In this project I did for my master, I was set a task to create a 3D stereoscopic video for approximately a minute, along the way I gain new skills such as which equipment and cameras are suitable for my video and the 3D production process. This project was carried over to two modules, Stereoscopic 3D production and Audio-Visual post-production, which I will explain later. 

The basic outline of the plot is a martial art action-thriller which involves an assassin attempting to kill an industrialist but also being protected by his bodyguard. There is no clear protagonist but this film aims to be more thought-provoking. Not only I aim to make my film as a tribute to some of the eastern film (particularly Hong Kong films), but incorporating technical aspects such as types of cameras angles and which one is compatible when producing 3D elements to it.

As I wanted to keep my film simple as possible, I’ve drawn a storyboard that details not only how the scene acts but also some camera angles, I did not include the fight scene as I wanted to choreograph it for my test footage later in the pre-production stage, along with creating a mood board to give me reference for my film [figure 1].

As soon as the story was finalised, I needed just two actors for the fight segment and later film the beginning later in production. The three characters for my film are The Bodyguard, The Assassin and The Industrialist, at first I wanted to cast the one of the members from the Brunel Drama society but later decided to cast one of my class peers as I felt not only acting wasn’t important but it’s more convenient for contact. The role of the Assassin was given to one of my female classmate as she is experienced in kickboxing, however the highlight of my video is focused slightly on the bodyguard, I wanted to cast myself because not only I gained experience from when I went to Hong Kong for 10 days to understand the film industry (along with how stereoscopic 3D works in the industry), but also learnt Bajiquan, a Northern Chinese style of kung fu that originated from the Hui people but used is now used amongst many bodyguard firm of China (particularly Taiwan), it involves short-range explosive attacks with the main use of elbows and shoulders, this was perfect for my film as Bajiquan in general doesn’t have much exposure in the media (especially live-action films). I have also created character concepts to give the actors a clear visual on how the characters should look like.

For the location of my film, I wanted to film somewhere between the uni and the place I'm living at so that not only it's convenient for me to collect equipment but also to hire people who are living in the same place to film outside my accommodation. I also wanted to keep my film simple as possible so that it would save time and move on to the technical aspects. Other locations I had planned was to film in an office environment, my kitchen and on a rooftop near my hall but I had to post-pone it so my focus would shift to the fight scene.

Towards the end of the pre-production phase, I hired one of my class peers as the cameraman as both he and the actress live around the same area of the campus  so it would be convenient for them to walk down to my hall to film at. The fight scene was the most crucial part since it was difficult to visualise on paper, so me and actress and filmed test shots to see how it looks (continuity did not matter in this case), by doing this I choreographed the moves based on the Baji system while also observing what skills she learnt so I could adapt it into the choreography, this also means the cameraman needed to remember certain algorithm to keep up filming the action such as different angles and taking advantage of the space given. After each shot was taken I needed a second opinion from the cameraman about the choreography and angles, while trying to keep it authentic as possible. The purpose of the test footage is that it could be used as reference footage during production as it would cut down on time and slight changes during the finalised version in the production stage.

As soon as production started, I planned to use Theta 360 camera to film the beginning scene of my film, the scene was about the bodyguard walking along with industrialist to the building, so me and my actor walked from the shop to my hall. The Theta 360 was good for importing videos quickly onto my device, however it was not ideal for my film as not only the Theta’s video quality is low, but also it could not get a close up shot and the fact that I could not view the clips as I would have to connect the device to my smartphone via app. Since the video comes in a 360 view, I would have to stitch it by using a software such as After Effects, which would put more time constraint during post-production.

After testing out the Theta, I have chosen to use the two Canon DSLR cameras as they have a much better quality compared to the Theta along with a piece that rigs the two cameras and a tripod. Even though the clips were satisfying in terms of the quality of the look, filming had to be postponed due to figuring out how to match the white balance and lenses between the two camera as I needed the clips to be identical in quality so that I would edit it during post-production, also I needed the scenes to look energetic but I could not achieve it with the tripod as it had limited movement especially when taking a diverse range of angles for the fight scene.

As I approach the final stage of the production, I decided to use the shoulder rig for the two Canon DSLR camera as I felt it gives more freedom of movement when taking the shots. During filming I used the pre-visualisation test footage as reference for the film, but the difference was some angles were changed, different shots were added and it was slightly shorter than before, even though it wasn’t authentic enough, it was tolerable in terms of the good use of the shoulder rig help support the cameras to take different angles.

Overall quality and production of this project has been satisfying, even though some of my shots didn’t make the final cut. The most difficult stage was the filming as there were some cameras I was not aware of thus I had little time to film further narrative scenes for my video which was second priority into implementing the fight scene as the core part of the video, by solving this problem I could research which type of cameras I could use for my film and perhaps research it during my pre-production stage, this would also help me learn more about other cameras such as Sony FS7.

When it came to Post-production, it was difficult choosing which software to use to import my Premiere Pro project as there were advantages and disadvantages to After Effects and Nuke when editing my 3D Anaglyph, though After Effects can easily import my Premiere Pro Project with all audio and clips synched but it wasn’t ideal as the Anaglyph couldn’t properly adjust itself onto my clip, on the other hand Nuke couldn’t import my Premiere Pro project straight away but I managed to fix the problem by exporting individual clips from my Premiere Pro project even though it was time consuming. What I should have done is to edit the original footage onto Nuke with anaglyph and then worry about editing the clips in Premiere Pro so that way it would be more coherent.

When learning about 3D Anaglyph editing, not only it gives me experience in a new software such as Nuke but also learn new skills in soft wares I’m already experienced in such as After Effects and Premiere Pro.

For this project, I was set a task to create approx. 60 sec video in a style of a movie trailer, along with utilising the equipment the university provided such as cameras, sound studio and software available to record footage and audio, not only I use Logic Pro X to edit the audio I record along with the learning outcomes I gain from it such as features and other sound edits, but I have also used other software for each stage of the production such as Audacity, Premiere Pro and Blender.

The aim for this project was create an action-thriller movie trailer, in doing so I needed to set out for myself a script that tells the story in a simple yet complex way to add mystery to the overall theme, this was also to help me set out actions for particular scenes that involve some movements.

INT. flat room 4:00am

The Protector, dark haired, athletic but not muscle bounded nor skinny, wears a stylish suit, bodyguard and master of Bajiquan (eight extremities fist). He is intimidating not because of his looks, but because of his thunderous attacks and brute force tactics that are so sudden, he earns the highest rank of his position when he used to be a part of the counter terrorism police force, but one day, during a covert mission an accident caused by his comrade lead him quit the team and start over a new life as an owner of his own private bodyguard firm while seeking redemption.

We see a montage of him becoming stronger spiritually (with prayers) and physically (conditioning and forms).

Protector: Why do I choose to do good? We humans are given free will? Maybe I want to prevent problems to occur in the future? or perhaps I like to create happiness amongst ourselves?

QUICK FLASHBACK

Protector: First thing that popped into my mind when I was a child was not a doctor, but a Police and I always thought I would be doing justice, but things messed up after that fateful day.

EXT. conference building

The silent protector gets a phone call from the industrialist about a negotiation to protect him from an assassin that is coming for him.

Industrialist: Hi there, is this the lone bodyguard from that office down the road? 

Protector: What business do you have with me?

Industrialist: I'm willing to offer you 200K to guard over my life

Protector: I guess it's a deal then

We're introduced to the Assassin, a young lady in leather, face wrapped with scarf, unknown nationality, slim and dark haired. she has this persistent goal to assassinate the industrialist for revenge for what he did to her people, she tries to avoid killing innocent bystanders as well as some security. Her fighting style is described flashy but a bit informal compared the protector. It is also possible that the protector might've known her during his police days.

FLASHES OF THE PROTECTOR FIGHTING THE ASSASSIN

After a successful day, the industrialist is killed by someone else despite the assassin being taken by authorities and word got out that it wasn't the authorities that took her and she might've got kidnapped.

EXT. warehouse

As soon as the protector comes back to his home, somebody rigged an explosion to set his home on fire, knocking him backwards.

He then wakes up hands tied up behind the chair with another hostage with a hitman he recognises from the past. We are then introduced to the white collar worker, A man in semi- formal attire, slim, dark haired, an ex-convict that use to do drug trafficking for the hitman, but later regrets after spending time in prison, he thought life was getting better at present but things turn for the worse and seeks the protector's trust to help him find the assassin in exchange to protect his life from the hitman.

Protector: On the count of three

action 

Protector: Three!

action

Protector: Two!

action

Protector: One!

action

EXT. montage

We see a compilation of driving scenes and some shooting scenes for a glimpse. Protector: you sure you know where she is?

White collar worker: Mate, I know where she is being kept, I got connections 

Protector: I might not sure if I can trust you, knowing about your past

White collar worker: people can change

Title comes up: Just doing my job

White collar worker: So why did you become a bodyguard in the first place?

Protectors: (smiles)

TRANSITION TO THE PROTECTOR SETTING UP THE STOMP FOR HIS ATTACK

QUICK GLIMPSE OF FIGHT SCENE IN SLOW MOTION THE PROTECTOR IN THE FINAL ACT OF THE FILM

TITLE COMES UP: COMING SOON