Showing posts with label Coursework. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coursework. Show all posts
Friday, 3 April 2009
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Thriller Evaluation
1. What ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Our production was of the thriller genre, and therefore it was important that our opening sequence used codes and conventions of the thriller genre.
Firstly, the characters had to be thought about carefully and what impression they give to the audience, so their personalities had to be reflected through their clothes, the location, lighting, and camera angles. We had one character living in a run down, dirty, empty house which only gave him basic resources and wearing casual clothing including a red t-shirt, which was there to signify that he was in danger (The use of red to signify a mood, theme or feelings).
The location implies that he has a very disrupted, isolated and poor lifestyle. Because of this, we used dark, low saturation, a cold pallet of blue, white, grey and black, and natural lighting on that character and generally had the camera angle facing downwards to him, as if to say this character is low down in the social class demographic and is also the victim.
To create a form of suspense, which is a typical thriller convention, we worked the camera so you could not see the attacking characters face, so the audience would only judge this character on his preset stereotype by the way he is dressed and by the knife he is carrying. We felt that by showing the audience the attackers face, this may change and personalise their views towards his character as he may not look very convincing to the role he is playing, and any unintended facial expressions may change the tone of his character and effectiveness of the introduction. Also, we used camera shots such as over the shoulder shots which are frequently used in thriller media to back up this suspense and intensity, and continued to vary shot types by their frame, and the way they pan, track and move along with the villain and murderer. We chose the music for the way that the music builds up over key shots that we want to attract the audience’s attention towards, and some notes are held over a period of time and add a feel of tension into the clip.
The way we edited the clip together made a big difference. We added fade ins and outs as the action of the clip switched between the two characters to make this switch of action smoother and less disorientating to the audience. When the lighting was brighter, this allowed us to use dissolve techniques to switch the focus, that when the focus was switched to the killer at the door looking through the blurred front door. This creates a bold mood and brings the presence of this character very much to the audience’s attention.
The choice of location was vital to our sequence. It was important that the location was deserted and looked fairly run down to get across the desired connotations to the audience regarding the victim character in the house, and also the availability of a train track beside the house proved to be key as a suspenseful and intimidating approach of the killer to the location, and approaching the victim could be set.
2. How does your media product represent a particular social group?
This is represented through the thriller introduction by its level of potential violence, dark storyline, strength and impact of realism. Social groups can be represented through the characters.
The characters in the sequence are very mysterious and shadowy, not much is shown about them to the audience. However the dark representation that is given to the audience about life in rural areas through our sequence, social groups can be drawn out by the audience to link the characters to in some way.
For instance, the victim character living in a run down house has very poor standard of basic resources to live from (he is living a very lowlife), and is an outsider from society, which could indicate that he belongs to the social group of a squatter who has had to find shelter on his own without any money or contents to place within the shelter.
The killer character is different to this. The characters bold and tough choice of dress shows he is from an urban area, living a poor standard of life himself as he is carrying a weapon and the tough, worn clothing, in contrast to his victim who is at the low point of rural life. Therefore the killer character would fit into a social group of a thug or a gang member doing what he can to earn money to support himself.
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
A media institution such as an Art House would distribute our media introduction because of the detailed and atmospheric camera shots, angles and effects that compose it. An example of a shot from our media introduction would be of the train entering the station. I single out this shot because the camera was still on the tripod as it filmed and was positioned at a precise angle to allow the train to enter the shot at a specific point travelling in a specific direction and leaving the shot and cutting at a precise moment. Therefore a cinema such as Cinema City in Norwich would screen our thriller intro rather than Odeon, which screens mostly mainstream media.
The way location and characters are represented in mainstream films is more bold and stereotypical through the use stock characters and stereotypes than in art house productions. Art house productions are less conventional through the way that its characters are presented with more mystery than mainstream films.
4. Who would be your audience for your media product?
The audience for our thriller film introduction would be aged between 16-25, which is the typical cinema demographic, who particularly are interested in thriller films, or films that follow our sub-genre of crime thriller. If our audience would be interested in such crime thrillers such as ‘Criminal Intent’, then our audience will enjoy our crime thriller introduction.
Because our thriller introduction consists of two main characters that are male, then primarily our production could hold interest of a male audience because of cold colour and situation through the killing and use of a cold pallet of colours, will also primarily attract a male audience. I understand this should be the case because my audience research of the crime thriller film ‘Speed’ showed that primarily a male audience would be attracted to a film with use of cold colours. However, female audiences would also be attracted to the production, because of the detailed and atmospheric shots that an art house production such as ours possesses, such as the shot of the train entering the station.
5. How did you attract and address your audience?
We intended to attract the attention of the audience through such techniques such as symbolic representation, thus addressing our audience towards the characters’ personalities. Also we intend that these techniques will challenge codes and conventions of the genre of thriller and sub-genre of crime thriller.
The reality of the situation of the run down character at the house was that he has been removed from the group of individuals that the killing character belongs to, and therefore is writing a letter about why he will not abide and is intending to escape. The killing character’s role is to intervene and prevent the run down character’s word getting out about the group of individuals’ intentions. Throughout this sequence, we inserted subtle hints about what may happen to this run down character. Such indicators were of the red t-shirt to signify danger, the possession of a knife in favour of the killing character to show his intent to use the knife and the tracking shots of the killing character as he gets ever closer to the run down character to indicate the run down characters impending attack. We challenged the codes and conventions in this sequence by using ECU shots of the key aspects such as the knife, the build up of music to increase the intensity and suspense at important points of the clip, and fading in and out shots of which transitions gradually get quicker for intensity as the impending clash between the characters draws nearer. The dark and cold lighting that we kept as natural as possible we hope helped to darken the mood of our thriller introduction to a more pessimistic mood of gloom surrounding the run down characters lifestyle and situation, that was hopefully emphasised by this noir lighting.
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt about the technologies involved in creating a media product through filming and through editing. For filming I have learnt that to create the right mise-en-scene, aspects such as lighting, camera angle, camera zoom, and camera movement all play a big part in creating the right theme to match the connotations you want to draw to the attention of the audience and for them to react to. I found that this understanding was essential for the part in the production where the victim is writing a letter on the floor. The camera had to be angled to a position where it is looking down of the character to make him seem inferior to whom he is writing the letter to, and that the lighting was dark to highlight his situation but enough light through natural light to see what the victim was doing, and also the zoom was another factor for how much of the character or letter should be included in the shot and what should be the focus of the shot; either the victim or the letter.
For editing, I realise that it is important to involve a wide range of shot types, shot effects, transitions and time variations of each individual sequence that composes the final product. Like for filming, the editing can determine what connotations can be drawn out of the mise-en-scene of the shot and it is the aspects of lighting, colour, camera angles, camera movement, editing effects, transition effects and shot lengths that can bring out micro aspects that contribute to macro areas of the media products that will be intended to be highlighted to be notice by the audience over less important areas of the clip. A part in particular of the production where editing was significant was the sequence beginning at the killer stepping off the train and slowly making his way towards his victim. Transitions between these shots had to set the right atmosphere of danger and suspense, and the movement between each shot had to be smooth and flowing.
7. Looking back to the preliminary filming task, what have you learnt in progression from that to the full product?
I have learnt that there are many aspects that contribute to a shot and a filming sequence to think about when planning and shooting a media product. The preliminary task was a much more condensed and basic task compared to the thriller introduction because we had artificial light that we did not have to change, clothing and props were straight forward to give the look of a student (which we are), and the range of shot types that we needed to carry out was not very varied. For the thriller introduction, a wider picture was set in front of us to think through thoroughly about each individual shot and which micro elements of a shot that will affect the bigger macro elements of the shot and to the overall project. Lighting, saturation, contrast, colour and location were all important to set the tone and mood of the film, which creates the mise-en-scene to which the characters clothing and personalities can be drawn out from. These features were much more important in the thriller film to give a sense of history and chemistry between the characters that the audience can grasp to, and relate to any stereotypes that the characters appearance will indicate. Whereas in the preliminary filming task, the history between the two characters was not needed as the dialogue took centre stage, and because our thriller project subsequently had no dialogue, first impressions were very important to our audience.
Our production was of the thriller genre, and therefore it was important that our opening sequence used codes and conventions of the thriller genre.
Firstly, the characters had to be thought about carefully and what impression they give to the audience, so their personalities had to be reflected through their clothes, the location, lighting, and camera angles. We had one character living in a run down, dirty, empty house which only gave him basic resources and wearing casual clothing including a red t-shirt, which was there to signify that he was in danger (The use of red to signify a mood, theme or feelings).
The location implies that he has a very disrupted, isolated and poor lifestyle. Because of this, we used dark, low saturation, a cold pallet of blue, white, grey and black, and natural lighting on that character and generally had the camera angle facing downwards to him, as if to say this character is low down in the social class demographic and is also the victim.
To create a form of suspense, which is a typical thriller convention, we worked the camera so you could not see the attacking characters face, so the audience would only judge this character on his preset stereotype by the way he is dressed and by the knife he is carrying. We felt that by showing the audience the attackers face, this may change and personalise their views towards his character as he may not look very convincing to the role he is playing, and any unintended facial expressions may change the tone of his character and effectiveness of the introduction. Also, we used camera shots such as over the shoulder shots which are frequently used in thriller media to back up this suspense and intensity, and continued to vary shot types by their frame, and the way they pan, track and move along with the villain and murderer. We chose the music for the way that the music builds up over key shots that we want to attract the audience’s attention towards, and some notes are held over a period of time and add a feel of tension into the clip.
The way we edited the clip together made a big difference. We added fade ins and outs as the action of the clip switched between the two characters to make this switch of action smoother and less disorientating to the audience. When the lighting was brighter, this allowed us to use dissolve techniques to switch the focus, that when the focus was switched to the killer at the door looking through the blurred front door. This creates a bold mood and brings the presence of this character very much to the audience’s attention.
The choice of location was vital to our sequence. It was important that the location was deserted and looked fairly run down to get across the desired connotations to the audience regarding the victim character in the house, and also the availability of a train track beside the house proved to be key as a suspenseful and intimidating approach of the killer to the location, and approaching the victim could be set.
2. How does your media product represent a particular social group?
This is represented through the thriller introduction by its level of potential violence, dark storyline, strength and impact of realism. Social groups can be represented through the characters.
The characters in the sequence are very mysterious and shadowy, not much is shown about them to the audience. However the dark representation that is given to the audience about life in rural areas through our sequence, social groups can be drawn out by the audience to link the characters to in some way.
For instance, the victim character living in a run down house has very poor standard of basic resources to live from (he is living a very lowlife), and is an outsider from society, which could indicate that he belongs to the social group of a squatter who has had to find shelter on his own without any money or contents to place within the shelter.
The killer character is different to this. The characters bold and tough choice of dress shows he is from an urban area, living a poor standard of life himself as he is carrying a weapon and the tough, worn clothing, in contrast to his victim who is at the low point of rural life. Therefore the killer character would fit into a social group of a thug or a gang member doing what he can to earn money to support himself.
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
A media institution such as an Art House would distribute our media introduction because of the detailed and atmospheric camera shots, angles and effects that compose it. An example of a shot from our media introduction would be of the train entering the station. I single out this shot because the camera was still on the tripod as it filmed and was positioned at a precise angle to allow the train to enter the shot at a specific point travelling in a specific direction and leaving the shot and cutting at a precise moment. Therefore a cinema such as Cinema City in Norwich would screen our thriller intro rather than Odeon, which screens mostly mainstream media.
The way location and characters are represented in mainstream films is more bold and stereotypical through the use stock characters and stereotypes than in art house productions. Art house productions are less conventional through the way that its characters are presented with more mystery than mainstream films.
4. Who would be your audience for your media product?
The audience for our thriller film introduction would be aged between 16-25, which is the typical cinema demographic, who particularly are interested in thriller films, or films that follow our sub-genre of crime thriller. If our audience would be interested in such crime thrillers such as ‘Criminal Intent’, then our audience will enjoy our crime thriller introduction.
Because our thriller introduction consists of two main characters that are male, then primarily our production could hold interest of a male audience because of cold colour and situation through the killing and use of a cold pallet of colours, will also primarily attract a male audience. I understand this should be the case because my audience research of the crime thriller film ‘Speed’ showed that primarily a male audience would be attracted to a film with use of cold colours. However, female audiences would also be attracted to the production, because of the detailed and atmospheric shots that an art house production such as ours possesses, such as the shot of the train entering the station.
5. How did you attract and address your audience?
We intended to attract the attention of the audience through such techniques such as symbolic representation, thus addressing our audience towards the characters’ personalities. Also we intend that these techniques will challenge codes and conventions of the genre of thriller and sub-genre of crime thriller.
The reality of the situation of the run down character at the house was that he has been removed from the group of individuals that the killing character belongs to, and therefore is writing a letter about why he will not abide and is intending to escape. The killing character’s role is to intervene and prevent the run down character’s word getting out about the group of individuals’ intentions. Throughout this sequence, we inserted subtle hints about what may happen to this run down character. Such indicators were of the red t-shirt to signify danger, the possession of a knife in favour of the killing character to show his intent to use the knife and the tracking shots of the killing character as he gets ever closer to the run down character to indicate the run down characters impending attack. We challenged the codes and conventions in this sequence by using ECU shots of the key aspects such as the knife, the build up of music to increase the intensity and suspense at important points of the clip, and fading in and out shots of which transitions gradually get quicker for intensity as the impending clash between the characters draws nearer. The dark and cold lighting that we kept as natural as possible we hope helped to darken the mood of our thriller introduction to a more pessimistic mood of gloom surrounding the run down characters lifestyle and situation, that was hopefully emphasised by this noir lighting.
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt about the technologies involved in creating a media product through filming and through editing. For filming I have learnt that to create the right mise-en-scene, aspects such as lighting, camera angle, camera zoom, and camera movement all play a big part in creating the right theme to match the connotations you want to draw to the attention of the audience and for them to react to. I found that this understanding was essential for the part in the production where the victim is writing a letter on the floor. The camera had to be angled to a position where it is looking down of the character to make him seem inferior to whom he is writing the letter to, and that the lighting was dark to highlight his situation but enough light through natural light to see what the victim was doing, and also the zoom was another factor for how much of the character or letter should be included in the shot and what should be the focus of the shot; either the victim or the letter.
For editing, I realise that it is important to involve a wide range of shot types, shot effects, transitions and time variations of each individual sequence that composes the final product. Like for filming, the editing can determine what connotations can be drawn out of the mise-en-scene of the shot and it is the aspects of lighting, colour, camera angles, camera movement, editing effects, transition effects and shot lengths that can bring out micro aspects that contribute to macro areas of the media products that will be intended to be highlighted to be notice by the audience over less important areas of the clip. A part in particular of the production where editing was significant was the sequence beginning at the killer stepping off the train and slowly making his way towards his victim. Transitions between these shots had to set the right atmosphere of danger and suspense, and the movement between each shot had to be smooth and flowing.
7. Looking back to the preliminary filming task, what have you learnt in progression from that to the full product?
I have learnt that there are many aspects that contribute to a shot and a filming sequence to think about when planning and shooting a media product. The preliminary task was a much more condensed and basic task compared to the thriller introduction because we had artificial light that we did not have to change, clothing and props were straight forward to give the look of a student (which we are), and the range of shot types that we needed to carry out was not very varied. For the thriller introduction, a wider picture was set in front of us to think through thoroughly about each individual shot and which micro elements of a shot that will affect the bigger macro elements of the shot and to the overall project. Lighting, saturation, contrast, colour and location were all important to set the tone and mood of the film, which creates the mise-en-scene to which the characters clothing and personalities can be drawn out from. These features were much more important in the thriller film to give a sense of history and chemistry between the characters that the audience can grasp to, and relate to any stereotypes that the characters appearance will indicate. Whereas in the preliminary filming task, the history between the two characters was not needed as the dialogue took centre stage, and because our thriller project subsequently had no dialogue, first impressions were very important to our audience.
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Friday, 13 February 2009
Method 2 - Audience Research
I carried out a questionnaire about thrillers as films and as a TV series and to gain opinions from my audience about the thriller genre, and handed them out to a select group (10 participants in total) to obtain their thoughts about the thriller genre and how they consume their thriller media. The data was collected at CNS, which was a convenient place to gather my data as all my participants live in Norwich. The age band of the audience was from 16-52 and there was an even balance of men and women in my audience (5 male and 5 female participants). I am hoping that the information I receive will help me in regards to my thriller opening coursework that I will be composing. I received the following results:
Question 1: Aspirations?
When asked about their aspirations, 6 participants of my audience wanted to go to university (age 16-19 and 46% of the total answer), 4 wanted jobs (3 out of the 4 already had jobs, the 1 person who wanted a job was 16), 2 wanted to travel (1 age 17, 1 aged 19) and none of the audience wanted any alternative. This suggests that the younger people of my audience are keen to experience adult life and further their education; where as the older participants from my audience, were focused on what they already have.
Question 2: Where do you watch film?
When asked where they watch their films, 8 participants from my audience watch films at home (40%), 8 watch films at the cinema (40%) and the remaining 20% watch their films using another method, of which 3 stated computer and 1 stated iPod. The male participant who suggested iPod was the youngest participant who took part in answering the questionnaire. Going to the cinema was the most popular choice within the audience, which suggests that the cinema is more appealing to my audience and that they may prefer to view their film as a group of two or more, this group perhaps consisting of friends, family and work colleagues as all of my audience are old enough to work. Therefore, my audience could also see viewing their media at a cinema as a social activity.
Question 3: How do you watch films?
When asked how they watch their film, 8 participants from my audience watch films via DVD, 4 watch films via PC (all under 19), 3 watch films by VHS (all over 48), 8 watch films by DTV and 8 of the audience visit the cinema to watch films (the two that don’t visit the cinema were both males under 18). DVD, DTV and Cinema all received individually 25.8 %; all three together totalled 77.4% of the audience response for this question. Those who didn’t answer cinema answered both DVD and computer. Cinema again proved to be the most popular as it did also in question 2, confirming that my audience prefers to watch their films at the cinema than at home or anywhere else, and also on the big screen in preference over DVD, PC, VHS and DTV.
Question 4: What attracts you to a film or TV series?
When asked what attracts them to a film or TV series, 6 participants from my audience answered advertising (26%) , 4 answered word of mouth (all under 19) and subject/matter/theme, 2 answered actor/actress and director (only women answered this), 7 answered genre, 3 answered report (all under 19) and 1 answered interview (male aged 17). This implies that the older aged participants from my audience select their TV and film media from what they confront on their daily basis lifestyle as they only answered advertising, subject/matter/theme and genre from the above (advertising and subject/matter/theme being daily basis, which they would come across through either their occupation or on their journeys between this occupation and home). Where as the younger generation in general have more leisure time, will socialize with their friends and view a higher level of media in a higher level of ways, therefore expanding their range of how they find out about films and TV series through such as reading reports online or through a friends opinion (word of mouth).
Question 5: Who do you watch films with?
When asked who they watch their films with, 8 of the audience answered family, all the audience answered friends, and 2 answered work colleagues, none of the audience answered alone or other. Those participants who answered work colleagues were all aged over 19. Friends therefore receiving 50% of the audience’s response and it would seem that watching a film is a social event (which is backed up with 40% of question 2 viewing their film at a cinema) most enjoyed when viewing with friends.
Question 6: Does cost affect your choice of what film you watch and where you watch it?
When asked if cost affects their choice to which film they watch and where, 7 participants (70% of the audiences’ vote) said yes cost does affect what film they watch and where they watch it, and the remaining 3 participants from the audience said no. Those who said no were all over 48, which suggest the value of the film is more important to them than the cost to view that film and they will appreciate the film for what it is rather than compare it to how much it costs them to watch the film. Because these participants of this age group are in a different lifestyle and occupation that allows them to explore a wider range of experiences compared to the rest of the participants, they would watch the film for the experience rather than letting the cost affect their decision to watch the film.
Question 7: How often do you watch films?
When asked how often they watch film, 2 people answered more than twice a week (all female), 1 participant answered once or twice a week (male aged 17), 3 answered once a fortnight, 4 answered once a month (all over 48 and making up 40% of the audience’s response for this question), and no one answered less than a month. This suggests that the younger section of my audience aged 16-19 all have more time to watch films (which fits into the typical cinema demographic of 16-25), compared to the 4 participants from my audience aged 48-52 who all have jobs.
Question 8: What makes a good thriller character?
For this question each of the audience members could give any response they wished to give, and when I asked them what makes a good thriller character, 1 participant from my selected audience answered innocent, 1 answered scary, 3 answered psycho (those who answered psycho all watch films once a week or more), 1 answered young male, 2 answered young female and 2 answered tough guy (both men over 50). Therefore, 30% of my audience’s response suggested that a good thriller character should be a ‘Psycho’ type character. As the audience who suggested Psycho watch films once a week or more, I assume that if the audience watched plenty of films direct to this genre, they will appreciate the codes and conventions that are allocated to this genre and to which character is most effective within the thriller genre.
Question 9: What is your favorite part of a film?
When asked what their favorite section and scene sequences of a film was, 4 participants from my audience answered intro, 3 answered beginning/middle, 1 answered middle/ending (1 female aged 48), 2 answered ending and no one answered middle or other. The introduction sequence therefore, proving to be the preferred part of a film with 40% of the response from my audience. This may be because the introduction is such a big part of the film as it set the theme, setting and tone to which the rest of the film will follow throughout, so a big impact has to be made to the audience to maintain their attention and focus.
Question 10: What setting or theme makes a good thriller film/TV series?
When asked what setting or theme makes a good thriller film/TV series, 3 participants from my audience answered claustrophobic, 2 answered a deserted town, 1 answered airport, 2 answered an old house (both men under 18), 1 participant answered busy city and 1 answered back alleys of a city. Claustrophobic proved to be my audience’s preferred setting for a thriller with 30% of the vote from my audience. When linked with question 8, it would appear that my audience favour a thriller in a claustrophobic setting with a psycho as the main character.
Question 11: Are thrillers best as a film or a TV series?
When asked if thrillers are best in the form of a film or TV series, 8 participants from my audience opted for film, meaning the remaining the remaining 2 participants from my audience answered TV series who are both male (1 aged 17 and 1 aged 52). Therefore, my audience (with 80% majority of the audience’s response) prefers thrillers as a film rather than a TV series. The males who chose TV series it appears chose to appreciate many individual and continuous installments of a thriller series over a regular basis rather than one large installment of a thriller medium.
Question 12: Are thrillers best in colour or in black and white?
When asked if thrillers are best in black or white, 6 participants from my audience answered colour (all under 20), the remaining 4 of my audience answered black and white (all over 48).This could indicate that this section of my audience were around at the time that classic thriller films were introduced, such as ‘Psycho’ which is a black and white film (and incidentally my audience do prefer a Psycho character in a thriller film as I found out in question 8). As the younger section have been viewing thriller media for a shorter length of time, only more recent thriller released over the previous 20 years would have been brought about with them as they grew up and therefore more related to them and their age group, such as ‘Seven’ that was released in September 1995. With 60% favoured response, my audience like thrillers best when they are in colour.
Question 13: Are modern or past thrillers best?
When asked if modern or past thrillers are best, 4 participants from my audience answered modern (all under 20), the remaining 6 answered past. My audience, therefore, have suggested to me that past thrillers make more of an impact on them than modern thrillers, with 60% of my audience answering past in the questionnaire. When linked to question 12, 60% of my audience voted that colour thrillers are preferred to black and white. Most of the past thrillers that have made an impact such as again ‘Psycho’ were in black and white, although past thrillers that have made an impact have been in colour such as ‘The Godfather’. Over more recent years such as over the last 10 years, it has been unusual to see a brand new black and white thriller film be released.
Question 14: What type of thrillers would you watch?
When asked what type of thriller film would they watch, implying if they were to direct a thriller film themselves or simply watch a sub genre of thriller film of their preference, 3 participants from my audience answered action (all male), 8 answered comedy, 2 answered crime, 2 answered disaster (both female under 20), 4 answered drama (all women), 5 answered horror, 1 answered legal/politics (male aged 52), 2 answered medical, 3 answered psychological, 1 answered supernatural (male aged 16) and no one answered other. It would appear that comedy would be the most accepted thriller out of my audience with four fifths of the group choosing it (80%).
Evaluation of Questionnaire
Overall, my questionnaire has helped me successfully research into and answer my objective of how audiences view thriller films. Finding a group of 10 participants evenly balanced between males and females was an advantage as I got an idea for each age group what their preferences are when it comes to viewing films and thriller films. However, to improve my investigation I could have had one male and one female grouped at one age, and a different pair of one male and one female a decade older and repeat this pattern. However this does stray from my target audience demographic and may not help to relating that further research to my thriller introduction. On the other hand, that idea could work because it would show how a male and female of the same age range view their media compared with other age groups.
Another idea that worked well with my questionnaire was the depth of each question as they produced some really interesting answers at times, such as questions 8, 10 and 14. Questions 8 and 10 the audience member could state an answer of their choosing which proved to make some intriguing answers. As in other cases, other participants answered similarly to a specific question which helped me to identify a common pattern, and link that pattern to corresponding patterns found in other questions. This worked in the case of questions 8 and 10, where I asked my audience about their ideal thriller characters and settings. My audience suggested in this case that a ‘Psycho’ character would be better in a ‘Claustrophobic’ setting. Later on in my questionnaire I found that I could link this finding to another of my questions I asked in my questionnaire about how often each of my participants watch thrillers. Those who answered ‘Psycho’ in question 8 all visited the cinema once a week and agreed that thrillers were best as a film. This indicates to me that those individuals from my audience watch films regularly, they will have watched a wide range of media which could involve the thriller genre, and so may have a strong indication of what characters and situations make an appealing thriller film.
From question 10, as my thriller opening will be located in some shots in an old house, it is good that I got a positive response of two votes making it the joint second highest scorer for that question (level with deserted town, but behind claustrophobic by one vote) from my audience as it shows that this would be an acceptable location to include in a thriller film. Also in regards to question 8, in my thriller opening I will be including a ‘tough guy’ and a ‘young male’. I am pleased that tough guy got a positive response of two for ‘tough guy’, but disappointed that ‘young male’ only scored one vote.
Question 1: Aspirations?
When asked about their aspirations, 6 participants of my audience wanted to go to university (age 16-19 and 46% of the total answer), 4 wanted jobs (3 out of the 4 already had jobs, the 1 person who wanted a job was 16), 2 wanted to travel (1 age 17, 1 aged 19) and none of the audience wanted any alternative. This suggests that the younger people of my audience are keen to experience adult life and further their education; where as the older participants from my audience, were focused on what they already have.
Question 2: Where do you watch film?
When asked where they watch their films, 8 participants from my audience watch films at home (40%), 8 watch films at the cinema (40%) and the remaining 20% watch their films using another method, of which 3 stated computer and 1 stated iPod. The male participant who suggested iPod was the youngest participant who took part in answering the questionnaire. Going to the cinema was the most popular choice within the audience, which suggests that the cinema is more appealing to my audience and that they may prefer to view their film as a group of two or more, this group perhaps consisting of friends, family and work colleagues as all of my audience are old enough to work. Therefore, my audience could also see viewing their media at a cinema as a social activity.
Question 3: How do you watch films?
When asked how they watch their film, 8 participants from my audience watch films via DVD, 4 watch films via PC (all under 19), 3 watch films by VHS (all over 48), 8 watch films by DTV and 8 of the audience visit the cinema to watch films (the two that don’t visit the cinema were both males under 18). DVD, DTV and Cinema all received individually 25.8 %; all three together totalled 77.4% of the audience response for this question. Those who didn’t answer cinema answered both DVD and computer. Cinema again proved to be the most popular as it did also in question 2, confirming that my audience prefers to watch their films at the cinema than at home or anywhere else, and also on the big screen in preference over DVD, PC, VHS and DTV.
Question 4: What attracts you to a film or TV series?
When asked what attracts them to a film or TV series, 6 participants from my audience answered advertising (26%) , 4 answered word of mouth (all under 19) and subject/matter/theme, 2 answered actor/actress and director (only women answered this), 7 answered genre, 3 answered report (all under 19) and 1 answered interview (male aged 17). This implies that the older aged participants from my audience select their TV and film media from what they confront on their daily basis lifestyle as they only answered advertising, subject/matter/theme and genre from the above (advertising and subject/matter/theme being daily basis, which they would come across through either their occupation or on their journeys between this occupation and home). Where as the younger generation in general have more leisure time, will socialize with their friends and view a higher level of media in a higher level of ways, therefore expanding their range of how they find out about films and TV series through such as reading reports online or through a friends opinion (word of mouth).
Question 5: Who do you watch films with?
When asked who they watch their films with, 8 of the audience answered family, all the audience answered friends, and 2 answered work colleagues, none of the audience answered alone or other. Those participants who answered work colleagues were all aged over 19. Friends therefore receiving 50% of the audience’s response and it would seem that watching a film is a social event (which is backed up with 40% of question 2 viewing their film at a cinema) most enjoyed when viewing with friends.
Question 6: Does cost affect your choice of what film you watch and where you watch it?
When asked if cost affects their choice to which film they watch and where, 7 participants (70% of the audiences’ vote) said yes cost does affect what film they watch and where they watch it, and the remaining 3 participants from the audience said no. Those who said no were all over 48, which suggest the value of the film is more important to them than the cost to view that film and they will appreciate the film for what it is rather than compare it to how much it costs them to watch the film. Because these participants of this age group are in a different lifestyle and occupation that allows them to explore a wider range of experiences compared to the rest of the participants, they would watch the film for the experience rather than letting the cost affect their decision to watch the film.
Question 7: How often do you watch films?
When asked how often they watch film, 2 people answered more than twice a week (all female), 1 participant answered once or twice a week (male aged 17), 3 answered once a fortnight, 4 answered once a month (all over 48 and making up 40% of the audience’s response for this question), and no one answered less than a month. This suggests that the younger section of my audience aged 16-19 all have more time to watch films (which fits into the typical cinema demographic of 16-25), compared to the 4 participants from my audience aged 48-52 who all have jobs.
Question 8: What makes a good thriller character?
For this question each of the audience members could give any response they wished to give, and when I asked them what makes a good thriller character, 1 participant from my selected audience answered innocent, 1 answered scary, 3 answered psycho (those who answered psycho all watch films once a week or more), 1 answered young male, 2 answered young female and 2 answered tough guy (both men over 50). Therefore, 30% of my audience’s response suggested that a good thriller character should be a ‘Psycho’ type character. As the audience who suggested Psycho watch films once a week or more, I assume that if the audience watched plenty of films direct to this genre, they will appreciate the codes and conventions that are allocated to this genre and to which character is most effective within the thriller genre.
Question 9: What is your favorite part of a film?
When asked what their favorite section and scene sequences of a film was, 4 participants from my audience answered intro, 3 answered beginning/middle, 1 answered middle/ending (1 female aged 48), 2 answered ending and no one answered middle or other. The introduction sequence therefore, proving to be the preferred part of a film with 40% of the response from my audience. This may be because the introduction is such a big part of the film as it set the theme, setting and tone to which the rest of the film will follow throughout, so a big impact has to be made to the audience to maintain their attention and focus.
Question 10: What setting or theme makes a good thriller film/TV series?
When asked what setting or theme makes a good thriller film/TV series, 3 participants from my audience answered claustrophobic, 2 answered a deserted town, 1 answered airport, 2 answered an old house (both men under 18), 1 participant answered busy city and 1 answered back alleys of a city. Claustrophobic proved to be my audience’s preferred setting for a thriller with 30% of the vote from my audience. When linked with question 8, it would appear that my audience favour a thriller in a claustrophobic setting with a psycho as the main character.
Question 11: Are thrillers best as a film or a TV series?
When asked if thrillers are best in the form of a film or TV series, 8 participants from my audience opted for film, meaning the remaining the remaining 2 participants from my audience answered TV series who are both male (1 aged 17 and 1 aged 52). Therefore, my audience (with 80% majority of the audience’s response) prefers thrillers as a film rather than a TV series. The males who chose TV series it appears chose to appreciate many individual and continuous installments of a thriller series over a regular basis rather than one large installment of a thriller medium.
Question 12: Are thrillers best in colour or in black and white?
When asked if thrillers are best in black or white, 6 participants from my audience answered colour (all under 20), the remaining 4 of my audience answered black and white (all over 48).This could indicate that this section of my audience were around at the time that classic thriller films were introduced, such as ‘Psycho’ which is a black and white film (and incidentally my audience do prefer a Psycho character in a thriller film as I found out in question 8). As the younger section have been viewing thriller media for a shorter length of time, only more recent thriller released over the previous 20 years would have been brought about with them as they grew up and therefore more related to them and their age group, such as ‘Seven’ that was released in September 1995. With 60% favoured response, my audience like thrillers best when they are in colour.
Question 13: Are modern or past thrillers best?
When asked if modern or past thrillers are best, 4 participants from my audience answered modern (all under 20), the remaining 6 answered past. My audience, therefore, have suggested to me that past thrillers make more of an impact on them than modern thrillers, with 60% of my audience answering past in the questionnaire. When linked to question 12, 60% of my audience voted that colour thrillers are preferred to black and white. Most of the past thrillers that have made an impact such as again ‘Psycho’ were in black and white, although past thrillers that have made an impact have been in colour such as ‘The Godfather’. Over more recent years such as over the last 10 years, it has been unusual to see a brand new black and white thriller film be released.
Question 14: What type of thrillers would you watch?
When asked what type of thriller film would they watch, implying if they were to direct a thriller film themselves or simply watch a sub genre of thriller film of their preference, 3 participants from my audience answered action (all male), 8 answered comedy, 2 answered crime, 2 answered disaster (both female under 20), 4 answered drama (all women), 5 answered horror, 1 answered legal/politics (male aged 52), 2 answered medical, 3 answered psychological, 1 answered supernatural (male aged 16) and no one answered other. It would appear that comedy would be the most accepted thriller out of my audience with four fifths of the group choosing it (80%).
Evaluation of Questionnaire
Overall, my questionnaire has helped me successfully research into and answer my objective of how audiences view thriller films. Finding a group of 10 participants evenly balanced between males and females was an advantage as I got an idea for each age group what their preferences are when it comes to viewing films and thriller films. However, to improve my investigation I could have had one male and one female grouped at one age, and a different pair of one male and one female a decade older and repeat this pattern. However this does stray from my target audience demographic and may not help to relating that further research to my thriller introduction. On the other hand, that idea could work because it would show how a male and female of the same age range view their media compared with other age groups.
Another idea that worked well with my questionnaire was the depth of each question as they produced some really interesting answers at times, such as questions 8, 10 and 14. Questions 8 and 10 the audience member could state an answer of their choosing which proved to make some intriguing answers. As in other cases, other participants answered similarly to a specific question which helped me to identify a common pattern, and link that pattern to corresponding patterns found in other questions. This worked in the case of questions 8 and 10, where I asked my audience about their ideal thriller characters and settings. My audience suggested in this case that a ‘Psycho’ character would be better in a ‘Claustrophobic’ setting. Later on in my questionnaire I found that I could link this finding to another of my questions I asked in my questionnaire about how often each of my participants watch thrillers. Those who answered ‘Psycho’ in question 8 all visited the cinema once a week and agreed that thrillers were best as a film. This indicates to me that those individuals from my audience watch films regularly, they will have watched a wide range of media which could involve the thriller genre, and so may have a strong indication of what characters and situations make an appealing thriller film.
From question 10, as my thriller opening will be located in some shots in an old house, it is good that I got a positive response of two votes making it the joint second highest scorer for that question (level with deserted town, but behind claustrophobic by one vote) from my audience as it shows that this would be an acceptable location to include in a thriller film. Also in regards to question 8, in my thriller opening I will be including a ‘tough guy’ and a ‘young male’. I am pleased that tough guy got a positive response of two for ‘tough guy’, but disappointed that ‘young male’ only scored one vote.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Thriller Film Shooting Schedule
Shooting Schedule
Day 1
Arrive at 2PM
1st Shot: Shot 2 (2.10)
2nd Shot: Shot 3 (2.20)
3rd Shot: Shot 4 (2.33)
4th Shot: Shot 11 (2.45)
5th Shot: Shot 12 (2.50)
6th Shot: Shot 14 (2.55)
7th Shot: Shot 15 (3.10)
8th Shot: Shot 13 (3.20)
9th Shot: Shot 20 (3.40)
10th Shot: Shot 10(3.55)
11th Shot: Shot 5 (4.10)
Day 2
12th Shot: Shot 7 (2.30)
13th Shot: Shot 8 (2.50)
14th Shot: Shot 9 (3.00)
15th Shot: Shot 6 (3.10)
16th Shot: Shot 16 (3.25)
17th Shot: Shot 17 (3.30)
18th Shot: Shot 18 (3.40)
19th Shot: Shot 19 (3.50)
20th Shot: Shot 1 (4.00)
Day 1
Arrive at 2PM
1st Shot: Shot 2 (2.10)
2nd Shot: Shot 3 (2.20)
3rd Shot: Shot 4 (2.33)
4th Shot: Shot 11 (2.45)
5th Shot: Shot 12 (2.50)
6th Shot: Shot 14 (2.55)
7th Shot: Shot 15 (3.10)
8th Shot: Shot 13 (3.20)
9th Shot: Shot 20 (3.40)
10th Shot: Shot 10(3.55)
11th Shot: Shot 5 (4.10)
Day 2
12th Shot: Shot 7 (2.30)
13th Shot: Shot 8 (2.50)
14th Shot: Shot 9 (3.00)
15th Shot: Shot 6 (3.10)
16th Shot: Shot 16 (3.25)
17th Shot: Shot 17 (3.30)
18th Shot: Shot 18 (3.40)
19th Shot: Shot 19 (3.50)
20th Shot: Shot 1 (4.00)
Thriller Film Script
For out thriller film project, we deliberately decided against including any dialogue or voiceovers.
We did start to write dialouge, but found it difficult because by doing so, we found that it ruined the ambiguiety of the characters and narrative, thus disrupting the atmopshere of the situation.
We would have inserted this dialogue into the section of our sequence where the man situated inside the run down house is writing his letter, but having this dialogue we felt told too much of the story too soon and ruined the desired effect of mystery within what was written in the letter (this mystery was our main catch line to encourage viewers to view more of the film and discover what was written in that letter and about his link to the killing character as why we was killed).
We did start to write dialouge, but found it difficult because by doing so, we found that it ruined the ambiguiety of the characters and narrative, thus disrupting the atmopshere of the situation.
We would have inserted this dialogue into the section of our sequence where the man situated inside the run down house is writing his letter, but having this dialogue we felt told too much of the story too soon and ruined the desired effect of mystery within what was written in the letter (this mystery was our main catch line to encourage viewers to view more of the film and discover what was written in that letter and about his link to the killing character as why we was killed).
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Thriller Titles
We are going to embed the titles within the long establishing shot at the beginning of the sequence. The editing speed of this will be fairly quick to impose the feeling of intensity and threat, and to make the introduction fast moving.
The titles themselves will be on top of a black background in what we hope is a thriller style font, that will be in white and slightly fading into the black background. Between the establishing shots and the titles, the screen will be fading to black to show the titles, and fade back from the titles and black background into the establishing shot again. We plan to immitate this editing effect with the music building up and getting louder as the transition takes place to show the titles, and as the sequence returns to the establishing shot the music will quieten and receed.
We got this idea from the film 'Heat' and we will be basing our titles sequence on this.
The titles themselves will be on top of a black background in what we hope is a thriller style font, that will be in white and slightly fading into the black background. Between the establishing shots and the titles, the screen will be fading to black to show the titles, and fade back from the titles and black background into the establishing shot again. We plan to immitate this editing effect with the music building up and getting louder as the transition takes place to show the titles, and as the sequence returns to the establishing shot the music will quieten and receed.
We got this idea from the film 'Heat' and we will be basing our titles sequence on this.
Sunday, 28 December 2008
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
Shot List For Thriller Opening
Shot 1, 2 and 3
A variety of shots of the station and the surrounding area to establish the location. In these shots, the titles will run.
Shot 4
The final mid shot establishing the location of the run down derelict house.
Shot 5
The camera then cuts to inside the house to a man sitting by a window which faces the platform.
Shot 6
We then cut an over the shoulder shot of the man writing the letter although the words are unclear on the page.
Shot 7
From this over the shoulder shot, we cut to a frame of his hand turning off the radio- where the music is coming from. When the man clicks the radio off, it becomes silent.
Shot 8
From here, the camera then cuts to a view of the train tracks outside. This mid shot is static as we show a train approaching the station.
Shot 9
From this, it cuuts back into the house, focusing in on a blank wall, with a clock hanging on it.
Shot 10
We then cut back to a shot of the concrete floor of the platform. Onto this arrives the 2nd man in our opening. He is wearing distinctive boots, which is the first thing we see of him.
Shot 11
Medium shot of the train pulling away from the station, with the man following it as he walks down the platform.
Shot 12
The camera then cuts to a side-on shot looking across at the platform following his footsteps as he. The camera then stops, as he does.
Shot 13
The camera then goes to a close up shot of his side where he reveals a weapon concealed under his jacket.
Shot 14
The camera cuts back a medium shot from inside the house, looking out to the 2nd man walking towards the house
Shot 15
We then cut to a close up high angle shot of the 1st man writing the letter.
Shot 16
The camera will then cut to a medium shot of the 2nd Man’s side, from his shoulder to his waist as he knocks on the door.
Shot 18
CU shot through the window of the man watiing at the door
Shot 19
We will then cut back to the high angle close up shot of the 1st Man as he stops writing and puts his pen down to get up and answer the door.
Shot 20
The camera then stays focuses, as ink runs down the page.
Shot 21
The camera will then cut back outside for the final shot sequence which is an over the shoulder frame, in which the 2nd man is waiting at the door.
Shot 22
As the man opens the door, we are going to see the reaction on the 1st mans face as he quickly goes to shut the door again.
Shot 23
The camera then cuts to the 2nd man pushes the knife forward, into his side.
Shot 24
We then cut a CU shot of the 2nd man picking up the letter. We then watch him set fire to it.
A variety of shots of the station and the surrounding area to establish the location. In these shots, the titles will run.
Shot 4
The final mid shot establishing the location of the run down derelict house.
Shot 5
The camera then cuts to inside the house to a man sitting by a window which faces the platform.
Shot 6
We then cut an over the shoulder shot of the man writing the letter although the words are unclear on the page.
Shot 7
From this over the shoulder shot, we cut to a frame of his hand turning off the radio- where the music is coming from. When the man clicks the radio off, it becomes silent.
Shot 8
From here, the camera then cuts to a view of the train tracks outside. This mid shot is static as we show a train approaching the station.
Shot 9
From this, it cuuts back into the house, focusing in on a blank wall, with a clock hanging on it.
Shot 10
We then cut back to a shot of the concrete floor of the platform. Onto this arrives the 2nd man in our opening. He is wearing distinctive boots, which is the first thing we see of him.
Shot 11
Medium shot of the train pulling away from the station, with the man following it as he walks down the platform.
Shot 12
The camera then cuts to a side-on shot looking across at the platform following his footsteps as he. The camera then stops, as he does.
Shot 13
The camera then goes to a close up shot of his side where he reveals a weapon concealed under his jacket.
Shot 14
The camera cuts back a medium shot from inside the house, looking out to the 2nd man walking towards the house
Shot 15
We then cut to a close up high angle shot of the 1st man writing the letter.
Shot 16
The camera will then cut to a medium shot of the 2nd Man’s side, from his shoulder to his waist as he knocks on the door.
Shot 18
CU shot through the window of the man watiing at the door
Shot 19
We will then cut back to the high angle close up shot of the 1st Man as he stops writing and puts his pen down to get up and answer the door.
Shot 20
The camera then stays focuses, as ink runs down the page.
Shot 21
The camera will then cut back outside for the final shot sequence which is an over the shoulder frame, in which the 2nd man is waiting at the door.
Shot 22
As the man opens the door, we are going to see the reaction on the 1st mans face as he quickly goes to shut the door again.
Shot 23
The camera then cuts to the 2nd man pushes the knife forward, into his side.
Shot 24
We then cut a CU shot of the 2nd man picking up the letter. We then watch him set fire to it.
Friday, 5 December 2008
Thriller Opening Sound Tracks
*to be decided in the editing process
we have chosen the songs listed below to create tension and suspense. They all start off calmly and slowly build up in tempo and volume.
Biko by Bloc Party
Televators by The Mars Volta
Golden by Fall Out Boy
The King by Hard-Fi
Ghouls by We are Scientists
Girls & Boys by The Subways
ID by Kasabian
Running Battle by Kasabian
After we came up with these choices, we found out that the music soundtrack could not be copyrighted. This meant that we couldn't use any of the above. We thought about creating our own soundtrack using Ian's music skills, until we came across a website that provided with a very atsmospheric, non-copyrighted soundtrack using stringed instruments, that builds up for tension and holds notes for suspense in the desired way we had planned.
The soundtrack that we will use is called Subhonmr b2 34 string from www.freesound.org.
The soundtrack from the film 'The Chamber' inspired us to make this decision, as it expresses their soundtrack in the same way that we will express ours.
Another idea of a soundtrack we debated using was Grey Snow by Josh Woodword (from www.joshwoodward.com)
we have chosen the songs listed below to create tension and suspense. They all start off calmly and slowly build up in tempo and volume.
Biko by Bloc Party
Televators by The Mars Volta
Golden by Fall Out Boy
The King by Hard-Fi
Ghouls by We are Scientists
Girls & Boys by The Subways
ID by Kasabian
Running Battle by Kasabian
After we came up with these choices, we found out that the music soundtrack could not be copyrighted. This meant that we couldn't use any of the above. We thought about creating our own soundtrack using Ian's music skills, until we came across a website that provided with a very atsmospheric, non-copyrighted soundtrack using stringed instruments, that builds up for tension and holds notes for suspense in the desired way we had planned.
The soundtrack that we will use is called Subhonmr b2 34 string from www.freesound.org.
The soundtrack from the film 'The Chamber' inspired us to make this decision, as it expresses their soundtrack in the same way that we will express ours.
Another idea of a soundtrack we debated using was Grey Snow by Josh Woodword (from www.joshwoodward.com)
Wednesday, 3 December 2008
Preliminary Filming Project Evaluation
1. Editing and camera techniques
For our preliminary opening, we used the following techniques:
• We used titles to display the criteria needed for exam board. This included the title of the task, iur school name and its centre number, the name of our film and our own individual names and our candidate numbers.
• We overlaid our names on the final shot of our opening using the title designer in Adobe Premier Elements.
• We used the time stretch tool to prolong the shot. Also, we used the razor tool to cut the shots to right time. This was also in Adobe Premier Elements.
• We used the 180 degree rule, shot/reverse shot and match on action shots while filming. Also, we used a panning, birds eye, ECU’s, Over the shoulder and a high angle shots. These choices of camera angles and techniques help our audience to understand the action as they indicate where in the shot each character is, even if they are not visible in that shit. This can be explained for when the two characters are typing at their computers. The character 'Robert' faces from left to right of the camera shot, where as character 'Steve' faces from right to left of the damera shot. Therefore proving the shot/ reverse shot to be effective. Also match on action shot is used to assist the audience as a close up shot is inserted after each character have typed their dialogue, so the reader understands the dialogue that is being exchanged between each character and what the character is experiencing from their own individual perspective. The high angle shot of both characters typing at their computers is effective and each action that the characters are performing can be viewed simultaneously for increased audience awareness of each character.
2. New techniques that we used in the production of our opening
In the creation of our film in this task, we used many new programs in the creation of our production. These included Youtube to post the final cut, Adobe Premiere Elements to edit and compose this final cut, the digital video camera to shoot the scenes needed and the social networking site Blogger to evaluate and display our final production and post any planning we have done.
When using the camera, it was difficult to keep it steady when creating tracking shots, therefore we found it useful to use a tripod. When shooting the over the shoulder shots, the dialogue wasn't very clear so an extra close up shot had to be added in to clarify this dialogue. It would have been effective to have all this action in one shot rather than disect it. Also, the quality of the camera could have been better to create a more professional look. When working with Adobe Premiere Elements, we found it difficult to change the sound levels to create the right suspense and blending the sounds to make it sound natural rather than having loud voices for one shot and dead silence for another. Finally, we went to book a camera for the date we set to film, we often found that the cameras were all booked up, or had low battery. This created a problem as we had to wait an extra two weeks before we started filming and when we were filming, we had to be considerate towards the length of time we took when filming individual shots and shooting time overall. So increased skill of camera work and efficiency to comlete the task was of higher demand at times when filming. Also due to the camera being on low battery, we had to have the camera on a charger that was attatched to the wall. This limited camera movement and creativity and experiment of our shooting.
One of the many strengths of our production is the many shot types used in the sequence. Also, we worked well as a group by sharing ideas and the production roles in the shooting of the film and that we were actively communicating with each other about the planning, about how to create the look we were after for our film.
3. How successful was the final product against the brief set?
The brief that was set for our production consisted of the following the following:
• The inclusion of a shot of a hand opening a door and two or more people having a conversation. Once this has happened, one of the characters must leave the room.
• To include three different types of shots within the film. These must be the 180 degree rule, match on action and the shot/reverse shot.
We believe that our production matched all the criteria needed from the exam board. We decided to apply the dialogue in a unique way. We did this by using MSN Messenger to produce the dialogue between the two male characters, using the following shooting techniques to support this method:
We used the 180 rule throughout the films by keeping to one side of the room when filming. Also, the match on action when using the over the shoulder shots by having the two characters in the same frame, one typing the dialogue (vieved from over his shoulder)and the other who was recieving the dialogue using his computer and facing in the direction of the camera, ready to recieve this dialogue and return further dialogue over the next couple of shots in the sequence. Finally, we used the shot/reverse shot when the two characters were receiving the messages from each other. We showed this shows both actors in the shot, using the same principle that we used for the match on action technique.
For our preliminary opening, we used the following techniques:
• We used titles to display the criteria needed for exam board. This included the title of the task, iur school name and its centre number, the name of our film and our own individual names and our candidate numbers.
• We overlaid our names on the final shot of our opening using the title designer in Adobe Premier Elements.
• We used the time stretch tool to prolong the shot. Also, we used the razor tool to cut the shots to right time. This was also in Adobe Premier Elements.
• We used the 180 degree rule, shot/reverse shot and match on action shots while filming. Also, we used a panning, birds eye, ECU’s, Over the shoulder and a high angle shots. These choices of camera angles and techniques help our audience to understand the action as they indicate where in the shot each character is, even if they are not visible in that shit. This can be explained for when the two characters are typing at their computers. The character 'Robert' faces from left to right of the camera shot, where as character 'Steve' faces from right to left of the damera shot. Therefore proving the shot/ reverse shot to be effective. Also match on action shot is used to assist the audience as a close up shot is inserted after each character have typed their dialogue, so the reader understands the dialogue that is being exchanged between each character and what the character is experiencing from their own individual perspective. The high angle shot of both characters typing at their computers is effective and each action that the characters are performing can be viewed simultaneously for increased audience awareness of each character.
2. New techniques that we used in the production of our opening
In the creation of our film in this task, we used many new programs in the creation of our production. These included Youtube to post the final cut, Adobe Premiere Elements to edit and compose this final cut, the digital video camera to shoot the scenes needed and the social networking site Blogger to evaluate and display our final production and post any planning we have done.
When using the camera, it was difficult to keep it steady when creating tracking shots, therefore we found it useful to use a tripod. When shooting the over the shoulder shots, the dialogue wasn't very clear so an extra close up shot had to be added in to clarify this dialogue. It would have been effective to have all this action in one shot rather than disect it. Also, the quality of the camera could have been better to create a more professional look. When working with Adobe Premiere Elements, we found it difficult to change the sound levels to create the right suspense and blending the sounds to make it sound natural rather than having loud voices for one shot and dead silence for another. Finally, we went to book a camera for the date we set to film, we often found that the cameras were all booked up, or had low battery. This created a problem as we had to wait an extra two weeks before we started filming and when we were filming, we had to be considerate towards the length of time we took when filming individual shots and shooting time overall. So increased skill of camera work and efficiency to comlete the task was of higher demand at times when filming. Also due to the camera being on low battery, we had to have the camera on a charger that was attatched to the wall. This limited camera movement and creativity and experiment of our shooting.
One of the many strengths of our production is the many shot types used in the sequence. Also, we worked well as a group by sharing ideas and the production roles in the shooting of the film and that we were actively communicating with each other about the planning, about how to create the look we were after for our film.
3. How successful was the final product against the brief set?
The brief that was set for our production consisted of the following the following:
• The inclusion of a shot of a hand opening a door and two or more people having a conversation. Once this has happened, one of the characters must leave the room.
• To include three different types of shots within the film. These must be the 180 degree rule, match on action and the shot/reverse shot.
We believe that our production matched all the criteria needed from the exam board. We decided to apply the dialogue in a unique way. We did this by using MSN Messenger to produce the dialogue between the two male characters, using the following shooting techniques to support this method:
We used the 180 rule throughout the films by keeping to one side of the room when filming. Also, the match on action when using the over the shoulder shots by having the two characters in the same frame, one typing the dialogue (vieved from over his shoulder)and the other who was recieving the dialogue using his computer and facing in the direction of the camera, ready to recieve this dialogue and return further dialogue over the next couple of shots in the sequence. Finally, we used the shot/reverse shot when the two characters were receiving the messages from each other. We showed this shows both actors in the shot, using the same principle that we used for the match on action technique.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Preliminary Filming Project Script
Setting the scene: We will start the opening by using an ECU of the door handle as the first man turns it. Then we will focus on the Robert (man1) as he sits down opposite to other man (Steve(man 2)) in the opening. They will talk to each other using MSN Messenger. We will use a voice over which will speak the words on the computer monitor. While communicating, one of men’s computers abruptly shuts down and the monitor presents a screen saying ‘Will restart in 5, 4, 3……’
Then the man whose computer fails says ‘Why does it always shut down’. Then he leaves the room.
Script
Robert (man 1) sits downs at computer and logs on
Robert (man 1) “Have you got everything I need”
Steve (Man 2) “Yes, I have it on me”
Robert (Man 1) “Then where is it?”
Steve (Man 2) “Check your inbox!”
Then Robert’s (Man 1) computer crashes.
Robert storms out of the room with Steve looking at him confused.
Then the man whose computer fails says ‘Why does it always shut down’. Then he leaves the room.
Script
Robert (man 1) sits downs at computer and logs on
Robert (man 1) “Have you got everything I need”
Steve (Man 2) “Yes, I have it on me”
Robert (Man 1) “Then where is it?”
Steve (Man 2) “Check your inbox!”
Then Robert’s (Man 1) computer crashes.
Robert storms out of the room with Steve looking at him confused.
Preliminary Filming Storyboards and Shotlist
Storyboards
Shot list
Shot 1
ECU of Robert's hand as he turns the door handle and starts to open the door.
Shot 2
Medium tracking shot of Robert as he walks to his computer, sits down at his computer and sits down.
Shot 3
Close up of Robert typing a message to Steve who is sitting at the computer opposite to him.
Shot 4
An over the shoulder shot of Steve recieving the message from Robert that reads 'Do you have everything I need?'
Shot 5
Another over the shoulder shot, of Robert this time, as Steve's response is displayed on his computer, reading 'Yes i have it on me'
Shot 6
Return to Steve's computer with another over the shoulder shot displaying a message from Robert that says 'So where is it?'
Shot 7
Return to Robert's computer with an over the shoulder shot of Steve's response to Robert that says 'Check your inbox!'
Shot 8
This will be a medium shot from behind Robert as he gets disconnected from msn messenger following Steve's previous message.
Shot 9
A medium shot facing Robert with him looking annoyed following his disconnection from msn messenger.
Shot 10
A medium tracking shot of Robert getting up and leaving the room with Steve looking at him confused why he is leaving the room.
Shot list
Shot 1
ECU of Robert's hand as he turns the door handle and starts to open the door.
Shot 2
Medium tracking shot of Robert as he walks to his computer, sits down at his computer and sits down.
Shot 3
Close up of Robert typing a message to Steve who is sitting at the computer opposite to him.
Shot 4
An over the shoulder shot of Steve recieving the message from Robert that reads 'Do you have everything I need?'
Shot 5
Another over the shoulder shot, of Robert this time, as Steve's response is displayed on his computer, reading 'Yes i have it on me'
Shot 6
Return to Steve's computer with another over the shoulder shot displaying a message from Robert that says 'So where is it?'
Shot 7
Return to Robert's computer with an over the shoulder shot of Steve's response to Robert that says 'Check your inbox!'
Shot 8
This will be a medium shot from behind Robert as he gets disconnected from msn messenger following Steve's previous message.
Shot 9
A medium shot facing Robert with him looking annoyed following his disconnection from msn messenger.
Shot 10
A medium tracking shot of Robert getting up and leaving the room with Steve looking at him confused why he is leaving the room.
Friday, 7 November 2008
Media Filming Project Treatment
We have decided to shoot the opening in the sub-genre crime/thriller, much like other thrillers of its kind. For example, like in Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Leon etc. We aim to create a tense atmosphere which lends itself well to the genre. The way in which we will immediately establish the equilibrium is through the setting and by using music to build a tense atmosphere but without giving away the plot. The place we have haven chosen to shoot this opening is at Salhouse Train Station, mainly because of its deserted location, a convention used in many other thrillers.
Our film will begin with the first few shot of the station and the surrounding area to establish the location and enable us to use different camera shots, such as long shots and worms eye view. Within these, running titles will be added discreetly so the viewers attention is not distracted from the opening shots. Throughout, we plan to use a soundtrack which fades in, as the picture does, and which, by the low volume, sounds like it is being played out of shot from a distance. Within these shots, a dark and derelict house is shown. This is the frame that we end the title sequence with. The camera then cuts inside the house to a man sitting by a window which faces the platform. We plan to make these opening shots to set the scene last approximately 10 seconds long.
The character appears to be very socially isolated and lives alone in this dark, rundown house. He has recently broken away from a gang of organised criminals, and his involvement in a scene of organised crime and corruption. Throughout the opening, we are going to have subtle clues as to his past (for example; the letter, the character stepping off the train and his intent). His house is next to the platform at the quiet station, its location is secluded, overgrown and the interior of the house is damp and dirty. The walls are bare and empty and the floorboards creak as you step on them.
He is writing a letter and the camera focuses in to an over the shoulder shot of the letter and a CU of the page, although the words are unclear on the page. When we cut to this shot, initially the music increases in volume; as if it is coming from inside the man’s room. From this, we cut to a shot outside the house of the train approaching the platform, this is the point at which the music stops. This silence serves to make the atmosphere even more eerie than before. Another way we show the contrast between the inside of the house and the outside, as well as the soundtrack, is the lighting. Outside; we are only going to use natural light, which will contrast with the house, where there will be darker, more noir lighting.
From here, the camera then cuts to a mid-shot view of the train tracks outside. The soundtrack remains silent until you begin to here the sound of the train along the tracks. This noise builds to a crescendo as you watch the train approaching from the same camera view. This is the point at which the equilibrium is disrupted. It isn’t dramatic, but it is enough to change the atmosphere. The sound of the train approaching increases as it comes towards the camera. We then cutto a shot of the concrete floor of the platform. Onto this arrives the 2nd man in our opening. He is wearing distinctive boots, which is the first thing we see of him. We then go to a medium shot of the train pulling away from the station, with the man following it as he walks down the platform. The camera then cuts to a side-on shot looking across at the platform following his footsteps as he walks (like in the film ‘The Third Man’). The camera then stops, as does he from here, the camera then goes to a close up shot of his side where he reveals a weapon concealed under his jacket. The soundtrack remains silent. Also, when the camera focuses in, the background is slightly blurred- this is so the audience’s attention is drawn to the object.
After these shots in which the weapon is identified, this 2nd man continues to walk towards the house where the 1st man is located. The camera shows the 2nd man walking towards the house, focusing on his feet using a low angle shot. The camera cuts back a medium shot from inside the house, looking out to the 2nd man walking towards the house. the 1st man in the house writing the letter, with the use of over the shoulder, high angle, medium and long shots of the man from behind, with the edition of a high angle close up shot of the 1st man’s hands and the letter as he writes.
Once the man reaches the house, the camera will then cut to a close-up shot through the window of the man waiting at the door. We will then cut back to the high angle close up shot as he is writing the letter, within this shot we hear the knock at the door. Hearing this, Man 1 stops writing and puts his pen down to get up and answer the door. We then go to an over the shoulder shot of Man 1 opening the door and then quickly closing it when he sees whose there. To clarify, we cut to a CU shot of Man 2's foot in the door. We then go to a medium shot from the other side of the room in which Man 2 pushing the knife forward, into his side and walk through into the house. The lighting it going to be remain dark and we are going to have very low contrast to show the connotations of the events taking place in this scene. The camera then goes to a medium shot of the window placing the platform in which Man 2 walks across, momentarily blocking out the view of an outside streetlight. The camera then focuses on a shot of the letter with the ink running out of the pen, signifying Man 1's death.on this as ink begins to leak onto the page from the pen (like in the opening of ‘Don’t Look Now’ with the photo slide). We then cut to the 2nd man grabbing the letter and in a close up shot we watch him set fire to it - suggesting to the audience the connotations and possible consequences of the letter, also making the audience wonder exactly what it could say.
Aims and Objective
In our opening 2 minute film, we aim to include; some kind of narrative structure, suspense, opening titles and credits and, most importantly, identifiable codes and conventions of the thriller genre.
Our film will begin with the first few shot of the station and the surrounding area to establish the location and enable us to use different camera shots, such as long shots and worms eye view. Within these, running titles will be added discreetly so the viewers attention is not distracted from the opening shots. Throughout, we plan to use a soundtrack which fades in, as the picture does, and which, by the low volume, sounds like it is being played out of shot from a distance. Within these shots, a dark and derelict house is shown. This is the frame that we end the title sequence with. The camera then cuts inside the house to a man sitting by a window which faces the platform. We plan to make these opening shots to set the scene last approximately 10 seconds long.
The character appears to be very socially isolated and lives alone in this dark, rundown house. He has recently broken away from a gang of organised criminals, and his involvement in a scene of organised crime and corruption. Throughout the opening, we are going to have subtle clues as to his past (for example; the letter, the character stepping off the train and his intent). His house is next to the platform at the quiet station, its location is secluded, overgrown and the interior of the house is damp and dirty. The walls are bare and empty and the floorboards creak as you step on them.
He is writing a letter and the camera focuses in to an over the shoulder shot of the letter and a CU of the page, although the words are unclear on the page. When we cut to this shot, initially the music increases in volume; as if it is coming from inside the man’s room. From this, we cut to a shot outside the house of the train approaching the platform, this is the point at which the music stops. This silence serves to make the atmosphere even more eerie than before. Another way we show the contrast between the inside of the house and the outside, as well as the soundtrack, is the lighting. Outside; we are only going to use natural light, which will contrast with the house, where there will be darker, more noir lighting.
From here, the camera then cuts to a mid-shot view of the train tracks outside. The soundtrack remains silent until you begin to here the sound of the train along the tracks. This noise builds to a crescendo as you watch the train approaching from the same camera view. This is the point at which the equilibrium is disrupted. It isn’t dramatic, but it is enough to change the atmosphere. The sound of the train approaching increases as it comes towards the camera. We then cutto a shot of the concrete floor of the platform. Onto this arrives the 2nd man in our opening. He is wearing distinctive boots, which is the first thing we see of him. We then go to a medium shot of the train pulling away from the station, with the man following it as he walks down the platform. The camera then cuts to a side-on shot looking across at the platform following his footsteps as he walks (like in the film ‘The Third Man’). The camera then stops, as does he from here, the camera then goes to a close up shot of his side where he reveals a weapon concealed under his jacket. The soundtrack remains silent. Also, when the camera focuses in, the background is slightly blurred- this is so the audience’s attention is drawn to the object.
After these shots in which the weapon is identified, this 2nd man continues to walk towards the house where the 1st man is located. The camera shows the 2nd man walking towards the house, focusing on his feet using a low angle shot. The camera cuts back a medium shot from inside the house, looking out to the 2nd man walking towards the house. the 1st man in the house writing the letter, with the use of over the shoulder, high angle, medium and long shots of the man from behind, with the edition of a high angle close up shot of the 1st man’s hands and the letter as he writes.
Once the man reaches the house, the camera will then cut to a close-up shot through the window of the man waiting at the door. We will then cut back to the high angle close up shot as he is writing the letter, within this shot we hear the knock at the door. Hearing this, Man 1 stops writing and puts his pen down to get up and answer the door. We then go to an over the shoulder shot of Man 1 opening the door and then quickly closing it when he sees whose there. To clarify, we cut to a CU shot of Man 2's foot in the door. We then go to a medium shot from the other side of the room in which Man 2 pushing the knife forward, into his side and walk through into the house. The lighting it going to be remain dark and we are going to have very low contrast to show the connotations of the events taking place in this scene. The camera then goes to a medium shot of the window placing the platform in which Man 2 walks across, momentarily blocking out the view of an outside streetlight. The camera then focuses on a shot of the letter with the ink running out of the pen, signifying Man 1's death.on this as ink begins to leak onto the page from the pen (like in the opening of ‘Don’t Look Now’ with the photo slide). We then cut to the 2nd man grabbing the letter and in a close up shot we watch him set fire to it - suggesting to the audience the connotations and possible consequences of the letter, also making the audience wonder exactly what it could say.
Aims and Objective
In our opening 2 minute film, we aim to include; some kind of narrative structure, suspense, opening titles and credits and, most importantly, identifiable codes and conventions of the thriller genre.
Media Filming Project Props and Costumes
For our filming project, we had to think about the connotations of the props and costumes our characters will be using, and how they will come across to the audience. With our sub genre being crime thriller, we thought it would be fitting to have one dominant character (Man 2), and one not so dominant character (Man 1).
The setting where Man 1 will be located is an old run down house that used to be lived in by squatters, so the house is empty, has old floorboards and is in poor condition. We will add some furniture into the house to make it seem more of a home such as a desk and a chair, but the run down look we will want to maintain to link this to the character and lifestyle of Man 1. This meaning that the character is poor, personality is damaged and in relation to his past, which has been of hatred and misfortune. Also, we will include a pen, some paper and an envelope to the setting as Man 1 will be writing a letter during the opening. Man 1 will be wearing mostly red coloured clothes including a t-shirt and converse shoes, and he will also be wearing blue jeans. The meaning of Man 1 wearing red is to indicate that he may be in danger from Man 2, who will be carrying a knife, or that he is involved in a scenario where death and blood may occur later on in the film. Man 1 in the opening will be writing a letter, this letter will be linked to a past experience and current situation between Man 2 and an unknown character to the audience at this point. The audience however, will only see Man 1 writing, what he is writing will not be shown to the audience.
Man 2 however, will be a more dominant and confident figure, and this will subsequently be reflected in the clothes and props he will be using. The clothes he will be wearing will be black boots, blue jeans, a smart jacket (possibly leather) and an accessory such as a watch or a necklace, which will look expensive to show he is of higher authority than Man 1. Also to show his dominance and power, Man 2 will be carrying a knife in his pocket. All this will indicate that Man 2 is highly ranked in a form of gang, his high rank being suggested by the bold black boots, expensive accessory and the weapon. With a weapon in his possession, his intentions may be to kill Man 1, or which is the case, Man 2 will be a messenger between Man 1 and from another unknown character to the audience, of higher rank than Man 2.
Neither man’s faces will be shown, so the audience will only be influenced by what each character is wearing and the setting they are in. Nothing will be given away by facial expressions or looks.
The setting where Man 1 will be located is an old run down house that used to be lived in by squatters, so the house is empty, has old floorboards and is in poor condition. We will add some furniture into the house to make it seem more of a home such as a desk and a chair, but the run down look we will want to maintain to link this to the character and lifestyle of Man 1. This meaning that the character is poor, personality is damaged and in relation to his past, which has been of hatred and misfortune. Also, we will include a pen, some paper and an envelope to the setting as Man 1 will be writing a letter during the opening. Man 1 will be wearing mostly red coloured clothes including a t-shirt and converse shoes, and he will also be wearing blue jeans. The meaning of Man 1 wearing red is to indicate that he may be in danger from Man 2, who will be carrying a knife, or that he is involved in a scenario where death and blood may occur later on in the film. Man 1 in the opening will be writing a letter, this letter will be linked to a past experience and current situation between Man 2 and an unknown character to the audience at this point. The audience however, will only see Man 1 writing, what he is writing will not be shown to the audience.
Man 2 however, will be a more dominant and confident figure, and this will subsequently be reflected in the clothes and props he will be using. The clothes he will be wearing will be black boots, blue jeans, a smart jacket (possibly leather) and an accessory such as a watch or a necklace, which will look expensive to show he is of higher authority than Man 1. Also to show his dominance and power, Man 2 will be carrying a knife in his pocket. All this will indicate that Man 2 is highly ranked in a form of gang, his high rank being suggested by the bold black boots, expensive accessory and the weapon. With a weapon in his possession, his intentions may be to kill Man 1, or which is the case, Man 2 will be a messenger between Man 1 and from another unknown character to the audience, of higher rank than Man 2.
Neither man’s faces will be shown, so the audience will only be influenced by what each character is wearing and the setting they are in. Nothing will be given away by facial expressions or looks.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
The Three Shooting Techniques
180 Degree Rule: This is a line between two or more actors that must not be crossed when shooting. The camera angles must differ to show the direction that specific character is facing, so if they are introduced on the left side of the screen, they must stay on the left side of the screen.
Match on Action: Is the smoothness between each shot, meaning how the action follows on through the shots. If a man opened a door and the previous shot was focusing on him walking through that door, the following shot would have to show him walking through that door from another angle.
Shot/Reverse Shot: This type of shot should reflect the character and what they can see. Say if a character was sitting in a classroom, the camera would show the character (perhaps facing the board at the front of the room), followed by what they see (being the board and what is on that board). Meaning that the shot follows the character and their eye line.
Match on Action: Is the smoothness between each shot, meaning how the action follows on through the shots. If a man opened a door and the previous shot was focusing on him walking through that door, the following shot would have to show him walking through that door from another angle.
Shot/Reverse Shot: This type of shot should reflect the character and what they can see. Say if a character was sitting in a classroom, the camera would show the character (perhaps facing the board at the front of the room), followed by what they see (being the board and what is on that board). Meaning that the shot follows the character and their eye line.
Sunday, 5 October 2008
'Leon' Trailer
Originally I wanted to add a scene from 'The Birds' when the birds group around a school whilst the children are singing. I think this would have been great because it builds tension brilliantly and uses camera shots effectively, such as when the camera cuts to the childrens climbing frame outside the school, each time adding one or two birds until the female character follows a bird in the sky to land on the climbing frame, to where the climbing frame is full of birds. I thought that shot increased tension and added surprise very effectively.
The embedding code from youtube was not available however, so I instead added the trailer to a film I have been studying in class called 'Leon'. I feel that this is still a good example of a video to do with thrillers because of the choice of shots and action that is included into the trailer, with the purpose to get viewers hooked, but not give too much of the film away. The trailer to 'Leon' uses this idea well due to the choice of music and how there is enough action to build up to show it is a thriller and intense, but not give away the key parts of the film.
The embedding code from youtube was not available however, so I instead added the trailer to a film I have been studying in class called 'Leon'. I feel that this is still a good example of a video to do with thrillers because of the choice of shots and action that is included into the trailer, with the purpose to get viewers hooked, but not give too much of the film away. The trailer to 'Leon' uses this idea well due to the choice of music and how there is enough action to build up to show it is a thriller and intense, but not give away the key parts of the film.
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