One issue we have is being able to get locations and our cast members all at the same time - the drama studio in our school is used by all students so it is difficult to find a time when it is free. We have also found that when it is free, our cast members are not available (due to other commitments). We have also had issues with the equipment within the drama studio - there were no lights that we could use. However, we overcame this issue by using what we had access to which was a light that flashed - we created a strobe effect that could become useful and effective in our actual trailer.
Filming for this project as definitely helped to improve our skills with using cameras. Before this course, I hadn't really used a camera before. This means that we have had some issues with using a camera whilst filming. Our biggest issue has been getting the camera to focus. However, we overcome this issue with patience and using our hands as a point for the camera to focus on. We have also found out which settings work best for focusing. For the previous footage which was not in focus, we have re-shooted so that the shots are clearer and of a good quality.
Over the Christmas holidays, we re-shot the opening sequence for our trailer as the original had issues with framing, focusing, shakiness and lighting. With the re-shoot, we have decided to go for more of an artistic effect for the opening sequence which will help our trailer and film to stand out against other horror films. We received feedback in class that our trailer needs to be a little more 'horrific' so we have decided to make the gore elements more prominent. To do this, we asked our friend who has skills in special effects makeup to create a cut on April's throat for the scene. This creates an element of threat as the killer actually comes across as brutal, fearsome and scary.