Thursday 27 January 2011
27th january..
In our media lesson today we are finishing our music on our preliminary task, although we are unable to film the rest as Olly is not here! So we have decided to go through our story board and ensure that we have included all the shots we want. We are now preparing to do a shot list in which will allow us to know where to shoot and what to shoot. :)
Saturday 22 January 2011
Catch up...
On Thursdays lesson we managed to film our preliminary task and started editing it on Fridays lesson, however we have already noticed that we would like another shot in it so therefore will have to carry on filming sometime next week to ensure that we get our preliminary task to our satisfaction. So soon we will hopefully be uploading it......
Friday 14 January 2011
14th Jan.....
In todays lesson we were trying to plan our preliminary task, we started storyboarding and gathering ideas so that next week we can film the task and then start editing!! We decided that as none of us like drawing we would split the storyboard up resulting in me charlotte and dan doing 3 storyboard boxes each so that the storyboard shared contribution. We feel that next week we hopefully are able to finish the filming and start editing. So soon there should be our preliminary task on here :)
Wednesday 12 January 2011
Review on other student's thriller openings :)
During our lessons, we have had a chance to look at a couple of previous student's work from our school, to help us see the good and bad things about them and see if there is any ideas to help us with making our own thriller openings. Also, there might be some good shots or editing techniques used in other student's work that we would be able to use in my group's thriller opening to make sure that the opening flows from shot to shot.
I decided to mix it up a little bit and watch a thriller opening from another school - "Long Road." I watched the thriller opening "Final Deadline." I thought that it would give me a bigger choice of techniques used, because they might have a different way of producing or editing their openings. Here is the thriller opening that I watched...
I think that one of the good things about this thriller opening is the lighting that they used. There was quite a bit of low lighting so that it linked with the representation of thrillers and to make it feel eerie and quite scary. I think dark/low lighting would be good to use in our own thriller movie so that it can link in with our story, that our character might of had a dark past. Also, another main element in this opening is the music that underlies the filming. They use low sounds that gradually fastens to build the tension and the suspense of what action is going to happen next.
For example, the music that is over this picture...
I decided to mix it up a little bit and watch a thriller opening from another school - "Long Road." I watched the thriller opening "Final Deadline." I thought that it would give me a bigger choice of techniques used, because they might have a different way of producing or editing their openings. Here is the thriller opening that I watched...
I think that one of the good things about this thriller opening is the lighting that they used. There was quite a bit of low lighting so that it linked with the representation of thrillers and to make it feel eerie and quite scary. I think dark/low lighting would be good to use in our own thriller movie so that it can link in with our story, that our character might of had a dark past. Also, another main element in this opening is the music that underlies the filming. They use low sounds that gradually fastens to build the tension and the suspense of what action is going to happen next.
For example, the music that is over this picture...
... fastens up and becomes louder so that it causes suspense for when the lights turn out and we (the audience) are going to find something important out in the opening that has something to do with the narrative. I also thought that the continuity from shot to shot was good and they used a variety of camera movements and angles, which I think we should use in our thriller opening.
I also thought about the things that did not work so well in this thriller opening. One of the things I thought they could have done, was make sure that they did not show too much to give away what the rest of the film is going to be like. I got the feeling that I knew what the film was about, by revealing the person who came in with the knife. This has made me think about our own thriller opening and am going to make sure that it does not give too much away in the time that we have to film. It should give a sense of mystery and leave the audience wandering what is going to happen next. But apart from that, I think that "Final Deadline" was a good thriller opening because it contained codes and conventions of a thriller movie, such as seeing society as dark, corrupt and dangerous.
I found looking at other student's work very helpful, because it gave me an insight of the different techniques that can be used to make a thriller opening extra powerful and how it can relate to the codes and conventions of a thriller film.
Monday 10 January 2011
Nefas Via
I watched Nefas Via,a thriller opening, filmed and directed by previous Thurston students in order to understand the standard of the previous Thriller openings. I also looked at this, amongst other thriller openings in order to see what was done well and what i may want to use within my opening. i feel that this would allow me to incorporate the good things within my film or blend ideas so that my film is successful. i also looked at this thriller opening so that i could see what didn't work so well so that i could avoid this with my film. This would allow us to learn from their mistakes.
After watching this thriller opening there were some key points in which i liked, i felt a main element of success for this thriller was the continuity throughout the film opening, i felt that it flowed well and there was good transitions from shot to shot. I feel this is important with an opening so that it is easy to watch but remain exciting. i want my thriller opening to incorporate this. Another thing i feel that they done well was that they included a variety of shots. This adds excitement and interest to the opening, i feel this would be good within our opening. A specific shot i liked was the one took in which looks like it has been from a CCTV camera, i think this is effective as they have taken the time to chose a specific setting, at a specific height, got the timing right so that the train moved within the right time etc. they also took time when editing to make it look like a CCTV camera had actually filmed it. i feel that this made it significant to the audience of the shot they were trying to achieve.
i feel something in which they could improve on could be the music, i feel that although it was really effective it has been used in many thrillers. The screeching sound in particular has been used in many thrillers and within many thriller openings produced by Thurston. i feel that in order to make my thriller opening unique i should use some different music so that it is original and not predictable. Another thing i feel that they could improve is the title sequence at the end of the opening, i feel that the font does not match the genre and is plain and a bit boring, i feel that in my opening i should use a interesting title sequence so that the whole clip is thought through.
i found looking at previous work very helpful as it allowed me to see peoples ideas and how they brought it together. it was useful to see the shots they used and how they were put together. This allowed me to see the good points and the not so good points so that i could use this within my film opening.
After watching this thriller opening there were some key points in which i liked, i felt a main element of success for this thriller was the continuity throughout the film opening, i felt that it flowed well and there was good transitions from shot to shot. I feel this is important with an opening so that it is easy to watch but remain exciting. i want my thriller opening to incorporate this. Another thing i feel that they done well was that they included a variety of shots. This adds excitement and interest to the opening, i feel this would be good within our opening. A specific shot i liked was the one took in which looks like it has been from a CCTV camera, i think this is effective as they have taken the time to chose a specific setting, at a specific height, got the timing right so that the train moved within the right time etc. they also took time when editing to make it look like a CCTV camera had actually filmed it. i feel that this made it significant to the audience of the shot they were trying to achieve.
i feel something in which they could improve on could be the music, i feel that although it was really effective it has been used in many thrillers. The screeching sound in particular has been used in many thrillers and within many thriller openings produced by Thurston. i feel that in order to make my thriller opening unique i should use some different music so that it is original and not predictable. Another thing i feel that they could improve is the title sequence at the end of the opening, i feel that the font does not match the genre and is plain and a bit boring, i feel that in my opening i should use a interesting title sequence so that the whole clip is thought through.
i found looking at previous work very helpful as it allowed me to see peoples ideas and how they brought it together. it was useful to see the shots they used and how they were put together. This allowed me to see the good points and the not so good points so that i could use this within my film opening.
Thursday 6 January 2011
Review of other thriller openings
Calculated Killer
There were many good thinks about this opening, they used continuety well to show relationships between the two main characters. Non diagetic sound was used, the music was downbeat and used intentionally to set a mood, high camara angles to show inferiority. Cross cutting was also used building links between the narratives, there was an effective cut from the gun then the man using the stapler which was cleverly used. Graphic match was used in the shot of the clock to link the sequences.
I thought there were things that could have been improved, for example i thought the whisling took away the verismilitude and all seriousness of the sequence, also i thought the shot near the end was slightly dead when he was lying on the floor, it was slightly obvious and they could of left a little more to the imagination.
There were many good thinks about this opening, they used continuety well to show relationships between the two main characters. Non diagetic sound was used, the music was downbeat and used intentionally to set a mood, high camara angles to show inferiority. Cross cutting was also used building links between the narratives, there was an effective cut from the gun then the man using the stapler which was cleverly used. Graphic match was used in the shot of the clock to link the sequences.
I thought there were things that could have been improved, for example i thought the whisling took away the verismilitude and all seriousness of the sequence, also i thought the shot near the end was slightly dead when he was lying on the floor, it was slightly obvious and they could of left a little more to the imagination.
Shutter Island Questions
What does the set up reveal to the audince about setting? Where is the place? What gives you information?
The set up reveals that it is a mental institution that they are visiting. It is set up in 1954 (which is told at the start of the film in the title sequence). The boat had mist around it to suggest that some message is hidden behind adding to the mystery. You hear the diagetic sound of the water due to the children being drowned at his house back in the spring. The titles at the start of the film are faded at the top to suggest that something is hidden behind the meaning of the story. The chains in the boat and the 'cage' are significant because it relates to the character, Teddy and relating to the C ward which he stays in.
What does the set up reveal to the audience about the characters ? Choose one character and explain how the set up reveals this information.
Teddy - He feels sick at the sight of the water; this later becomes apparent why this has been put in there, because it reveals that his kids were drowned by his wife. Teddy is wearing a beige coat along with Chuck to show that they are together but seperate from the guards and give insight in to their profession. It also gives an impression in to the closeness oof their relationship as they also know each other before hand as Chuck is his psychiatrist.
What does the set up reveal to the audience about interrelationship between characters? About their goals? Are there any things you learn here that become important later on?
It shows that the characters have a working yet close relationship, the set up represents that they are a partnership in a forthcoming task in which they have too perform. They are both dressed in similar attire that associated with business men due to the trench coat and the gun which is an evident prop. It also shows that Teddy is scared of water which becomes clear and important later on in the film.
What is the 'world' like? Safe? Happy? Dangerous? How do you know?
It is a dangerous place which is shown by dark colours, gloomy weather and low melancholy music which contradicts the fact that it is supposed to be a safe place to look after all the patients. The atmosphere is eery and portrays a sense of oncoming conflict between the patients.
What possible conflicts or strains are there that will become part of the story later on?
There is a conflict between the fantasy world in which Teddy invisions and the reasons for why Teddy invisions these. There are also conflicts between the patients and caregivers and also one between Teddy and a certain patient.
How does this film opening fit with codes and conventions of Thriller films?
It uses suspence and tension in the opening scene this being a main convention of a thriller film. Society is seen as dark, corrupt and dangerous. Methods used are psychological themes confinement, mind games and horror of personality. Typical characters which are menaced women, psycotic individuals and cops.
The set up reveals that it is a mental institution that they are visiting. It is set up in 1954 (which is told at the start of the film in the title sequence). The boat had mist around it to suggest that some message is hidden behind adding to the mystery. You hear the diagetic sound of the water due to the children being drowned at his house back in the spring. The titles at the start of the film are faded at the top to suggest that something is hidden behind the meaning of the story. The chains in the boat and the 'cage' are significant because it relates to the character, Teddy and relating to the C ward which he stays in.
What does the set up reveal to the audience about the characters ? Choose one character and explain how the set up reveals this information.
Teddy - He feels sick at the sight of the water; this later becomes apparent why this has been put in there, because it reveals that his kids were drowned by his wife. Teddy is wearing a beige coat along with Chuck to show that they are together but seperate from the guards and give insight in to their profession. It also gives an impression in to the closeness oof their relationship as they also know each other before hand as Chuck is his psychiatrist.
What does the set up reveal to the audience about interrelationship between characters? About their goals? Are there any things you learn here that become important later on?
It shows that the characters have a working yet close relationship, the set up represents that they are a partnership in a forthcoming task in which they have too perform. They are both dressed in similar attire that associated with business men due to the trench coat and the gun which is an evident prop. It also shows that Teddy is scared of water which becomes clear and important later on in the film.
What is the 'world' like? Safe? Happy? Dangerous? How do you know?
It is a dangerous place which is shown by dark colours, gloomy weather and low melancholy music which contradicts the fact that it is supposed to be a safe place to look after all the patients. The atmosphere is eery and portrays a sense of oncoming conflict between the patients.
What possible conflicts or strains are there that will become part of the story later on?
There is a conflict between the fantasy world in which Teddy invisions and the reasons for why Teddy invisions these. There are also conflicts between the patients and caregivers and also one between Teddy and a certain patient.
How does this film opening fit with codes and conventions of Thriller films?
It uses suspence and tension in the opening scene this being a main convention of a thriller film. Society is seen as dark, corrupt and dangerous. Methods used are psychological themes confinement, mind games and horror of personality. Typical characters which are menaced women, psycotic individuals and cops.
Olly's Director Study - Quentin Tarintino
Quentin is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, cinematographer and occasional actor. In the early 1990s he began his career as an independent filmmaker whose films used nonlinear storylines and the glamourisation of violence. His films include Reservoir Dogs (1992), Pulp Fiction (1994), Jackie Brown (1997), Kill Bill (2003-2004), Death Proof (2007) and Inglourious Basterds (2009). His films have earned him an Acadamy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA and a Palme d'Or and he has been nominated for Emmy and Grammy awards.
This is the opening to one of quentins most known films:
This opening shows crime a main convention of a thriller, shows a dangerous society in which characters with an obvious psychological background are present, the main prop in this opening being the weapon, this opening is a good insight into what is likely to occur in the rest of the film.
Sunday 2 January 2011
Brainstorming!!!!!
We decided the best way to get all our ideas together was by brainstorming. We thought of the sort of things we would like to include such as the characters we wish to include, the clothing that they would wear and what effect this would give etc.
This brainstorm allowed us to gather all our ideas together so that we could put together our final idea.
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