A man is in a dark room and opens the fridge, taking a can/bottle of drink out. He then shuts the fridge and goes to stand looking at the wall with pictures on. He will scan the pictures of the victims on the wall and then turn around to switch on a lamp and sit at the desk. He will then open the drink and begin to flick through newspapers and cut out articles. He will be seen circling words and titles of the cut out articles.
He will then open a folder and take out some pictures of other people. He will flick through them, one by one until he finds his first victim. The time and date will be written on the picture of when the murder is happening.
We then see a flashback of him looking at the victim as she is walking from her house and down the street. He will be hidden behind a tree or bush.
After the flashback he will then move to a drawer and pick out a selection of weapons (knives etc) and place them on the table next to the picture.
A map will be opened and he will mark the place where the murder is going to happen. After this we will then put on his coat . He will then use a pen to cross out the victims face and place it on the wall. After going back to the desk he will pick up his gloves, put them on then grab the knife. He will then leave the room.
END OF SCENE.
Friday 28 January 2011
Thursday 27 January 2011
Pitch Feedback
After we pitched our film idea and planning to our class and teacher we received feedback both positive and constructive.
The class thought that the idea of the film was well constructed and thought out with a good narrative. They felt that the way we were going to construct the opening sequence was clever and creative however they found that it could be hard to understand the photos and newspaper articles that are going to be used in the sequence. This means that we will have to make it obvious what each picture is and the pictures should be big and bold for the audience to see.
They also commented that it could be difficult and time consuming to create a montage of the shots. For this to work we will have to plan and manage our time well and use the camera time efficiently. We will have to film lots of different shots to make sure we have enough footage to create a 2 minute clip. We will also have to find time to create the photos as we will not be able to create them during lesson time. This means distributing responsibilities throughout the group to make sure everything is done before the filming begins.
Another criticism of the film is that the narrative may not be very clear in the opening sequence. For this to work we will have to make sure the shots explain what is happening clearly as there will not be much dialogue in the sequence. This means again clear pictures, possibly with labels/names to outline the characters the murderer is going to kill.
They also commented that we need to make sure the location we use (Jasmines Garage) is ready for filming and that we have permission from her parents to be there.
Overall the comments we received were positive and constructive, increasing our confidence with the narrative and idea we have created. We feel that these comments will help us improve the idea we have and will make sure our planning and preparation for our filming is more detailed and accurate. As a result our continuity will be better and the film will seem more realistic to the audience.
The class thought that the idea of the film was well constructed and thought out with a good narrative. They felt that the way we were going to construct the opening sequence was clever and creative however they found that it could be hard to understand the photos and newspaper articles that are going to be used in the sequence. This means that we will have to make it obvious what each picture is and the pictures should be big and bold for the audience to see.
They also commented that it could be difficult and time consuming to create a montage of the shots. For this to work we will have to plan and manage our time well and use the camera time efficiently. We will have to film lots of different shots to make sure we have enough footage to create a 2 minute clip. We will also have to find time to create the photos as we will not be able to create them during lesson time. This means distributing responsibilities throughout the group to make sure everything is done before the filming begins.
Another criticism of the film is that the narrative may not be very clear in the opening sequence. For this to work we will have to make sure the shots explain what is happening clearly as there will not be much dialogue in the sequence. This means again clear pictures, possibly with labels/names to outline the characters the murderer is going to kill.
They also commented that we need to make sure the location we use (Jasmines Garage) is ready for filming and that we have permission from her parents to be there.
Overall the comments we received were positive and constructive, increasing our confidence with the narrative and idea we have created. We feel that these comments will help us improve the idea we have and will make sure our planning and preparation for our filming is more detailed and accurate. As a result our continuity will be better and the film will seem more realistic to the audience.
Tuesday 25 January 2011
Thriller Pitch
Our idea is an opening sequence of a serial murderer getting ready to kill an innocent victim. The murderer is seeking revenge on his fathers business partner who ruined his fathers life by stealing his money and wife. This drove his father to suicide, meaning the murderer had to live with foster parents who made his life hell and tormented him throughout his childhood. He wants to make sure the business partner loses everything such as his wife and daughters, business and money. In the opening scene the innocent victim is the business partners daughter.
We are going to use lots of short clips and pictures of what the man is doing to get ready for example him cutting out newspaper articles, looking at pictures and pinpointing his location of the murder. We will also include flashbacks of him stalking the innocent victim. To do this we will use point of view shots of the murder and make them black and white to make sure the audience understands it is a flashback. We do not want to reveal the identity of the murder to engage the audience and build up tension. It will also make them ask questions of the narrative and what will happen next.
Obviously the sub-genre of the thriller is crime/psychological. This is because it is about a serial killer - which relates to crime, and the film will have twists and a dramatic ending that the audience will not see coming. A brilliant example of what we are trying to create is the opening sequence of Se7en. There is a montage of the killer planning his murders throughout as well as the credits flashing up which become part of the montage. We are trying to create the same sort of effect however ours will not be as disturbing or chilling as our certificate has to be a 15 and the storyline of Se7en is fairly different from our idea.
In our opening sequence we will see the main character which is the serial killer, although we will not see his face or features. The other character will be the innocent victim, however they will not be a main character in the film as they will soon be killed. If the film were to carry on other main characters would be introduced such as detectives - obviously we will not be including them in the opening sequence.
Our location will mainly be a low lit room where the killer is getting ready throughout the sequence. We have decided to use a garage as the location as it is dark and gloomy, so it will be simple to make it low lit and emphasize the theme. It will suit the genre and will show the audience a first look of how the murderer lives and this will create questions from the audience. We will also flash back to a street where the innocent victim is walking to/from her house to show that the killer is watching and analysing the daughter.
The BBFC classification will be a 15 certificate as the film will contain strong threat throughout with very strong violence and some frequent strong language. We will not see the murders in great detail but the aftermath may be seen in some scenes. This is the reason that the film is rated as a 15 rather than an 18. There is also little sex or nudity in the film.
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| Example of b/w pictures we could use |
Obviously the sub-genre of the thriller is crime/psychological. This is because it is about a serial killer - which relates to crime, and the film will have twists and a dramatic ending that the audience will not see coming. A brilliant example of what we are trying to create is the opening sequence of Se7en. There is a montage of the killer planning his murders throughout as well as the credits flashing up which become part of the montage. We are trying to create the same sort of effect however ours will not be as disturbing or chilling as our certificate has to be a 15 and the storyline of Se7en is fairly different from our idea.
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| Examples of the Se7en opening sequence montage |
In our opening sequence we will see the main character which is the serial killer, although we will not see his face or features. The other character will be the innocent victim, however they will not be a main character in the film as they will soon be killed. If the film were to carry on other main characters would be introduced such as detectives - obviously we will not be including them in the opening sequence.
Our location will mainly be a low lit room where the killer is getting ready throughout the sequence. We have decided to use a garage as the location as it is dark and gloomy, so it will be simple to make it low lit and emphasize the theme. It will suit the genre and will show the audience a first look of how the murderer lives and this will create questions from the audience. We will also flash back to a street where the innocent victim is walking to/from her house to show that the killer is watching and analysing the daughter.
The BBFC classification will be a 15 certificate as the film will contain strong threat throughout with very strong violence and some frequent strong language. We will not see the murders in great detail but the aftermath may be seen in some scenes. This is the reason that the film is rated as a 15 rather than an 18. There is also little sex or nudity in the film.
Monday 24 January 2011
The Prestige Analysis
The Prestige is a Fantasy Thriller about magicians who are in rivalry to succeed with the ultimate illusion. The sequence begins with the title instantly, with the picture in the background of a forest with lots of top hats. This definitely has to represent something in the film or be part of the film later on. This instantly gives the audience something to think about or ask questions about, which is an excellent start for the genre opening. After this a voice over is begun, explain magic tricks and how they are created and planned out. We see this scene, with what look likes a grandfather and granddaughter and then see a magician at the theatre. Throughout the sequence we switch between either scenes in relation to what the voice over is saying. This then creates many questions of who these people are, what have they go to do with each other and what will happen because of this. There is relatively little music or soundtrack which is surprising as most sequences I have researched have a very deep and powerful soundtrack to emphasize whats happening. There is a slight orchestral background soundtrack which creates some sense of atmosphere and tells the audience something drastic will happen at the end of the sequence. At the end of the scene both magic tricks are done but the one in the theatre goes wrong and this is the climax of the opening sequence. It shocks the audience as they may not have been expecting something so dramatic in the opening sequence. As soon as the sequence ends suddenly the audience may be slightly puzzled and perplexed over what has happened. This is how the "thrill" is created and why the sequence works so well. I feel that the power of the narrative plays a very important part in the sequence and they way that it is scripted creates a very visual, dramatic opening scene.
Sunday 23 January 2011
codes and conventions of a political thriller
Political thrillers are thrillers where the main theme of the film is based around political reason. They still include action and violent sequences but not to the same extent as action or crime thrillers. Another key aspect of political thrillers is the way that the victims involved are always being watched for a considerable amount of time before they are eventually killed. An example of a political thriller is the 'Constant Gardener'. It is a film based in Africa which shows how corrupt the political system is there.
Codes and conventions of the political thriller 'JFK'
'JFK' is an American political thriller made in 1991 which was directed by Oliver Stone. The film examines the events leading to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The film opens with newsreel footage, including the farewell address in 1961 of the previous President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
At the beginning of the film 'JFK' there is one quote then there are the credits of the company, production studios and actors. The transitions for the opening credits are fade to black. Some of the actor credits are placed against the short clips instead of a black screen.
The opening sequence involves a soundtrack of strong music combined with a voice over and lots of short clips of things such as political speakers, technology, families and everyday life. There are also short clips of casualties from wars which links all the short clips with politics and the effects of it.
Codes and conventions of the political thriller 'JFK'
'JFK' is an American political thriller made in 1991 which was directed by Oliver Stone. The film examines the events leading to the assassination of John F. Kennedy. The film opens with newsreel footage, including the farewell address in 1961 of the previous President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
At the beginning of the film 'JFK' there is one quote then there are the credits of the company, production studios and actors. The transitions for the opening credits are fade to black. Some of the actor credits are placed against the short clips instead of a black screen.
The opening sequence involves a soundtrack of strong music combined with a voice over and lots of short clips of things such as political speakers, technology, families and everyday life. There are also short clips of casualties from wars which links all the short clips with politics and the effects of it.
Comparing two thriller opening sequences
The two thriller opening sequences i am going to compare are the Bourne identity and jaws.
The Bourne identity was created by Doug Liman and released in 2002. The bourne identity is about a man named Jason Bourne, who is picked up by a fishing boat. Left without any memory and injury from being shot Jason races to escape from assassins and recover his memory loss from amnesia.
Jaws was released in the year of 1975 and created by Steven Spielburg. This film is about an enormous great white shark that is terrorising a small village. The head chef policeman, a shark expert and a fisherman set out to destroy the beast.
Both of these films use the sea within the opening sequence, however they use it in different ways. Jaws uses it as a location establishment as the film is based within the sea and on the beach. This therefore helps the viewers to understand that the film is about a shark as a young women is pulled underwater and eaten alive. Creating tension as we know that its out there but when dont know when it'l strike.
Where as The Bourne Identity uses the location of the sea to inform the audience that the man character is in the water. We are introduced to him as believing he is dead floating within the sea. However we then realise he was alive and shot, making him seem suspisious against the innocent fishermen who saved him. The main character comes across as very strong and violent but also very confused as he didnt know where he was or that he had been shot. Therefore there is no prime location within the film The Bourne Identity as it is about a man running away and trying to descover who is really is,by he is travelling around the world.
At the beginning of the films they both start with credits and the title, allowing the viewer to know who created the film and what its called. However Jaws contains many detailed credits at the beginning of the film. The Bourne Identity on the other hand doesn't start straight away with the credits it focuses more on introducing the viewers to the main character and the scene. It contains very few credits and shows them apart. During this there is music playing in the background, this music is the main theme tune for the film. Jaws's sound track has a deep loud sound of der dum and gets faster to create tension. Where as the Bourne Identity starts very quiet with the music and then begings building up to the theme tune with a quick faster paced tune. This is because at first we see Bourne floating within the sea, and then are introduced to the fisherman spotting Bourne. This then building up the tension and panic of the scene as they try to save him.
These Two films are based on different types of characters, Jaws is about a shark who is murdering innocent people, in order to survive. Its a natural instinked for a shark to hunt for its pray. As a consequence we believe that the Shark is evil and must be stopped, we think this because of the way its potrayed. Where as Bourne is in fact the victim and doesnt mean to kill people. However we then find out that during his past he was trainned to kill innocent people as it was his mission. But after the accident he is then hunted down becuse he couldnt face killing a man with his family around him which was his mission. Therefore he ends up being the victuim as his boss wants him dead, giving him no choice but to kill the assassins as its him or them.
The use of mise en scene was very diferent from each other. This is because The Bourne Identity contained the use of guns and a secret bank code within his skin, therefore contributing to the action and mystery sub genres. Bourne was dressed in a wetsuit and kitted up with a life vest and fancy equipment, from this we know he wasn't a normal person. As no one would be left in the sea like that. Jaws on the other hand didn't have any props that defined the genre of the film as the main character doesn't have any props. However both of these films are located within the sea during the opening sequence. As well as containing dark lighting to make the scene more intense and mysterious. As we hadn't actually seen the shark and couldn't see Bourne's face at the begining, making the audience interested in what they look like.
Both of these films contain a group of people enjoying them selves, safe and happy. As in The Bourne Identity we are introduced to a group of fishermen drinking and playing cards, this helps the scene become more exciting as they find Bourne floating. The music also builds up, creating a more interesting and intense scene. Jaws uses a group of teenagaers having a beach party with a bomb fire and drink around them. The scene then becomes more dramatic as the music and scene changes making the viewer on edge waiting for something to happen.
In conclusion i have found out that these two thriller films contain similar opening conventions. As they are both based within a similar location as well as containing a murderer as the main character. The theme music isnt the same but is still very important within both the films as it makes the audience become familiar with that theme music. For example within Jaws when we hear the theme music we know the shark is going to strike. Its the same within The Bourne Identity as we know that there is going to be some type of action scene as Bourne is fighting his way to freedom. Therefore showing that thrillers are usually produced similar to each other, from introducing the main characters to establishing the main location.
The Bourne identity was created by Doug Liman and released in 2002. The bourne identity is about a man named Jason Bourne, who is picked up by a fishing boat. Left without any memory and injury from being shot Jason races to escape from assassins and recover his memory loss from amnesia.
Jaws was released in the year of 1975 and created by Steven Spielburg. This film is about an enormous great white shark that is terrorising a small village. The head chef policeman, a shark expert and a fisherman set out to destroy the beast.
Both of these films use the sea within the opening sequence, however they use it in different ways. Jaws uses it as a location establishment as the film is based within the sea and on the beach. This therefore helps the viewers to understand that the film is about a shark as a young women is pulled underwater and eaten alive. Creating tension as we know that its out there but when dont know when it'l strike.
Where as The Bourne Identity uses the location of the sea to inform the audience that the man character is in the water. We are introduced to him as believing he is dead floating within the sea. However we then realise he was alive and shot, making him seem suspisious against the innocent fishermen who saved him. The main character comes across as very strong and violent but also very confused as he didnt know where he was or that he had been shot. Therefore there is no prime location within the film The Bourne Identity as it is about a man running away and trying to descover who is really is,by he is travelling around the world.
At the beginning of the films they both start with credits and the title, allowing the viewer to know who created the film and what its called. However Jaws contains many detailed credits at the beginning of the film. The Bourne Identity on the other hand doesn't start straight away with the credits it focuses more on introducing the viewers to the main character and the scene. It contains very few credits and shows them apart. During this there is music playing in the background, this music is the main theme tune for the film. Jaws's sound track has a deep loud sound of der dum and gets faster to create tension. Where as the Bourne Identity starts very quiet with the music and then begings building up to the theme tune with a quick faster paced tune. This is because at first we see Bourne floating within the sea, and then are introduced to the fisherman spotting Bourne. This then building up the tension and panic of the scene as they try to save him.
These Two films are based on different types of characters, Jaws is about a shark who is murdering innocent people, in order to survive. Its a natural instinked for a shark to hunt for its pray. As a consequence we believe that the Shark is evil and must be stopped, we think this because of the way its potrayed. Where as Bourne is in fact the victim and doesnt mean to kill people. However we then find out that during his past he was trainned to kill innocent people as it was his mission. But after the accident he is then hunted down becuse he couldnt face killing a man with his family around him which was his mission. Therefore he ends up being the victuim as his boss wants him dead, giving him no choice but to kill the assassins as its him or them.
The use of mise en scene was very diferent from each other. This is because The Bourne Identity contained the use of guns and a secret bank code within his skin, therefore contributing to the action and mystery sub genres. Bourne was dressed in a wetsuit and kitted up with a life vest and fancy equipment, from this we know he wasn't a normal person. As no one would be left in the sea like that. Jaws on the other hand didn't have any props that defined the genre of the film as the main character doesn't have any props. However both of these films are located within the sea during the opening sequence. As well as containing dark lighting to make the scene more intense and mysterious. As we hadn't actually seen the shark and couldn't see Bourne's face at the begining, making the audience interested in what they look like.
Both of these films contain a group of people enjoying them selves, safe and happy. As in The Bourne Identity we are introduced to a group of fishermen drinking and playing cards, this helps the scene become more exciting as they find Bourne floating. The music also builds up, creating a more interesting and intense scene. Jaws uses a group of teenagaers having a beach party with a bomb fire and drink around them. The scene then becomes more dramatic as the music and scene changes making the viewer on edge waiting for something to happen.
In conclusion i have found out that these two thriller films contain similar opening conventions. As they are both based within a similar location as well as containing a murderer as the main character. The theme music isnt the same but is still very important within both the films as it makes the audience become familiar with that theme music. For example within Jaws when we hear the theme music we know the shark is going to strike. Its the same within The Bourne Identity as we know that there is going to be some type of action scene as Bourne is fighting his way to freedom. Therefore showing that thrillers are usually produced similar to each other, from introducing the main characters to establishing the main location.
Analysis of Se7en Opening Sequence
Se7en is a psychological thriller about two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, who are hunting a serial killer who has committed murders using the 7 deadly sins as his modus operandi.
The opening sequence for Se7en is very well thought out and created. The whole sequence is a montage of clips and pictures from what we gather as the murderer however it could also be the detectives. This instant
questioning creates the perfect start to the thriller film. We know before we watch the film that it is about the 7 deadly sins, so when watching the montage of clips we try to figure out what all the pictures and words relate to. Of course everything is meaningful which is why the clips have been used. The sound is very interesting in the sequence. Its as if the sound is also a montage of music and soundtracks very much like the clips. The sound makes a "screeching" noise often, prehaps to relate to screams of victims of the murderer, however we don't really know - only questions can be asked. The editing is very clever for the titles and credits. The font is creepy and jagged as if it has been scratched - this could relate to one of the murders?
The titles also fit into the montage which helps with the fluency of the sequence.
In the main the way the sequence has been made is extremely clever. It is as if the montage relates to the murderers brain and how it works. We already think that someone has to be a "lunatic" if he was going to commit murders like this so we instantly know this is the murder and feel that the montage is whats happening in the murders mind. As well as this it creates millions of questions of what is happening and if looked at closely you can see hints of what is to come in the film. This is one of the most thought out and clever opening sequences I have seen throughout my research and I will try and use some of the ideas in my final sequence if possible.
The opening sequence for Se7en is very well thought out and created. The whole sequence is a montage of clips and pictures from what we gather as the murderer however it could also be the detectives. This instant
questioning creates the perfect start to the thriller film. We know before we watch the film that it is about the 7 deadly sins, so when watching the montage of clips we try to figure out what all the pictures and words relate to. Of course everything is meaningful which is why the clips have been used. The sound is very interesting in the sequence. Its as if the sound is also a montage of music and soundtracks very much like the clips. The sound makes a "screeching" noise often, prehaps to relate to screams of victims of the murderer, however we don't really know - only questions can be asked. The editing is very clever for the titles and credits. The font is creepy and jagged as if it has been scratched - this could relate to one of the murders?
The titles also fit into the montage which helps with the fluency of the sequence.
In the main the way the sequence has been made is extremely clever. It is as if the montage relates to the murderers brain and how it works. We already think that someone has to be a "lunatic" if he was going to commit murders like this so we instantly know this is the murder and feel that the montage is whats happening in the murders mind. As well as this it creates millions of questions of what is happening and if looked at closely you can see hints of what is to come in the film. This is one of the most thought out and clever opening sequences I have seen throughout my research and I will try and use some of the ideas in my final sequence if possible.
Friday 21 January 2011
The Codes and Conventions of Crime and Action sub genres
The conventions of a film are what is usually used within a film, its what the audience expects to see for them to understand. For example at the opening scene of a film there are usually cresits and the film title, There is ususally an establishing shot of the location of the film. Codes are the signs used within a film to establish what type of genre and sub genre it is based on. Codes and conventions address the viewer on what type of film it is by using particular shot types, sound tracks and use of characters.
There are many conventions used within a crime sub genre. One type of convention is the use of a villain character, as well as a good character. It would ususally conatain a bad character steeling valuables and the good guys would try to stop them. Another type is the location establishment, this would be within a bank or safe where the valuables would be kept. Mise en scene is used as the type of props and costumes used would be guns, usually dark clothing for the bad character and a cop type cstume for the good character. This relates to the crime aspect as people commiting crimes would be likely to own weapons and destory anything or one who gets in their way.
Codes for instance like the use of camera work, there may be close ups of the characters to show their emossion as well as long shots to establish the location as well as what the characters are doing, if the bad character was trying to crack a safe we would have a long shot to show where they are and a close up of the safe and the characters face to show what is going on. Other types of codes are the use of the characters body lanuage, this allows us to see how the character is feeling for instance if they are walking up and down or figating it shows they are nervous and anxious about something. Music is also a type of code as fast paced music allows us to feel the suspence the character is feeling and makes us more engaged within the film. Codes and conventions work together to produce a film, without them the film wouldnt be as interesting or have a message to it.
A good example of a thriller and crime genre film is The Dark Knight. Throughout the film there are several uses of codes and conventions. convention of this film is that the bank robbers are all wearing black costumes, showing that they're bad. The use of the joker masks is also important as criminals usually try to hide their identity so they wont be caught. We can also see them holding guns, this is usual as crminainls arent affraid to kill someone as long as they get what they want, in this case is money. Codes used within the robbery is the body language of the victims withn the bank, they are stiing on the floor with their hands up. This informs the viewer that they are terrififed of the robbers as they have weapons on their person. The body lanugage helps the audience to engage within the film and understand how the victims feel. Another code used is the camera work, we see a mid shot of one of the criminals breaking into the safe as it then shows us a shot of a victim being hit with a gun, to remind us that the general public is in danger. Another convertion is the fact that one of the good guys fights back, but trying to shoot the villains. This is something we'd expect to see within a crime film as it makes it more exciting to watch. The use of fast paced music create sespens and tension as the good guy fights back, making the audience feel on edge waiting for something bad to happen. Another convention is the use of the amount being stolen, many crime films are based aroung a large amount of valuables being stolen. Finally the real villain is revealed allowing the audience to understand that the man in the mask is the joker, and that he is the main villain within the film.
There are many conventions used within a crime sub genre. One type of convention is the use of a villain character, as well as a good character. It would ususally conatain a bad character steeling valuables and the good guys would try to stop them. Another type is the location establishment, this would be within a bank or safe where the valuables would be kept. Mise en scene is used as the type of props and costumes used would be guns, usually dark clothing for the bad character and a cop type cstume for the good character. This relates to the crime aspect as people commiting crimes would be likely to own weapons and destory anything or one who gets in their way.
Codes for instance like the use of camera work, there may be close ups of the characters to show their emossion as well as long shots to establish the location as well as what the characters are doing, if the bad character was trying to crack a safe we would have a long shot to show where they are and a close up of the safe and the characters face to show what is going on. Other types of codes are the use of the characters body lanuage, this allows us to see how the character is feeling for instance if they are walking up and down or figating it shows they are nervous and anxious about something. Music is also a type of code as fast paced music allows us to feel the suspence the character is feeling and makes us more engaged within the film. Codes and conventions work together to produce a film, without them the film wouldnt be as interesting or have a message to it.
A good example of a thriller and crime genre film is The Dark Knight. Throughout the film there are several uses of codes and conventions. convention of this film is that the bank robbers are all wearing black costumes, showing that they're bad. The use of the joker masks is also important as criminals usually try to hide their identity so they wont be caught. We can also see them holding guns, this is usual as crminainls arent affraid to kill someone as long as they get what they want, in this case is money. Codes used within the robbery is the body language of the victims withn the bank, they are stiing on the floor with their hands up. This informs the viewer that they are terrififed of the robbers as they have weapons on their person. The body lanugage helps the audience to engage within the film and understand how the victims feel. Another code used is the camera work, we see a mid shot of one of the criminals breaking into the safe as it then shows us a shot of a victim being hit with a gun, to remind us that the general public is in danger. Another convertion is the fact that one of the good guys fights back, but trying to shoot the villains. This is something we'd expect to see within a crime film as it makes it more exciting to watch. The use of fast paced music create sespens and tension as the good guy fights back, making the audience feel on edge waiting for something bad to happen. Another convention is the use of the amount being stolen, many crime films are based aroung a large amount of valuables being stolen. Finally the real villain is revealed allowing the audience to understand that the man in the mask is the joker, and that he is the main villain within the film.
Logo
We decided to call ourselves "Lightning Productions" and therefore needed a bolt of lightning in our logo somewhere. We felt it was necessary to add a cloud over the top to make it more realistic. The reason we chose to use a lightning bolt is because we knew it would stand out and felt that because we were making a thriller film we should make it dark and sinister. The bright yellow makes it stand out from the background making it memorable and to stand out from other logos from competitors. We were inspired by the way "New Line Cinema" had set out their logo - the main image was in the middle and the background was black to make the image stand out. This helped us with the positioning of the image (in the center) and the text which was put underneath. We used bright yellow for the text to make it stand out and the colour is associated with the colour yellow. The font we used was sharp and bold which also relates to a lightning bolt.
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Thursday 20 January 2011
Thriller Soundtrack
We created this Thriller Soundtrack after researching into the different thriller sub-genre soundtracks. We liked the idea of using string instruments for the soundtrack - strings were used for all of the films we researched. We also created pauses in the soundtrack to create tension and suspense, which suits the thriller genre. We based the main soundtrack on the Catch Me if You Can soundtrack as it was different to other films but created a sense of mystery well. We feel our soundtrack does have a good element of mystery as well as a pacey rhythm which creates a sense of action. We think we have created a good Thriller Soundtrack which relates to all the sound research we have done.
Sound in Opening Sequences Analysis
We analysed the sound in three opening sequences - Catch Me if You Can, Face Off and Panic Room. Catch me if you can had only non diegetic sound throughout the sequence. The pictures on screen related to the soundtrack that was playing with it. The music was made of orchestral instruments and was fairly fast and pacey. This seemed to relate to the whole narrative of the film where someone is running away from someone else. This was done discreetly and mysteriously though. The music also worked with the visuals when a scene changed as the music changed from the original soudtrack to a slightly different jazz theme. The music was fairly disjointed for example the music stopped for a little and then began again. This could represent the man running and then when the music stopped the man felt he was safe or changed his disguise. We feel that the sound did work with the sub-genre (crime/drama) as it was mysterious and discreet as well as being fast and dramatic.
Face Off had many differences compared to Catch Me if You Can. The sub-genre for Face Off was a crime, action thriller. The sound began as a non-diegetic soundtrack with deep strings which were slow and dark. The credits rolled onto the screen with a "sweeping" effect to possibly represent what was to come. While the soundtrack was being played there was diegetic sound of a child laughing over the top, which helped aid the visuals that were being shown. The "Face Off" title was shown on screen and the mood of the music changed becoming much more intense and dark than before. The mood of the music then again changed along with the visuals as the father and child we seen looking happy. After this breif scene the antagonist was seen with a sniper and the music changed back to the way it was before. We heard sound effects when the sniper was fired and then the music cut out completely when the man found out he was hit. The man on screen sees that his child has been shot aswell and sad, quiet strings begin in the background. Overall we feel that the sound does fit the genre well portraying a dark, intense crime thriller.
The last seqeunce we anaylsed for its sound was Panic Room. The non-diegetic music again was deep and dark using string instruments. The credits are shown around a well built up city while this music is playing. When the title of "Panic Room" is seen the music becomes much deeper and intense, similar to the Face Off soundtrack. After the title is shown the music becomes faster and more dramatic with a sinister ticking sound in the background which could have represented something in the film to come. It engaged the audience putting them on edge and creating suspense. After the credits have been shown the dialogue begins along with the visuals. We feel that the sound was very influentual in the opening sequence. If the visuals did not have sound the audience would not realise that the film was a thriller genre.
Face Off had many differences compared to Catch Me if You Can. The sub-genre for Face Off was a crime, action thriller. The sound began as a non-diegetic soundtrack with deep strings which were slow and dark. The credits rolled onto the screen with a "sweeping" effect to possibly represent what was to come. While the soundtrack was being played there was diegetic sound of a child laughing over the top, which helped aid the visuals that were being shown. The "Face Off" title was shown on screen and the mood of the music changed becoming much more intense and dark than before. The mood of the music then again changed along with the visuals as the father and child we seen looking happy. After this breif scene the antagonist was seen with a sniper and the music changed back to the way it was before. We heard sound effects when the sniper was fired and then the music cut out completely when the man found out he was hit. The man on screen sees that his child has been shot aswell and sad, quiet strings begin in the background. Overall we feel that the sound does fit the genre well portraying a dark, intense crime thriller.
The last seqeunce we anaylsed for its sound was Panic Room. The non-diegetic music again was deep and dark using string instruments. The credits are shown around a well built up city while this music is playing. When the title of "Panic Room" is seen the music becomes much deeper and intense, similar to the Face Off soundtrack. After the title is shown the music becomes faster and more dramatic with a sinister ticking sound in the background which could have represented something in the film to come. It engaged the audience putting them on edge and creating suspense. After the credits have been shown the dialogue begins along with the visuals. We feel that the sound was very influentual in the opening sequence. If the visuals did not have sound the audience would not realise that the film was a thriller genre.
Tuesday 18 January 2011
Analysis of Past Years Work (RI-16)
We analysed and marked a blog and final Thriller opening sequence from last years Long Road Media students.
We chose group R1-16 at random and this group had decided to create a psychological thriller opening sequence. The group blogged 55 posts throughout the duration of the task which was an excellent amount of posts.
The feedback we concluded for the planning and research of the group was that they did have a lot of good examples with a variety of thriller sub-genres looked into. However the analysis of the sequences and films were very limited with only bullet point answers and sometimes no analysis at all. There was never a comparison between two thriller sub-genres which showed that their research was not as in depth as it could have been. The group did plan well with thorough planning of the location of the sequence, props and costume. They blogged the exact timing of the filming and editing which showed good organisation and time management.
The film was based on a young girl who was having some sort of nightmare in the opening sequence. There was good editing for the film as they managed to create distorted images, which helped show the drama of the sequence. The editing also helped show what was a dream and what was real life with the dream being in black and white. There was a variety of shots in the sequence including establishing shot of the location, point of view shots and mid shots. This created good continuity in the scene and match on action was present throughout. The credits in the sequence didn't seem to stand out or create any sort of impact and when the title at the end was shown it was not as dramatic as it could or should have been. The mise-en-scene was good as the props, location and costume related well to the narrative and nothing seemed out of place or unrealistic.
There was some criticism with the film. Firstly the film didn't seem to make much sense to the audience. The group tried to make the dream more complicated and mysterious than it really needed to be. They attempted to exaggerate the conventions of psychological thrillers for example when the characters just disappeared with no reason or explanation. Also the use of sound was limited, with only quiet sound used in part of the sequence. Again this would have confused the audience and didn't seem to engage or keep the audience on edge.
Overall we feel that the planning, research and final sequence would be given a Level 3 if marked by an examiner.
We chose group R1-16 at random and this group had decided to create a psychological thriller opening sequence. The group blogged 55 posts throughout the duration of the task which was an excellent amount of posts.
The feedback we concluded for the planning and research of the group was that they did have a lot of good examples with a variety of thriller sub-genres looked into. However the analysis of the sequences and films were very limited with only bullet point answers and sometimes no analysis at all. There was never a comparison between two thriller sub-genres which showed that their research was not as in depth as it could have been. The group did plan well with thorough planning of the location of the sequence, props and costume. They blogged the exact timing of the filming and editing which showed good organisation and time management.
The film was based on a young girl who was having some sort of nightmare in the opening sequence. There was good editing for the film as they managed to create distorted images, which helped show the drama of the sequence. The editing also helped show what was a dream and what was real life with the dream being in black and white. There was a variety of shots in the sequence including establishing shot of the location, point of view shots and mid shots. This created good continuity in the scene and match on action was present throughout. The credits in the sequence didn't seem to stand out or create any sort of impact and when the title at the end was shown it was not as dramatic as it could or should have been. The mise-en-scene was good as the props, location and costume related well to the narrative and nothing seemed out of place or unrealistic.
There was some criticism with the film. Firstly the film didn't seem to make much sense to the audience. The group tried to make the dream more complicated and mysterious than it really needed to be. They attempted to exaggerate the conventions of psychological thrillers for example when the characters just disappeared with no reason or explanation. Also the use of sound was limited, with only quiet sound used in part of the sequence. Again this would have confused the audience and didn't seem to engage or keep the audience on edge.
Overall we feel that the planning, research and final sequence would be given a Level 3 if marked by an examiner.
Monday 17 January 2011
Codes and Conventions of Action Thrillers
The Action genre is regularly used with Thrillers to create an very exciting, dramatic and heart racing film. The fact that there is a story line with twists and thrills throughout along with action packed fights, car chases and explosions seems to create the perfect "thrill".
One example of a Action Thriller is James Bond: Quantum of Solace. Being a Bond film, viewers are expected to see car chases, explosions and fights from the first minute of the scene, however the fact that the storyline is put together with such precision that the final piece of the puzzle is only placed and understood right at the very end.
The Opening sequence begins with an immediate establishment of the scene and location. The establishing shot then zooms in to the land where the action commences straight away. The fact that no titles or credits are shown straight away helps portay the action well as it shows it is suddenly getting straight into the plot and action sequence. After the shot is zoomed in enough, sound can be heard of the cars. This shows that it is an action genre as the cars come zooming past and the film begins quickly. The car chase begins, with us rarely seeing anyone driving other than James Bond who is the main character. The quick succession of shots with short shot duration tells us this is an action movie and the explosions and gun shots also add to the effect. Once Bond has escaped and stops, we find a man in the boot of the car. This is showing the Thriller side to the film at the end of the opening scene. We see the man, raise questions then the credits and titles begin. The way this is done entices us into the film well with a balance of action and questions thought about by the audience.
Another good example of a Action Thriller is Green Zone. This war based film begins fairly differently from that of Quantum of Solace. The credits begin immediately and the sound played over the top is that of air raid siren. This siren is used to create a sense of action and the radio played with it shows emergency and panic of troops. We then hear crashes and explosions in the background and reporters commenting on how war has begun. Still at this point no location, characters or scene has been established until suddenly an explosion is heard and the film begins. From then on the audience will begin to ask questions of what is happening during the action packed sequence. The characters are seen trying to collect, what seems as important documents while others are panicking around them. What they are doing is not found out yet and this is what creates the "thriller" genre. The characters then flee and another big explosion is seen before the title is flashed on the screen. The film then fast forwards 4 weeks and other characters are brought into the film. The audience now has raised questions about these characters and will begin to wonder how they are connected to the characters seen right at the beginning of the film.Overall both of these Action/Thriller opening sequences start off immediately with lots of action, including explosions, car chases and fight scenes. Both also cause the audience to ask questions of the narrative and what is happening, however Green Zone definitely causes the audience to ask questions when the action is happening. Compared to Quantum of Solace where before the credits roll onto the screen a big question is raised. This is clever as it lets the audience have time to think throughout the title sequence, before revealing the answers after.
Friday 14 January 2011
BBFC Research
The BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Classification. They are in charge of distributing films with the correct classification age for viewers to watch. The classifications are U, PG, 12, 12A, 15, 18 and R18.
I am going to research the classification of 15 and 18, I have decided to look into these two categories because thriller films are always for viewers aged 15 or over.
This means that no one under the age of 15 is able to view this film within a cinema or purchase the film. There are many reasons why some films are rated as a 15, one reason is the fact it is likely to include a strong amount violence and bad language.Even though bad language is allowed as a whole it should not represent any type of discrimination verbally or behaviour. The use of bad language can also contain verbal references to sexual violence. However, this cannot contain images of sexual violence or a large amount of pain.Sexual scenes are not prohibited within a 15, but nudity is allowed. Nudity may contain a Sexual concept, although the content can only be minor. Drugs are another concept that may be used within a 15 film, however it must not promote the use of drugs or persuade the audience to use drugs.Certain types of drug use for example solvents as well as aerosols are not allowed to be used, as they are highly accessible and dangerous to use. Although dangerous behaviour such as suicide is allowed but on a small range of content and must not be very detailed, as many weapons for example knives are easy to access.
A good example of a thriller rated 15 is 'The Stepfather' this is about a man named Michael. As he returns home from military school he finds out his mother is happily in love and living with her new fiance. As the two men get to know each other, Micheal becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there with a helpful hand. However the films begins with the male shaving within this home, he then eats some toast and walks out the door. We then see the horror of his wife and her 3 children dead around the living room and kitchen. As a result throughout the film we know that Micheals mother's fiance is a murdered and wait in suspense for him to attack.
This category means that no one under the age of 18 is authorised to view this within a cinema or purchase the film. Like the 15 classification there are reasons to why some films are for the ages of 18 and above. this classification is aimed at adults as it usually contains sex within the film,showing clearer images. However the use of sex is usually fake and simulated. Actually sex scenes containing strong clear images or even sexual material is not permitted. 18 rated films are allowed to include the use of violence and bad language. it can be based on a criminal offence or
An example of a thriller rated at 18 is Seven. It is about two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, who hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi. Obviously there will be lots of violent and disturbing images of the serial killer killing his victims and this is why the film is rated as an 18.
The thriller project I am producing will be a 15. I have chosen this for many reasons. one main reason is my age, being 17 I am more used to watching 15 rated films and therefore have more of an understanding of what is usually allowed and used. Another reason is that fact that it cant contain a large amount of violence, for example a extremely detailed murder. This is helpful as we are unable to pay a professional stuntman and so would be safer for us to produce a less violent film.
I am going to research the classification of 15 and 18, I have decided to look into these two categories because thriller films are always for viewers aged 15 or over.
This means that no one under the age of 15 is able to view this film within a cinema or purchase the film. There are many reasons why some films are rated as a 15, one reason is the fact it is likely to include a strong amount violence and bad language.Even though bad language is allowed as a whole it should not represent any type of discrimination verbally or behaviour. The use of bad language can also contain verbal references to sexual violence. However, this cannot contain images of sexual violence or a large amount of pain.Sexual scenes are not prohibited within a 15, but nudity is allowed. Nudity may contain a Sexual concept, although the content can only be minor. Drugs are another concept that may be used within a 15 film, however it must not promote the use of drugs or persuade the audience to use drugs.Certain types of drug use for example solvents as well as aerosols are not allowed to be used, as they are highly accessible and dangerous to use. Although dangerous behaviour such as suicide is allowed but on a small range of content and must not be very detailed, as many weapons for example knives are easy to access.A good example of a thriller rated 15 is 'The Stepfather' this is about a man named Michael. As he returns home from military school he finds out his mother is happily in love and living with her new fiance. As the two men get to know each other, Micheal becomes more and more suspicious of the man who is always there with a helpful hand. However the films begins with the male shaving within this home, he then eats some toast and walks out the door. We then see the horror of his wife and her 3 children dead around the living room and kitchen. As a result throughout the film we know that Micheals mother's fiance is a murdered and wait in suspense for him to attack.
This category means that no one under the age of 18 is authorised to view this within a cinema or purchase the film. Like the 15 classification there are reasons to why some films are for the ages of 18 and above. this classification is aimed at adults as it usually contains sex within the film,showing clearer images. However the use of sex is usually fake and simulated. Actually sex scenes containing strong clear images or even sexual material is not permitted. 18 rated films are allowed to include the use of violence and bad language. it can be based on a criminal offence orAn example of a thriller rated at 18 is Seven. It is about two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, who hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi. Obviously there will be lots of violent and disturbing images of the serial killer killing his victims and this is why the film is rated as an 18.
The thriller project I am producing will be a 15. I have chosen this for many reasons. one main reason is my age, being 17 I am more used to watching 15 rated films and therefore have more of an understanding of what is usually allowed and used. Another reason is that fact that it cant contain a large amount of violence, for example a extremely detailed murder. This is helpful as we are unable to pay a professional stuntman and so would be safer for us to produce a less violent film.
Thursday 13 January 2011
Friday 7 January 2011
Evaluation Of Preliminary Task
What did we learn?
As we have done the Childrens film project before this project we had a good idea of how to construct a short preliminary film. We knew how much camera work we needed for a 40 second clip so we were able to construct a realistic storyboard.
We learnt from previous tasks that continuity was important and which shot types followed other shot types. With this knowledge we were able to use a variety of shot types for example pans, point of view shots, mid and long shots. It enabled us to create a flowing film which used continuity and correct match on action. This allows the audience to follow and understand what is going on throughout the sequence.
Were there any difficulties?
We found it difficult to find a suitable location to film the sequence. We were not allowed off college site and many rooms we wanted were being used. As we are in a college site it was also difficult to maintain continuity due to the amount of people walking around. We had to film shots two or three times because of students walking past. This would interfere with the continuity of the sequence if we suddenly changed to a different shot and the person disappeared.
In the clip there was lots of background and ambient noise from classrooms which definitely creates a different mood from what we wanted. We were trying to make it tense and dark but due to this noise the atmosphere wasn't really created.
As we were only given one lesson to film this we weren't able to prepare costume and props for the sequence and had to make do with the clothes and props we had at school. We used a hand as a gun which made the sequence not as realistic as we wanted. We did add sound to make the audience believe it was a gun that was fired.
How we constructed the sequence in relevance to the 4 micro areas
For our sequence we were asked to film a conversation, use the 180 degree rule, match on action and use a variety of camera shots.
When filming the conversation instead of using over the shoulder shots which we were asked to do we used point of view shots and a long shot. We decided to use point of view shots to give a bigger sense of realism for the audience watching. The point of view shot also helped to show the reaction shot in the sequence as the character looked up sharply as a reaction. We then used the long shot in between the conversation to allow the audience to see the whole of the scene and all the characters involved.
When filming we kept to the 180 degree rule for example in the classroom we always filmed one side of the characters. We also kept match on action when the shots were changed for example the door opening flowed from the close up to the point of view inside well.
Our mise-en-scene wasn't very realistic as we weren't able to get props and costumes for the sequence. We were able to find a fairly suitable location for the scene and we couldn't change the lighting in the scene as we did not have the equipment or the time. However we did make sure not too much natural light was used to create a sense of tension and darkness for the thriller theme.
When editing we tried to have quite short shot duration during the conversation as it was meant to portray some action. We added a sound effect for the gunshot to create more realism for the audience. Diagetic sound was used in the form of dialogue and ambient sound and the gun shot was an example of non-diagetic sound.
As we have done the Childrens film project before this project we had a good idea of how to construct a short preliminary film. We knew how much camera work we needed for a 40 second clip so we were able to construct a realistic storyboard.
We learnt from previous tasks that continuity was important and which shot types followed other shot types. With this knowledge we were able to use a variety of shot types for example pans, point of view shots, mid and long shots. It enabled us to create a flowing film which used continuity and correct match on action. This allows the audience to follow and understand what is going on throughout the sequence.
Were there any difficulties?
We found it difficult to find a suitable location to film the sequence. We were not allowed off college site and many rooms we wanted were being used. As we are in a college site it was also difficult to maintain continuity due to the amount of people walking around. We had to film shots two or three times because of students walking past. This would interfere with the continuity of the sequence if we suddenly changed to a different shot and the person disappeared.
In the clip there was lots of background and ambient noise from classrooms which definitely creates a different mood from what we wanted. We were trying to make it tense and dark but due to this noise the atmosphere wasn't really created.
As we were only given one lesson to film this we weren't able to prepare costume and props for the sequence and had to make do with the clothes and props we had at school. We used a hand as a gun which made the sequence not as realistic as we wanted. We did add sound to make the audience believe it was a gun that was fired.
How we constructed the sequence in relevance to the 4 micro areas
For our sequence we were asked to film a conversation, use the 180 degree rule, match on action and use a variety of camera shots.
When filming the conversation instead of using over the shoulder shots which we were asked to do we used point of view shots and a long shot. We decided to use point of view shots to give a bigger sense of realism for the audience watching. The point of view shot also helped to show the reaction shot in the sequence as the character looked up sharply as a reaction. We then used the long shot in between the conversation to allow the audience to see the whole of the scene and all the characters involved.
When filming we kept to the 180 degree rule for example in the classroom we always filmed one side of the characters. We also kept match on action when the shots were changed for example the door opening flowed from the close up to the point of view inside well.
Our mise-en-scene wasn't very realistic as we weren't able to get props and costumes for the sequence. We were able to find a fairly suitable location for the scene and we couldn't change the lighting in the scene as we did not have the equipment or the time. However we did make sure not too much natural light was used to create a sense of tension and darkness for the thriller theme.
When editing we tried to have quite short shot duration during the conversation as it was meant to portray some action. We added a sound effect for the gunshot to create more realism for the audience. Diagetic sound was used in the form of dialogue and ambient sound and the gun shot was an example of non-diagetic sound.
Prelininary Task Story Board and Initial Ideas Mindmap
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| Mind Map Of Initial Ideas for Thriller Project |
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| Preliminary Task Storyboard Page 1 |
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| Preliminary Task Storyboard Page 2 |
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