Class feedback

After receiving our class feedback, we found that the positive aspects of our film were mainly:

• The use of black and white lighting whilst showing the body
• Effective soundtrack fitting well with the atmosphere
• Good production company logo
• Good use of micro elements such as cinematography 
• Good experimentation with credits 
• Good use of costume to fit in with the narrative and location

The majority of our negative feedback were points like:

• Could improve on titles to fit the thriller conventions 
• Shaky Camera at certain points 

RAKE

Final Thriller Film

Our thriller film is now finished. In order to complete the film from it's last stage, we took on board the comments that our fellow peers put to us. They said that we needed to make our title sequences longer and also we needed to make the lighting in our clips darker in order to provide a more eery feel so that it would add to the thriller conventions. We also had to change the music so that the beat kicked it when the girls body is displayed on the screen. Another constructive criticism that we got was that the title clip for our fill, Rake, was in the wrong position and that the colour and font weren't appropriate. We then researched some better, more effective fonts and changed the background colour to black and the font colour to white. This made the title page stand out and look more like a thriller film. After changing these minor problems, our film was complete.

Plan of action

Taking points from our feedback, to improve our opening sequence we could:

• Make our credits longer
• Change the order of the shots to make it more chronological
• Vary the lighting used to create more of an atmosphere
• Make our music fit our images precisely 

Feedback for our roughcut

EDITING:

• Smooth editing
• Effective use of black and white and flickering motions.
• Could be slightly more chronological

SOUND:

• Very good use of sound effects on the production logo
• The drums could create more effect if they came in when the first shot of the girl is shown

CAMERAWORK:

• Point of view shots of characters
• Canted angle created sense of distortion
• Good use of varied shots and techniques eg panning, and used effectively creating mystery of characters and themes

MISE-EN-SCENE:

• Location, props and clothes all link together.
• No shot showing us the location before hand
• Male character seemed to have no understanding of why he was using his prop
• Lighting was all one tone, could have varied this a bit more to create more of a mood and atmosphere

TITLES

• Credits were good, great use of font and effects
• Could of lasted longer

THRILLER CONVENTIONS:

• Based around a murder which fits well with a thriller 

Roughcut

Sound Analysis

Look at a clip from the Descent on youtube.

1. watch it without the sound:
How does it make you feel/ what effect do the images have?
The clip without sound doesn't really have a profound effect on us, the images in the clip made us feel slightly on edge. We felt it was not as enticing as a clip would be with sound, even though the images were disturbing it was not clear when the real climax's were as this is usually highlighted by a climax in the music.

2. Watch the clip with the sound, what is the effect now? how different is it?
The clip with sound had a much bigger impact on us, the sound enabled us the opportunity to realise when the climax was about to happen i.e. the scary shots where the crawlers appeared due to the build up of the sound, it built-up tension leading up to the scary moments which put us on the edge of our seats.

3. Now you have seen the effect the sound has, how important do you think sound is? What type of feelings will you try and create through sound?
Now that we have seen the two clips with and without sound, we realise that sound is vital in building up a desired atmosphere i.e. scary. In our own thriller film we will incorporate sound to accompany our different images. For example, when the farmers follow the dogs to the dead girl in the field, the music will climax so that the audience are aware that something scary is going to happen.

Sonic Moodboa

This is our sonic moodboard for our thriller film. We incorporated images that are similar to the ones in our film.

Three skills that I would like to improve on

Three skills in which I myself would like to improve on for this project are:

• Puncuality. I feel that my attendance could be a lot better so therefore this time I would like to attend more lessons in order to help my group and if I am ill to inform them before the lesson so they are aware.
• Be more inventive. I would like to be more inventive with this project and to try different things and be more adventurous with the editing and camerawork.

Overall children's film evaluation

rtbwwwwwThings we did really well

• Use of different camerawork and varied shots e.g long shots, mid shots, handheld etc.
• Music is good and suits particular parts of our film.

Things we need to improve on

• Ending of our film doesn't fit well.
• Could include more colour appropriate for our target audience.

Q2-39's Feedback :)

Things we liked about your opening

• The use of different editing techniques 
• The speeding up effect while actors were walking around the college 
• The range of different camera work, e.g high and low angles around the table.   

Things we thought you could improve on

• Range of colour to fit target audience 
• More steady with camera 
• Better execution of ending  

Overall it was really good :D

Our final Idea

The sub genre of our film is going to be a crime thriller, the overall narrative of our film would be about two farmers that find a body whilst harvesting their fields.
The characters in our film would be two male farmers with their dogs, we would use dogs as they would be the first to discover the body and this enables us to use diegetic sound of the dogs barking.
The location of our filming would be in a deserted feild in one of our nearby villages, this is to show an erry atmosphere.
The lighting of the sequence will be dull to show a more gloomy atmosphere, and to make it more realistic so it reflects every day farming lifestyle.
We or the actors we will be using will be dressed in the streotypical farming manor, so it is clear to the audience what characters we are trying to portray. The costumes will consist of items such as , wellies, hats, checkered shirts and dungerees.
The chosen tittle of our film will be
There would be a non diegetic soundtrack towards the end of the sequence when the body is discovered this would correlate with the editing as it would be fast paced to build tension making the audience aware that something will happen.
Our editing will be contiunous throughout except from when there is the scene where they found the body , in this part of the scene it will be montage editing produce an exciting atmosphere.

Who was going to be in charge of organising props?

We will all share the duty of organising props

Did we need permission to film in the fields?

We replied, no we don't need permission to film in the fields,

because they're not private property.

What filming shots will you use? 

We will use a few techniques of camera shots, these shots will consist of close ups , establishing shot 

and a canted angle shot.

When do you intend to film?

We intend to film during a weekend. This is because it will be easier for us to get together as we live in different areas and we will have long time periods to do our filming. The date that we will be filming on 12th Febuary.

What equipment will we need?

We'll need, a camera, a tripod, farming cosutmes and simplistic farming props.

Opening sequence ideas

Idea one:
The location for this idea would be in a old town village.

The introduction for this scene would be many short clips shown at a fast pace, of dark images of the nearby village, the village would be shown as empty and deserted. However we wouldn't produce footage that was too scary or horrific because we don't want it to appear as a horror. The sequence would then cut back to an establishing shot of a deserted house shown at a much slower pace.

The narrative of the opening would be introducing the setting and characters that it is focused on. We would use high pitched fast music to compliment and link in with the fast paced editing.

Idea Two:

The location of our second idea would be a graveyard in shelford, a local village. This location would be good, because it has a long path leading up to it as well.  Our editing would consist of slower takes on the footage because we want to make the focus be on the long windy path, however our pace of editing would speed up as our detective characters would approach the area of the graveyard. This would imply there was going to be where most of the action would take place in the film. Our sound would be screechy and slow, because we have violins playing.

Idea three:

Our third idea would be set in a dark housing estate it would be the subgenera of a crime thriller.

Whitet our production logo

To create this logo we used photoshop, we chose to have the i appear as a dagger to fit with the genre of a thriller. The text is in white to relate and represent the name of our production company. Also the lightning background in the logo creates a mysterious and dark setting to relate to the genre again.

Marv Films

Marv Films is a UK based production company. The company is owned by Matthew Vaughn. The production company is best know for the motion pictures, Stardust, Layer Cake and Kick-Ass.
The logo for the production company Marv, is very simplistic and minimal. The logo is purely just font, and we noticed that the font type doesn't change whereas the background for the logo does. This displays that the company is very flexible and can produce different types of films.

Analysing previous students thriller openings

Firstly i analysed group P2-37 they used thesub-genre of a crime thriller. They framed the shots very well, the location of the scene was established making the viewer understand what was going on and also giving them faint idea of what sort of crime would be committed, for example having it in a dark dingy lower class area suggests that there will be an element of stealing of drug abuse of some sort. There is a particualr shot twhere the gang of boys is running out of the car park there is a strip of light throught the middle of the screen, whereas the rest is blank. This is an example of how the opening is carefully framed, this varys the visual image that the audience are shown and creates the idea of the place being dingy and dangerous by only having a strip of light from an underground carpark. I think this also gives the film a more proffesional  overall image.

Both the protagonist adn the antogonist are shown using varied shots, the women is shown at two high angle shots one from her walking along the road and one from her coming up the stairs this shows her vurnerability as it gives the effect and idea of someone looking down on her. The gang of boys are first shown to us at a long shot the shot at first is blank then we see the boys come out walking at the same pace, this makes them seem intimidating as they are in a big group, but also you don't know when they will appear and the audience may not be expecting it. This fits the conventions of a typical crime thriller as we are introduced to bot the committer of the crime and the victim. There is a point of view close up of the boy about to throw the punch, this enables us and makes us seem as if we the audience are on the recieving end of the violence.

There is music all the way throught the sequence, meaning the audience is kept interested, it also relates to the images shown in the sequence. For example, as the crime is being committed the music becomes more upbeat this creates fast pace mirroring the way the crime is committed in a quick straight to the point  way. There is a clear use of hanheld camera movement, after the crime is being committed, this shows the aftershock of the crime and the panic the boys are going through to get away. The scene is then changed to a shot of two girls in a bedroom, they are oblivious to what has just happened. This is also shown by the music as it changes to a more softer tone.

The second opening sequence i analysed was

Marking crieteria

The thriller project is marked in terms of levels, each at a different standard:
Level 1- up to 23 marks
Level 2- 24-35 marks, meaning showing of basic ability
Level 3- 36-47 marks, showing proficient ability
Level 4- 48-60 marks, showing excellent ability
Things to be included in the film to achieve the best of your ability:

• Holding a shot steady when appropriate
• Framing a shot, including and excluding elements
• Using a variety of shot distances
• Shooting material appropriate to the task
• Selecting mise-en-scene
• Editing so that meaning is apparent to the viwer
• Using a variety of shot transitions and effects
• Using sound with images
• Using tittles appropriatley

Harry Brown, Crime thriller Anaylsis

We watched the opening to the film Harry Brown. Harry Brown is a crime thriller.
From watching the clip we were able to construct a clear understanding of the conventions for this particular sub genre. The first convention that we were introduced to was the image of a group of boys doing drugs. This is a convention of a crime thriller, as the audience are immediately introduced to a crime e.g drug taking. This is also a convention because in the majority of crime thrillers, we are introduced to the person, or people that are going to commit the crime. This convention is then developed as we see further crimes taking place on the estate such as the murder of the woman, who is walking with her baby. We can see first hand the brutality of the crime because we see it through the eyes of the murderers and we can also see the vulnerability of the woman. This is a common convention of a thriller as the narrative in this particular sequence in shown through the perception of the thugs, we can hear what they say to each other and we can also see what they see. We are then introduced to a voiceover of a newsreader. This is accompanied by a blank scene. the newsreader is reporting crimes that have taken place. This is a convention for a crime thriller because the crimes are made realistic and are realised by the audience because they are reported in a way as if they could happen. This shocks the audience into the realism of everyday life. After the crimes have been committed at different points in the film, the fast paced action is always followed by the introduction of the isolated character Harry. This is used in order to display the change in pace and makes the audience realise the severity of the crimes because of the drastic changes. We see the protagonist, Harry Brown, as a ordinary guy who is seeking answers such as defeating the youths in his community.

At the beginning of the film the first characters that we are introduced to is a gang of youths. They are displayed to the audience as a group of stereotypical, rough, chavs. The next character that we are introduced to is the protagonist, Harry Brown. We learn that Harry is a very lonely man. He lives on his own and he has to cope with the deaths of both his wife, Cath and his daughter. He lives on a rough estate and witnesses crimes which take place in his community. We learn that they is controversy between Harry and the youths. Another character that we are introduced to is Harry Browns best friend, Len. The first time he is seen is in the pub. We learn that Len is being harassed by the youths on the estate and he decides that he wants to do something about it.
The whole sequence at the beginning of the film is handheld camera work which is very fast paced. This a convention as the crimes that are being committed are all very fast. This creates a sense of realism for the audience. One editing technique that we see is the use of black scenes. After the murder of the young woman, the shot goes black and silence is introduced. This exaggerates the crime. This is typical of a thriller because it's very powerful to display a contrast between action and silence.

Action thriller conventions:

From the class feedback we have h=found that the typical conventions of the sub genre of an action thriller are:

• Constant changing of location
• The audience is made aware of the plot almost straight away
• The protagonist is shown to be a sterotypical male eg. athletic, confident. However throughout the film there is two sides of him shown with the narrative bringing a more caring side out of him.
• The lighting used is very dark when there is action taking place, contrasting with the light of the scenes taken from ordinary life.
• There is a vivid use of close ups eg the whole of a persons face is never shown in the begining of the openening sequence.
• There is an element of continuous editing used.

Physiological Thrillers

We discussed specific conventions that contribute towards the structure of physiological thrillers.

• Central theme of identity- mistaken identity, stolen identity, lost identity (amnesia), dual identity, dopple-gangers.
• Perception- often the narrative is shown from the perspective of multiple characters.
• Reality- confusion between what is and isn't real. The main characters idea of reality is different to the norm establishment within the film.
• Memory- the torture of an individual by a traumatic memory. The traumatic search for a lost memory.
• Stream of consciousness- the viewer is invited to identify with the physce of a particular character. 
• Unreliable narrator- the person telling us the story is discovered to be untrustworthy. This unnerves the viewer.
•  Flashbacks, reversing and fast forwarding of events- non linear narrative.
• Imagery- the eye is a regular visual motif.

Vertigo Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

We analysed the opening sequence Vertigo by Alfred Hitchcock. The title 'Vertigo' relates to the weakness of the main character, who is the protagonist in the film and is fallible and has an 'Achilles heal' which is exploited at the very beginning which as we discover is his fear of heights.
Throughout the opening sequence to this film there is music which is incorporated in order to build up suspense. The first image that we are introduced to is the image of the woman's lips. This is followed by corresponding images of her eyes. This is an example of voyeurism as we see the woman in vulnerable state because she looks uneasy as her eyes are not focused. This can also represent objectification because the woman is shown as only specific bits and is seen as just an object and not a person. This also builds up tension because we don't know what she's looking at or why she's in that state. The image seen above of her eyes then changes to red. This represents both danger and blood, which can depicted of the danger the woman's in. The fact that the images of the woman's face, are all close ups, creates disorientation. The sequence then turns into swirly objects and shapes which also creates disorientation.
The narrative of the opening sequence is based around a crime element. the first action shot that we see, is of a man running away from a policeman. We are put into the midst of the action without the plot being given away to the audience, leaving them wanting to watch on.

The next scene that we see, we are reintroduced to the man who was running away, who is now with a woman. In this scene we discover that the man was having a dream. This is a convention of a thriller as it's an example of manipulation of perspectives because the man is seen to be having a dream yet the dream seems real. This plays with the idea of his fear of heights 'vertigo' as he is shown dangling of a high building. The protagonist, which is the man dangling from the building, is seen to be in peril at the beginning. This builds up suspense for the audience watching.

The difference between a horror and a thriller

There are many differences between thriller and horror films .

Thrillers

• Fear of unknown 
• Usually already dead when the bodies are found
• The characters are usually detectives 
• Less violence
• Who/what/why
• continuous eerie music
• dark lighting usually
• usually set in cities as oppose to the suburbs
• references to murder investigations
• Plenty of twists
• Complex
• More mature
• 
  

Horrors

• Women are usually the victims 
• Suburb settings
• Adults are absent settings
• predictable
• gore is the violence
• different weapons add to surprise
• Younger cast target the young audience
• Groups usually
• people get killed off one by one usually

Conventions of a thriller

Thriller films have specific conventions and themes in which they have to follow. The majority of thrillers consist of...

• A crime that has to be solved. This is focus of the narrative.
• Close ups which make the images disorientated. 
• Synester, low beat music which is usually followed by exaggerated noises/ sound effects. 
• Phycological.
• Mystery.
• More experimental editing e.g. parallel/ non linear/ montage.
• Government as background to narrative- often in an action thriller.
• Binary opposite characters which consist mainly of the protagonist and the antagonist.
• Themes of mirroring/ illusion/ mistaken identity.
• Protagonist is often isolated.
• Objectification of females e.g. females are often isolated.
• Voyeurism- audience becomes a voyeur- watching without knowing (becoming more involved in the thriller.)