Day 1 of Filming

 November 22, 2025 @ 3:30pm

The first day of filming has begun.  By 3:45pm the entire production crew has arrived at my house for the production meeting.  We discussed how the actors would start playing Clue so that it did not take up too much time in the film.  We printed several copies of the script and shot list.  We discussed which props and equipment we will need to take over to the filming location (Clue, chairs, lamp, battery powered lightbulbs, remote for the lightbulbs, backpack, tripod, food and drinks for actors and the production crew).  Later, we realized we needed paper, pens, and a stapler for the script to make changes.

4:00pm - Actors arrived.  We met with them to discuss the script and do a run through of the shoot.

4:15pm - Actors continued rehearsing inside the abandoned house while the director and camera operator discussed the establishing shot.  The director (me) decided to start at the fence where the 'Beware of Dog' sign was located and pan over to the burn marks on the side of the abandoned house and end with the actors walking up to the house and opening the screen door.

4:25pm - The director (me) had the actors come outside, and I did a run through as the actor to show the actors what I was looking for in the scene.

4:30pm - The filming of the establishing shot and opening scene began.  We did four takes of the beginning.  The camera operator discussed with the director (me) that the scene was too long for the opening of the film.  We shortened the dialogue to make the length shorter and did two more takes with the revised script.

5:00pm - Meeting inside with production staff and actors to discuss the game play of Clue and order of actions in the scene (such as giving out the cards, moving the Clue pieces on the board, where the actors would be moving around to).  The director (me) practiced using the remote to turn the lights on and off and the flickering of the lights.

5:15pm - The director (me) had the actors do two run throughs of the first part of scene 2 where the one actor walks to the chair where the other two are already sitting and started playing Clue.  

5:30pm - We did three recordings of the first part of scene 2.

5:40pm - We reviewed the footage to see if any changes needed to be made.  We decided to move on to the second part of scene 2 with no revisions needed on the first part.  The camera operator took five shots of the second part after we did a couple run throughs with the director and actors.  The camera moved around to different locations for the different shots.

5:50pm - We reviewed the second part of scene 2 and made no revisions.  The third part of scene 2 began with one of the actors running to the front door.  The director (me) ran through the third part of the scene with the actors twice before actually recording began.  The camera operator took three recordings tracking the actor and two shots of the actor at the door.   

6:00pm - No revisions made. The fourth part of scene 2 began with the actors looking for the light switch, lights eventually turning back on, the actors realize that their friend is missing, and they go running through the house.  The camera operator did five takes of this part after the director (me) did two run throughs with the actors. 

6:15pm - The director (me) and editor go over the footage to see if any parts of the two scenes need to be revised or recorded again.

6:20pm - The director (me) and editor decided there were no revisions needed at this time and we had enough takes to put together a first draft. 

Day 1 of filming is a wrap!

Initial Film Set Up

 

On the inside starting setup, we had chairs for the actors to sit around while playing Clue in the film.  The game, Clue, was on a stack of drywall that was in the abandoned house which serves as the table.  The lamp with a battery powered lightbulb was in the corner to illuminate the characters and the scene.  We chose a little light since the house is abandoned with no electricity.  The camera is off to the side where it can see all the characters and the scene around them.  Once the action started, the camera will move around.  

On the outside starting set up, the camera was on the side of the house to film the burn marks and burnt fence.  Also, the director noticed a 'Beware of Dog' sign on the fence which could be used as a foreshadowing of danger.  It was used in the filming of the establishing shot.  After the establishing shot, the characters walk up to the screen door, but the camera will not move.  The camera will eventually pan to see the characters walking up and opening the screen door.  We decided to film the outside first so that we had the natural light from the sunlight with some shadows.  The director, which is myself, and the camera person were the only two outside filming until it was time for the actors to walk up.

Tentative Filming Schedule

 Filming Day 1 Schedule:

Saturday, November 22nd was chosen as the day of filming by the director.  Now, we need to find out if the actors and film production crew are available.  

Saturday, November 8th the production crew (camera person and script writer/actor) were contacted to find out if they are available on November 22nd.  

Tuesday, November 18th the actors all confirmed that they were available on Saturday, November 22nd.  

Now, we need to pick a time.  Closer to sundown was established to probably have the best lighting for our film.  We confirmed with everyone that 4pm that actors would be on set.  The production staff would arrive at 3:30pm to make sure that everything was set up and to rehearse the scene.

November 22nd - Film Day!

3:30pm - Production staff arrives at location

3:30pm - Discusses the different scenes, camera shots, and props needed

3:45pm - Props to be taken over to the film location

4:00pm - Actors arrive

4:05pm - Meeting with production staff and actors to discuss the schedule and script

4:15pm - Actors rehearse inside the house while the director and camera person work on establishing shot outside

4:30pm - Start filming the outside acting at the front door (at least 3-4 takes)

4:45pm - Run through the inside scene with the director and actors (at least 3 run throughs)

5:00pm - Meeting with production staff to make any changes from the rehearsals that may be needed

5:15pm - Start filming the inside scenes with the actors (at least 5-6 takes)

5:45pm - Review any raw footage to see if any other recordings need to be done

6:00pm - Film any scenes that the director and camera person feels need to be recorded

6:30pm - Wrap up filming for day 1

Hopefully, everything runs smoothly and we can get all the recording done and the raw footage for all of the scenes for the first take.

Preparing and Ordering Props

Before we schedule filming, we need to come up with a list of props that will be used in the film.  Some props may need to be ordered if we do not already have them.

This is the list that was made for our props.  The Clue board game would be used as the center of the action inside the house.  The director had an older Clue game board that looked used and dirty, which fits the horror film atmosphere.  We decided to use portable camping folding chairs that we already owned for the actors to use to sit in.  We had the actors carry them into the house during the opening scene instead of having chairs already in the house.  This created more of feeling of the house being empty.  The backpack, which was the director's school backpack, was red, which is a color for danger in the horror film genre, and was used to carry the Clue board game in it.  

The battery powered light bulb with lamp needed to be ordered.  There were no lamps that could be used as is from any of the team members making the film.  We had lamps we could use, but with no plug or electricity in the house we were using to film in, we would not get the lighting that we needed.  The director ordered a battery powered light bulb so that the film would have lighting inside the house (https://www.amazon.com/Rechargeable-Detachable-Charging-Magnetic-Lighting/dp/B0CLRJWFLY/).  The lightbulb also had a remote with a flicker button that would be useful when the lights go out in the film.  The lightbulb will fit inside the lamp options we have that we already own.  

First Cut

 Scary Game Night, Rough Draft 1

This is the first cut of our movie.  While watching, I realized that the actors could have been louder when they were speaking.  After the knock on the door, there could be more time to build suspense before the actor opens the door and jumps out. The jump scare and the reaction could have been more of a close up to amplify the characters emotions and get the audience more in the fearful state. 

The title sequencing was good and in the correct order.  The mise-en-scene set the mood for the scary events that will follow in the house.  The shadowing on the house provides an extra sense of darkness and foreshadowing.  The inside where the movie action really begins is showing a sense of mystery and darkness through the lack of lighting with the 'Scary Game Night' movie title.  This lets the audience know that this will not be a typical game night and there is something frightening to come.  I realized when watching the first cut that the use of John as the shadow walking towards the game is also a clue of who will be the character that is in danger, so it was a great edit to the beginning of the movie.

Sound in our film

Sound is in horror films to build suspense for the audience. The movie is going to open with creepy music. This music will play during the title sequencing and while showing the setting to the audience. The creepy music makes the audience feel unsettled. This unsettling feeling prepares the audience to be more scared. There will also be a creaking screen door sound at the beginning. The creaking sound tells the audience that there is immediate danger when entering the doorway. Once they enter the house, there will be a sound of a door slamming shut. This will make the characters and audience feel trapped in the abandoned house. 

Footsteps will be used in our horror film. These footsteps will only be heard by John and the audience. This will create suspense and confusion as the audience questions if they are real or if John is hearing things that are not real. There will be a power down sound effect (like a computer shutting down) when the lights start to flicker until the lights fully turn off. This intensifies the fear from the audience and makes them wonder what will happen while the lights are off.

Mise-en-Scene in our film

Mise-en-scene is anything the audience can see that can convey to the audience the emotion you want them to feel as well as the narrative that is happening. The Mise-en-scene can be found in the chosen location, the lighting that is used, the props that are used, or character movements or facial expressions. Using mise-en-scene can also distract the audience from things happening in the background of some scenes by misaligning props and characters to create an unsettling scene.  In horror films, mise-en-scene are typically isolated locations and items, rocking chair and toy props, low lighting, and colors such as red, black, and grey.  All of these create a sense of fear and horror.

In our film, we are starting with the abandon building that is seen as a sense of isolation.  The burn marks on the house and the fence alarm the audience.  The Clue board game creates a sense of mystery for the audience since Clue is all about solving mystery.  The Clue game also has the weapons that show a sense of danger and can create a sense of fear and danger.  The close-up facial expressions, especially for John, creates a sense of fear for the audience because they will see how scared the character is and how scared they should be for what is coming up in the story.