Friday 29 January 2010

Watching Thriller Openings

Heat:
In Heat the opening scene is of a train moving away from the camera, this could represent that the narrative has started, playing to a thriller convention of entering the narrative straight away. This is reinforced by the majority of the shots of Robert Deniro walking away from the camera. Also, whilst Robert Deniro is walking through the hospital the environmental sounds are heightened so that they are unrealistically loud. These sounds add contextual intensity as the noises are relevant to the scene. Making diegetic sounds louder than they actually are could be useful when making our thriller opening as it helps create atmosphere.



No Country For Old Men:
Initially there are several long shot contrasting with the expected convention of jumpy shots used to create tension. The one diagetic sound during the shot is of a strong wind representing the antagonist, as the one wind reflects how one character can ruin a tranquil community - which is created by the long shots of the barren landscape. The protagonist is introduced trough the medium of sound, another contrast to convention.During the scene in which the antagonist strangles the police offer we are presented with several different camera angles throughout. These, when quickly cut portray the police offers struggle and imminent death. We will use quick editing in our production to portray our protagonists state of mind in a similar way.

Tuesday 26 January 2010

Feedback

We told the rest of our class our pitch. We told them about the narrative, and the mise-en-scene, then the class gave us feedback. The pitch went well as we recieved minimal negative feedback. One point that was raised was that the narrative after the initial opening scene was not initially apparent and the opening scene gives no clue to the resolution. We explained the resolution of the film nd how it wasn't necessary to include a clue to the resolution in our credits. This would ruin the mysterious feel to the film.

In all feedback was primarily positive and our peers seemed to enjoy the narrative and looked forward to seeing the final product.

Monday 25 January 2010

Aphex Twin - Rubber Johnny



This video has provided inspiration in several aspects, in terms of the; mise-en-scene, camera work and special effects used. It's especially relevance as maximum affects are achieved with minimum funding. Chris Cunningham uses and transforms certain aspects of his body to create the creature. He uses his scrotum to create his abnormally large head. Shock tactics are used to create the initial tense and edgy atmosphere.

Planning For Our Thriller!

These are the following ideas we have for our thriller project.

Characters:
Mad man
Detective
Gangsters

Narrative:
He was an undercover detective part of a gang. However, the man became too involved and was cut from the case but decided to continue his investigation through his own methods. Furthermore the man is internally torn between his allegiance to the gang and their lifestyle, and his integral morals and detective background.

Atmosphere:
Inside the room: Dark and dingy. Flickering lights. Minimalistic. Mysterious.
Flashbacks: Desperation. Reminiscent. Quick.

Micro-elements:
Camerawork - A selection of extreme close-ups - close ups - medium shots and long shots to create a feeling of disorientation.
Mise-en-scene - Minimal amount of props in room, only simple items; pen, paper, light, desk, chair. low key lighting.
Editing - Quick and edgy. Unpredictable. Sporadic. creating viewer disorientation.
Sound - dark and dingy sound effects. (dropping of water, wind sound efects, high pitched noises over a low base sound)
Special Effects - Minimal amounts as this may destroy realism. May use 'night-vision' or an archaic effect on flashbacks.



Our Prouction Logo/Video

This is the final version of our production company logo; Blunt Productions.

Monday 18 January 2010

Review of professionally made Thriller.

We have chosen to review 'The Dark Knight'. This movie is, without a doubt, a very prolific thriller.


The movie uses ironic iconology. The main antagonist has the appearence of a clown which can be taken from different perspectives. Firstly there is a hint of ironey as traditionally clowns ca nconnot jest and humour. However the more contemporary approach to clown is one of contempt and is now a common phobia within out society. As a reverberation of this, his appearance connotes fear etc. On the other end of the spectrum, the protagonist is portrayed as a bat which is also ironic in that a bat is another common fear. Showing that the two characters are similar but also completely different in their motives. This similarity between the antagonist and protagonist is a common trait in many a Thriller movies. A particular point in the film.

Review of previously made Thriller


This short title sequence embeds many features of the criteria, concluding in its level 4 status. We believe this is appropiately rewarded as the video meets the thriller criteria. It especially excels in factors such as the mise-en-scene. For instance, the colors in particular; red is used as it can connote looming danger and blood- death. Furthermore, the accompanying music has been well considered, create an eery atmosphere and tension is created. However a few of the designated settings - the bedroom- stand out in a negative light and makes the production seem less professional as it breaks the continuity.

Friday 15 January 2010

Cape Fear is a 1991 thriller film, directed by Martin Scorsese. The Introduction to this film is also done by, Saul Bass. We watched this opening to see if we were given any clues about the film itself.




At the beginning of the sequence we are shown water, this theme of water stays throughout the whole of the title sequence, this gives us the idea that water plays a big part within the film. Looking at the water, we see a reflection of many things. One of the things that we see is an eagle. This bird of prey connotes that there is an element of death within the film. Within the water we can see an eye, this tells us that maybe voyeurism plays a large part within the film. The eye moves from side to side as if the person is scared. We then get shots of random features upon a persons face, which could give a clue to characters within the film. Whilst we look at the water, the water occasionally shows hints of red. This colour has many connotations including, death, danger, and fear.

Vertigo


Vertigo is a 1958 American thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The film's credits were created by the well known title sequence editor, Soul Bass. We watched this opening sequence to see what we could understand about the theme and narrative of the movie and how it conforms to conventions of a thriller.



We are first shown an image of what we guess is a woman's face which we can assume may be a main character in the film. Later, the camera focuses on her eyes and show a jaunty movement and the eyes widen as if she is possibly scared or seen something which gives us a clue towards the narrative of the movie. Shortly after, the whole screen slowly turns red. Red is obviously a connotation for blood and danger, this makes the audience expect possible death in the movie. Dizzying animations come out of the eye and fill the screen. The word vertigo is an experience people get when they are frightened of heights. The animations could be portraying this emotion through its slow, disoriented spinning. Also, the animations regularly change colour and shape so that the viewer remains engaged. The music which accompanies the title sequence with its eery high pitched noises paired with low bass as well, creating an over all mysterious sound. Which we would expect of a thriller as most thrillers contain some kind of 'mystery'.

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Sub-genres within a Thriller

Within the main genre of a thriller many 'sub-genres' are existent. Although, when we categorize a film we usually just call it a 'thriller'. One of these sub genres is a supernatural thriller. An example of a movie which would fit under this sub genre is paranormal activity. Another sub genre is an 'action thriller'. These are very common and often television series fit under this sub genre, shows such as CSI epitomize this genre. Movies under this sub genre would include 'se7en' and 'the godfather'. Sci-Fi thrillers are relatively new with the recent advance in technology which allows CGI to bring films, which were once impossible, to life.

When creating our film it will be important to label our movie under a specific sub-genre as this makes our target audience more apparent.



Friday 8 January 2010

Conventions of a Thriller

As most genres, a Thriller must follow certain conventions.

Sets: A Thriller film tends to use low key lighting, this creates a dark atmosphere, and usually invokes mystery. Tight spaces within a set usually emphasize a characters mental state, and the situation that they are in. Weather is used to express emotion within in a scene, this is known as pathetic Fallacy.

Characters: Usually within a thriller film characters are dark and sinister, this adds to the mystery and dark atmosphere. Characters are often exaggerated to a specific stereo-type so it is easy for the audience to relate to the narrative. As well as a protagonist, often, it also includes an antagonist. Although there is the used of both characters, both of the characters are held back, and have shady backgrounds.

Narrative: The Narrative is usually hazy and unclear, this allows for the audience to figure out and interpret the story for themselves. As the audience does not know what is going to happen, it adds to the general ambience of the film.

Props (mise-en-scene): Usually props within a thriller include a weapon, usually a hang gun. They use a small gun within a film so it is not over the top, so it does not get confused with a blockbuster action film, and it can relate to real life. None of the objects used within a thriller usually use a lot of colour, this adds to the darkness of the film.

Dialogue: Complicated dialogue accentuates the narrative which the audience have to work out/interpret. Technical language shows how people (possibly police) are specialized in their fields.

Preliminary tasks.



We were instructed to create a short preliminary video which included a few of the main shots used when creating a film. One of these shots, and the one used first, is the establishing shot. This shot should, in theory, create a setting for a beginning of a scene so that the audience can understand the narrative. In a thriller, an establishing shot would usually put the scene into context. A close up accentuates a particular aspect or important detail in the film. It can also be used to create confusion. For instance, in a thriller movie, a close up of a gun could be shown, but the gun would not be identifiable right away, only later would the viewer learn that the close up would of been a gun. Another important shot is the 'match on action shot'. This is of paramount importance when you are wanting a scene to flow. Action is shown from a different point in time and is relative to the previous shot. An example of this is when a door opens you get a shot of the door opening from inside the room. It allows the viewer to catch the reaction of the character going into the room. A 'Reaction shot' improves fluidity as well as encouraging the audience to believe that characters are in the same scene and geographic space. Although, if over used it can become tedious for the viewers. Long shots are primarily used to show 2 or more characters in a scene. In the case of a thriller, it may be used to show characters' positions relative, both to one another as well as their surroundings. An over the shoulder shot allows the audience to gage the reaction of the opposite character. Also, it can be used to emphasize dominance as the character we are seeing in front of the shoulder can appear smaller.