This blog has been marked. SJA 08/05/11

Deciet

Looking Back On Your Preliminary Task, What Do You Feel You Have In The Progression From It To The Full Product?

This contact sheet shows the preliminary task that we composed at the beginning of the school year. I believe I have improved in many ways since this task. For example; the first shot shows my legs walking towards the camera, this wasn't a highly successful shot as it dragged out and wasn't completely still where as the fourth shot in my Deceit trailer showing a shot which we intended on not revealing the character was more successful as the camera was steady, and a close up shot of the hand coming in from the side was more exciting and thrilling.

The third shot in the preliminary task shows a high angle long shot of me walking away from the camera, this shot wasn't very effective as it was quite busy there were a lot of different objects around and due to the character being off centre the audiences eye wouldn't have been attracted straight to the character. In the sixth shot from the deceit contact sheet you can see another high angle shot however the character is clearly visible as they enter from the side and walk into the middle of the shot.

What Have You Learnt About Technologies From The Process Of Constructing This Product

Whilst constructing my this product I learnt how to use many different technologies ranging from computer programmes to equipment. The first thing I had to learn how to use was Blogger, whilst using this blogging website I found out how to change my design, create labels, make a new post which can contain text, images and videos which are vital to explain the research, planning and evaluation to the full extent also to make my blog visual and interesting.

I also learnt how to use programmes on the mac such as the new Imovie, when importing our video clips they had to be opened onto the updated Imovie and saved to the scratch disk where they could be dragged into the old Imovie. I didn't need to learn how to used the older version of Imovie as I have used it previous years when doing my media studies GCSE.

I also learnt how to use Livetype, which allowed me and my group to create titles for our opening sequence. At first Livetype was quite complecated as it had only just been introduced to us, however it became easier once we figured out the programme and how it worked by experimenting with the different effects, font sizes and colours. We downloaded our font from 'Da Font' and opened it in Livetype to begin creating our titles. I believe the titles we produced on Livetype were successful and very effective for a thriller opening, Livetype is a good programme to use when producing titles as it offers a wider range of fonts, colours and effects compared to Imovie.

Another technology I used and was new to was freesound.org this is where we found our pieces of music. I browsed through the freesound website, typing into the search bar the type of music I wanted until I found the appropriate sounds. I then logged into the website, downloaded the chosen one into Itunes and opened it in Imovie. Freesound came in great use as we found effective pieces of music that are free and legal to download without needing permission.

How Did You Attract/ Address Your Audience

Who Would Be The Audience For Your Product?

Due to the fact it is a thriller it would have to have an age certificate above a 12, however we have made our thriller opening aiming at young adults, 15 and above. If I were to give it a certificate I would say it were to be a 15. I think there wouldn't be a wide audience for our film, it was generally thought of for the interests of teenagers and younger adults, 15-23. I think people of this age would watch the film as it applies to them the characters are of a similar age, they could relate to the issues that are happening in their relationships.

I think the film is aiming at the female audience rather than a completely mixed audience this is
due to the fact that the girl is one of the main characters and she also helps commit the murder, a film that challenges the stereotype of girls being the vulnerable victim is more likely to attract a female audience.

What Type Of Media Institution Might Distribute Your Media Product And Why?

Media institutions that could distribute our media products would be Hollywood pictures and spyglass entertainment as they have distributed various other thrillers that are also aimed at people within our target age group (young adults and above) that we looked at during class time such as Sixth Sense.

Hows Does Your Media Product Represent Particular Social Groups?

We chose to use a non stereotype when it came to the murder, the typical murder scene in thrillers consists of a young vulnerable woman who is murder as they are weak and have no power. The murderes tend to be males who have srength and the ability to defend themselves. We chose to challenge the stereotype as it shocks the audience and shows how women can have the ability to assist or commit murder. However in our opening seqence the victim is a male young adult although he looks as if he he could defend himself he also looks like he shouldn't be invovled in troube and is an innocent person.

I played the character Carly who assisted Will with the murder. I have been deliberatly dressed in black and red to portray a powerful character which challenges the stereotype of characters that are the same age as me in the same genre films. A young girl of sixteen is known to be weak and vulnerable in thriller films, usually the main victim who ends up being hurt or murdered. By challenging the stereotype, I believe the audience would be more entrigued into watching further into the film, wanting to know why it has happened and how the girl has such confidence and power.

Tom who played Will; the murderer, fits the stereotype of a murderer. He he is male, he looks like he could have strength and power. I also think he looks quite fierce although you do not see his face in the opening his powerful but slow walk away from the murder scene shows he is full of confidence and possible doesn't care what happens to him as their deed is done.

However, our media product does represent the type of teenage killer that is found in Wallander. They are both wearing similar dark coloured clothing, both characters have blood splattered over them from the murder. They have a similar look about themselves, their straight fearless facial expression shows they are confident and do not particularly care about the serious crime they have commited.

In What Way Does Your Media Product Use, Develop Or Challenge Forms And Conventions Of Real Media Products?

Me and my group were influenced by Wallander when planning and storyboarding our thriller opening. Our opening wasbased on a murder; commited by two teenagers, which made it easy to take ideas from Wallander and make them our own. We took the idea of having a range of close up and long shots of the murder scene, we also recreated the close up track of the knife and also the close up of the victims hand. The fourth screen grab of Wallander shows a focus pull where the victim is in focus and the girls walking away from the murder scene aren't; we tried this technique in our first shot, however we used a lower angle and showed the whole body of the victim.

We were influenced by the film Brick to show the flash back in time, we also used the close up of the victims hand in the murder scene before the shot showing the same hand in an everyday situation. The bracelets are the clarification that it is the same girl, in our opening sequence we used a ring. We chose to use this as our inspiration as we believed it would make it clear to the audience that the person that had been murdered was alive and it had gone back in time to the morning of the death.

Your mark

Hi Jade,

It's good to see you have moved on with your blog and made a real effort to have it organised and sorted, with most posts completed. It is clearly labelled now, so that makes it easy to mark - thank you!

Current mark: 15/20
Level: 3
Grade: B

To improve:
Research:
Conventions of your genre - create a good visual post by collecting images from a range of films in your genre and making a collage to show the key conventions

Planning:
Shot list - see my email
Props, costumes, etc... - Make really exciting and visual - show loads of care and creativity with this post to get to level 4
Casting - images of the 'type' of person you imagine you would cast - with your explanation about how you have made your existing cast members look like that 'type

Date for resubmisson: Tues 1st March

Initial Ideas

Titles

To test out different title fonts I am using a website called 'Da Font' which has a range of various fonts that would be good for the use of a thriller opening title.

This font is called 'Rough Linen' I think it would be a successful font to use for our thriller opening a it is as it is plain black and doesn't give away too much about the film however it is quite scratched and distorted which gives the reader something to question abou

t such as will there be more attacks in the film. I also like how it is quite sharp and edgy, the scratches look as if they could have been done by tree branches which links in with the murder being in a woodland.

This font is named 'Cosmical Disfase' I like how the letters are bold and noticeable however cut into and separated at the same time. I think it would be a good font for our opening sequence title as looks as though it has been sliced with a knife which links to the death of Jay.

This font is called 'Prehistoric' I like how it has a cold, thrilling feel it it. I think it would add to the eerie atmosphere and increase the tension.

This font is under the name 'RvD Glued' although it is quite rounded which isn't the typical thriller opening font I think it would be a good font to use. The white marks and splattered type shapes look like blood and also water, which links in with our opening as Jay was murdered and left by a stream. I like how each letter has it's own block or background, it looks as if the letters are covering up something on the background which also links to the word 'Deceit' meaning 'concealing or misrepresenting the truth or a dishonest act or statement.'

Characters and Costumes

We put Eddie (Jay) in clothing that would be seen everyday, we decided to put on a coat and trousers to look like he has just thrown it on before he left the house in a rush. The blue coat could suggest something is cold and mysterious about the situation. We chose Eddie to play Jay as he looks like a normal and happy man that doesn't look like he should be involved in any trouble. He also looks like someone who keeps to them self and is innocent from any thing bad therefore the audience will be kept in suspense whilst they are waiting to find out why he has been murdered.

We dressed Tom (Will) in dark clothing to show that he has a dark, evil and powerful side to him also to portray death. We chose Tom to be the killer, being a male he fits the typical gender stereotype of murderers in films, he looks as if he is strong and has the ability to hurt someone.

I was the assistant of the death (Carly) and I chose to wear red and black, black also show a dark and evil side. I also chose to wear red

connoting blood and death. I was chosen to be the third character in the opening as it challenges the stereotypes of killers also because it would be a shock to the audience who would be questioning themselves on why there is a female in the opening. Also who was it and what does she have against 'Jay' Although my face cannot be

seen in the opening and only my legs and back of my body is shown, it is still clear it is female.

Feedback from research & planning

Hi Jade,

I have just been right back through your Research & Planning sections to mark again. As I mentioned to you in my previous feedback, many of your posts are really carefully done and show attention to visuals and detail, however not all are like this. I couldn't see any evidence of you having gone back to your Research posts and making any attempts to improve them or respond to teacher feedback. For example, the 'Wallander' post still needs you to work on it. Your post on Double Indemnity needs you to create a contact sheet, and you need to come back to your post on 'Conventions of the genre' to make it visual. I also couldn't find any of your audience research?? This are all issues that were flagged when your blog was last checked on Jan 19th Jade - we need to see that you are responding to feedback and coming back to your work to improve it - otherwise our time spent looking over your work and giving advice is pointless and wasted. Pleas read through your teacher comments jade and address the blogs that need completing or reviewing. You can view our comments by clicking on the Comment tab at the top.

I will be marking your Research & Planning sections a FINAL time from Mon 7th.

Between now and then, you should make sure you complete all tasks for research & planning:

Research:
Posts 3 - to do
4 - Come back to and fix
9 and 11 - need contact sheets made
12 and 13 ??
14 - read my comment for this post - make it visual. Create a collage of screen shots from films within this genre to SHOW rather than tell about the conventions (it will need annotations)
15?
17-18 - Audience research ???

Planning:
Post 1 ?
3 - Use proper template
4 - include links to sound grabs from Freesound.org
6 - needs pics
9-11 - to do

You have the potential to get a B or above Jade, that is really clear from some of your work so far. it just needs to be consistent and completed thoroughly - with a real focus on making sure your posts are creative and visual.
SJA Feb 03

Thriller Opening - Shooting Schedule

We have composed a shooting schedule in order for us to be organised when filming our opening sequence. It shows us who we need on what dates in what location.

Thriller Opening - Story Board

Thriller Opening Sequence - Script

In our opening sequence there is no dialogue but there is a phone message that is left in a panic tone. The message left will be along the lines of warning the character of Jay that he is in trouble and needs to escape. But through the film we learn that the partner Carly really set him up with her secret lover Will.

Thriller Opening Sequence - Props and Locations

Props:

• A Knife – which will be covered in blood during filming to show that it is the murder weapon, Tom (Will) will be carrying the knife whilst he walks away from the murder scene
• A Ring – worn by Jay, giving the link between the death and the cut back to normal day life, shows the audience it has gone back in time and that Jay is alive
• Home Phone – this when Carly leaves the message, almost a way to give the audience clues on what is happening

Location:

• River/Woodland – This location is where the murder scene is and it’s a good place for the opening of a thriller as it creates a sinister atmosphere making the viewer question what has happened. Also, the woodlands can suggest that the death scene is empty; it’s a vast space where no one could help Jay.
• House (bathroom/bedroom) – This location almost breaks the creepy, sinister atmosphere and bringing the mood back too an everyday life, which makes the viewer feel a lot more comfortable.

Thiller Opening Sequence - Sound

→ Footsteps – walking away from the murder scene, shows at how quite the scene is making it more creepy.
→ Breathing – to increase the tension in the opening and making the audience feel scared.
→ Alarm Clock – used as a sound bridge to break up the scenes.
→ Shower – makes the opening more everyday, almost reassuring the viewer.
→ Phone Calling – the audience questions, who is calling and why?
→ Answer Phone Message – increases the tension amongst the audience, and it almost gives them more clues.

I have been onto the website freesound.org to find some music clips that may be effective in my opening sequence.

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=19874

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=34588

http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=44594

Thriller Opening Sequence - Shot List

→ Close up – shows emotions, to show shots of everyday things like Jay turning off the alarm clock.
→ Establishing shot – sets the scene, can be used to show where the characters are showing if it’s an everyday scene or not.
→ Tracking shot – follows action, plan to use this when characters Will and Carly walk away from murder scene.
→ Extreme close up – more detail in the frame, we will use this to show body parts of the dead body to keep the viewer questioning at what has happened.
→ Pan shot – shows the scene while camera is still, can show the shot of Jay’s bedroom with the titles appearing on the screen.
→ Focus pull – main object stands out, can use this in the shot of the knife to show that this is the object that hurt Jay.

Film Synopsis - Deceit

The two main characters, Jay and Carly, are a married couple. Then one day Jay receives a distressing phone call from a friend, however Jay doesn’t hear this message as he is in the shower. After showering he listens to the message and realises Carly is missing, almost like she has disappeared. Jay sets out to find her; but along the way he becomes the main target for Carly and her secret lover Will. Although in the end it results Jay in dying, being stabbed by his wife and her lover all for his money/fortune.
Opening Sequence Synopsis – Deceit
In the opening sequence of ‘Deceit’ we firstly see the 3 main characters Jay, Carly and Will, but we see the dead body of Jay then Carly and Will walking away from the body. It quickly cuts to the alarm clock where we see Jay and Carly together as a couple and living a normal life. While Jay is in the shower a phone message was left (almost setting him up) and then disappears. This leaves the audience questioning at what will happen to Jay also what is Carly up to?

Wallander Opening

Cinematography:
The first shot is of the coast revealing the setting straight away, the camera tracks over the hills which then shows a car and two girls walking in the opposite direction the camera tracks through the gap of them and then cuts quickly to a mid shot looking over the girls shoulders. I have chosen this shot to be in my contact sheet as it is a successful shot that is used in a thriller; the rule of thirds can be used on this shot, on either side there is a girl and inbetween their shoulders car tracks can be seen in the gravel and grass. The rest of the opening sequence is then built up of close ups which do not reveal the characters and actions straight away. There is a close up on one of the girls faces from side on, this shot shows the girl in focus is the main character or the person who is involved the majority of the time. Blood is spattered across her face giving the impression they are in trouble or have been in a serious accident. However the fact that they are breathing hard shows they are in shock or possibly angry, this connotes they have made an attack which caused the blood to be on the girls face.

The titles in this do not necessarily fit the typical thriller opening titles, however they are very successful in terms of making the reader question what is happening and what will happen next. In my seventh screen shot you can see that the letters of 'Wallander' are appearing as close ups on the screen through the gaps in the letters the detective can be seen, these gaps are sharp and triangular looking, they look as though they are taking form of a knife shape which would make the audience think whethe or not there might be another knife crime. The character is seen in a very dark blue light connoting he is powerful and possibly quite calm whilst working at this job however the blue fades into black suggesting he may have a dark side to him. The knife shape then carries on through the rest of the opening sequence in my last screen shot you can see the low angle shot showing the detective/inspector and the woman who works with him through the car window.

Mise en scene:
The Mise en scene in this opening sequence isn't the typical dark thriller scene. It is in day light in the open space by the cliffs on the coast. meaning the girl who committed the murder didn't care if anyone found out or that she would get put away. This gives the impression that they are fearless as well as dangerous. The girls are dressed in dark clothing, the girl who killed the man also has red streaks in her hair the same colour as the blood showing she has a dark evil side to her. In the fifth screen shot I have taken you can see the items in the car that give away who the murdered man is, there is a taxi badge in the car however the badge is in shadow, possibly meaning he wasn't a normal innocent man. There is also a key ring hanging from the keys which pictures him with his arm around a teenage boy. The blood has splattered onto the face of the boy who the audience assume to be his son, suggesting he will also get hurt or even murdered.

Sound:

The non diegetic music in this opening doesn't fit the typical thriller music, it is music that you would hear on an everyday scene eg on a radio. When the man is found the car radio is playing bringing the thriller into real life terms, also making it seem quite realistic as could be an everyday situation. Diegetic sounds of the girls heavy breathing is very effective as it shows that they are angry and scared, it also gives away that they are the murderers and not the victims. This is not given away at first but when the following shot shows a knife in the leading girls hand it is revealed they have committed the crime, the girl drops the knife leaving an over exaggerated sound that shocks the audience.

Kiss Me Deadly Opening Sequence

The cinematography throughout the beginning of this sequence is very successful in making it an effective opening. The very first shot shown is the high angle mid shot of the woman's legs running, this automatically creates a creepy atmosphere as the audience are waiting to see who it is also why she is running bare foot and who she is running from.

This is then followed by a long shot of her running which is almost the establishing shot as it shows the location and reveals to the audience that it is a young girl. The rule of thirds can be used in this shot, with vertical lines separating the scenery on either side of her. I have chosen this shot as it is one the most important shots in the opening sequence, it shows how she is vulnerable and weak she is of a low status due to the surroundings that look like they are taking over her, the road she is running on is huge compared to her.

There are many over the shoulder shots shown of the man and woman in the car which connotes that people are after her/them, although it is not from the point of view of someone watching it still portrays the fact that the woman is trying to get away from people as it is shown following her from behind.

The mise en scene is also quite creepy and eerie as it very dark and quite hidden. The majority of the opening is set in the man's car which is driving along the road, it is quite empty apart from the odd car that drives past. The man that is forced to stop and let her in the car is portrayed as being quite heroic, due to his new clean white car he also seems to be of importance as he is dressed smartly and looks well groomed. The woman has nothing but a coat on, therefore this gives her a low status as she is not dressed for being outside, running along a tarmac road gives the impression someone as taken her shoes.

Sound in this particular opening sequence is very dramatic, giving an even more tense atmosphere, the fast paced non diegtic sound of music is quite daunting. It seems like it is there to make the audience feel sorry for the woman as at the beginning she is breathing heavily and crying, this may be for the man to feel sympathy for help and give her the help she needs. They use the radio to inform the characters and the audience that she has escaped from an asylum, this creates a few seconds of anxiety as the action slows and the audience have to wait to see if the police realise she is the person that has escaped.

The titles are in block white capital letters, shown by rolling up the screen, this automatically grabs the audience's attention. The titles at the beginning of the opening are detailed, many names and job titles are mentioned.

The titles include:

• Main star
• Supporting actors
• Art director
• Set decorator
• Assistant director
• Assistant to producer
• Film editor
• Music composer
• Screenplay
• Produced and directed by

Double Indemnity 1944 Opening Sequence

The setting is revealed with a successful establishing shot, the long shot of the American street shows the towering buildings and cars that are speeding up the roads. The buildings seem to have power over the characters and portray the buildings to be quite threatening due to them being so high above the humans. The locked up buildings show they are working out of hours making the opening mysterious causing the audience to become curious as to what the characters are doing.

They use costumes to show the people within the film are wealthy, the smart suit finished with a hat and jacket shows the main character shown walking through the building door is of importance.

One interesting camera shot is the first shot showing the figure of a man walking towards the screen this is creepy as the face of the figure is not visible, he is also walking with a limp which would produce a tense atmosphere, the audience will be confused as to what happened to him. This shot then dissolves into the establishing shot of the street.

The film title 'Double Indemnity' is shown in block capital letters giving away no clues on what the film is about.

The first shot of the man's figure walking towards the camera connotes the film will be based on war or conflict due to the man limping and being supported by a crutch. The dark figure suggests the film will be quite secretive and mysterious as not much is given away in the first few shots. This also reveals to the audience that it is a thriller, the silence and shadows suggest there is no one around meaning anything could happen or anyone could be hiding behind the shadows. The building that the man enters is closed and it is quiet, this could mean he isn't supposed to be there.

Introduced first is the male that seems to be the main character/focus, he enters the building whilst being greeted by someone else who works there. It is in night, it is dark and deserted no body else is in the building apart from the man who came to the door therefore he has gone into the building outside of working hours.