Small shoot day- CCTV footage scene/shots

Before the shoot day, we had to record footage to use as a 'prop' in the scamming montage. We recorded on Wednesday and set up the camera and sound equipment in the school office- to film the scamming scene. We set the camera at a high angle to make it look like the placement of a CCTV camera. We shot multiple scenes, random actions and the script's dialogue. 

When we shot the footage we needed, we edited on the app Premiere Pro. We cut the footage, removed sound and changed the colour palette to black and white.

link to edited footage

Final version of script

Scammer: Thanks for calling The Crimson Bank, my name is Charlie Nelson how can I help you?
(Pause)
Scammer: Hello?
Student: Yea, you sent me an email regarding my bank details
Scammer: We've noticed that $3,000 has been withdrawn from your bank account.
Student: (reaction)
Scammer: This took place in Nigeria. To confirm this is not you, please click on the link attached to the email that was sent to you.
Student: Okay, give me just one second.
(Pause)
Scammer: Have you clicked on the link yet?
(Pause)
Scammer: Everything okay?

Editing Workshop #2

In this second workshop, we worked on editing a sequence with audio. We used the footage filmed in the previous camera workshop where we included basic dialogue. 

We went on Premiere Pro and used the skills learned before to edit a final product as last time. We were taught about how to edit and cut audio, decrease and increase sound and remove unwanted extra sounds caught on recording.

link to sequence with audio

Final version of shot by shot list

Shot by shot of the opening sequence: 

• Dark screen/background;
• *Typing of keyboard noises*- text correspond to credits ('robot' typography); 
• Extreme closeup on mouth;
• Closeup- on side to reveal headpiece -movement on hand is captured;
• Closeup on hand- clicking mouse; 
• Mid-shot/closeup of scammer on laptop; 
• Back shot of student- (pan movement); 
• Cut to over the shoulder shot;
• Wide shot of his side profile - mid-shot not capturing his face;
• Mid shot of student on laptop; 
• Closeup on student's phone- call with scammer- student card next to him; 
• Side view- over the shoulder shot; 
• Close up of finger on the mouse; 
• Screen record- email and link- mouse hovering the link; 
• Montage of computer scam-> check 'online hack simulator; 
• Screen prints of ongoing action- hacking + CCTV footage of scammers;
• Closeup zooms in on location; 
• Wide shot- CCTV footage of scammers; 
• CCTV footage- Have you clicked on the link yet; 
• Scammers looking at the computer;

Meeting with production group #9

We changed our opening sequence but maintained the same concept. 

Instead of creating a slow paced sequence showing the student's room we decided to shot a scamming taking place. 

The opening sequence would show a scammer contacting the student in an attempt to steal his bank information however get's tricked by the student who ends up scamming him instead.

Editing Workshop #1

This Friday, we learned how to edit the footage shot previously on the app Premiere Pro.

Notes:

Rushes is the name for unedited, raw footage.

On Premiere Pro there should be a paste containing the raw footage filmed in the previous camera workshop. If you click somewhere else around the paste, the computer will think you want to import or rename the paste. 

A new paste needs to be created and named to place the footage you want to edit.

On the top screen to the left you can click on the play icon or press spacebar to start the clip and pause.

Log Bin is a place where you can place an edited clip during the process of editing.

You must not edit the clip on the rushes folder 

To name the edited footage, click on the name given and re-name it. 

To cut certain parts of the clip- beginning of clip press the key (I) for in and to end press (O) for out.

To edit the clips together you must drag them to the box on the bottom right corner, highlighted in blue

Camera workshop(s)

We had three workshops in total teaching us how to handle the camera and sound equipment. 

I wasn't present in two workshops. Regardless, I took notes from some colleagues that attended the two previous workshops.

Workshop #1

• We were taught how to use a Black Magic Camera.
• Learned how to focus- zooming in onto the subject, focusing the subject's face, zooming to desired shot angle, etc. 
• Learned about white balance, technique for adjusting the video's tone.
• Learned about various lighting styles- indoor and outdoor lighting.
• How to adjust the camera stand, height- tightening the bottom levers to stabilise the camera stand, making it easier to lift the stand. 

Workshop #2

• Use the cameras to record a small sequence.
• Variation of different shots of an action sequence.

Workshop #3

• Filmed a sequence with dialogue to learn how to apply/edit sound. 
• Were taught how to use the sound equipment. 

Locations

#1 Location- University students' room

Reference images-

The first location is set in a university student's dorm. This will be shot in one of the boarding house's room- the Peaslake House as its most similar to these reference images.

There's not a lot of work needed to decorate the set as it already looks like a student's room. 

We used a few of our own personal belongings such as toiletries, laptops, clothing, etc, to decorate the room- make it seem like an average, slightly messy, student's dorm.

 

Actual location:

link to location vid

#2 Location- Scammer's office 

Reference images-

The second location is set in an office. This will be shot in the school, in one of the teacher's office.

Unlike the first location, there's no need to decorate or change the set at all as it looked like what we had in mind. We chose a specific corner of the room that felt 'sketchy looking'.

Costume

1) University student- young boy, 18

• Simple, white t-shirt 
• Tracksuit bottoms 
• Hoodie 
• Sneakers

Reference images:

2) Scammers- two men and one woman, mid 30s

• White button shirt 
• Tie
• Trousers 
• Work shoes

Reference images:

Props

1. University ID card 

In order to inform the audience the three characters are university students we decided to include the prop of a University ID card. 

Student ID card should include: 

• Student image 
• School name 
• Expiration date 
• Student's full name 
• Student's ID number 
• Barcode 

Reference images: 

To get this prop we will use a website such as idcreator.com to create a fake student ID. 

2. Computers- full set- keyboards, mouses, headpiece, etc. 

The most important prop that is required are computers. We are still unsure whether we will use modern laptops, MacBooks and AirPods, or older computers and bring the full setup including keyboard, mouse, headpiece, etc. 

4. IPhone

Tuesday's lesson- Independent research for concept idea

Scamming- scheme or trick used to cheat someone out of something for money/ information.

link to video

You can spot a scam when: someone asks for your personal or bank information; supposedly "banks or organisations"  ask for payment in vouchers, transfer money over the phone to a different account, any part of your pin code emote access to your computer or mobile device, threaten to arrest you over the phone, in a letter or email for not paying a fee.

Scams- 

• Phone scams 
• Bank scams 

Phishing emails- when a fake email is sent pretending to be the person's bank account such as PayPal. Email contains a link to a "bank's website", a fake site to get the person's details.

Perhaps making up that a person is a victim of fraud- may ask to transfer all your funds into a ‘safe account’ because your account has been taken over. 

Computer software scams- Scammers call claiming to be from a software company to help fix a problem with the computer and they need full remote access to your computer to fix it. 

link vid

Calling scammers by their real names 

Scammers faked a website- a computer support company which runs diagnostic through connecting to the computer. Followed instructions to download 'supremo control' once scammer had control of desktop- downloaded more remote access software in order to darken the screen when he wants then sent an email with a contract to hold on to money man watched what was going on on scammer's computer recordings of scamming calls 

Things banks don't do- 

• Ask for full PIN number or any online banking passwords over the phone or via email Convince an individual that they are a victim of fraud- ask for personal and financial information 
• Include card details, four digits pins and passwords someone might have access to your account. 

For example, if your: card or security details have been lost or stolen statement shows payments you don't recognise card has reached its limit or account has gone into overdraft - and you weren't expecting it 

This is called 'identity theft'. If you start getting bank letters, bills or letters from debt collectors that you know nothing about, this might have happened to you. You should contact your bank straight away and let them know. Keep a record of all conversations you have with the bank and copies of letters to do with the fraud. The bank will investigate, take action to protect your accounts and refer the crime to the police.

Similar product #6 -The Social Network

Summary on "The Social Network" (2011)-

"The Social Network" tells the true story of the founders of the app Facebook. This film shares the concept related to scamming/hacking.

link to trailer

What I like about the film is the multiple montages of computers prints- gave us a great idea for shots to create.

Similar product #5 -Hacker

Summary of "Hacker"(2016)- 

A crime/thriller film about a group of young people who get involved in online crime. 

The film shares the same thriller/crime genre and the concept of hacking/scamming. As well as crime and student/teen life.

link to trailer

Similar product #4 -Mr Robot

Summary of "Mr Robot"-

"Mr Robot" is an American TV series that tells the story of a young man, a cyber-security/ professional hacker who decides to take down the corporation he works for. 

link to trailer

After conducting some research on "Mr Robot", I found a clip on Youtube containing all the 'hacking scenes'. It contained a range of closeup and extreme closeups of the occurring action and man's hands typing and clicking the mouse, over-the-shoulder shots, etc. 

After further research I found an article questioning whether the 'hacking scenes' were realistic. It turns out every shot was very detailed and interactive- the producers worked along with experienced hackers in the cyber-security area creating realistic situations as well as each IP address, URLs, and QR codes.