Final Cut

This is our final version of the film and we are very pleased with how it has turned out.

rough cut

We need to add sound.

The audience may not understand the concept of the opening sequence as it has no sound to it. The sound should help identify the idea of it being a dream and will create an atmosphere that relates to the genre.

End of Filming

This week we finished the filming for our thriller. In the last lesson we filmed the shots of the dead bodies in the D block with other students from our class as the bodies. On Thursday night Ben took the camera home and filmed the final shot of the film in his bedroom. In today's lesson we are cutting our shots together for the rough cut deadline on Wednesday.

Sound Analysis

Analyse a clip from the Descent.


1) Watch the clip without the sound, what effect do the images have on you? How does it make you feel?
The scene is set in a very dark and wet cave probably underground and so there is a very frightening and tense atmosphere. Suspense is built throughout the scene as the characters are only partially lit and are surrounded by darkness so we wonder what is round them and what could be hidden in the darkness.


2) Now watch the clip with the sound. What is the difference in the impact the images now have? how does the sound add to atmosphere and feelings?
The sound is as would be expected and has the constant sound of diegetic rain or running water. There is also lots of dialogue where the characters are clearly scared and distressed. As tension grows throughout the scene non-diegetic sound is used to make it clear something is going to happen and to build suspense. When finally something jumps out there is a loud noise and the characters scream and splash in the water and so more diegtic sound effects are used.

3) How has this task affected your view of the importance of sound? What type of feeling will you try and encourage you audience to have through your sound?
After watching this clip it is clear to me that sound effects can make it more obvious what genre a film may fall in. The use of sound is also very important in creating suspense and tension. When adding sound to our film we will try and use these techniques to build suspense in the appropriate places and to make it more realistic.

Plan for the next few days

PLAN!!

Today -Update blog, maybe start sound
Tomorrow - finish filming within building (D block, lifts) and lying down scene, edit them in order
Tomorrow (evening) - film bed scene
Friday - bring camera back 9am

Coursework Deadlines

Monday 7th 9am - Filming Deadline
Wednesday 9th 12:20pm - Rough Cut Deadline
Thursday 10th - Watching each others Rough Cut, offering advice etc.
Wednesday 16th 12:20pm - Final Cut Deadline
Monday 21st 9am - Draft Evaluation due in via email

First day filming

We began filming today and managed to get some perfect shots of clouds in the sky due to good weather. We only recorded some of the shots we need as we could ot use our whole cast in this lesson. We will film the remaining shots we need later on and will begin editing what we have already recorded. As well as filming some exterior shots we also filmed the lift in D block. We are extremely pleased with the shots of the clouds and sky we have filmed.

Top Tips for Filming

• Take script and description of shots with you at all times
• Always check the location before using it
• Always carry a backup plan for anything that might go wrong
• Know how to use the camera
• Check if characters are available before using them
• Plan out what you will film on what day and time

Target Audience

The target audience of our film is male teenagers from the age of 15 onwards. We have chosen this target audience because our film is similar to 'Disturbia' and this is its target audience.

The film would particularly appeal to male teens who are interested in 'gaming' as the film has a gory story line similar to popular games.

The film may also attract a younger audience because the cast are also young and so the feelings and themes are easy to relate to and more relevant to the audience. 

Our film's name 'Envisage' is quite similar to 'Disturbia' and makes the mind wonder what the film may involve and so may attract the same kind of audience. 

Notes on Seven

Seven - directed by David Fincher

The opening sequence to Seven shows a few of the thriller conventions.

At the beginning, we discover the main character (Morgan Freeman) who is also the lead detective. This also shows the audience who the protagonist is.
We also see that the focus is on the crime which Freeman is investigating in the flat with the two other detectives. Also in this scene, Freeman becomes isolated when he starts talking about other details which aren't linked to the crime and the other detectives ask him what he's talking about. The fact he talks about unrelated details could be a weakness of Freeman's character.

When Brad Pitt is introduced, there is instantly a binary opposite between him and Freeman. This is because Freeman is older, wiser, organised, and he's seen a lot whilst working as a detective. Unlike Pitt who is younger, messy, unorganised, and has a cocky attitude about him. We can tell Freeman is more organised than Pitt by looking at the mise-en-scene. Freeman's costume is neater than Pitts, this is shown because Pitts' costume is messy and looks unorganised unlike Freeman's.

Sound is important to the opening clip because it builds suspense from an early stage of the film. The opening credits build suspense with the music because the music has a dark abnormal tone, which could raise questions for the audience. Just after this, the music builds more suspense again when the detectives are searching through the house/crime scene.

There is a mature and highly regarded cast for this film, and this is shown by the fact that the two main characters are Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt.

To make the setting seem realistic, they base the story in a city.

The titles convey to the audience unanswered questions, and this is good for the audience because it gets them thinking about the plot and what may happen in the film itself. Also, we are introduced to the main character, Morgan Freeman, in the titles.

Going back to the micro elements, the lighting in the crime scene footage is effective for the audience because it gives us a sense of claustrophobia by the fact that it's a small, dark, gloomy room which is difficult to see in. 

Conventions of Sub Genres

Psychological

Unusual happenings - extraordinary
Misleading story - plot twists/tricks
Clever character - thinking ahead of everyone else
Isolated character
Film works up to a final shocking reveal
Characters have a fascination or fear of death
Danger on a mental level rather than a physical level
Characters try and find their own purpose
Characters in conflict with their mind - they don't know what is true
2 or more characters preying on each others sanity

Example of a Psychological thriller

Memento directed by Christopher Nolan

Throughout the clip we saw, the main convention which was highly noticeable was the fact that the main character is isolated from the other characters. This is because he has a bad condition of memory loss which alienates him and makes him weak and vulnerable. The main character has a fascination, or obsession with his wife's death, and he is determined to avenge her. Also, the main character has conflict with his own mind due to his memory loss, and this causes repetition of him killing people who h suspects killed his wife, and he won't stop until he finds the real killer. In this film, there is quite a mature cast of characters, this is because the director is common for types of films like this. The plot is non linear which means it is quite difficult to understand because it of the flashback's in nearly every scene, and this can confuse the audience. They probably did this so the audience can relate to the main character's feelings of memory loss, so us as the audience can get a better understanding of what he is like.

Political

Uses many locations - often focuses on different cultures or countries
'False Heroes' - characters we think are good who are revealed not to be
'Helper' - character who provides the protagonist with something useful
Threat is set against a backdrop of political power struggle
Plots are designed to give political power to someone while opponents try and prevent this
Innocent people drawn into the political world
Trying to prove innocence

Action

More screen time main characters - protagonist, helps the audience relate to the characters
High position of authority - usually the antagonist, "false heroes"
Location change
Introduced to characters without fully knowing
Nothing developed straight away
Isolated character
Not knowing anything/unknown plot
Don't get the reason with fights and chases
Antagonist - group
                                = Protagonist outnumbered
Protagonist - one
Variety of characters
Organised (OCD level)
Isolate themselves
Normal setting
Violence - innocent people dying
Usually family issues
Variety of locations
Weakness
Clues
Family issues
Mature cast - expensive budget
Protagonist has talent - athletic

Crime

More screen time for the main character
Basic locations
Protagonist vulnerable due to family (also creates a driving force)
Crime being planned
Mysterious music - build tension
Binary opposite
Based on protagonist
Suspension music
Young adult cast
Older cast turn up
Protagonist introduced
No antagonist yet
Protagonist has issue
Misleading narrative
Opposite sex distraction
Randomly killing people
Isolated crime scene

Test Footage

 

These shots are some of the basic shots that will be used in the opening sequence.

The correct props aren't included in this clip because of the weather.

There is a variety of shots used to portray different things and atmospheres

Class Feedback of Childrens Film

Positives

• Good choice of camera shot types
• Well edited
• Good choice of music

Negatives

• Some shots badly positioned 
• Unsteady hand on some points
• Dialogue quiet on some parts

How to make improvements

• Use a tripod more effectively to ensure all shots are steady
• Make sure we capture all dialogue well when filming
• Plan our shots better before filming
• Spend more time editing after filming

Evaluation of Children's film

Positive Feedback

I was very happy with the soundtrack we made for the film as the sound effects used were slick and authentic and the music suited the genre.
The titles we made looked very professional and also fitted well with the genre.
We used a wide variety of different shot distances including long shots, mid shots and close ups which also worked well.

 Negative Feedback

I think we should have included a wider variety of shots in our film as it would create a more proffesional looking film and be more interesting to watch.
We also could have improved our editiing techniues as I don't think the fact that 'Peter' is invisible is immediately obvious.
We could have also added more interesting effects and shot transitions to make the film more interesting to watch.

Shot List and Storyboard

Shot List

 

Story Board

Call Sheets

A call sheet is a chart issued to the cast and crew of a film production, which lists the production schedule. The sheet also includes contact information for other members of the cast and crew. They are often issued at the beginning of the week because the schedule changes throughout the week and also it is difficult to plan further ahead.

Here is an example of a call sheet for the production of Sherlock Holmes, and from the chart we can see the time, date and location indicated for everyone. We can also see the addresses and contact details for the director and the whole production team. Underneath those, there is a chart which shows the actors, which role they play and what time and page/lines they have to go over. It also shows the dates of when they should be there.

Thriller Ideas

IDEAS:

Genre: Psychological
Title: Envisage (pictures in ones mind)
Characters: 3-4
Plot: Main character is laying in bed sleeping, then finds himself to be laying down on a field looking up at the sky and his surrounding which include his friends. He then falls asleep and after a little while he wakes up and see's everything around him is gone. He gets up and investigates what's happened, but as he gets up he feels dizzy and walks around slightly unconscious of his surroundings. This is all filmed as a point of view shot. The camera shot is changed from the protagonist point of view to the antagonists point of view who is hiding, whilst showing shots of the protagonists actions and to build up tension (POV establishing shot). As the story progresses, the protagonist will be searching for people he knows, but when he finds them they're dead. He only finds each friend one at a time. As he is finding his friends, the antagonist gradually gets closer to him. Then after finding everyone he cares about, the antagonist goes after him, but before the antagonist kills him, the protagonist wakes up only to find that it was all a dream.
Effects: Voice over, a couple of transitions, music.
Possible locations: Field, bedroom, places around college.

Mood Board:
The film Inception could relate to our plot due to the fact it's all about dreaming.

Cast and Crew

cast: 3-4 characters, male main character, students at long road. 

crew: Ben, Harry, Samanda

Mise-en-scene

Lighting: natural lighting to create realism

Costume: protagonist is wearing formal clothing (trousers, shirt) his friends also wearing formal clothing to show the stereotypical thriller characters which make them seem unlikely to be a hero but they are.

Antagonist is wearing scruffy clothes to create a binary opposite against the protagonist.

Set: the scenes will be set in a bedroom, to show that the protagonist is comfortable and safe when sleeping. When the dream begins, we will set it on the field to show that they're outgoing and like to have fun when they're not working. We'll also use the forest bit at the back of long road to represent a hidden mysterious area. The forest can also present the stereotypical genre of a thriller.

Make-up: none used

Colour: black and white to show a different mood to the scene, natural colour for the rest of the scene.

Props: bed

company logo

New Line Cinema Ident

New Line Cinema's ident uses dark blues and blacks to create a mysterious and sophisticated introduction to the production company which hints towards the sorts of films they make. The Logo consists of cuts of old fashioned film which shows the viewers exactly what they make. The music invites the audience to watch and grabs their attention to concentrate on what is about to be shown. The light at the back of the screen shines on like an old fashioned film projector which also fits in with the logo.

The Recruit

Crime Thriller Conventions

• The protagonist usually has a troubled past for example a missing father
• Good looking protagonist
• Female character who the protagonist is clearly attracted to
• Story centers around a secret organization 
• Gadgets
• Older wise character who might become a father figure to the protagonist
• Binary opposite characters
• Music that builds tension
• Well known actors
• Contrast of younger and older characters who are similar
• Dark, mysterious and shadowy lighting

Characters

Main character is first introduced when lying in bed

what we learn about him :

- good liar

- good at technology

- athletic

- as the film goes on we learn more about his past ( his father) - the plot becomes clearer

- he becomes more educated about the C.I.A 

- creates a connection with the recruiter  who seems to know everything about him

- becomes more curious as to what happened to his father

- gets attracted to a another of the new recruits 

Filming and Editing Techniques 

the beginning - edited quick shots of the documents ( that later on appear during the film where the main character is sat at the computer researching about his father)

- quick shots to represent the speed of the action

- shots of all angles to show power between the characters

- close-ups and extreme close-ups to emphasise on the characters features

- voice over where the recruiter character is explaining why people have joined the C.I.A

these are typical to a thriller genre because they build suspense and tension towards the audience, making them want to find out more as the film goes on.