The pub allowed us to film in a section after 10pm so that we didn't disturb any other diners, but of course it meant it was a late one! We had set up by half past 10 and began filming varied shots to create a more interesting scene, instead of shooting the whole scene from the same angle. Close ups of Ellen's lips drinking from a glass was used, and also cut away shots of her stroking Ed's hand. It was really good to have old fashioned chairs and tables in the restaurant because it really helped us to set the scene. I think that by having a small amount of extras it does seclude the two characters in the restaurant and makes it a lot more intimate.
We used short glasses and small white cotton table mats to put them on, which created a nice antique-like feel to the set. A candle was of course added for romantic effect and is typical of dates.
Because there is no dialogue in the scene the actors could talk as they please. This actually made it easier to get the shots of laughter and relaxing that we wanted, because they were doing both those things naturally. The gentle lighting in the pub made the whole filming look really elegant and when converted to black and white I think will look even more classy.
Shots behind Ellen were taken to expose the reactions of Ed (detective carter) because him falling in love is key to the storyline, and part of how she reels him in. Side shots of Ellen were done too to make sure she is shown as femme fatale to the full effect, for example focusing on her red lips, red nail varnish and curly blonde hair.
They were both dressed in typical noir attire; Ed in a smart suit and Ellen in a short yellow dress with a long fur coat, which was typical of 1950's fashion. Red heels also complimented the red she was wearing as well.
Outside the Restaurant, we picked a spot that contained an old fashioned looking lantern and also a plant to give an expensive look to the place. We filmed the two talking (in american accents) at a long shot, mid shot, and close up to give us different options for when editing the scene. As cars did occasionally drive past (the pub was right by a road) we may have to do a sound recording and put it over the filming, however most of the clip is very clear. As it was late at night it was very dark, and so positioning the camera with clear lighting was very important! I think this scene went really well and I definitely feel the audience will understand through this why the detective falls for Bonnie the way that he does!
EDITING PROCESS:
The scene begins with a fade in from black which is a cut away shot that focuses on her fur coat and heels which conventionally depict wealth. The camera then pans up to a mid-shot shown from behind Bonnie's shoulder that introduces the scene of the two being out for the meal she asked for in the previous scene. It shows Carter smiling and expressing his obvious pleasure at being around Bonnie.
The music fades in with the scene. Gentle, relaxing tones reflect the ideal situation of a romantic meal and make the audience feel quite comfortable and hopeful that it may turn out alright. The constant beat in the tune can be interpreted as a heartbeat which is stopping and starting - maybe reflecting the way Carter is feeling about Bonnie during the scene.
The mid shot from behind Bonnie's shoulder then cuts to a closer two-shot which shows Carter as more the focus in the clip. At this point the narration (using the tool voiceover) comes in which allows the audience to make the connection between the character's voice they hear and what they can see in the camera shot.
Because the scene has no diegetic sound the music under laying the scene can be louder than it would be if it were to be underneath the sound of a conversation.
The clip cuts to the other side of the table, where we see Bonnie flick her hair and Carter laugh. This increases the idea of her being a femme fatale because she is making herself more attractive to him, and keeping his attention. She leans across the table in the two - shot and then the clip cuts to a close up of her seductively stroking Carter's hand. The further away shot initiates privacy but then the sudden intimacy that the audience are thrown into by the close up of the hand movements suggest that their relationship is perhaps a lot more than dining. It leaves the couple's antics open to interpretation.
The fade in from inside the restaurant to outside it introduces a different side to the couple - they go from being across the table from one another to very close outside. The interest the detective has in his cigarette almost gives the audience the impression that Bonnie might have something to chase, but then this is contradicted and she goes back to having the control when he pulls her close and she talks first. The use of a mid shot means that their conversation is made more important than anything else going on in the clip. It centers Bonnie and puts Carter slightly more to the right which unbalances the audiences focus across the two of them to make Bonnie seem more important, and therefore more in control.
During the close up of the kiss, Carter is closer to the audience, which means Bonnie is hidden slightly behind him. This makes her look suspicious, and again the audience feel closer to Carter naturally because he is more revealed. She also walks off behind him and leaves him in a mid shot in the centre of the shot which enhances this.
The music that was in the restaurant underlays this clip so that the audience can make the connection with the two locations and know that they are in the same place, but just outside. It is of course turned down so that the actors can be heard against it.
The conversation the two actors have was done as a voiceover again, because the wind and constant flow of traffic meant the script was hard to hear. Ellen and Ed both sat by the mac and watched the scene whilst recording over their own voices so the movement of their lips matched. The clips only had non-diegetic sound in them because either the Detective's narration was over it, or a voiceover was done to enhance the voices of the actors so they could be understood better.
EDITING PROCESS:
The scene begins with a fade in from black which is a cut away shot that focuses on her fur coat and heels which conventionally depict wealth. The camera then pans up to a mid-shot shown from behind Bonnie's shoulder that introduces the scene of the two being out for the meal she asked for in the previous scene. It shows Carter smiling and expressing his obvious pleasure at being around Bonnie.
The music fades in with the scene. Gentle, relaxing tones reflect the ideal situation of a romantic meal and make the audience feel quite comfortable and hopeful that it may turn out alright. The constant beat in the tune can be interpreted as a heartbeat which is stopping and starting - maybe reflecting the way Carter is feeling about Bonnie during the scene.
The mid shot from behind Bonnie's shoulder then cuts to a closer two-shot which shows Carter as more the focus in the clip. At this point the narration (using the tool voiceover) comes in which allows the audience to make the connection between the character's voice they hear and what they can see in the camera shot.
Because the scene has no diegetic sound the music under laying the scene can be louder than it would be if it were to be underneath the sound of a conversation.
The clip cuts to the other side of the table, where we see Bonnie flick her hair and Carter laugh. This increases the idea of her being a femme fatale because she is making herself more attractive to him, and keeping his attention. She leans across the table in the two - shot and then the clip cuts to a close up of her seductively stroking Carter's hand. The further away shot initiates privacy but then the sudden intimacy that the audience are thrown into by the close up of the hand movements suggest that their relationship is perhaps a lot more than dining. It leaves the couple's antics open to interpretation.
The fade in from inside the restaurant to outside it introduces a different side to the couple - they go from being across the table from one another to very close outside. The interest the detective has in his cigarette almost gives the audience the impression that Bonnie might have something to chase, but then this is contradicted and she goes back to having the control when he pulls her close and she talks first. The use of a mid shot means that their conversation is made more important than anything else going on in the clip. It centers Bonnie and puts Carter slightly more to the right which unbalances the audiences focus across the two of them to make Bonnie seem more important, and therefore more in control.
During the close up of the kiss, Carter is closer to the audience, which means Bonnie is hidden slightly behind him. This makes her look suspicious, and again the audience feel closer to Carter naturally because he is more revealed. She also walks off behind him and leaves him in a mid shot in the centre of the shot which enhances this.
The music that was in the restaurant underlays this clip so that the audience can make the connection with the two locations and know that they are in the same place, but just outside. It is of course turned down so that the actors can be heard against it.
The conversation the two actors have was done as a voiceover again, because the wind and constant flow of traffic meant the script was hard to hear. Ellen and Ed both sat by the mac and watched the scene whilst recording over their own voices so the movement of their lips matched. The clips only had non-diegetic sound in them because either the Detective's narration was over it, or a voiceover was done to enhance the voices of the actors so they could be understood better.
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