This is our filming schedule that we plan to follow when it comes to filming.
Friday 26 February 2010
Thriller Task- Film Schedule
Lesson - 26/2/10
This is our filming schedule that we plan to follow when it comes to filming.
This is our filming schedule that we plan to follow when it comes to filming.
Thriller Task- Locations
Lesson 10- 26/2/10
Trisha Sheehan was in charge of deciding the final locations and as a group we agreed for the thriller opening sequence.
Since our story is based around a girl jumping off a cliff we knew that whereever we were going to film there was going to have to be a cliff there. We discussed about various locations we could film at but we then we decided that some of the locations would take too long to get too or were too difficult to get too.
In the end we decided on filming at a place called 'Bobs Rock'.
This is the perfect location as it has wooded area and also a cliff which is vital as this is where most of our filming is going to place. There is also a graveyard where we could also film to help add to the spooky atmosphere which we are trying to capture.
Trisha Sheehan was in charge of deciding the final locations and as a group we agreed for the thriller opening sequence.
Since our story is based around a girl jumping off a cliff we knew that whereever we were going to film there was going to have to be a cliff there. We discussed about various locations we could film at but we then we decided that some of the locations would take too long to get too or were too difficult to get too.
In the end we decided on filming at a place called 'Bobs Rock'.
This is the perfect location as it has wooded area and also a cliff which is vital as this is where most of our filming is going to place. There is also a graveyard where we could also film to help add to the spooky atmosphere which we are trying to capture.
Thriller Task- Costume
Lesson 10- 26/2/10
For the female character in our opening sequence, I thought that she could wear a stylish winter coat to represent her age and class, the season and the current climate. I thought she could wear this with jeans and a top and some flat shoes because it could depict her age.
For the male character in our opening sequence I wanted to create a serious, mysterious character so I thought a long black trench coat, white shirt, black tie, black trousers, a pair of black patent leather shoes and a black hat. The tie, shirt and trousers represents the seriousness of the character and adds a sense of formality. I chose a long trench coat to add mystery and the hat also does this too and will cast a shadow over the characters face for this effect of a hidden identity. The colours black and white are formal as well and do not give anything about the character's personality away.
Thursday 25 February 2010
Thriller Task- Actors
Lesson 10- 26/2/10
As a group we have discussed what actors we needed and who would be suitable for the role. We decided to use Annie Nurse as the young girl (Character A) and Jonathan Tang as the mystery man (Character B) in our opening thriller sequence.
Annie is suitable for this role because she is 16 years old but does look older so can look the same age as the girl who would be 18. She suits the expected appearance and can portray the body language that is needed. Although she has not much previous acting experience she can relate to the emotion of the the character as Annie is just a typical teenager. As she is a close friend of ours we know that she will be reliable and will act according.
Jonathan is suitable for this role because he looks older so can be identified as the older mystery man. He can look mystifying which would be good and would live up to his role. He also has not much previous acting experience but I am sure that he will do as best he can. As he is a close friend of ours we know that he will be reliable and will act to the role.
This is a picture of both actors Jonathan Tang and Annie Nurse.
Tuesday 23 February 2010
Thriller Task- Props
Lesson 9- 23/2/10
In the opening sequence to the thriller that we are producing, props need to used or the opening sequence would be dry and boring and in place would not make sense. The props that may be used are:
A mobile phone:
The phone will be the main prop used in the thriller, as this prop will set the scene at the beginning of the opening sequence. As the audience will see the phone on the chosen location this will create the suspense. The Character A will be seen answering the phone to a mysterious character. It will be used because a phone is modern technology which is used in everyday life to communicate with others. It represents her gender and her age due to the appearance of the film. A second mobile phone will be used by Character B who will ring Character A to tell her not to jump.
A photo:
The photo will be of Character A and her friends, she will be looking happy and having a good time. She will be holding looking at the photo but will look sad, which again the audience will start to ask questions and become interested. This will make more sense as the opening sequence progresses of why the character is upset. We thought this would be suitable as being a teenager means having a good time when with your friends and taking photos to keep the memories.
The photo will be of Character A and her friends, she will be looking happy and having a good time. She will be holding looking at the photo but will look sad, which again the audience will start to ask questions and become interested. This will make more sense as the opening sequence progresses of why the character is upset. We thought this would be suitable as being a teenager means having a good time when with your friends and taking photos to keep the memories.
Thriller Task- Risk Assessment
Lesson 9- 23/2/10
As a group we all completed a risk assessment together to assess the risks and how to prevent them from happening when filming.
Red-High Risk, Orange-Medium Risk, Green-Low Risk
Risk: Cliff top
Reason: This is a risk because there is a chance of someone falling off this cliff and getting seriously injured as the cliff is quite high.
Prevention: The group can overcome this by acting sensibly and not going to close to the edge of the cliff. Also filming on stable land which is not to close to the edge.
Risk: Damage of equipment
Reason: This is a risk because if the equipment became damaged or broken, it is our responsibility we will have to pay to replace it, which could cost a lot.
Prevention: We can overcome this by acting logically, but using it to the best of our ability, keeping the equipment with us at all time and not leaving it unattended.
Risk: Weather
Reason: This is because it could ruin the eerie tense atmosphere that we are tyring to create with the opening sequence. It could also damage the camera equipment. If it snows or becomes icy it may be difficult to even reach our location.
Prevention: This can be prevented by keeping the equipment in cases and avoid filming in bad weather conditions. We could also check the weather forecast the day before we are going to film to make sure the weather isn't bad.
Risk: Other people
Reason: This is a risk because if wandering people may disturb the shot while we are filming, they may also get in the way of the shot and ruin the tense atmosphere that we are trying to create.
Prevention: This can be prevented by filming in a quiet location of where we are filming, so that not many people will be there to disturb when filming.
Risk: Damage of Props
Reason: This is a risk because if a prop is dropped it may become damaged and broken, this again is our responsibility. If the item belongs to someone else we need to take extra care.
Prevention: This can be overcome by keeping an eye on the props at all time and using them carefully when in use.
Risk: Damage to Crew and Cast
Reason: This is a risk because there are nettles and bushes that can be harmful if they are dangerous. The land could be uneven and there could be rock causing an accident to the cast or crew while filming and acting.
Prevention: This can be overcome by acting carefully and being aware of the surroundings around the location.
As a group we all completed a risk assessment together to assess the risks and how to prevent them from happening when filming.
Red-High Risk, Orange-Medium Risk, Green-Low Risk
Risk: Cliff top
Reason: This is a risk because there is a chance of someone falling off this cliff and getting seriously injured as the cliff is quite high.
Prevention: The group can overcome this by acting sensibly and not going to close to the edge of the cliff. Also filming on stable land which is not to close to the edge.
Risk: Damage of equipment
Reason: This is a risk because if the equipment became damaged or broken, it is our responsibility we will have to pay to replace it, which could cost a lot.
Prevention: We can overcome this by acting logically, but using it to the best of our ability, keeping the equipment with us at all time and not leaving it unattended.
Risk: Weather
Reason: This is because it could ruin the eerie tense atmosphere that we are tyring to create with the opening sequence. It could also damage the camera equipment. If it snows or becomes icy it may be difficult to even reach our location.
Prevention: This can be prevented by keeping the equipment in cases and avoid filming in bad weather conditions. We could also check the weather forecast the day before we are going to film to make sure the weather isn't bad.
Risk: Other people
Reason: This is a risk because if wandering people may disturb the shot while we are filming, they may also get in the way of the shot and ruin the tense atmosphere that we are trying to create.
Prevention: This can be prevented by filming in a quiet location of where we are filming, so that not many people will be there to disturb when filming.
Risk: Damage of Props
Reason: This is a risk because if a prop is dropped it may become damaged and broken, this again is our responsibility. If the item belongs to someone else we need to take extra care.
Prevention: This can be overcome by keeping an eye on the props at all time and using them carefully when in use.
Risk: Damage to Crew and Cast
Reason: This is a risk because there are nettles and bushes that can be harmful if they are dangerous. The land could be uneven and there could be rock causing an accident to the cast or crew while filming and acting.
Prevention: This can be overcome by acting carefully and being aware of the surroundings around the location.
Monday 22 February 2010
Thriller Task- Questionnaire Results and Analysis
My group carried out a questionnaire in order to find out what our target audience of teenagers (16-18 years old) are interested in thriller movies. We carried out this questionnaire on 10 students, although this gives a very biased sample of the audience as a whole we therefore cannot generalise our results. This means our sample is not representative of the teenager population.
The results shown above, question 1 shows that most teenagers prefer thriller locations in either the woods or a cliff top both these locations are quite similar as they are outside and can also be a tense place to be in a thriller. An opening sequence that many of the shots are from a cliff top is 'No country for old men' and an establishing shot of woods from the films 'Signs'. This shows that these locations can be used to create suspense and tension which I think is a good idea.
Question 2 shows that the majority of teenagers prefer the thrillers that they watch to set in the evening when it is dark. But when filming in the dark can be problematic as the equipment and the actor could get hurt and damaged, which i a very high risk. As a group we think its best to film in between midday and afternoon before the sunsets to give a cold and eerie effect.
Question 3 shows that they would like at least three characters to appear in the opening sequence. I think this is an ideal number, as there could be a antagonist, protagonist and a civilian that could appear in the opening thriller but as a group we will discuss possible actors.
On question 4, it was to ask how much dialogue they would like to see in the thriller, most teenagers prefer to have little dialogue in the opening thriller this is to keep the suspense and a little dialogue to give the audience an idea about the storyline.
Question 5 most people would like soft music included in the thriller opening sequence, this is a good idea as the film 'The silence of the lambs' use this music also. It helps create tension when someone is walking through locations like the woods or a cliff top which is deserted.
On question 6, the theme that the majority of people prefer in thriller films is stalker which is more than a murder or robbery theme. This stalker theme does ties in with the location of the woods. As there are many places to hide and watch others in there, it can help to create a tense and excited suspense to the audience.
On question 7, nine out of the ten teenagers we asked said that they would like the opening sequence to give them an idea about plot that is too come later on on the film. This would leave the audience wanting to watch more if they become interested and hooked from the opening sequence that we produce.
On question 8, most of the teenagers would prefer to see the antagonists point of view in the opening sequence this is because they are mostly seen as vulnerable as they are mostly likely to be in danger from the protagonists
Because of the answers that I have received from the questionnaire, some of the answers do coincide to what we had originally planned for the thriller opening sequence. We will also change some areas so that our thriller will appeal more to the audience. If we had more time planning in the future I would ask a broader range of people, that are different ages to get an overall representation. Also, I would ask more in depth questions to get an overall view of what people are interested in thriller films.
Question 2 shows that the majority of teenagers prefer the thrillers that they watch to set in the evening when it is dark. But when filming in the dark can be problematic as the equipment and the actor could get hurt and damaged, which i a very high risk. As a group we think its best to film in between midday and afternoon before the sunsets to give a cold and eerie effect.
Question 3 shows that they would like at least three characters to appear in the opening sequence. I think this is an ideal number, as there could be a antagonist, protagonist and a civilian that could appear in the opening thriller but as a group we will discuss possible actors.
On question 4, it was to ask how much dialogue they would like to see in the thriller, most teenagers prefer to have little dialogue in the opening thriller this is to keep the suspense and a little dialogue to give the audience an idea about the storyline.
Question 5 most people would like soft music included in the thriller opening sequence, this is a good idea as the film 'The silence of the lambs' use this music also. It helps create tension when someone is walking through locations like the woods or a cliff top which is deserted.
On question 6, the theme that the majority of people prefer in thriller films is stalker which is more than a murder or robbery theme. This stalker theme does ties in with the location of the woods. As there are many places to hide and watch others in there, it can help to create a tense and excited suspense to the audience.
On question 7, nine out of the ten teenagers we asked said that they would like the opening sequence to give them an idea about plot that is too come later on on the film. This would leave the audience wanting to watch more if they become interested and hooked from the opening sequence that we produce.
On question 8, most of the teenagers would prefer to see the antagonists point of view in the opening sequence this is because they are mostly seen as vulnerable as they are mostly likely to be in danger from the protagonists
Because of the answers that I have received from the questionnaire, some of the answers do coincide to what we had originally planned for the thriller opening sequence. We will also change some areas so that our thriller will appeal more to the audience. If we had more time planning in the future I would ask a broader range of people, that are different ages to get an overall representation. Also, I would ask more in depth questions to get an overall view of what people are interested in thriller films.
This is my own personal analysis although the data is the group's responses from the questionnaire.
Saturday 20 February 2010
Thriller Task- Audience Research
Films as a whole can not be aimed at every audience it is almost impossible, this is the same for the genres. The genre that people like to watch also differs as everyone is varies in terms of interests. As a film that appeals to a child may not appeal to a adult.
When researching the audiences which are targeted by thriller films. I found a chart that explains the audience breakdown in thriller films in terms of the population.
Thriller Movie Age Profile
This diagram does not show the age group 0-13 years old, this maybe because thriller films maybe too scary or frightening for them to watch. It shows that most films are aimed at a young audience of 18-24 year olds at 23% this is lower than 50+ year olds at 26% this maybe because the general population of the older audience is 36% and the overall general younger audience population is 12%. (http://www.valmorgan.co.nz/nz/audiences/profiles/thrillers/)
An example is Alfred Hitchcock's film Psycho (1960) in the 60's the films may have been aimed at 25-34 year olds as they are mature horror/thrillers. This is because the thrillers have a lot of suspense this maybe why an older audience would be interested rather than a younger audience who may just be interested in more of the excitement part of thrillers. Another reason would be because the actors are middle aged and the film would be more appealing to the older audience. But the audience nowadays who watch them would be 50+ year olds as these films are quite old, you can tell this by the quality (black and white) and the nature of the effects were pretty basic back then due to the lack of technology.
Another example is the film Scream (Wes Craven, 1997) this film would be aimed at either 14-17 or 25- 34 year olds as they are horror/comedy/thrillers. This is because this thriller has black comedy and is based on high school kids and a murder which many of the young audience would like and find appealing. Some issues that this film briefly passes, the young audience of 14-17 year olds can relate to in their own lives and the 25-34 year olds may be able to reflect on what high school was like. Another reason could be the actors like Drew Barrymore and David Arquette that are used as they are quite young who the audience may acknowledge from other films and therefore the film would appeal to them. The comic suspense and the dialogue may be another reason why this film appeals to this particular audience.
When researching the audiences which are targeted by thriller films. I found a chart that explains the audience breakdown in thriller films in terms of the population.
Thriller Movie Age Profile
This diagram does not show the age group 0-13 years old, this maybe because thriller films maybe too scary or frightening for them to watch. It shows that most films are aimed at a young audience of 18-24 year olds at 23% this is lower than 50+ year olds at 26% this maybe because the general population of the older audience is 36% and the overall general younger audience population is 12%. (http://www.valmorgan.co.nz/nz/audiences/profiles/thrillers/)An example is Alfred Hitchcock's film Psycho (1960) in the 60's the films may have been aimed at 25-34 year olds as they are mature horror/thrillers. This is because the thrillers have a lot of suspense this maybe why an older audience would be interested rather than a younger audience who may just be interested in more of the excitement part of thrillers. Another reason would be because the actors are middle aged and the film would be more appealing to the older audience. But the audience nowadays who watch them would be 50+ year olds as these films are quite old, you can tell this by the quality (black and white) and the nature of the effects were pretty basic back then due to the lack of technology.
Another example is the film Scream (Wes Craven, 1997) this film would be aimed at either 14-17 or 25- 34 year olds as they are horror/comedy/thrillers. This is because this thriller has black comedy and is based on high school kids and a murder which many of the young audience would like and find appealing. Some issues that this film briefly passes, the young audience of 14-17 year olds can relate to in their own lives and the 25-34 year olds may be able to reflect on what high school was like. Another reason could be the actors like Drew Barrymore and David Arquette that are used as they are quite young who the audience may acknowledge from other films and therefore the film would appeal to them. The comic suspense and the dialogue may be another reason why this film appeals to this particular audience.
Thursday 18 February 2010
Thriller Task- Industry Research
Thriller Directors
As you can see I have used IMDB and Wikipedia mostly during my research period. Although Wikipedia is known for being inaccurate as anyone can access and edit the information. I believe that the basis of the information that I have required from this website is correct. IMDB is the largest Internet based database for information on directors, actors, celebrity stories, films and reviews. (http://www.imdb.com/genre/thriller). The main role of a director is to over look the artistic vision of the film and watch actors performances. Most of the time directors prefer to hand over most of these responsibilities to other members of their film crews. The director is always selected by the producer.
This website gave me the the current most popular thrillers and their directors which are:
1. The Wolfman (2010) Director: Joe Johnston, Genre: Horror/Thriller
2. Edge of Darkness (2010) Director: Martin Campbell, Genre: Drama/Thriller
3. From Paris With Love (2010) Director: Pierre Morel, Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
4. The Hurt Locker (2008) Director: Kathryn Bigelow, Genre: Action/Drama/War/Thriller
5. Shutter Island (2010) Director: Martin Scorsese, Genre: Drama/Mystery/Thriller
6. Daybreakers (2009) Director:Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig, Genre: Action/Drama/Horror/Sci-Fi/Thriller
7. The Book of Eli (2010) Director: The Hughes Brothers, Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama/Sci-Fi/Thriller
8. Sherlock Holmes (2009) Director: Guy Ritchie, Genre: Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery/Thriller
9. The Collector (2009) Director: Marcus Dunstan, Genre: Crime/Horror/Thriller
10. Inglourious Basterds (2009) Director: Quentin Tarantino, Genre: Drama/War/Thriller
According to their research at: (http://www.toptenreviews.com/movies/directors/list_thriller_director.htm), I have found a table which shows the top 10 thriller movie directors.
As you can see that Alfred Hitchcock is the top thriller director according to the top ten reviews, he also came first in a 2007 poll by film critics in Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper which said,''Unquestionably the greatest filmmaker to emerge from these islands, Hitchcock did more than any director to shape modern cinema, which would be utterly different without him. His flair was for narrative, cruelly withholding crucial information (from his characters and from us) and engaging the emotions of the audience like no one else.'' He has directed some memorable films like, Rear Window (1954), Psycho (1960), Vertigo (1958), Shadow of a Doubt (1943).
Steven Spielberg is the second top thriller director claimed by this website, he has won the Academy Award for Best Director for Schindler's List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). Three of Spielberg's films Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Jurassic Park (1993) achieved box office records, each becoming the highest grossing film made at the time. His films have grossed a total of more than $3.5 billion. All of Spielberg's films have been successful box office success this may be because Steven Spielberg is a well known director and producer.
I have found that all these directors have their own unique style when directing thriller films this may be a reason why their films and themselves are so popular and successful. Directors like Hitchcock and Spielberg's career have spanned over a few decades in which they have built up their creditability. Hitchcock's films have their own signature theme where sometimes the characters are struggling in their relationships with their mothers or the heroines are lovely cool blonds.
As you can see I have used IMDB and Wikipedia mostly during my research period. Although Wikipedia is known for being inaccurate as anyone can access and edit the information. I believe that the basis of the information that I have required from this website is correct. IMDB is the largest Internet based database for information on directors, actors, celebrity stories, films and reviews. (http://www.imdb.com/genre/thriller). The main role of a director is to over look the artistic vision of the film and watch actors performances. Most of the time directors prefer to hand over most of these responsibilities to other members of their film crews. The director is always selected by the producer.
This website gave me the the current most popular thrillers and their directors which are:
1. The Wolfman (2010) Director: Joe Johnston, Genre: Horror/Thriller
2. Edge of Darkness (2010) Director: Martin Campbell, Genre: Drama/Thriller
3. From Paris With Love (2010) Director: Pierre Morel, Genre: Action/Crime/Thriller
4. The Hurt Locker (2008) Director: Kathryn Bigelow, Genre: Action/Drama/War/Thriller
5. Shutter Island (2010) Director: Martin Scorsese, Genre: Drama/Mystery/Thriller
6. Daybreakers (2009) Director:Michael Spierig, Peter Spierig, Genre: Action/Drama/Horror/Sci-Fi/Thriller
7. The Book of Eli (2010) Director: The Hughes Brothers, Genre: Action/Adventure/Drama/Sci-Fi/Thriller
8. Sherlock Holmes (2009) Director: Guy Ritchie, Genre: Action/Adventure/Crime/Mystery/Thriller
9. The Collector (2009) Director: Marcus Dunstan, Genre: Crime/Horror/Thriller
10. Inglourious Basterds (2009) Director: Quentin Tarantino, Genre: Drama/War/Thriller
According to their research at: (http://www.toptenreviews.com/movies/directors/list_thriller_director.htm), I have found a table which shows the top 10 thriller movie directors.
As you can see that Alfred Hitchcock is the top thriller director according to the top ten reviews, he also came first in a 2007 poll by film critics in Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper which said,''Unquestionably the greatest filmmaker to emerge from these islands, Hitchcock did more than any director to shape modern cinema, which would be utterly different without him. His flair was for narrative, cruelly withholding crucial information (from his characters and from us) and engaging the emotions of the audience like no one else.'' He has directed some memorable films like, Rear Window (1954), Psycho (1960), Vertigo (1958), Shadow of a Doubt (1943).Steven Spielberg is the second top thriller director claimed by this website, he has won the Academy Award for Best Director for Schindler's List (1993) and Saving Private Ryan (1998). Three of Spielberg's films Jaws (1975), E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and Jurassic Park (1993) achieved box office records, each becoming the highest grossing film made at the time. His films have grossed a total of more than $3.5 billion. All of Spielberg's films have been successful box office success this may be because Steven Spielberg is a well known director and producer.I have found that all these directors have their own unique style when directing thriller films this may be a reason why their films and themselves are so popular and successful. Directors like Hitchcock and Spielberg's career have spanned over a few decades in which they have built up their creditability. Hitchcock's films have their own signature theme where sometimes the characters are struggling in their relationships with their mothers or the heroines are lovely cool blonds.
There are many other great thriller directors as well for example:
Peter Jackson who has many films that are well known and are highly profitable like, King Kong (2005), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) and The Frighteners (1996). His films have grossed more than $1.269 billion.
James Cameron is another well known director and is third for the top ten thriller directors of all time. His films include: Titanic (1997), Aliens (1986) and Terminator (1984). His films have grossed over $1.152 billion.
Tuesday 16 February 2010
Thriller Task- Industry Research
Thriller Genres
When researching the industry in my previous post I mentioned that many of these films would be categorised in thriller hybrids. This means that these thriller films are mixed in with another genre in order to make the film more interesting and diverse.
According to (http://www.movies.com.au/): 'The majority of thriller movies are actually hybrid films that use characteristics of another type of genre to maintain audience interest and anticipation', and the different hybrids are:
Action thriller- which may contain a lot of violence, explosions and guns e.g. The Transporter (Louis Leterrier, 2002) and James Bond films.
Conspiracy thriller- where the character confronts group of enemies whose true extent only they recognise e.g. JKF (Oliver Stone, 1991)
Crime thriller- the storyline may focus on criminals on their account of a crime e.g. Reservoir Dogs (Quentin Tarantino, 1992)
Disaster thriller- the survival of a natural or artificial disaster such as a flood e.g. Earthquake (Mark Robson, 1974)
Drama thriller- the story are slower paced and involves character development along with plot twists e.g. The Illusionist (Neil Burger, 2006)
Erotic thriller- which it consists of erotica and thriller e.g. Basic Instinct (Paul Verhoeven, 1992) and Fatal Attraction (Adrian Lyne, 1987)
Legal thriller- fighting in the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives e.g. The Innocent Man (Peter Yates, 1989)
Medical thriller- the doctors trying to solve an expanding medical problem e.g. Awake (Joby Harold, 2007)
When researching the industry in my previous post I mentioned that many of these films would be categorised in thriller hybrids. This means that these thriller films are mixed in with another genre in order to make the film more interesting and diverse.
According to (http://www.movies.com.au/): 'The majority of thriller movies are actually hybrid films that use characteristics of another type of genre to maintain audience interest and anticipation', and the different hybrids are:
Action thriller- which may contain a lot of violence, explosions and guns e.g. The Transporter (Louis Leterrier, 2002) and James Bond films.
Conspiracy thriller- where the character confronts group of enemies whose true extent only they recognise e.g. JKF (Oliver Stone, 1991)
Crime thriller- the storyline may focus on criminals on their account of a crime e.g. Reservoir Dogs (Quentin Tarantino, 1992)
Disaster thriller- the survival of a natural or artificial disaster such as a flood e.g. Earthquake (Mark Robson, 1974)
Drama thriller- the story are slower paced and involves character development along with plot twists e.g. The Illusionist (Neil Burger, 2006)
Erotic thriller- which it consists of erotica and thriller e.g. Basic Instinct (Paul Verhoeven, 1992) and Fatal Attraction (Adrian Lyne, 1987)
Legal thriller- fighting in the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives e.g. The Innocent Man (Peter Yates, 1989)
Medical thriller- the doctors trying to solve an expanding medical problem e.g. Awake (Joby Harold, 2007)
Political thriller- which the character must ensure the stability of the government that employs him e.g. Agency (George Kaczender, 1980)
Psychological thriller- the conflict between the characters is mental and emotional e.g. Suspicion (Alfred Hitchcock, 1941)
Spy thriller- which the character is an agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival e.g. The Bourne Identity (Doug Linman, 2002)
Techno-thriller- technology is described in detail and made essential to the audience understanding of the plot e.g. The Hunt for Red October (John McTiernan, 1990)
Religious thriller- which the plot is closely connected to religious objects, institutions and questions e.g. The Da Vinci Code (Ron Howard, 2003)
These are the few examples of different thriller hybrid genres that I could find on (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre). This gives me a clearer idea of what to avoid in the storyline for the thriller opening sequence to become a hybrid. As our aim in this task is to create a pure thriller, as a group we may have to review our story to see if it consists with any other genre. If it does we may have to change some of our ideas to claim what we are producing is a thriller.
Monday 15 February 2010
Thriller Task- Industry Research
The Film Industry
When researching thrillers to define what one is. I noticed the common themes which they are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more powerful and better equipped villains. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrillers). I found that a genuine thriller is a film that provides thrills and keep the audience on the 'edge of their seats' as the plot builds towards a climax. The tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menacing situation or escape a dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible to the audience. (www.filmsite.org/thrillerfilms.html)
I found that thriller's have always been popular as many films can be classed as a thriller due to sub genres in the film industry. The top 10 thriller movies are: (http://www.imdb.com/chart/thriller).
When researching thrillers to define what one is. I noticed the common themes which they are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more powerful and better equipped villains. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrillers). I found that a genuine thriller is a film that provides thrills and keep the audience on the 'edge of their seats' as the plot builds towards a climax. The tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menacing situation or escape a dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible to the audience. (www.filmsite.org/thrillerfilms.html)
I found that thriller's have always been popular as many films can be classed as a thriller due to sub genres in the film industry. The top 10 thriller movies are: (http://www.imdb.com/chart/thriller).
1. The Godfather (Francis Ford Coppola,1972) $302,394
2. The Godfather: Part II (Francis Ford Coppola,1974) $244,231
2. The Godfather: Part II (Francis Ford Coppola,1974) $244,231
3. The Dark Knight (Christopher Nolan, 2008) $324,000,000
4. Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954) $15,172
5. Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999) $11,035,465
6. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960) $31,000,000
5. Fight Club (David Fincher, 1999) $11,035,465
6. Psycho (Alfred Hitchcock, 1960) $31,000,000
7. The Usual Suspects (Bryan Singer, 1995) $645,363
8. The Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme, 1991) $13,766,814
9. The Matrix (Wachowski, 1999) $27,789,345
10.North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) $10,000
These films may appear to have done well because of their high box office numbers due to worldwide release. All these films are voted the top thrillers in film industry. This may because of the amount of money the distributions companies marketed the film, the directors popularity or maybe because they are proper thrillers that coincide to all of the conventions that I have stated.
The top 10 worst thriller movies are: (http://www.imbd.com/chart/thriller)
8. The Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme, 1991) $13,766,814
9. The Matrix (Wachowski, 1999) $27,789,345
10.North by Northwest (Alfred Hitchcock, 1959) $10,000
These films may appear to have done well because of their high box office numbers due to worldwide release. All these films are voted the top thrillers in film industry. This may because of the amount of money the distributions companies marketed the film, the directors popularity or maybe because they are proper thrillers that coincide to all of the conventions that I have stated.
The top 10 worst thriller movies are: (http://www.imbd.com/chart/thriller)
1. Dead at the Box Office (Shawn Stutler, 2005)
2. Compelling Evidence (Donald Farmer, 1995)
3. Rocket Attack U.S.A. (Barry Mahon, 1961)
4. Flirting with Anthony ( Christian Calson, 2005)
5. The Sobbing Stone (Robert G. Christie, 2005)
6. Blood Deep (Todd S. Kniss, 2005)
7. At Dawn They Sleep (Brian Paulin, 2000)
8. Voyeur.com (Miles Feldman, 2000)
9. Terror at Tate Manor (Edward E. Kramer, 2002)
5. The Sobbing Stone (Robert G. Christie, 2005)
6. Blood Deep (Todd S. Kniss, 2005)
7. At Dawn They Sleep (Brian Paulin, 2000)
8. Voyeur.com (Miles Feldman, 2000)
9. Terror at Tate Manor (Edward E. Kramer, 2002)
10. Skinheads (Greydon Clark, 1989)
The majority of these films are recently made which shows that these directors may not be sticking to the typical conventions of thrillers which may be a reason why they have not done so well. Other reasons may be because the film was not marketed as well or was poorly made.
Overall the thriller industry is quite popular over the years, as many films can be classed as a thriller due to other sub genres in order to reflect their story lines. The genre has not lost its popularity over time, as the fourth most favoured thriller Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock) dates back to 1954 and the third most favoured The Dark Night (Christopher Nolan) in 2008. Due to new technology new thriller films have a better outcome than in 1923 when the first thriller movie was released. Now the films are able to have more effects and suspense. YouTube and movie making software has enabled the audience to make their own films and give them the chance to become a director.
Thursday 11 February 2010
Thriller Task- Questionnaire
Lesson 8- 11/2/10
In today's lesson, I started the questionnaire which the group would ask a varied sample about what they would like to see in the thriller. An example of a few questions are, ''How many characters would you like appear in the thriller opening sequence?" and ''What theme would you like the thriller opening sequence to be about?''
As a group we knew the basis of what our thriller opening sequence would be about so Shaneece and Trisha decided to start the storyboard and included a detailed analysis of each shot, transition and dialogue which would then help us when it comes to filming.
I finished the questionnaire. I went around the college and asked a people to complete my questionnaire to see what appeals to the audience. I then realised that at college there was only a restricted sample of 16-18 year olds so my results may be biased. I talked it over with my group and decided that this age group would be best suitable to aim the opening thriller at.
As it is half term next week we decided to split some of the planning between us. Individually, we would research into various parts of the industry. Trisha would gather potential ideas of the locations that could be used. Shaneece would collect costumes that would be suitable for the thriller. I would find props that would be appropriate for the thriller opening sequence.
This is the finished questionnaire.
In today's lesson, I started the questionnaire which the group would ask a varied sample about what they would like to see in the thriller. An example of a few questions are, ''How many characters would you like appear in the thriller opening sequence?" and ''What theme would you like the thriller opening sequence to be about?''
As a group we knew the basis of what our thriller opening sequence would be about so Shaneece and Trisha decided to start the storyboard and included a detailed analysis of each shot, transition and dialogue which would then help us when it comes to filming.
I finished the questionnaire. I went around the college and asked a people to complete my questionnaire to see what appeals to the audience. I then realised that at college there was only a restricted sample of 16-18 year olds so my results may be biased. I talked it over with my group and decided that this age group would be best suitable to aim the opening thriller at.
As it is half term next week we decided to split some of the planning between us. Individually, we would research into various parts of the industry. Trisha would gather potential ideas of the locations that could be used. Shaneece would collect costumes that would be suitable for the thriller. I would find props that would be appropriate for the thriller opening sequence.
This is the finished questionnaire.
Thriller Task- Storyboard
Lesson 8- 11/2/10
This is our storyboard that we completed of what camera angles, shots, dialogue and movements that we plan to have in our opening sequence.
This is our storyboard that we completed of what camera angles, shots, dialogue and movements that we plan to have in our opening sequence.
This is an establishing shot showing the view from the top of the cliff (one of our chosen locations.) This gives the audience an idea of where the opening sequence is set and familiarises themselves. It also is a quite location which is nicely contrasted to the busy road in the distance.
This is a close up tracking shot of the female character's (Character A) feet walking on top of the cliff. She will be walking slowly and cautiously which may give the impression that the girl may not be familiar to this surroundings and why she is there. This will create suspense and tension.
This is a close up of character A's face, she will be looking out into the distance, looking anxious, lost and scared. This may make the audience question her psychological state and hopefully will begin to question what is happening and want them answered so will watch on.
This is an over the shoulder, tracking shot from behind character A. Again the audience will see out into the distance and will see how high up this cliff is. This will create sympathy for the young girl who will now appear vulnerable. The sound of the traffic will give a sense of realism.
This is a long shot from the side of Character A as she looks over the edge of the cliff, as if she is about to jump, again this may make the audience jump as she is very near the edge. This will be difficult to film as there is a high risk assessment that we have to consider.
This is a long shot of another character, male (Character B), walking through either woods, a cemetery or by a canal. We have not decided yet as we still have to think what effect each location will give to the audience. He will be a serious antagonist that will create an narrative enigma.
This is a mid shot showing Character A slowly taking something out of her pocket. This we think will be a photo. This will show the audience that this Character A is a normal teenage girl that has friends and likes to socialise.
This is a high angle shot from behind Character A, showing her looking at a picture of her friends. We decided for this shot to get a closer look at the photo and for Character A looking depressed and sorrowful.
This is a static shot/ close up of Character B's phone as he rings a number, this will show the latest technology being used which may appeal to the younger audience. It also gives the audience an idea of what Character B is like, as he has a new expensive phone.
This is a mid shot of a phone, buried under leaves and twigs. It would be ringing, the camera would then zoom into an extreme close up of the phone so you can see it clearly as it rings. The phone screen will appear as, 'Unknown' is a twist that will develop if the film was to be a developed into a feature length film.
This is a mid static shot to a tracking shot of Character A turning around because she has heard the phone ringing. The camera will see the confusion and the surprise on the Character's face. Then the audience will see her walking and looking around for the phone that sees to be on the cliff.
This is a close up of Character A's hands rummaging through the leaves and twigs trying to find the phone that is ringing. This would now show her curiosity and her anxiousness because of the phone.
This is a close up of character A's face as she says "Hello?" to see who is on the other side of the call. This shot will see her vulnerability as she thought she was alone and will represent her age and gender.
This is a long shot from afar of Character B standing against a wall with the phone. This makes him look mysterious of why he is in a graveyard and the audience ask why he is ringing Character A. It creates an narrative enigma of the link between these two characters.
This is another close up of Character A saying, "Hello?" again, but sounding a bit anxious and a little louder this time as character B did not answer. There is frustration on her face as she wants to know this person and why this phone is there.
This is an extreme close up of Character B as he says "Don't jump!" on the phone, then the camera would zoom out and show him taking the phone away from his ear. This creates tension as the audience want to know why Character A was going to jump.
This is a close up of Character B's phone as he hangs up, this makes a dramatic end to the phone call and the conversation is still left open.
This is a mid shot of Character A, who would look scared, taking the phone away from her ear, shaking and looking around left to right, being paranoid.
This would then be a quick pan of what Character A can see in front of her from left to right so the audience can see what she her view of the trees that go deep from the cliff like if some is watching her.
This is a shot of character A dropping her phone and running away from just above ground level so only her legs are seen and as she runs away. The background will blur and the sharpest object, in the foreground, would be the phone on the ground.
When deciding the camera shots, we wanted to use those that would enhance the opening sequence. We agreed to have a close up of the character's A face to show her emotions which would add to the tense atmosphere. We wrote the storyboard in as much detail as we could so when filming it would make it easier and quicker to film. We have included the lighting and the dialogue that is going to be in the thriller opening sequence, to help us establish which camera shots would be best. The title that we have decided to use for our thriller opening sequence is 'Absent'. I think that this title reflects the story which we have planned. As of yet we have not decided on which transitions we are going to use until the editing process. This will give us a better view when we trail and error the transitions to find the best suited. We have decided that we are going use dark tense music that will reflect this mood in the opening sequence.
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Thriller Task- Research Task
Mulholland Drive
In terms of camera, is an establishing shot of a city, the city has many buildings that are tall which suggest they are in America and are on the outskirts near the busy city, yet again it is in darkness but gives the audience some idea that they are near other people who may need help. Te camera uses a close up of the woman's face it shows curiosity and looks frightened this creates tension as the audience want to know where she is going even though at this point she does not know either.
In terms of editing, the opening credits flash upon mid screen and disappears up and off the screen in white capital letter which are against a black scene of darkness. This gives the impression that someone is going to disappear which creates a narrative enigma. This is long take of the scene in which the car is driving it creates a slow build of tense atmosphere.
The sound of the location is quiet at first, when the camera cuts to some teenagers driving a car very fast whilst they are screaming and have fun and disturbs the tense atmosphere and foreshadows that an event may occur. As there is two men who are the protagonists tell the woman who is the antagonists to, 'Get out of the car.' This creates an narrative enigma as the audience want to know why these men want to kill her.
The mise en scene of the opening sequence, a car which is a prop is used in the opening sequence only the back red lights are on, this suggests that there is danger to come which makes the audience feel tense. In the location it seems like a long road which is quiet this may because it is night time there is not many many around which suggest something criminal is happening.
Thriller Research Task
I have decided to research the openings of 'Silence of the Lambs' and 'Mulholland Drive'.
The film 'Silence of the Lambs' was directed by Jonathan Demme and was released in 1991, it starred actors like Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. I have watched the opening sequence of this film and have analysed in terms of camera, editing, sound and mise en scene. (0.50- 3.25 seconds)
The camera shots which are used is an establishing shot of a forest it is day time but foggy, this is used to set the scene of the opening sequences' location and the characters. This creates tension as the audience already begin to ask questions of why what is in this forest which can be quite claustrophobic. The long shot is of a woman climbing up the hill towards the camera also creates tension as the audience do not know who this is at first or why they are doing this by the help of a rope. This is a narrative enigma.
The editing which is used in the credit sequence is black block capitals that have a quick fade, as it is sharp and quick this may reflect the characters psychological state of how she acts. Another example is that the opening sequence uses straight cuts of the woman running from various angles this creates a claustrophobic atmosphere as the audience do not see much more which creates tension and keeps them intrigued.
The sound in the opening sequence that is used in the background music it is dark and gives a mysterious impression to the impression of where the woman is running to and from. The use of non digetic sound of animals for example birds tweeting that you would normally expect from a forest. This creates tension to the audience that there may be something lurking in the forest.
In terms of mise en scene the location of the forest may create the audience to feel tense as the woman we assume is the protagonist is in danger as she is runny through a foggy forest. Another example is the lighting, although it is daylight, its is foggy and gloomy which may create tension as the protagonist may be in danger.
The film 'Silence of the Lambs' was directed by Jonathan Demme and was released in 1991, it starred actors like Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. I have watched the opening sequence of this film and have analysed in terms of camera, editing, sound and mise en scene. (0.50- 3.25 seconds)
The camera shots which are used is an establishing shot of a forest it is day time but foggy, this is used to set the scene of the opening sequences' location and the characters. This creates tension as the audience already begin to ask questions of why what is in this forest which can be quite claustrophobic. The long shot is of a woman climbing up the hill towards the camera also creates tension as the audience do not know who this is at first or why they are doing this by the help of a rope. This is a narrative enigma.
The editing which is used in the credit sequence is black block capitals that have a quick fade, as it is sharp and quick this may reflect the characters psychological state of how she acts. Another example is that the opening sequence uses straight cuts of the woman running from various angles this creates a claustrophobic atmosphere as the audience do not see much more which creates tension and keeps them intrigued.
The sound in the opening sequence that is used in the background music it is dark and gives a mysterious impression to the impression of where the woman is running to and from. The use of non digetic sound of animals for example birds tweeting that you would normally expect from a forest. This creates tension to the audience that there may be something lurking in the forest.
In terms of mise en scene the location of the forest may create the audience to feel tense as the woman we assume is the protagonist is in danger as she is runny through a foggy forest. Another example is the lighting, although it is daylight, its is foggy and gloomy which may create tension as the protagonist may be in danger.
Thriller Task- Conventions
I have learnt many thriller conventions from previous thriller films and hope to incorporate some of them into my thriller. These include:
Atmospheric music is used for different effects. Normally a vulnerable victim, stereotypically a female or child. A complex narrative structure. Themes of identity. Themes of voyeurism. Themes of mirroring. The lighting is normally dark, to create an sinister effect. Normally a twist in the plot. Creates a narrative enigma. Includes an antagonist. Includes an protagonist. Builds up tension and suspense throughout the film. Setting normally in a dark place. A crime at the centre of the narrative. Extraordinary events happen in ordinary situations. The title sequence often reflects the character's psychological state. Often a scene where the protagonist is in danger. Protagonist has a flaw which the antagonist exploits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)