Additional work relating to task 30 - Costume ideas

 Costume research / ideas in thriller films 

Additional work relating to task 30 - Prop ideas

Props research / ideas in thriller films 

             

Additional work relating to task 30 - Location ideas

Location research / ideas in thriller films 

               

Task 27 - Audience Profile

Task 1 - Who is my target audience?

Gender: Male / Female 

Age: 15- 24


One hour photo: 

Se7en :

Task 24- Individual Ideas / Outline for title sequence

Individual Ideas for title sequence.

Genre: Thriller 

Initial plot / storyline ideas: 

After researching and looking at thriller films and their title sequences a lot has come to mind when thinking about my own title sequence, as a film student, last year my group and I made a short thriller film of someone that had been kidnapped and having that experience of making a thriller film is very helpful when thinking of ideas for our title sequence. We have a agreed to using a Discrete title sequences which uses both moving images and titles however isn't telling you clearly what the film's plot or storyline is, gives you information to help set the tone and gives you clues on what we could expect to happen. 

As of ideas for the plot / storyline I was thinking something along the lines of:

• Torturing someone : Struggling, depression, anxiety, leads to confession 
• A missing person : kidnapped, posters, detective 
• Psychological thriller : planning a murder, twisted side of beauty, revenge 
• Showing the obsessive nature of a character : stalking,  certain items / objects / people 

From creating a shot by shot re-make of SE7EN I like idea of using close ups and fast cuts of props and objects that could be significant to the character, setting or plot as I want the title sequence to offer vague hints to important plot elements and events that would be in the film.  

Key character 'types' : 

• Criminals 
• Stalkers -  One Hour Photo directed by Mark Romanek
• Innocent victims - See No Evil Hear No Evil directed by Arthur Hill 
• Someone with a dark past - Silence Of The Lambs  directed by Jonathan Demme 
• Psychotic individuals - The Shinning directed by Stanley Kubrick 
• Obsessive nature - To Kill A Mocking Bird directed by Robert Mulligan 
• Police 

A shot from To Kill A Mocking Bird - Torture, Dark past.

A shot from One Hour Photo - A props that is significant to the character and plot. 

Task 30 - Planning Mise-en-Scene Ideas - Location

Part 1 - Planning Mise-en-Scene Aspect of Location and Setting

Task 29 - Continuation

Continuation - Sounds we've created

Task 29 - Sound Design

Task 29 - Planned Ideas of Soundscapes for Sequence

Sound 1:

 
The electric shock sound effect could be used as a way of torture. This could be shown through closeups with someone tied to chair and having the door shut with the sound approaching.



The breaking glass can be shown through shock or as a weapon towards a villain.







The rain could effect the mood or the atmosphere towards the characters and setting

Task 27 - Audience Profile

Task 1 - Who is my target audience?




Task 2 - An audience member profile


Film 1: Seven




Film 2: Black Swan

Task 26 - Who is your target audience?

Who is my target audience and what do they think of my ideas?

My target audience is the age group of 17-25 year olds. I have chosen this target audience because firstly, I fit into this category and making a title sequence that I am proud and like will mean that my age group is particularly the target audience. However, I have not just left it at the age of 17 but stretched it to the age of 25 because my chosen genre is Thriller and this genre can also be particularly exciting for people in their 20s as I have found out that they also enjoy this genre a lot. 

I have interviewed 2 people about my initial ideas for my title sequences - who fit into my target audience. Here they are...

Interview 1:

Interview 2:

Task 25 - Head On Activity

PicCollage of our ideas:

Colours: grey, black, blood, orange, gold, dark blue and dark green

Aspects of Mise-en-scene: effects makeup, settings: ally ways, canals, small rooms or houses. Props: razors, books, tools, pictures, pens etc

Story-telling ideas: Missing person, obsessions, detective, stalker, supernatural, death, kidnap

Introducing characters: introduced with significant prop, introduced by doing daily routines and shots of the character, blank screen with their name.

Use of sound: foley, sound effects, minor keys, orchestral music.

Camera movement: Panning, slow pace, fast pace.

Range of shots: close ups, established shots, high angles, low angles 

Inspirational films for the genre Thriller:

Seven:



Catch Me If You Can:



Black Swan:

Task 11 answers to the BFI statistics year book

BFI statistics answers

Which 3 genres were most successful at the UK box office? 

Action

Animation 

Comedy

Which 3 genres were least popular or successful at the UK box office?

Documentary

War 

Romance

which film genre had the most films released in 2013-14 (not most successful but most number of films made?)

comedy

how many films in this genre were made in 2013-14

153

How many animated film were made?

33

how many action films were made?

47

what does this information about genre tell you about:

film production?

the most favourable genre of film in 2013-14 was animation action and comedy.

film audiences?

the target audience tend to be young aged people 

Which age group made up the largest proportion of cinema admissions in the UK (who went to the cinema most)?  

15- 24 year olds

 Which film was most popular with the over 50s? What genre is this film? 

Sunshine on Leith- Comedy, Drama and Musical.

Which comedy film was most successful with this age group (15-24 year olds)? 

• Hangover 3

which of the genres were most popular with men?

men preferred to watch action, comedy and thriller films

which genres were popular for women?

women had a broader range of films that they watched 

Which 3 films were most popular with the 7-14 age group? What does this tell us about their preferred genre? 

 

the younger age group popularised these films One Direction: This Is Us , Wreck-It Ralph and Despicable Me 2, this suggests that this age group preferred animation films. 

Which 3 films most popular with the 35-44 age group were Frozen, The Croods and Jack and the Giant Slayer. Why might this be and how does this contribute to animation being the most successful genre at the box office
 

parents took their children to watch these types of films it is basically like a family movie because they can all go to watch it together.

Which 3 films were most popular with the 25-34 age group? 

with this age group these films were most popular Django Unchained, Fast & Furious 6 and 26 Rush. 

Which films were most popular with middle class audiences (C1 and C2)? 

the middle class preferred to watch drama and sic-fi films

task 6 analysis of film sequences

TASK 6 ( analyzing film title sequences)

we would expect to see many things in film title sequences such as the following:

main actor/actors

title of the film 

cast/crew and many more 

skyfall 

in the title sequence of skilful we say many moving images and the main character himself (james bond). the opening of this title sequence is suspending disbelief as we know that this isn't a real character and is made up. in this sequence the background music played also has the same name as the movie itself "skyfall" this creates a bigger affect on the song because it gets the name skyfall stuck into the audiences mind. the music played in the background is slowing deep which matches and adds on to the effect of bond drowning. the setting of the scene in the opening sequence is in the sea with bond downing and sinking inside it, then moving images create different backgrounds or settings whilst the main character is still drowning. the genre is illustrated (action) to the audience through the use of action blood guns and many other things.
the credits start with the production team and then followed by the company name, after this the characters names are shown the main character is shown before the other characters. once all these credits have finished/dissapeared then the film name appears "skyfall".

Task 24 - Individual Idea and Outline for a Title Sequence

Individual Idea and Outline for a Title Sequence

The genre I have chose to create is: Thriller

Initial plot - storyline ideas:

After doing a lot of research into thriller films and title sequences for thriller films we as a group have decided that the initial idea for our title sequence would be quite discrete, somewhat confusing - but as you watch on everything will link together, and definitely not a title sequence that gives the whole plot of the film away. Therefore, we have decided to create a "film before the film" type of title sequence such as Seven. The title sequence of Seven has had a major impact on our decision for the genre and plot of the film opening title sequence because it discretely gives away a bit about a character's personality but does it in a way where nothing else is given away and it is a bit confusing but very enjoyable to watch - as it makes you curious about the film and makes you want to carry on watching. 

As for ideas for the plot/storyline I was thinking of:

- Psychological thriller - an inspiration would be The Shining as it plays with your mind as                                      well as frightening you.

- Murder mystery/missing person's mystery - detectives, old missing person posters,                                                                           kidnapped

- Self torture - anxiety attacks, dealing with depression, hallucinations

- Character motifs - pieces of objects being visible at all times when something is                                          happening to a certain character or they come on screen

Key types of characters:

- Stalkers

- Detectives/Police

- Mentally unstable

- Someone with a dark past

- Innocent victims

task 5- what makes a good title sequence according to kyle cooper?

What does he think makes a good title sequence? 

these are the things that make a good title sequence according to kyle cooper:

title sequences that would make you want to watch more of the film, title sequences that have a high standard or expectation for the audience and also very importantly sequences that make their way in to the film seamlessly.

What is important about the font used in the film "Seven"?

the importance of the font used in the film "se7en" is that it sets the tone of the film, the font is similar to the serial killers hand writing which can be seen in his journals/diaries this gives the audience an insight into the film.

another importance of the font used in se7en is that because the audience have some insight in to the film they know what to expect or what may come up in the film, this is because they were shown the title sequence if they were not shown the sequence they wouldn't have a clue or would be lost.

Why does Cooper think titles are so important to a film?

cooper thinks title sequences are important in a film because it can really help out the film by grabbing there attention from the very beginning, the title sequence puts the audience ahead of where they need to be in the film.

What problems might a studio face after an audience test screening?

studio may not have enough of a budget to do another shot or scene, also audience may not have understood some bits of the sequence.

Why do the 2 ½ minutes of the title sequence become important for the studio?

it is important for the studio as it becomes a scene for the movie, also so the audience is able to understand the title sequence better, furthermore it helps to put in info into the title sequence that has been left out 

What do the title sequence to "Dawn of the Dead" try to do?

the title sequence for this film tries to make the title sequence a part of the film itself as if they're one piece.

What does he mean by "story based" main title sequence? 

clear metaphor and back story

task 4- questions and answers for documentary watching

how can a film opening attract a audience

• What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he say's "Films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. while there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant is almost irresistible "

sutcliffe suggests that the opening scene must grab and attract the audiences attention by showing them a great opening sequence which keeps them interested to watch the rest of the film the openimng sequence must keep them attracted from the start so that they can be dragged in to watch the rest of the film.

• According to Director Jean Jacques Beineix, what are  the risks of 'instant arousal'?

Beinex suggests that the risks of instant arousal is that the questions that are raised by the audience would not be answered.

• Explain why " A good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn't know nearly enough yet, and at the same time makes sure that it doesn't know too little"? 

in my opinion a good beginning must make the audience feel as if they are apart of the filmit makes them more attached and interested so they want to watch ore of the film not just the beginning. a good beginning must also raise questions such as whats going to happen next or is he/she going to die etc..

the beginning must keep there attention so they could want to watch more once they have achieved this the audience would feel as if they are in the film themselves.

• What does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe as the classic opening? 

kauffmann describes the classic opening as being a shot of new york city at the beginning of the opening, then a close up of a famous building in the city, afterwards a camera going up the famous builing the entering through a window to show the main character in a private room or office. 

this classic opening works because it shows the setting of the film, the main character and also the main characters place of work.

• Why is Kyle Cooper's title sequence to the film 'Seven' so effective?

coopers title sequence to the film is so effective because it is a miniature film in itself, the title sequence kept the audience interested from the very start it showed a psychotic nature of a person carrying out inhumane tortures and deaths, therefore the audience wanted to find out what or who the person is that has planned/carried out these horrible events.

Task 23 - Additional - Initial Ideas Using Wordle

Initial Ideas for our Title Sequence

Task 23 - 6 Minute Challenge - Initial Creative Ideas

6 Minute Challenge - Our Group's Initial Ideas

• Bus stop
• Hat
• Martin Klebba

During our making process of a film opening we came up with various ideas to create a film opening using the three things we were given which are mentioned above. At first we all contributed our ideas and then came to a conclusion altogether of what the film opening can be by co-orporating the bus stop, hat and the name Martin Klebba. Our initial ideas started off with a random hat at a bus stop and a normal ordinary guy walking towards the bus stop as the guy approaches he realises the hat and picks it up to have a closer look at it. During this, a bus will approach the bus stop and will make an emergency stop with a screeching sound effect in the background. The bus will stay at the bus stop for a few seconds and then you will hear the man screaming after this there will be an eerie dead silence as the bus drives off as normal.We are then given a close up of the hat on the floor with the initials 'MK' inside the hat. As we spoke and developed our ideas we came to the conclusion that the opening camera shot will be an established shot of the empty bus stop with a hat sitting on the seats at the bus stop. We then came up with the idea of changing our camera shot/angle to a close up of the random guy's feet walking up to the bus stop - there will be a change in sound from an everyday traffic noise to a foley sound of the man's footsteps. As the opening of the film progresses we are not shown the face of the man and just see until his arms. 


The evidence of our making process can be seen in the video attached: 

Task 22 - Blogging Health Check 1

Blogging Health Check

Here is a screenshot of where I am at and how I am doing from ProMonitor. 

After the feedback I got from my teacher which was mainly to use more visually attractive images in my blogs and not just text I went back and either inserted photos into my blogs or re-did them using one of the software we were given that we could use such as Prezi or Emaze. After I re-did and compared them to the previous version I realised that having visual images makes your blog look a lot better and it really makes a difference to the person reading because they are not bored out of their brains when doing so. 

Task 21 - Practical Remake Activity - Evaluation

Practical Remake Activity - Evaluation

Created with Padlet

Task 22- Blogging Health Check

After having some feedback on our blogs I went back an edited some of my posts as we were advised to go and make sure we have visuals in every post and to use presentation website such as Prezi, Emaze and others which I have. I found that using them are very useful as it makes your research and ideas look more tasteful to read.

Task 21 - Evaluation of our Re-make video

Evaluation of our Re-make video 

Which Skills do you think you were particularly good and less good at?

- I think I was particularly good at the editing of the film as it is a skill I have developed over my film course and using that experience with in Media helped a lot when planning what type of editing we should use such as fast cuts and effects on our titles such as the 'Jiggled' effect that you see in the film 'Se7en' when the credit are being shown. What i was less good at was planning the time we had to shot. 

What changes would you make if you were to complete the project again?

- Making sure we have enough time to finish the whole thing and have music / sound effects  accompaniment it.

Which aspects of the completed film you think worked well and which were less successful?

- The editing and the filming worked very well as we only got to finish half, the film se7en title sequence was all about how you edited the shots you have taken together and it was quite limited on the camera work only using close ups and some high angels, we tried very hard to make the titles look like they did the se7en and how the cinematographer captured it, it worked well as it was a discrete title sequences which is not giving to much a way but for the audience to under stand the tone of the film. The less successful part was the timing again as it was such a detailed film to shoot we didn't think of how much time to take with shooting. 

What have you learned about the importance of storyboarding and shots-lists that you can use when you plan your big production piece?

- Storyboarding is crucial as it makes production easier, you have your shot types written down and how your going to edited and what type of editing skills you want so you wont forget them, also to know what scenes goes where and why.

Task 20 - Practical Remake Activity - Final Cut of Our Remake

Our Remake of the title sequence of 

SEVEN

              

Task 18 - Practical Remake Activity - Planning

Practical Remake Activity - Planning Decisions and Storyboard

Here are the images of the evidence of our planning stages using the shot-by-shot list of the title sequence of Seven and the storyboard we created. 

Our shot-by-shot list:

Our storyboard:

We found that using a shot-by-shot list and storyboard to plan our remake of the title sequence of Seven was very useful as that Seven has quite a complexly made title sequence and noting down everything we see and the shots that came up made our job a little easier. 

watching documentary

What does Thomas Sutcliffe mean when he say's "Films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. while there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant is almost irresistible

Thomas Sutcliffe suggests that the beginning of the film needs to get the audience on edge and excite them but it is quite hard to prevent yourself from showing all the excitement from the film right at the beginning or at the title sequence.

According to director Jean Jacques Beineix, What are the risks of 'instant arousal'

There is more pressure for the film to be more interesting as the film has to excite the audience in a different manner and as the film goes on the audience has to be on edge to wonder what's going to happen next.

Explain why " a good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn't know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that it doesn't know too little"

This might be because the audience needs to know just about enough about the film to see if they would like it and have the instigation to want  to watch it and to be intrigued, however the audience should not know a lot about  the film as the audience would not see the whole point of the film and get bored during the film as they will guess what will happen next.

What does critic Stanley Kauffmann describe as the classic opening? Why does this work?

He elucidates an establishing shot of New york city from the East. There is then a close up of  building. The camera moves up the building and goes to a close up of the window. this classic opening works as it tells us where the film is set and tells us the occupation of the ' Hero'

blogging task 9: what are the 4 different types of film openings

in a film opening there are more than one way that a film can decide to open their film. There are 4 different types of film openings:

• Blank Screen
• Moving Images
• Still Images
• Animation/Motion

Blank screen:

The blank screen film opening is the most common type of title sequence. when blank screen openings were used it was because the studios were on a low budget. There are benefits of using a blank screen film opening; it is a relatively simple way to include the conventions of the genre.

Moving images:

Moving image film openings incorporate the films credit titles with moving images behind the titles, sound and usually there is no dialogue. These film openings set the tone of the film and help to introduce the story line tot he viewers/audience. 

Still images:

Still image film openings are similar to Blank screen openings. Still image title sequences have white text on a black background. still images that are used in film openings hint at the audience to what the genre can be. It requires bringing in different types of media to make the background for the title sequence.

Animation/motion:

Animated texts in film openings were becoming more popular in the late 90s. the use of animated images or texts in a film opening requires a lot of new digital technology and stylised editing. These types of film openings are seen in film with high budgets. animation/motion film titles became a part of the moving image and are integrated with the images we see.

Task 17 - Genre shortlist

Thriller

 Horror 

 Crime 

task 15- Importance of sound?

Why is sound so important?

Sound is important as it's used in film to establish tone, atmosphere and the help give the audience clues about the plot, characters or to identify the genre of the film. It is also used to help suspending disbelief, meaning you know that the film isn't real but it's a process in having to believe it is to engage within the storyline. It is there to create realism for the viewer and heighten their experience of the film.

Sound is a powerful film technique for many reason as it can direct our attention quite specifically within an image, sound effects such as synchronous sound adds to the realism of film and also help to create a particular atmosphere. 

For example, The “click” of a door being opened may simply tell the audience that the image shown is real, and the audience may only subconsciously note the expected sound. However, if the “click” of an opening door is part of an threatening action such as a burglary, the sound mixer may call attention to the “click” with an increase in volume; this helps to engage the audience in a moment of suspense. Sound gives a new value to silence, for example a quiet passage or a silent moment in a film can create the most unbearable tension, and with the use of non- diegetic sound is forcing the audience to concentrate on the screen and waiting in expectation for whatever sound or image to come next.

- From this example you hear from 0:48 onwards the volume his been increased when the blood drips on the floor and the lights turn off it is indicating to the audience that something terrifying might happen.

Sound and Soundscapes:

What is sound? - What you can hear when watching.

What is soundscape? - Everything you hear when watching.

What is sound design? - Sound for a particular genre.

What is suspending disbelief? - You know what you see isn't real but it's a process in a way to make you believe it is to engage in the film.

Task 14- Summary of micro conventions in your chosen genre.

Summarise finding of my chosen genre conventions in film openings.

From our group discussion my group and I decide that our chosen genre is : Thriller

The aim of a thriller film is to create suspense and excitement for the audience, common micro conventions found in a title sequence for this genre are:

Camerawork:

• Camerawork in a thriller films tend to use establishing shots to show the audience where the characters are from or where the action is going to take place. Tracking movements used to follow the character around, close ups on certain part of the body are used to show emotions or what they are doing. Adding to the used of establishing shots, hight angles are used to be able to see more of the location of the films or to highlight important mies-en-scene in the frame.

Editing:

• Editing in Thriller opening sequences can involved flashbacks, quick and short shots, implying the film was set in the past. Montage editing in thrillers are used to condense time, space and information, this is a technique is where two or more layers in a film are playing simultaneously alongside one another. Its used to give the audience a sense of uneasiness and puts them on edge of what going to happen, an example of that is Se7en. Focusing around the feeling of uncomfortableness and suspense atmosphere, quick cuts and camera angles are often used which disorientates the audience and creates on screen tension.

Mise-en-scene:

• Mise-en-scene is very important within the thriller genre as many props, settings, locations can have a sinister or tense appearance. With lighting and colouring the audience can get a feeling of what the genre is by the way the lighting is displayed. Thriller films tend to have low key lighting as it creates a enigmatic and uneven feeling. Colour can be used to mirror different emotions that the character is feeling, Grey, black, red is associates with blood and death typically found in thriller genres. Referring to costumes suits are command in thriller opening sequences to represent who and what type of person they are depending if its supernatural they more and likely wear what links to their character.

                      (The Dark Knight and The Hunger Games : Grey, black&fiery colour scheme)

Sound:

• As George Lukas, director of Star Wars, said that sound is 50% and a film wouldn't be as good as it could be without it. Sound within thriller helps make the audience feel more engaged, more frightened as though they are in that situation themselves. Thriller films are ruled by non-diegetic sound playing in the background creating a sound bridge to create the atmosphere. Orchestral music is often played as it is used to build tension and sound as though some thing bad is going to happen once it reaches climax, tempo is often slow however builds up to a faster pace. With an example in another post I had done on how sound is important, some sounds are often emphasised at the point of climax, for example when blood drops on the floor.