Rough Cut - Miss Miller

 

Rough Cut

 

After filming, editing and then producing our film we received feedback from each group to see what we could then go back and improve on. As a group we agreed that we may need to add another scene to the film to make it clearer for the audience to understand as well as making it scarier as it is meant to be a thriller film. I believe that the editing that we put into our film made it better and is one of our best features as we worked as a group to try and produce the best film we could. The use of editing was a major part of our film being and becoming better.

 

By receiving feedback from other groups as well as our teachers it allows us to focus the main weaknesses to our film as well as the strengths that they posses. One of my groups main weaknesses was the fact that we did not make our narrative as clear as it could have been, we will be looking at how we can make it clearer but by using the same narrative that we had used in the rough cut. I also think that by producing a rough cut of our final film is a great way at making the final product better as it allows us to work on weaknesses that we my have missed as well as stuff that we may have thought looked better than what they were.

 

By receiving our feedback we can also go into great depth in producing a better final product. It allows us to look at using more camera angles and better shots, it allows helps us to look at using more conventional features and creating more suspense and tension throughout the film.

Opening Scenaration - Miss Miller

 

Opening Scenaration

 

for my groups opeing scene we have shown the victim's house, we then go on to show that the victim is being watched and that the killer manages to enter the victims house as she leaves. he then waits for her to return before making a move that would harm her or her family. our first frame shows the victims house during the day it then jumps to a night scene, this creates tension and suspense. as the camera rotates around the house it shows various opportunities where the murderer could actually enter her house.

As the tension builds to the murderer getting into the victims house, the tension building music begins to play to create more tension and suspense that is built towards the killing scene. the use of different angles that show entrance points into the house is very good as it shows how accessible these entrance points are to the killer.

After we see the panning of the house, the suspenseful music then begins, we then see that the murderer has gained access to the house and is now waiting to attack the victim. We then see that the victims phone begins to ring it shows that the called is called silent. By creating more suspense which is building towards the murder scene creates more fear for the audience as they begin to feel the fear of the character. The lights to the house are then cut and all is silent, we then focus on the victim again, we then hear her scream and the killer has struck. 

Planning Opening Credits - Miss Georgiou

Planning Opening Credits

At the start of every film you will see opening credits, the opening credits contain the main characters during a film as well as the producers. This makes the credits important as it allows you to notice the main characters and who produced and directed the film. 

Se7en analysis:

The clip that I have analysed was Se7en, the clip contains dark and mysterious features such as dark colouring as well as using the colour red to connote blood or symbolise danger. The opening clip also shows the characters and producers with their names flicking to create tension throughout the opening scene. By watching the opening scene we can also see the start to the film, the opening scene during this clip shows us a number of photos of different people and it also shows different pictures of different items so it builds more tension and suspense at the start of the film. I believe this signifies that the film is going to be scary and full of suspense and tension. 

Individual analysis:

The clip that I have analysed was Shutter Island, from watching the clip I can see that the producers have used many conventions of a thriller film as they have used different images to portray a sense of fear into the beginning of the film to show what it will be about. Red writing is used to connote blood and symbolise danger throughout the credits, this creates tension and begins to show the fear that may be seen throughout the film. The use of flicking writing also creates tension to the film and into the starting scene. the use of the images shown and the places used in the background show where the film is going to take place. It also shows objects that may be used throughout the film such as a gun, this shows that there may be a killing scene in the film. During the opening scene we can see a chamber or cell that may be used throughout the film, this shows that a character may be seen in this cell during the film. This causes additional suspense into the film. In the final part of the opening scene I can see that they have began to zoom in on the island to make that the main focus of the ending part. Throughout the opening credits the use of eerie music is used very well as it slowly builds towards the end of the scene, this creates the most tension during the opening sequence as it goes with the images well. 

In our opening credits we will look to use many similar features that have been used in the two credits that I have analysed. For example, we will look to incorporate the use of eerie music, as I believe this is a great convention in thriller films, they help to build tension well, as well as the use of scary images and objects that may be used throughout the film. Other features that we will look to use to build tension and suspense into the start of the film will be the use of the colour red. The colour red symbolises the danger that may occur in the film, I believe my group could use this feature in the film as the colour that the names of the group members are shown. Red also symbolises blood, this could show the audience that a killing scene may take place during the film. By looking at many opening sequences to take inspiration for our own opening sequence, I have seen that many of the features that I have listed and that we look to use are conventional to thriller films.

 

By looking at many different opening credits from differen thriller films I have decided that my group should look to use similar choices of credits, for example a similar font and style to the film Se7en. My group and I also look to use some conventional features, for example we look to use the colour red for the credits as it looks to symbolise blood and danger into the opening scene and set the tone for the whole film. We are also looking to use styles that create tension for the audience, this will help to build tension at the start of the film and set the tone for the rest of the film.

 

By using conventions like these it allows us to create tension and suspense for the audience watching and set the tone for the rest of the film.

Risk Assessment - Miss Georgiou

Risk Assessment

I believe it is important to consider risks before filming as you could bring unnecessary harm to the group as well as yourself along with damage to the equipment. By carrying out a risk assessment before we started filming my group have already highlighted a number of risks and how they can be avoided. By doing this it will allow my group and I to film successfully without any injuries and damage to ourselves or the equipment.

The risk assessment will assist us with filming as we will know what to avoid when filming and when we set up to begin filming. I believe that by completing the risk assessment it will help my group to notice any risks that may occur, if my group can notice these risks before they occur then apply a solution to the problem.

The risk assessment that we have completed shows various risks that may occur and solutions to each problem.

Film Schedule - Miss Georgiou

 

Film Schedule

 

Before we began to film my group created a film schedule. By doing this it allowed us to create a schedule that would help us to stick to our timing schedules and have enough time to film and create the best film we can. We had to take into account the things that we had planned as well as other work that we had to comlpete. By working around other stuff that we had to do it allowed us to free up time and shoot our film. We looked to stick to our schedule as we had planned it out very well. 

Production Roles - Miss Miller

Production Roles



During the making of a film there are many jobs that are needed to create a film. These, listed above, are some of the jobs that are needed as well as many other jobs. There are many different jobs when it comes to creating films because there are many different areas to cover from clothing to lighting, to sound and editing. By having a numerous amount of jobs it also allows for variety in different jobs, for example different people can produce different ideas, this could be used when thinking of a soundtrack to play during the film. The main jobs for creating a film are Producers, Directors, Actors, Cameraman (director of photography), Music Producer, Screenplay Writer, MES Coordinator, Editors.

 

The job of the Producer is to prepare the film and supervise throughout the making of the film, they then send the final product of the film to a film distributor. The film producer could be employed by the film studio or they could be independent.

The Directors job is to direct the making of the film, to also direct a films dramatic and artistic aspects and also direct the technical crew and actors. The director also has to produce a shooting time table as well as organising the film crew in such a way that they can achieve their visions for the film.

The job of the Actor is to act in the film as a specific character. Actors are the main part of the film, they play specific characters and have to portray that character in a certain way that the Director has envisaged. The Ancient Greek translation of the word actor literally means someone who interprets, in this sense someone who looks to interpret a certain character.

The job of the Cameraman is to record the film as it is being acted out. The cameraman listens to the Director who organises where the actors should be standing and how the cameraman should make the angle look like to portray different feelings for the audience and to show the importance of a character in a certain scene.

The Music Producer looks at a certain scene and recommends which sounds, effects or music should be played throughout a certain scene. The music producer, in this type of film, will look to implement as much tension building music as he/she can to go with that type of scene.

A Screenplay Writer takes the film idea of the director and writes it out in the format of a film. Many screen play writers do this by taking pre-wrtten story ideas or native story ideas and then looks to translate it into an effective film that can then be produced into a film.

The job of the MES Coordinator is to prepare such things as the iconography, the costumes, lighting as well as the setting of the film. All the elements of Mise-en-Scene are incorporated into the film through the MES Coordinator.

The job of the Editors is to produce a final product of the film. They edit raw material, this can consist of camera footage, dialogue, sound effects and many other things. This is a key role in the post-production process. There may be an editing team  as well as an individual, either way they will work together with the director to produce the desired end product.

The allocated jobs in my group are that Ellie is the main acctress, Blessing is another acctress, both of these also helped plan and create the final product for the film, I am the cameraman as well as the editor, we have not allocated a director as we are working together as a group and have produced the final product. We have worked together to create our final product, we have combined our ideas and thoughts and also create new ideas and take them into consideration when making our film.

We have allocated certain people for each role as we looked ot help each other out with as much of the editing as we could. We worked well as a group for the editing, as well as what music to use for certain scenes.

Inspirations - Miss Miller

Inspirations

 

Inspiration can be taken from many different things to create and fill people with new ideas. We can take inspiration from many different things, this can be a past experience or something we have seen. I have taken inspiration from recent films I have seen to create and form my own ideas. Throughout the making of our film I have seen and talked about including many different micro-elements I have also used these as inspiration to take into my film as they are needed during my film.

By looking at many different clips and film sequences, I have taken many micro-elements that can be incorporated into my groups production. By using many different clips we have merged many different ideas to create our own idea. By looking at different clips I have seen many different micro-elements that have been used several times in many different films, I can see that these are conventional to thriller fims, for exmple the use of low key lighting and slow editing leading up to a murder scene. Seeing this means that my group will have to use these features, not just because they are conventional, but because they create great mystery and tension into certain scenes.

By looking at different clips it has helped us incorporate different ideas into our sequence as well as create and change our own ideas for our sequence.

Hopefully by taking inspirations from many different ideas and clips we can produce a very good thriller film of our own that use many interesting features that make a film a thriller film.

Planning Sound - Miss Miller

 

Planning Sound

 

Sound is a vital part in thriller films as it helps to build tension and suspense within the audience. Sound is convetional to most films but used more often in thriller films as it can inform the audience of what may happen in the next scene, it can also be used to show different emotions in different scenes, for example playing happy music during a sad scene.

 

During our film we look to use many different sound techniques, the first sound technique that we look to use will be the use of diegetic sound. This sound technique will be used throughout our film as we will be filming with natural sound around us, this will create a sense of normality to the film for the audience. This sound technique is used in most films and many thriller films, diegetic sound is sound that can be on and off screen but natural sound within a frame. We will also look to use non-diegetic sound within our film, by using non-diegetic sound it allows us to introduce a soundtrack at the start or end of the film.

I believe that by using many different sounds and sound effects that it will create more tension and suspense, for example eerie music at the start of a scary scene that build towards the killing scene. By using music to build towards such scenes like killing scenes it allows the audience to also build a relationship with the character as they begin to feel the fear that the character does before the killing scene.

Another sound technique that I believe we will use is the on and off screen sound techniques, I believe we will use this as much of the natural sound that can be heard throughout our film will be off screen, for example cars driving by. On screen sound may be the sound of the victim being harmed, it could also be natural sound that may also be on screen throughout a scene.

The next technique we look to use would be parallel sound as this technique also builds tension throughout the scene and will help set the tone in which the film looks to go towards, this is to obviously scare and create fear for the audience. We will look to use as many sound techniques as we
can to create the best film possible. 

Another sound technique that my group and I look to use is the use of contrapuntal sound. This technique allows us to use music that the audience may not expect to hear, for example playing a happy song through a sad scene where someone maybe being chased and then killed, this can also work in the opposite fashion as well.

Many if not all of the sound techniques that I have listed are looking to create tension and suspense throughout the film. Many of the techniques listed are used in many thriller films over the years, for example Scream and Saw.

I believe by using different sound techniques it will create a better sequence for us as it builds more suspense towards the murder scenes. Without the use of music in certain scenes, for example leading to a murder scene, it would not have the same affect for the audience and how they feel towards the film and that scene.


Cinematography Planning - Miss Miller

 

Cinematography Planning

 

 

Cinematography is used in many films as well as thriller films, in thriller films cinematography is very important as it can show many different angles and shots as well as portray different character's to what the audience may have expected. The use of different angles in our film is very evident, we have looked to use many different angles and shots to create as much tension and suspense we can to produce the best thriller film we can. By using different angles throughout our film it allows the audience to see whether a certain character is more powerful than others. It can also be useful for focusing on a certain object, this is because it may be used in a later part of the film and play a big part in the film.

The audience will also be able to relate to the characters as the use of zooming in on a character allows the audience to see what they are feeling throughout a certain scene. By doing this they may feel the same way that the character does. Also by using angles like these it is conventional to the thriller genre as it shows the emotion that the character is feeling, this can build tension throughout the scene which could be building up to a killing scene.

 

Our first camera angle that we look to use is mid shot. This shows the main character straight away at the start of the film, this shows that this character is the main focus of the scene and that something may happen to them. As this character is the main focus for the scene it blurs out any background interference as this character is the main focus.

 

The second example of angles that we have chosen to use is the use of high angles to show that this character is also vulnerable and inferior during the scene. By doing this it allows the audience to see that this character is vulnerable and innocent.

 The opposite angle that we would use to portray that the murderer is superior would be the use of low angle, this shows he is stronger and superior to the victim. We also look to use both these angles to portray the vulnerability and superiority of both characters.

Our third example that we look to use is establishing shot, by using this shot it shows the audience the surroundings that the characters are in, by using this technique I think that it allows the audience to gather ideas of what might happen in the next few scenes. By using an establishing shot it can show what the characters are working in and if the area is dark and mysterious it helps build tension towards the up and coming scenes.

We also look to use panning throughout our film as well as using the handheld technique. The technique of panning will allow us to focus on a moving object throughout the film, this could be used through a running scene or moving around a character to show emotion.

By using handheld it will allow us to show a sense of urgency into the scene and create more tension as things become chaotic.

I believe we will also look to use other techniques, for example zooming in as it can bring importance to a character or an object and also creates tension and suspense. By using all of these techniques it will create much tension and show many conventional features throughout the thriller.

The next camera angle that we look to use is the use of point of view. By using a camera angle like this it allows the audience to see what this character sees and if it is the victim, to create more suspense throughout the scene we could use sound effects, for example a heartbeat to also create tension. We would use something like this just before a killing scene to make the audience feel as if they were running away from a murderer.

Planning Characters - Miss Miller

 

Planning Characters

 

The purpose of characters in films are so the audience can build a relationship with them and in a sense feel what they feel throughout the film. The reason for having characters that are of a similar age to the audience is so that the audience can relate to the characters and what they may be feeling throughout the film. By having characters that are of similar age to the audience allows the relationship between the two to become closer and engage easier, by having this relationship it allows the audience to grasp the narrative easier and quicker because they can relate to the characters.

 

Our victim is going to be a girl with blonde hair to show her innocence within the film and scene, by having a girl that is blonde and the victim it is very stereotypical to the thriller genre. By seeing this character before they know she is the victim, the audience can already presume that she is going to be playing a type of victim role. The victim will be around the age of 17 this is perfect as our audience will be around the same age as the characters.

 

Our murderer will be played by someone who is a tall mysterious character who may have a hidden identity to cause tension and mystery. This is stereotypical of a thriller film as the character looks to cause harm to others but not be caught committing crimes and murders. The murderer may be older than the victim so it shows the victims vulnerability even more, by having an older character for the murderer it also relates to the audience as they may feel that being the same age as the vicitm that they may be in a similar position, this will help them feel the same feelings as the victim.
 

Group Storyboard - Miss Miller

Group Storyboard

The purpose of the group storyboard is to gather our thoughts and ideas and produce a final idea in a storyboard. We looked to incorporate different ideas from every member of the group and we still changed and improved ideas that we had put together. 

By having a 30 minute discussion my group and I managed to create a final group storyboard, we believe that these are our best ideas put into one to make the best film we can. My group consists of Ellie and Blessing, we have each focused on what we wanted to see in a thriller film whether that was through past experiences or conventional themes and features to a thriller film.

As a group we included many different conventions into our film that we felt we needed, for example a blonde female victim and a murderer that is dark and mysterious or a murderer that has a hidden identity. All of this planning has gone into our storyboard to help us form and produce a film.

By planning our storyboard together as a group we were able to look at how long each scene would be and what we could get done in each time frame. By creating the final storyboard together it also allowed us as a group to decidewhich type of shots we were going to use and also decide where the shooting would take place as well as what both characters would be wearing during the scene and also how the scene would pan out.

Planning Editing Styles - Miss Georgiou

Planning Editing Styles

I believe editing is important in a thriller film as the use of many different shots and the use of fast and slow editing can help to build and create suspense during a certain scene. Editing is used more often in thriller films as it builds tension very quickly with the use of slow editing, the use of different shots and cuts are also used to create elements of shock and surprise. 

I believe that the most used editing feature, in our film, would be the use of slow editing, jump cut or straight cut. I also believe that we will use more editing styles along with the features I have identified, this will also help to build tension within the film. The affect that this will have on the audience is that it will be build tension and also create a sense of mystery.

In my groups thriller film we look to use many editing features to make our film as scary and frightening as we can. By using certain editing styles it can help us create and build suspense for the audience, for example jump cuts, straight cuts and slow editing styles. Editing is a key part to a thriller, without it there would be no suspense built and there would be less tension for scary scenes. As I have already said, my group will look to use many editing styles to create the best film we can, I also believe by using the correct editing styles along with the correct scenes and type of music my group can create a great thriller film.

Planning Mise-en-Scene - Miss Georgiou

Planning Mise-en-Scene

Mise-en-Scene is important within a thriller film as it includes key factors such as, setting and iconography, costume, hair and make up, facial expressions and body language, positioning of characters and objects within a frame, colour and lighting. All of these features that are in Mise-en-Scene are important to most films but thriller films as well. Mise-en-Scene is the arrangement of scenery and properties to represent the place where the play or movie is being acted out. 

Setting and Iconography:

Setting and iconography are very important to thriller films as the setting allows the audience to know that there might be something mysterious about to happen to the characters in the movie. The setting of the film can be very key to the making of a film as it shows where certain things might happen to victims in the film. The setting of a movie may then lead to certain expectations for the audience to feel and then it may end up taking a completely different turn of events which may not have been expected by the audience. Iconography is also used in thriller films as they are the props that are used in thriller films, an example of a prop may be something that is used to kill a victim, this could be a knife or a gun etc. Iconography can also be used in a thriller film to focus on a certain object that is used or found in the film it may be something that is needed by the victim to escape the killer, for example a key or even a weapon of their own to kill the murderer. 

Costume, Hair and Make up:

These three things are used in Mise-en-Scene as they are also used to show how or who the murderer and victim may be, for example the murderer may be wearing a costume to hide their identity, they could also change the way they look, for example their hair and make up to also disguise their identity. i believe this part of Mise-en-Scene is used to help the characters show the part that they play in the film, for example a victim may wear light coloured clothes to show their innocence or they might wear normal everyday clothes to relate to the audience that they work and live normal day lives. 

Facial Expressions and Body Language:

Facial expressions and body language are also used in Mise-en-Scene as this can show that the victim is scared or fearful of what is going to happen, this could be shown by the victim crying or trying to protect themselves from the murderer. Crying would be facial expressions and trying to protect themselves would be body language. I believe this is an important part to thriller films as it shows the fear felt by the victim, this can be related back to the audience as they may feel the same for the victim in this scene. 

Positioning of Characters and Objects within a Frame:

Positioning of characters and objects within a thriller film are very important as they can emphasise the importance of an object or a character in the scene, for example hearing a murder taking place without seeing it and then focussing on the weapon that may have been used that has been left behind can emphasise the importance of the weapon as it may have been used to kill the victim and as a result of hearing the murder the audience would automatically think that this may have been used to kill the victim. Positioning objects and characters in many films not only thriller films are very important as they can help to portray how the film is going to go or how the film may change because of and object or character, for example someone seeing a killing take place they may report this happening or go after the killer and confront him about what had just happened.
Colour and Lighting:
Colour and lighting are very key to thriller films as they can both represent danger, for example the colour red is used when thriller films are showing the opening credits and can be used to represent danger, this is used to scare the audience. The use of lighting is also used in thriller films, low key lighting is a key feature of thriller films as it is used to build tension and suspense. Low key lighting also represents danger in a thriller film as it shows something bad is going to happen in an up and coming scene.

Storyboard Purpose - Miss Miller

Storyboard Purpose

 

I believe the purpose of the storyboard is to produce a picture of what the film is going to be like frame by frame, and as we are going to be making a short film it would work perfectly to show what is going to be happening throughout the film. A storyboard is a useful feature I believe as it allows you to go through a film frame by frame and see what can be improved and changed to a higher quality.

By using a storyboard myself I have been able to see what I have come up with and look to improve the film frame by frame, I have gone through what may be essential to our film, I have mentioned what is going to be used in our film and what features are going to be used and how they are going to be used.

I have used a storyboard to show what our film is going to be about and what features are going to be used during each frame. I also believe using a storyboard allows me to look at the film closer and notice what can be improved and changed to produce a better film for our target audience.



Preliminary Task - Miss Georgiou

Preliminary Task

 

My group members are Ellie Holt and Blessing Dada, these two will be the main characters in our film. The purpose of the preliminary task is to allow the audience to see what the purpose of the film is and what they can expect to see. Obviously we are not going to give too much away so that the audience still feel that sense of mystery. Our preliminary task is going to consist of showing some important scenes and showing what the film may consist of as I have already said we do not want to give too much away to the audience without them watching the film.

Our task involved some simple camera angles as well as editing the scene so that there were no problems with our short clip. As cameraman in my group I learnt how to set up the ti-pod and camera as well as using different shots and angles for example mid shot and panning. By using the camera and some shots my group and I have constructed some ideas which could be introduced into the making of our film.

We struggled with some issues such as me filming before the two girls had started conversing, obviously this could be edited out but by having this understanding between us as a group will allow us to focus on less editing and make our film better as a collective. We also struggled with communication issues as when I was filming I didnt know when the girls were going to carry on speaking or stop so I could move position and use a different camera angle to film from.

I believe the preliminary task will assist us as it allowed us to get a feel for using this type of equipment and how to act when being filmed, for example not laughing. By completing the preliminary task as a group it allowed us to work together as a team and share ideas with eachother to construct our film. By sharing ideas with eachother it allows us to then also think and use different ideas that others may not use in their films.

Target Audience Results - Miss Miller

Target Audience Results

 

This blog is going to show the results that I have found from my questionnaire, I am also going to show my results in the form of pie charts, this is a good way to show my results as they show the options of each question and the answers that I was given. The reason behind the research was to find out what we should use as our starting sequence to our own thriller film. We will take the research and looking at the results, take what we have found and look to implement that into our opening sequence for our thriller film.

1. Looking at our results I can see that the majority of the people that were asked our questionnaire are over the age of 18 so therefore we can already tell that these people have experienced different types of thriller films, so they can give us better ideas as we look to create our own thriller.By having this better experience that are in our results I believe it will give us ideas that we did not think of and maybe develop these ideas and come up with some of our own.
2. Most of our answers were from males. Already this tells me that thrillers tend to be enjoyed more by males than females as these types of films tend to be scary or jumpy, so the results do not surprise m. This also gives me a better idea of our target audience so we know who to aim at with our own thriller.
3. By looking at our results I can tell that many people prefer to watch 18 rated films, this tells me that the films that they watch are films that contain many different techniques that would not be in other certificates, for example 15s or 12As. Seeing this result I can tell that the better films that are produced are those that are produced with certain techniques in them, these techniques are ones such as more in depth fighting scenes and killings.
4. The most interesting thing that was picked most in our results was the use of hidden identity in a thriller film. This shows my group and I that many people prefer to see the use of the hidden identity technique as it creates a sense of mystery and tension to the film, this already tells me and my group that we should use this technique to bring a twist to our film and create tension and suspense which is also a big technique in creating thriller films.
5. Looking at our results they show that many viewers expect to see a murder and a victim. Obviously these two characters are used in most if not every thriller film so obviously we are going to be using these two characters in our film. By using these two characters it allows the audience to try and figure out which characters are playing which role, I believe this brings another twist into the film as changing the way and the almost certain outcome of the film it creates more tension and suspense for the audience.
6. Many of the audience that were asked our questions believe that many films that are made are better with sequels to these films. Many people believe that films with sequels are better with sequels as these films normally pick up where the first film has left off and sometimes are better than the first film.
7. Many viewers believe that the use of tension building sound helps build tension as well as the scene itself. The use of tension building music plays a huge part in thriller films as obviously watching a film with no or little sound is not going to have the same affect as a film with this type of music.
8. The character that was most liked to be seen in a thriller film was a victim, I believe this is because the audience can sometimes relate to the victim as the audience, during the film, can feel the same sort of fear that the victim can feel this character is the one that the audience focus on the most as they are the victim or one of the victims.
9. Many viewers that answered the questionnaire believe that the actors whould be of similar ages to each other as this would make the film seem more realistic as you would not really see many people of different age groups unless they were related, which in this case they are not. I believe using actors of similar ages shows that the film is more realistic and that also the characters have that in common and that they can symbolise that as they are of similar age that they can and are friends in this film.
10. Many of the viewers said they would prefer to see a film that is set in a dark location as it helps to build tension and suspense during the film for the audience to feel whilst watching the film. By using this technique I can see that many thriller films use dark locations to film certain scenes in but this is a typical convention of a thriller film as it builds tension and creates suspense for the audience whilst watching.
11. Using our results it tells us that if we were going to use any sub genres that we should use the genre of horror. Both genres thriller and horror go together very well as killing scenes can be the use of horror. Horror and thriller like I have said go together very well as they compliment each other and create tension and suspense for the audience.
12. Most of the viewers of thriller films that answered our questionnaire said that they would prefer to see a happy ending to a thriller film. I believe this is because after seeing the characters go through certain scenes in films, for example losing their best friend or someone close to them, it allows the character and the audience to feel the same relief that the character is feeling when the film has ended. I believe this is a good way to end a thriller as many people, as I have just explained, like to see this type of ending to a thriller film unless their is going to be a sequel to this film then more than likely the film will end with a cliff hanger to build tension leading into the next film. 

Group Narrative - Miss Georgiou

Group Narrative

A narrative is a story which is written in a constructive format. The purpose of a narrative is to add a theme to a movie, putting it into a specific genre. For example a narrative which involved killing or murder would be put into the thriller genre. 

My group and I discussed our individual ideas and what we would like to see and experience from a thriller film, for example suspense and tension. We also talked about the different things that would contribute to a thriller film, for example low key lighting, slow editing and the type of setting, for example a dark deserted location for the film. 

Group Member 1 -  Ellie Holt:

For my idea I wanted it to be based on a troubled young child, who believes he hears voices in his head but his family think his making it up, this then leads to the death of the child. But the murder is unsolved as it is not a suicide killing. So the family begin to research into the child things to resolve the murder, and see weather he did hear voices in his head or it was a ghost.

The advantages of this narrative is that it involves hidden identity, as the audience are unaware to what has killed the child. Also the narrative being based on a young child will cause the audience to engage as they could usually relate, also feel vulnerable for the child. The disadvantages of this narrative is that it is stereotypical for a child to hear voices, as this is what would usually be what happens in a film not an adult, meaning the audience will feel like they have seen it before.

Group Member 2 - James Craddock:
My narrative is going to consist of two completely different characters that end up in the same situation and have to find a way out of trouble. My idea is going to show how different peoples abilities can work together to save not just their own lives but those of others as well.

Some advantages of my narrative would be that it includes a hidden identity, this is going to create tension and suspense for the audience as the film progresses. The narrative is going to be based on the two known characters and the one mysterious character that the audience do not know. One disadvantage to the narrative is that the use of the hidden identity may be used in many other films as it is a key convention to a thriller film.

Group Member 3 - Blessing Dada:

My narrative is going to include a main character who is the mysterious character and other characters that are all very similar. The story is that the myterious girl turns up to a sleepover that she's not invited to. The other girls and apprehensive about letting her in, but in the end they are forced to accept her in.

At first they are having fun, everything is fine. Then it gets to the time when the girls have to sleep the lighting becomes dark (dark setting, low-key lighting) To create suspense. And music starts playing to create tension. Then things start to happen, and the uninvited guest is accused of doing all these strange things but It turns out not to actually be her. So a turn in the plot will be shocking and suprising to the audience.

Vladimir Propp:
Vladimir Propp was the russian critic that consisted the theory that the characters in the film had to perform functions, for example,  these films had to have a hero, villain, donor, dispatcher, false hero, helper, princess and the princesses father. The films that had these functions were obviously fairy tale films, for example, Shrek. Vladimir Propp used this theory as he believed it informed the audience of the narrative.

Tzvetan Todorov:
Tzvetan Todorov believed that there were five stages of the narrative, these were, all as it should be (equilibrium), the film should have a change of events, disorders then occur, then there is an attempt to fix this problem that has occured and after the problem has been resolved there is a new equilibrium. Todorov also believed that the film was all about the narrative and the equilibrium and disequilibrium involved.

Aristotle:
Aristotle believed that a film should include an inciting incident, a dramatic question, a goal set for a character, an antagonist/protagonist, stakes, resolution and either sympathy or empathy.

Opening Scene Analysis - Miss Geourgiou

Opening Scene Analysis

 

The first thing that alerted me that this film was a thriller film was that as the audience I could see that the use of handheld camera shots makes me feel that the two characters that are in the house are victims in this scene and that something bad may happen to them as they are being watched. The second affect that I also picked up on as well was the use of low key lighting to create tension and build suspense during the scene, this also allows me to feel that something bad is going to happen as this is a very highly used convention in thriller films to build suspense and scare the audience.

 

The third convention of this thriller film that I saw was used to create suspense and shock in the audience was the use of eerie music as the lights are turned off in the house that also creates tension for the audience as they expect something bad to happen now as the tension begins to build bigger and bigger which leads to a killing scene. The convention that was used there was the use of non-diegetic sound as the music was edited in to create suspense in this scene, the eerie music also carries on until the character is in the house and it also allows another beat to be played which is slower and builds tension as it resembles a similar beat to a heartbeat. By doing this it makes the audience feel that the pace is quickening and that the film is leading to something that could potentially be bad for someone in the film and the two victims that we have already seen.

 

By using the handheld camera angle it allows the character that is holding the camera to focus on things in front of them and when the knife has been picked up out of the drawer it focuses on this as it is a weapon and we now know that someone is going to be killed or injured in this scene. The use of the weapon in this scene is using another convention as it is using iconography by using a weapon. This is the fourth convention that I have picked up on that has been used by the film producers.

 

The use of the eerie music as the camera moves through the house also keeps the audience on edge as we all expect something to happen and as we wait for it to happen the tension carries on building until the killing scene has taken place. The fifth conventional feature used in the film was the use of slow editing, this is used as the potential killer moves through the house slowly also building towards the tension as the mystery also builds by doing this. As the boyfriend leaves the house it makes the audience automatically feel that the girl is the victim in this scene as she is alone and unaware of what is about to take place and maybe if her boyfriend was still there the next scene where she was killed may have been stopped or maybe panned out another way.

 

The setting for the film is also another conventional feature used in this film as the house is very dark and secluded as there are not many other houses around this house so there is hardly any light which also builds tension in this scene and creates a nervous feeling for the audience watching. A mask is then picked up by the character with the camera which hides the identity of this character so he is not noticed in the killing scene. Just before the killing scene it allows the victim to turn around and see the killer, the killer then attacks and the music and pace to the film both change creating a sense of fear for the audience and a sense of sympathy for them towards the victim as she was basically defenseless against the killer.

 

The next convention that is used in the film is the use of diegetic sound and also off screen sound, the diegetic sound is the victim screaming and the audience can also hear the knife being plunged into the victim. This is off screen sound as the special effects would not have been available for it to look like the victim had actually been killed so the camera has been slightly turned away from her being stabbed. The pace then quickens as the killer and also the audience sense adrenaline after the killing scene has taken place.

 

The camera angle then changes to show the killer and then eventually the audience can see the killer and that it is the younger brother, which to the audience, would have been unexpected. This almost makes the audience feel that the younger brother is maybe possessed by something which made him commit the murder. The camera angle that it has been changed to is the mid shot, this focuses on the killer as he is obviously now the main focus as we now know who it is. The camera continues to move back and then focuses on the weapon that was used to kill the victim.

 

The eerie music also continues as the camera also moves back and looks down on the three characters in the scene to show that the three characters may now be victims as they are made to look smaller and inferior. This is the final convention used in the opening sequence which is used to end the build of suspense and then calm the audience down for the next chapter of the film.

Research into the sound used in thrillers - Miss Miller

Research into the sound used in thrilllers

 

The clip that I have decided to use for my research into sound blog is Scream 3. The scene that I have chosen to use, I believe, is very good in terms as it uses many different uses of sound techniques.

 

The first sound technique that I have picked up on and have chosen to analyse is the use of parallel sound. In the clip that I am analysing I can see that the film producer has used parallel sound as they have showed the scene in the film with the type of music that the audience would expect for this type of scene. In the scene that I am talking about it shows two ladies who are scared of what is going to happen to them but also one of their friends (0:00-0:09). The music complements the scene very well as it helps set the scene and it also helps the audience feel what the characters can feel as well as feeling worried themselves, this sound technique helps create the tension and suspense for the audience as it keeps them enticed in the film and worried about the characters as if it was them in that situation.

 

The second sound technique that I realised that was used in the film was the use of non-diegetic sound. I can tell the sound has been added/edited in after the scene was filmed as the sound is not on sound is not on screen so this shows me that it was added on after (0:14-0:20). The use of non-diegetic sound and it also not being on screen sound leads me on to my third technique that I realised the film producers decided to use was the use of off screen sound. The use of off screen sound shows to me and the audience that it makes the sense of the film more dynamic and create and build more suspense and tension for the audience to feel as it leads to a bigger and more scarier scene.

 

The fourth technique that I realised the film producers used was the use of diegetic sound (0:43-0:58). This sound technique is used as it goes with the natural sound that we as the audience would expect to hear in a certain scene. For example in this scene we can hear the knife being stebbed into the victim which we would expect to hear, what we would also expect to hear is her screaming and this is what we hear immediately after her being stabbed the use of diegetic sound is useful as it makes the audience feel her pain and suffering in this scene.

 

Technique number five that I found was used in the film was sound bridge. The use of sound bridge allows the camera to show something going on then go back to the other characters and what they are doing after seeing the victim die (0:59-1:05). The use of sound bridge also creates tension for the audience as it allows the other characters to watch their friend be killed and dragged away from them and then they react after the sound has filled the gap between them seeing her dead body being dragged away and them reacting. I believe this is a good technique to use as it helps build suspense for the audience going into the next set of events/scene.

Research into the history of thriller films - Introduction Miss Georgiou

Research into the history of thriller films

1950s:
In the 1950s Alfred Hitchcock continued to produce thriller films adding to his collection already was 'technicolor'. In 1951 he produced a thriller called 'Strangers On A Train', this was about two strangers on a train who are both staged a battle of wits and traded muredrs with each other. Another was 'Dial M for Murder' in 1954 this was about a husband who attempted to murder his wife, another film was 'Rear Window' yet another film produced in 1954 which was about a man who was convinced his neighbour was a killer. Another movie by Hitchcock in this period was 'To Catch A Thief' in 1955 and 'Vertigo' in 1958. Other films that were made in the 50s were movies such as 'Niagara' in 1953 by Henry Hathaway this film starred the famous Marilyn Monroe, she played a character who plots to kill her husband. Other films were Robert Aldrich's 'Kiss Me Deadly' in 1955 and Charles Laughton's 'The Night of The Hunter' also in 1955 which was about a preacher who victimised two young children with a secret, finally Orson Welles' unique crime thriller 'Touch Of Evil' in 1958.
1960s:
In the 1960s Michael Powell produced 'Peeping Tom' in 1960, which was about a psychopathic cameraman, the film was released prior to Hitchcock's 'psycho' also in 1960 which was about a loner and a mother. J.Lee Thompson released a production called 'Cape Fear' in 1962 which featured a menacing character seeking revenge. Stanley Donens stylish thriller of 1963 called 'Charade' which had numerous plots and twists, it showed a pair of characters on the search for hidden loot which takes them to Paris. Roman Polanski in 1965 released his first film in England which was the frightening and surrealistic 'Repulsion' which featured a young woman who goes increasingly mad. Terrance Young's 'Wait Until Dark' of 1967 was a famous thriller of its release date which was about a victimised blind woman in her Manhattan apartment and an evil con man in search for drugs. Films such as 'Harry Palmer spy trilogy' were inspired by James Bond films.Other spy films soon emerged, these were 'The Spy Who Came In From The Cold' of 1965, 'The Deadly Affair' in 1967 and 'The Triple Cross' also in 1967.
1970s - 1980S:
There was a violent wave of thriller films that were produced in this period, such as 'Frenzy' in 1972, this was Hitchcock's first British film for almost 20 years and it was given an 'R' rating for its explicit content. Steven Spielberg's early TV movie 'Duel' in 1971. In this period it brought the first film about an individual being disturbingly obsessed with their idol, this came in Clint Eastwood's 'Play Misty For Me' in 1971. John Boormans 'Deliverance' followed in 1972. In 1973 director Nicholas Roegs produced 'Dont Look Now' this film contained a tale of despair in Venice as a couple grieving the death of their daughter. Other 1970s thrillers include Francis Fords Coppola's tense thriller, 'The Conversation' in 1974, Irvin Kershner produced 'The Eyes of Laura Mars' in 1978 and Brian De Palma's psycho-thriller 'Sisters' in 1973. The 1980s produced 'Dressed to Kill' in 1980, the assassination thriller 'Blow Out' and 'Body Double' in 1981.
1990s - Present:
The 1990s started with Rob Reiner's 'Misery' in 1990 which was based on a book by Stephen King, then in 1991 came 'Sleeping With The Enemy'. Cutis Hanson produced 'The Hand That Rocks The Cradle' in 1992, the plot was of a nanny who was seeking revenge against her dead husbands patient. Jonathan Demme's produced 'The Silence Of The Lambs' also in 1991 where a young FBI agent is in a psychological war against a cannibalistic psychiatrist named Hannibal Lector, David Fincher brought us 'Se7en' in 1995 which was about a search for a serial killer who conducted seven deadly sins. Films produced today may contain Eden Lake in 2008, Unknown in 2011, Hostage in 2005 and Firewall in 2006. Some other films that have been produced in the last decade may contain Saw in 2004 and Insidious in 2010.

The first film that I am going to look at and describe why the film has enticed more figures in terms of audience figures than others. The first film I am going to look at is Hannibal. Hannibal has received the most amount of money from lifetime gross and openings, through seeing this we can see that Hannibal is one of the most viewed films. Hannibal's narrative shows that one man, named Hannibal Lecter, is a serial killer, the film is a psychological thriller. I believe the film has become well known as it was a different type of thriller, I believe this enticed more people to view the film. They also used a serial killer as a main character, to show what is going through his mind throughout the film, I believe this shows that by having a main character like this it helps to create a sense of tension and suspense throughout the film from the audiences point of view. The target audience for this film would be those who enjoy thriller films.
The second film that I am looking at and describe is the film Seven. Seven is about the seven dealy sins that are being relived throughout the film. The film Seven is the fourth film that has produced the most lifetime gross and the opening money that has been collected, we can also see that the film Seven has produced one of the most viewed films and has collected a lot of money through making this film. The narative of the film was to show the seven deadly sins being reinacted at the expense of innocent people. I believe many would watch this film as it shows the police on a chase to catch the killer. This thriller film shows many different aspects of thriller films, this is why, I believe, many have wached this film because it has many different twists and turns.
The third and final film that I am going to look at is Natural Born Killers. Natural Born Killers is about a couple who have been labelled as killers. Natural Born Killers starts off with an introduction and then gets straight into the action. The characters are shown as natural killers throughout the film, this is a very enticing film as it shows many killings occuring. The target audience would be people that enjoy murders occuring and films that have many different aspects of thriller techniques.

Research into conventions into the thriller genre - Miss Miller

 

Research into conventions of the thriller genre

Conventions in thriller films are the things that make the film what it is. Many different conventions go into making thriller films and the use of certain conventions separate one thriller film from another. Some conventions used could be the use of low key lighting, violence, timing of shots, how certain scenes are edited and many other conventions. Some of the conventions I have listed I have seen in the clip that I have looked at and analysed.

 

The first convention that I saw and noticed was the use of low key lighting. The use of low key lighting is to make the area that the victim or main character is in, this allows the audience to notice that they may be in some danger or something bad is going to happen to them in this scene. In the scene that I watched, which was called Grave Encounters, low key lighting was used quite often in certain scenes as it was set in a dark and mysterious place with low lighting in this place. Low key lighting creates tension for the audience and as I said before it allows them to imagine what might happen to the character in this scene which is more than likely going to be associated with danger. The audience also feel on edge when low key lighting is used as, obviously you cannot see your surroundings and where your going or whats going on around you, the audience instantly feel scared for the character and automatically want to help them before something bad happens.

 

The second convention that I saw the film had used which links to the first convention that I had noticed was the use of timing of shots. The use of this convention allows the director to build up tension and suspense for the audience to feel and just when they don't expect something to happen it does happen and scares them with full effect. In the clip that I analysed I can see that the film is filled with using this convention as the film/clip makes you jump when you least expect it, this allows the tension to build up within the audience and then make them jump as the do not expect something to jump out at them when it does. As I said this convention also links to the first one as low key lighting can build the tension and as the film resumes the timing of the shot that is going to make the audience jump with fear is just after they would expect it. There was a certain clip where the film had used low key lighting and then the lights appeared again and just after they did the jump scene appeared when the audience least expected it to and it had full effect of scaring the audience with this scene.

 

The third convention that I had noticed and picked up on was how some scenes had been edited so they were slower than other scenes, this allows the audience to focus on the things that are surrounding the characters and notice any danger around them. The use of this convention is to slow the scene down and also build suspense for the audience building to the scene where the victim is going to be attacked or killed. The clip that I had used to find these conventions only used this convention a few times in the clip, but used it well as it built the tension towards the victim being taken or killed. Slow editing can also be linked in with timing of shots, I noticed that the clip used slow editing just before some scenes where they had used timing of shots to also scare the audience. Slow editing just before a fast paced scene allows the audience to almost recognise that something bad is going to happen to the victim, when the fast paced scene links into the end of the slow editing scene it is obviously more rushed and builds more tension and suspense for the audience as they begin to fear for the victim.

 

The fourth convention that I saw that the clip had used was the use of violent scenes. The clip uses violent scenes as this is what a thriller film is about and is filled with. All of the conventions that I have listed above lead to violent scenes, most if not all thriller films have viiolent scenes included in them, this is obviously what makes them thrillers or one of the main contributers. Violent scenes occur after the scene has built up to this happening with the victim looking vulnerable to something bad happening to them and leading to them dying or being injured. Violent scenes are usually either short and take immediate effect on the audience or they are prolonged and make the most of what has happened to the victim. Violent scenes allow the audience to feel the victims pain and fear of being hurt or killed. Violent scenes usually scare the audience the most as they either kill the good guy in the film that the audience may feel that they are attached to in some way from watching the film.

 

Research into Age Certificates - Miss Georgiou

Research into Age Certificates

BBFC - British Bard of Film Classification

The BBFC are a company that view films in order to place them with a certificate as to what age can view the film down to what the film contains, for example, sexual and violent scenes. the different age ratings that the BBFC use are U, PG, 12, 12A, 15 and 18.

U Classification:
The U symbol stands for Universal. The U symbol means that the film is suitable for an audience that is aged four and over. Even though it is impossible to predict what will upset a particular child, especially as this is a lower end range of category. For children that are younger than the age of four the BBFC use a certain insight to view certain films such as Chuggington, Teletubbies or In the Night Garden which the BBFC certify as films that are suitable for viewers under the age of four. They review these films to see whether they contain any content that may include issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror, language, nudity or sex etc. Another main point that the BBFC focus on when judging whether a film is a U rated film is the reference to sexual activity or behaviour, for example, you may see characters kissing and cuddling, this would be as far as they would allow in a U rated film there would be no focus on sexual behaviour, language or innuendo. A U film may contain certain scenes where some characters could be placed in positions of danger, however moments where characters have been placed in emotional stress or threat will be quickly resolved and met with a reassuring outcome. In some films they may contain some scary scenes where the characters are placed in danger. As with violence, however these scenes will be balanced with reassuring elements, such as comic interludes or music.

PG Classification:
PG simply stands for Parental Guidance. PG means that the film is for general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for younger viewers. Some PG films may contain certain scenes that may contain content that could upset young and sensitive children. Some PG films are not aimed towards younger audiences, a film that was released recently passed for a PG but was watched mostly by grown ups was The Artist. However, the certificate means that any issues in the work are appropriate for the majority of this group and nothing in the film should upset children of the age of eight or over. No theme is prohibited at PG, as long as it is treated in a manner appropriate to the category. PG works can explore challenging issues such as domestic violence, bereavement and racism. Smoking and drinking will not be promoted or glamourised and if child characters are seen smoking or drinking, there should be a clear message that this is wrong. If drugs are mentioned or seen, a PG work should promote that they are harmful. There may be mild language in PG films such as, 'shit' and 'son of a bitch', but the context and delivery are important, for example if the delivery is aggressive or there is too much bad language, a work may be passed as the next category.

12 and 12A Classification:
12A means that anyone aged 12 or over can see this film unaccompanied but anyone under the age of 12 will need an adult to be with them so they can view the film. The person that is accompanying the child that is under the age of 12 has to be 18 or over themselves so the child can see the film. the 12 rating is only used for DVDs and Blu-rays, where as 12A is used in cinemas only. The BBFC have made films rated 12A because the film may contain certain scenes where parnets of children that are younger than the age of 12 may be upset by what they see or their parents may feel that the film contains certain things that they dont want their children seeing. The BBFC provide a system called the BBFCinsight which allows adults to judge whether they feel the film is suitable for their children to see. The overall tone of the film also affects the classification of the film, for example the film may have an unsettling tone to it which could make it feel unsuitable for children younger than 12. The BBFC's guidelines state that there may be strong language, for example f***. The context of the strong language is important, aggressive uses of strong language may result in the film being placed in the 15 category, there is also some allowance for puns on strong language at this category. There may be some moderate language, for example such uses of terms such as 'bitch' and 'twat' at 12 or 12A. There will be no discriminatory language used in a 12 or 12A. Sex may be briefly and discreetly portrayed at 12 or 12A, verbal sex referances should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers. Comedy may lower the impact of some moderate sex referneces or innuendo but crude sex references are unlikely to be accepted. Dangerous behaviour such as hanging and suicide etc. may be present in a 12 or 12A.

15 Classification:
No one under the age of 15 is allowed to watch, rent or buy a 15 rated film. No theme is prohibited, as long as the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds. A 15 age rated film may include things such as, strong violence, frequent language, portrayals of sexual activity, strong verbal references to sex, sexual nudity, brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence, discriminatory language or behaviour and drug taking. There could potentially be a great deal of strong language in a 15 rated film. At 15there is no upper limit on the number of uses of strong language, occasionally there may be uses of the strongest terms, for example c***, although continued or aggressive use will not be passed at a 15. There may be uses of racist, homophobic or discriminatory language used but it must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour. At 15 sexual activity can be portrayed, as long as there is no strong or graphical detail. Some sex scenes can be quite long and may involve some nudity and movement. There can be strong references to sex and sexual behaviour, but especially strong or crude references are unlikely to be acceptable unless they are justified by context. Violence may also be strong in a 15, it should not however focus on the infliction of pain or injury, the strongest gory images are unlikely to feature. Many horror films are rated 15. At 15 there can be strong threat and menace, as long as it is not sadistic or sexualised. At 15 drug taking may feature but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. Certain scenes that may be shown in such works rated 15, for example suicide must not be dwelled on as they may leave an impression on young and vulnerable teenagers.

18 Classification:
18 rated films are for those that are aged 18 or over, those under the age of 18 cannot watch, buy or rent films that are rated 18. No theme is prohibited in an 18 rated film as the adult is free to pick and choose their own entertainment within the law, so it is possible some themes tackled at 18 may be offensive to some adult viewers. 18 works are for adults and can contain strong issues such as, very strong violence, frequent strong language or very strong language, strong portrayals of sexual activity, scenes of sexual violence, strong horror, strong blood and gore, real sex (in some circumstances) and discriminatory language and behaviour. There is no limit to the number of times strong or very strong language is used, in an 18 rated film it also does not matter whether the use of the word is aggressive and whether it is backed up with violence because it is an 18 rated film. As well as being aggressive the language can also be directed. There may be racist, homophobic or discriminatory language at 18. Though the work must not be in breach of any relevant legislation, it is possible for discriminatory language of themes to be in the main works, and for main characters to engage in discriminatory behaviour. There can be strong and detailed portrayals of sex at 18, including full nudity. Very strong, crude and explicit sex references are permitted at 18. Some very strong horror works pass as 18 as they obviously exceed the boundaries for a 15 rated film. Drug taking may be shown, but just like 15 rated films it must not promote or encourage any misuse of drug taking.

Editing Styles - Miss Georgiou

Editing Styles

 

 

A technique that I have also been using is the slow and fast editing techniques which can be used to build suspense or build for an exciting scene, in this case we will be focusing on building suspense rather than excitement. How slow editing works is it makes the characters move slower to what they would normally, and by doing so it creates a sense of suspension as the audience do not know what is going to happen next and when something does happen and something jumps out at the character it speeds up and makes the audience and character jump with fear and surprise at what has happened.

The second technique that I saw the film had used quite a bit was the timing of shots. I believe this is used in thriller films as it can be used to show the audience something right after a scene when it would be expected but it could also be shown just after expected so the audience do not expect the killer to jump out or be there so the suspense has been built and the audience would be shocked and surprised by what has happened.

 

 

The third technique that I have found that the clip used quite frequently was the use of the straight cut feature which would cut the scene from one scene to another. This technique was used as in the clip that I watched as it showed one character being attacked then before the scene was finished it cut and changed to a different scene that showed something completely different was happening then soon after that scene had finished it changed back to the scene before and showed the character tied up.

Research into cinematography - Miss Miller

Research into cinematography - Grave Encounters

 

Cinematography is the art or science of motion picture photography. In my blog I will be talking about the different camera angles/shots I have used to analyse the film I have chosen, 'Grave Encounters'.

Firtsly, I have used the mid shot camera angle which allows the characters to be the main focus for the audience during this scene. I believe this shot has been used to show the fear and emotion shown by the character so the audience can also sympathise with the characters and what they are feeling.

My second shot also shows the different emotions felt by the characters as it is the camera shot panning, this camera shot has been used in this scene twice, first of all it has been used to pan from character to character to also show the emotion of the charaters, it has alsom been used to pan across the room that the characters are in and it is showing the audience what the charaters can see.

Thirdly, I have used the zooming in technique which was used to increase the focus on the mysterious object in the distance in the trailer which allows the audience to also focus on the object. By using this camera angle it creates suspense and tension for the audience watching the clip. the technique is used very well as it allows the audience to focus on the figure in the distance and the main characters of the film.


Individual ideas for a narrative - Miss Georgiou

Individual ideas for a narrative

There are many different thriller films that have influenced me to use so many different features and elements of different uses of the thriller film genre, for example, the use of building suspense and tension for the audience for example in the Grave encounters clip that I used we can see that the use of Mise - En - Scene and different camera shots etc.
Another technique that I have also been inspired to use is the slow and fast editing techniques which can be used to build suspense or build for an exciting scene, in this case we will be focusing on building suspense rather than excitement. How slow editing works is it makes the characters move slower to what they would normally, and by doing so it creates a sense of suspension as the audience do not know what is going to happen next and when something does happen and something jumps out at the character it speeds up and makes the audience and character jump with fear and surprise at what has happened.

Research Mise-En-Scene Miss Georgiou

Research on Mise-En-Scene

In this blog I am going to be focusing on the 5 features of mis-en-scene:

The first feature is settings and iconography, as we can tell the film is set in a deserted and haunted mental asylum, this allows the audience to already get a feel for what the film may hold. We have been told the building where the filming is taking place is a real place. 

The second feature that has been used in my film and should be used from Mise-en-scene and that is costumes, hair and make up. The victims of the film are wearing casual clothes as we, the audience, would expect, the so called 'bad guys' or haunted characters have been made to look scary obviously facial wise and what they are wearing makes them seem intimidating and frightening to the audience. The costumes and make up was thought through very well in my opinion. 

When things take a turn for the worst the victims in the film show very good facial expressions to get the audience very involved and to show the fear and terror is felt by the characters. Facial expressions is the third part of Mise-en-scene and is probably the main part of the film and which shows the audience the most fear and creates the most suspense for the audience as we can see from the clip I have chosen the facial expressions clearly show their distress and fear before, during and after scenes in the film. Body language is also part of Mise-en-scene and also helps show the fear and discomfort shown by the characters. 

Lighting and colour are the fourth feature of the Mise-en-scene elements, this feature of Mise-en-scene help a lot when it comes to building suspense in a film and scaring the audience which is the aim of a thriller film. So, by looking at the clip I have chosen we can see that the camera crew use night vision to shoot most of the film, already we can see that the film is going to have a very suspicious look to it. By using night vision it lets the audience know that it is going to be very difficult for the characters to move and manoeuvre themselves around the asylum. 

Finally, we have the positioning of the characters and the objects within the frame, there is one particular scene during the trailer of the film where it has a few characters on one side of the hall and a few other characters on the other side the camera then zooms in on a mysterious object and we focus on this object as it moves from one position to another, by using the characters as the sort of bait in this scene it allows the camera to focus on the mysterious object in the frame as well as the characters. I believe this is a very good scene in the film to look at as we can see all/most of the characters and another object in the scene which sums up this feature of Mise-en-scene.