During the research process of making a thriller, we had to look at lots of different clips from famous block-buster thrillers. However, we have been at the thillers made by past students. In this post I will be analysing 3 different past student thrillers. I will be doing this as if i were a teacher marking them. There are some main things i will need to look for, things such as;
-Does it look like the opening to a film?
-Can you see any thriller conventions?
-Have they made good use of mise-en-scene?
-Is there a combination of non-digetic and digetic sound?
-Have they made any technical mistakes?
-Is the quality of performance at a high level?
Thriller 1 -Rated 4
This thriller is a high quilaty thiller for a student production. To start, their ident is very professional, it suggests to any audience that this is really a real production, not just a student thriller. The start is very mysterious, and doesnt give much away. This is a type of a thriller convention as it leaves the audience asking questions. The camera angles thoughout the thriller are very good. All have been shot using a tripod or other device. Another thriller convention is the music used in the background. This music is very different to the action going on in the thriller as the music is calm, church-like music when the main character is shooting someone from a window. A piercing high-pitch sound also suggests death, which was put into this particular thriller. The other boy running is also a common occurrence, something you would see in 'James Bond' types of films. The actors in the film also stay focased throughout the entire thriller which shows how professional they was about this project. Once the boy running has reached the car, he finds his partner 'dead' and this is when the music changes and the boy speaks. This shows that the group used both digetic and non-digetic sound. The killer then is revealed to be in the back of the car and suddenly kills the other innocent man who witnessed the kill. This is also another thriller convention. To the audiences suprise, there is a little boy sitting next the the killer who would have winessed the killing in the car. This is something that would really startle the audience, using a child in this sictuation is very different and really gives the audience a sense of involvement as they would want to help the child. This then makes the audience think that the rest of the film would be about the life of the little boy, making it feel like a real opening to a real film. They used another aspect of a thriller by using the card/chip on the floor as the McGuffin.
Thriller 2 : Rated 4
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Film title Analysis
Above is the film title that we are using for our thriller 'New Breed'. We will be putting this at the end of our thriller as this will conclude the ending to the opening. We chose this title as our thriller features a dog and the unveiling at the end of the dog actually being used to help spies catch other spies. The type of font we chose and the way it moves was picked on the basis of what our thriller is about. The text moves smoothly across the screen slow enough for the audience to read it, but fast enough for it to move mysteriously like a ghostly image across the screen. I feel this is a good idea as our thriller is focused on spies and mystery, exactly what people will think of the title and its presentation.
Wednesday, 26 February 2014
Studio Company Ident Analysis
There are many different production companies and studios across the world that produce films all the time. They are a crucial part of any film.
All films must have :
1. A production company ident by the producer with a fade out.
2.Titles need to be on the screen long enough for the audience to read them clearly and large enough so that they are clear, but to not be overpowering.
Above are two examples of company idents. Others may include Disney using the Disney castle as the main point in their ident and the very fancy 'D' at the start, something everyone remembers. Below is how a normal film would show the different parts of an opening
Saul Bass was an american graphic designer and award winner, who was best known for his work in motion picture. He was most well known for his work in North by Northwest and Psycho(by Alfred Hitchcock) where he created the title sequences for both films. He also helped with the storyboard for the famous shower-murder scene in Psycho.
Studio Idents
The most famous of idents are ones that people see all the time. Companies will always have the same ident idea, even though sometimes the very end of the ident may change slightly over periods of years or depending on film genres, the idea, design and name will always stay the same.
Paramount Ident
This paramount ident uses a mountain as its iconic feature. The music that plays when the ident does will be one of the factors that changes for different films. However the starts and mountain will always stay the same, as will the company name. Legend says that the maker of this ident produced it based on a doodle made by W.W Hodkinson when he met with Aldolph Zukor! Something that was a significant memory for him and his childhood in Utah. On Paramounts 100th anniversary, they made a slight change to their ident to celebrate, watch the ident below.
DreamWorks
DreamWorks ident is something I personally remember featuring in Shrek movies. The imagery of the little boy fishing on the crescent moon is something that really appeals to the child's eye. Much like the Disney ident, a child can really remember seeing things like castles and fantasy scenes even though an ident isn't something they can understand. The dreamy sky represents the genre of films DreamWorks produce (family films) and their background shows their carefree approach promoting freedom. The ident really suggests a calm environment which is something a child's film should start with.
DreamWorks also do many variations for films, such as Bee Movie, Shrek 2 and Madagascar. Below are some of my favorites.
All films must have :
1. A production company ident by the producer with a fade out.
2.Titles need to be on the screen long enough for the audience to read them clearly and large enough so that they are clear, but to not be overpowering.
Above are two examples of company idents. Others may include Disney using the Disney castle as the main point in their ident and the very fancy 'D' at the start, something everyone remembers. Below is how a normal film would show the different parts of an opening
- 'My Production Company' Present
- A Film by '*director's name*
- Starring/With
- Star no.1
- Star no.
- Also starring (each on separate title)
- 3 to 5 of the following (each on separate title)
- Editing
- Music
- Cinematography
- Casting
- Set Designer
- Costume Designer
- Script
- Producer(s)
- A Film by '*director's name*' (if preferred)
- Film title- use LiveType, over black or superimposed over the film
Saul Bass was an american graphic designer and award winner, who was best known for his work in motion picture. He was most well known for his work in North by Northwest and Psycho(by Alfred Hitchcock) where he created the title sequences for both films. He also helped with the storyboard for the famous shower-murder scene in Psycho.
Studio Idents
The most famous of idents are ones that people see all the time. Companies will always have the same ident idea, even though sometimes the very end of the ident may change slightly over periods of years or depending on film genres, the idea, design and name will always stay the same.
Paramount Ident
This paramount ident uses a mountain as its iconic feature. The music that plays when the ident does will be one of the factors that changes for different films. However the starts and mountain will always stay the same, as will the company name. Legend says that the maker of this ident produced it based on a doodle made by W.W Hodkinson when he met with Aldolph Zukor! Something that was a significant memory for him and his childhood in Utah. On Paramounts 100th anniversary, they made a slight change to their ident to celebrate, watch the ident below.
DreamWorks
DreamWorks ident is something I personally remember featuring in Shrek movies. The imagery of the little boy fishing on the crescent moon is something that really appeals to the child's eye. Much like the Disney ident, a child can really remember seeing things like castles and fantasy scenes even though an ident isn't something they can understand. The dreamy sky represents the genre of films DreamWorks produce (family films) and their background shows their carefree approach promoting freedom. The ident really suggests a calm environment which is something a child's film should start with.
DreamWorks also do many variations for films, such as Bee Movie, Shrek 2 and Madagascar. Below are some of my favorites.
Audience Research -Interviews
Here is a video of two students we interviewed after they had watched our thriller 'New Breed'.
Monday, 24 February 2014
Film Analysis; Source Code
Directed by; Duncan Jones
Written by; Ben Ripley
Staring; Jake Gyllehaal, Michelle Monahgan, Vera Farmiga.
This film had a budget of $32 million and grossed $54,696,902!
Above is the trailer of the film. This is an action thriller which is focused on the life of a soldier who wakes up in a different body where he finds out he is on a mission to find a train bomber.
The cinematography in this film shows a variety of shots, it is able to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The type of shots used reflect the things going on in the movie, this helps the audience to relate to the movie more and really feel part of it.
The chemistry between the two main characters (Jake Gyllehaal and Michelle Monahagan) keeps the audience in touch with the heart of the film. As well as being in the middle of all the action, they bring a sence of connection which all audiences love to see. The film really does have a wide range of elements from romance to suspense.
The Trailer is used to its full potential with the wide range of shots used in the editing give just enough away that the audience can understand what the film is about but holds back enough that it does not give away the whole film.I feel like the target audience for this film would be around 16-25 year old males, however I would see this film.
The first 5 minutes
During the opening to the film, the main character (Sean) is speaking to Christina after he wakes up on a train. The man is very confused, and shows that he has no idea what is going on. He says to the woman that he is Captain Stevens and she simply laughs. As he goes to the toilet, he sees in the mirror that he is a completely different person to who he knows he is. His appearance has changed, after this has been established the train then blows up and all of the characters are killed. This raises the audiences attention as to why all these things had happened and why this man is in an unknown body.
Emotional Scene
During this scene, Sean is talking to his dad through another persons body. He expains to his father that he died in the war and this gives him the ability to say all the things he may not have been able to say befor ehe died. This becomes very emotional. From a filming point of view, the girl bewlow is confused at the waht is going on and this puts sean in the postion of power by putting him in a low angle shot. This is a twist because he would seem vuenrable as he is upset.
In the last scene we learn that the source code essentially opens up a new world with a completely new ending.
Written by; Ben Ripley
Staring; Jake Gyllehaal, Michelle Monahgan, Vera Farmiga.
This film had a budget of $32 million and grossed $54,696,902!
Above is the trailer of the film. This is an action thriller which is focused on the life of a soldier who wakes up in a different body where he finds out he is on a mission to find a train bomber.
The cinematography in this film shows a variety of shots, it is able to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. The type of shots used reflect the things going on in the movie, this helps the audience to relate to the movie more and really feel part of it.
The chemistry between the two main characters (Jake Gyllehaal and Michelle Monahagan) keeps the audience in touch with the heart of the film. As well as being in the middle of all the action, they bring a sence of connection which all audiences love to see. The film really does have a wide range of elements from romance to suspense.
The Trailer is used to its full potential with the wide range of shots used in the editing give just enough away that the audience can understand what the film is about but holds back enough that it does not give away the whole film.I feel like the target audience for this film would be around 16-25 year old males, however I would see this film.
The first 5 minutes
During the opening to the film, the main character (Sean) is speaking to Christina after he wakes up on a train. The man is very confused, and shows that he has no idea what is going on. He says to the woman that he is Captain Stevens and she simply laughs. As he goes to the toilet, he sees in the mirror that he is a completely different person to who he knows he is. His appearance has changed, after this has been established the train then blows up and all of the characters are killed. This raises the audiences attention as to why all these things had happened and why this man is in an unknown body.
Emotional Scene
During this scene, Sean is talking to his dad through another persons body. He expains to his father that he died in the war and this gives him the ability to say all the things he may not have been able to say befor ehe died. This becomes very emotional. From a filming point of view, the girl bewlow is confused at the waht is going on and this puts sean in the postion of power by putting him in a low angle shot. This is a twist because he would seem vuenrable as he is upset.
In the last scene we learn that the source code essentially opens up a new world with a completely new ending.
Friday, 21 February 2014
Alfred Hitchcock.
Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most well known directors in film history. Most known for some of his films surrounding the British film industry, such as, Physo and North by Northwest. Born in August,1899 Hitchcock grew up in Leytonstone.He is most known for some of the terms he came up with when filming such as the McGuffin. His carreer lasted an outsanding 6 decades, where he managed to direct 53 full length films.
Career
Hitchcock had a lenthy career that lasted a great deal longer than any other known director. As a British film director his dreams of reaching a big blockbuster that would hit it off in America were soon reached when his film Psycho was released in 1960.
This was the film that gave Alfed Hitchcock his name and he continued to make more films. His films were shot in such a way that the fear would maxamise fear and anxiety in all his thrillers. He became well known for his use of the 'icy blonde' as he knew the idea worked. This is something that is consistent in his films. His use of editing and unusual camera angles are still used today and remembered. They have been passed down though films and they seem to never be forgotten.
Another film Hitchcock was made famous for was 'North by Northwest' which was also a big hit. This film brought something very different to the film industry at the time and everyone enjoyed it.
After this, a film called 'The Birds' came out and this was a huge success. The angles used in this and style of editing yet again brought something new to the table. On the night of the premier, he set up the area with trees and birds so when the audience had finished watching they could feel the experience themselves. I feel that Hitchcock wanted the audience to have the whole film experience and that is what he delivered.
Alfred Hitchcock died in April 1980, yet his films still live on. Hitchcock is still one of the greatest British film makers in history. Even today people say his films are unquestionably the best. They will be remembered because they were so different and this is what makes them so good.
Here is a list of Hitchcock's Filmography;
Career
Hitchcock had a lenthy career that lasted a great deal longer than any other known director. As a British film director his dreams of reaching a big blockbuster that would hit it off in America were soon reached when his film Psycho was released in 1960.
This was the film that gave Alfed Hitchcock his name and he continued to make more films. His films were shot in such a way that the fear would maxamise fear and anxiety in all his thrillers. He became well known for his use of the 'icy blonde' as he knew the idea worked. This is something that is consistent in his films. His use of editing and unusual camera angles are still used today and remembered. They have been passed down though films and they seem to never be forgotten.
Another film Hitchcock was made famous for was 'North by Northwest' which was also a big hit. This film brought something very different to the film industry at the time and everyone enjoyed it.
After this, a film called 'The Birds' came out and this was a huge success. The angles used in this and style of editing yet again brought something new to the table. On the night of the premier, he set up the area with trees and birds so when the audience had finished watching they could feel the experience themselves. I feel that Hitchcock wanted the audience to have the whole film experience and that is what he delivered.
Alfred Hitchcock died in April 1980, yet his films still live on. Hitchcock is still one of the greatest British film makers in history. Even today people say his films are unquestionably the best. They will be remembered because they were so different and this is what makes them so good.
Here is a list of Hitchcock's Filmography;
- Number 13 (1922) (unfinished)
- Always Tell Your Wife (1923)
- The Pleasure Garden (1925)
- The Mountain Eagle (1926) (lost)
- The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1927)
- The Ring (1927)
- Downhill (1927)
- The Farmer's Wife (1928)
- Easy Virtue (1928)
- Champagne (1928)
- The Manxman (1929)
- Blackmail (1929)
- Juno and the Paycock (1930)
- Murder! (1930)
- Elstree Calling (1930)
- The Skin Game (1931)
- Mary (1931)
- Rich and Strange (1931)
- Number Seventeen (1932)
- Waltzes from Vienna (1934)
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934)
- The 39 Steps (1935)
- Secret Agent (1936)
- Sabotage (1936)
- Young and Innocent (1937)
- The Lady Vanishes (1938)
- Jamaica Inn (1939)
- Rebecca (1940)
- Foreign Correspondent (1940)
- Mr. & Mrs. Smith (1941)
- Suspicion (1941)
- Saboteur (1942)
- Shadow of a Doubt (1943)
- Lifeboat (1944)
- Aventure Malgache (1944)
- Bon Voyage (1944)
- Spellbound (1945)
- Notorious (1946)
- The Paradine Case (1947)
- Rope (1948)
- Under Capricorn (1949)
- Stage Fright (1950)
- Strangers on a Train (1951)
- I Confess (1953)
- Dial M for Murder (1954)
- Rear Window (1954)
- To Catch a Thief (1955)
- The Trouble with Harry (1955)
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)
- The Wrong Man (1956)
- Vertigo (1958)
- North by Northwest (1959)
- Psycho (1960)
- The Birds (1963)
- Marnie (1964)
- Torn Curtain (1966)
- Topaz (1969)
- Frenzy (1972)
- Family Plot (1976)
- The Short Night (1979) (cancelled)
Wednesday, 12 February 2014
Audience Research
Here is the range of the questions we asked in our questionnaire. We gathered a variety of different answers from different ages and types of people.
Monday, 10 February 2014
Finding Music
This is a couple of screenshots from when we was looking for music. We used a website called mobygratis.com to find any long pieces that we would need through our thriller. We then had to apply for the piece of music we had chosen explaining to the company why we needed the music(in the second screen shot). We then had to wait for them to reply telling us if we was accepted the music or not.
Friday, 7 February 2014
Focus Group
Today we asked for a group of people to watch our rough cut edit for our thriller and they all had very positive comments. They were all generally praising the fact that we used a dog in the film and how this much have created much difficulty to get her to listen to us and work with their short attention span.
Constructive criticism told us the ending didn't make sense, and the car scene was a little messy, but this short rough cut isn't finished yet and the whole car scene is going to be done again as we rushed it because the camera was about to die.'
From this, i know that the idea of the dog impressed people. This is something i am pleased about as it was something we all struggled on deciding.
Improvements that need to be made:
- fix all of the continuity errors
- blurry near death POV shot
- Before and after, over the shoulder shots from alex into car (before and after death)
- New scene of Alex on her phone "It's done"
- No swearing
- Make the ending make more sense, that Alex and Carl are working together
Choosing a Font
Rough Cut
Our rough cut gives us a very good idea about the things we may need to re-shot or things we need to cut. This means that we can be organised the next time we go out to film the very last section of our film.
Wednesday, 5 February 2014
Title Sequence
Basic Layout:
(1) 'Your Production Company' Presents
(2) A Film by 'One name - usually the director'
(3) Starring or With
(4) Male star
(5) Female star or other way round
(6) Title of film - or could be at the end
(7) Also starring - 2/3/names - each on seperate title
(8) Then 3/4/5 of the following - you choose - each on seperate title
(9) Editing
(10) Music
(11) Cinematography or Director of Photography
(12) Casting
(13) Set Designer
(14) Costume Designer
(15) Script
(16) Then Producer(s) - can be more than one
(17) Always finish with Director - one name, usually the same as A Film By ...
(18) Could put title here
(19) Finish with a fade out & fade music out
Here is our version of it:
(1) 'AFA & Palmer Productions' Presents
(2) A Film by 'Alanta Tarling'
(3) Starring Freddie taylor
(4) Alex Malerich
(5) Missy Malerich
(5) Carl Palmer
(6) Title of film - New Breed
(7) Also starring -
Matt Smith
Alex Tarling
Freddie Palmer
Amanda Thurlock
(8) Then 3/4/5 of the following - you choose - each on seperate title
(8a) Editing - Freddie Taylor
(8b)Music
(8c) Cinematography or Director of Photography - Alanta Tarling
(8d) Costume Designer - Alex Malerich
(9) Then Producer(s) - Carl Palmer
(10) Always finish with Director - A Film By Alanta Tarling
(11) New Breed
(12) Finish with fade out & fade music out
(1) 'Your Production Company' Presents
(2) A Film by 'One name - usually the director'
(3) Starring or With
(4) Male star
(5) Female star or other way round
(6) Title of film - or could be at the end
(7) Also starring - 2/3/names - each on seperate title
(8) Then 3/4/5 of the following - you choose - each on seperate title
(9) Editing
(10) Music
(11) Cinematography or Director of Photography
(12) Casting
(13) Set Designer
(14) Costume Designer
(15) Script
(16) Then Producer(s) - can be more than one
(17) Always finish with Director - one name, usually the same as A Film By ...
(18) Could put title here
(19) Finish with a fade out & fade music out
Here is our version of it:
(1) 'AFA & Palmer Productions' Presents
(2) A Film by 'Alanta Tarling'
(3) Starring Freddie taylor
(4) Alex Malerich
(5) Missy Malerich
(5) Carl Palmer
(6) Title of film - New Breed
(7) Also starring -
Matt Smith
Alex Tarling
Freddie Palmer
Amanda Thurlock
(8) Then 3/4/5 of the following - you choose - each on seperate title
(8a) Editing - Freddie Taylor
(8b)Music
(8c) Cinematography or Director of Photography - Alanta Tarling
(8d) Costume Designer - Alex Malerich
(9) Then Producer(s) - Carl Palmer
(10) Always finish with Director - A Film By Alanta Tarling
(11) New Breed
(12) Finish with fade out & fade music out
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