The start of post-production process

After our shooting day and filming all material which we needed for a 2 minutes opening film sequence, we went to editing room to continue our work now as editors. The main task was to create a whole sequence from the separate pieces.
Back to October 2009 we remembered some useful knowledge and refreshed basic skills of using Final Cut Server and Pro applications with help of Matt and got to work.
First of all we imported all pieces into Final Cut Pro application and put them in separate folders. In comparison with our October preliminary task our present film and technology of its creating is much more sophisticated and complex because we should have different log bins and much more tracks where were not only video but the sound tracks as well and different pieces of videos should be edited more accurately to fit the whole sequence and provide a smooth transition from one frame and one camera position to another.
So we started to choose every piece of sequence which would fit the best in a film.

After that, when we made our first film draft with all pieces of it we started to think about titles. That was a moment where some difficulties appeared. Fist of all Matt introduced all of us how we actually should do the titles. We had a bit special willing to make a heading title not just in a black screen with white letters on it but to integrate the heading title in the film itself. So the background should be a shadow of an old-fashioned 50’s video camera, ‘Monroe’ title appears and then camera slightly goes down to Director and Producer faces (Luke and Jason) and the title remains where it was. The problem was how to make this title not to follow the camera and remain in the centre of the shadow from the camera because every time we tried to put it where we want to, then it followed with a camera to Luke and Jason faces. After a time we realised how to make it not to follow the camera but we faced another problem. Now our title was floating on the whole frame because we set up different spots in every frame where this title should return.

After all at the last day of half-term our group succeeded in this task and, finally, the title stood still right where we wanted to.
Second part of our post production was a sound background of our film. I managed to find lots of Monroe songs in a good quality and some videos where was useful sound as well, like it was the voice of 50’s broadcaster who declared that Marilyn Monroe is dead so we could enlarge the excitement of potential viewer dramatically if the video frame of Monroes' dead photos would be followed by this very American voice. We experimented with all these things to match the best combination of video and sound. We tried to paste a song before the video and give a viewer a perception that Marilyn Monroe is going to be the main character of the film even before we will show something. We tried to put some creepy sounds in moments when we can see a suspect board and Monroe’s dead photos and provide a crossover between the golden age of Monroe pop-idol and its inglorious end with very mysterious circumstances.
But we refused this idea soon because our film started to be overload by different songs, sounds and effects. We considered to concentrate exactly on Marilyn most popular songs which could be recognised almost in any part of the world and attract attention of viewers in this way. However the real success what we did with a sound was a song 'Diamonds are girls best friend' which perfectly fitted to the video because it was a 50’s filming scene of the video clip for this song and how the sound and heading title matched to each other because ‘Monroe’ title appeared exactly at the time when fanfares started to play so we made the beginning of the film almost triumphal and very exciting
So we managed to paste necessary songs in our film but we still experimenting with sound background field and we still working to make a final version of the film sound.

The sound. Natural or Recorded?

Firstly, we decided to use natural sound during all shooting day so we tried to turn on monitors at time so they played different videos, however the sound was bad so we decided to use them separately in post-production and just paste all appropriate sounds and music background after. So the only one thing was recorded naturally was Luke as Director when he shouted ‘Cut!’ and his small conversation with Jason as Producer. But all other sounds we are planning to put after so we are going to have excellent picture and a perfect sound background so viewer will get maximum satisfaction from that film, and we will try to excite people only by Monroe songs and their contrast with next thrilling sounds because on the first scene sound plays role as main ruler of people emotions.

The Lighting

During all shooting day we had a well-prepared studio lighting set up. On a scene of Detective Office we had a semidarkness light which gave an additional mystery to this absolutely silent scene filled only by Marilyn songs, creepy music and this light. So this scene should really look as we are became an eyewitnesses of a try to solve one of the most confusing puzzles in American history. So this lighting also gave us the perception of thriller.
Regarding the next scene of 50’s stage the lighting was in opposite to previous scene very powerful and spotlights on the studio roof were covered by red plate to give a bit blurred red light on a scene as it was in a video clip. Then, after Director’s shout ‘Cut!’ plates removed and another spotlight behind the Director and Producer turned on to make a bright contrast between ‘shooting’ scene in 50’s with shadowed red light and very bright light after to show a viewer that the game is over and all actors and Marilyn are going to normal life by the time the filming crew collecting hearts, carry elements of studio interior and so on.

The role of props and costumes

First of all I’d like to tell about props and their meaning in our scene. The most important props in the first scene are photos, posters and newspapers about Marilyn Monroe which covered all wall of Detective’s office. These pictures actually gave us the understanding that that film about Monroe without any words. Just pictures and posters of her fame, then tracking to photos of Marilyn fall and her death. So we are telling the Marilyn story without any words. Moreover with help of another props item as Suspect Board we underline that this is office of person who investigating this case and trying to find out the links between public people who were familiar with Marilyn and some criminals of 50’s.
In addition to this we covered another wall with documents and reports in which Detective wanted to find any regularities.
A laptop was used as only thing which actually refers to our modern day to ensure the viewer that this office exists in our days. Finally, an ashtray with smoked cigarette used to represent a stereotype view on Detective profession who are always smoking.
Next scene. Scene of 50’s so all props were chose thoroughly to make, firstly, the exact copy of the stage like in Monroe clip ‘Diamonds are girls best friend’ and secondly – to make the filming backstage look like as we are really in 1950’s.
So we bring old-fashioned Director Chair and Producer chairs. With these chairs the problem appeared when we realised that we don’t have any Director’s chairs the day before shooting; however our Media teacher Guy managed to find them so they were put in a scene and were exactly as we hoped. Another 50’s props were made by our group as old-fashioned camera and red love hearts for dancers as they had in original clip and, of course, make-up for all dancers and Marilyn Monroe actress.

Then the costumes were chosen only for second scene because we didn’t have any people in Detective office scene. Gaby and Heather managed to find a necessary costumes in Theatre department so all dancers wore black suits and the filming crew team had different colours suits because we the filming crew in 50’s wore suits but to differ them from dancers we have them not black one’s.
Monre’s costume caused lots of difficulties because we tried to find exactly the same costume as she had in the clip so for entire week we phoned to different agencies and shops to find them and, finally, Gaby found it – Marilyn pink dress, elbow length gloves, necklace and rings and one of the main parts – curly haired wig so at the beginning of shooting itself we had a stage which looked like from the ‘Diamonds are girls best friend’, 5 guys who had been in black suits and Monroe with all her make-up and dressing and then all filming crew who were exactly as they should be in 50’s.