In this post I have been asked to discuss the credits that I will be using in my opening sequence. Credits are important to the opening of an opening scene fuck as they inform the audience which role everyone has done in the film, they also tell the audience which actors are featuring within the film.
I analysed the opening scene of 'Se7en', and analysed the credits that were used. The credits appeared on screen in the following order Production company, director, actor, title of film, actors continued, casting, music, costumes, editing, production, camera operator, co-producer, producer, writing and the director again. As you can see the title of the film appeared directly after the main actors, this is because these two are the most important credits and it is important that the audiences attention is attracted to them. The colour of the credits used in this opening sequence was important; they was white on a black background, this is to contrast the difference between good and evil. The font used in this clip was jagged and jerky, this is to represent the unstable position that the audience are going to be in creating enigma and a sense of unease, also it establishes the genre to the audience.
I also analysed the opening credits of 'Insidious', the first notable feature of the credits is that they were written in red, from this we can connote blood and death, both strongly related to the thriller genre. This informs the audience what they can expect later on in the film. The style of the font is very representative of the thriller genre, for example the credits turn into smoke, this looks extremely mysterious and creates an enigma. The credits to this film are conventional to a thriller film as low key lighting is used throughout, this dark background is in contrast with the red font, allowing the credits to stand out.
My opening credits:
After reviewing the opening credits of several films I have come to the conclusion that my credits will appear in the following order...
1. Sandstorm Productions
2. Director - Joe Smith
3. Director of photography - Daniel Armstrong
4. Actors - Cara Gaffner, Daniel Armstrong, Joe Smith
5. Film Title - TBC
6. Editing director - Reggie Witham
7. Producer - Sam Smith
8. Co producer - Mark Abraham
9. Costumes - Lara Walker
10. Music - Joe Smith
I feel that this is a very concise order and it will look professional as this is similar to the order that is used in many of the big budget films that I have analysed.
Fonts, Styles and Colours..
For the font of our group credits I have suggested a jagged, almost hand written font. I believe this is conventional to the thriller genre as it will look as if it has been written by someone who is unstable. I also believe this font is most relevant to the images that will be shown on screen at the time. I have also seen this hand written type of font used in many of the thriller films that I have analysed, therefore it must have some type of impact on the audience. Furthermore, I have suggested that the colour of the credits should be in red, I believe this is most conventional of the thriller genre as it connotes evil, danger and blood, all of these being things you would expect to see in a thriller film. I was going to use the colour white, however I don't think this will allow the credits to stand out as much as the colour red will. For the style of our groups credits, I would like them to fade on and off of the screen slowly, so that its noticeable to the audience but at the same time it will create an eerie effect.
Thursday, 28 November 2013
Wednesday, 27 November 2013
Inspirations - Miss Miller
Inspirations are important before creating an opening sequence as they allow you to incoroporate ideas into it, they also enabled me to see what I need to put into my film in order to make it do well. Overall inspirations were used to improve my original ideas. Inspirations can be taken from other thriller films that have been successful, it is important that I look at the key features that have been used within this film. The inspirations that I have took have been from the following films, The Strangers, Halloween and Saw.
From The Strangers I took the inspiration of having hidden identity for my antagonist. In The Strangers, the several antagonists that there are all have their identity hidden with a mask, I thought that this matched the conventions of the thriller genre as it creates an enigma as to who the killer is. I though this would be a good feature for my opening sequence as it leaves the audience in fear and allows the antagonist to be recognisable to them. Using an unknown killer makes it easier to relate to most people as they can imagine who they want as the antagonist.
I took the inspiration of having a point of view shot through the antagonists mask, this came from the opening sequence of Halloween in which Michael Myers puts on his mask and the it looks as if the camera is wearing a mask. In Halloween we see only the eyeholes in the mask, meaning that vision is slightly restricted. This inspired me as it made me feel tense as I wanted to shout out to the victim but she was helpless. I will use this shot when the victim is being stalked by the antagonist. To go hand in hand with this shot I will also have an unsteady camera, this will create a shaky effect and connote to the audience that the antagonist is unstable. This is conventional of the thriller genre as it creates a lot of darkness on the screen, this creating low key lighting. Using this point of view shot will also create an enigma as the audience can see from the antagonists perspective, but they are unable to know the true identity of the killer. This also allows the audience to see things from the antagonists perspecticve, creating a chilling sort of atmosphere. I am also hoping that this shot will sort of disorientate the audience as they do not have full vision, this will put them in an unstable situation, much like the victim is in.
From the film Saw I am going to use the idea of a handheld camera when the action begins. In Saw we see three victims tied to a bed and they have to race to get free, when the action begins the camera goes into handheld, this created a sense of chaos. This inspired me as it really emphasised the action that was taking place in the scene and it made me feel as if I was involved when I was watching it. This shot will happen when my victim is being chased by the antagonist. This inspiration will be good for my thriller as it creates chaos, putting the audience in the same position as the victim. Putting the audience in the same position as the victim also allows them to relate with the victim and sympathise with her as they know how she is feeling. This therefore makes my thriller seem more realistic to the audience and also creates suspense and tension.
I thought that looking at these films has been very useful for my narrative as they have allowed me to incorporate new ideas, making my opening sequence more conventional and also allowing me to appeal to my audience much more. These inspirations that I have taken from other films have made my sequence better as they have allowed me to enhance the profile of my antagonist and at the same time make my victim look more inferior.
From The Strangers I took the inspiration of having hidden identity for my antagonist. In The Strangers, the several antagonists that there are all have their identity hidden with a mask, I thought that this matched the conventions of the thriller genre as it creates an enigma as to who the killer is. I though this would be a good feature for my opening sequence as it leaves the audience in fear and allows the antagonist to be recognisable to them. Using an unknown killer makes it easier to relate to most people as they can imagine who they want as the antagonist.
I took the inspiration of having a point of view shot through the antagonists mask, this came from the opening sequence of Halloween in which Michael Myers puts on his mask and the it looks as if the camera is wearing a mask. In Halloween we see only the eyeholes in the mask, meaning that vision is slightly restricted. This inspired me as it made me feel tense as I wanted to shout out to the victim but she was helpless. I will use this shot when the victim is being stalked by the antagonist. To go hand in hand with this shot I will also have an unsteady camera, this will create a shaky effect and connote to the audience that the antagonist is unstable. This is conventional of the thriller genre as it creates a lot of darkness on the screen, this creating low key lighting. Using this point of view shot will also create an enigma as the audience can see from the antagonists perspective, but they are unable to know the true identity of the killer. This also allows the audience to see things from the antagonists perspecticve, creating a chilling sort of atmosphere. I am also hoping that this shot will sort of disorientate the audience as they do not have full vision, this will put them in an unstable situation, much like the victim is in.
From the film Saw I am going to use the idea of a handheld camera when the action begins. In Saw we see three victims tied to a bed and they have to race to get free, when the action begins the camera goes into handheld, this created a sense of chaos. This inspired me as it really emphasised the action that was taking place in the scene and it made me feel as if I was involved when I was watching it. This shot will happen when my victim is being chased by the antagonist. This inspiration will be good for my thriller as it creates chaos, putting the audience in the same position as the victim. Putting the audience in the same position as the victim also allows them to relate with the victim and sympathise with her as they know how she is feeling. This therefore makes my thriller seem more realistic to the audience and also creates suspense and tension.
I thought that looking at these films has been very useful for my narrative as they have allowed me to incorporate new ideas, making my opening sequence more conventional and also allowing me to appeal to my audience much more. These inspirations that I have taken from other films have made my sequence better as they have allowed me to enhance the profile of my antagonist and at the same time make my victim look more inferior.
Sunday, 24 November 2013
Planning Sound - Miss Miller
Sound in a film is important as it consists of everything that we hear (auditory), it is key in creating tension and building suspense among the audience. Sound also is what enables different shots to be linked together, and allows characters to be depicted in certain ways, for example when we hear happy jolly music this tells us that the character is happy. Planning the sounds that I will use in my sequence is important as it enables me to choose which types of sound I want in certain places and what effect they will have in my opening sequence.
Non diegetic sound in the form of tense music will be used within my opening sequence. This will build suspense among the audience and also inform them when something may be about to happen. This sound technique also will make the victim seem inferior and as if she is in some sort of danger, this will allow relationships to be built between the audience and the character as they will want to tell her that something is going to happen. Non diegetic tense music is conventional to the thriller genre as it creates suspense, thus being one of the most important conventions in a thriller film.
Contrapuntal sound is also something that I am going to try to incorporate into my opening sequence, this could be in the form of happy music. This will make the audience feel uneasy as they would not expect to hear this music in relation to what may be about to happen, and this therefore builds suspense and tension. This sound technique will also portray the strange and eerie characteristics of the antagonist. This sound technique is less conventional of the thriller genre but it can still be used as a way of building tension.
I am also going to be using diegetic sounds in the form of the antagonist laughing and the victim heavily breathing, this will be used to portray how scared the victim is at this moment in time. The diegetic sound of her breathing heavily will depict a sense of panic towards the audience and this will therefore leave them in an uneasy situation. The diegetic sound of the laughing antagonist will create an eerie atmosphere as you would not expect to hear someone so evil laughing. This also portrays the antagonist to be twisted as he is laughing at what he is about to do. Diegetic sound is conventional of a thriller as it involve the audience with the characters and they can see exactly how they are feeling, this allows relationships to be built.
I will also be using non diegetic sound effects in my opening sequence, these will be in the form of a sudden jumpy noise when the antagonist appears. This will be used to firstly scare the audience and make them feel uneasy, but it will also be used to create a sense of superiority surrounding the antagonist. This sound effect will also grab the audiences attention and make sure that they see the antagonist. The sudden jumpy sound will also convey to the audience that the victim is in danger as it has alerted them. This is conventional of a thriller film as it scares the audience and this therefore creates tension among them.
I think using sound in my opening sequence is very important as it creates tension and portrays certain emotions across to the audience. The use of sound also makes it easier for the audience to follow what is going on and they can judge characters through the sound that has been used in relation to them. I am hoping that the sounds that I have chosen for my opening sequence will create an enigma and enable the audience to build relationships with characters. I believe that the sounds I have picked are conventional of the thriller genre as each of them create an enigma, tension and an eerie atmosphere, all of these being the main conventions of the thriller genre. I found planning sound very helpful as it has allowed me to evaluate which sounds I want to include in my opening sequence and what they are required for.
Non diegetic sound in the form of tense music will be used within my opening sequence. This will build suspense among the audience and also inform them when something may be about to happen. This sound technique also will make the victim seem inferior and as if she is in some sort of danger, this will allow relationships to be built between the audience and the character as they will want to tell her that something is going to happen. Non diegetic tense music is conventional to the thriller genre as it creates suspense, thus being one of the most important conventions in a thriller film.
Contrapuntal sound is also something that I am going to try to incorporate into my opening sequence, this could be in the form of happy music. This will make the audience feel uneasy as they would not expect to hear this music in relation to what may be about to happen, and this therefore builds suspense and tension. This sound technique will also portray the strange and eerie characteristics of the antagonist. This sound technique is less conventional of the thriller genre but it can still be used as a way of building tension.
I am also going to be using diegetic sounds in the form of the antagonist laughing and the victim heavily breathing, this will be used to portray how scared the victim is at this moment in time. The diegetic sound of her breathing heavily will depict a sense of panic towards the audience and this will therefore leave them in an uneasy situation. The diegetic sound of the laughing antagonist will create an eerie atmosphere as you would not expect to hear someone so evil laughing. This also portrays the antagonist to be twisted as he is laughing at what he is about to do. Diegetic sound is conventional of a thriller as it involve the audience with the characters and they can see exactly how they are feeling, this allows relationships to be built.
I will also be using non diegetic sound effects in my opening sequence, these will be in the form of a sudden jumpy noise when the antagonist appears. This will be used to firstly scare the audience and make them feel uneasy, but it will also be used to create a sense of superiority surrounding the antagonist. This sound effect will also grab the audiences attention and make sure that they see the antagonist. The sudden jumpy sound will also convey to the audience that the victim is in danger as it has alerted them. This is conventional of a thriller film as it scares the audience and this therefore creates tension among them.
I think using sound in my opening sequence is very important as it creates tension and portrays certain emotions across to the audience. The use of sound also makes it easier for the audience to follow what is going on and they can judge characters through the sound that has been used in relation to them. I am hoping that the sounds that I have chosen for my opening sequence will create an enigma and enable the audience to build relationships with characters. I believe that the sounds I have picked are conventional of the thriller genre as each of them create an enigma, tension and an eerie atmosphere, all of these being the main conventions of the thriller genre. I found planning sound very helpful as it has allowed me to evaluate which sounds I want to include in my opening sequence and what they are required for.
Thursday, 14 November 2013
Group storyboard - Miss Miller
In this blog I shall be evaluating our group storyboard, including the content of the storyboard and the specific elements we have used from our individual storyboards. The purpose of the group storyboard task is so that we can incorporate all the ideas of each individual into one storyboard. The storyboard will allow us the organise the shots, editing, iconography, actors, sound and lighting we will be using in each frame. This will allow us to keep organisation and structure when it comes to filming.
In our group storyboard we have included several elements from each of our own individual storyboards that we created. In frames 8 and 12, we incorporated Joe's idea of a point of view shot from the antagonists position, this means the camera shot will be filmed as if he is wearing a mask. This was an inspiration from the original 'Halloween' film. This frame allowed me and Reggie to see Joe's idea and the features of a thriller that it would generate, such as low key lighting and hidden identity.
We included the long shot feature of my storyboard, these long shots consist of the victim and the antagonist. The reason we included this feature in our group storyboard was because it creates the atmosphere of isolation as we can clearly see the empty background. This allows the audience to identify the fact that the victim is helpless and alone, thus therefore will create a relationship. We included this element of my storyboard as it generates the convention that this creates is a vulnerable female victim.
In using the group storyboard it enabled us to split our narrative into separate sections, this allowed us to see where we wanted low key lighting, diegetic sound, editing etc. This is helpful as when we are filming we can make sure that each element that we require for each shot is available. Using the group storyboard has also enabled us to not only note the key elements that we will be featuring in each frame but also conduct a sketch to make it easier for each member of our group to visualise our ideas.
I think our storyboard is very good and has been managed very well as it has broke our opening sequence down into separate segments making it easier to understand and also make it easier for filming. I found that the ideas each member of our group put forward were very helpful as we have built a very well structured storyboard. I thought it was a little bit tough incorporating all of our ideas into one storyboard as we had to leave some out. But overall I do believe that we have made the best possible storyboard with the ideas that we had.
In our group storyboard we have included several elements from each of our own individual storyboards that we created. In frames 8 and 12, we incorporated Joe's idea of a point of view shot from the antagonists position, this means the camera shot will be filmed as if he is wearing a mask. This was an inspiration from the original 'Halloween' film. This frame allowed me and Reggie to see Joe's idea and the features of a thriller that it would generate, such as low key lighting and hidden identity.
We included the long shot feature of my storyboard, these long shots consist of the victim and the antagonist. The reason we included this feature in our group storyboard was because it creates the atmosphere of isolation as we can clearly see the empty background. This allows the audience to identify the fact that the victim is helpless and alone, thus therefore will create a relationship. We included this element of my storyboard as it generates the convention that this creates is a vulnerable female victim.
In using the group storyboard it enabled us to split our narrative into separate sections, this allowed us to see where we wanted low key lighting, diegetic sound, editing etc. This is helpful as when we are filming we can make sure that each element that we require for each shot is available. Using the group storyboard has also enabled us to not only note the key elements that we will be featuring in each frame but also conduct a sketch to make it easier for each member of our group to visualise our ideas.
I think our storyboard is very good and has been managed very well as it has broke our opening sequence down into separate segments making it easier to understand and also make it easier for filming. I found that the ideas each member of our group put forward were very helpful as we have built a very well structured storyboard. I thought it was a little bit tough incorporating all of our ideas into one storyboard as we had to leave some out. But overall I do believe that we have made the best possible storyboard with the ideas that we had.
Cinematography planning - Miss Miller
Cinematography is the art of movie photography, this includes both the shooting and development of film. Cinematography consists of many different camera shots and angles. In this blog I am going to be planning and discussing the cinematography that I will be using in my opening sequence. Cinematography is an important element within films as it connects the audience to the characters and it allows them to relate with them. Planning my cinematography is important in order to create an excellent opening sequence as it will allow me to evaluate which camera shots and angles are most relevant to use in order to create the effect I want.
The first use of cinematography I will be using in my opening sequence is a panning shot, this will be at the beginning and it will pan from a large tower with a dark night background into a young girl saying goodbye to her friends. This piece of cinematography has been chosen here as it sets the scene and allows the audience to know where the setting is and that it is at night time. I am hoping that the panning of this large tower will create an eerie effect.
I will also be using a close up shot of the victim in my opening sequence, this cinematography has been used here as it allows the audience to visualise the victims face close up, this therefore portrays the emotions that she is feeling very scared. This means that the audience will be able to relate to the victim more easily, as they can see the genuine fear in her face. The impact of this shot is that it fills the screen and the audience therefore have no choice but to focus on it. This cinematography is conventional to a thriller film as it allows the audience to see that the victim is scared, this therefore makes her look vulnerable, and a vulnerable female victim is conventional of the thriller genre.
I've included the cinematographic technique of shallow focusing in my opening scene, this will be when we first see the antagonist. In this shot we will see the victim in full focus and then in the background we will see the antagonist standing out of focus. The impact of this shot is that it creates tension as the audience know that something is there but they don't know the true identity of what it is. This cinematography will convey to the audience that the person standing out of focus has bad intentions as their identity is being hidden through the blur. This technique will make the audience feel more alarmed as they want to tell the victim that there is something behind her, I am hoping that this will build relations between the audience and the character. This camera shot is conventional to the thriller genre as it creates an enigma as the audience are unable to clearly see who it is.
I have also included a point of view shot in my opening sequence, this shot will be used from the point of view of the antagonist. In this shot we will only be able to see eye holes as the antagonist is wearing a mask. The impact of this shot will be to strike fear into the audience, as they are put in the position of the antagonist, this will make them feel uneasy. The P.O.V shot will allow relationships to be created between the audience and the antagonist as they can see things from his position. Furthermore it depicts the fact that the victim is so isolated, as she is being watched but she is unaware of it. This shot will create low key lighting as most of the screen is blacked out apart from the eye holes, this is conventional of the thriller genre. This piece of cinematography emphasises the fact that the antagonist is wearing a mask, and shows that his identity is hidden.
In this opening sequence I have also used a long shot, this shot is used to show the antagonist for the first time clearly. The shot will show the antagonist standing in a mask and holding a knife. The impact of this shot is that it allows the audience to see the whole of the character and the setting in which they are in. This shot allows the audience to identify that the antagonist is wearing a mask and holding a knife, thus creating a terrifying atmosphere. This therefore creates relationships between the audience and the victim as they are both scared at what may be going to happen. This shot also portrays how isolated the victim is as they are alone in an empty car park, thus making the victim look extremely inferior and vulnerable, which is conventional to the thriller genre.
I think the use of cinematography in my opening sequence is vital in evoking a reaction from my audience as it allows the audience to create a relationship with the characters. The cinematography I have used also permits me to portray certain emotions toward my audience, for example the close up portrays the emotion of fear to my audience, thus creating fear among my audience. I feel that the cinematography I have used is conventional to the thriller genre as it extracts the key features of a thriller film such as low key lighting and an enigma etc. In planning and discussing the cinematography that I will be using in my opening sequence, I have been able to see what effect each of my camera shots and angles creates, this has been extremely helpful as I can identify which areas I need to improve on in terms of cinematography.
Monday, 11 November 2013
Character Planning - Miss Miller
In a film characters play the most important part as they are the main thing that the audience focus on. Characters allow the audience to build relationships with them and therefore keep them interested in the story. Characters are used as the main vehicle to entice the audience. In this post I will be discussing the characters that I will be using in my narrative.
Female victim: (Aged 16, blonde)
This characters role in my opening sequence will be to be chased by the antagonist. They will need to be vulnerable so that the audience feel sympathy towards them and relationships can therefore be built. Relationships will be built with the audience as the audience can relate with the female victim as they may be similar to her or they may have a friend like her. This character is stereotypical to the thriller genre as they are a female victim, this being one of the main conventions of the thriller genre. This character is conventional of the thriller genre as they are all the things you would expect a victim to be, vulnerable, attractive, young etc. The age and gender of this character will help the audience engage with the narrative as they will feel that they need to help them. The fact that the victim is an attractive female will also make the audience want her to be saved, and this will therefore create more suspense when she is in danger. Using this type of character for this role will make my sequence more specific for my target audience as it is the same age bracket.
Antagonist:
The character I will use for this role will be an average sized man who is wearing a mask, this characters role in the opening sequence will be to strike fear into the audience and the victim. They will be wearing all black to represent their dark side and connote evil. This character is stereotypical of the thriller genre as they have a hidden identity, this is one of the main conventions of a thriller genre as it creates enigma. The fact that the audience will know little about the background of this character will further create a sense of mystery around them. Using an unknown killer makes it easier to relate to most people as they can imagine who they want as the antagonist.
I believe that the characters I have chosen for my opening sequence are conventional of the thriller genre as they both display features that are key to the thriller genre, such as hidden identity, enigma and creating tension. The characters I have chosen will therefore emphasise the genre of my opening sequence as they convey some of the main conventions of a thriller film. Using this character plan has been helpful in the preparation to filming as it has allowed me to identify the roles that I want each character to play within the opening sequence and it has also allowed me to see what each character will represent. The use of the specific characters I have used in my opening sequence will make it much more interesting as they have been modified to fit the storyline.
Female victim: (Aged 16, blonde)
This characters role in my opening sequence will be to be chased by the antagonist. They will need to be vulnerable so that the audience feel sympathy towards them and relationships can therefore be built. Relationships will be built with the audience as the audience can relate with the female victim as they may be similar to her or they may have a friend like her. This character is stereotypical to the thriller genre as they are a female victim, this being one of the main conventions of the thriller genre. This character is conventional of the thriller genre as they are all the things you would expect a victim to be, vulnerable, attractive, young etc. The age and gender of this character will help the audience engage with the narrative as they will feel that they need to help them. The fact that the victim is an attractive female will also make the audience want her to be saved, and this will therefore create more suspense when she is in danger. Using this type of character for this role will make my sequence more specific for my target audience as it is the same age bracket.
Antagonist:
The character I will use for this role will be an average sized man who is wearing a mask, this characters role in the opening sequence will be to strike fear into the audience and the victim. They will be wearing all black to represent their dark side and connote evil. This character is stereotypical of the thriller genre as they have a hidden identity, this is one of the main conventions of a thriller genre as it creates enigma. The fact that the audience will know little about the background of this character will further create a sense of mystery around them. Using an unknown killer makes it easier to relate to most people as they can imagine who they want as the antagonist.
I believe that the characters I have chosen for my opening sequence are conventional of the thriller genre as they both display features that are key to the thriller genre, such as hidden identity, enigma and creating tension. The characters I have chosen will therefore emphasise the genre of my opening sequence as they convey some of the main conventions of a thriller film. Using this character plan has been helpful in the preparation to filming as it has allowed me to identify the roles that I want each character to play within the opening sequence and it has also allowed me to see what each character will represent. The use of the specific characters I have used in my opening sequence will make it much more interesting as they have been modified to fit the storyline.
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Planning Editing Styles - Miss Georgiou
Editing is important in a film as it makes it flow together and look professional. Also editing is used to create certain emotions among the audience, for example slow editing creates suspense amongst the viewers. Editing can also be used to create an enigma in the opening scene, this then entices the audience to watch on.
Editing styles in my clip
Slow editing:
In my clip I will use slow editing when the antagonist first appears, this will create suspense amongst the audience as they will be able to see the antagonist for a long period of time. The audience will then feel a sense of fear when they see the antagonist and the slow editing surrounding the antagonist will make him appear to be more superior to the victim as he is in no hurry. This slow editing will also allow us to depict the fear on the victims face. The effect of slow editing in my opening sequence is that it allows the audience to fully view a scene and therefore take in everything that is going on, this allows a relationship of emotions to be made. Slow editing surrounding the antagonist also portrays them as being supernatural.
Fast editing:
I will be using fast editing in my opening sequence when the victim is being chased. This contrast of slow editing to fast editing will surprise the audience; giving them the same emotions as the victim in the clip. The use of fast editing when the victim is being chased creates a sense of chaos as there will be loads of different cuts and camera shots, this chaos will come across the the audience and allows them to be in the same situation as the victim. Using fast editing will also increase the pace of my opening sequence and transfer energy to the audience, I hope that this will draw them to continue to watch.
Kuleshov effect:
I will use this piece of editing which consists of two shots being put together to portray a third meaning. This editing will not show clearly what has happened but will suggest to the audience what may have happened, the effect of this is that it leaves them feeling uncertain and questioning the situation. This is conventional to a thriller film as it creates an enigma. This editing will also allow me to vary the different types of shots that I use in my opening sequence and therefore allow me to demonstrate my media skills.
The editing styles that I have chosen are all conventional to a thriller film and they are all frequently used in thriller films. Each of the editing styles that I have chosen create a different effect which I believe are conventional to the thriller genre, slow editing creates suspense, fast editing creates chaos and energy and the kuleshov effect creates an enigma among the audience.
I am hoping that the editing styles that I have chosen will appeal to my thriller target audience as they all will create tension and leave them wanting to know whats going to happen.
Editing styles in my clip
Slow editing:
In my clip I will use slow editing when the antagonist first appears, this will create suspense amongst the audience as they will be able to see the antagonist for a long period of time. The audience will then feel a sense of fear when they see the antagonist and the slow editing surrounding the antagonist will make him appear to be more superior to the victim as he is in no hurry. This slow editing will also allow us to depict the fear on the victims face. The effect of slow editing in my opening sequence is that it allows the audience to fully view a scene and therefore take in everything that is going on, this allows a relationship of emotions to be made. Slow editing surrounding the antagonist also portrays them as being supernatural.
Fast editing:
I will be using fast editing in my opening sequence when the victim is being chased. This contrast of slow editing to fast editing will surprise the audience; giving them the same emotions as the victim in the clip. The use of fast editing when the victim is being chased creates a sense of chaos as there will be loads of different cuts and camera shots, this chaos will come across the the audience and allows them to be in the same situation as the victim. Using fast editing will also increase the pace of my opening sequence and transfer energy to the audience, I hope that this will draw them to continue to watch.
Kuleshov effect:
I will use this piece of editing which consists of two shots being put together to portray a third meaning. This editing will not show clearly what has happened but will suggest to the audience what may have happened, the effect of this is that it leaves them feeling uncertain and questioning the situation. This is conventional to a thriller film as it creates an enigma. This editing will also allow me to vary the different types of shots that I use in my opening sequence and therefore allow me to demonstrate my media skills.
The editing styles that I have chosen are all conventional to a thriller film and they are all frequently used in thriller films. Each of the editing styles that I have chosen create a different effect which I believe are conventional to the thriller genre, slow editing creates suspense, fast editing creates chaos and energy and the kuleshov effect creates an enigma among the audience.
I am hoping that the editing styles that I have chosen will appeal to my thriller target audience as they all will create tension and leave them wanting to know whats going to happen.
Tuesday, 5 November 2013
Planning Mise En Scene - Miss Georgiou
Mise-en-scene is a french word and it consists of all the visual information in front of the camera. The purpose of Mise-en-scene is to communicate essential information to the audience. In this post I have been asked to explain why the elements of Mise-en-scene are important in a thriller film, what Mise-en-scene will be featured within the opening sequence of my thriller film. The five elements of Mise-en-scene are....
- Setting and iconography
- Costume/Make up
- Body Language
- Lighting/Colours
- Positioning
Mise-en-scene is one of the most important elements of a thriller film, this is because it involves everything that the audience see on the screen and visuals are key in engaging the audience. Mise-en-scene is used to create the setting and therefore set the mood among the audience, this means that the audience can therefore understand what is happening in the scene. Mise-en-scene also consists of costumes, this is a vital feature of thriller films as the conventions such as hidden identity, through the use of masks.
What is the Mise-en-scene of your thriller?
The setting I will use in my opening sequence will be at night time, this makes my opening sequence fit in to the conventions of a thriller film as it creates tension among the audience because many people are scared of the dark and it allows me to use low key lighting. The location I will be using in my opening sequence will be in a private estate with a old tower, this setting has been chosen as a private estate does not seem like the sort of place that would feature a murder. The use of the old tower is also creepy.
The costumes that I will be using within my thriller clip will be conventional, for the victim they will be wearing a typical teenage girls outfit, this will allow the audience to connect with the victim as they can relate to them. The costume my antagonist will be wearing in my clip is all black with a mask, the all black colour is representative of his dark side and the mask he is wearing matches the hidden identity convention of thrillers, and strikes fear into the audience as they do not know who the antagonist is.
For the female character in my opening sequence I will use uncertain body language, such as her looking nervous and scared. The effect this will create is that the audience will be able to see that the female victim is in some sort of distress and they will then want to reach out and help her, this will create relationships between the character and the audience. For the antagonist I will use relaxed body language, this will make him seem much more odd to the audience and also make him look superior compared to the panicking victim.
I will be using a lot of low key lighting in my opening sequence, this piece of mise en scene is important within a thriller film as it creates enigma and leaves the audience wondering what may be lurking in the darkness. Using low key lighting will also make my opening sequence conventional to a thriller film.
How is my mise en scene conventional to a thriller film?
The mise en scene that I will be using in my opening sequence is conventional to a thriller film, as it creates tension and builds suspense, for example the setting, costume and lighting that I will be using are all used to create some sort of enigma and are all strong conventions of a thriller film. The use of hiding my antagonists identity creates fear among the audience as he is hidden and it portrays him as being mad. This mise en scene also allows the audience to identify the antagonist easier as he is set apart from a normal person.
The mise en scene that I will be using in my opening sequence is very appealing to the audience as it draws them in to continue to watch the film. The visual element of my thriller clip is vital as it makes the audience feel uneasy and puts them in a state of fear. The mise en scene I have used is conventional to the thriller genre and therefore entices the audience as I am targeting a thriller based audience.
For the female character in my opening sequence I will use uncertain body language, such as her looking nervous and scared. The effect this will create is that the audience will be able to see that the female victim is in some sort of distress and they will then want to reach out and help her, this will create relationships between the character and the audience. For the antagonist I will use relaxed body language, this will make him seem much more odd to the audience and also make him look superior compared to the panicking victim.
I will be using a lot of low key lighting in my opening sequence, this piece of mise en scene is important within a thriller film as it creates enigma and leaves the audience wondering what may be lurking in the darkness. Using low key lighting will also make my opening sequence conventional to a thriller film.
How is my mise en scene conventional to a thriller film?
The mise en scene that I will be using in my opening sequence is conventional to a thriller film, as it creates tension and builds suspense, for example the setting, costume and lighting that I will be using are all used to create some sort of enigma and are all strong conventions of a thriller film. The use of hiding my antagonists identity creates fear among the audience as he is hidden and it portrays him as being mad. This mise en scene also allows the audience to identify the antagonist easier as he is set apart from a normal person.
The mise en scene that I will be using in my opening sequence is very appealing to the audience as it draws them in to continue to watch the film. The visual element of my thriller clip is vital as it makes the audience feel uneasy and puts them in a state of fear. The mise en scene I have used is conventional to the thriller genre and therefore entices the audience as I am targeting a thriller based audience.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
Individual Storyboard - Miss Miller
In this task I was asked to create a storyboard which included a minimum of 10 frames which roughly explained what would happen in my opening sequence. A storyboard is used to explain simply what is happening in each shot. In each frame I had to explain what camera shot I would use, the location of the shot, the iconography used, the lighting, the actors, the sound and any editing. I also had to explain the narrative of each frame. Using this storyboard has allowed me to put my ideas into a visual, and I can now see what I need to use in my opening sequence. The storyboard task has also made me see which conventions I need to be including at certain parts of my opening sequence, such as tense music and low key lighting when the antagonist appears. As you can see from my storyboard below this task has allowed me to separate my opening sequence into 10 different segments, and from here I can now improve the frames that may be lacking.This task also has made me realise that my idea may need to be adjusted as it breaks the 180 rule in frame 6.
In the first frame I have used a panning shot of the large tower, this is to set the scene and let the audience know the location. I have also used low key lighting, this is to create and eerie atmosphere and also to match the night time setting. Using low key lighting also allows me to feature a thriller convention. Furthermore I have suggested that during this frame a title saying 'Halloween Night, 2007' should appear. This will allow the audience to see that something scary may be about to happen and again it creates an eerie atmosphere. I have took this inspiration from the film Halloween.
In frame two, it is the first time my victim appears so I want to make sure that an immediate relationship is created with the audience. In order to do this I have made her a stereotypical female victim. I have done this through the iconography of a handbag, designer clothes, a mobile phone etc. I have also decided that an eye level shot is most suitable for this frame, this means that the audience can get a good look at the victim and they will be able to relate with her more easily if the camera is at eye level.
In frame five, we first see the antagonist, so again I wanted it to have a big impact on the audience. I have used a shallow focus shot here, which means the antagonist will be out of focus and we will be able to fully see the victim. I have used this shot because I want to be able to fully portray the emotions of my victim to the audience and at the same time I want to keep an enigma surrounding the antagonist. I have used a non diegetic sound effect in this frame, this will be made parallel to the antagonists movement and to make the audience jump. I took this inspiration from the film Scream.
In frame nine, we are able to fully see the antagonist in full focus. Here I have used the iconography of a knife and a mask. Both of these objects have been used to strike fear into the audience; the knife notifies them that the antagonist plans on killing the victim, this creates tension. The mask has been used to hide the antagonists identity and make him seem inhumane. I took the inspiration of a mask from the film The Strangers, I feel that hidden identity works really well within the thriller genre as it creates an enigma. I have used slow timing of shots in this frame, this slow timing creates tension as the audience can see the antagonist for a long duration.
In the final frame, the victim is being chased down, to enhance this scene I have decided to use a point of view shot. This shot will put the audience in the same position as the victim, enabling them to relate with the victim.
In the first frame I have used a panning shot of the large tower, this is to set the scene and let the audience know the location. I have also used low key lighting, this is to create and eerie atmosphere and also to match the night time setting. Using low key lighting also allows me to feature a thriller convention. Furthermore I have suggested that during this frame a title saying 'Halloween Night, 2007' should appear. This will allow the audience to see that something scary may be about to happen and again it creates an eerie atmosphere. I have took this inspiration from the film Halloween.
In frame two, it is the first time my victim appears so I want to make sure that an immediate relationship is created with the audience. In order to do this I have made her a stereotypical female victim. I have done this through the iconography of a handbag, designer clothes, a mobile phone etc. I have also decided that an eye level shot is most suitable for this frame, this means that the audience can get a good look at the victim and they will be able to relate with her more easily if the camera is at eye level.
In frame five, we first see the antagonist, so again I wanted it to have a big impact on the audience. I have used a shallow focus shot here, which means the antagonist will be out of focus and we will be able to fully see the victim. I have used this shot because I want to be able to fully portray the emotions of my victim to the audience and at the same time I want to keep an enigma surrounding the antagonist. I have used a non diegetic sound effect in this frame, this will be made parallel to the antagonists movement and to make the audience jump. I took this inspiration from the film Scream.
In frame nine, we are able to fully see the antagonist in full focus. Here I have used the iconography of a knife and a mask. Both of these objects have been used to strike fear into the audience; the knife notifies them that the antagonist plans on killing the victim, this creates tension. The mask has been used to hide the antagonists identity and make him seem inhumane. I took the inspiration of a mask from the film The Strangers, I feel that hidden identity works really well within the thriller genre as it creates an enigma. I have used slow timing of shots in this frame, this slow timing creates tension as the audience can see the antagonist for a long duration.
In the final frame, the victim is being chased down, to enhance this scene I have decided to use a point of view shot. This shot will put the audience in the same position as the victim, enabling them to relate with the victim.
Friday, 1 November 2013
Preliminary Task - Miss Georgiou
This task involved filming and editing a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down in a chair and engaging in conversation with another character. We was asked to demonstrate match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule. The clip should be no longer that one minute long. We then had to edit the clip to make it smooth and then upload it to youtube.
In my group was Reggie and Joe who were the actors in this clip, I did the filming and editing. I found that we worked well as a group as we all knew our roles. The purpose of this preliminary task was so that we could demonstrate that we had the necessary skills to shoot an opening sequence. In doing this task I discovered how a shot reverse shot is used to help the audience understand a conversation more easily. I also discovered how to pan with a camera using a tri-pod, this skill will be vital when it comes to setting the scene in my opening thriller clip.
I struggled when it came to editing all the different shots to make them into one continuous flowing sequence. I struggled with this as it was difficult to sync the sound as well as the different shots. It is important that I learn how to do this when it comes to my opening scene, otherwise the shots will seem like they are not linked together.
This task has been very helpful as it has enabled me to practice my filming skills and also has identified that I need to improve my editing skills. Furthermore, the preliminary task has allowed me to see what filming an opening sequence will be like, and I can now be prepared for the difficulties we may encounter. Overall I think the preliminary task has allowed us to demonstrate that we have the ability to film an opening sequence for a thriller clip.
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