Friday 29 January 2010

Costume and Props - Detail

Our main character is supposed to be dressed very smartly in:

Pencil Skirt, Shirt, Blazer, Heels.




Props:

Red Lipstick, Mascara, Name Badge.



Dead body costume:
She will have the same make-up as main character as we feel this would make the opening more sinister and creepy. Her outfit will be simple, jeans and a white t-shirt as this will not draw attention away from the main character, and will bring her across as any average person.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Final Idea.

Thursday, 28th of January

Plot Possibilty:
A woman get's dressed for work. Close up's on her face, putting on lipstick, mascara. Puts on a blazer, pencil skirt and name badge. The name badge says "Dr. ? ?" and underneath "Mental Asylum" at this point we've only seen close up's of areas. once she's completely dressed and adequate to go out. She walks over to the door and steps over a body lying in a pool of blood.

We're debating to get her to say the features of a psychopath as she gets ready or whether we list them on the credits.

The idea we want to present is that she is a psychopath running a mental asylum.

Cast:
Dr- Lauren Coffey.
Dead Body-

Location: House/room.

Sounds:
A happy song in the back ground. Creating a twisted atmosphere to the opening and adding to the irony. Like the scene from Reservoir Dogs where he chops off a mans ear.

Credits: Red words, formal text.

Costume:
Pencil Skirt,
Shirt,
Blazer,
Heels.

Props:
Red Lipstick,
Mascara,
Name Badge.

Script:
We decided to do a voice over with a female voice reading out the characteristics of a psychopath as she does her make-up etc.
For example, while there's a close-up shot of Lauren's lips as she applies lipstick the voice over will say "Aggressive narcissism...superficial charm...grandiose sense of self worth".

Certification:
We think our film would be classified as an 18 because of the disturbing imagery.

Idea Four.

Based on a Flashback because it is quite alot to fill in.
We open on one girl going through a set of books. circling things that the audience believe are answers to what she's searching for.
As she goes through the books it flash backs to two girls are out shopping. One gets killed by a robber.
Back to more circuliing and focus on the eyes.
Looks at robbers profile.
Close up on writing saying no comment about other robber.
One more cirlce of a picture.
Slam of book.

Idea Three.


My idea for our thriller project was to film from a handheld camera used by one of the characters, like films such as 'REC', 'The Blair Witch Project' and 'Cloverfield'.
We first decided to do the filming in a woods, also similar to 'The Blair Witch Project'. I thought it would be realistic to film us camping in the woods like a group of friends would, setting up tents, lighting a fire and joking around, but using the script to show some friction between a couple of characters. The tension would begin with flashes of the handheld camera running through the woods later at night and looking behind as though the character with the camera is running from something. Then cutting to the girl with the camera waking up to hear someone singing "If you go down to the woods tonight, you're in for a big surprise.." and seeing a shadow move. At first she'd laugh, thinking it was one of the others joking around until she went to their tents and realised they were all asleep. She would wake them up and the characters that showed tension earlier would disagree about whether to stay or leave, before they hear someone walking around them and they scatter. The film would end with the camera being dropped on the ground.
I've always thought that the more understated, realistic thrillers can be the most effective. 'Scream' is one of the best thriller openings ever in my opinion, it raises the tension and keeps you gripping your seat and asks so many questions that you HAVE to keep watching; terrified or not. Terrified in my case.

Idea One.

A group of three girls walk out of a restaraunt together, you see them all laughing and joking around. The girls walk arm in arm down a dark road lit by street lights. The camera then moves to a different view. This is of a picture of one of the girls in a pair of mysterious hands. The camera then shows this 'stalkers' point of view, and looks at the girls from behind a bush or a hidden place. There is a some sort of snigger from the stalker, and the girls all turn around in a frightened manner, to find nothing there. The girls are all scared, but think they are hearing things and think nothing of it and carrying walking. The camera then goes back to where the stalker was to show that he is no longer there, but he has dropped the girls picture which now has a large red cross over her face.

Certificate Guidlines PG.




PG Parental Guidance –General viewing, but somescenes may be unsuitablefor young childrenUnaccompanied children ofany age may watch. A ‘PG’film should not disturb a childaged around eight or older.However, parents are advisedto consider whether the contentmay upset younger or moresensitive children.

Discrimination
Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or in an educational or historical context. Discrimination by a character with which children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.

Drugs
References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.

Horror
Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor.

Imitable behaviour
No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons.

Language
Mild bad language only.

Nudity
Natural nudity, with no sexual context.

Sex
Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and
innuendo only.

Theme
Where more serious issues are featured (for example, domestic violence) nothing in their treatment should condone unacceptable behaviour.

Violence
Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed, if justified by its context (for example, history, comedy or fantasy).

Certificate Guidlines 18.

A film or video game with an '18' certificate means only people aged 18 or over may view/play it.



This means the film/game concerned may contain:



-very strong violence, blood or gore

-frequent or very strong language

-strong sexual activity

-scene/s of sexual violence

-strong horror

-discriminatory laguage/behaviour

-drug use (if it does not promote or encourage)



However, if the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) feel that some of the material is inappropriate, they can make cuts. They say:



Intervention is most likely in the following areas:


• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence



• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault



• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works and, in “sex works” (see below), would normally be confined to that category.

Certificate Guidlines 15.






http://www.pbbfc.co.uk/guides_15.asp

Suitable only for those aged 15 and over.
Nobody younger than 15 can see a 15 film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 can rent or buy a 15 rated VHS, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, UMD or game.

The BBFC believe that what makes a 15 a 15 is below:

• strong violence
• frequent strong language (eg 'f***').
• 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
• drug taking

Certificate Guidlines 12.

The certificate 12 is the same criteria that used to classify 12A and 12. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those who are 12 years and older. Works classified at these categories may upset children under the age of 12 and may contain material that many parents may feel unsuitable for their children.

Some examples of these would be;

Theme: mature themes are acceptable but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers
Language: the use of strong language should be rare and must be justified by context
Violence: must not dwell on detail, there should be no emphasis on injuries or blood.
Horror: sustained threat and menace is permitted, occasional gory moments only
Drugs: brief and occasional referances to, and sigh of, 'soft' drug taking eg cannabis are allowed, but must be justified by context and should indicate the dangers


Film Opening: No Country for Old Men

Wednesday, 27th of January.

The director wants to set the scene in the different times of the day.(mis-en-scene) with a voice over, explaining about his job and a story. This creates a plesaent picture to the beginning to the film.

We then see a man get into a car and do not see his face. A tank is put into the front of the car and this few second close up makes the veiwer ask "why does the criminal have that?" They drive off and the gap before them as they drive along the long deserted road represents a journey or a path.

We then are brought to the prison and the sheriff on the phone says "i have it all under control" in the background we see the blurred arested brings his hands to his front and walk quiestly towards the sheriff.

We agreed that this would be a good cut off point because it creates a moment of susppense. However, the director decided to continue with a scene of violencee. At this point, we see the convicts face up close. When we see him draw blood from the sheriffs neck, the close up shows he gets some sort of fasination with it. The character does not look directly into the camera. This shows a sense of distance and distuirbance.

It's a beautiful opening. This film opening really makes the audience ask quesitons.

Who is the man?What has he done? What does he have to do with the Narrator?

Looking at different styles of Thriller openings

Today we watched a range of thriller openings that had different styles. For example 'City of God' this film was more humorous as it involved a gang of young adults chasing a chicken. Obviously this is not stereotypical of a thriller film.



Another opening that we watched was 'Reservoir Dogs' this also had an element of humor as the mise en scene is not typical of that in a thriller film, for example it is very bright and sunny, and the men are all joking and talking in a American diner. This is completely opposite to the 'dark' opening to 'Taking Lives.'

Friday 22 January 2010

Creating an Ident.

Friday, 22nd of January

An Ident is a short ad to identify the programme’s sponsor at the beginning and end of a TV programme section.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lypqzV2YFfs - exmaple from Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Our group struggle to create names, so usually we use www.bandnamemaker.com We all agreed on "FireFly Productions". Our Ident can be made on either iStopmotion or Photoshop. So what we're looking to do is have bright light, fire, and orange.

U1-31 decided to use Photoshop. We were shown a website (www.hongkiat.com/blog/22-best-photoshop-text-effect-tutorials/) with tips on using photoshop and saw something we all liked.

Thursday 21 January 2010

Film Opening: Harry Brown

Thursday, 21st of January


In the Opening scene to Harry Brown, we see the beginning credits appear on a black screne with white slightly distorted writing. The effect of this fonts are a good way of showing emotion. The white writing against the black shows a high contrast in colour. A code to let us think up different scenarios such as, race, personality or emotion. The distortion of the writing can help represent fear or dis-comfort.

(Think about writing when you are scared or in a rush.)

We're then brought to Teenagers smoking and swearing. The camera is made to look like its being recorded off a mobile phone. This helps the mis-en-scene element and helps us create a "stereotypical" image of the youth today.

The mobile phone aspect also lets us see from a point of veiw. The characters then look at the camera and react, this allows the audience to attempt to connect with the characters even though they have not been given any real plot or reason to why they've been shown this.

Before this scene continues, we're taken back to the black screne and continue with the creadits. Here, the veiwer is cut from knwoing more about the characters or the story line. Creating Atmosphere, suspense and tension.

After we are then brought to another video footage from a mobile phone. Here we gather through sound they are on a bike, riding like maniacs. The mobile phone and the veiwers unabilty to see everything show's distance, confusion and no real control of anything. They're still left with the question.

What is happening?

Next we see them shoot down a women with a baby. We watch through their eyes creating suspense. We then see them hit a lorry, the phone fly out their hands to see them both just lying there. For anyone clever enough, they'd say "young boys in no control die" is the plot to the film. However, the clever way to which this is filmed, the brain doesn't allow its self to think that.

This simple opening has created a path to expand the 5 elements that make a good Thriller.

What makes a Good Thriller?

Thursday, 21st of January

http://www.familyvideos.co.uk/what-makes-good-thriller.html

This Website explains that there are five things that are nessacary to really create a good Thriller Movie.

1.Creating the sense of Danger
This creates the storyline.

2.Importance of Pace
Fast pace all the way through, show the audience the problem right at the beginning so they can relate to it.

3.Ballance of Power
The Vilian must always be one step ahead, until the climax this makes the veiwer want to watch.

4.Twists and Turns
Lure the audience into false sense of security, continuing their need to watch.

5.Character Growth
The audience need to know about the character's weakness' and fears. We need to see them over come them and the balance of good and evil.

Replicating the Credit Music too Taking Lives.

Thursday, 21st of January

Taken Lives - A Thriller about a Teenage Boy who takes peoples lives and identies.

During this lesson, our task was to create the music to a Thriller Opening.It was to be created on Garage Band. Our group found this difficult because some of the sounds we wanted we expected there to be pre-recorded were not there.

We decided that the best sounds to use, was Edgy Synth's and Rock Bass'. Synth's we found created an eery effect. High pitch noises that contrasted with very low bass sounds and small sound effects like camera shutter sounds really added impact to the suspense and tension.

Friday 15 January 2010

What is a Thriller?

Friday, 15th of January.


What is a Thriller?

A Thriller thrills, mostly through skillful plotting. It contains action scenes, character development with limits. The Thriller plot, is usually triggered by the knowing what shouldn't be or not knowing something about themselves.

Types of Thriller:

-Political - Ordinary man pulling innocent thread which leads political corruption.

-Phycolocial -(Internal and External) Character has a physical disability to over come or the people around them messing with their heads.

- Sci-fi - usually about the future.

- Crime - usually about a murder or a crime.

- Erotic - involves sex



Tuesday 12 January 2010

Friday 8 January 2010

Preliminary Task Evaluation.

Friday 8th January

Definitions

Continuity Editing: is the predominant style of editing in narrative cinema and television. The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over the inherent discontinuity of the editing process and to establish a logical coherence between shots.

180 Rule: basic guideline in film making that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line.

Match on Action: occurs when an action that begins in one shot is continued or completed in the next. In an exterior shot Julia Roberts opens the front door to a house. In the next shot the camera, now indoors, photographs her entering the foyer and closing the door.

Shot Counter- Shot: film technique wherein one character is shown looking at another character (often off-screen), and then the other character is shown looking "back" at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.

Evaluation:
We wanted to keep our second preliminary task simple, and decided to do something similar to our first piece. Some of the continuity in the prelim was not kept, however, more importantly we had every shot there.

Thursday 7 January 2010

Preliminary Task : Filming.

Thursday, 7th of January

Today we filmed and edited our Prelim. We made it more simple then the first one we did for our children's film.


We used every shot needed.
-Establishing,
-Long,
-Close Up,
-Match on Action,
-Conversation (180 degree rule)
and Reaction.

180 Degree Rule



The 180 degree rule is a rule used in filming. Two characters being filmed should always have the same left/right relationship. The Camera creates a line between the two and stays on the one side. Crossing this line makes the conversation look messy and more importantly confuses the veiwer.

Tuesday 5 January 2010

Preliminary Task : Planning

Tuesday, 5th of January.

Location: Quad/Benches.

Characters: Two girls- Best Friends. (Darren)

Plot: One tells the other she's pregnant and Darren is the Father.



(Establishing Shot) Girl One walking down a corridor.
(Close-Up Shot) Opening a door.
(Match On Action Shot) Walking into a room where girl two is.
(Long Shot) Both people in the room.
(Filming a Conversation)
Girl One- I've got something to tell you.
Girl Two- Me too.
Girl One- Wait let me go first...
Both- I'm pregnant. Darren's the father!
(Reaction Shot)