Test Shoot
I created two test shoots to see what the final product may look. As you may be able to tell, the stylistics are similar to that of Noah. The first test was to find out of Klynt works and is the first scene of the film and part of the scenes that come after. The focus of the screen changes, depending on what Jeremy is looking at. The video shows the two options that can be picked in the first scene and how this can affect the narrative.
​
The second clip is a section which includes a mobile phone and is one of the possible endings to the film. I think the fact that there is no sound, other than the typing and clicking is quite unsettling, which I think is good. I didn't want the MacBook screen and the mobile screen to be shown at the same time, so I made them overlap each other, to represent Jeremy putting down his phone and using his MacBook. The audience are made aware how many endings there are in the film, to make them want to try and find the other endings.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Location
After days of research, I finally found a place where the main actress would be trapped. Because it is in Coventry University, I won't have to pay for to use the space, reducing my budget by a huge amount. I'll admit this area doesn't look very threatening and looks like it will be easy to escape from. However this lights will be switched off during the scenes and the light will be provided with a phone light, when the actress is filming herself. What's more, when she is filming herself, the stairs will not be in shot and the emergency door will be unable to be opened. I've taken the photographs of the location with a mobile phone to replicate what it might look like in the actual film.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Casting
Below are the actors I have chosen to play the two main roles in Lost Online.
​
Pravjot Atwal Mickel Phillips-Mee
Pravjot will be playing the role of Aliya Marra. Mickel will be playing the role of Jeremy Carell.
Stylistics
In terms of stylistics Lost Online has been heavily influenced by short film Noah (2014), as it was filmed entirely through a macbook screen or a mobile phone. Lost Online will too be filmed it this way, as it generates many restrictions and as a result, I've had to think of creative methods to put across certain information. I loved the fact that in Noah, the audience rarely ever see the main character yet they can still understand exactly what he is feeling based on where the cursor is moving, as well as what is being focused on the screen.
​
The storyline and characters of Lost Online takes inspiration from Inside (2011) which is about a woman who finds herself trapped in a room, and she is provided with a laptop to connect with the outside world. This sounds very similar to Lost Online, the twist is that my film will be from the viewpoint of the person helping, not the one in distress. What's more, Inside is centred on the fact that you need lots of people to help someone, whereas Lost Online will be showing that one person's actions can change someone's life.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
Mood Reel
I've created a mood reel which portrays the style, tone, feel and audience experience which Lost Online should have. The music used is quite eerie, to indicate that the situation is quite a mysterious one; even in the preferred ending I have created, many questions are not answered. I have of course used Noah (2013) and Inside (2011) in the reel, given that they are my biggest influences. I have also included a clip from The Blair Witch Project (1999), because when Aliya live streams on Facebook, or she sends a video to Jeremy, this is the style I want it to be in given that it will be filmed from her mobile phone. The horror films SNAP (2015) and Unfriended (2014) are in the mood reel to show that Snapchat and Skype will be used in Lost Online.
