In class we looked at some examples of other student's thriller openings. I have chosen to analyse the film 'Hysteria'
Firstly the titles in 'Hysteria' are in front of a red light. This couyld be a warning light as the colour red is usually associated with danger, blood, murder etc. other colours used in the title sequence are black and grey, typical of the thriller genre, which foreshadow the film as being dark, scary etc.
This film had precise match on action when the girl walks out of the back door. Also the film had good close up shots of certain objects such as the shed handle, and also the girls face to create tension and dramatic effect.
The way the film is edited gives sense of the character being preyed upon as high angle shots and other shots such as in the bin. The use of these shots makes her a victim who appears to be followed or stalked.
The film also uses important generic themes such as scary music, a dark setting, a character alone in a house etc.
In addition the film uses non-diagetic pulsating sounds to create suspense and tension. However there needs to be more diagetic sounds to make the thriller more realistic.
The mis-en-scene of the film is effective as it uses dark lighting and is set outside. However when the character is inside the light is too bright which is not typical of a thrilelr film.
In cocnlusion I believe 'Hysteria' was a successful film opening as it used some key elements such as dark settings, scary music etc, however it lacks the feel of a thriller as it leaves out things such as diagetic sounds and leaves in bright lighting.
Bradley x
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Hitchcock (13 August 1899 - 29 April 1980) was a british film maker and producer who was the pioneer of thriller and psychological thriller films.
Hitchcock's thriller films were defined by the structure of their in depth and enticing plots. The key elements in Hitchcock's thriller films are crime, jeopardy and often murder, which he uses to engage the audience and give them clues to solve a crime or mystery.
Hitchcock uses iconography in his films to make them difinitive to an audience. He uses dark lighting, fast paced scenes, tension, suspense, bad weather, dark, scary settings etc. so that people see these icons and indentify the film as one of his thrillers.
Some of Hitchcock's best known films are 'North by Northwest' (1959), 'Psycho' (1960), and 'The Birds' (1963).
Bradley
Hitchcock's thriller films were defined by the structure of their in depth and enticing plots. The key elements in Hitchcock's thriller films are crime, jeopardy and often murder, which he uses to engage the audience and give them clues to solve a crime or mystery.
Hitchcock uses iconography in his films to make them difinitive to an audience. He uses dark lighting, fast paced scenes, tension, suspense, bad weather, dark, scary settings etc. so that people see these icons and indentify the film as one of his thrillers.
Some of Hitchcock's best known films are 'North by Northwest' (1959), 'Psycho' (1960), and 'The Birds' (1963).
Bradley
Music for Thrillers
In thriller movies, the composer always makes sure that the music goes with what is showing on screen. The music for thriller movies are very important because it is needed throughout the whole film.
For example, if there was a scary part of the film shown onscreen, the composer will have mysterious music playing to attract the attention of the audience more. The music will also give off a more scary feeling towards the audience and will prepare them for something to happen. The audience can tell when something is about to happen because the music either increases volume or increases speed.
Ashley
For example, if there was a scary part of the film shown onscreen, the composer will have mysterious music playing to attract the attention of the audience more. The music will also give off a more scary feeling towards the audience and will prepare them for something to happen. The audience can tell when something is about to happen because the music either increases volume or increases speed.
Ashley
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Things to remember when editing
When logging onto the computer you need to remember to save all work in the appropriate area and not on the desktop, otherwise it will get deleted. The area you need to save all work to is 'SANmp Client'. Once you have created a folder in 'SANmp client' you can save all work in there.
To begin video editing you place your video tape in the tape deck so that it can be transferred onto the computer. To edit, we use 'Final Cut Pro'. Once in 'Final Cut Pro' you have to upload your scenes so that they can be edited.
Your footage is divided up into how many times you have stopped and started the camera. You then need to cut the length of the scenes to your desired length by using 'Mark IN' (ctrl + i) and 'Mark OUT' (ctrl + o).
Once they have been cut you need to drag each scene onto the timeline so that the video is in chronological order. If they still need to be cut once on the timeline you can use the razor blade tool to cut the length down (ctrl + b). You need to be careful when cutting your footage to ensure the audio and visual length are the same size to keep the continuity.
Once you have put all your edited scenes on the timeline you need to add the opening and ending credits. To do this you need to type what you want the credits to say and choose an effect (how the credits will scroll). Once you have completed the credits you need to add them to the beginning and end of you timeline.
We found the editing process challenging yet valuable as our final product is very effective. It allowed us to gain knowledge of editing that we can develop and build upon when making our Thriller opening. We were able to learn all the basics to make an effective piece of work. If we did the process again i think we would try and each edit one thing so that each of us had a chance to try out our new skills. However it was hard to do this and it gives us something to consider for the future.
Shanice and Bradley
x
Hey Its Josh here, this is what apperntly makes a good thriller.
Traditonal Thrillers are movies made by Alfred Hitchcock.Typical thillers are films like Psycho and to catch a thief a both are among the typical Thriller genre. examples of that are films like Transformers made in 2007 and directed by Micheak Bay contains alot of explosions chases and intense fire fights between "machine and man". Another great example is in the film Independance day made in 1996 direct by Roland Emmrich is described as a great thriller.
Not all thrillers are describerd as great,epic and openly explosive films. The film se7en made 2003 is a good example it is a very sadistic film with a sense of oppression and unease throughout as the entire film is set in a rainy part of new york and is given over to the constant feeling of dread and the constant twisty in the plot leave the audience feeling incredibly on edge
One the films which has often been called a thriller is the film Star wars episode 4 IV A new hope made in 1977 it is possibly one of the oldest examples
Traditonal Thrillers are movies made by Alfred Hitchcock.Typical thillers are films like Psycho and to catch a thief a both are among the typical Thriller genre. examples of that are films like Transformers made in 2007 and directed by Micheak Bay contains alot of explosions chases and intense fire fights between "machine and man". Another great example is in the film Independance day made in 1996 direct by Roland Emmrich is described as a great thriller.
Not all thrillers are describerd as great,epic and openly explosive films. The film se7en made 2003 is a good example it is a very sadistic film with a sense of oppression and unease throughout as the entire film is set in a rainy part of new york and is given over to the constant feeling of dread and the constant twisty in the plot leave the audience feeling incredibly on edge
One the films which has often been called a thriller is the film Star wars episode 4 IV A new hope made in 1977 it is possibly one of the oldest examples
Yo Yo Yo this josh here, below is the trialer tothe film "bad boys 2" staring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence
this has often been called a thriller because it encompases alot the things witch people belive is important in a thriller such as the suprise element. E.g near the begining when Will Smith and Martin Lawrence appear in the middle of A Klu Klux Klan "meeting" it imediatly give the traailer a hightened sense of action. Also thanks to the director (Micheal Bay) it shows alot of gun action and very dinamic leaps, car chases and other powerful and gripping moments that would grip people in to and imprint in there memorys.
Also as a film it has what a lot of men woulld enjoy, Gourgeous women in bikinis in tough situations with explosions going off around them. But i Digress At the begining when the SWAT team is seen in the water the audience imideatly understand that it will be an intense expirence.
Well thats all from me this on Bad boys 2 thanks for reading
Josh
this has often been called a thriller because it encompases alot the things witch people belive is important in a thriller such as the suprise element. E.g near the begining when Will Smith and Martin Lawrence appear in the middle of A Klu Klux Klan "meeting" it imediatly give the traailer a hightened sense of action. Also thanks to the director (Micheal Bay) it shows alot of gun action and very dinamic leaps, car chases and other powerful and gripping moments that would grip people in to and imprint in there memorys.
Also as a film it has what a lot of men woulld enjoy, Gourgeous women in bikinis in tough situations with explosions going off around them. But i Digress At the begining when the SWAT team is seen in the water the audience imideatly understand that it will be an intense expirence.
Well thats all from me this on Bad boys 2 thanks for reading
Josh
'USUAL SUSPECTS'
In the first video (the opening credits), we can see there is water flowing which sets the scene at sea.
In the second video (the opening scene), the first shot is of a hand lighting a match. Fire and the name 'kaiser' are associated with the devil which shows this film is going to be sinister.
Furthermore the killer in this scene is wearing a black overall which again sets up this character to be evry dark and sinister. It also sets up the theme of the film as murder as there is a murder straight away.
The sound in this scene is very effective as we hear violins which sets a sombre mood for the film. Also violin music has connotations with the mafia which again, relates back to the theme of murder.
Also lighting is used effectively in this opening scene as there are lots of shadows and it is very dark and mysterious. This shows us the film itself will be very dark and mysterious and that we will have to look hard to find out what is actually going on.
Bradley x
In the first video (the opening credits), we can see there is water flowing which sets the scene at sea.
In the second video (the opening scene), the first shot is of a hand lighting a match. Fire and the name 'kaiser' are associated with the devil which shows this film is going to be sinister.
Furthermore the killer in this scene is wearing a black overall which again sets up this character to be evry dark and sinister. It also sets up the theme of the film as murder as there is a murder straight away.
The sound in this scene is very effective as we hear violins which sets a sombre mood for the film. Also violin music has connotations with the mafia which again, relates back to the theme of murder.
Also lighting is used effectively in this opening scene as there are lots of shadows and it is very dark and mysterious. This shows us the film itself will be very dark and mysterious and that we will have to look hard to find out what is actually going on.
Bradley x
'SEVEN' Starring Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman
Here you can see the title is written in red like blood which symbolises there is going to be blood and gore in the film.
Furthermore the director sets up the two detectives as opposites in the opening sequence. Morgan Freeman's character does things very maticulously and is dressed smart and in comparision Brad Pitt's character is messy as he has his shirt undone and tie loose. This sets up the duality in the rest of the film - Brad Pitt's character as more of a fiery character who does things without thinking and Morgan Freeman's charcter as a detective who follows the rules and thinks things through.
In addition whenever the scene is outside it is always raining. Whenever the characters are inside it is very dark and there are lots of shadows. Both of these concepts set up the film as sinister and unwelcoming.
Bradley x
Examples of Thriller Openings
'MEMENTO' By Christopher Nolan
In this scene you see the close ups of various objects such as a photograph, a pair of glasses and a bullet. These shots could be symbolise the character taking mental pictures as the shot is a still close-up of the objects.
Also this thriller opening is effective because it plays with the narrative order. The photograph fades away which could symbolise the characters memory fading away.
Furthermore this scene gives a sense of suspense and anticipation as there is no dialogue. Thjis allows us as an audience to concentrate more on the visuals.
In addition the scene is set in a dark dingy room to give a sense of mystery. Also there are shadows on the man's face which sets the tone ofthe film as being dark and sinister.
Bradley x
Monday, 3 November 2008
Target Audiences
What is a Target Audience?
The specific group of people towards whom the film is directed.
Niche Audience- The separation of the film audience into segments each of which have different tastes and concerns.
When creating our opening it is very important that we can identify our target audience and gear our opening towards them and their interests. By researching into our target audience we will be able to learn what sort of things they like in Thriller films and what things they do not like as much. It is important to understand you’re your target audience are, what they like and why they like it in order for your film to communicate to them. If we can successfully do this it will allow us to create something that has all the elements of a successful Thriller opening that the audience will enjoy. I looked into the typical audience for thrillers and found that they are usually popular with under 30’s. Target audiences are usually defined by gender and age, however sometimes socioeconomic status, race and interests are also used to define them. Typical age ranges are:
5-11
11-15
16-18
18-25
25-54
54+
Age range is important to understand as it is unlikely that a film that entertains a 50year old will also entertain an 8year old. Another thing to think about is why your target audience will enjoy the film and why others don’t. What elements do Thrillers have that these people enjoy. These could be the excitement, suspense, tension, mystery, thrill, anticipation, action, all oh which are associated to the Thriller genre. Also from my research I learnt that Thrillers are less popular with females. I think a reason for this could be that most lead roles in thrillers tend to be males and most of the time the women can just be used as the beauty or the scene filler.
THRILLERS DO NOT USUALLY APPEAL TO:
Shanice
x
The specific group of people towards whom the film is directed.
Niche Audience- The separation of the film audience into segments each of which have different tastes and concerns.
When creating our opening it is very important that we can identify our target audience and gear our opening towards them and their interests. By researching into our target audience we will be able to learn what sort of things they like in Thriller films and what things they do not like as much. It is important to understand you’re your target audience are, what they like and why they like it in order for your film to communicate to them. If we can successfully do this it will allow us to create something that has all the elements of a successful Thriller opening that the audience will enjoy. I looked into the typical audience for thrillers and found that they are usually popular with under 30’s. Target audiences are usually defined by gender and age, however sometimes socioeconomic status, race and interests are also used to define them. Typical age ranges are:
5-11
11-15
16-18
18-25
25-54
54+
Age range is important to understand as it is unlikely that a film that entertains a 50year old will also entertain an 8year old. Another thing to think about is why your target audience will enjoy the film and why others don’t. What elements do Thrillers have that these people enjoy. These could be the excitement, suspense, tension, mystery, thrill, anticipation, action, all oh which are associated to the Thriller genre. Also from my research I learnt that Thrillers are less popular with females. I think a reason for this could be that most lead roles in thrillers tend to be males and most of the time the women can just be used as the beauty or the scene filler.
THRILLERS DO NOT USUALLY APPEAL TO:
Elderly
Children
People who do not like violence in films
People who have phobias of certain situations ie being tied up or drowning
Shanice
x
Checklist of Considerations whilst preparing to film our opening!
Location – Does the Location suit the script? Does it portray the right message? Does it allow us to shoot everything we want effectively?
Props- What props do we need to compliment the story? How can we make the props more authentic and realistic? Do we want the props to be realistic? Are the props needs within reach or are they unattainable?
Costume- How are the actors going to be dressed? Will the way the costumes are presented affect the opening in any way? What costumes will suit the script? How do we want the costumes to look and what do we want them to portray ie will they say something about the characters or will they show what has just happened (blood on them etc)?
Transitions between shots- Do we want the transitions to be fluid to create suspence or jumpy to add tension?
Time of day- At what time of day do we want to film? Will the time of day affect the piece? At what times will the location chosen be busy therefore hindering us from filming effectively?
Shanice
Box Office Figures and Statistics
What the creators and directors of thriller films hope for is the reaction of the audience to be a great success
. I'm going to talk about box office figures and statistics that are involved with thriller films.
For example, Jaws (Directed by Steven Spielberg) was the first film in motion picture history to cross the $100 million mark. On June 20th 1975 when Jaws was released, it opened at 409 theaters. Then on July 25th, the release was expanded to a total of 675 theaters. Jaws then grossed more than $7 million on its first weekend, and was the top grosser for the following five weeks.
Jaws then went on to win 3 Oscars, another 9 wins and 13 nominations. These additional awards include Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films USA(Best advertising & Outstanding film of 1975), and Golden Globes USA(Best Origional Score- Motion Picture). This film was based on the novel by Peter Benchley.
These early thriller films such as Jaws and Star Wars set the standards of Thriller films today when it comes to box office performances and awards. Hopefuly, this has given you a brief idea of the statistics and how much money is involved in the film industry.
Ashley
. I'm going to talk about box office figures and statistics that are involved with thriller films.For example, Jaws (Directed by Steven Spielberg) was the first film in motion picture history to cross the $100 million mark. On June 20th 1975 when Jaws was released, it opened at 409 theaters. Then on July 25th, the release was expanded to a total of 675 theaters. Jaws then grossed more than $7 million on its first weekend, and was the top grosser for the following five weeks.
Jaws then went on to win 3 Oscars, another 9 wins and 13 nominations. These additional awards include Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films USA(Best advertising & Outstanding film of 1975), and Golden Globes USA(Best Origional Score- Motion Picture). This film was based on the novel by Peter Benchley.
These early thriller films such as Jaws and Star Wars set the standards of Thriller films today when it comes to box office performances and awards. Hopefuly, this has given you a brief idea of the statistics and how much money is involved in the film industry.
Ashley
Our Preliminary Excercise
By doing the preliminary excercise we were able to gain valuable experiance in filming which will help us when filming and preparing for our Thriller opening. We decided as a group that it was important that we all had a chance to film and edit something from the exercise. Therefore each of us would be given the chance to gain our own individual experience and knowledge.
Overall filming went very well and according to plan. We found a good space for filming that suited our story and what we were trying to portray. The filming process was fluid and we worked well together as a group, making decisions and working together as a team. We decided to film the shots in the same sequence as they would be in the finished product and each member in the group filmed and directed one shot. We stuck to our original plan of what shots we were going to use and how we were going to film certain things ie angles. However, during filming we came up with other ideas to incorporate in the exercise, this included the shot of the hourglass running out which was not in our original storyboard. We thought that touches like this add something extra to a basic piece of film. One other thing that we changed during filming was some of the angles we had hoped to use for certain shots. This was because the space we were filming in did not allow us to do certain things. This gave us something to consider when choosing our own location for our Thriller opening.
If we were to do the exercise again we would probably try to think about everything we wanted to include and put it in our storyboard rather that adding things as we went along. I feel if we had done this it would have been more professional. I also would try to think about finding the right location before the day of filming. After watching the finished product I think that we could have made the transitions between some of the shots more fluid. I learnt a lot from doing this exercise what things we have to consider whilst planning our thriller opening. I also learnt how to use the cameras and all the other equipment including the editing suite. In addition to this it gave me a chance to try out and build upon my new knowledge of camera shots, angles and rules of filming and editing including match on action, continuity editing and 180degree Rule.
Shanice
x
Overall filming went very well and according to plan. We found a good space for filming that suited our story and what we were trying to portray. The filming process was fluid and we worked well together as a group, making decisions and working together as a team. We decided to film the shots in the same sequence as they would be in the finished product and each member in the group filmed and directed one shot. We stuck to our original plan of what shots we were going to use and how we were going to film certain things ie angles. However, during filming we came up with other ideas to incorporate in the exercise, this included the shot of the hourglass running out which was not in our original storyboard. We thought that touches like this add something extra to a basic piece of film. One other thing that we changed during filming was some of the angles we had hoped to use for certain shots. This was because the space we were filming in did not allow us to do certain things. This gave us something to consider when choosing our own location for our Thriller opening.
If we were to do the exercise again we would probably try to think about everything we wanted to include and put it in our storyboard rather that adding things as we went along. I feel if we had done this it would have been more professional. I also would try to think about finding the right location before the day of filming. After watching the finished product I think that we could have made the transitions between some of the shots more fluid. I learnt a lot from doing this exercise what things we have to consider whilst planning our thriller opening. I also learnt how to use the cameras and all the other equipment including the editing suite. In addition to this it gave me a chance to try out and build upon my new knowledge of camera shots, angles and rules of filming and editing including match on action, continuity editing and 180degree Rule.
Shanice
x
Sunday, 2 November 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
