AS Evaulation- Question 7

From looking back at when I filmed my preliminary task, vast changes have been made and I have grew to understand what you need in order to make a good narrative and production.The purpose of us doing the preliminary task was for us to try and understand how to use a camera as it was the first time for many of us, and to be able to see our progress from then till now. From the preliminary task I learnt how to use a camera and what skills are involved in order to get a correct shot, for example how to use a tripod and how to include the different camera angles in order to make the shot better. From doing the preliminary task I learned these skills when then abled me to be better at filming our thriller, as I had then had the experiance in using a camera and were able to improve the skills I had already used making my thriller better and more advanced. The different between the preliminary task and thriller was that i had now learnt new skills, for example in the thriller I used an editing app to create a better narrative, allowing it to be more fitted for the target audience. As well as this I used more of a variety of camera shots, as this allowed the audience to see things from all angles causing them to create there own perspective of the narrative.

AS Evaulation- Question 6 - Prezzi

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AS evaluation- Question 3 PREZZI ***

A media institution is very important to consider when making a film as the better and more known the institution is, the more likely your film will become too. For example Warner Bros have been creating and selling films for many years, and most people rely on their films being a good watch, due to Warner Bros realising it. Which it is why the better the media insitution distributing your film is, the more credit your film is likely to receive. From researching different media institutions, I think that either 20th Century Fox or Warner Bros would be best suited to distribute my film. This is because from researching into 20th Century Fox's history, they usually produce films in the family, fantasy and comedy genre. Although they usually produce these genre films because they seem to be more profitable, they also produce horrors and thrillers, with them also being equally profitable. So if i chose 20th Century Fox to distribute my film, it would be seen world wide and would have a good promotion allowing people to want to see it, just because of the media institution its come from. Even though I believe 20th Century Fox would do a good job in making my film successful, id be more likely to choose warner bros. This is because they have more experience in producing thriller films, such as 'The Orphan', 'House Of Wax', "Friday the 13th' and many other popular names. From finding this out and comparing WarnerBros list of successful films to 20th Century Fox's list of successful films, I would more than likely choose Warner Bros as I believe that they would be able to make my film more sucessful due to their past experiances.

AS Evaluation- Question 2 ****

How does your media product represent particular groups?

My opening sequence helps represent particular social groups as females have been used to be seen in a vulnerable light showing them not being able to cope in a chaotic situation. As well as this, we used a young girl as the audience would feel sympathetic towards her due to their maternal instinct causing them to see the young girl in a different light. We 

There was only one character shown throughout my film and that was the victim. I made this decision as I wanted the audiences' main focus to be on the victim and for them to feel sympathetic towards her. The victim being the only person shown thought out the film allowed the audience to engage with her further as she was the main focus. My victim was a young black girl, making it stereotypical to a thriller film as a young girl as usually the victim. Although a young white girl with blonde her and light features are usually used to be the victim as they are seen as vulnerable and angelic because of there pale skin tone. Although my film juxtaposes this stereotype as a young black girl plays the role of the victim. My victim being a young girl would appeal to the audience more than a young boy as they audience would believe the boy would be able to fend for himself more then which a young girl could, as well as this we used a young member as someone in teenagers or older would be seen as more able to fens for themselves and understand whats happening, where as a young girl would be vulnerable in that situation. 

My second character used in the film was our killer, although the audience did not see the killer from watching the narrative further they would of been able to work out they are seeing things through the killers point of view. Until they was in the house, as when the phone rang and the word 'silenced' appeared, they was unaware of who this was creating an hidden identity. Create shock and building suspense as they were unaware of who rang or what would happen. The audience were able to build an relationship with the characters which were used from seeing their facial expressions and conventions for used. As the young girl played a pivotal role though out the narrative and was the only person on screen, the audience were able to understand the confusing and vulnerable position she was in due to her facial expressions used. The audience built an relationship  with the killer as they were seeing things from his point of view, so they were able to see how the girl felt and what the killer was doing in order for her to be scared. Building tension for the audience as they were in the killers position, making them feel sorry towards the little girl.

AS Evaluation - Question 1 ***

The generic conventions for a thriller film are low key lighting, editing, diegetic sounds and different camera angles. I notice these conventions being used in a number  of different films. For example in Saw 5, low key lighting is used while the man is chained to the table. This creates an contrast to the

background showing that he is the main focus and shows how he is in a vulnerable position as not only is he chained up but the lighting creates shadows around him and across him, making him and the audience unaware if other people are also there. Another convention used in a successful film is non diegetic sound used in Shutter Island. While the man begins to walk down the hall way of where all the prisoners are, his heart beat is emphasised while he is walking as well as low key lighting being used, this creates a sense of urgency and allow the audience to be able to relate as the heartbeat is something both the audience and character would have in common. Also this builds suspense as tension is building up due to the heartbeat and low key lighting, making the audience believe that he is in a vulnerable position.

My group and I followed the generic conventions in my film also as they are what helped the audience recognise that it was a thriller film as the conventions enabled them to understand the film further, allowing them to know what genre the film was. The conventions were followed in a variety of things, but the main convention used was camera angles; 

As the film behinds an establishing shot is used, showing the the audience the house. Which then follows the house from the top to the ground, allowing the audience to understand the setting, seeing that the house was the main focus giving the audience a chance to create their own perspective of whats going to follow. 

The film continues on and an close up shot is used, showing the front door fill the screen. As the camera is at eye level it creates anticipation for the audience as they are unaware of whom is going to leave nor enter the house. The camera being held at eye level held the audience engage further into the film, giving them a clue for what to expect. 

The film continues with a variety of jump cuts being used switching the settings, allowing the audience to see all main focuses throughout the film, causing them to understand it more. As well as this, handheld camera shots are used once inside the house, for example when the little girl is being watched through the cameras POV, this is used to show the urgency and the  vulnerable position she is in. The camera being hand held creates jerky and an unsteady image, showing a sense of chaos and shock.

 Hidden identity is used thoughtout of the film as the audience are unaware of whom is filming the little girl, as they can only interpret that there watching it from the killers POV. The audience will begin to understand that the person there viewing it from is the killer when the narrative continues, as when inside the lights cut out leaving the girl in darkness, which then the girl screams with a jump cut that continues, allowing the audience to believe something has happened to the girl and the killer is leaving. 

Low key lighting is used throughout the scene due to it being night, and only being lit up by street lights. The use of the low key lighting helps introduce the hidden identity aspect and help create tension and suspense further as the audience are unaware of whom or what may come into the scene. As you can see from the photo below, the young girl is only lit up from the street lights. 

AS Thriller Evaulation

Firstly, the brief I was given was to create an thriller opening sequence, which has to include the conventions of a thriller and related to the particular target audience which I had chosen. To do this we got put into groups, mine included myself Ellie Holt and Blessing Dada. In the making of the production there was numerous amount of roles which were needed to successfully make the thriller.These varied from things such as director, to MES co-ordinator , editor, music producer and a few more. The role I had been allocated was MES co-ordinator, meaning I was in charge of makeup, costume, iconography and finding the most appropriate setting for which the sequence could be placed in. From being allocated this role I was able to understand the importance of the minor things such as makeup and iconography as this helps contribute towards the audience in understanding what genre the film is. Also from watching numerous other thriller films to help me to find the best setting, I began to understand further the different conventions of a thriller and their importance. As a whole I think out group worked ok, although we had a few mishaps in the beginning, we ended up working together ended up creating an opening sequence. It would have been better if we communicated more from the start as this would have meant we had more time in editing our film, not only that but we would have been able to create a better piece. From looking at the final piece I think we made an successful thriller film as it had aspects of different conventions, such as low-key lighting, hidden identity, diegetic and non-diegetic sounds and straight cuts. The film being set at night time with only the street lights, helped create suspense as the audience are unaware of what or who could be there as its dark, creating enigma allowing it to link to another convention; hidden identity. Hidden identity is used throughout as the audience are unaware of who is watching the girl, as they don't know who is filming, meaning they don't know whose POV their viewing things from. Causing them to use there own imagination to create the scenario. Diegetic and non-diegetic sounds are used during the film, for example while the girl is outside a noise of wind has been edited in, emphasising that she is outside alone, showing that she is in a vunrable position, adding to the eery atmosphere. Non-diegetic sounds are also used during the narrative when the girl is indoors and her phone rings, although this noise was not edited in because of the quite atmosphere it is emphasised, and takes the audiences focus. Causing them to take notice of what is going on and brings there attention to one main point.

Planning cinematography-Miss Miller

Cinematography is used in all different genres of films, but in thriller films cinematography is important due to  the audience being able to understand what is happening during the film and to emphasis certain points. For our thriller we have planned to use a variety of different camera angles to portray different characters importance in the film. By using different angles throughout the film it allows us to create more tension or suspense in the film, making us to be able to show the genre more.

The audience will be able to relate to the character as the different angles of the camera being used allows the audience to see characters in different lights. For example we used the camera being from point of view of the murderer. This allowed the audience to see from the murderers point of view and to allow the audience to understand the venerable position which the victim is in, building tension and suspense as we can see what is going to happen where as the victim is unaware, making this type of angle conventional to a thriller.

One of the first angled we used was a mid shot of the house, showing the setting. This helped create an eery atmosphere and build tension helping show the audience the genre of what there going to watch. The camera then shows a zooming out of the house and then zooms in to the door, showing this surrounding setting. Allowing the audience to see that its in an isolated setting although you can hear the sounds of a main road, making a contrast as usually it would be a quite which is stereotypical to a thriller when a murder is apparant.

Another angle we used was a zooming in, zooming in allows the audience to see what is most important in the scene, emphasising the important parts of the narrative allowing the audience to understand it further and for more thriller conventions to be created.

Panning being used in the narrative allows  the audience to see all of the setting, causing the audience to interpret what is going to happen, also it builds tension because it creates more of the narrative.

The narrative being filmed by a handheld camera allows the audience to begin to understand how chaotic the scene taking place is. Also the camera being held will make the picture appear more shaken, showing the audience the urgency the victim in the scene may be in.

From using these  variety of different camera angles and conventions of cinematography it allows the audience to interpret the film for themselves, and allows them to understand the thriller genre further.