of poker. Focusing on their dream of one day playing in the WSOP (World Series of Poker).

Objectives

Informational

The documentary will look at the ups and downs of budding poker players. Looking at all aspects from online and live playing. Being staked by other people. The documentary will look at how generally poker is perceived whether all about luck or is skill involved. What makes the WSOP such a special event.

Look at the players trying to raise the money to enter bigger tournaments by selling pieces of their action. Look at how they grind online or play tournaments in the hope of a big win.

Behavioural

Audiences will go through the ups and downs with the players it really won’t matter whether you understand poker the emotions of losing and winning will be visible to the audience.

Motivational

I have a keen interest in poker and believe I can use my knowledge to make an interesting documentary on the subject.

Structure

Fly on the wall style documentary following their progressive from week to week. There may be some fun elements added such as scene set ups (think the only way is Essex but not as cheesy) or re-enactments of things that the players have gone through. For example the discussion about the players having a competition between themselves has already happened and so it will have to be re-enacted.

Style

A fly on the wall style for when following the players from week to week. The interviews will be professional and fluid with professional lights and sound.

If there is any tournaments between the friends then it will be set up properly with hole cams for the cards and lights and sound.

Audience

The appeal should be quite broad although it appears to be aimed at poker fans it has a broader message, looking at people following their dreams and the ups and downs of their poker quest. Audiences love to see a winner and a loser and they will get both.

The Characters that might never be.

Characters

The characters for the heist film.


Name: Callum Doherty

Age 19-24

Appearance: Skinny and pale.

Background :

Very intelligent but from the wrong background to really excel. He never knew his father not sure his mother does either. His mother is a drug user so Callum brought himself up, left home at 16.  He rents a room in a house and makes money by fixing computers, doing hacks for free software and selling it and other electronic work. This is his first time on a heist and got persuaded into because of the payout and maybe the comraderie. Its more a case of circumstance that he is in this position he does not fit the profile of a criminal.


Name: Dennis Hartman

Age: 60-70

Appearance: Looks his age if not older.

Background:

Tough man and a tough life, spent time in prison but is an expert safe cracker. Denny as he is known has been out of the game for some years but needs the money and the thrill. A career criminal who has had some close scrapes from police and other criminals.


Name: Cameron Moore

Age: Around 30

Appearance: Handsome, rugged looking

Background:

Born to be a criminal he finds the planning and execution of heists thrilling and loves sticking itto the cops. His father was shot by police whe he was a young boy as they believed he was carrying a firearm, he wasn’t and the police covered it up. His uncle has been a big influence in his career as he is a small time gangster. He has a good crew who relies and trust him 100%.  Although avoids violence he is fully capable and willing if it is required.


Name:  Winston Harper

Age: 25-35

Appearance: shaved head, well built

Background:

Not the most intelligent person. Loyal and strong. He is the man you want on your side in a fight. Loves being a criminal and the bonds that comes with it.


Name: Mark Fitten

Age: 25-35

Appearance: Short hair, good looking, well built.

Background:

Winston’s best friend they have been working together for years since meeting in prison. They began working with Cameron a few years ago and have enjoyed a lucrative career.


Name: D.I Kevin Phillips

Age: 45-50

Appearance: Going bald, plain looking, worn from doing the job so many years.

Background:

Became a police officer after six years in the army. Progressed quite quickly. His wife of 15 years left him which hit him hard. He moved to the organised robbery unit and has been focused on the gang for the last year. He has become obsessed with Cameron and his gang.


Name: Detective Marcus Williams

Age: 25-30

Appearance: Tall, medium build, attractive

Background:

New to detective and has been fast tracked because he has a masters in criminal psychology. Just come ouf of uniform after three years. Was always his dream to be a police detective and nothing was going to stand in his way. Has a girlfriend who is also a police officer but still in uniform and is happy to stay there.

Proposal One

Proposal

ALL IN TO WIN

Introduction

A contest over three months following six poker players as they compete for a prize at a poker tournament and free coaching worth over £1000. As a side story we also see the student who his making the film about the poker players try and raise the $10,000 buy in to the WSOP (World Series of Poker) main event.

Objectives

Informational

Six budding poker players get given a £50 starting stake, the objective is to increase that stake by playing online or live poker. Every month the players compete against each other in a live tournament. First month a six man sit n go. The second live tournament is a Heads up knock out tournament.The final tournament is a multi-table tournament where more players a brought in to see how the players compete in a larger field.

There is a points system so for the player who has won the most over the month gets 10 points and down to 1 point split between the six players. Same again for the live tournament. So there is a possible 20 points for two first place finishes.

There is also another element to the documentary/contest looking at the organisers and their quest to get to WSOP looks at the other side of playing poker. As a 50/50 staked poker player. This is where a poker player is staked by someone but gives them 50% of their winnings but they don’t take the losses the backer does.

Behavioural

Audiences love a trier and there is six people all trying to follow their dream and make money playing poker. The audience also gets to see the event organisers desperately try and raise the $10,000 buy in for the WSOP main event.

Motivational

I have a keen interest in poker and am currently trying to get backed myself hopefully this will happen and be part of the focus of the documentary and my personal quest to get to the WSOP main event.
Structure

Fly on the wall style documentary following their progressive from week to week. The monthly tournament will be more professional with hole cams for the cards and proper filming set with lights and a more studio set up.

Introduction to the six players and their motivation and skill level. A bit about their current lives and background. What they are all playing for.

Introduction to Steve and his coach Brokerstar who will coach the winner of the competition. Also a look a the company who provided the sponorship (Likely to be Red Tooth Poker).

The programme will be made up of following the progress of the six contestants as they try and turn a profit playing online poker.

At the end of the first month the points will be allocated as follows

1st - 10pts
2nd - 8pts
3rd - 6pts
4th - 4 pts
5th - 2pts
6th - 0pts

The first live tournament will be a six man sit n go in which all the players will compete against each other and the above points system applies. So a player can earn a maximum of 20 points each month.

The second month it is a Heads Up Knockout tournament again with the same points structure.

The third month is a multi table tournament where more players will be invited to play for a buy in. The points will go to where the players finish in the tournament.

At the end of each month the winner gets one session with the coach.

Style

A fly on the wall style for when following the players from week to week. The interviews will be professional and fluid with professional lights and sound.

The live tournaments will also be professional with hole cams for the cards and a multi camera set up.

Audience

The appeal should be quite broad although it appears to be aimed at poker fans it has a broader message, looking at people following their dreams and the ups and downs of their poker quest. Audiences love to see a winner and a loser and they will get both.

Heist Film on the rocks

The heist film has been an up and down affair. The budget keeps growing with fake walls and safe doors needing to be built. Costumes, equipment, props, tools and even things like feeding up to ten actors and then crew on set were all starting to add up. 

The next issue was the actors I found the actors for the gang which was brilliant and all willing to work for food and drink all thumbs up. The main location was semi secured and although it would be limited on time 9am-5pm sort of regime it was still very possible. The first hurdle  was that some of the actors work and can only do weekends and the location is only available week days. I would have to pay the actors the money they lose from not working.  Also getting all the actors together on the same days was a nightmare as someone would have a wedding to go to or a family birthday and as they are all doing it for free I have to be accommodating to their needs.

The script has developed as well into more of a feature film. The plan was to just shoot a 20 minute segment of the film that part being the heist and sticking and ending on it to meet the project requirements. 

So where are we at?

There has been a major change that is one of the actors who is keen to be involved and really likes the project would like to try and raise some capital to actually make the feature. He has had some success before with raising funding for a documentary and art based projects. So maybe in the future the feature will be made.

The sleepless nights and the hit to my wallet if I continue with project have become too much and although I still hope to get the project off the ground in the future its too big for me at the moment. I think cutting my losses and finding a more manageable project is the correct course of action.

So now to find a back up plan. I think a documentary or factual piece will work best for my skills and experience.

Externally Set Brief: Treatment

Structure

Treatment

1. James is sat at the kitchen table whilst his brother Ben stand behind him at the sink staring down, then looking out the window. They are talking/arguing about Ben and his heroin addiction.  Some recent event which involves Ben and the drugs has pushed the brother apart and James feels responsible being the older brother. Ben explains to James that it is his life and his choice and James needs to realise that and get on with his own life.

2. Ben leaves the room and sits down in the living room. James runs past the door and up the stairs but is now wearing Jeans and T-shirt. Ben shouts up a few times before following James up the stairs he finds James slumped in a bedroom doorway. Ben approaches James and sees into the bedroom to see himself lying dead on the bed with a needle in his arm.

3. Ben feeling repulsed sits down halfway down the stairs. He stares intently on the front door. Suddenly a figure emerges on the outside, the figure uses a key and opens the door. James walks in wearing his jeans and t-shirt he is wearing up stairs.

4. James shouts up to Ben about having some food and carries the bag into the kitchen. A surprised Ben follows James into the kitchen. Ben is staring at James but James does not see Ben. Before James puts the shopping down he notices a note on the table he picks up the note and reads it. Ben is still staring intently on James. James drops the bag and the note and runs down the hall and up the stairs.

5. Ben stares again at the front door as a figure appears outside, this time its Ben who comes in, he’s in need of a fix and looks a mess. He walks into the kitchen and writes the note on the table and then heads up stairs.

6. Ben picks up the note as the front door opens again. This time it is James in a black suit and tie, Ben doesn’t really acknowledge James entrance, he doesn’t read the note either, just looks out the window. James walks down the hallway towards the kitchen. Ben walks over to the sink looking out of the window. Behind him James removes his jacket and tie and then sits at the table. Ben looks down at the note and reads.

        James,
        I couldn’t do it. Its not your fault.

    I chose this life and I’m a lost cause.

    Get on with your life.

    Remember its not your fault :)

Externally Set Brief: First Draft-Script

This is the first draft of the script  'James and Ben'. The description needs some work but the it gives the idea of the film.

James and Ben

Major Film: Inspirations and Ideas

Michael Mann's 'Thief' (1980)

The opening sequence is 9minutes in length with virtually no dialogue, but uses style and music to build suspense and tension.

David Mamet's 'Heist' (2001)

Sidney Lumet's 'The Anderson Tapes' (1971)

Major Film Synopsis 2

Duration : 15-20 minutes
Genre : Crime/Thriller

The film follows a gang of criminals as they break into a museum to steal diamonds and Art worth millions of pounds. The film is a build up of tension as it will take hours to break the safe and they have to sit it out.

The film starts at dawn and plays out of the 24 hours until the heist is completed and the gang separates.

Dialogue is kept to a minimum the film focuses on the execution of the heist and the individual roles the characters play.

For example: the nervous kid on his first job is responsible for looping the cameras and checking the police frequencies and how he copes just sitting there alone waiting.

Major Film Synopsis 1

Synopsis:


Nick only in his late 20's is already a career criminal. His talent lies in planning and executing high end robberies usually jewels or art from vaults or safes. He stays away from armed robberies as they carry a longer sentence and unusually has spent no time in prison. He is meticulous and careful always moving after a job and lying low before his next score.

Nick generally scopes jobs on is own but an old friend tempts him with a job that nick just can't refuse the payday is too good for him to turn down. A safe full of jewellery and diamonds worth over 3 million.

Nick gathers his gang together and plans and executes the heist.



In chronological order:

1. Finding out about the job from one of the security guards fathers who work at the house.
2. Getting the gang together.
3. Planning the heist and getting equipment.
4. Doing the heist.
5. The getaway/ Getting Caught.

Externally Set Brief: Log Book

Week 1

Initial Idea

After contemplating a number of ideas, Starting with some sort of documentary or music video as these types of videos are about finding a subject or band to film, A short film has the added pressure of finding actors who you then rely on and rehearsals and costumes and makup etc. Even with all these factors I decided that I would prefer to produce a short film to enter into a festival rather than a documentary, music video or factual piece. 

The idea for the short film came from something I read about a mythical creature called a  'Devas' also known as a 'Fairy' the general idea is that these creatures are expelled by God from heaven to earth. This is how my idea came about.

Week 2

Working out basic plot structures and how the Devas will interact in the film and whether they should be CGI or real actors. I've spoken to a CGI modeller who has come from a games background and he is looking into whether it is feasible for quality CGI characters within the time frame. I'm looking at a few different plots to see which will work best with the mythical characters.


The plot will either revolve around a couple maybe moving in together, or a family who have been living in the house for some time but now are noticing the effects of the 'Devas'.

Week 3

The plot has not really developed, Instead I have been looking at other ideas in the outcome that the CGI modeller cannot create the characters in the time frame.


Back Up Ideas 

1. A short documentary on the subject of free-running and the integration with gymnastics.


2. A short drama film.

Week 4 


After discussing further with the CGI modeller who was designing the 'Devas' for the short film his timeling for initial drawings, then modelling and texture and then putting the 3D elements into live action footage would be possible but very labour intensive and the results may not be that great and with no time to re-do 3D models or re-shoot it appears to be too much of a challenge in the time frame. I will have to look at back up ideas and see which one is more feasible in the time.


Week 5

I have decided to stay on the film side rather than the documentary route as I feel a short film will be more challenging and is an area I am interested in. I am working on a script about two brothers, one being a heroin addict. The whole story takes place in a house which makes locations and filming slightly easier as all the action will take place in a controlled environment.

Week 6 
The script is just about finished after three re-writes and I'm now looking for actors. I've posted on a few websites and because my location is now secured and is in Leeds I'm hopeful of some local acting talent might be interested in the script.


Week 7
One actor secured and he has a close friend who is also an actor who is interested in playing James. The filming dates will be the 5th and 7th December. This leaves me four weeks to edit and re-shoot any shots if required.


Week 9
Disaster my actors have let me down four days before filming which totally ruins the project. With Christmas looming it's becoming difficult to find actors with the time before Christmas and the deadline is the 6th of January. The solution is a fellow student who also acts. I'm currently writing a script for one character I'm trying to keep elements of the original script if possible. 


Week 10


So a new script has been written and my actor and crew are all available it is unfortunately going to be close to the deadline filming on the Tuesday the 20th Dec and on the 2nd of Jan leaving myself a few days to edit and hand it in. I feel as long as I can film majority on the 20th and have it edited and ready just for the last of the footage to be dropped in I can get everything and keep the standard high.


Week 11


Filming on the 20th December went okay apart from I didn't get as much filmed as originally planned, because the film revolves around on actor playing different characters it is the set up time and the process of filming is quite difficult. It will be a busy few days before the hand in.


Week 12

Externally Set Brief: Research

One of the major issues is whether to have the devas/fairies as full 3D characters or as real life characters filmed on green screen and then compositioned in to a live action scene.

Stills

The Snowflake Fairy

 The Demon Fairy

  

 

Still From the Film 'Tinkerbell' (2008)

Videos

Below gives an idea of the type of style which can be achieved real life actors with CGI elements such as the wings and using a green screen.

This Video shows a basic composite of a real person with CGI elements with a live action scene

http://vimeo.com/9631626 

This video gives an example of how the green screen is used

http://vimeo.com/9731533

This video shows how the green screen elements, CGI and live action footage come together.

http://vimeo.com/10470416

The videos below show 3D CGI characters.

Comedy type character

http://vimeo.com/6808832

From the Disney film 'Tinkerbell' (2008)

Externally Set Brief: Initial Ideas

Initial Ideas

Original Idea


A short film based on the idea of creatures called ‘Devas’ (fairies) that live amongst real people but move so fast that they cannot be seen. The theme of the short film is that these ‘Devas’ cause mischief and are responsible for small unexplained events.


In the film time is slowed down to reveal the ‘Devas’.


The basic plot outline :
The story revolves around a young couple and how the ‘Devas’ play pranks to annoy and scare the couple.


Opening:
Back Story to the ‘Devas’ being expelled from Heaven by God and that generally they live away from humans but every so often the most mischievous can't resist entering our homes and playing tricks on us.


Middle:
The couple begin to suspect they have a ghost or some sort of unknown being living in their house which again the ‘Devas’ play on to scare the couple.


End:
The outside ‘Devas’ arrive to capture the mischievous pair and return them to their rightful place.


Characters


The idea is to keep characters to a minimum there will be the couple who will be played by real actors and the ‘Devas’ who will either be CGI (computer generated Imagery) or actors on a green screen. A much more detailed profile of actors and plot will come after test shots and script development.


Backup Ideas


The reason for the backup idea was in the outcome that the fairy sequences in the short film would be too time consuming to create and would not be possible in the time allocated. 
Slackliners
A short ducumentary looking into a new activity of attaching a slackline to two trees and then performing tricks on them.





James and Ben’


A short film about two brothers having a conversation/ argument as one of them is a heroin addict.


The premise is that Ben is in fact dead and James is talking to himself this becomes evident to James when he is taken back to the scene of his own death in the house from an overdose. The film ends where t it begins and the whole film begins again almost as if Ben is in some sort of Jericho.