Prezzi Evalatiom

http://prezi.com/yyu_jhjxd97s/as-media-studies-film-evaluation/
This is my evalation for our thriller opening sequence.

Questionaire Feedback

We questioned ten people on our opening sequcnce and these are the results...

 

Our first question asked if the location was appropriate, seven people said yes however the other three said they were not sure because sometimes it did and other times not, no more imformation was given. 

 

Our next question asked if they thought that the light used was a good effect and nine out of ten said yes which we were very happy about and agreed that it was well suited to a thriller

Three out of the ten people said that they didnt feel costumes were used to an advantage and there wasnt really any costumes used, Although the other seven agreed that they were suitable as everyday clothes during the thriller.

 

We also asked if they thought our opening sequence worked well without diaglogue and seven out of ten said yes and the others said we needed more explanation of what was going on because confusin occured in some parts.

 

Comments such as "amazing!" "good" and "edited well" were given when we asked if our editing was good and appropriate for a thriller and ten out of ten agreed this.

Eight out of ten people said that they would watch our film after watching this opening sequence although the others said they were not sure and it didnt really "look like a thriller".

 

Nine out of ten people said they could tell it was definately an opening to a thriller.

They thought our thriller would be aimed at 15+.

 

Our last question asked if we could improve on anything and what could be changed 6 out of ten people said it was quite confusing and hard to understand however the other four said there was nothing to improve on and even got "epic" as a comment.

Eight Group Meeting

Members Present: Rebecca and Kim

Todays Agenda: Give out questionnaires and recieve feedback

Seventh Group Meeting

Members Present: Emily and Kim

Agendas to be discussed: Finish editing the film and add the music to our film.

Action to be taken this lesson: Catch up and research for our blogs as one member is absent.

Action to be taken outside of lesson: Catch up with blog posts.

Certificate Rating

I think that are film could be suitable for  most people, we believe it could have a 12A rating as their isn't anything very graphic but would not interest a younger audience who would watch PG films.

Sixth Group Metting

We have filmed some of our film now and are beginning to edit it. Next lesson we all will continue to edit and try and film more to finish our thriller opening.

Questionares

Questionares

Before making our thriller and coming up with our own ideas we thought it would be useful to send out a questionnaire, which would then help us to decide what would be the most popular and what people like to see within a thriller film. We questioned 10 people at random, 4 males and 6 females.

Nine out of the ten people that we asked said that they liked thrillers and only the one that said they didnt enjoy them, suspense was a huge factor of why people are interested and what they think would make a good film. One person however disagreed and said they are to confusing.

The second questions we asked was what was the first word they thought of when they hear the word 'Thiller' the response was mainly suspence, crime, action and surprise.

We then asked what would a typcial character in a thiller look like and the majority said sinister and has dark clothing, to create a more creepy look.

The fourth questioned we asked was if they liked a storyline with a mystery behind, all of the answers came back as yes and therefore suspence is a huge factor of making a thriller film good and watchable.

For the fifth question we asked what they thought the lighting should look like in a thiller and they all came back saying "dark".

We then asked what thillers they have seen that they have enjoyed or a recent one they liked and they answers we got were quite mixed. Black Sawn, Orphan, Taken, Physco, Phoneboot.

For the seventh it was whether they were female or male and we questioned more females than men.

Our eighth questioned asked if they thought rapid cuts are a good idea to show action in a scene and eight of the ten said yes because it creates tension and suspense but on the other hand the other two people said it can cause confusion.

Question 10 told us that ten out of ten of the people we asked like a twist in the storyline.

In conclusion the majority of people enhoy the suspense and tension that accompanies a good thriller film, aswell as the twists and mysterys along the way. I think our group will try to take on board what we have found out in our questionnaire.

Fifth Group Meeting

Due to prop issues we decided to use a bear instead as we thought this would be just as sinster as a jack in the box. When squuzed the teddy has a sound inside which says 'i love you' we thought this could look very creepy when filming our opening thriller.

Agenda for next lesson: Film some of our film. the first half. Bring props and costumes and book equipment we need to film. E.g tripod and lighting.

Thriller Questions

1.   What is the purpose of the opening to a film?

The purpose of an opening to a film is to introduce briefly what the film is going to be about although not giving too much away so that the audience can then predict what will happen throughout the film. It should build suspense, intrigue the audience and leave them wanting to know more and not being able to turn it over. Also it sets the location and introduces one or two of the main characters involved.

2.   What techniques can a director use to create suspense in a film?

Most directors will use many different techniques to create suspense, the most common being music... in most films an everyday scene can be seen as sinister and scary to fit in with the thriller genre. Things such as building tempo and music are used and screechy sounds. Also another popular technique used is rapid cuts; by only showing parts of the scene the audience have to piece it together themselves.

3.   How do you think a thriller is defined?

Web definition of a thriller: “Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film and television that includes numerous and often overlapping sub-genres. Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more powerful and better equipped villains”. I think that  thrillers are more or less anything, because of the huge number of sub genres it has they are pretty much defined as something which  has an out of the ordinary storyline.

4. What film can you think of that would fit into the thriller genre?The Knowing

5. The thriller film can be divided into sub genres - what different types of thriller films do you think exist?

Conspiracy Thriller, Crime, Science Fiction, Erotic, Legal, Medical or Phychological, Mystery and Supernatural.

 6. What are the characteristics or conventions of a thriller film? (Consider narrative, characters,
mise-en-scene, star)

Naratives of the main character could perhaps be a convention of a thriller, a typical trate is to have the main character narrate and overlook events which have already happened and the story is being retold.

 

7. What do you think pleasures the audience about thrillers?The audience are looking for a combination of things during a thriller for them to be able to have a good opinion about it. For example non diegetic music is usually added to create suspense and keep the audience hooked. Another thing which pleases the audience is if the story or plot is so farfetched and out of the ordinary then escapism takes place, the audience usually like to enjoy being in a frame of mind so far away from their everyday lives and problems that they begin to enjoy the film more.

8. What do you think are the differences between a horror and a thriller film? I think a thriller can be anything abnormal and twisted hence why there are so many sub categories within this genre and the films are all about creating suspense. However I think that horror films are definitely more “gory” and “horrid”.

9. Using the internet research the “top 50 thriller films”, Look up the top 20, which have you watched? If it is not many why do you think this is the case? Out of the top 50 thrillers I have watched only 4 or maybe 5 of them. I think being a teenage girl, thriller films don’t really interest me, I have seen only the very new ones for example inception. I think this is not many because I am not that interested in them.

10. Using the internet, find three poster for thriller films. Complete a brief semiotic analysis of the posters. What colours are used, what kind of imagery, taglines, certificate and narrative?

I have chosen to analyse the Jaws DVD cover. Here is a brief summary of this 1975 thriller. “When a gigantic great white shark begins to menace the small island community of Amity, a police chief, a marine scientist and grizzled fisherman set out to stop it.” The contrast in the light and dark colours can be seen to give off two different impressions. The top of the poster is the sky which uses a bright sunny colour, which gives the impression that everything is fine and happy. Also there is a swimmer across the top, if you were to cover up the second half of the poster the name would not have coincided with the poster at all. However the second half is gloomy and the shark suggests danger and maybe element of gore.

The Bourne Supremacy is a 2004 film staring Matt Damon: when Jason Bourne is framed for a botched CIA operation he is forced to take up his former life as a trained assassin to survive. The cover and gun straight away give the audience an all around good guess of what the film is going to be about.

Psycho is about a young woman who steals $40,000 from her employer's client, and subsequently encounters a young motel proprietor too long under the domination of his mother. This 1960s film was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The name of this well known film really gives away how much of a thriller it is going to be, the audience can also see from the womans face on the poster that something out of the ordinary must be going on, because of the expression she is pulling.

Production Schedule

We are planning to start filming after February Half Term, which will be 28th February 2011

Our deadline for completing filming will be 16th March 2011.

During this time we will have to film our footage, edit, add sound and produce our film.

Location

This shows the map of our location for our film... New College Telford

We have chosen this location for our film because the trees and surroundings look sinister and old fashioned, therefore creating a more creepy atmosphere. We will be using the forest for one scene of the film and a dark room for the other.

Fourth Group Meeting

Group Members Present - Me, Rebecca and Kim

Agenda - Start planning storyboard and film

Action to be taken - Bring teddy bear, Get equipment - e.g camera/tripod.

Cast List

Characters:

Girl: Kim Yau
Camera work - Rebecca Hill & Emily Davies
Prop Organiser - Rebecca Hill

Lighting - Emily Davies 

Final Opening Sequence

Final Opening Sequence of "Teddy Bears Picnic"

Classification

There are different types of classification which a film is obliged to have, these make it legal for only a certain age to be permitted to view them.

'U' Film classification
It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.

PG film Classification
General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

Suitable for 12 years and over

Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.
The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.
The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.

Suitable for 15 years and over

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

Suitable for 18 years and over

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

R18

The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail order.

What makes a film an 18 certificate?

Suitable only for adults

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

All classification decisions are based on the BBFC’s published and regularly updated Guidelines. The Guidelines are the product of extensive public consultation, research and the accumulated experience of the BBFC over many years. They reflect current views on film, DVD and video game regulation.

In the most recent consultation over 8700 members of the public were asked for their views on classification – including consideration of issues such as language, discrimination, violence, sex and drugs in films, DVDs and video games, parental concerns about younger viewers and recent BBFC decisions. The Guidelines also take into account the various UK laws which the BBFC must consider and apply when making classification decisions.

Twilight Saga Eclipse Trailer

The Twilight Saga Eclipse Movie Trailer

Twilight is one of the most well known and seen films of this era, its thriller genre and fictional characters such as the wearwolves and vampires intreigue more and more viewers in this third sequal.

The Twilight Saga Eclipse bacic plot is... As Seattle is ravaged by a string of mysterious killings and a malicious vampire continues her quest for revenge, Bella once again finds herself surrounded by danger. In the midst of it all, she is forced to choose between her love for Edward and her friendship with Jacob - knowing that her decision has the potential to ignite the ageless struggle between vampire and werewolf. With her graduation quickly approaching, Bella has one more decision to make: life or death. But which is which?

The plot uses escapism for the readers and they imagine what it would be like to be in Bella's shoes and could not be further from their own lives and problems, this may be one of the reasons why Eclipse is such a big hit worldwide. Also the special effects, costumes and music adds to a complete all around fantastic film. The special effects are used to create fictional images and characters not seen in real life, and the well known music such as Muse and Florece and the Machine who are both hugely popular in the music industry; the film makers and sound producers have used this to their advantage to build popularity.
Some of the most iconic thriller directors include:
Steven Spielberg, Stanley Kubrick, Roman Polanski, Sydney Pollack, Alfred Hitchcock, Brian De Palma, John Huston, Quentin Tarantino, Orson Welles.

Research Into Props/Third Group Meeting

One of our original ideas was to use a jack in the box as our main prop and centre point for out story to bulid around, by taking a usually innocent childrens toy and putting in into a thriller movie this convertes the connotations and makes it look more sinister an creepy.

Our idea was inspired by the "One Hour Photo" that we watched for observation on thrillers, and the idea of a man who hadnt had the best childhood and cannot forget and therefore becomes obsessed with children and child like behaviour.

Second Group Meeting

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Second Group Meeting

Thinking about our ideas:

Viewing other peoples work we decided that toys are not considered to be a sinister object and using this would make it very interesting. We decided that a Jack In The Box would be our main focus in our project. Using lots of close up of the toys and use dark lighting to create tension. We want to use lots of rapid cuts and lots of fast paced movement contrasting with slow shots to create suspense




Costume and Prop List:
Dark clothing
Teddy Bears
Dark rooms
Lighting
Camcorder
Tripod

First Group Meeting

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

First Group Meeting

Our Group: Rebecca, Kim and myself

Our Initial Ideas:

We wanted to create a mysterious thriller. An 'innocent on the run' about a girl running away from something she saw. we wanted lots of long shots to get the scene and lots of action in the shot then rapid cuts to different locations to create lots of tension and suspense.

Preliminary task script

Preliminary Task

Shots our film should show:

• Shot/reverse shot
• 180 degree rule
• Match on match action

Script:

EMILY - Camera Work
BECKY - Physco
KIM - Police officer

BECKY

(sat down)
EMILY

(films door and physco)

(Kim's walks in holding folder and sits down. film over shoulder sitting down)

using  180 degree rule.

KIM 

This conversation is being recorded for evidence, the time is 17.04 therefore this interrogation will now begin.
(KIM HOLDS OUT PHOTOGRAPH)
KIM

Do you know this girl?
BECKY

No
KIM

Where were you on the 01/01/2011 at 2.00am?
BECKY 

I stayed in to celebrate the new year.
KIM

Do you have any witnesses to that?
  BECKY

Nope, i spent it alone.
KIM

We have evidence to place you at the scene of the crime Mrs.grave.
  BECKY

Impossible.
KIM

Your finger prints were at the scene
  BECKY

(LAUGH)

Thriller Genre

Thriller is a genre of literature film, within this there are different sub-genres, some of these include..

- Conspiricy Thriller - for example the 1997 American film Conspiricy Theory, the original screenplay by Brian Helgeland centers on an eccentric taxi driver who believes many world events are triggered by government conspiricies.

- Crime Thriller - 2005 Bruce Willis film, Hostage is a crime thriller based on the a book version of the story.

- Science Fiction Thriller - Knowing is an American film released in 2099, set in Melbourne Australia. A teacher openss a time capsule that has been dug up at an elementary shcool,  the character played by Nicholas Cage has a son who recives a letter from this particular time capsule containing a page full of numbers, which leads his father to come up with some chilling predictions as to what they mean, it then leads him to believe his family plays a role in the dangerous events that are about to unfold.

- Erotic Thriller -

- Legal Thriller
- Medical or phycological Thriller
- Mystery Thriller
- Supernatural Thriller



There is no exact definition of the thriller genre, it is mainly characterised through the "sudden rush of emoitions". Basically a thriller thrills, mostly through skillful plotting. Generally a standalone thriller keeps the audience on the "edge of their seats" with sometimes constant cliffhangers. The plot usually arrises and the tension builds with a situation where the character(s) are placed in such situations which it seems near impossible to get away from.

Prelimary Task My Edited Version

 

This is  my edited version of our preliminary task with changed credits, sound during these credits at the beginning and end could have improved it to help set the mood, although it shows everything the preliminary task asks.

Preliminary Task

 

For our preliminary task we had to show the 180 degree rule, shot reverse shot and match on match action. 

180 degree shot is the basic guideline in film making which states that two characters or such like should have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects it is called crossing the line. The diagram above shows th camera on the left and the fact that is does not move around further than 180 degrees and therefore follows the rule. This type of shot is usually used for conversations between two characters.

These three shots show our shot/reverse shot action of the 180 degree rule, and shows the rule of the audience seeing the same side behind that character showing them looking both in the opposite direction assuming they are looking at each other while having the conversation.

Match on match action or a match cut is used in film editing which shows two features/subjects/characters which graphically match which often helps to establish strong continuity of action and links the two shots metaphorically.

Shot reverse shot is a technique where one character is shown looking at another character and then the other shown looking back at them in the opposite direction, so the viewer assumes they are looking at them.

 

One Hour Photo

We watched the thriller film "One Hour Photo" for research on our topic, to help us understand what makes a thriller...            

 

Robin Williams plays the roll of an employee of a one-hour photo lab who becomes obsessed with a young suburban family.

The film uses sound to create tension and suspense for example in the chase scene the music gradually gets louder to increase and builds the mood. The simple instruments and sinister music with simple melodys creates tension and suspicion to add to the feel of a thriller.

The location is unusual and you would never have thought a simple everyday place like the supermarket could be portrayed in such a sinister way, the low tempo music helps to portray this in the way intended. The atmoshpere between all the characters seems too perfect and normal so we expect something unusual to be happening.

Lighting creates mood and atmosphere for example the red lighting while Sy is developing the prints and finds out the secret it suggests he is "out for blood".
Everyday props and objects such as photographs, Sy's glasses and the cameras and films which are everday objects become sinister and play a big part within the film.

Robin Williams plays the role of a very isolated man who works in the one hour photo booth in the supermarket, he doesnt live with anyone or have any friends or family to socialise with. The supermarket and his job are his whole life and he soon becomes obsessed with a certain family who are regular customers to the supermarket. He imagines himself as part of the family and soon thinks as the photos produced are his memories aswell as his.

What is a thriller?

Most thriller films include aspects such as...
- Crime Films
- Sends a chill through your spine
- Always a twist in the story
- Victims and Criminals
- People have mental and phychological problems
- Cliff hanger openings, builds suspence for the audience
- Accumilation of clues
- Props and objects having other meanings, ordinary things become sinister
- Anticipation and expectation
- Non melodic, off key music sets a creepy and mysterious mood
- Cops
- Surprises/Thrills
- Mystery/Enigmas
- Weapons
- Heroes
- Fast Pacing

Steve Neale "...suspencse thrillers focus either on victims of crime or on persued and violated criminals.."

Good examples of thriller films include Eden Lake, Phsyco, Shutter Island, Orphan, Case 39, One Hour Photo, Leon.

Media Coursework Brief

Our media task is to produce the titles and opening of a new thriller film, to last a maximum of 2 minutes.
Deadline is last lesson before the Easter Holidays (8th April)
The task will include research, planning, filming, editing and evaluation.