Helen Skipworth AS media coursework blog

Thriller Evaluation

2009-05-06T08:24:00.000-07:00

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challange forms and conventions of real media products?

Before starting this coursework I researched the generic codes and conventions of thrillers in order to better understand what a thriller is and to give us more direction into the way camera, sound, mise en scene and editing should be used. Looking back our animatic, we made some initial decisions based on the codes and conventions we found. As our opening is more of a spy thriller, or a hybrid of spy and action we looked at similar products such as ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’ (1999-John Tierman) as it had a similar narrative and the look and feel we wanted to achieve.We decided our thriller was going to include the production company and the studio such as the ‘20th Centaury Fox’ logo at the beginning of films(0:00-0:10).We also decided that the setting for our thriller would be very city like, as this is very typical of the thriller genre and more specifically spy thrillers such as 'The Bourne Identity'(2002-Doug Liman).

The setting in this image shows a train station, something we decided to include in our product. The city environment helps establish the characters as being proffesional spies, as well as estblishing the genre and meeting the expectations of the audience. It could also be considered a masculine environment that is dominated by males, furter enforcing our main representation of males being superior.

(our actual setting)

The mise en scene is often very business like, in order to convey to the audience the characters were spies we also opted to have the actors dressed in masculine suits, black and white being the dominant colours.In order to keep audiences engaged, we also decided to have the opening titles over the action, rather than fading to black. Action or more specifically spy thrillers often have the titles over the action thus keeping the audience engaged with what is happening on screen. From looking at the use of camera, point of view shots seemed to be used heavily in thrillers (1:35); from watching various thriller opening we decided that this would be effective for our thriller as well as some over the shoulder shots (0:21,0:32,1:19),to emphasise how the character was being followed. We found the typical colours used in a thriller opening were often reds and blacks. The red in particular is effective in connoting danger and blood, however we used white for our titles. This is due to the fact that it gives the thriller a simplistic feel, and doesn’t distract from the action on screen. Most opening start with slow eerie music which then gradually builds as the action intensifies. We were going to subvert this convention, through looking more closely at a certain scene from ‘The Thomas Crown Affair’.

The soundtrack behind this particular action sequence (Sinnerman-Nina Simone) is quite upbeat and contrasts with the typical slow, tense music that a thriller would usually open with. Although we did plan to use this music in our piece as we felt it fitted well with the action on screen we decided that atmospheric music would be more effective and typical of a thriller. (see blog post ‘update 26th march).We matched our music to mirror the action on screen, in particular the scene where the two characters are first introduced (Ref).The music hits a crescendo as the characters come into shot; the titles also follow the beat making the product flow and helping enforce the narrative.

How does your product represent particular social groups?

Our Media product mainly represents young, middle class males showing them to be very business like in manner and appearance. We have subverted the typical stereotypical male lead, which is often a young white male and have used an Asian actor so as not to stray to much into cliché's and obtain some originality. The males in our thriller however, are represented as stereotypically dominate throughout. Low angles are used to make the characters appear strong and powerful; this coincides with the mise on scene of very business like clothes to make them appear professional as suits connote masculinity.
This links to our target audience as young males would expect to see dominant men and thrillers are typically dominated by male leads with men being represented as superior. In particular the tilt shot used in the cafe (1:00-1:08), where the antagonist stands up from the table again shows him to be very dominant as the females in the background are framed below him showing them to be inferior.
The young actors in our opening also relates to the target audience as they would identify more with them, and would be more inclined towards a film featuring people of a similar age than much older. The fact that these men are spies, also relates to the post modern audience as young people are more in touch with technology, the word ‘Spy’ connotes mystery, gadgets and technology, expensive clothing thus showing the younger males to live a fast paced, exciting lifestyle compare with the lifestyle of someone older.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

As our product is more of a spy thriller, i feel it would be more suitable to be distributed by a major hollywood company rather than a small art house film. Thrillers similar to ours such as many of the bond films, for example 'casino royale' are distiributed by ‘Metro-Goldwyn –Mayer. Furthermore, spy thrllers such as many of the bond films attract large audiences, in particular male therefore in would be the most efficient way to distribute the film in regards to our target audience.

The following scene from 'Casiono Royale' is an example of the type of thriller we intended ours to be, and the similarities further strenghten 'Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer' as a suitable institution to distirbute our film.

The most striking thing about the scene is the way the lighting is used, as it is very dark it reflects the sinsiter nature of the narrative and the intension of Daniel Craigs character. The thriller genre is instantly established through the city like surroundings, a simialr environment to the one used in our thriller. The mise en scene used is also very typical of a spy thriller, with smart business like clothing in dark colours, this fits the pre-concieved ideas the audience would have of what a spy, or more specifically the character of James Bond would wear. For this reason, we have dressed the actors in our thriller in the same way. Furthermore, the fact that the scene is shot in black and white gives the thriller a classy feel and adds to the sophistication of the characters and the dialog. This may have been effective for our thriller and possible something that would have improved it further. The use of props, such as the gun in the draw at 1:22, connote danger and crime, all themes that feature heavily in spy thrillers and is something audiences would expect in a thriller. Although we did not use guns, the idea of a weapon was implied through the use of the briefcase, as well as adding to the characters proffesional apperance.Editing is also effective in the way the action cuts from the scene in the office to events that have taken place previously in the bathroom (1:48-3:10). This is also somethign we could have included in ours to make to create more tension, and further add to the supense which is crutial to a convincing thriller.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The target audience for our thriller is young males, mainly 15-25. We identified this through researching the types of audiences films similar to ours attract and research into the type of thrillers different sexes and ages like. The narrative and style of the film reflects this and would interest this type of audience because it would feature males being the dominant sex and the overall look and feel would be very masculine.

The fact that we intended the film to be a ’15’ certificate means there would be violence, a factor that would mainly appeal to men (see blog post ‘Film classification research-Nov 25th).The representation of men would again be reinforced through use of props such as guns, and suits thus connoting masculinity. Films such as Mission Impossible(1996, directed by Brian De Palma) and many of the bond films attract a heavily male dominated audience as they include ideologies and representations that would appeal more to males, again strengthening our reasoning for our particular target audience.

How did you attract your audience?

Similarly to other spy films, our narrative is very male dominated therefore the overall look and feel of would be very masculine thus attracting a more male audience. The core themes of the film also attract the audience, as spy thrillers are often have action scenes or typical scenes of violence. The fact that it is a ‘15’ certificate would also attract the audience as it suggests it will have much more adult content than a ‘12’.

Our use of mise en scene was a prominent feature in reinforcing this as we had both characters dressed in smart business like clothes in dark colours, mainly black. The protagonist was carrying a briefcase(0:26); this suggests he is of a professional background and fits the audiences pre-conceived view of what a spy would look like and what objects would usually be associated with a spy. The use of the briefcase could also suggest to the audience that what is within the briefcase could be a weapon of some kind.
Our representation of males being the dominant sex was enforced through the camera work, particularly low angle shots, making the characters appear more powerful for example the scene where the antagonist, standing on higher ground, watches the lead make his way toward the train station(1:41-1:49). Although he realises that he has been tricked, he still appears to be superior as he is centralised and mid shots show his reactions whereas the protagonist can be seen a great distance away. The switch in dominance between the characters is also reflected through this, as more mid shots of the protagonist as he escapes on the train(1:53)are used showing him to be smug and superior towards the end of the opening. His overall manner throughout the film is much calmer, suggesting he has the upper hand and contrasts with the frantic behaviour of the antagonist(1:43-2:00).The setting of the thriller, which is very city like, would also appeal to the target audience as that kind of environment is typical of spy thrillers as well as thrillers in general. It could also be considered a very masculine environment, whereby men dominate and helps to draw in a more male audience. The lighting helped create a mysterious feel, particularly the scenes inside the cafe (0:32-1:08), as it was very dark and reflected the sinister nature of the narrative and suggests that the character is the villain and is up to no good.
Editing is mainly slow paced throughout the opening, this matched with the slow, tension building music helps to create a gradual build up to the more fast paced ending, whereby editing quickens to show the desperation of the character as he realises the man he was following has escaped. This would again attract our audience as it makes the opening a more convincing thriller i.e. tense, mysterious and in some places, ambiguous as initially the narrative does not reveal who is following who.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?

Having had little experience with filming equipment before constructing this product, my knowledge of the camera has improved vastly. As our opening involved a lot of filming, I was able to get a lot of time with the camera on our various film shoots. Looking back at our preliminary task where we first started to practice filming, my ability to keep a shot steady and to set up the equipment properly such as the tripod is one of the main skills I will take away from this coursework. I can now film basic shots i.e. mid shots, long shots as well as more complex ones such as a steady pan or tilt thus making the camera work in our thriller of a high quality.
Although the editing was not one of my strong points, I do feel I contributed through direction and expressing ways in which we could improve editing or how certain footage should be edited effectively. My skills with the programme ‘Adobe Premier’ are limited however I did learn to add titles to the footage and learnt how to time them appropriately. The production company logo studio was the area i was most comfortable with. Although my skills were basic I did contribute towards the design side. Looking back, editing was my main weakness and if I was to improve my skills I would practice further how reduce the length of shots, include transitions between shots i.e. fading in or out. I have learnt an important factor in the editing of a thriller is the soundtrack, finding an effective piece of music and editing it so that it is parallel to the action on screen in crucial and a skill I would perfect to further improve the product. An area the product is weak in is diegetic and ambient sound, another side of editing I would need more work on.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

From looking back at my preliinary task, i feel i have learnt and improved a lot in all aspects of media during the progression to our final cut. In the inital planning stages we had intended to use alot more actors and have a group of people following the protagonist, this would mean the shoots would have been of a much larger scale and a more challanging piece overall. As we had not had much practice with the camera, other than the preliminary task, we found this very difficult as we also intended to have a chase scene which requires complex camera work that would need to be of high quality and our skills were simply not advanced enough. despite this, we did achieve a level 3 for our task overall which gave us more confidence to produce a piece thatt featured alot of camera work which looking at our final cut, has followed through to the extent that the camera work is one of the strongest points of our thriller. One main thing i have learnt as well as more competence with the camera, is not to over complicate things. in order to progress well, and to maintain that level of progress throughout, compromises need to be made.From working in a small group, my ability to be organised, make decisions and take charge when necessary has improved and i feel that at time went on, we were using our time more effectivley than we were in the beginning. During the course of the product one aspect i feel also vastly improved was editing.This was something that needed alot of work to begin with, but once we better undertsood what makes an effective thriller and the typical codes and conventions it was easier to edit to a standard that gave our work more polish, and helped the narrative flow better which wa soemthign we had issues with due to poor editind at the first cut stage. I am confident our thriller met the task set appropriatley through the feedback received from peers in class and through our facebook blog (see blog post 'feedback-final cut' posted april 21st)

Tracker facebook group

From this we can tell that the narrative was effective in kepping an audience engaged, comments about the camera show that our choice of shots were appropriate. Feedback in class showed that one particular shot, whereby a tilt shot of the anatgonist is used (1:00),was very effective.I think we made the right desicition to change the music from our first cut to a more sinister soundtrack rather than the original more upbeat piece (see blog post 'update 26th march')as it conformed with the typical codes and conventions of a thriller, helping make the product more atomospheric and was received well by the audience.Some weaknesses with our product have also been identified, these include the use of lighting wich could have been used to better effect. Personally, i think we could have incorperated more ambient sound, particularly at the train station.There was however oe example of our use of non-diegetic sound, wereby a phone beeps as it recives a message (0:48) as you could not hear it originally.This could have been built on further, and as a group we could have experimented more with the sound as in our preliminary task there were issues with acoustics.However, i feel the quality of sound overall throughout the product is of high quality, something we had to work on by re-shooting various sections as we progressed to the final cut.

Feedback-final cut

2009-04-21T04:46:00.000-07:00

Grade: A

During this lesson we watched all our final cuts and peer evaluated them. Our teacher went through each of our grades, what we did well and how our work could have been improved. Each group gave feedback about the other openings in ordert o help write our over all evaluation.

PEER EVALUATION:
+ good tilt shot
- last 10 seconds wasnt as smooth, in terms of editing
+ good pov shot
+ music was alot better and much more engaging
+ pace of editing with music and narrative worked really well,editing was generally really good.
- narrative was a little slow and not engaging
+ effective tilt
+ smooth transitions
+ good variety of shots- keeps audience engaged
+ good choice of location
- font of titles could have been better
+ steady camera work

Furthermore, we set up a group on facebook where people can watch our thriller and give feedback. This will be very helpfull, as people from all differetn age groups will have access and it will enable us to assess if we out opening apeals to our intended target audience, helping us evaluate ourselves effciently.

Tracker facebook group

Overall, i am very pleased with the feedback we have received so far. I feel we improved significantly from our rough cut and although our end product was not how we initially planned in our animatic, i think it is effective in egaging and attracting the our target audience. It fits the codes and conventions of typical thrillers and is on the whole, of a good standard. I fell our strongest aspect is the camera work, it is staedy throughout with a good choice of shots however it is clear the last 10 seconds are not as strong as the rest of the piece. As an individual, i feel i have made significant progress since beginning this coursework. My knowledge of the camera equipment has improved vastly as well as my organisation and production skills, in particular storyboarding. I also feel i have aquired more skills in editing, sound and directing.

Final Cut/edit

2009-04-21T02:54:00.000-07:00

The additional footage has been added to the film and edited, the camera was steady and filmiing of good quality so we replaced some off our older shots with similar ones and other shots we though were more effective. We failed to shoot a better reaction shot for the end whereby Andy realises Sehb has escaped him on the train. We had to settle for the intial reaction shot where the acting, we feel was quite poor. If we had more time i would have reshot that with more anger as it would add more drama and intensity to the piece.

Unlike our inital plan to include a more ubeat piece of music in our thriller,we have opted for a more tension building, thriller like background music. This is because having watched the opening with both types of music the codes and conventions would be better met if the music was changed. It would appeal to the target audience more, as they would espect more tension building music.It also help to create pace and thus help carry the narrative better.

I am happy with the final piece having added the finishing touches. The name of the production company and studios also fits the codes and conventions of thrillers and films in general and makes it look more realsitic and proffesional film. It flows better, the camera work is good, and is more engaging than our rough cut. There has clearly been a vast improvement since then, and i am happy with the work as it stands.

Filming 31st March

2009-03-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

The filming today was very successful, we managed to film all the shots needed on our shot list for improvements. All actors and members of the group needed were present, in correct clothing and with appropriate props. Having watched some footage back, we are fairly confident the quality is of a high standard, in particular the establishing shot which we had difficulty getting right. We also took more shots of sehb on the platform, reinforcing the narrative that he is on the opposite side to Andy. We also got shots of the train leaving, and more expressive reaction shots of Andy (close up showing emotions as specified). We hopefully now have enough footage of good quality to be used in our opening. The footage will be uploaded tomorrow and further editing will take place and will continue until all aspects of the piece are complete.

Update 31st march (titles/improvements)

2009-03-31T04:03:00.000-07:00

Ryan has been working on the titles for our opening, a logo for our production company has been developed ('worthwhile productions') using photoshop. We have opted for a brush script font and a quill placed next to it as if it were writing it. We have also developed 'New Focus Cinema' logo as well (magnifying glass focusing on name of cinema). We feel this will make our thriller opening appear more realistic, as it follows the codes an conventions of typical thrillers and films in general as they tend to open with the name of the production company etc. A shot list has also been drafted for the improvements/ shots that need to be re-filmed. We have also gone through how to make the ending more effective (choices of shot-POV?), we also need to improve the pace of the editing and create more of a build up. Various shots of andy running down the street have been cut and shorter clips added. The order has been re-arranged and we have decided to film a POV shot of andy as he arrives on the platform and see's sehb stepping on the train. This would make the thiller opening more engaging, create a sense of pace a better narrative rather than the bland shots of continuous running we had before.

Evaluation-Initial ideas/notes

2009-03-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

Assessment 5: Evaluation/questions to consider

In the evaluation the following questions must be answered:

• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Our thriller mainly follows typical codes and conventions of the genre however the music we have used could subvert the usual music used in thriller as it isn't typical tense music. We feel it does however fit with the film, as the lyrics fit with what is happening on screen and the beat also connotes running and fits with the piece.

• How does your media product represent particular social groups?
our opening mainly represents older males, probably of middle class as they are agents working for the government. They are in some ways stereotypical as the audience would identify a suspitious character as wearing smart business clothing, perhaps dark glasses. the mise en scene we have used for our actors is very similar to this to establish them as government agents and very typical clothing for a thriller.

• What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Institutions such as Warner Brothers or Twentieth Centuary Fox.

• Who would be the audience for your media product?
Our media product would is aimed at a younger audience 15 up to late 20's/early thirties however it could potentially be watched by anyone over the age of 15 as it has a very broad theme (spy thriller) something many ages would be able to engage with.

• How did you attract/address your audience?
Typical codes and conventions for thrillers, things that audiences would recognise such as dramatic, tension building music, colour scheme-reds, blacks which connote danger or evil and style of editing and film over all. Thrillers being tense films, certain areas would be jumpy and fast paced, engages the audience and appeals to those who like on the edge of the seat tension. We also used questionnaires to gather data on what our target audience expect in a thriller, what endings they prefer etc.

•What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
A lot of the media product has been produced using programs that we were not familiar with. 'Premier pro' for example was the main program we used to edit our footage and from developing our opening with music, editing and sound we have learnt how to use this efficiently and effectively in order to achieve the conventions used in thrillers. Our camera work and use of equipment such as tripods has also developed as part of the assessment criteria is to operate the camera correctly and achieve quality, steady filming whereby shots are framed correctly. This is a skill essential to the production of the thriller and something we have learnt over time whilst creating our thriller.

• Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
I feel i have made significant progress since filming the preliminary task. At that stage i was not completely confident using a camera and could not achieve a completely steady shot. Since filming footage over a period of time for the opening my skills with the camera have developed, as well as editing using premier pro. Although this is the area i struggled most with i still have a better knowledge of how to edit footage effectively, add sound (non diegetic/diegetic) and create titles. The initial process of drafting a story board and shot list and developing an animatic has also helped me greatly to better understand what a thriller is, and what techniques are the most effective and therefor are used by directors today. Watching thriller opening such as 'Sin City' and 'Casino Royal' have also developed this knowledge further as it enabled me to see the sort of work i should be producing and how all aspects of a film such as mise en scene, sound, editing, camera are all used to appeal to the target audience and create a compelling thriller. My understanding of the audience has developed also, i now know how to appeal to them through the research i did for my thriller and asking them what they look for in a thriller. This helped a great deal in the production of our thriller and choosing a storyline as we knew what would engage the audience and what aspects where expected in this genre.

Update-26th march

2009-03-26T11:10:00.000-07:00

We have exactly one week before our final piece is due in and we still need to re-shoot some areas of our opening.

SCHEDULED FILMING:
SUNDAY 29TH MARCH
TUESDAY 31ST MARCH

We have also compiled a mini shot list of additional footage needed and shots we feel need to be re-shot (establishing shot!!) Its isn't a huge amount of filming, more adjustments but we will need to be very precise and efficient with our filming if it is to be edited in time to meet the deadline. Editing will completed Wednesday and Thursday of next week. The director will work on the credits tomorrow morning to insure as much is done as possible before Wednesday as we Will need to focus on getting the editing of the footage as perfect as we can.

It has also been brought to our attention that the music we have used in our opening doesn't comply with the usual codes and conventions of typical thrillers. We have looked closely at the work of M.Night Shyamalan who directed thrillers such as 'The sixth sense' and 'The village'. The openings to his films feature long title sequences that are very simplistic (white font,black background) and dark with atmospheric music creating tension and pace before the opening scene. Breaking the usual conventions of filming, he holds his opening shot for very long periods of time without cutting-perhaps something we should consider in our establishing shot.

However, I still feel 'Sinnerman'effective for our piece, and could subvert the usual techniques used. The inspiration for our thirler is based on the film 'The Thomas Crown Affair'. The following scene shows the 'final heist'- a scene using the music we think fits with the narrative of our thriller and perhaps the best musical choice to get us the best grade.

Filming 11th March

2009-03-26T10:49:00.000-07:00

This shoot was to fill in gaps we have in our narrative and to address the points for improvement we had been given. The filming focused on Andy's character and was shot on location at Gerrard's Cross station, as there were issues with his character and the narrative that meant more filming with him was needed. We shot some good reaction shots where he realises sehbs character has fooled him and more showing him chasing sehb, hopefully improving jumpy editing. Andy worked very well, took Ryans direction and advice and was also in appropriate dress. Having watched some of the footage back, i am pleased with the quality and most if not all of the shots will be used in the final piece.

Thriller opening animatic-revisited

2009-03-26T09:50:00.000-07:00

The animatic we produced was completed late but i feel we did fairly well. I would have preferred to use photographs rather than sketches as this is more effective in creating a sense of narrative that is easy to follow. We also had issues with conflicting ideas about what the storyline should be about and lack of communication made it difficult to complete this task to a high standard but the issues were solved and we are happy with our animatic as a whole.

After showing the animatic to our class/teacher there are some improvements to consider...

1. We missed the 'Directed By' text in the opening.
2. An 'Establishing Shot' needs to be included.
3. Edit the dialogue to not give too mush away too soon.
4. Include an 'Establishing Shot' of the train leaving at the end of the opening.
5. More diagetic sound in the animatic e.g. footsteps.

Furthermore, we drafted a shooting schedule so we know when and where we are filming certain shots however most of our filming is outside on location in Gerrads Cross which means weather will be an issue. We will need to check weather updates regularly and re-schedule certain shoots if need be.

Rough cut feedback

2009-03-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

We have watched each groups thriller opening and have given and received feedback on where improvements can be made and the overall effectiveness of our pieces. Our teacher also went through what needs to be done to improve our grade.

We ranked each thriller from best to worst, this is my view...
1)Next-Amber,Emily,Sehb
2)Reflections-Andy,Georgia,Charlie,Jade
3)Disturbance-Amber,Gemma,Jamie
4)Tracker

It was the general view of the class that Tracker was bottom, however i fully expected that. Despite this, watching the work back in its entirety made me see the positives. I feel its opens strongly and am please with the first 30-60 seconds, it is the latter half which needs improvement. It is clear from watching the other openings that the standard of work is very high, as a group we will need to pull together to get the best grade possible but i am confident we can improve on our opening vastly before the final deadline.

FEEDBACK:

Grade: D
Mark: 30
Level: 2
Improvements,
1. The titles are too big- they need to be more subtle.
2. An establishing shot is needed, with the cafe in view, a slow pan would also help to build tension.
3. Get rid of the mid shot/close up of sehb, instead just get the brief case and torso in shot.
4. Hold the shot of sehb sitting down- tension.
5. Slow the pace down.
6. Do not cut before the character leaves the screen- hold the shot.
7. Cut straight into Andy at the fence watching Sehb escape- editing.
8. More emotional reactions.
9. Instead of loads use just one good shot of Andy running off screen- cut to Sehb walking through the entrance of the train station.
10. Finish with Sehb on the train, get a shot of Andys reaction, last shot will be the train pulling away.

Overall i think the shots of sehb and andy running need to be cut down dramatically. This is due to the fact that often the narrative is hard to follow which also highlights issues with editing. We need to be more thorough with our editing in order to create pace, tension and a sense of narrative. We are quite confident in the quality of the first minute, but like alot of groups that quality needs to be maintained throughout the opening.

Update-Improvements to be made (3rd march)

2009-03-03T04:02:00.000-08:00

Having been through our work we need to consider the following in order to improve...
A longer establishing shot of the surroundings, this will also establish a tone and pace to the piece. The is also an issue with the narrative. Certain shots are needed to add pace and narrative, therefore making the piece flow.
Andy, looking at phone...
sound effects-we have added more diagetic sound as well as the backing track but we need to decide weather sehb will speak or not because we need to hear what he is saying. A sound of a text message being received is also needed. There needs to be more time spent on introducing Andy's character-sehb dominates. The issue of time passing needs to be depicted better as this increases the realism and verisimilitude of the piece.
The editing is also to jumpy, to establish dual narrative we need to introduce andy in his environment and perhaps consider making the two characters associates and perhaps exchange a briefcase. This could add emphasis on the secretive tone to the undercover operation.

FILMING SCHEDULED: WEDNESDAY 4TH MARCH

Titles-consider making them tie in with the tone of the film more. The simplicity of them is very effective but we should consider how we will integrate them into the opening effectively and still maintain narrative and pace. 'Tracker' could make the film title a different font-emphasis

_____________________________________

FILMING 4TH MARCH
Filming on this day was a success. The director being present helped us to complete work quicker and i feel to a better quality- we now have a better understanding of what shots we need. The actors worked well, taking direction well and complying with the dress code we set for them (suits-business dress) in order to create an effective use of mise-en-scene for our film. Sehb also brought an important prop- the briefcase which was essential to filming.

5th march-Charlotte uploaded footage and began editing

How would you describe your level of progress?

2009-02-24T04:06:00.000-08:00

How would you describe your level of progress since the start of your as media coursework?

I would say my level of progress has not been consistent. Although i feel i have learnt alot from this coursework, the level of work has not been good. As a group we have struggled to make decisions and as i am not naturally very outspoken it has been hard to make any decisions as there have been so many disagreements. This hinders our work and it took far too long to complete an animatic as people were not contributing properly. I feel although i have not been as willing to edit i have tried hard in aspects such as story boarding, shot lists, filming and directing and the overall style and look of our thriller opening.

I have learnt that sometimes you will not always have other people to rely on, therefore you have to make decisions yourself and not every member of the group will be happy with it. In order for the coursework to make progress, i have to use my initiative and be more independent. Overall i need to make more use of the skills i have learnt and make sure i meet deadlines.

Filming 25th jan

2009-02-05T06:17:00.000-08:00

Sunday the 25th of jan,
We completed some filming on location in Gerrard's cross. As some off our actors didn't show up we decided to only film shots including the protagonist. We were fairly happy with our work however we failed to upload it before handing the camera back as there was a mix up. Unfortunately our work was deleted from the camera's memory card and the recent bad weather has hindered re-filming. As we have had many problems with finding enough actors available to film on particular days we have simplified our story board. We now have only two actors and have re-scheduled the filming for sunday 8th feb.

FILMING 8TH FEB:
Opening was reshot as footage from previous shoot was lost. despite this, the footage from this shoot is of better qaulity i feel as both actors were present and a better knowledge of what we wanted. Our actors-Andrew Johnson and Sehb Hundal are very reliable and take direction well and the group was happy with the overall result. Footage will be uploaded on the 9th of march onto the mac to begin editing and any shots we are unhappy with can be re-shot to meet standards. Organisation is getting better, as well as communication but we will need to increase our workload and pace if we are to meet deadlines. Overall, i do feel we are in a better position for a higher grade.

Film classifications research

2008-11-25T08:29:00.000-08:00

For our thriller we need to decide as a group what film classification our opening will be. The company which classifies films is called The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) and is an independent, non-governmental body, which has classified cinema films since it was set up in 1912. We have been given the choice between a '15' and an '18' certificate. In order to do this i have researched what the content of both these certificates is and therefore decide on the appropriate rating for our thriller...

(Taken from the...
BBFC website.)

'15' – Suitable only for 15 years and over

No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video or DVD.
Theme

No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate to 15 year olds.
Language

There may be frequent use of strong language (eg 'fuck'). But the strongest terms (eg 'cunt') will be acceptable only where justified by the context. Continued aggressive use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.
Nudity

Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.
Sex

Sexual activity may be portrayed but without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour.
Violence

Violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. Scenes of sexual violence must be discreet and brief.
Imitable techniques

Dangerous techniques (eg combat, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on imitable detail. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.
Horror

Strong threat and menace are permitted. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.
Drugs

Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse.

'18' – Suitable only for adults

No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.

In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC's public consultations, at '18' the BBFC's guideline concerns will not normally override the wish that adults should be free to chose their own entertainment, within the law. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

* where material or treatment appears to the Board to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – e.g. any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which is likely to promote the activity. The Board may also intervene with portrayals of sexual violence which might, e.g. eroticise or endorse sexual assault.
* the more explicit images of sexual activity – unless they can be exceptionally justified by context and the work is not a 'sex work' as defined below.

In the case of videos and DVDs, which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent. For the same reason, and because of the different way in which they are experienced, the Board may take a more precautionary approach in the case of those digital games which are covered by the Video Recordings Act.
Sex Education at ‘18’

Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safe sex and health, exceptions to the normal constraints on explicit images may be made in the public interest. Such explicit detail must be kept to the minimum necessary to illustrate the educational or instructional points being made.
Sex Works at ‘18’

Sex works are works, normally on video or DVD, whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’, while sex works containing clear images of real sex are confined to the ‘R18’ category.

THOUGHTS....
Having looked into what makes a film an '15' or an '18' we have decided to make an '15' rated opening. This is beacuse an 18 would limit the audience and as the narrative of our thriller would probably not feature too much unsuitable content, a 15 would be more appropriate. Fruthermore, a '15' would still suggest some violence ect. therefore appealing to men more than a '12' or a 'PG'.

Thriller ideas/plan

2008-11-24T09:03:00.000-08:00

INITIAL IDEAS-
For our thriller we considered having titles that were similar to the film 'se7en' i.e not having a story or narravtive with actors, simply having photoshopped credits or simple shots like the close up of hands doing various things and objects ect...

We have decided that this would not be an idea that would get us the best grade and have opted to do a chase scene instead.

FINAL IDEA-'TRACKER'
Our film is going to be a spy and secret service orientated, with the protagonist being chased by villains in dark suits. The basic storyline starts with the protagonist walking down the street as mysterious villains/spys watch from various locations along the street i.e outside the coffee shop or the station. The film will be called 'Tracker' due to the nature of the story and possible ideas for music would be 'Sinnerman'-by Nina Simone as the lyrics fit with the general idea and feel of our opening.

Listen to 'Sinnerman' by Nina Simone

The location for out opening will be Gerrads Cross, we will use the station and the odeon cinema. Will will be taking photos of these locations for our story board.

lOCATION SHOTS...

Continuity Task

2008-11-24T08:43:00.000-08:00

For this task we were asked to film a sequence strating with ine person entering a room, having a conversation with someone else and then leaving. Our group had to choose appropriate shots for the sequence and produce a piece of film with steady camera work, good location, sound, lighting and overall quality. We then asessed each groups work giving them the appropriate level from the mark scheme...

The first groups work achieved a level 2...
-slightly incomplete
-didn't see character leave room
-no connection between getting up from chair and slapping boy
-editing slighly off-opening too long, entering room not long enough
-choice of shot- POV worked well, no reaction shot
-framing off- character slightly out of shot

the next group also achive a level 2...
-some shots off screen
-long shot of lewis- needed reaction shot
-framing was off
-not a range of shots
-didn't flow in terms of editing
-full sequence incomplete- need to meet task requirments
-good ambient sounds

The third group again achieved level 2...
-unsteady camera
-editing needs to be cleaner
-framing was off
-dialog- not long enough
-camera too far away
-shot distances-pace of shot

Finally our group managed to achieve a level 3..
-good use of close ups
-point of view needed when looking down at phone
-smoother editing- dramatic pause too long
-location- bad ecoustics
-actor needed to be toned down
-best example of camera work-smooth camera

Practice filming task

2008-11-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

To further prepare us for our coursework, we were given another task in our groups involving actual filming of a short clip and editing.

We were given a sequence...
1) person A walks up to a door
2) handle is opened
3) shot of person A walking through the door
4) shot of person B sat down
5) shot of person A sitting down next to them
6) shot of person A asking person B if they are ok
7) reverse shot(cu)of person B replying
8) two shot of person A and B- person A asks person B a question
9) shot of persons A's reaction
10) shots of person B's responce
11) conversation develops...
12) shot of person A getting up
13) shot of person A walking away
14) (possible)shot of person B
15) person A exits through the same door as entrance.

This was to be filmed and edited in one lesson without breaking the 180 degree rule.

Overall i feel this task could have gone better, although we managed to film all the required shots the editing process did not go so well. Once we had uploaded the clip onto the programme the sound was out of sync with the picture, this made the editing process very difficult and we did not manage to finish the task. If i were to do this task again i would shoot quicker leaving more time to edit and sort out any issues there may be. As a task i though it was usefull in familiarising us with the equipment we will be using and shooting to a schedual.

Animatic practice task

2008-11-10T09:31:00.000-08:00

In order to give us an idea of what is expected of us when filming our thriller openings, we were divided into groups and given a practice task.

This involved story boarding a vampire hunting down its victim. Once we had storyboarded each shot of our sequence and inlcuded details of type of shot,angle and sound effects, we then had to photograph each drawing. This was then up loadded into an editing programme were as a group we could lengthen or cut shots, inlcude a soundtrack or sound effects and also include things such as panning or tracking.

I feel overall the task went quite well, with all memebers of the group contributing in some way to the creation of the animatic. I also feel we have gained experience in using the programme, therefore helping us when we come to do our real coursework. It also showed us how much work needed to be done in a limited time, again preparing us for the deadlines we will have to meet when filming our thrillers for real.

The improvements i would make, if i were to do this task again would be a better quality of drawing on the storyboard so it is clear what is happening in each shot, making the editing process easier. I also feel a better range of shots would be appropriate however our use of music and sound effects seemed to be timed well and was parallel to the sequence creating tension and making the animatic a good basis for our final piece.

Thriller analysis conclusion

2008-11-06T11:43:00.000-08:00

Overall, from my analysis of the 5 thriller opening titles i have a better understanding of what i need to incorperate in my coursework. It is clear that through aspects of the mise en scene, camera, sound and editing that alot is established with the first few minutes. Narrative, for example is very much reinforced by certain props or colours ie. the use of red is very common and appears throughout the examples as it connotes danger and death. These themes are very common in thrillers and are also estabilshed through music which is often atomospheric and sinister and also parralel to the narrative of the film. The choice of camera angles is also important, the film 'Se7en' for example uses alot of extreme close ups showing in great detail the props and hands of the supposed villain. In contrast, the film 'Hostage' uses alot more long shots and low angles to make the city seem larger and more threatning. Both these techniques are effective in establishing the genre and narrative of a thriller.I feel the combination of music and editing is also very important as in many cases the two work together i.e as the music pace increases to reach a creshendo as it does in 'Casino Royale' the editing pace quickens which increases tension and reflects the fast paced narrative of thrillers.

Casino Royale Analysis

2008-11-06T11:08:00.000-08:00

Film Title: Casion Royale
Director: Martin Campbell

Camera – distance, angle, movement…
There is a wide variety of shots used in this title sequence including LS,ELS,MS,CU,ECU,birdseye,wormseye,two shots.The wormseye shots are particualary effective during fighting sequences as it allows audiences to see the movements in great detail and increases realism and it makes the audience feel they are really there. The ELS/LS establish the setting as well as the panning of the surroundings and allows the audience to observe the other things going on in the background (guns firing card symbols such as hearts and spades and other silouetes fighting).

Editing – speed, style…
The editing speed stars slow, establishing the surroundings, and quickens towards the climax of the sequence where 007's identity is revealed. Straight cuts are mainly used throught out creating continuity however some transitions follow bullets that are fired or people as they run out of shot.

Sound – effects, musical score…
The music is parralel to the sequence as it is quite rocky in style and connotes action and a fast paced narrative.

Mise-en-scene – props, costume, setting, lighting, colour…
The colours used are mainly primary colours such as green,red,blue and yellow but black and white are also used.The black and red are quite frequent and this is typical of a thriller as they connote danger.The props are also typical of a thriller and include things such as guns,knives and playing cards. Guns in particular connote crime and murder, again establishing nartrative.The costume is very smart and sophisticated such as tuxedoes and suits. These create an image or a stereo type of what a spy would look like and fits the pre-concieved view the audience will have of the protagonsist.

Special Effects...
The effects used are mainly animation, using block colours to create silouetes of people fighting and of the protagonist to hide his identity. This also establishes the narrative as spys are very secretive.

Hostage Analysis

2008-11-06T09:20:00.000-08:00

Film Title:Hostage
Director: Florent Siri
Titles Designer:Laurent Brett

Camera – distance, angle, movement…
Shots used vary from panning down tall buildings to birds eye views of the city. Many high angle shots are used looking up the buildings. This is to make them appear bigger and for the audience to feel inferior. It also creates the sense that the city is a dangerous place and crates narrative for the setting of the film.

Editing – speed, style…
The editing pace is quite slow with mainly straigh cuts used as the camera pans around each shot.

Sound – effects, musical score…
The music, which slow and quiet, becomes louder as the pace quickens and becomes more dramatic. This is parralel with the scenes of the large city lansdscape and images of guns and police.The music is mainly is classical and piano and violins are predominant increasing the tension.

Mise-en-scene – props, costume, setting, lighting, colour…
The colours used are mainly black, white and red. This is very common in thrilers as red and black connote danger and death.Props such as guns and people dressed as armed police also connote crime, a common theme in thrillers. The setting of the city is also quite a dark, sinsiter and harsh environment which reinforces the narrative.

Special Effects – CGI, animation…
The sequence is more animation and uses block colours such as red for the sky to make the buildings stand out. This gives it a very modern feel and is similar in style to 'Sin city'.

Titles – font, colour, placement, over black / over clip…
The titles are white with a very bold font. They are incorperated into the titles on the sides of buildings and scafolding beams making the sequence very abstract.

Cape Fear Analysis

2008-11-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

Film Title:Cape Fear
Director:Martin Scorsese
Title Designer:Saul & Elaine Bass

Camera – distance, angle, movement…

The camera moves very little, the shots are mainly close ups of the surface of the water and an extreme close up of a human eye is also used. The mid shot of the silouete of a man creates a sinister feel and reinforces narrative as it suggests he is the villain whilst hiding his identity as only his torso is seen.

Editing- speed, style...

The editing is very slow paced, dissolving is mainly used as images appear and dissapear in the water.

Sound – effects, musical score…

The music used is very dramatic classical music and typical of a thriller film. It strengthens the sinsiter tone and is parralel with the scene as the images of the human eye wide in fear and the dark silouete all connote danger.

Mise-en-scene – props, costume, setting, lighting, colour…

The colours used are mainly black and red, red connotng danger and blood and black making the sequence more mysterious and dark. The lighting is also very dark and the water appears almost black and very shadowy. The setting appears sinister although it is not obvious as very little other than the surface of a lake is seen. The eagle, eye and figure all reinforce the danger particualry the eye and it suggests fear.

Special Effects – CGI, animation…

Images are imposed onto the water and made to appear as if they are floating beneath it.

Titles – font, colour, placement, over black / over clip…

The titles appear over the clip on the water. They are bold and quite large in very ridged font.They are quite typical of a thriller film as they appear to be quite harsh against the backdrop.

Se7en Analysis

2008-11-06T08:45:00.000-08:00

Film Title:Se7en
Director:David Fincher
Title Designer:Kyle Cooper

Editing is quite fast paced, with mainly straight cuts and dissolving used. The shots quite often overlap making it fuzzy and increasing realism. The entire sequence jolts a lot creating the feel of an old reel of film, which reinforces the narrative and tone as it is very dirty and old.

The music is parralel to the sequence as it features a lot of soundeffects like a type writer and fuzzing like bad reception ona T.v. It is quite modern in feel and could be classed as techno but is also quite creepy, again parralel to the titles.

The props used are old looking, dusty and dirty. The photographs used connote death or murder as they are quite grusome. The colours used are very dull and dark, mainly grey, black and some brown. The books seem verey tattered and the razor blade used to skin the fingers is quite graphic. The lighting is very low key and the crossing out of peoples eyes in black creates a very sinister feel, as if he is plannign something which creates narrative siggesting he is the villain.

The special effects used are very suble but effective in creating a dark and sinister feel.

Titles – font, colour, placement, over black / over clip…The text used looks handwritten and scruffy in appearance. It jogs and blurs a lot along with the shots and either appears over the shots or against a black background.

Sin City Analysis

2008-11-04T08:47:00.000-08:00

Film Title:Sin city
Director:Robert Rodriguez
Title Designer:Frank Miller

Camera – distance, angle, movement…

The opening long shot of the female protagonist on the balcony establishes the environment as very dreary and sinister. Throughout the extract mid shots and close ups were most common. This enables the audience to engage in the conversation and see the characters reactions to eachother during the ambigous conversation. The zooming in is effective in creating suspence as it shows the tension in rising in the female even though we dont yet know why. The panning up from the women to the males face as she leans into him shows he is the dominant figure whereas earlier on there was a mid shot of the women in the forground with the male in the background showing her hold over him.The combination of zooming out and a low angle shot is very dramatic and allows the audience to take in what has happened during the climatic scene.The camera also becomes more shakey to increase realism and show that the situation is no longer calm.

Editing – speed, style…

The editing used is predomnantly straight cuts which increases realsim and continuity.It also reinforces the situation as very calm and refelcts the characters mood. Even during the murder the editing doesnt change much other than a flash of white as the gun goes off. This suggests that this is something the male character does on a regular basis and is the norm in this city.

Sound – effects, musical score…

The sound used in this extract is very subttle but effective. The sombre non diegetic music is parralel to the scene and reinforces the environment as very dreary and dark and also creates a mysterious tone, further strengthened by the non-diegetic male narrator and by the limited diegetic sound such as the rain and the firing of the gun. The fact that overall the extract is very quiet emphasises the gun shot, this would be used to shock the audience as there are no signs that this is about to happen as the pace of the music does not change.

Mise-en-scene – props, costume, setting, lighting, colour…

The red dress/lipstick the female is wearing stands out against the black and white surroundings, this connotes danger or conversley passion and romance. Another interpretation, taking into account her murder, could be that that red dress is acting like a bullseye and stands out as if she wants to be seen and is an easy target. The tuxedo the male is wearing connotes sophistication and is stereo typical of a spie or hitman. The cigarrette the women is given is symbolic as it is a tradition to give somone a cigarrete before they are killed. The silver gun is almost glowing against dull backdrop and has no blood on it after the kill, this connotes a clean kill as if it were rehearsed.

Special Effects – CGI, animation…

The black and white colouring is effective in making the extract more sinister (similar to film noir) as the red appears very harsh against it. It adds to the mysterious tone and emphasises the bold red that connotes danger which is typical of a thriller.

What is a thriller?

2008-11-04T07:06:00.000-08:00

Thrillers are mainly fast paced and tension filled. They often take place in exotic settings such as foreign cities or harsh environments such as the dessert. The heroes in most thrillers are frequently "hard men" and are very stereo typical of spies or hitmen. However, sometimes they may also be ordinary people who become involvedin the danger by chance. While the protagonist is mainly a male female lead characters have become increasingly common; an example would be sigourney weaver's character 'Ripley', in the movie 'Alien' (1979).
Thrillers often overlap with mystery stories, but are distinguished by the structure of their plots. In a thriller, the hero must prevent the plans of an enemy, rather than uncover a crime that has already happened. Thrillers also occur on a much bigger scale: the crimes that must be prevented are serial or mass murder, terrorism, assassination, or the overthrow of governments. While mysterys end with the solving of the mystery, thrillers usually end in the hero defeating the villain. In short if it thrills it is considered a 'thiller'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)