The Team

Josh Ruth Arron Ryan

Sound Track and Final Editing

In this lesson we have finalised a musical soundtrack to over the top of our main conversation between our two characters. We've tried to make it non-progressive and suttle. Editing has been difficult in the final lesson, having a small amount of time to finish it. Filling the 40 second gap has been more challenging than we imagined but is slowly coming together and should hopefully have a complete end thriller opening soon.

HELP!

Looking at the rough cut i do not think that it works, the voice-over conversation does not fit the split screen visuals. We have a couple of ideas for ways to make the opening work but time is short.

One idea you to fill the 40 seconds of black screen with shots of the surroundings and have voice over. thinking about it now we need a soundtrack, the opening is empty without one, a subtle soundtrack under our existing voice-overs.

another idea you to scrap the conversation voice-over completely and go with a strong soundtrack

these two ideas can be put together but TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

Feedback from class:

The class gave good, positive feedback that included that they liked the idea that we had come up with and they thought the split screen was really effective. They thought the way we filmed the girls body in parts was 'also very effective convention of a thriller' They also raised the question of ' who is john?!' this was perfect as this is what we wanted to provoke the audience to think...creating a sense of mystery and dramatic tension.

Rough Cut

This is our rough cut for our opening.

I chose this font because it looks like a distressed handwriting which would help fit the thriller theme, although the font may be a bit too messy and non readable for the final cut.

Ideas for front style

I liked the 'inky' effect to the front. I like how the front sweeps and links together however this may come across a little feminine. Despite this i feel the front is chilling and provokes a mysterious response from the audience.

i chose it because it has a thrilling appeal to it so it fits with our opening and also it has a urban effect so it fits with ryans part as he will be outside the whole time.

I have picked this font because it is messy and handwritten, portraying his state of mind and feelings. Also male handwriting is generally rougher then females which we wanted.

Definition of 'disclosure'

dis·clo·sur

noun

1.the act or an instance of disclosing; exposure; revelation.

2.that which is disclosed; a revelation.3.

Origin:
1590–1600

Lesson work:

Now we are starting to look at different fronts. We will be testing the size and colour in this post.
We have been looking at 'font.com' to see all the different possible styles we could have. We have been looking at the hand written style of fronts and one that has appealed to us is the 'righty using left hand' and feel as a group that this is a possible choice. We feel this as it shows a psychotic sate as it is written in messy hand writing.

Names for our film

These are just ideas that as a group we came up with, none of theses names are set in stone and will defiantly be used in our opening sequence.

Betrayal
Communication
Advice
Broadcast
Exposure
Disclosure
Closure
Comeback

We thought of these names as they all link to our film in some way or another. However 'disclosure' particularly stuck will us and we felt as a group that this name would be the most appropriate to our opening thriller sequence.

Lesson work:

This lesson we will be thinking up some names for our opening to a thriller and testing out all the different types of fronts you can use. Each style of front with provoke different reactions to the audience and we need to make it clear that our opening is a thriller genre and not anything else.

We will be experimenting with colour and size of front. We will also think of all the different transitions that the credits could come onto the screen...

Lesson work:

So far our editing has gone very well. There has been no real problems with putting everything together- we're on task and working well as a group.

However one small problem was the section with ruth was too short compared to Ryan's filming. We had to balance the time out between the two so that we could have a split screen in sync and make it within the two minute time limit.

The sound is coming along nicely and no problems there.

This clip is talking about shooting the film and telling us how hard it is to film outside of the studio. It goes on to explain how the public and day to day life is a problem when making the film.

Joel Schumacher - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a link to wikipedia that gives you information about this director.

Unfortunately there were no clips of Joel Schumacher talking about his 2002 thriller film Phone booth. So i decided to find a video about another one of his films Twelve. The video is of Joel talking about the film and what film means to him. This short clips highlights what i think films should create in us when we are watching the film. He talks passionately about how Twelve doesn't just have one main story line but many stories intertwined into one.

:)

I thought the 'Sex Drugs etc' bit of the post was good as it described the elements of the film very well. I also thought the visuals of the post were very intriguing.

Evaluation Questions

Evaluation Questions


The following questions must be answered in your evaluation PowerPoint:

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
5. How did you attract/address your audience?
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
7. Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

A film that is similar to ours:

These two clips from the film aren't completely like ours but they involve a phone and show a building up of a relationship between the two main characters. As our thriller is only the opening sequence we were unable to show john's.. Ryan's 'true ' mean, psychotic side. The cuts in this film were generally fast and snappy cuts that were edited in this way to create tension and confusing and panic. Throughout the film up until the very end we don't see the phone booth 'killer' evil baddy. So by having these shots it allows us as well to seem threatened by him as we too don't know where or what he looks like.

Thriller [ˈθrɪlə]

n
1. (Performing Arts / Theatre) a book, film, play, etc., depicting crime, mystery, or espionage in an atmosphere of excitement and suspense
2. a person or thing that thrills

thoughts on editing

in editing we will be using such things as spilt-screen to show what is happening to both the characters at the same time. Also it shows the two normal things happening like a phone call but each character acts differently. fast switch between shots may be used as it can build suspense which is needed in a thriller. as we edit we will come up with more ideas but for now this is what we have been thinking about.

Editing so far

so far in editing we have cut out the bits we don't want and split the rest into individual shots. we have also captured the film that is the voice over which is the soundtrack.

Lesson work:

This lesson we finished writing our script and began shooting the last part of our thriller opening. We looked at all of our film and uploaded it onto the mac. We took images of the script on photo booth so that it would we easy to look up our script if we lost the sheets of paper.

Roles played with in the group:

Director: Arron

Editor: Ruth/Josh/Ryan

Sound: Ryan

Actress: Ruth

Actor: Ryan

Director of Cinematography: Ruth

Cinematography 2nd Director: Arron

Costume designer: Josh

Location finder: Ryan

Image of our first draft of our script.

First draft of our script

Post for last lesson:

Last lesson we spent constructing our soundtrack that we will place over the majority of our opening thriller sequence. This is a first draft of our soundtrack that started off will one phone call that gradually was built up will more overlapping phone conversations of our help line.

We played around with tempo, pitch and volume.

Sound Track Editing

This image shows the progress we have made so far on our voice over sound track. We've edited all the phone conversations we needed and organized them as a rough test. It starts off as one conversation and building up one by one so its layered and hard to understand each one separately. At this point during the clip we haven't planned on adding any visual footage except from the opening credits.

Post for todays lesson:

Today we wrote the first draft to our script of the conversation between our two main characters Gemma and John.

We made a print screen and wrote about our music non-diegetic soundtrack that would be the main sound over the opening of our thriller film.

We finalized the props needed and spoke about whom we could ask to take part in our film. We had to think of people we knew that would be comfortable being filmed. A reasonable good actor that wasn't shy and most importantly didn't look like a little kid (teenager) We wanted our thriller opening sequence to look professional and not done using actors that clearly were from a college production - We took a image of our script to show our progress so far...

After Half-term

We intend on finishing filming e.g. close ups, more voice overs, additional sound and begin editing!

15 Film Certification

15 –
Suitable only for 15 years
and over
No one younger than 15 may
see a ‘15’ film in a cinema.
No one younger than 15 may
rent or buy a ‘15’ rated
video work.

Discrimination
The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory
language or behaviour.

Drugs
Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not
promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily
accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example,
aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

Horror
Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic
or sexualised.
Imitable behaviour
Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and
self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be
copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Language
There may be frequent use of strong language (for example,
‘fuck’). The strongest terms (for example, ‘cunt’) may be
acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated
use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity
Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without
strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a
non-sexual or educational context.

Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail.
There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour,
but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable
unless justified by context. Works whose primary purpose is
sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikely to be acceptable.
Theme
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is
appropriate for 15 year olds.

Violence
Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction
of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to
be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also
unlikely to be acceptable.

There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence
but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and
have a strong contextual justification.

What makes a Psychological thriller.

Psychological thriller is another type of thriller and is the 'type' that we will be using into our final. We wanted to incorporate elements of mystery, tension and drama into our final opening sequence. To create this we carefully choose our angle shots and camera shots too, by having quick, sharp editing this will create suspense.. which is perfect! Our suspense in this psychological thriller will come from the two characters preying on each others minds, this will be made more vivid with physical expressions and actions they preform on screen.

Generally, thrillers focus on plot over characters, and thus emphasize intense, physical action over the character's psyche. Psychological thrillers tend to reverse this formula to a certain degree, emphasizing the characters just as much, if not more so, than the plot.

Here is an example of a recent Psychological thriller....

The Story

John is a manic depressive, he is on his own with no family but is a very successful business man. Seeking help from a support/help line John finds himself phoning everyday and weirdly connecting to the same Call Lady (Gemma) on every occasion.
Each phone call brings them closer and closer together, so close that John's emotions and depression starts to have effects on Gemma's everyday life.
John gets emotionally attached to Gemma and when she decides that the phone relationship has got to far she plans to leave the helpline and find a new job.
John instantly hits rock bottom when realizing that Gemma has gone. He begins to think that their relationship needs to become more physical and sets about finding her...

Test Shots

This shows setting and background
















This shot is one that we will use in the opening
















Close up of phone IMPORTANT


















Other shot similar to the one above
















THE BENCH main location for opening

Shot list for opening sequence

Shot one: Black screen with credits

Shot two: Extreme close up

Shot three: Close up

Shot four: Extreme close up

Shot five: Extreme close up

Shot six: Extreme close up

Shot seven: Close up

Shot eight: Long Shot

Shot nine: Side long shot

Shot ten: extreme close up

Shot elven: Extreme close up

Shot twelve: Extreme close up

Shot thirteen: Close up

Shot fourteen: Extreme close up

Storyboard

Feedback from our class about our ideas

The feedback from our class on the whole was positive. They liked our general idea and thought they would easily work. They thought our story board was original and creative and were interested to see how we would present them into our thriller opening sequence. They gave us some new ideas as well: included having a non-diegetic sound seeping through our opening sequence. We told them we would use spilt screen throughout and would use quick, fast, editing shots which the class felt would look really good to watch. We then looked back at our general idea and developed and adapted it to these new positive feedbacks and ideas!

Micro Plainning

In our sequence we are thinking of using fragmented shots of certain features of our characters faces to leave questions and not to give anything anyway too soon.
At the start we have an idea to use non-diagetic sounds such as noises like birds, wind, footsteps then slowly switching into phone calls building up so eventually its a big layered sound track of calls which could all cut out and leave a single dialing tone. While this is happening the credit are rolling plus the logo of the production company will appear.
Some shots we thought could be interesting and effective are doing E.C.U of objects from each scene e.g close up of pencil pot. On the male character, your eye leads up the character starting from the foot panning up towards the rest of the body.

Outline of Our Final Idea

• Black screen
• Hears ringing of phone line
• Over lapping speaking, phone calls
• Then focuses on one phone call in particular
• Credits appearing randomly, floating in and off the screen,
• Women speaking, hello you've reached Cambridge confidential help line' something along those lines.
• Voice over of a women and a help line call centre talking to a man/boy
• 'Didn't you call yesterday...' making it apparent to the audience that they have developed a relationships, spoken before etc...
• Then focuses on the girl/women at the call centre. her lips, speaking, her pens, birthdays cards on her desk to show how ordinary her life is.
• Close ups, extreme close up
• Then a quick cut shot to the lips of the man on the other end of the phone call.
• Man in a park, hears birds.
• Split screen maybe
• Extreme close up on him rolling his fingers/ tapping them..
• Flicks back to her, tapping a open on the table, twirling her hair ....
• Average, normal conversation...
• Ends with him standing up, never see his face fully. His silhouet walking into the distance ...
• Maybe some simple music, no words within it.

This is our mood-board that we made to show some of the ideas that we may use into our final story board. Some of the images we may not even incorporate into our story however the pictures are just some simple guide lines making this board a development piece rather than a final board. As one of our members of our group were not present we also didn't want to make any final plans.

Production Logo

This is our idea for a production logo and will be used in our opening sequence, this maybe animated in the later!

U2-69 Footsteps Review

Footsteps is another film done by students at Long Road. The opening Dark Room shot is every similar to a lot of Opening sequences done at Long Road, it is effective but now over used and i think that they is many more creative shots that they could of incorporated into their sequence to make it more interesting. The panning is steady and effective. Concealing the persons faces is a nice way of covering up there identity and makes you think who are they. Using dark and dim lighting gives the whole piece a dark feeling and sets the tone nicely. The slow editing along side the mysterious narrative and 'spooky music' all links nicely and suggests that this opening sequence is a thriller.. possibly horror.

Production Logos

Bad Robot compared to other companies are of a less successful production team although they have helped to produce well known TV series such as Lost or in the blockbuster Star Trek. A memorable part of the logo is not the graphics of it but the voice over after it has appeared. Even though the voice is one of a child the films Bad Robot help to produce are aimed at an audience of a more mature age.
Interestingly after we had created our own logo we came across this one which is quite similar since its done in a vector style.













The Pixar logo represents there company by incorporating there animations into the title. When ever someone see's the animated lamp jumping across the screen everyone instantly know that it is Pixar! The lamp is not directly related to animation but maybe the Lamp is a prompt for the viewer the 'look at the piece in a different light'.

Alfred Hitchcock "Why Thillers Thrive". 1936

"The audience thrives ion thriller, the cinema thrives on the audience, the director thrives on the cinema, and everybody is happy" - Alfred Hitchcock

The article summerises what Alfred himself thinks what a thriller is and what it does to the audience. The essay gives examples of the feelings and positives in watching a thriller film ' we are safe a secure sitting in an armchair and looking and the struggle and turmoil of life through a window, as it were. Also he goes on to explain how watching thrillers are beneficial to their health 'blood pounding through the vains are highly beneficial for indigestion, gout....' This is an exampel of hitchcocks dry homour but it is known that to cry , feel terror and to laugh is actually healthy. 'and that is why the authentic 'thriller' will live and thrive and the 'horror' film with die.'

S1-22 The Yearbook Review

We picked this thriller opening as it has elements of both thriller and horror. We also liked the effects they used within the sequences. It gave us some good ideas that we may incorporated into our own opening sequence. We felt that this was a good attempt if an opening to a thriller.

Today we looked at 3 Thriller opening sequences: Insomnia, The Bourne Ultimatum and Twisted.


Insomnia is Directed by Christopher Nolan is a psychological thriller.

Memento Opening Evaluation

Memento is a Thriller in 2000 by Christopher Nolan

the whole sequence is shot in reverse and concentrates on a poloroid photo developing. Subject of the image is a blood stain wall. There are shots concentrating on a bullet and blood stain glasses.

Vertigo opening sequence...

Triller article summery :

The article pretty much starts out explaining what a thriller actually is. It gives some examples of some famous ones too as well as showing some pictures from the films themselves. The following pages give examples of a couple and in some cases ten names of films that famous people feel are some of the best thrillers out there. Ruth Rendell, Russell t Davies and Whoopi Goldberg are just some of the people asked what their favorite movies of all time were. Barry Norman thinks 'Psycho' was one of the best if the best thriller films to be made, 'It has probably influenced more film-makers then any other thrillers'. The article just gives a detailed analyses of what it is to be a thriller film and gives many examples recommended by people. The 'famous people' also give us an explanation and a reason for why they think the film they picked it one of the best thrillers of all time. After reading the article we looked at youtube for some of the films mentioned in the article.. 'The 39 steps', 'coma' and Vertigo'. All showed us perfect examples of what it's like to be a thriller film. We also looked at examples from previous students to get a real feel of what we could do with the equipment we have- it also gave us some good ideas to work with.

Thoughts on Preliminary task:

When doing our task we used long shots, panning shots, over the shoulder shots and close ups showing reactions of characters in scene. We found it difficult at first to shoot the panning shot, as timing and making a smooth pan was essential. Over the shoulder shots were easier as we had worked with this type of camera work before. We worked as a team and tired to get the best out come as possible. We chose not to have any non-diegetic sounds as we wanted the audience to focus on the types of shots we were shooting, however we feel that now maybe adding the music in the back ground would help create an atmosphere and a more professional look. Over all we feel it went well and turned out good.

PRELIMINARY EXERCISE: Continuity Task

This continuity task is introductory to demonstrate that our group can technically create match on action, shot/reverse shot and the 180 degree rule.

Welcome