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.