I have been thinking about what I want my project to be. I'm currently caught between two ideas, one being a kind of awareness piece for mental health and that it can be disguised. And the other being an interrogation scene where the person being interrogated doesn't catch on until halfway. 

I've decided to go with the interrogation idea, the mental health awareness idea I decided was too sensitive a topic for me to broach. My intention is to act in the film as acting is something I'm interested in and I want to give it a try. I understand it'll affect my grade but it's a realistic situation that I can test myself in without affecting anybody else's work. Carlton explained that this module should be a challenge and my challenge is trying to produce this film whilst also acting in it, which is already something I'm new too. I want the person interrogating me to remain anonymous and to have a distorted voice to come across intimidating and to have anonymity so that the patient can seem more ditatched and lonely in the interrogation experiment. 

Rachel told me to research real life social experiments and the patients reactions to draw inspiration for my character. She also told me to look into Bradford colleges acting group to have as a back-up if I decide I'm not up to the job. I should also start my script. To try and improve and better prepare myself for the role I am practicing potential lines and accents in the mirror and when I have a fuller script I will practice in front of a camera, recording myself. 

I want the scene to revolve around a pivotal moment where the patient is forced to make a choice. 

After trying to write a script I've decided to change my idea slightly. It's still an interrogation scene with the same anonymous interrogator, however the patient is no longer in a social experiment, instead the role is now a murdering psychopath. I decided this because I was struggling to see the original character in my head and there's a lot of visual material out there to base this new character off of. This means I've scrapped the social experiment idea and gone with a more simple interrogation scene. This helps me as I now see a clearer vision in my head of the dynamic between the two central characters. 

Rachel told me to start storyboarding and to write myself a schedule to keep track on.

The scripts coming along well but I'm not too sure about the pacing, needs further work. In watching more films with interrogation scenes such as 'the interrogation', to see where the scenes tone changes. I'm also watching video of real life interrogations to understand interrogation technique to better write the interrogator character in my piece for a more realistic character. During my research i learned that one of the beginning tropes of an interrogator is however to try and make the subject feel comfortable to begin with to make them more likely to talk, this is not how I'd like to write my character however as it doesn't match the dark vibe of my piece, I want a stark contrast and a distinct separation between the two characters. 
I've got Rachel to help me find a location and I still need to write a schedule and finish the script. I've also made some storyboards. 

Rachel gave me an idea to use The TV studio as my set so I need to speak to Chris about when I can film there. I've also written out a prop list. Still working on improving the script. 

I've spoken to Chris about using the studio, he's told me to film before December, so I've emailed him to see if I can practice on the 19th and film on the 25th and 26th of November. I think I've finalised the script. I've also recorded the distorted audio and the distortions come out really nicely. I watched a video tutorial and made a few tweaks to the effects but I didn't have any trouble doing it and it didn't really take too long. The practice day is key to working out my set up and potentially filming some draft bits and bobs. 

Chris confirmed the dates for me. My original storyboards are for the original script which has changed a bit so I've drawn them out again to match the complete script.

I've practised my acting in front of the camera and am satisfied with the result, it will be a challenge for me to get over my camera shyness as I am relatively new to this however, my passion and excitement for the character and scene I have written will help me to get over that hopefully. Practising on the practice shoot in front of people is the next step.

Filming was a mixed bag, the first day went ok but after reviewing the footage i realised my set design didn't look as good as I’d hoped so I took the decision to refilm everything on the second day with a new set design I set up the night before, I moved the walls to alow a black background for the subject instead of the original white walls as seen in the image. Yesterday was better than the first 25th and I'm satisfied with the resulting shots. Acting and directing proved to be quite stressful, its difficult to direct yourself. I diverted slightly from my storyboards which I hope won't be problematic. The set for the successful second shoot day was simple, i lit the character with top and back light so that darkness is all that is seen behind him. The scene begins with a cyan light on him which then changes to a white top light over the subject. There is a chair and table with a camera on top in the scene. Opposite the character there are three walls, one with a door my team and I set up with quite open angles to give off a sense that the room is large and empty. 

I've set up my set in studio today, it's basic but I can make it work I think, one of my original ideas was to use cyan filters to get across a feeling of coldness and isolation and that's come out nicely setting up. 

I'm going to speak to Rachel about how it's going in the studio soon and then speak to her after my shoot days. 

Having practiced in front of my helpers I feel better prepared for the real shoot day.