Your blog is designed to evidence the research and planning you have done before you start filming your thriller.
A blog in the 'excellent' category could include some of the following detail:
1. Analysis of student thriller
2. More than one detailed analysis of real thriller openings
3. Practise soundtrack for your thriller
4. Practise soundtrack for Taking Lives intro
5. Production company logo
6. Definition of thriller, outline of different sub-genres and hybrids
7. Analysis of examples of political, psychological, action thriller and crime thriller
8. Initial ideas post
9. Final idea post - for pitch
10. Influences and the thriller generic conventions you intend to explore
11. Mood board
12. Research into other films of similar sub-genres
13. Props list - with illustrations
14. Details of costumes - with illustrations
15. Location report - where you intend to film, if it is a public place then you need to consider the logistics of filming there. If it is private property you must seek permission from the owner.
16. Complete shot list
17. Completed storyboard
18. Test footage with a full explanation as to the technique you were testing and how successful the test was.
19. Details of when you intend to film (dates, times and places), who is responsible for bringing what props etc, what actors are needed and who is in charge of ensuring the actors are informed of times and locations.
20. Practise titles, consider the job titles and the names you wish to include. Do some research into titles. Look at Saul Bass as an industry expert in title sequences.
Thursday 28 January 2010
Thriller Project
Thriller Project Outline.
The thriller project requires us to create a two to three minute opening sequence for a new thriller. Our initial idea was to add the sub-genre of crime to our thriller.
The Opening sequence must include.
-to introduce the characters
-to establish genre
-to introduce location
-to set the mood
Basic Outline of our Story
We intend to base our crime thriller around a criminal who has escaped from prison and has abducted three females. The sequence will consist of live action. A majority of shots will be flash backs To add a Disorientating effect to create tension and suspense and to show how the women got abducted.
There will be close ups which contain voyeurism which is in present time then flash backs, to show how they got abducted.
we are also going to cut away from the hostage place to a Detective looking at case files, which will emphasize the crime thriller genre.
The Main location for our film will be an abandoned building or abandoned street/woods.
to create the mood of tension we will used a colored lens, and make the flashbacks in black and white.
Our Main Conventions
-the villain will not properly show and will be wearing a mask, this helps to create a fear for the unknown.
-We will use music and sound mainly atmospheric or lack of atmospheric to create tension and suspense.
-Manipulation of time.
-Creepy locations that give the film an eerie feel.
-lighting, adding filters and effects to give the film a dark sinister presence, and Black and white in flash backs to symbolize age.
Location
The location of our filming will mainly take place in an abandoned shed, or empty streets or woods. However one section of our location will be an office looking room. These are good location for a crime thriller as they are out of the ordinary places.
Characters and descriptions
2or 3 damsels in distress depending on how much time we spend filming them and how much movie time they take up, These characters will be in casual clothes but look a bit roughened up, grubby, and in distress, they may also be covered in blood. They will be played by friends of ours.
We need one villain, who will be dressed in an all in one boiler suit. we are still considering a mask or just very cleaver camera work to hide his identity. He too will be played by a tall friend.
We will also need a detective, who will be dressed in a suit. currently he will be played by George.
Props
-Fake blood
-Rope
-Blind fold
-Case files and scribbled notes
-costumes described above
-pictures, photographs
-envelopes/ letters
-a weapon of some kind
-Camera
Camera Shots
-Close ups,to show certain aspects of characters to keep a bit of mystery in the sequence
-Match on action, to distract the viewer from the main action
-Establishing, to set the scene and establish the location for the film
-Hand held, to disorientate the viewer
-Point of View, to create tension
-Medium, to move the story along
-Extreme close ups, to use the convention of voyeurism
-High angle shots to show power and Low angle to show vulnerability
Mood Board
This is a collection of photos we felt reflected the mood we want our film to have.
The thriller project requires us to create a two to three minute opening sequence for a new thriller. Our initial idea was to add the sub-genre of crime to our thriller.
The Opening sequence must include.
-to introduce the characters
-to establish genre
-to introduce location
-to set the mood
Basic Outline of our Story
We intend to base our crime thriller around a criminal who has escaped from prison and has abducted three females. The sequence will consist of live action. A majority of shots will be flash backs To add a Disorientating effect to create tension and suspense and to show how the women got abducted.
There will be close ups which contain voyeurism which is in present time then flash backs, to show how they got abducted.
we are also going to cut away from the hostage place to a Detective looking at case files, which will emphasize the crime thriller genre.
The Main location for our film will be an abandoned building or abandoned street/woods.
to create the mood of tension we will used a colored lens, and make the flashbacks in black and white.
Our Main Conventions
-the villain will not properly show and will be wearing a mask, this helps to create a fear for the unknown.
-We will use music and sound mainly atmospheric or lack of atmospheric to create tension and suspense.
-Manipulation of time.
-Creepy locations that give the film an eerie feel.
-lighting, adding filters and effects to give the film a dark sinister presence, and Black and white in flash backs to symbolize age.
Location
The location of our filming will mainly take place in an abandoned shed, or empty streets or woods. However one section of our location will be an office looking room. These are good location for a crime thriller as they are out of the ordinary places.
Characters and descriptions
2or 3 damsels in distress depending on how much time we spend filming them and how much movie time they take up, These characters will be in casual clothes but look a bit roughened up, grubby, and in distress, they may also be covered in blood. They will be played by friends of ours.
We need one villain, who will be dressed in an all in one boiler suit. we are still considering a mask or just very cleaver camera work to hide his identity. He too will be played by a tall friend.
We will also need a detective, who will be dressed in a suit. currently he will be played by George.
Props
-Fake blood
-Rope
-Blind fold
-Case files and scribbled notes
-costumes described above
-pictures, photographs
-envelopes/ letters
-a weapon of some kind
-Camera
Camera Shots
-Close ups,to show certain aspects of characters to keep a bit of mystery in the sequence
-Match on action, to distract the viewer from the main action
-Establishing, to set the scene and establish the location for the film
-Hand held, to disorientate the viewer
-Point of View, to create tension
-Medium, to move the story along
-Extreme close ups, to use the convention of voyeurism
-High angle shots to show power and Low angle to show vulnerability
Mood Board
This is a collection of photos we felt reflected the mood we want our film to have.
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Analysis of student made thriller sequence.
Out of all the thriller openings we looked this one stood out to us.
The clip is called isolation.
We thought The White noise was a powerful Yet Subtle way of setting tension and suspense, we also thought the use of a voice over was an effective way to setting the narrative.
We liked the Short duration shots. Short duration shots of people make them feel less human which scared the viewer, this style makes them look empty and soulless. The hand held helps to add the feeling of disorientation.
The way in which the credits were presented looked fairly professional because of the way they used a light in the darkness to determine the positioning of each credit.
The only bad point we picked out about this opening sequence is that it was slightly confusing and dragged on a little bit with a collection of similar shots which didnt tell us much about the narrative.
Why do thrilers thrive.
As people living is sheltered societies, almost free of experiencing the thrill of life threatening danger, we must find a practical way to be shaken yup. The most effective way to give us the thrills we want is through the medium of film. The reasons why the genre of thriller films are so well like is because it enables us to experience danger by watching a character, who lives a life much like our and who we are made to build sympathy for, go through emotional disturbances. Also unlike theater and literature, films allowed us to actually see the dangerous things as if they were real, thanks to our developed use of special effects. however film also allows us to subconsciously feel safe and secure, making the thrill and danger more enjoyable.
By Laura Dacey.
Audiences enjoy thrillers as they allow us to experience the danger and suspense of life with out having to endanger ourselves. we get to watch second hand artificial thrills whilst we are safe. In order to really feel the full effects of a thriller we have to be able to feel like we are included in the action and empathize with the characters, so we feel on the edge of our seats. Even though we are safe, thrillers which are well made force our mind to subconsciously play tricks on us. Horrifying scenes that shock us and make us see the character is in danger makes the film more intense and thrilling, and even though to us it seems as though the characters are hurt, or in some cases even dead, we know that the actors are never really harmed, and it is the effect of skillful camera work and editing.
By Aimee Ewens
By Laura Dacey.
Audiences enjoy thrillers as they allow us to experience the danger and suspense of life with out having to endanger ourselves. we get to watch second hand artificial thrills whilst we are safe. In order to really feel the full effects of a thriller we have to be able to feel like we are included in the action and empathize with the characters, so we feel on the edge of our seats. Even though we are safe, thrillers which are well made force our mind to subconsciously play tricks on us. Horrifying scenes that shock us and make us see the character is in danger makes the film more intense and thrilling, and even though to us it seems as though the characters are hurt, or in some cases even dead, we know that the actors are never really harmed, and it is the effect of skillful camera work and editing.
By Aimee Ewens
Friday 15 January 2010
Thursday 14 January 2010
In depth analysis of Donnie Darko
We watched the opening sequence of Donnie Darko which is classed as a psychological thriller. During the sequence there were many typical conventions of a thriller and hints that suggested in the beginning that it is psychological.
The sequence begins with the opening credits on a black background with white writing, with mystical font suggesting to us the genre. At this time the diegetic sound of a strong wind and thunder which creates suspense as we have not yet been shown the location for this scene, letting the viewer build an image in there head.
As we see the scene of cold and isolated mountains a non-diegetic soundtrack is introduced. In the distance is a body lying on the ground, and the music matches the mystery of this as the sound is creepy and dreamy, slowing building up. The sound continues as the camera tracks towards the body. At this point the lighting is dark and shadowy, matching that of typical thriller conventions. As the camera gets closer the body sits up, as the camera pans round to the side of the face, in a mid-shot so we can also get a closer look at the location. In this mid-shot the character, who we can now see is a boy, smiles in a way which makes us suspicious about him, and why he is there.
His simple costume makes him look scruffy and out of place, in contrast with the scenic beauty of the background, almost as if he has just woken up there.
The opening sequence ends with the title of the film appearing on the screen as the character walks out of the frame. After this point a bright light appears from the title, which almost looks like its imitating the sun, which then fills up the whole screen until it whites out completely.
The sequence begins with the opening credits on a black background with white writing, with mystical font suggesting to us the genre. At this time the diegetic sound of a strong wind and thunder which creates suspense as we have not yet been shown the location for this scene, letting the viewer build an image in there head.
As we see the scene of cold and isolated mountains a non-diegetic soundtrack is introduced. In the distance is a body lying on the ground, and the music matches the mystery of this as the sound is creepy and dreamy, slowing building up. The sound continues as the camera tracks towards the body. At this point the lighting is dark and shadowy, matching that of typical thriller conventions. As the camera gets closer the body sits up, as the camera pans round to the side of the face, in a mid-shot so we can also get a closer look at the location. In this mid-shot the character, who we can now see is a boy, smiles in a way which makes us suspicious about him, and why he is there.
His simple costume makes him look scruffy and out of place, in contrast with the scenic beauty of the background, almost as if he has just woken up there.
The opening sequence ends with the title of the film appearing on the screen as the character walks out of the frame. After this point a bright light appears from the title, which almost looks like its imitating the sun, which then fills up the whole screen until it whites out completely.
Tuesday 12 January 2010
Research into Thrillers
Definition of a thriller: Thrillers consist of fast pacing, frequent action, and heroes who must defeat the more-powerful and better-equipped villains.
An example of a classic thriller film is The Shining (1980).
This movie is considered "hauntingly chilling". It is full of long suspenseful camera work to build up the tension and keeps the viewers on the edges of their seats. The acting provided by Jack Nicholson is excellent. It is set in an old creepy and isolated mansion in Colorado, a realistic setting, where we watch the family become affected by cabin fever and ghosts. This thriller successfully builds up the sense of the unknown in whats going to happen. This keeps the viewers hooked, making it a classical and memorable thriller.
An example of a classic thriller film is The Shining (1980).
This movie is considered "hauntingly chilling". It is full of long suspenseful camera work to build up the tension and keeps the viewers on the edges of their seats. The acting provided by Jack Nicholson is excellent. It is set in an old creepy and isolated mansion in Colorado, a realistic setting, where we watch the family become affected by cabin fever and ghosts. This thriller successfully builds up the sense of the unknown in whats going to happen. This keeps the viewers hooked, making it a classical and memorable thriller.
Deadlines of Thriller Project
25th February- all footage shot
2nd March- rough cut deadline
9th March- final cut deadline
16th March- draft of evaluation
22nd March- evaluation finished and posted
2nd March- rough cut deadline
9th March- final cut deadline
16th March- draft of evaluation
22nd March- evaluation finished and posted
Friday 8 January 2010
Tuesday 5 January 2010
Story Board
for our prelimary task we created a story board so we have a general idea of what we are going to film.
Read from bottom to top
Read from bottom to top
Definitions
Match on action: this occurs with an action, such as opening a door, beginning in one shot. In the next shot the camera, now indoors, would photograph the person entering the room and closing the door, allowing us to see the action from two different perspectives.
Shot reverse shot is a technique where the camera shot shows one character looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking "back" at the first character, for example in conversation. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other. This is also used to show a reaction shot.
180 degree rule is a concept which helps keep continuity editing consistent. It sticks to one imagery line and cuts through the middle of a scene, from side to side. The rule is that you only film from one side of this line, as to not disorientate the viewer by changing their perspective.
Shot reverse shot is a technique where the camera shot shows one character looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking "back" at the first character, for example in conversation. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other. This is also used to show a reaction shot.
180 degree rule is a concept which helps keep continuity editing consistent. It sticks to one imagery line and cuts through the middle of a scene, from side to side. The rule is that you only film from one side of this line, as to not disorientate the viewer by changing their perspective.
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