we got feedback from the all of the other groups in our class.
1. describe the type of camera work:
establishing shots, panning shots, tracking shots, short duration shots, these were used well but not enough suspense was created but apart from the shot duration shots. POV shots were also included. Good use of handheld shots to increase the sequence pace. the shot of the train shows what was going to happen to the victim.
2. what type of sound has been used?
the sound was sad but intense which showed that they were connected and that he was really worried. could have cut out the noise from the cars on the road as background sound. the soundtrack was good, the speech was brief which created suspense. the sound was good at the start which created the mood for the thriller.
3. how does the mise-en-scene construct had an impact on the thriller genre?
the location for the tied up scene was typical, rural and out of the way. the mise-en-scene was used well at the begining and the thriller was too light hearted.
4. what editing techniques have been used?
blurry when running which created tension and this used to make
Friday 18 March 2011
Thursday 17 March 2011
opening sequence idea
we have decided to include a clip of ink in water whilst the title of the film and the opening credits are played. this is so that the text on the screen doesn't obstruct any of the actual scenes. we have decided to use ink in water because we thought it gave a mysterious feel and that the contrast between the ink and the water could represent the contrast between dream and reality in our film.
here are some examples:
here are some examples:
Tuesday 15 March 2011
target audience
Our film BBFC film classification is 15 so we obviously cant aim film at anyone aged younger. We also think that the film will appeal to younger people than older generations because we feel that younger people will enjoy the feelings of suspense and danger that our film would give. because of the contents our film would involve, we feel that some parents might find some scenes distressing because our film would contain some elements that are very close to reality that some people may have experienced in the past.
Film Titles
The title of the film is a very important aspect of movies. This is because it is generally the first thing the potential audience sees and if the movie has a bad title, people would not want to see it. The film title generally includes some relation to the actual film, from an aspect of the characters to something significant about the location, or if it reflects the films narrative.
Because of the significance of the title, we need to choose carefully so that we grab the attention of the potential audience so that they eventually watch the film.
Our film is a thriller with the sub-genre of crime because of the kidnapping. this means that it would be a good idea to include an aspect of crime or kidnapping into the film title in order to get our audience's attention. During our opening sequence, one of the main features is a dream so we have decided to base our title around this.
some ideas we have had include:
"the dream"
"the midnight thief"
"dream-like-reality"
We have decided that Dream-Like-Reality is the best choice for our film title because it tells the audience that dreams are a factor of our movie while it is still withholds information for the actual film. Also, because of the dashes in the title, it gives the feeling of confusion because the dream and the reality are closely linked in the title and therefore, the same in the movie. We have decided to not use the other ideas because the first one, 'the dream', we feel doesn't give enough information about the film whereas, 'the midnight thief' gives away too much by including midnight, which relates to sleeping and dreams, and thief which relates to the kidnapping.
Because of the significance of the title, we need to choose carefully so that we grab the attention of the potential audience so that they eventually watch the film.
Our film is a thriller with the sub-genre of crime because of the kidnapping. this means that it would be a good idea to include an aspect of crime or kidnapping into the film title in order to get our audience's attention. During our opening sequence, one of the main features is a dream so we have decided to base our title around this.
some ideas we have had include:
"the dream"
"the midnight thief"
"dream-like-reality"
We have decided that Dream-Like-Reality is the best choice for our film title because it tells the audience that dreams are a factor of our movie while it is still withholds information for the actual film. Also, because of the dashes in the title, it gives the feeling of confusion because the dream and the reality are closely linked in the title and therefore, the same in the movie. We have decided to not use the other ideas because the first one, 'the dream', we feel doesn't give enough information about the film whereas, 'the midnight thief' gives away too much by including midnight, which relates to sleeping and dreams, and thief which relates to the kidnapping.
Friday 11 March 2011
Things to do from 11th march
The only things we need to do is related to editing of our final sequence.
We need to finish editing the sequence according to Amar's feedback. This will take most of the time because we have had to move some of the clips around, amongst other things.
We also need to add things like our production logo, the name of the film and the credits to our sequence. This shouldn't take very long because it is only adding a picture and some text to the final sequence.
We need to finish editing the sequence according to Amar's feedback. This will take most of the time because we have had to move some of the clips around, amongst other things.
We also need to add things like our production logo, the name of the film and the credits to our sequence. This shouldn't take very long because it is only adding a picture and some text to the final sequence.
Thursday 10 March 2011
changes to script
"the opening sequence starts off with a shot of the dad sleeping uncomfortably in his sleep. because we want to show him having nightmares, the dad will have to be tossing and turning in the bed and looking restless. the next scene is off his ex-wife and his young son tied up in an empty room looking terrified. there is then a jump cut back to then dad as he wakes screaming and shouting which emphasizes the fact that he was having a nightmare. the story then jumps forward in time to the dad running frantically down the street at night. the dad then walks up to a deserted warehouse panting to show that he is tired and worn out from running down the street. we then see the father walking down a corridor with his footsteps bouncing off the walls. after a sudden scream, from the mother in a different part of the warehouse, the dad spins around and runs in the direction of the scream. we then see the kidnapper with the two hostages. the father walks forward slowly to confront the kidnapper and once they are close enough to speak clearly, you hear the dad say something along the lines of "you wont get away with this" then the scene fades and the movie starts."
this is the old storyline that we will be changing.
the opening sequence starts off with two people walking down the street. one of the people then meets another person who then go into a house. the first person waves goodbye then walks off down the same street, into his own house. there is then a shot of a train going past. we then see the first guy going to sleep. the sequence then goes to the other two characters being kidnapped by a new character. the next shot is off a POV of running through the woods. these jump between each other causing suspense. we then see the guy waking up with a start and then see him confronting the kidnapper before the sequence ends.
this is the old storyline that we will be changing.
the opening sequence starts off with two people walking down the street. one of the people then meets another person who then go into a house. the first person waves goodbye then walks off down the same street, into his own house. there is then a shot of a train going past. we then see the first guy going to sleep. the sequence then goes to the other two characters being kidnapped by a new character. the next shot is off a POV of running through the woods. these jump between each other causing suspense. we then see the guy waking up with a start and then see him confronting the kidnapper before the sequence ends.
Amar's feedback
This is the feedback that we received from Amar for our thriller opening.
He said that our storyline was confusing because he thought that it was hard to distinguish between the different characters. To correct this, Amar said to change the storyline so that it makes more sense.
We have also been told to emphasize the feeling of the dream during the middle. This can be done adding various effects and colours to that particular sequence which can be done using final cut express.
Another way to make the storyline make sense is to rearrange the clips into a suitable order. An example of this would be to change it from; kidnapped - train - bed to bed - train - kidnapped. This way the storyline flows more fluently and adds more suspense and drama to the opening sequence in general.
Another point that Amar made was that the opening sequence was too obvious for an opening sequence. He did however, say that the camera work was good and effective and that it adds suspense nicely.
Overall, from the feedback we received from Amar, the storyline is the weakest part of our thriller sequence with confusing scenes and characters and that the footage that we shot was good and effective for the genre.
He said that our storyline was confusing because he thought that it was hard to distinguish between the different characters. To correct this, Amar said to change the storyline so that it makes more sense.
We have also been told to emphasize the feeling of the dream during the middle. This can be done adding various effects and colours to that particular sequence which can be done using final cut express.
Another way to make the storyline make sense is to rearrange the clips into a suitable order. An example of this would be to change it from; kidnapped - train - bed to bed - train - kidnapped. This way the storyline flows more fluently and adds more suspense and drama to the opening sequence in general.
Another point that Amar made was that the opening sequence was too obvious for an opening sequence. He did however, say that the camera work was good and effective and that it adds suspense nicely.
Overall, from the feedback we received from Amar, the storyline is the weakest part of our thriller sequence with confusing scenes and characters and that the footage that we shot was good and effective for the genre.
Friday 4 March 2011
problems encountered
We encountered various problems during the filming of our thriller project.
one problem we had was keeping the continuity flowing throughout the filming. We solved this by re-filming any scenes that broke the continuity.
Another problem was one that we couldn't help because it was to do with the weather. on some occasions, we were unable to film because the weather didn't match that of what we had previously filmed. Like before, we filmed at a later time when the weather suited us.
one problem we had was keeping the continuity flowing throughout the filming. We solved this by re-filming any scenes that broke the continuity.
Another problem was one that we couldn't help because it was to do with the weather. on some occasions, we were unable to film because the weather didn't match that of what we had previously filmed. Like before, we filmed at a later time when the weather suited us.
Tuesday 1 March 2011
Feedback on Roughcut
This is the feedback that we have received from one of the other groups.
The other group said that we have used a variety of different camera shots. This is good because it shows that we have good camera skills and are able to use the different camera shots to full effect.
The mise-en-scene works well with our genre according to our feedback, but it has been noted that the dad sleeping in his clothes could be seen as unrealistic. To solve this, we could re-shoot the scene but with appropriate clothes or we could emphasize that the dad is very stressed which is the reason for the nightmare in the first place.
The sounds that we have used for our thriller were tense and dark and, according to our feedback, went well with our genre and suited the atmosphere well.
Some points to consider from out peer feedback was:
The narrative wasn't clearly outlined in the rough cut and it needs to be clearer in order to understand the story line.
Another problem according to the feedback was that it was hard to distinguish between the characters. This is mainly due to the fact that we didn't use outside characters and the person acting as the child was a similar height compared to the other characters.
Also, the people who were reviewing our rough cut thought that it wasn't very easy to distinguish what was happening in the sequence. This can be linked to an earlier comment saying that the narrative wasn't very clear, but we hope to solve this when the whole sequence is put together.
Another comment was that the sequence wasn't long enough but of course, once the whole sequence has been put together and edited, it should be of a suitable length.
Another thing to improve is in one of the scenes, there is a slight lack of continuity in that Jake is out of the shot in one scene, but is then seen waving goodbye from a similar position in the next. The main way to solve this would be to re-shoot the scene but this all depends on whether or not we have enough time to do this.
Some good points given from our peer feedback was the wood location and how we used those surroundings in our shots. another good part was the camera shots we used when the dad was running through the woods. This includes the POV shots and pan shots.
The other group said that we have used a variety of different camera shots. This is good because it shows that we have good camera skills and are able to use the different camera shots to full effect.
The mise-en-scene works well with our genre according to our feedback, but it has been noted that the dad sleeping in his clothes could be seen as unrealistic. To solve this, we could re-shoot the scene but with appropriate clothes or we could emphasize that the dad is very stressed which is the reason for the nightmare in the first place.
The sounds that we have used for our thriller were tense and dark and, according to our feedback, went well with our genre and suited the atmosphere well.
Some points to consider from out peer feedback was:
The narrative wasn't clearly outlined in the rough cut and it needs to be clearer in order to understand the story line.
Another problem according to the feedback was that it was hard to distinguish between the characters. This is mainly due to the fact that we didn't use outside characters and the person acting as the child was a similar height compared to the other characters.
Also, the people who were reviewing our rough cut thought that it wasn't very easy to distinguish what was happening in the sequence. This can be linked to an earlier comment saying that the narrative wasn't very clear, but we hope to solve this when the whole sequence is put together.
Another comment was that the sequence wasn't long enough but of course, once the whole sequence has been put together and edited, it should be of a suitable length.
Another thing to improve is in one of the scenes, there is a slight lack of continuity in that Jake is out of the shot in one scene, but is then seen waving goodbye from a similar position in the next. The main way to solve this would be to re-shoot the scene but this all depends on whether or not we have enough time to do this.
Some good points given from our peer feedback was the wood location and how we used those surroundings in our shots. another good part was the camera shots we used when the dad was running through the woods. This includes the POV shots and pan shots.
programmes used throughout our project
we will be using a variety of different programmes on the computers.
1. final cut express
this will be used to edit all out footage and to put our final sequence together. we will be using other programmes in conjunction with this, like garageband, to add other elements to our sequence.
2. garageband
this is where we will be making our soundtrack for our sequence. we will use this with final cut express to come up with the final project. we may also use this for other sounds like sound effects and if we want to add narration to the opening sequence.
3. iphoto
this is what we will be using to upload any pictures to the computer from the cameras. we will be using this to upload any written work we have done as well as any still photos we have taken for out sequence.
4. internet - for research, uploading and blogging
this is what we will be using for most of our theory work because of the amount of resources are available on the internet. we will use blogger, for showing our work, flikr, for uploading any pictures we have so that they can be shown on our blogger page, youtube, to research any other thriller sequences and soundtracks as well as showing our own opening sequence. we will also be using a variety of other websites, for the different pieces of research we have done.
1. final cut express
this will be used to edit all out footage and to put our final sequence together. we will be using other programmes in conjunction with this, like garageband, to add other elements to our sequence.
2. garageband
this is where we will be making our soundtrack for our sequence. we will use this with final cut express to come up with the final project. we may also use this for other sounds like sound effects and if we want to add narration to the opening sequence.
3. iphoto
this is what we will be using to upload any pictures to the computer from the cameras. we will be using this to upload any written work we have done as well as any still photos we have taken for out sequence.
4. internet - for research, uploading and blogging
this is what we will be using for most of our theory work because of the amount of resources are available on the internet. we will use blogger, for showing our work, flikr, for uploading any pictures we have so that they can be shown on our blogger page, youtube, to research any other thriller sequences and soundtracks as well as showing our own opening sequence. we will also be using a variety of other websites, for the different pieces of research we have done.
Saturday 26 February 2011
127 Hours Poster Analysis
127 Hours Film Poster
When the audience first look at this poster, they have reason to be intrigued as they can see an aesthetically pleasing optical illusion as the coming together of cliff edges visually and metaphorically symbolize a timer. This contributes to the main theme of the advert, which is losing time, as it emphasizes the meaning of the text ‘127 HOURS’ and ‘every second counts’. The cliff edges also help to set up a narrative moment in the advert as we can see a man who appears to show little movement is stuck. This foreshadows aspects of the plot in the film teasing the audience, film posters often do this in order to give the audience something the associate the film with and to see if the film’s visual representations of genre and narrative suite to their taste.
The text at the top of the advert ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ obliges the audience to associate this film with an incredibly successful and well-known film as soon as they see the text. The poster does this to prompt the audience on to go and see the film, which is of course the main aim of the poster.
The lighting in the advert also generates a meaning about the film’s narrative. There is a strip of intensely bright light across the centre of the poster and the charachter in the advert. This symbolises the intense part of the plot as giving away the fact that it has an element of the action genre.
By Colin Chadwick
Friday 18 February 2011
antagonist and protagonist analysis
an antagonist is a character who opposes the protagonist. they are considered the "bad guys" in movies and they usually experience a period of power over the protagonist at some point in the movie. during some point of the movie, the protagonist reveals a flaw in their character that gets exploited by the antagonist. after this, the protagonist is forced to face and over come their problems and "save the day" from the antagonist.
a protagonist is a character who is considered the "good guy" in a movie.
within our thriller sequence, we have both a protagonist and an antagonist. they are easy to differentiate because, although they are wearing similar clothes, the antagonist is generally wearing dark clothes and the protagonist generally wears light clothes. this emphasizes the elements of good vs evil which is also present in our opening sequence.
a protagonist is a character who is considered the "good guy" in a movie.
within our thriller sequence, we have both a protagonist and an antagonist. they are easy to differentiate because, although they are wearing similar clothes, the antagonist is generally wearing dark clothes and the protagonist generally wears light clothes. this emphasizes the elements of good vs evil which is also present in our opening sequence.
Character Analysis
we analyzed the conventions of Leonardo d'caprio's character in inception. the characteristics that you see from a character which stars in a thriller movie are usually very smart, mentally strong or weak which usually gives the movie meaning.
leonardo d'caprio is very smart and he knows a lot about the subject which he operates in, we know this because he says that he is the best in his department. this leaves the audience on edge because he knows a lot more about the main subject of the film than the audience so they don't know what to expect. also he is very calm and collective, which is a contrast because the film's narrative is in great depth and is about serious matters, this leaves the audience on edge because they are unsure on what and why he is calm. in this movie he is the protagonist because he isn't making harmful situations for no reason, he has a objective and aims to fulfill his objective. this makes the audience feel sympathy for him because he is going through so much hassle to try and achieve his objectives.
leonardo d'caprio is very smart and he knows a lot about the subject which he operates in, we know this because he says that he is the best in his department. this leaves the audience on edge because he knows a lot more about the main subject of the film than the audience so they don't know what to expect. also he is very calm and collective, which is a contrast because the film's narrative is in great depth and is about serious matters, this leaves the audience on edge because they are unsure on what and why he is calm. in this movie he is the protagonist because he isn't making harmful situations for no reason, he has a objective and aims to fulfill his objective. this makes the audience feel sympathy for him because he is going through so much hassle to try and achieve his objectives.
Thursday 17 February 2011
Tuesday 8 February 2011
thriller soundtrack
there are different types of sounds that can be used for a thriller soundtrack. for the James bond films, which can be classed as 'spy or espionage thrillers', you hear a snare drum rhythm in the background. this sequence is common with espionage related sequences so follows the conventions of the James bond thrillers. this particular theme tune also includes trumpets and other wind instruments above the background. this is to add density to the soundtrack and give the feeling that there is a lot of things going on at once.
for the dark night, a lot of heavy and dark tunes are used. because high pitched notes are used very often within the soundtrack, there is the feeling of danger and foreboding. this is a successful technique and we are considering using this method for our own thriller soundtrack.
this next soundtrack is from the thriller inception. like previous examples, it uses string and woodwind instruments for dramatic effect. this soundtrack uses a crescendo with the sounds getting progressively louder. this gives the feeling of growing danger which we are thinking about including within our own soundtrack.
for the dark night, a lot of heavy and dark tunes are used. because high pitched notes are used very often within the soundtrack, there is the feeling of danger and foreboding. this is a successful technique and we are considering using this method for our own thriller soundtrack.
this next soundtrack is from the thriller inception. like previous examples, it uses string and woodwind instruments for dramatic effect. this soundtrack uses a crescendo with the sounds getting progressively louder. this gives the feeling of growing danger which we are thinking about including within our own soundtrack.
Friday 4 February 2011
why thrillers thrive
we watch thrillers so that we can experience 'shake ups' to enhance our living and watching thrillers is a great way to do this. in films we are able to see everything that is happening on the screen without experiencing it first hand. we enjoy watching movies because we become immersed in what is happening and participate in the movie rather than simply watch it. films allow us to feel what the characters are feeling but because we are watching it, we know that we are safe from what is actually going on. the main purpose of the film is to portray emotions that hold the attention of the audience, from happiness to sadness, although they are safe from these emotions, just experiencing them in their subconscious minds.
Thursday 3 February 2011
shooting schedule
we will be filming between the 7th to the 18th of February. this means that we will have 6 media lessons to film in as well as any free time that we have available. because we will have 9 hours worth of lessons, we will try and get all the filming done within that space to avoid problems with everyone's schedule. we have decided to film our thriller opening sequence during the night because nighttime is a major feature of our production. this will mean that we have to do some out of college shooting because we obviously don't go to college at night.
whenever it is not possible to film during our lessons, we will be doing extra research and continue to blog work.
Monday 7th - film after college
Tuesday 8th - film during lesson
Wednesday 9th - no filming
Thursday 10th - film during lesson
Friday 11th - film during lesson
Saturday 12th - no filming
Sunday13th - no filming
Monday 14th - no filming
Tuesday 15th - film during lesson
Wednesday 16th - no filming
Thursday 17th - film during lesson
Friday 18th - film during lesson
whenever it is not possible to film during our lessons, we will be doing extra research and continue to blog work.
Monday 7th - film after college
Tuesday 8th - film during lesson
Wednesday 9th - no filming
Thursday 10th - film during lesson
Friday 11th - film during lesson
Saturday 12th - no filming
Sunday13th - no filming
Monday 14th - no filming
Tuesday 15th - film during lesson
Wednesday 16th - no filming
Thursday 17th - film during lesson
Friday 18th - film during lesson
Tuesday 1 February 2011
Mise-en-scene
location
our location is set in olivia's house where the opening sequence will begin where the man is in the dream and another location will be on her street for a short period of time where you will see the man walking back home from dropping his son of at his ex wifes house. also at the end of the scene where the antagonist and the protagonist have a face off, this is where the two character settle there differences.
props
in our opening sequence we will be using chairs to have the hostages tied up on whist they are being kept hostage. also we will be using a phone for when the father is contacting the ex wife. We will also use a pretend gun for when the kidnappers are holding the child hostage. We will also use rope to tie the child to the chair. the kid will have some toys to play with to show the audience that he is a child.
lighting
in our opening sequence we will be using the natural light during the day in olivia's house, also when we see the man going to bed there will be little light to emphasize the night time. when we go into the street again we will be using natural light and the only light avalible would be the street lights. when we go into the car park we will be using the lights which are avalible in there which means it will be gloomy and this will create the eary atmosphere.
costume
the costume for the man will be casual, being a t-shirt and jeans. when he goes to bed you till see him in a dressing gown to show the audience that he is going to bed. the kid will also be wearing a dressing gown, to show that he is a child.
our location is set in olivia's house where the opening sequence will begin where the man is in the dream and another location will be on her street for a short period of time where you will see the man walking back home from dropping his son of at his ex wifes house. also at the end of the scene where the antagonist and the protagonist have a face off, this is where the two character settle there differences.
props
in our opening sequence we will be using chairs to have the hostages tied up on whist they are being kept hostage. also we will be using a phone for when the father is contacting the ex wife. We will also use a pretend gun for when the kidnappers are holding the child hostage. We will also use rope to tie the child to the chair. the kid will have some toys to play with to show the audience that he is a child.
lighting
in our opening sequence we will be using the natural light during the day in olivia's house, also when we see the man going to bed there will be little light to emphasize the night time. when we go into the street again we will be using natural light and the only light avalible would be the street lights. when we go into the car park we will be using the lights which are avalible in there which means it will be gloomy and this will create the eary atmosphere.
costume
the costume for the man will be casual, being a t-shirt and jeans. when he goes to bed you till see him in a dressing gown to show the audience that he is going to bed. the kid will also be wearing a dressing gown, to show that he is a child.
shot list and risk assessment
this is our shot list for out opening sequence
this is our risk assessment
this is our risk assessment
thriller opening script
the opening sequence starts off with a shot of the dad sleeping uncomfortably in his sleep. because we want to show him having nightmares, the dad will have to be tossing and turning in the bed and looking restless. the next scene is off his ex-wife and his young son tied up in an empty room looking terrified. there is then a jump cut back to then dad as he wakes screaming and shouting which emphasizes the fact that he was having a nightmare. the story then jumps forward in time to the dad running frantically down the street at night. the dad then walks up to a deserted warehouse panting to show that he is tired and worn out from running down the street. we then see the father walking down a corridor with his footsteps bouncing off the walls. after a sudden scream, from the mother in a different part of the warehouse, the dad spins around and runs in the direction of the scream. we then see the kidnapper with the two hostages. the father walks forward slowly to confront the kidnapper and once they are close enough to speak clearly, you hear the dad say something along the lines of "you wont get away with this" then the scene fades and the movie starts.
location Recce
the first location where we will be to film our thriller opening sequence will be at olivia's house, there are little constrictions to this location because it's her house and we have been granted permission from her family so that we can use her house. olivia has a little sister and brother that go to bed fairly early, this could cause a diversion in our filming routine because we would not be able to talk loudly or shout to emphasize the characters feelings and emotions. the next place we would go is the car park under the grande arcade in cambridge, there are quite a few restrictions because there will be cars down there which might get in the way of our filming, also we would have to get permission from the security guards, this could be a fatal drawback in our productions because they might kick us off and that means that we would have to re-locate and find a new location of film at. if we do get kicked out of this location colin has a garage which we could use but the car park would be better, there are no constrictions for colins garage as it is his, and his parents will let us. another location would be outside olivia's house, there are little restrictions to this location because it is on a small road, with a small amount of house's therefore not many cars and people disturbing our filming process.
storyboard thriller opening
this is our storyboard. this is only basic and could change when it comes to filming and editing our production.
Thursday 27 January 2011
Comments on Thriller Pitch
one comment we received whist pitching our thriller post was where our location for the house we are going to set our opening sequence, we have decided that we are going to set the house at Olivia's house but we need a ask permission from her family first to ensure we can use her house. another comment we got was where we are going to locate the face off between the dad and the kidnapper, we came to the conclusion that we are going to use grande arcade car park in town for this, because towards late evening it is empty and it will be quite for the ambient sounds to be emphasized to create a eary atmosphere. also we would need to seek permission from the security gaurds. another comment we got was how we are going to show the audience clearly that the dad is going into a dream, we are going to use a transition which will make it clear and easy for the audience to understand that he is going into a dream. also we are going to have ask a child to play a character which we will need to ask permission from their parents for them to be in our opening sequence
Tuesday 25 January 2011
suggested thriller locations
we will be filming our thriller in a variety of locations. firstly at a house, to see the child being dropped off by his father to the mothers house. we would also need a secluded area to film the face off with the kidnapper and the father. this area could be anywhere but we would prefer it that there was little ambient sound to add to the suspense of the scene.
we could use an empty warehouse in burwell because it is out of the way and has the appropriate atmosphere that we are looking for. we would have to get permission before we film to make sure we are not intruding or anything.
we could use an empty warehouse in burwell because it is out of the way and has the appropriate atmosphere that we are looking for. we would have to get permission before we film to make sure we are not intruding or anything.
Sub Genre - Explain The Use Of Conventions
the sub genre is crime. the conventions of this sub genre include antagonists, protagonists, serial killers, kidnappers, rapists,chases, police and shootouts. the conventions we used were, kipnapping which is a key convention because it creates mysteriousness and creates a crime scene. another convention we used was the antagonist and protagonist, this is common in thrillers as it give the viewer a sense of hope for the protagonist to save the hostage.
our thriller characters
there will be four main characters within our thriller sequence; the son who is called Freddie, the mum and the dad. there will also be the kidnapper.
the mum will be played by Olivia
the dad will be played by Jake
the son will be played by Michael
the kidnapper will be played by Colin
because the child will be kidnapped in the narrative of the film, his characteristics will have to be naive and vulnerable and he will have to have scared mannerisms.
because the father is said to be having nightmares, he is supposed to be stressed out and constantly looking tired. as well as that, his son will be kidnapped which will add to the strain of the father. having dropped his son of and the mums, he would also feel angry because he would want to blame the mother and say its her fault.
because the mother will have her son kidnapped, as well as having the father blame her for what goes wrong, she will have to come across as worried and scared for her sons life.
becuase of the amount of people within our group, we will be forced to rotate who does the filming whenever there are certain characters within the scene.
the mum will be played by Olivia
the dad will be played by Jake
the son will be played by Michael
the kidnapper will be played by Colin
because the child will be kidnapped in the narrative of the film, his characteristics will have to be naive and vulnerable and he will have to have scared mannerisms.
because the father is said to be having nightmares, he is supposed to be stressed out and constantly looking tired. as well as that, his son will be kidnapped which will add to the strain of the father. having dropped his son of and the mums, he would also feel angry because he would want to blame the mother and say its her fault.
because the mother will have her son kidnapped, as well as having the father blame her for what goes wrong, she will have to come across as worried and scared for her sons life.
becuase of the amount of people within our group, we will be forced to rotate who does the filming whenever there are certain characters within the scene.
political thriller
a political thriller is, as it sounds, themed around politics. this can include a political power struggle or a big event in the political history. political thrillers usually include various plots, which are rarely legal in order to give political power to someone, against the other characters will. a political thriller can be based on a national or international basis. WWII or any political assassinations make popular themes for political thrillers.
our thriller classification
we have decided to classify our film as a 15. the reasons for this are mainly due to our audience range. if we chose our film as an 18 film, then we would only be able to aim our film at adult whereas with a 15, we can include 15 - 18 year olds which could greatly improve the amount of people viewing our film.
another reason for having our film with a 15 classification is because of the films involved within our film. because our thriller sequence will involve the kidnapping of a child we would have to be careful because a 15 movie restricts the amount of dangerous behavior within the film. because of the nature of a kidnapping, it is likely that some weapons might be used. if this is the case, we must not glamorize them, or use them too frequently.
another reason for having our film with a 15 classification is because of the films involved within our film. because our thriller sequence will involve the kidnapping of a child we would have to be careful because a 15 movie restricts the amount of dangerous behavior within the film. because of the nature of a kidnapping, it is likely that some weapons might be used. if this is the case, we must not glamorize them, or use them too frequently.
Narrative Description
freddie is visiting his mother as his parents broke up 3 months ago, his dad has been having perculiar dreams which has caused a few sleepless nights, one night after he had been out to drop his son of at his mother house, that night he encounters his most horrific dream yet, freddie, his son, and his ex-wife, there house have been broken into and held hostage after the kidnapper and his father have had some business disputes (involving large sum of money) for quite a while. during the night at 3am he receives a phone call from the kidnapper explaining what they have done and what they plan to do, he is quick to act and and has to try and find the kidnapper and his son. The climax of the film comes at the end when the father finds the kidnapper holding his son and kills the kidnapper and saves Freddies life.
Friday 21 January 2011
Production Logo
we were inspired by the lionsgate and dreamworks logos. both of these include clouds so we decided that it would be a good place to base our logo around. we decided on the name "dreamgate" because of the background we chose for our logo. because there was a light coming through the clouds, we thought that it look like a 'spiritual gate' so we revolved the name around that. we kept the desing of our logo fairly simple. the reason for this was because the other production logos we look at as examples we also simle designs and layouts. we thought the reason for this was to make the logos more memorable and therefore, make the name stick in the audience's minds. we chose to have the name in the light coming from the clouds because we thought it fitted well and the colours complimented each other well.
Thursday 20 January 2011
thriller soundtrack
this is our thriller soundtrack that we made using garageband. we decided to use orchestral and string themed instruments because that it was is commonly used within the thriller genre. we have used a various amount of layers within our soundtrack so that the sound rises and falls in order to add tension and suspense. we included a bass sequence part way through the soundtrack to give the effect of pacing or time.
Analyzing sound
Catch Me if You Can
the sound that was used for this film was very orchestral based, it had many violins and jazz instruments have been used, to give the film a creepy mysterious atmosphere. also it was quick and subtle which gave the opening sequence a suspicious vibe. the music that was in the opening sequence went well with the visuals and the opening sequence, but it was a contrast to other thriller opening sequences which could confuse the audience. there a build up created by the drums and violins which gave that particular section a sinister effect. it was a jazzy themed soundtrack which went well with the film.
face off
also with this film it has a very orchestral based soundtrack which went well with the genre of the film being a thriller. the violins and the mellow music gave the opening sequence a mysterious atmosphere. there was a sudden drop into harsh drums and fast paced violin sounds, which gave the opening sequence a fast paced racy vibe. there was a gun shot which was diegetic sound and emphasized the gun shot. also at this stage there was a choir singing with mellow opera music, the music was spiritual like which made the death more dramatic also this music reflected the struggle that the man was in.
panic room
the opening sequence to panic room starts off with slow, deep powerful music. this is typical of a thriller movie because it is often used to emphasize the importance of something, in this case, new york city. after a while, it changes to a fast paced ticking sound which is also generally heard in thriller movies because it indicates time and creates tension within the film. there is ambient sound included within the opening sequence of the city which back up the viewer's perception of a busy city, with lots of activity.
the sound that was used for this film was very orchestral based, it had many violins and jazz instruments have been used, to give the film a creepy mysterious atmosphere. also it was quick and subtle which gave the opening sequence a suspicious vibe. the music that was in the opening sequence went well with the visuals and the opening sequence, but it was a contrast to other thriller opening sequences which could confuse the audience. there a build up created by the drums and violins which gave that particular section a sinister effect. it was a jazzy themed soundtrack which went well with the film.
face off
also with this film it has a very orchestral based soundtrack which went well with the genre of the film being a thriller. the violins and the mellow music gave the opening sequence a mysterious atmosphere. there was a sudden drop into harsh drums and fast paced violin sounds, which gave the opening sequence a fast paced racy vibe. there was a gun shot which was diegetic sound and emphasized the gun shot. also at this stage there was a choir singing with mellow opera music, the music was spiritual like which made the death more dramatic also this music reflected the struggle that the man was in.
panic room
the opening sequence to panic room starts off with slow, deep powerful music. this is typical of a thriller movie because it is often used to emphasize the importance of something, in this case, new york city. after a while, it changes to a fast paced ticking sound which is also generally heard in thriller movies because it indicates time and creates tension within the film. there is ambient sound included within the opening sequence of the city which back up the viewer's perception of a busy city, with lots of activity.
Tuesday 18 January 2011
crime and action thriller sub genres codes and conventions
the dark night is an example of both a crime and an action thriller. this is because it is a hybrid and implements qualities that is common within both sub genres.
the conventions of a crime thriller are that they are usually set in a city. this is because there is also the possibility of lots of casualties as well as lots of places to commit a crime and gain high rewards. there are generally an antagonist and a protagonist within a crime thriller with the antagonist exploiting one of the protagonist's flaws that they are supposed to overcome in order to succeed. with most crime thrillers, the crime is generally committed in the night rather than the day. this is so that suspense and tension can be created and so that the antagonist has a chance to escape easily.
an action thriller is similar to action thrillers in that there is also the potential for lots of casualties. action thrillers commonly use guns and explosions to emphasize the scale of the plot and the danger that people are in.
comparing two thriller opening sequences: vertigo and panic room
vertigo
in the movie vertigo, there is sinister music that sets the tone for the rest of the film, this gives the viewer the right mindset of what to expect from this film and gets them ready. there was a slow close up of her eyes which created tension and built suspense throughout the opening sequence. they would have used the eyes for the close up to show the emotion on the ladies face, which can give off a certain vibe or set a specific atmosphere for the film. after the close up the eye turns red, this could be s symbol of pain, death or suffering which again set the mood and get the viewer prepared for what is to come. it could also reflect an aspect of the protagonist or antagonist psychological state which is a common convention for thriller movies. violins are used throughout the opening sequence in the music to build up suspense, and the violin is used because it can make quick sharp sounds which can move the mood of the film very quickly from building suspense ready to drop. the music played is quite slow throughout the piece like the camera movement which creates suspense and makes the opening sequence eery. spirals turn throughout the opening sequence to add a hypnotic feeling throughout the opening sequence, this is a common symbol in psychological thriller because it is to do with mind control and empowers the antagonist.
panic room
panic room is a thriller movies which has many thriller like conventions. the first thing that we found was that the title is panic room which emphasized panic and the mind being under a great amount of stress, also in a room which shows that the characters are closed in and they begin to panic. another convention is that again the slow music which involves violins again for quick, slow, sharp, or mellow sounds, which can set the mood for any scene that is required. also another convention that we found was that the title opening sequence was spread across New York which is a big city in contrast with a small confined room, which means that even in a big city people can still be suffering and under a great deal of stress. the pace of the music quickens as you see the city scape, this could be used to emphasize how lively the city is and that alot can happen in this city without anyone finding out because it's so big. as the music drops another musical device is used, a ticking of a clock which shows that there is a specific time scale of which the protagonist has to save someone from the antagonist, this also shows that the protagonist is again the clock, which emphasizes the suspense and tension. with it being in new york it shows the conventions of extra ordinary events happening in ordinary situations. because the opening sequence doesn't show any characters, the viewers are left with lots of questions as to who the antagonists and protagonists are as well as what the threat within the film is.
the similarities
the use of music and violins within both films show that that particular instrument are very useful for setting the scene and tone for most thriller movies. also, both use slow camera movements which can signify that the plot of the movie develops over time or that the protagonist slowly overcomes their personal problems to overcome the antagonist. as well as these points previously mentioned, mind control and stress play a role in both movies. this can emphasize that these are common conventions within thriller movies. another similarity between Vertigo and Panic Room is the lack of information about the characters that is given. Vertigo at most, shows half of a woman whereas Panic Room doesn't show any characters, just a aerial pan of New York. this technique adds suspense and tension to the film.
the differences
even though the amount of characters shown both of the opening sequences can be seen as a similarity, we think that it is a difference as well. because vertigo shows a woman, you generally assume that she is in trouble because of when this film was made (1958), women were generally thought of as vulnerable and constantly under threat. panic room was made at a much later date, (2002), where psychology plays a much larger role in thrillers than the 1950s. the time scale also differs in the two films because in Panic Room, you know there is a time scale because of the ticking clock noises in the background whereas Vertigo shows no hint of a time scale. this could show that the protagonist is under less stress in vertigo because they appear to have time to catch the antagonist. the city scape in Panic Room is another difference because it sets the scene whereas with Vertigo the background behind the women is dark and mysterious.
in the movie vertigo, there is sinister music that sets the tone for the rest of the film, this gives the viewer the right mindset of what to expect from this film and gets them ready. there was a slow close up of her eyes which created tension and built suspense throughout the opening sequence. they would have used the eyes for the close up to show the emotion on the ladies face, which can give off a certain vibe or set a specific atmosphere for the film. after the close up the eye turns red, this could be s symbol of pain, death or suffering which again set the mood and get the viewer prepared for what is to come. it could also reflect an aspect of the protagonist or antagonist psychological state which is a common convention for thriller movies. violins are used throughout the opening sequence in the music to build up suspense, and the violin is used because it can make quick sharp sounds which can move the mood of the film very quickly from building suspense ready to drop. the music played is quite slow throughout the piece like the camera movement which creates suspense and makes the opening sequence eery. spirals turn throughout the opening sequence to add a hypnotic feeling throughout the opening sequence, this is a common symbol in psychological thriller because it is to do with mind control and empowers the antagonist.
panic room
panic room is a thriller movies which has many thriller like conventions. the first thing that we found was that the title is panic room which emphasized panic and the mind being under a great amount of stress, also in a room which shows that the characters are closed in and they begin to panic. another convention is that again the slow music which involves violins again for quick, slow, sharp, or mellow sounds, which can set the mood for any scene that is required. also another convention that we found was that the title opening sequence was spread across New York which is a big city in contrast with a small confined room, which means that even in a big city people can still be suffering and under a great deal of stress. the pace of the music quickens as you see the city scape, this could be used to emphasize how lively the city is and that alot can happen in this city without anyone finding out because it's so big. as the music drops another musical device is used, a ticking of a clock which shows that there is a specific time scale of which the protagonist has to save someone from the antagonist, this also shows that the protagonist is again the clock, which emphasizes the suspense and tension. with it being in new york it shows the conventions of extra ordinary events happening in ordinary situations. because the opening sequence doesn't show any characters, the viewers are left with lots of questions as to who the antagonists and protagonists are as well as what the threat within the film is.
the similarities
the use of music and violins within both films show that that particular instrument are very useful for setting the scene and tone for most thriller movies. also, both use slow camera movements which can signify that the plot of the movie develops over time or that the protagonist slowly overcomes their personal problems to overcome the antagonist. as well as these points previously mentioned, mind control and stress play a role in both movies. this can emphasize that these are common conventions within thriller movies. another similarity between Vertigo and Panic Room is the lack of information about the characters that is given. Vertigo at most, shows half of a woman whereas Panic Room doesn't show any characters, just a aerial pan of New York. this technique adds suspense and tension to the film.
the differences
even though the amount of characters shown both of the opening sequences can be seen as a similarity, we think that it is a difference as well. because vertigo shows a woman, you generally assume that she is in trouble because of when this film was made (1958), women were generally thought of as vulnerable and constantly under threat. panic room was made at a much later date, (2002), where psychology plays a much larger role in thrillers than the 1950s. the time scale also differs in the two films because in Panic Room, you know there is a time scale because of the ticking clock noises in the background whereas Vertigo shows no hint of a time scale. this could show that the protagonist is under less stress in vertigo because they appear to have time to catch the antagonist. the city scape in Panic Room is another difference because it sets the scene whereas with Vertigo the background behind the women is dark and mysterious.
15 films are only suitable for people 15 and over. The film must not have discrimoatory language or behavior. Drug taking can be shown in 15's as a whole but must not incurage it to the audience, if it uses redaly avalible substansis such as solvents and areosols it might will probably not be accepitbale. Most are allowed unless sadistic or sexualised. Dangerous behaviour such as self harming and hanging should not be dwelled upon the actual scene. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised. There can be frequent use of strong language such as "fuck". really strong words such as cunt can be used only if it fits in with the context. constant use of the really strong language would not be acceptable. Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context dependng on detail. There are no restrictions on nudity in a non-sexual way. Sex can be shown without strong detail, verbal referances would be allowed. the strongest refferences wouldn't not be allowed but unless justified by the context. films that purpose that is to arouse would not be allowed. Violence may be strong but cant stay show infliction of pain for prolonged lengths of time. The strongest images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unacceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence msut be neccisery to the narrative.
18
No one younger than 18 can view, buy or rent an 18. There are exceptions where the BBFC believe they should not give people the removal of constraints to watch these films, for example where the material is in breach of criminal laws, when the material is said to potentially risk harm to the individual or their behaviour to society or where there are more explicit scenes of sexual content which are not justified by the context.
18
No one younger than 18 can view, buy or rent an 18. There are exceptions where the BBFC believe they should not give people the removal of constraints to watch these films, for example where the material is in breach of criminal laws, when the material is said to potentially risk harm to the individual or their behaviour to society or where there are more explicit scenes of sexual content which are not justified by the context.
Fugue analysis
Level 4 48-60 marks
evidence of excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:
Holding a shot steady were appropriate
framing a shot including and excluding elements as appropriate
using a variety of shot distances as appropriate
shooting material appropriate to task set
selecting mise en scene including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting
editing so that meaning is apparant to the viewer
using varied shot transitions and other effects effectively and appropriately for the task set
using sound with images and editing approriately for the task set
using titles approriately.
In the first shot off the buses, the camera is held steady. This is different to the shots of him on the bus as these are slighty unsteady. This is done because it adds a sense of reality and influences the audience to imagine they are on the bus. The opening scene is set in the small confined space of a bus, however they managed to involve a wide variety of shot angles and distances. They linked these shots together with a large variety of transitions to keep the audience interested. The sound compliments the imagery well because the imagery of the character sitting on the bus is sad and mellow which is similar to the music. They have used a simple slow piano score to reflect the pace of the film. For the credits they have used a simple dark font which compliments the film as it reflects the pace and the atmosphere of the film. They have framed the opening scene well as they have included the sun light to make the scene more attractive to the audience.
evidence of excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills:
Holding a shot steady were appropriate
framing a shot including and excluding elements as appropriate
using a variety of shot distances as appropriate
shooting material appropriate to task set
selecting mise en scene including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting
editing so that meaning is apparant to the viewer
using varied shot transitions and other effects effectively and appropriately for the task set
using sound with images and editing approriately for the task set
using titles approriately.
In the first shot off the buses, the camera is held steady. This is different to the shots of him on the bus as these are slighty unsteady. This is done because it adds a sense of reality and influences the audience to imagine they are on the bus. The opening scene is set in the small confined space of a bus, however they managed to involve a wide variety of shot angles and distances. They linked these shots together with a large variety of transitions to keep the audience interested. The sound compliments the imagery well because the imagery of the character sitting on the bus is sad and mellow which is similar to the music. They have used a simple slow piano score to reflect the pace of the film. For the credits they have used a simple dark font which compliments the film as it reflects the pace and the atmosphere of the film. They have framed the opening scene well as they have included the sun light to make the scene more attractive to the audience.
Thursday 13 January 2011
thriller research
According to the-movie-times website,http://www.the-movie-times.com/thrsdir/alltime.mv?adjusted+ByAG+All+Thr the top ten grossing thrillers are:
1. Jaws (Adventure/Horror/Thriller)
2. Avatar (Action/Adventure/Sci-fi/Thriller)
3. Jurassic park (Action/Adventure/Sci-fi/Horror/Thriller)
4. The dark night (Action/Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller)
5. Airport (Drama/Thriller)
6. Batman (Action/Crime/Fantasy/Thriller)
7. The towering inferno (Action/Drama/Thriller)
8. Spider man 2 (Action/Fantasy/Sci-fi/Thriller)
9. The sixth sense (Drama/Horror/Mystery/Thriller)
10. Twister (Action/Thriller)
As you can see, all of these are hybrid films with more than one genre. This allows more options to be explored and more codes and conventions to be used.
1. Jaws (Adventure/Horror/Thriller)
2. Avatar (Action/Adventure/Sci-fi/Thriller)
3. Jurassic park (Action/Adventure/Sci-fi/Horror/Thriller)
4. The dark night (Action/Crime/Drama/Mystery/Thriller)
5. Airport (Drama/Thriller)
6. Batman (Action/Crime/Fantasy/Thriller)
7. The towering inferno (Action/Drama/Thriller)
8. Spider man 2 (Action/Fantasy/Sci-fi/Thriller)
9. The sixth sense (Drama/Horror/Mystery/Thriller)
10. Twister (Action/Thriller)
As you can see, all of these are hybrid films with more than one genre. This allows more options to be explored and more codes and conventions to be used.
Tuesday 11 January 2011
Friday 7 January 2011
Evaluation of Preliminary task
what did we learn?
as we have already constructed a childrens film preliminary task, we already knew about how much camera work we would need to do for a 40 second preliminary task. also with the storyboard we were able to construct a storyboard which is a realistic for making a short preliminary task. from the previous childrens film preliminary task, we knew about continuity and how it worked and how to use it correctly, we already had experience on how to construct good continuity, also doing another one gave us more knowledge on how to use the camera's. our knowledge had expanded on editing as well as we have constructed 2 preliminary tasks on final cut pro and a opening sequence to a childrens film.
were there any difficulties?
there was a few problems that we stumbled across on our progression on creating our preliminary task because we filmed to much work which resulted in having to cut out alot of our preliminary task out but we managed to resolve it in the editing of our preliminary task.
also we had a struggle to choose characters for all the people in our group one camera man and our original storyboard only contained two people marco (the main character) and ben, (the nervous man that borrows the money), but having 4 people in our group we had to make another character and change our storyboard we got around this by giving marco an assistant.
how we constructed the preliminary micro areas
in our preliminary task, we used a series of different camera shots. we stuck to the 180 degree rule as well as other camera shots like the Point of View shot and a zoom out.
as we have already constructed a childrens film preliminary task, we already knew about how much camera work we would need to do for a 40 second preliminary task. also with the storyboard we were able to construct a storyboard which is a realistic for making a short preliminary task. from the previous childrens film preliminary task, we knew about continuity and how it worked and how to use it correctly, we already had experience on how to construct good continuity, also doing another one gave us more knowledge on how to use the camera's. our knowledge had expanded on editing as well as we have constructed 2 preliminary tasks on final cut pro and a opening sequence to a childrens film.
were there any difficulties?
there was a few problems that we stumbled across on our progression on creating our preliminary task because we filmed to much work which resulted in having to cut out alot of our preliminary task out but we managed to resolve it in the editing of our preliminary task.
also we had a struggle to choose characters for all the people in our group one camera man and our original storyboard only contained two people marco (the main character) and ben, (the nervous man that borrows the money), but having 4 people in our group we had to make another character and change our storyboard we got around this by giving marco an assistant.
how we constructed the preliminary micro areas
in our preliminary task, we used a series of different camera shots. we stuck to the 180 degree rule as well as other camera shots like the Point of View shot and a zoom out.
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