Planning

 Changes to project and why

During the development of the film, several changes were made to both the plan and the script to improve the story, pacing, and tension. In the initial plan, the film focused mostly on comedy, with the horror element only appearing at the very end when the main character is attacked by the stalker. While this idea established the basic plot, it did not create much suspense throughout the film. Because of this, the plan was adjusted to introduce horror elements earlier while keeping the comedic tone between the two main characters.

One of the main changes in the final plan was increasing the amount of comedy between John and Will. Their personalities were made more distinct, with Will being focused and responsible while John is lazy and distracted. This contrast helps create more humorous interactions between them, making the characters more entertaining and relatable to the audience. The comedy also helps balance the horror elements, so the film feels like a mix of both genres instead of only becoming scary at the end.

Another major change was the addition of suspense earlier in the story. In the final script, scenes were added where Will hears ominous sounds in the hallway and briefly sees a shadowy figure. This moment builds tension and foreshadows the stalker before the final attack. By adding this scene, the audience becomes aware that something is wrong before the characters fully realize it. This technique helps create suspense because viewers begin anticipating what might happen next.

The opening of the film was also improved. Instead of immediately starting with dialogue, the final script begins with a wide shot of John relaxing in a hammock while listening to music. The camera circles around him before Will approaches to remind him about his chores. This change helps establish the setting, introduces the main character’s lazy personality, and gives the audience a clearer visual introduction to the story.

Additionally, the final script adds more dialogue and character interaction before the montage of chores. This makes the pacing smoother and allows the audience to understand the relationship between John and Will. It also makes the later horror moments more effective because the audience has spent more time getting to know the characters.

 

Overall, the changes were made to improve character development, pacing, and tension. By adding more comedy between the characters and introducing horror elements earlier, the final version creates a better balance between the two genres. These adjustments help keep the audience engaged while building suspense, leading up to the final attack scene.

Reflection on key moments 

During the production of the film, one of the biggest challenges was convincing the actors to perform certain scenes that they were unsure about. As the director, I had to communicate my vision clearly and encourage them, so they felt comfortable with what we were filming. For example, in one scene John had to sing while relaxing in the hammock. At first, the actor was hesitant because singing on camera can feel awkward and embarrassing. To solve this, I explained that the scene was meant to show the character’s lazy and carefree personality while also adding some humor at the beginning of the film. I reassured the actor that the moment did not need to be perfect and that the casual and slightly silly tone would actually make the scene better. By explaining the purpose of the scene and encouraging them with pizza (they ate it all), the actor became more confident and was able to perform the part.

Another challenge came when we had to film scenes outside at night. Because it was cold, the actors were not very motivated to stay outside for long periods of time. In this situation, I had to keep the group focused and remind them why the scene was important to the story. I explained that the outdoor setting was necessary to create the horror atmosphere for the final part of the film where John walks the dog and encounters the stalker. Filming at night helped make the scene feel more tense and realistic, which would improve the overall quality of the film. I also tried to keep the mood positive by working quickly and making sure everyone knew exactly what we needed to film so we could finish efficiently.

Looking back, these situations helped me understand how important communication and leadership are during a film project. Convincing actors to try something they may not initially want to do requires patience and clear explanations. By staying supportive and explaining the creative reasons behind each scene, I was able to help the actors feel more comfortable and complete the scenes successfully. This experience improved my ability to direct others and work as a team during the filmmaking process.

 Planning Meeting

During the production process, our group held a meeting to review the initial plan and script for the film. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss what was working well and what could be improved before we started filming. As we talked through the story together, we realized that the original plan was too simple and that the horror element only appeared at the very end of the film. While the ending attack scene was effective, we felt that the film needed more tension earlier in the story so the audience would stay interested.

During the discussion, we decided that adding small horror moments earlier would help build suspense. One idea that came up in the meeting was to include a scene where Will hears strange sounds in the hallway and briefly sees a shadowy figure. This change was made so the audience would begin to feel that something was wrong before the final attack. By introducing the stalker earlier in a subtle way, we believed the ending would feel more intense and meaningful.

We also talked about improving the comedy between the characters. In the original version, the dialogue was very short and did not show much of the characters’ personalities. During the meeting, we decided to expand the interactions between John and Will to highlight their different attitudes toward chores. Will would be more focused and responsible, while John would act lazy and distracted. This contrast would help create more humor and make the characters more interesting to watch.

Another change we discussed was the opening scene. In the initial script, the film started quickly with dialogue, but we felt it would be better to begin with a visual moment that introduced the main character. As a result, we decided to add the scene of John relaxing in a hammock while listening to music before Will approaches him. This helps establish John’s personality and gives the audience a clearer introduction to the story.

Looking back on this meeting, it was an important step in improving our project. Everyone had the chance to share ideas and give feedback, which helped us make the story stronger. The meeting allowed us to refine the balance between comedy and horror while also improving the pacing and tension of the film. This experience showed me how important collaboration and communication are when developing a creative project.