Presentation of our thriller opening

Our idea will be focused around one character that has been fatally wounded which shows from her point of view the last minutes of her life. This will be shot fom a field with the character lying down at all times. It will open with a black screen with non deigetic sound which could potentially be the murder rustling around. The black screen will show the first title which then slowly fades into a point of view shot of the wounded character looking up with everything fuzzy. This will be achieved through making most of the scene in a soft focus. The reason why we have made this from their point of view shows what they are going through (dying). This then fades out through the character blinking- again in a slow motion. Another black screen appears showing another title which will again fade into the scene through a blink. This then cuts to a close up of the character which then zooms out slowly to reveal to the audience that they have been stabbed in the stomach. The reason why we have chosen this cut compared to the fades shows that she is dead as she will no longer be blinking. This long shot will be edited in high key lighting as it will show the contrast between the grass, white clothing and blood. We will make the fades (blinks) slow as it will show what she is going through.

Lesson summary
In today's lesson we were interviewed by our teacher when we gave our presentation about our thriller opening. We discussed what our genre was (crime thriller), what changes we made to this decision, content, setting, characters and titles. By presenting our idea to our teacher it helped us decide what aspects may need changing or what we could focus on  more. This is things such as setting, as initially we were going to film our opening in a field, near the canal. Our idea has changed from this as we are now influenced to perhaps film inside in one room. This will help us more in filming and editing as we will be able to control the lighting, sound and picture. However, this may change our lighting as we may want to make the room dark to create a tense atomsphere. Nevertheless, we will be able to focus more on creating the opening of a film, rather than a whole story.

Planning a location

Today I took pictures of where we might be shooting our film. This was done to show my other group members what exactly the canal looks like and where we could possibly film our thriller. Furthermore, this has pushed me forward in our planning as we can visualize where we might shot our film. Additionally, this links into our research as the photos typically show a thriller setting.

Evaluation to week's learning

Last week I worked on the planning side of my research by looking up mise-en-scene and lighting in the filming process. This has helped me push forward in my planning as now I know more about the technical codes in filming. By researching lighting and mise-en-scene it will help me include these aspects when we are developing and planning our shot list. My progress so far in the filming process is going well, however I feel that our group needs to work faster in the planning so we will be able to develop and change our ideas. This will give us more time to create new/develop storylines and ideas. We have already brainstormed some ideas into storylines but now we need to focus on development and creating a shot list.

For example we need to keep in within the deadlines:

• Brainstorming / ideas (to be blogged)- Monday 9th November
• Development of ideas - creating a shot list - Friday 13th November
• Scripting - Friday 20th November
• Storyboard - Friday 20th November
• Props / Costume / Locations / Actors and Actresses - Thursday 26th November
• Animatic / Presentation - Thursday 26th November
• Shooting Schedule - Monday 30th November

Working with the camera- light sources and shadows

In today's lesson we worked on creating different light sources to make shadows, seeing what type of effects we could make. This has helped us in our planning as we now have something that we could base our ideas on. This idea could be used in our title sequences, especially with the pen action which could write out the titles. This has also helped us work well as a group as we are now being influenced with more ideas and becoming inspired to create different effects. This planning stage will also help us to become more confident in using the camera which will help make our film opening look more professional. This has influenced our planning as we now want to go away and come up with more ideas on how we could film something.


Research into lighting

Lighting is very effective  in filming as it helps express mood and atmosphere in a scene. It can be used for various aspects such as casting shadows or building tension within a scene. However it's mainly used to draw attention to a particular area or person. 

Types of lighting

Low-Key: Low key  is when lighting is created by the use of a back light and this is mainly used in thriller and horror films to represent a darker tone and atomsphere. The mysterious effects produce a sharper contrast of light in darker areas on screen in order to develop deep shadows and silhouettes formations.   

High- Key: High key is when more filler lights are used in order for the subject to appear more realistic. High-key lighting doesn't require any alteration for each scene, however it fails to add meaning or drama by lighting certain parts more significant than others. It can be used to show scenery such as a sunny day or mood such as in love.

Click for link to images


Key light
Key light is usually the brightest light and the most significant when capturing important parts. Using  this type of lighting can result in a high contrast scene, especially if the background is not illuminated.


Back light

Back light is placed behind the subject which helps neutralise the effect of the key light. This makes it seem less dominate and by doing so makes the character look more rounded.

Filler light

Filler lights are used to soften the shadows created by the other lights making the image look life like without any effects. 

Music and sound in thriller films

Sound

Sound plays a very important role as a generic convention in film making as it is is able to enhance on how the audience interprets certain ideas and emotions. Sound can also give meaning to a scene or explain what action can not. It can produce feelings and emotions through the atmosphere it creates. The type of music in a text can convey a lot of information about the mood and tone of text. For example, tension and emotions can be reinforced through the music. For example:

- Psycho shower scene:  high pitch instrumental to make the audience feel uncomfortable like something scary is going to happen, sudden screeching noise arises which indicates to the audience that there is potential danger or death, constant deep rhythmic beat with the use of instruments such as the cello and the base to create tension

Diegetic Sound
This is sound that belongs within a frame as it is what you would expect to hear from the narration or action in the scene. For example when someone opens a door it may result in a creaking sound. For example:

 - Black Swan train scene: sound from the doors of the train, rustles of peoples coats, sound of the train on the tracks, phones/people talking in background (4:56-5:31)

Non Diegetic Sound

Sound or music that has been edited into the scene after it has been created. This is usually added to emphasize or exaggerate what would have been a diegetic sound. For example:

- Black Swan ballet scene: swish of her wings is made louder when she turns into the black swan, sounds of her breath are also exaggerated to create emotion, sounds of footsteps made louder (01:32:15-01:32:40)

Rhythm

Rhythm is used to dictate the cuts used in films or in fight scenes to create tension. For example:

- Mr and Mrs smith: rhythm used in the song 'Express Yourself' to add an upbeat pace to the fight scene, parts of the music indicate more physical hits/punches, louder parts of the song are used to show more important scenes (01:10:19-01:12:04)

Voice over narration
When dialogue is added on in the editing stage which is used to explain things that have already happen or will happen throughout the narrative. For example:

 - Shawshank Redemption: Morgan Freeman's voice has been used to set the scene and story, explains the main character and what he thinks of him (08:32-15:11)

Parallel sound

When the sound and scene complement so the actions and music show similar emotions and aspects. For example:

Contrapuntal sound

When the sound and image do not match. For example happy music is played over a torture scene.

Silence

This can be done through editing the film- so no sound is heard, or through silence in room which creates tension and suspense for a dramatic effect.

When producing our thriller opening we may want to consider jumpy music or slow eerie music as these can produce different moods and settings for thriller films. Another sound element which is very classic is high pitched sounds, which is most famously known in the thriller Psycho. The screeches and unsettling sounds add suspense and horror to the film. Other typical sounds used in thriller genres are diegetic and non-diegetic as these can include footsteps, doors creaking, pulling out of the knife, gun shots etc. 

Thriller 7: Psycho (Mystery Thriller)

Director-

Alfred HitchcockCamera -distance, angle and movement and editing - speed and style
The film opens of an establishing long shot of a city. The tall buildings indicates to the audience that the film is set in a normal location. The camera then pans around the city which some titles showing where the film is set, what date it is and what the time is. After this, the camera zooms into one of building, and by this time the music has completely changed tune as its much more peaceful. This shows that the film is introducing a different scene which includes much more calm topics such as love. As the camera zooms into the window it zooms into darkness which then cuts to a long shot of women on a bed and a men standing up.


Sound - effects and music
The sound used throughout the titles is fast and unsettling which is created through the use of the violins as it makes an uneasy mood to the film as if it's never ending. The impact of the dramatic minor tone makes the sound even more harsh and loud towards the audience. However this fades out calmly into the film which sounds more peaceful as it zooms into the building.


Mise-en-scene
The dark lighting and colours used for the titles indicates that there will be some sinister content in the film. However the use of the high key lighting in the city show shows that it's a normal day in the city which juxtaposes what will happen later on in the film. With the characters the man has been dressed in dark trousers which contrasts to the women who is dressed in white underwear. This dramatic contrast has been used to show the difference between the two characters- the women is pure and innocent.


Titles- placement, font and colour
The long titles adds to the tense mood of the film which is reinforced through the fast transitions. The use of the titles sliding in from the sides at a fast pace adds an uneasy mood towards the audience. Furthermore, the black lines and grey background make the film more dark and chilling. This is done by the lines effect. By having the lines fill in the words it adds a unique style to Hitchcock's openings. Additionally by making the words in a white sans serif font connotes purity which could be suggested that innocence is destroyed throughout the film...?

Link to video

Mise-en-scene in thriller films

Mise en scene is a French term meaning what is in shot? It can also be defined as the arrangement of scenery and properties to represent a place where a film is set. Mise-en-scene helps establish what genre a film is by setting the tone through lighting, costumes, props, settings, body language, facial expressions and positions of characters.

1) Lighting and colour -  Lighting helps the audience assume what type of genre the film is through the way the lighting is displayed. for example there is low key lighting (which is usually used in thrillers) and high key lighting. In my group we are going to be using different levels of low key lighting as this creates a mysterious atmosphere. Colour is also a convention for mise en scene as it associates emotions with different colours. For example:

• White typically represents purity and innocence
• Green typically represents envy 
• Black represents evil or danger through the darkness 
• Red represents lust or love, anger or danger, blood or violence
• Blue represents coldness, sadness or depression
• Yellow-represents sunshine or happiness

In our thriller film opening we will use colours such as red, black and white to symbolize love, violence, blood and death.


2) Costumes and make-up/hair - The use of costume and make up make actors develop more as a character which creates a forced judgement  on how the audience perceive them. The costume may include things like style of dress, garments, accessories and hairstyle. Make-up can make characters either seem more appealing/glamorous or normal (without makeup). Make up in the earlier years of cinema was used to highlight facial features as black and white films could not show every detail. In thriller films make up is used to create a fearful effect, for example by smudging their make up it will make women look more in need or in danger. Ripped costumes give the impression that something bad has happened, suits can make a character look more important and black clothing can make someone look more sinister.

3) Setting and props - Location is key when it comes to mise-en-scene as it sets the tone of the film. This can be an outside location or an inside location. With a thriller film the typical conventions of setting would be a dark ally or woods. However these conventions have been used to much making them become cliched. Props  can help determine the narrative, identity of character and genre. Semiology can come into this as well such as by using to a gun to symbolize violence. 

4) Facial expressions and body language -  By using this the camera is able to capture the emotion of the characters. This includes hand gestures, postures, and facial expressions which is shown clearly by the physical, mental, or emotional actions. With the non verbal communication the audience is able to assume characteristics about the character on how they are feeling by not being directly told. For example, if a character is scared we can tell by their worried facial expression.


5) Position of characters and objectives in a frame -  The way characters are positioned within a frame can tell the audience a lot about the character. This includes levels of social status by which how the characters are centered and angled. In thriller films, a murderer usually the dominates the scene and the victim  which can be displayed by staging the levels of the characters.

Conclusion to Shallow Grave clip

This clip has made me understand that you can create different openings but still produce a chilling thriller effect. For example, the titles show what the film is going to include and this is reinforced through the edgy road scene. This has influenced my learning as now I realize my group can make something original and different that will stand out in thriller films.

Thriller 6: Shallow Grave (Crime Thriller)

Director: Danny Boyle


Camera- distance, angle, movement and editing- speed style
The film opens to a close up of a man's face. The camera then swirls around his head which has music and non diegetic sound in the background of who we presume is him talking. After he finishes talking, the camera then abruptly cuts to a road which shows a point of view shot from a car, which is driving around the street. This has been sped up to match with the music and this makes the film seem edgy and different. The camera (passengers) look to either side of the road which could suggest that they are unsure of where they are, which adds tension to film. This the cuts again to a woods which is more much slower and controlled compared to the street scene. The camera is shown to brush past some branches which makes it look like a point of view shot of someone walking in the woods. This shows the titles. Again, the camera cuts back to the road with some added jolts to make the film seem uneasy. This then cuts back to the woods, but this time showing a pathway in the woods which denotes choices and decisions and this fits into the film's content. This again the cuts back to the road which resolves why the camera was in a street as it then stops outside a flat, still at fast pace. This 'trippy' car journey makes the film become individual and different, as the sped up pace makes the film more fascinating.


The camera then cuts to inside the building of the flat, showing a man walk up the stairs. This low angle makes him seem more much taller which connotes him being powerful. The camera then looks up towards the ceiling showing the spiral staircase to the audience. This choice of camera movement fits into the hallucination of the street scene. The camera then cuts back to show a point of view of him walking up the staircase. This point of view shot has been used three times in the opening, all with the same technique. Danny Boyle has decided to never shown the person's feet or hands and this adds suspense to the film as the audience doesn't know who it is. The man then reaches the door to the flat which shows the names of the people living there on a gold plate.


Sound- effects and music
The music opens the film by introducing the tone which is edgy and peaceful. This sound makes the opening become more different and unique which then builds up after the man starts talking. The music becomes much more louder and a lot different compared to the beginning. This is because it's more upbeat and dance like.


Mise-en-scene
The high key lighting used for the man's face highlights his pale complexions and blue eyes, which adds to his melancholy facial expression. This connotes that the film will include depressing issues. The same lighting is used for the street scene which adds to the fast pace making it seem more blurry. For the woods scene however, the lighting becomes more much darker due to the branches covering the light. This makes the mood become much more sinister due to the dramatic contrast.


The red door used for the flat connotes many things such as :
- passion for the flat mates as they share an important friendship
- death and violence as red usually symbolizes blood, 
- fire/hell as their flat holds danger and evil which is explained later on in the film 
- and anger, they friendship is tested
The gold plate used however contradicts the negative connotations as it shows they have an important bond.


Titles- placement, font, colour

The way Danny Boyle has made 'Shallow Grave' fill in with red symbolizes someone filling in a grave or hole. This is because the red connotes danger and blood, adding the scary atomsphere. 

Thriller Questionnaire

The results from the questionnaire came back much more positive than our audience survey due to the fact that we asked more open questions. However, some people were indecisive about their answers which meant we ended up with negative feedback. Others were unsure of the difference between a ‘crime thriller’ and a ‘psychological thriller’ so this meant we had to help them understand it, which could have ended in us influencing their answers. 


With the 15/18 rated question most people said they preferred 18 rated films because it doesn’t restrict the content. Nevertheless, some said that 15 films were just as satisfying. Our audience also said they they wouldn't expect to see blood/gore in the first two minutes of a psychological crime thriller, so this means we should build up the tense atomsphere in the opening. 


Our feedback also said thrillers should be set in a normal home in which something unusual happens.  They said they didn't want it to be set in the woods as this is normally associated with thrillers. This could be because they find this technique boring as it is used too much. (familiarity, variation, repetition)


Our audience also said they preferred films that get you thinking and have the end resolved as this is more entertaining. Feedback also said that suspense, twist and danger are all the main points associated with a thriller and that the opening should start with a flashback. This means we need to include these points, in order to fulfill our audience's needs. What's more, by opening our thriller film with a flashback, it enables us to take up different ideas of story lines which can make us be creative as possible.


Additional comments from our survey was that people said that they don't like the characters talking about their thoughts and feeling during the film and that they associate the titles with black, white and red colours to connote danger, blood and clarity. For the protagonists and antagonists, they said they preferred to have a female protagonist and a male antagonist and this helps us decide a story line. They also said that their preferred typical protagonist looks healthy and attractive. They said that the antagonist should look normal to make the suspense more atmospheric as they could be anybody so you don’t suspect it. Most of our audience said they preferred modern films in colour that are different and original, but they must include the classic themes of thrillers too. By asking about their favourite thrillers, it enables us to go away and watch what they enjoy when it comes to thrillers films. This will help make us understand the conventions, plots and ideas to include in our thriller. 

Overall our questionnaire has given us good feedback to look at to use and create our opening, however we also had some disadvantages. Such as not getting full explanations to our questions which meant they were quite limiting.  To improve this we could record a group discussion with 15 and 18 year olds and go into more depth into what our audience likes and dislikes in thriller films.

Lesson summary

On Thursday 3rd November we watched some previous thriller openings that have been made by students in the past. I enjoyed this lesson as it helped me understand what is needed to achieve full marks or a good grade. This was because we were given a mark scheme to evaluate their work out of level 1,2,3 and 4. This lesson also helped me know what type of story lines have been used before, and this will help in our planning stage to not do something predictable. What's more, it made me realize that we will have to use a variety of shot types to achieve a high grade.