Sunday 8 May 2011
Group Meeting - 14th March
This lesson we will finish the editing for our film. We also need to find a copy right free music clip to put into part of pur film. We also need to make sure that we change our film to black and white.
We also need to ensure we have changed bits of our research and planning that we have already put onto our blogs because we changed where we filmed the first part to our film so everything needs relate to eachother.
We also need to ensure we have changed bits of our research and planning that we have already put onto our blogs because we changed where we filmed the first part to our film so everything needs relate to eachother.
Questionnaire Results
We asked 10 people who had watched our film to complete a survey which asked them their thoughts on our film and the thriller genre itself.
The majority of the people we surveyed thought that the thriller genre is more widely watched by men than woman however the opinion was mixed as to whether they were more suited to teenagers or adults. Only 3 people preferred thriller films to any other genre, and the other 7 either preferred comedy, rom coms, sci fi or foreign language films. One of the questions we asked was 'what do you first think of when someone mentions thrillers?' which the majority of feedback stating that they associated thrillers with murder, suspense, tension and blood.
The majority of people said that they liked our thriller and would go and watch it if it were shown in the cinema based on the opening. Although we had no negative comments, improvements were suggested such as making the plot a bit more clearer, even though we thought that confusing the audience a bit at the start was effective in creating suspense.
The majority of the people we surveyed thought that the thriller genre is more widely watched by men than woman however the opinion was mixed as to whether they were more suited to teenagers or adults. Only 3 people preferred thriller films to any other genre, and the other 7 either preferred comedy, rom coms, sci fi or foreign language films. One of the questions we asked was 'what do you first think of when someone mentions thrillers?' which the majority of feedback stating that they associated thrillers with murder, suspense, tension and blood.
The majority of people said that they liked our thriller and would go and watch it if it were shown in the cinema based on the opening. Although we had no negative comments, improvements were suggested such as making the plot a bit more clearer, even though we thought that confusing the audience a bit at the start was effective in creating suspense.
Who is our film aimed at?
After studying the elements that made a film a 15, we decided that we would give our thriller film would be aimed at people aged 15 and above. None of the 18 age certificate features such as gore, very strong language and drug use are present in our film, however the plot is relatively complex and would not be suitable for an audience under fifteen years of age. Although there is some violence, it is not shown and is very subtle.
What is the purpose of the opening to a film?
To intrigue and interest the audience and make them want to watch the rest of the film.
How do you think a thriller film is defined?
It’s almost like a horror in the fact that certain parts make you jump and feel tense, however a thriller focuses more on building up the tension and suspense for most of the film and reaches the climax at the end, which usually ends in a cliff-hanger. They don’t usually include a lot of blood and violence but use shots that suggest that these features are present in the scene.
What techniques can a director use to create suspense in a film?
Using dark lighting, using close up shots on everyday objects to make them seem more sinister and suspicious, focusing on only part of a person’s face to conceal their identity and make them appear more suspicious and mysterious.
What films can you think of that would fit into the thriller genre?
One of the most famous thriller films ‘Psycho’ and a film I saw recently called ‘Inception’
The thriller film can be divided into sub-genres – what different types of thriller films do you think exist?
• Murderous passion, for example ‘Blood Simple’
• Psycho traumatic, for example the film I mentioned in the previous question ‘Psycho’
• Innocent on the run, for example North By North West
• Story based on changes in identity – Detour
• Political thriller – Day of the Jackal
• Film Noir – Mildred Pierce
What are the characteristics or conventions of a thriller film?
Intense narrative, the building up of tension, low key lighting, suspense, cliff hangers, surprises, twists in the plot, action, murder, eerie music similar to the music found in horror films, a hero/heroine.
What do you think is the audience pleasure of a thriller film?
The narrative is usually very intense and confusing and so many people would enjoy trying to work out the mystery. Also a lot of people like thriller films because of the thrill they get, hence the name, because they are often very tense and keep you on edge, leading up to the final scene where there is usually a surprise.
What do you think are the differences between a horror and a thriller film?
Horror films are often more shocking because they usually include blood, gore and other disturbing images, whereas thrillers are more subdued and hint that these disturbing features are included, but don’t actually show it. Horrors often make you cringe more and genuinely scared and disturb the audience whereas thrillers tend to make you feel tense but don’t actually mentally torment you like a lot of horror films do, for example the Saw films which are very gruesome and violent because they show you the torture actually happening which a lot of people can’t physically watch. To summarise I think that thrillers are a mild type of horror film because they play on your mind and scare you but only slightly, whereas horrors show you everything and genuinely disturb you.
To intrigue and interest the audience and make them want to watch the rest of the film.
How do you think a thriller film is defined?
It’s almost like a horror in the fact that certain parts make you jump and feel tense, however a thriller focuses more on building up the tension and suspense for most of the film and reaches the climax at the end, which usually ends in a cliff-hanger. They don’t usually include a lot of blood and violence but use shots that suggest that these features are present in the scene.
What techniques can a director use to create suspense in a film?
Using dark lighting, using close up shots on everyday objects to make them seem more sinister and suspicious, focusing on only part of a person’s face to conceal their identity and make them appear more suspicious and mysterious.
What films can you think of that would fit into the thriller genre?
One of the most famous thriller films ‘Psycho’ and a film I saw recently called ‘Inception’
The thriller film can be divided into sub-genres – what different types of thriller films do you think exist?
• Murderous passion, for example ‘Blood Simple’
• Psycho traumatic, for example the film I mentioned in the previous question ‘Psycho’
• Innocent on the run, for example North By North West
• Story based on changes in identity – Detour
• Political thriller – Day of the Jackal
• Film Noir – Mildred Pierce
What are the characteristics or conventions of a thriller film?
Intense narrative, the building up of tension, low key lighting, suspense, cliff hangers, surprises, twists in the plot, action, murder, eerie music similar to the music found in horror films, a hero/heroine.
What do you think is the audience pleasure of a thriller film?
The narrative is usually very intense and confusing and so many people would enjoy trying to work out the mystery. Also a lot of people like thriller films because of the thrill they get, hence the name, because they are often very tense and keep you on edge, leading up to the final scene where there is usually a surprise.
What do you think are the differences between a horror and a thriller film?
Horror films are often more shocking because they usually include blood, gore and other disturbing images, whereas thrillers are more subdued and hint that these disturbing features are included, but don’t actually show it. Horrors often make you cringe more and genuinely scared and disturb the audience whereas thrillers tend to make you feel tense but don’t actually mentally torment you like a lot of horror films do, for example the Saw films which are very gruesome and violent because they show you the torture actually happening which a lot of people can’t physically watch. To summarise I think that thrillers are a mild type of horror film because they play on your mind and scare you but only slightly, whereas horrors show you everything and genuinely disturb you.
Summary of our thriller film 'Mistress'
Our film is a thriller and sub genre is murderous passion, as it involves a love triangle. There are three characters: a husband, his wife and a woman he is having an affair with. The basic plot is about the wife, who finds out about her husband having an affair and angrily seeks revenge. She follows them into a secluded forest. The isolated area works with the thriller genre because nobody else will be there and so the other characters will be helpless and alone, which creates panic and desperation. We decided to use the typical mise-en-scene of thriller films: low key music to build tension, as well as dark lighting. To enhance the darkness of the film, thus increasing the sinister tone of it, we decided to put the film in black and white, an element of the film noir genre. We also chose to not show violence, but instead use camera angles that suggest what has happened but do not directly reveal it to the audience, leaving them to make their own mind up.
Choice of Location
Initially we decided to film in the woods called The Ercall, which is the lower part of the Wrekin. It’s an isolated area, with lots of tall trees which create dark shadows, something we thought would be very effective in creating the dark sinister lighting we wanted for our film. The fact that there is lots of foliage/vegetation means that different camera angles could be used when the wife is following the husband and his mistress, as she peers out from behind trees and hides in the bushes.
However, due to the fact that the Ercall is in an isolated area, we realised that it would be hard to get to as it is relatively far away, and so we decided to change location. We decided to relocate to a more closer area with a wood, which is Telford town park.
However, due to the fact that the Ercall is in an isolated area, we realised that it would be hard to get to as it is relatively far away, and so we decided to change location. We decided to relocate to a more closer area with a wood, which is Telford town park.
Production Plans
On Wednesday 9th of March we are using our media lesson to go to the town park in Telford to film the main part of our thriller opening. The lesson after we will be filming the very first scene.
Group Meeting
Members present: Emily, Steven and Lauren
today we made the production plans which is included in the next post, which consists of where and when we are going to film.
today we made the production plans which is included in the next post, which consists of where and when we are going to film.
List of Props/Equipment We Will Need For Our Film
Camera
Tripod
A plastic knife
Chocolate sauce to act as blood
A phone
We will be providing our own costumes for the film.
Lauren will be dressedin the style of femme fatale, an element of the film-noir thriller sub-genre. Steven and I will be dressed in average clothes, which I think adds a sinister undertone to the film as the normality of the character's appearance, particulary the murderer's would perhaps disturb the audience because it would make them think that the events that occurred in our film could happen to anyone.
because our film will be in black and white, which we thought would be good to add darkness to the overall scene, we are using chocolate sauce as blood, which the director of 'Psycho' used in the shower scene.
Tripod
A plastic knife
Chocolate sauce to act as blood
A phone
We will be providing our own costumes for the film.
Lauren will be dressedin the style of femme fatale, an element of the film-noir thriller sub-genre. Steven and I will be dressed in average clothes, which I think adds a sinister undertone to the film as the normality of the character's appearance, particulary the murderer's would perhaps disturb the audience because it would make them think that the events that occurred in our film could happen to anyone.
because our film will be in black and white, which we thought would be good to add darkness to the overall scene, we are using chocolate sauce as blood, which the director of 'Psycho' used in the shower scene.
Our First Script
After watching different thriller openings and studying the plots, we wrote the first script for the opening of our thriller film 'Mistress'
MISTRESS
{Setting –Classroom}
HUSBAND:
Right I’m off to a meeting with parents, see you later.
WIFE:
(Not looking up from computer)
All right then. Bye.
(Husband leaves and as door shuts, wife walks towards the classroom door)
FOREST SCENE.
{From point of view of wife. Sees husband and another woman on a walk)
WOMAN:
Ah I think I’ve dropped my phone, I’ll be back in a second
(Walks off)
HUSBAND:
Don’t you want me to come?
WOMAN:
No it’s fine; it’s only over there somewhere.
(Wife creeps closer towards husband, closer and closer follows him behind a tree and next shot shows husband on the floor other side of the tree with blood seeping from his stab wounds)
(Next shot shows the wife following the other woman, camera looking from behind trees and getting closer to the woman. Final shot – as wife/camera is really close to the woman, the camera zooms in really quickly onto the woman’s face and focuses then freezes on her eyes which are bright with terror.)
MISTRESS
{Setting –Classroom}
HUSBAND:
Right I’m off to a meeting with parents, see you later.
WIFE:
(Not looking up from computer)
All right then. Bye.
(Husband leaves and as door shuts, wife walks towards the classroom door)
FOREST SCENE.
{From point of view of wife. Sees husband and another woman on a walk)
WOMAN:
Ah I think I’ve dropped my phone, I’ll be back in a second
(Walks off)
HUSBAND:
Don’t you want me to come?
WOMAN:
No it’s fine; it’s only over there somewhere.
(Wife creeps closer towards husband, closer and closer follows him behind a tree and next shot shows husband on the floor other side of the tree with blood seeping from his stab wounds)
(Next shot shows the wife following the other woman, camera looking from behind trees and getting closer to the woman. Final shot – as wife/camera is really close to the woman, the camera zooms in really quickly onto the woman’s face and focuses then freezes on her eyes which are bright with terror.)
Age Certificates
Because of some of the disturbing, often violent and frightening nature of the majority of thriller films, the age certificate of either 15 or 18 is given to prevent a younger audience from watching them. Films in the thriller genre also require concentration in order to understand the complex plot, another reason why thriller films are aimed at a more mature audience.
Certain features of a film distinguish it from having either a 15 or 18 certificate. Thriller films aimed at people aged 18 or over tend to include drug use, strong language, violent or sexual scenes as well as more horror film features such as gore.
Certain features of a film distinguish it from having either a 15 or 18 certificate. Thriller films aimed at people aged 18 or over tend to include drug use, strong language, violent or sexual scenes as well as more horror film features such as gore.
Analysis of Thriller Openings
Inception
The opening to “Inception” is typical of the thriller genre, by intriguing the audience and making them ask questions and want to know more. Many of the features included in the opening are typical of the thriller genre, for example the low key, sinister music creating tension from the very beginning. The lighting is bright and sunny, which contrasts to the dark music and these contrasting features add to the sinsiter atmosphere used in the thriller genre.
The Dark Knight
“The Dark Knight” opens very effectively, and immediately launches into action as we see a bank robbery planned by the villain of this film, the Joker. Unlike a typical thriller opening which is purposefully filmed to confuse and intrigue the audience, the opening scene shows us exactly what is happening. However, we are still confused as to which person is the joker because the whole group are all dressed in the same costume, specifically the infamous mask of the Joker. I think that the masks are the most significant contribution to the typical sinister feeling of this film because they're just ordinary clown masks, something you would perhaps associate with children and innocence. However the faces of the masks are distorted and look more evil. Another typical element of the thriller genre is the non-diegetic sound. The music is very low key but fast paced and builds tension as the scene progresses. The robbers split up into different groups. One person in one group will ask a question then someone else in another group answers. This creates a sense that not even the characters are sure about the Joker and his intentions. Towards the end of the scene, the robbers are blinded by greed and kill eachother in attempt to get the money.
The opening to “Inception” is typical of the thriller genre, by intriguing the audience and making them ask questions and want to know more. Many of the features included in the opening are typical of the thriller genre, for example the low key, sinister music creating tension from the very beginning. The lighting is bright and sunny, which contrasts to the dark music and these contrasting features add to the sinsiter atmosphere used in the thriller genre.
The Dark Knight
“The Dark Knight” opens very effectively, and immediately launches into action as we see a bank robbery planned by the villain of this film, the Joker. Unlike a typical thriller opening which is purposefully filmed to confuse and intrigue the audience, the opening scene shows us exactly what is happening. However, we are still confused as to which person is the joker because the whole group are all dressed in the same costume, specifically the infamous mask of the Joker. I think that the masks are the most significant contribution to the typical sinister feeling of this film because they're just ordinary clown masks, something you would perhaps associate with children and innocence. However the faces of the masks are distorted and look more evil. Another typical element of the thriller genre is the non-diegetic sound. The music is very low key but fast paced and builds tension as the scene progresses. The robbers split up into different groups. One person in one group will ask a question then someone else in another group answers. This creates a sense that not even the characters are sure about the Joker and his intentions. Towards the end of the scene, the robbers are blinded by greed and kill eachother in attempt to get the money.
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