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

http://prezi.com/bbke2q6cnruf/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

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. 

film schedule- miss georgiou



Filming schedule


My group and I made a filming schedule to make us become more organised while filimg. The pschedule included the date and time, location, the conetent and action, the shot type, iconography, personnell and equipment. The schedule was helpful as it helped us stay organised and knew what we was doing while filming, what we needed and how long it would roughly take. There was a few changes thoughout but not major.

Shot	Date & time	Location	Content /Action	Shot type & Duration	Costume/ hair/ make up	Iconography	Personnel	Equipment
1	3.12.2013	Purley Avenue Woodford	Victim and friend walking down the road.	Mid shot 8 seconds	Both victim and friend in normal clothing, showing that anything will be unexpected.	N/A	Actor, Camera person Location manager Props / make up / hair artist	camera, batteries, tripod, Tape / memory card spotlights x3, light reflection boardDigital
2	3.12.2013	Purley Avenue Woodford	Victim begins to become paranoid and keeps looking behind and around surroundings.	Mid shot   8 seconds	Same as above	N/A	Actor, Camera person Location manager Props / make up / hair artist	camera, batteries, tripod, Tape / memory card spotlights x3, light reflection boardDigital
3	3.12.2013	Purley Avenue Woodford	Victim and friend depart from eachother and victim begins to walk up garages.	Straight Cut 6 seconds	Same as above	N/A	Actor, Camera person Location manager Props / make up / hair artist	camera, batteries, tripod, Tape / memory card spotlights x3, light reflection boardDigital
4	3.12.2013	Purley Avenue Woodford Garages	Victim sitting on her own and began to hear more voices and begins to become more paranoid.	Montage shot 5 seconds	In a long black coat  and jeans.		Actor, Camera person Location manager Props / make up / hair artist	camera, batteries, tripod, Tape / memory card spotlights x3, light reflection boardDigital
5	3.12.2013	Purley Avenue Woodford   Garages	Victim sitting on the floor and beginning to hear more voices, and starts screaming banging her head.	straight shot 10 seconds	In a long black coat and jeans.		Actor, Camera person Location manager Props / make up / hair artist	camera, batteries, tripod, Tape / memory card spotlights x3, light reflection boardDigital

risk assessment- Miss georgiou

The purpose of doing a risk assessment was so that myself and my group would be safe during filming and for no problems would occur. To insure that their were no dangers, and if so they was dealt with we created a risk assessment to know what to do if need be. To avoid these dangers and any hazards we came up with a prevention for each, although we did not have many.

Description of hazard                                                    How to prevent the hazard

Tripod falling over;                                                          Make sure it is on a flat surface at all times, 
                                                                                        and carefully balanced.


Dropping the camera ;                                                    Make sure while filing handheld scenes it is strapped over                                
                                                                                        our fingers, or while not filing placed in the bag correctly   
                                                                                        and secure.

Tripping on leads while filing ;                                        Place leads behind out of peoples way, or tape down.

Getting run over ;                                                           Be careful of your surroundings of where your filming.

inspirations-miss miller

Inspiration

Inspiration plays a vitol role before creating something as your imagination and being inspiered by someting is key for you to create a good idea, also it ensures you to have good ideas in the making of your narrative so you know you will end up with a good final piece. As you may have taken many ideas from films which already have a good rating from people, telling you that if you do something similar you should hopefully receive the same response. People take inspiration from all different kind of things, something that may had occurd or a film they may have watched. I have taken my inspiration from looking at a range off different films, taking insperation from sound, cinematography and other micro-elements.

Firstly i took my sound inspiration from looking at various different films, but especially from looking at wrong turn 4. In this a classic upbeat song is played while they are electrocuting someone, this is a contrapuntal sound and juxtaposition is used to allow the audience to understand that they are murderers and have mental issues. Also it creates a sick and twisted plot, creating it to be conventional to a thriller. From this it make me think of what sort of sound i would like in my own narrative, i liked the idea of the contrapuntal sound as this interests the audience and entrigs them as it is not what they expecting, causing them to look into the film further and make them unexpected to what will happen next. Causing them to be shocked and surprised and to also build suspense as they are unsure of what will happen next, making the film conventional to a thriller. As well as contrapuntal sound, non- diegetic and diegetic sounds are used throughout all films. This inspired me as i began to see how editing in sounds could cause the audience to see a whole different perspective of a film, due to sounds being more empathised it create a different emotional impact on the audience as they began to notice things that they wouldn't before due to it being editing in it created things to be worse or better then what they actually were.

Secondly I began to look at the camera shots taken in Saw. Various of different angles and shots were used for the correct shot to be taken, showing the audience what they need to see for them to understand the narrative and begin to interpret whats going to happen next. What i especially liked in saw is when they used timing of shots, slowing down a certain point in a scene to empathises what is happening so the audience are aware of what is most important. I found that this was a good idea as it cased the audience to be aware of what to watch out for during the film and were able to understand the vulnerable position the character was in. Which is why i want to use it in my own narrative as i found that it created a better relationship with the audience and the character as the audience were able to take more notice of what was happening to the character.

From looking at mama, a number of different thriller conventions were used which i took inspiration from for my own thriller. A montage shot was used, switching the main shot from the women to the girl back to the women. This created excitement and suspense where the two different shots were quickly juxtaposed together. From seeing this i will more then likely use it in my own thriller as it helped add excitement for the audience because of the chaos that was being created. 

From researching all these different films it has helped me alot to find my own ideas for my own narrative as it has inspired me to try different things. For example the contrapuntal sound in wrong turn 4 was unusual, and i would not of done it originally, but as i saw how well it worked there it inspired me to do it for myself, as well as included all different conventions to make the narrative conventional to a thriller.

Research into the history of thrillers-Miss Georgiou

A thriller Film is a genre that revolves around anticipation and suspense. The aim for Thrillers is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seats. The core of a thriller film is usually a problem for example an escape, a mission, or a mystery.  The tension with the problem is built on throughout the film and leads to a highly stressful climax. Over time the thriller genre has changed becoming more advanced, as they are now able to use more modern technology, making thriller films more popular and interesting.

1920s
 In 1922, one of the first thrillers ever made was Nosferatu. Made in March 1992 and directed by F.W.Murnau, based on a dracula the movie it was conventional to thriller as it was in silence. It having no sound is significant to making the film contribute to the thriller genre, as it helps create suspence, surprise and shock. Also it will cause the audience to be more involved in watching the film as they are focused on whats going to happen as they cant predict whats going to happen from the music. It being in silence means that Murnau had to base and rely on other thriller conventions to help make the film in the thriller genre.


1940s

During the 1940s the thriller industry began to increase, with more people being interested in this type of genre. In 1941, a thriller film called Suspicion was released. Based on a shy young English women marrying a man, then suspecting him of killing her. The director being Alfred hitchcock, tells us already that the film achieved a great response, receiving an oscar. The narrative helps us understand the thriller genre as it is stereotypical to a thriller, also being in black and white helps shows conventions to a typical thriller as shading and light is used to highlight pacific points that will help the audience understand what genre it is.


1980s

In the 1980s a thriller called 'Friday the 13th' was released. The narrative is based a group of teenagers who are brutally murdered individually when attempting to re-open a abandoned campground. This film took inspiration from The Last House On The Left, as the director, Sean S Cunningham, wanted the film to have shock suspense and surprise, like us taking inspiration from this film the director took his from others also, as this helps us understand thriller conventions further making us able to introduce them into our own.

2000

What lies beneath was released in 2000. Based on a story about a wife of a university research scientist believing that her lakeside Vermont home is haunted by a ghost. But she is unsure if she is loosing her mind instead. It being the 2000's we can see a large difference from the thrillers now compared to one in the 1920s. This is because colour picture is now used making more conventions to a thriller being able to be used for example, hidden identity. Also it will be more advanced due to more modern technology being used.





 As we can see from the results in the table above the thriller genre appeal to a wide audience, making it populer and an ideal genre to use when makingh a film as its more then likely that it will recieve a good response.

 From researching into thriller films over the past generations i have founhd which are bvest thriller conventions to use, as i have been able to see what looks best depending on the narrative. Also i have been able to see how other the use modern technology have allowed thriller films to become more popular due to them being more realistic.

Group Storyboards- Miss Miller

The making of our group story board was that we all put together our individual ideas with it resulting in a final idea. We looked at eachothers indeas and incorparted each of our on ideas together, changing and imporiving them until we was left with a final result.

From having a discussing each member of my group, Blessing james and I all contributed in putting our own ideas together to make our narrative the best it can be and making it appeal to all audiences. We each looked at different films and too inspiration from this in order to make our own.

As a group we included all typs of thriller conventions, for example our victim is going to be inj a deserted location using low key lighting from lamposts, and our victim will be a younf female blonde as this is sterotypical to a thriller, so it will allow our audience to understand the genre which the film sits in.

By our group planning our story board together each of us were able to intorudce our own ideas to each group member and were able to be organised to end up filming our narrrative. Also us putting all of our ideas together allowed us to have the bests of all three to hopefully make a good narrative, as we would waste less time on our own making mistakes.

Production Roles-Miss Miller

Production roles are a key part in being organised in making a film.People who are involved in the film will be allocated with numerous different job roles which will help them contribute to the ending of the final piece. The job roles with are allocated are made to help either edit the final product or help in the making of the on-screen image. The main roles used within the making of a film is the producer, MES co-ordiantors, the director, the camera man, and music producers. Each of these roles are vital in making a film sucessfull.

As a group we decided who would be best at doing what to help contribute in the making of the film, this resulted in each of us having a role which we would do best at in helping contribute to the making of our opening sequence.

Firstly we picked who would be the director, this is who Directs the film and gives out orders to all other members of the the team, for example the cast and camermen. All people who ate contributing in to help make the film. We decided that all of us will play our as the Director as we believed that as we are all working as a team we will be able to keep organised the most and help us sucessfully create an opening sequence, although in the making of the film, myself played most directing role in telling people what to do.

Secondly there is an camera man, james will play this role as he seemed to understand how to work the camera best knowing what angle would be best to place the actors in and to shoot from. So from, this we decided that it would be best for him to take this role as it would benefit our opening sequence. The job of the camera man is to film the narrative and understand what angle is best to portray what the director wants the audience to see.

We then have the actors and actress'. Amber Smith and Elis Gultekin played a role in a film, Amber being the one who begins hearing things and Elis being Ambers friend. The job of an actor is the main part of the film as they portray an character the audience understand which helps the film begin its narrative and introduce the genre the narrative holds. The characters role is watched over by the director and is frequently told what to do and how to do it.

The music producer, looks at the narrative and will understand where is best to edit in effects and music. Blessing will take this role as she is strongly interested init and has taken many inspieration from other films. The music producer will have to find the best effects and use them at the right part of the narrative to help emphisis key parts in order to make the audience understand the film further and for the narrative to create shock suspence and surprise.
The job I also was given was the MES co-ordinater. My role was to prepare things such as the iconography, the constumes, lighting as well as where the film was set. For this i watcheed a number of films to understand what best portrays what my actor in the film should look like, also what the setting should be in order for the audience to understand the narrative and for it to create engima.

James will also play the job of the editor. The editors role is to produce the final product of the film. They have to edit all the shots that have been taken and place them together in order for it to create the opening sequence. Not only this but they have to introduce the sounds which the music producer has foumd and be on time so that the director can run other what they have produced and then produce it to an audience.

Planning opening credits- Miss Georgiou

Planning opening credits

Credits play an important role in a film as they tell their audience who was in the film and give recognition to who contributed in the making of the film. All genres of films include credits and usually include it in the beginning of the film to help set the scene, for example the font of credits can help introducing the genre. It also is used to show the hierarchy in the making of the film, for example the director may put himself first, and then the big actors or actresses be the first to come up in the credits about the actors, as this would attract a larger audience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZK7mJoPLY

The credits in Se7en are introduced into the film once the main part has happened, which sets the scene. The credits help contribute to making the film conventional to a thriller due to the shaking hand writing font, showing unsteadiness, contributing to the thriller genre as it shows the film is not going to run smooth, and there is something going wrong. The font being white on black, and flashing when on the screen making the font seem blurry shows there is an engima within the narrative, also that their is evil going on with the film as the black and white creates a contrast, which may be evil against good.

The credits are conventional to a thriller due to the photos in the background, and the main colours through out being plain colours of beige, black and white with flashings of red, showing the aspect of danger. Where as the dark colours  creates shadows shows the theme of hidden identity and the flashes of white and red create enigma, making it conventional to a thriller and attracts the audience as they want to know what happens.

The importance of each person which contributed in the making of the film are usually shown in where they appear in the credits. For example in the credits of se7en, the production company is shown first, followed by the director then the most famous actors. Followed by the title, more actors and then the director- fincher again. The director being shown first and last shows that the director values what he does and believes he is highly creditable.

My chosen credits to look at are from insidious, I choose these as I believed they would help influence me on the making of my own credits, and I understood how they contributed to making the film relate to the thriller genre. At the opening of the film, the word insidious is highlighted in bold red writing across a black background, immediately alerting the audience of danger. The red writing creates a contrast against the black, also telling us that the main genre to the film is a thriller, so it makes the audience aware of what there going to watch. Not only do the names appear in red, but when they appear of the screen smoke comes off the top of the writing showing danger.

From looking at se7en and insidious, my group and I decided that we think it would be best for our opening sequence to have our credits appear at the start, which a number of different images appearing in the background. We thought that we should have the inside of a clock ticking in the background, showing the audience that it is an indepth narrative and based on time, with font big and small depending on what it says. Also keeping it consistant with the colour theme by having the font in either red black or white, but causing it to contrast with the background.

planning sound- Miss Miller

planning of sound

Sound plays a vitol role within the thriller genre as it empathises' a thrillers main sources to scare its audience, and create suspense, shock and most of all surprise, creating a thrill for the audience and making it conventional to the thriller genre. Usually thrillers are based on the main focus of non-diegtic sounds, such as sound effects and background music as the sound effects will emphasis main scenes making them appeal more to the audience and stand out, where as the music will help build tension.


Within my opening thriller i will use diegetic sound to set the scene, this lack of music and other sound effects also adds suspense as it makes the scene extremely quiet, making the audience watch more closely as they are intriged to know what will happen next, as the scene is set in a deserted location. Causing the audience to only hear the wind or cars passing by.

While this is continuing to happen an off screen diegetic sound will be used, a voice of a girl speaking words. This is off screen as you can not see it in the frame the screen is focused on but can hear it, but you are unaware where it is coming from, meaning you had to add it in in the making of the clip. 

As the narrative comes closer to the end, more off screen diegetic will be used at a faster pace due to the girl in the scene becoming more stressed, creating chaos, hopefully exciting the audience. The fast pace off the music will reflect on the scenario happening in the opening sequence causing the audience to be able to relate as they have become more connected into the film.