Preliminary Task

                                                            

                                                                  EVALUATION

I think that our preliminary went well and better than expected. I think the editing went well considering that the group did not have much experience using iMovie and it was the first time editing a piece of film properly. From the feedback which has been given from other members in the group, the camera work is good and the camera is held steady where appropriate and needed. We planned the camera work and different shots we were going to use before hand so when it came to filming we could do it straight away without and hesitation or wasting time. Continuity editing was used well because we planned what we were going to do before. It gave the correct effect which it was supposed to and looked correct and not unusual.  We stuck to the 180 degree rule which means we have stuck to the brief which the exam board have given us. By using this the film looks good to the audience and does not confused them- it helps them to understand what is going on.

Some of the points which we need to improve on for next time is the music and if it is used at the appropriate time. Music still needs to be used as it is a key convention of the thriller but just when needed instead of randomly over certain sections. We could have avoided this music coming across pointless at certain times by paying more attention when editing. Although we used many different camera shots and movements in the preliminary task, we need to improve on transitions and vary the choice of transitions. This is something we can improve on in editing once we gain more experience with iMovie. To do this we could add more in and vary the choice instead of using the same transition throughout. Another improvement is to extended the dialogue between the two characters to make it into more of a conversation and to spend more time with characters so that you know more of the storyline and the audience understands what is going on more. Another key convention which could have been improved is mise-en-scene. This could be done by the use of clothing which the characters wore. As this was an interview type situation the actors could have worn more office wear clothes to make it look more effective and realistic to the audience

From this preliminary task I have learnt many different conventions and rules about filming and editing, considering I have never done media at a lower level. I have learnt the 180 degree rules and how you must stick to it whilst filming otherwise it looks unusual and confuses the audience as to what it happening. I have also learn what continuity editing is, how to film and edit it to make it look effective. I have learnt how to use the camera and film different shots such as an over the shoulder shot, and also how to use editing software such as iMovie which I have never used previously, and now I can use it well.

As a result of the preliminary task and the improvements and successful points which I have discussed previously, we will take forward the improvement to make changes to so that our final task which we film will have no need for improvements and will hopefully have all successful points in the next evaluation.

This shot is filmed well and the camera work is effective, however it is blurry and pixellated. To improve this we could have focused the camera more or used a better quality camera, which is something we may consider next for our final thriller task. 

This is a shot that went really well in the preliminary task and is one that we are proud of. It was edited to make it look like a CCTV camera which I think looks effective as you can tell what this shot is supposed to be and supposed to look like. As this shot went so well it is something which we are thinking of recreating in the final task.                              

This shot was also filmed well and there was not a problem with the camera work, however it lasts too long. To improve this we could have made the two shots shorted whilst filming them or edit them to appear shorter so that the audiences attention is still on the film and they have not lost interest. 

 This technique is called match on action. I think this is one of the most effective shots in the preliminary task. The two different shots flow from one to the next without it looking out of place, and this has been done by our careful editing. As this shot went so well it's something our group are considering using in the final thriller opening task. 

 

Vox Pox on Thriller films

There are many different ways to find out audience opinion such as:

Poll votes

Verbal feedback

Interviews

Reviews

Questionnaires

Forums

Ratings

Vox Pop or in Latin Vox Populi also means "the voice of the people" or "man on the street."

What makes an effective Vox Pop?

. Ask the same people more than one question, go back to them more than once in an interview. 

. Short  responses from the interviewee.

. Each short is short and move on quickly. 

. Interviewed in the streets/public

.Person is on the right hand side of the shot, their gaze is to the left. 

. It is edited so that different people answer the same question, then move on to the next question etc.

. Interviewer does not talk throughout the interview, the questions come up on the screen. 

. Question is at the start of every interview.

.The name, age and occupation of the person always comes up when they answer the first question. 

Key Words  

. Position

.Left

.Right - gaze naturally to the right

. Eye level - to make sure not to belittle the interviewee

. Duration

.Off screen

 In this vox pop we asked two different questions to find out what people's opinion on thrillers are. These questions were "what makes a thriller thrilling" and "what is your favourite thriller genre."

1. What makes a Thriller Thrilling?

From the response from the first question, people said that music can make a thriller thrilling as it creates suspense and tension. Also atmosphere and suspense are important as they make the thriller. The story line line also helps to make a thriller thrilling by having "twist and turns" and unexpected part of the story happen to create suspense and keep the audience hooked.

2. What is your favourite Thriller Genre?

 For the second question, people said their favourite genre of thriller was psychological as it is like a "mind game for the audience." Action was also said because it is exciting, as was sci-fi as they are also exciting and interesting.

3. Overall

 As a group we will be taking this information we have learnt and using it on our own thrillers. We will be make sure we use music as it is key to create suspense and tension, which is a main convention of thrillers, and also make sure it has a good story line to keep the audience hooked and interested.

Opening Titles Timeline "Se7en"

Title Sequence Timeline

Titles are used in film to introduce important members of the film or television programme who were a key part for the creation and production of the film, for example directors, producers, cast members, casting director etc. 

A title sequence is where films or television programs show the important production and also cast members. It tends to use visual film and sound. This should not be confused with an opening sequence which is simple just opening credits of names of people who have worked on the production, similar to the title sequence but without the extra added media. 

We get a sense of the genre of the film through the title sequence as the film shows us what we should suspect and what the story line will be. It could also give us clues and answers to the plot in the film but as it is as the beginning, we are unaware of this.  

Through the typography of the it can also suggest and hint towards what genre the film will be. For example like "Se7en" the lettering is quite "sketched" and "creepy" which connotes the idea that the film is a thriller with a sense of crime or mystery.

 The editing of the title sequence is important as it is the first part of the film or TV programme the audience watches, so in my opinion it has to be good. If the editing is not effective and does not portray the desired effect the it will not hook the audience like intended and they may stop watching before the film has even started. The title sequence part of the most memorable part of a film, so it has to be memorable.

"Se7en" 

                                               

 In the opening titles to "Se7en" the titles do not appear until 5 seconds in. At the beginning of the opening, the first title that appears is the production companies "new line cinema presents" and "An Arnold Kopelson Production."

     

 It then goes on to describe the main actors in the film  and the title of it. These are at the beginning as they are some of the most important and influential to the film.Throughout the rest of the opening scene, they feature more main actors and then and then towards the end more of the main cast members appear. This is because          you remember the start and the end of something, and not necessarily the middle. The dark colours is connoting the thriller genre perfectly whilst also giving a sense of mystery                                                                                         and danger to the film

 The typography is the opening titles helps to show what genre the film and the way they suddenly appear on the screen takes you by surprise which could be showing that there is going to be suspense and tension in the film,          whilst keeping the audience hooked and wanting to continue watching. The style of writing is creepy and gives you a hint of the genre of the film. 

Thriller in Audience

Thriller in Audience

Demographics:
.Age
.Gender
.Race/Nationality
.Socio-economic class
.Psychographics
.Interest and hobbies
Lifestyle and jobs

Demographics are found by putting people into categories depending on what their job is and their status. It is used to classify an audience into age, gender, race and other different categories like stated above. They are divided up into social grade which is either A,B,C1,C2,D or E, social status and also occupation.

Psychographics :
Resigned
Struggler
Mainstreamer
Aspirer
Succeeder
Explorer
Reformer 

Psychographics base a person on their social class, lifestyle and characteristics. It is also a way in which an audience is described by looking at their behavior and personality traits. It is catogorised into 6 groups, aspires, succeders, resigned, explorers, strugglers, reformers.

Socio-Economics 
A- CEO's, doctors, surgeons, headteachers
B- Teachers, high manager roles
C1- Nurses, accountants
C2- Plumbers, carpenters
D- Retail
E- Students, pensioners, unemployed

The Departed

The Departed as a hybrid film consisting of the crime, thriller and drama genres is targeted at an audience that would be able to relate to the film and understand the characters and the roles played by the characters in the film.  The age of the film is rated 18, is targeted at males of any race or nationality. 

The Departed would be targeted at the demographic group C2 and D. This is because the main character would be placed in the same demographic groups C2 and D, as the audience would relate to the film and the characters the most. 

The audience for the movie the departed consists of people who enjoy the genres crime, thriller and drama.  This suggests the psychographic groups for the film ‘The Departed’  would be Reformers and explorers, this is because the film is based on an under cover police officer and his experience of being a double agent. This is shown in explorers because of their individualism, experience and value for  difference. This is also shown in reformers because of their freedom of restrictions and have social awareness, suggesting the departed would interest them because of the main characters freedom of restrictions and social awareness.  

What makes a Thriller?

WHAT MAKES A THRILLER THRILLING?

The thriller genre story line is mainly based around action and crime. If the thriller is based around crime then a murder is a typical thing which takes place. There are different conventions in a thriller film such as sound, camerawork, mise-en-scene and editing.

 Mise-en-scene is the term which is used to describe all the visual elements in a single frame/shot. This includes actors, costume, make-up, lighting/background, setting, camerawork and VFX - visual effects. These are all important as they help to define the genre and help to create the scene. A common part of mise-en-scene which occurs in thrillers is props such as guns and knifes. This is because stereotypically the signify danger and are related to crime. 

Sound is also used in thrillers to help to make it thrilling and create suspense. There is either non-diegetic sound or diegetic. Non-diegetic is sound which has been added after in the editing process. For example, music may be added into a thriller to help create suspense. Diegetic sound is the noise which comes from the scene and is not added or edited in after, for example actors voices. Synchronous sound is also used which is where the sound is synchronised with the object emitting the sound. This help to create tension during and important scene. 

Editing can be used in thrillers to help create the tension and suspense by adding different effects and changing how the scene and shot looks in general. A way in which they could do this in thrillers is change the pace of the camera movement to show a dramatic scene. 

In thrillers a main convention is the antagonist and the protagonist. This is the hero and villain which is used in many thriller films and is a convention which helps to make a thriller identifiable to that genre. Actors are a part of mise-en-scene which are key to any film, especially a thriller. Some actors have star personna which means that they are associated with certain genres and personality of character, for example Samuel L Jackson is associated with the thriller genre. 

This is a mid shot. It is dark, in black and white, as James Bond is seen to be a secretive person. He's wearing dark clothing which suggests he likes to be hidden. In this shot you can only really see his head, this could be seen as being ghost like which relates back to the fact bond likes to be hidden and does not want to be seen. This scene is set in an office, which shows the importance of it and shows the authority of James Bond. The lighting sets the seriousness of the scene, creating suspense and tension to the shooting which is going to follow. 

This is another mid shot. The characters are gambling which suggest there is an uncertainty. The body language suggests a sense of tension and concentration between the characters, creating a serious feel. The clothes which the characters are wearing connote wealth and importance, as they're wearing suits. It may also suggest the formality of the event which is taking place. The lighting is focused on the main characters at the front of the shot, whereas the man in the back of the shot has little lighting on him. 

This is another mid shot. Bond is wearing a suit when stepping off the plane, whereas the other passengers are not. This is showing his importance over other people. James Bonds body language also suggests his importance as he is standing tall and not slouching. The shot is in black and white which adds to the seriousness of the scene. The minor characters in the background seemed to be slightly blurred and have no light focusing on them, which also shows that the only important person is James Bond, as he has all the light shining on him. 

This is a wide shot. This scene fits in with the conventional idea of a thriller of violence which is used frequently throughout the film. This is another scene from Casino Royale which is in black and white, which is used to portray the seriousness of the scene. Bonds suit appears to dishevel which shows the severity of the fight. The other character is dressed completely different to Bond. This shows the difference between the two characters, as one is considered and hero and the other is not, this is also fitting in with the conventions of the thriller genre. There are no other minor characters in this scene, which could be so they do not distract you from the event which is taking place. 

This is a close up. Craig's facial expression shows anxiety and tension. In the background of this shot there is an explosion going off, so on the other hand Craig's facial expression could show bravery and how he is perceived as a "hero" because he is completely unfazed with what is going on behind him. Before this scene moves on the lighting fades completely to darkness. This is helping to creating tension as you don't know what happened and is leaving you wanting to know.

1. 

2.

3.

1. Inception 2. Batman - The Dark Knight 3. Divergent

All three of these films are of the thriller genre. Above are screenshots from the trailers for the film. In all three trailers there is backing music which helps to create tension and suspense which is a key part to a thriller movie. All three films have dark settings which also helps to add to the mystery and suspense which is within a thriller movie. All the screenshots are taken at points from the movie/trailer when the film is approaching a crucial point and it's trying to create uncertainty and anticipation whist leaving the viewer's apprehensive.

Shot list for Preliminary Task

Storyboard for preliminary task

Analysis of the opening sequence of Snatch

The link for the opening scene of Snatch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpGTn-Z6WbA

This links to the genre of thrillers as it follows all the key conventions. Such as the dark colours used which connotes mystery and darkness. The activities which are taking place in the opening scene are stereotypical for a thriller, especially a crime thriller. The characters look suspicious and also what they are doing is exciting and keeps the audience hooked to continue watching. 

(Each screenshot of the opening sequence correlates with the numbers next the analysis information on Padlet) 

1.

2.

2.

3,7.

4.

4.

5,8,9,10

5,8,9,10

5,8,9,10

                   6

               11,12,13.

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