Evaluation - Part 7

Looking back at your Preliminary Task, what do you feel you have learnt in the from it to the product ? 
I feel that we have learnt a vast amount from our preliminary task. We learnt about the aspects of filming such as mise-en-scene, camera angles, editing and sound. We have improved tremendously since our preliminary task as we used that to aid our thriller, and we are extremely satisfied and proud of our final outcome of the thriller opening. Throughout the process of filming we had to make vital decisions concerning the storyline of the thriller, as the storyline we first planned had flaws in it, and we encountered certain circumstances which would not allow us to be able to complete the thriller to that storyline, things such as two of the members of our group leaving the group which meant we did not have the correct amount of people needed. Therefore we have made modifications and this final outcome is not directly following the storyboard; however we feel we have made the correct decisions and made our thriller as good as it could possibly be, we learnt from our preliminary task that when faced with complications we need to act quickly and intelligently to avert the problems in the best way. We compared our new thriller to our old preliminary task and discovered that in the filming process we used a wider variety of techniques, which we feel have improved our final outcome. We implemented much more shots, camera angles, movement and edits than previously. In conclusion, I strongly feel that we have come a long way since our preliminary task and we have made a large improvement. We have improved the quality of our work and we have also improved our creativity when producing the storyline. Due to our experience gained from the preliminary task we knew how to cater to the audience and make our product into something we know they would want to see.

Evaluation - Parts 4 - 6

These are parts 4-6 of my evaluation on Slide Rocket.

Evaluation - Parts 1 - 3

These are the first 3 parts of my evaluation.

Evaluation Parts 1 - 3

View more PowerPoint from Brad_

Meltdown

This is our finished thriller opening sequence. It is called 'Meltdown'.

The filming process

Listed below are a few pictures to illustrate the production process of our thriller opening. They show some of the things we considered and used when creating the opening. These images were taken during the filming process to show the stages we went through to produce the thriller.

This is an image of the location where our thriller is filmed.

This is an image of the filming process. This is where we were deciding how to approach a certain shot and what angles to use.

This is an image of the camera we used to film our thriller. It shows the camera in position ready to film the next shot of the character walking down the long corridor.

Research Into Thriller Opening - Panic Room

The opening credits are introduced before we see any characters, and are accompanied by shots of buildings. There is the sound of a clock ticking, indicating that time is an aspect of the film and this also builds suspense and makes the audience wonder what is to happen next. There is a sound bridge in the opening as we hear the character's voice before we see her; the sound links the two shots together. The final shot we see is of the first character.

Research Into Thriller openings - Se7en

The opening of this film simply shows the characters hands performing activities but it is able to create an atmosphere for the audience. The opening also shows the character doing quite mischievous things, which indicates the fact that the film is a Thriller.

Research into Thriller openings - In The Cut

We analysed the opening of the film 'In The Cut'. The title enters the frame whilst there is a man skating past. The trails look as though there is some sort of blood on them, which indicates an aspect of what is to come further into the film, and also gives an idea of what the film is about. This helps to create an atmosphere for the audience and builds up suspense.

Script

There is no script for our thriller film opening as it contains minimal dialogue which does not require scripting. The film is mostly based around the visuals and music, therefore a lot of dialogue is not needed.

List Of Characters

This is the list of cast and crew for our thriller film opening.

Writer: Bradley Williams & Nicolas Orozco
Producer: Bradley Williams & Nicolas Orozco

Actor: Bradley Williams

Director: Nicolas Orozco

Film Music

This shows that the music i sent an application for has been approved and so i have permission to use the music in our film.

Audience Research

We created a survey on 'SurveyMonkey' to allow our targeted audience of people aged 12+. This will allow us to gain a clearer idea of what the audience wants in a Thriller film.
A link to our survey is shown below:

Click here to take survey

Consideration of Target Audience

We are going to create a 'Spy Thriller' which will not contain any graphic or disturbing footage and so we have decided that the rating for our film will be 12+. This is because we  feel it is suitable for people aged 12 and over, however younger viewers may not understand the concepts of the film.

Film Music

We had to ensure that the music in our thriller opening is non-copyright so we do not get involved in any trouble for using music without correct permission. There are a few websites in which we can get non-copyright music from. However to get access for the music we had to sign up to the websites and contact the creator of the music to ask for permission.
The websites which we could retrieve the music from include:

Www.Mobygratis.com

Www.Freeplaymusic.com


Www.Newgrounds.com

Www.Unsigned.com

Meltdown StoryBoard

This is the storyline for our thriller opening. This is illustrates the plot that the film will follow and what shots will be included in our opening. This storyboard acts as a guideline for us to follow when filming to save time and give us direction. We have incorporated the storyboard into a short animatic accompanied by music to help convey the spy thriller, which is the genre of our opening.

Conventions/Features of a Thriller

Some film-makers will claim that 'there are no rules' or that 'rules are there to be broken'. However, most would agree that there are certain conventions that mainstream films observe in order for them to be acceptable to the mass audience.


The features of a thriller include:

• Action
• Suspense
• Shock
• Fast-paced
• Tension
• Fights
• High-speed chases
• Cliffhangers
• P.O.V
• Femme Fatale's
• Protagonist (Hero)
• Antagonist (Villan)
• Death
• Problem (enigma's)
• Kidnapping
• Explosions
• Mind Games
• Dramatic Music
• Trade-offs

These are the main features of a thriller.

Risk Assesment

Meltdown

Client: A Level Media Studies

Writer: Bradley Williams & Nicolas Orozco
Producer: Bradley Williams & Nicolas Orozco

Director: Bradley Williams & Nicolas Orozco

Date: 20.01.2012


Major Issues

Filming at:

We will be filming at Robert Clack leisure centre. This location has a road along the outside of it, which could be a risk to safety as there is the possibility of an accident. Also the equipment could get damaged if not looked after properly.

Solutions:

We can ensure that we don’t film on the road and we can keep a close eye on our surroundings to make sure we don’t get in any accident. Also we have to keep the equipment safe and secure so it doesn’t get damaged. We can do this by ensuring that when the equipment is not in use we will keep it in its correct packaging and out of the way of any roads.

Emergency services:

On Site Services:

Local Police: 999

Local Fire: 999

Local Hospital: 999

Treatment Sheet

This is the treatment sheet for our thriller. It indicates the aspects of the film that we have to plan before we begin filming. This sheet is used to outline our ideas and list what props, actors and other accessories we will need for the film. In addition we justify our ideas in relation to the thriller genre.

Analysis of past students work

This is my analysis of past students 'Thriller Opening' work, it is a film called 'The Night Walker'. This opening begins by showing someone playing music on a piano, to the same melody and rhythm as the music playing throughout the clip. The person playing the piano had bandaged, bloodstained hands which conveys a sinister atmosphere. 
  The music is used to build up suspense, which will entice the audience. They use shots of the person cutting up pictures, which further conveys the sinister nature of the film and further builds suspense.The identity of the person is never revealed which keeps the audience thinking and interested. They mostly use music in this clip to portray the atmosphere as there is minimal dialogue. Diegetic sound is used. 
  In addition, the camera movement is impressive as it is clear that they did not use a tripod and simply carried the handheld camera, making it harder to keep steady but they did a good job and the slight shaking gives the film a rough edge which goes well with the theme.

Shadow Of A Doubt

In class we watched and analysed a clip of the film Shadow Of A Doubt. This is one of Alfred Hitchcock's many famous films.

• There is people dancing in the clip.
• The characters are wearing old looking clothes which shows that the film is set in the early 1900s.
• The film is in black and white re-enforces the fact that the film is quite old.
• The music is also most commonly associated with the 1900s.
• Hitchcock shows a street, then a building, then a window, and finally a man lying on the bed. With each shot we get closer to seeing the main character.
• When we see the main character we see money lying around on the floor, which shows he is wealthy but doesn't care too much for the money.
• He is well dressed and smoking a cigar, so he obviously lives a wealthy life, but he seems to be depressed and lifeless.

Zodiac

In class we watched and analysed a clip of the film Zodiac. The film uses various methods to convey the thriller genre.
Conventions of a Thriller

• Starts with tension building up suspense, waiting for something to happen.
• Then shock occurs when they are both brutally shot.

Camera

• Shot-reverse shot of the boy and girl engaging in dialogue between one another.
• Long shot at the start of the clip.

Editing

• The shot/scene edits are quite long in duration, excluding small portions of the clip when the edits increase in speed briefly.

Sound

• There is radio music playing throughout the clip.
• There is dialogue between the boy and girl when entering and in the car.

Mise-En-Scene

• There are guns and blood in the scene which tie in with the Mise en scene.
• There is dark lighting throughout the scene which adds to the tension and the suspense leading to the final shock.

Brick

In class we watched and analysed a clip of the film Brick. The film uses various methods to convey the thriller genre.
Conventions of a Thriller

• The film starts with a shot of a boy looking at a dead body on the floor. Suggests the thriller genre.
• Suspicious

Camera

• Close up shot of the boys face at the start.
• Shot-reverse shot between the boy and the dead girl on the ground.

Editing

• It starts with a shot of the boy looking at something and then there is a shot of the dead body.
• The two scenes are linked together with the hand.
• The girl is alive in the next scene which suggests that it is a flashback as she was dead in the first scene.
• The shot edits are of a medium length as they are not fast but are also not too slow.

Sound

• Non-diegetic sound of the music in the background.
• There is no dialogue in the opening scene.

Mise-En-Scene

• The first scene seems to be near some sort of valley.
• There is water running down the path which is going on and around the dead girl.

Memento

In class we watched and analysed a clip of the film Memento. The film uses various methods to convey the thriller genre.

Conventions of a Thriller

• Suspicious beginning.
• Shock.
• First person we see is dead. 

Camera Angles

• Close up of the killers face.
• Close up of the bullet that is going back into the gun.
• Shot/Reverse Shot when the two men are exchanging dialogue. 

Editing

• Starts with long edits.
• Opening sequence is shown backwards.
• A black and white scene showing a flashback.

Sound

• Tense and spooky music.
• Voice over of when the main character is thinking.

Mise-En-Scene

• Main character wearing a smart suit and smart shoes suggests some sort of importance.
• Supporting character is wearing casual clothes suggests he is not an important person.
• The room where the second character is killed has dark lighting to give a dirty, dark atmosphere.
• There are guns and blood.
• Broken windows showing that it is a run down place. Old and unused.