Risk Assessment - Miss Georgiou

The main purpose of a risk assessment is to identify problems, which may arise during the filming process of creating our thriller opening sequence.

It is important to consider risks  before filming because, we have to think of possible ways to avoid these risks, therefore not making filming a disaster.  Certain elements have to be considered including identifying particular risks and then thinking about to prevent those risks from happening to the members or actors during the filming process.   

This risk assessment will assist us with filming when taking caution with these specific risks.   The risk assessment ensures would the group members and actors to feel safe.

 

Inspirations for Opening Scene - Miss Miller

Before we create something, we need inspiration because it would help to create something of good quality taking on similar ideas from where we get the inspiration from.  We can take inspiration from anything depending on what we want to create, including if we want to create an art piece, we would get inspiration from other artists work or graphic design and taking ideas from other pieces of graphic design and incorporating similar qualities into the design.  We are able to get inspiration everyone if you put your mind to it.  In this matter, we have to create our own opening thriller sequence, so we have taken inspiration from a range of different films.


Elaborate - What sequences have you looked at? (Various research posts) and what inspirations have you taken from them? How were they inspiring? How will you try to incorporate these ideas into your opening sequence, whilst making them your own

SAW - CINEMATOGRAPHY

We have taken inspiration from Saw 1 with the element of a close up shot.  The close up shot shows details of the character or object which the audience would not be able to see from another certain element of cinematography.  This was inspiring as we could show the victim of our sequence fear in the face when she realises the killer.

Another cinematography element would be the establishing shot, we have taken inspiration from this, as it would help set the scene or location.  It helps the audience get an idea of where the action will take place.  This shot was inspiring because it would help our sequence and we could use this when the car would be passing the Repton tower.

Another element would be the hand held camera cinematography shot, this was inspiring as it gave us, as the audience a sense of fear and chaos, as the shot does not appear to be smooth like panning is.  We have taken inspiration in our own thriller, for the victim would be running in the forest.

SCREAM 3 - EDITING

We have taken inspiration from scream 3 with the element of a straight cut, as this helps indicate a change in location.  This editing element was inspiring because it would help us in our own thriller sequence.  We plan to use this in our thriller opening sequence as it will show a change in location, as our thriller involves three different settings.

Another editing element we plan to use would be timing of shots as the slow editing creates emotional impact and builds suspense, the the editing would get noticeably faster therefore creating emotional impact.  We would incorporate this into our own thriller from the point of the antagonist walking past and then it would get faster from the point onwards from when the victim starts running.

Another editing element would be jump cut, this is inspiring because it would help the audience focus on an object.  We would incorporate this idea by showing the victims face when she realises the killer is holding a knife and then a jump cut will focus on the knife, to emphasise and alert the audience that there is a weapon involved.

HALLOWEEN H20: 20 YEARS LATER - SOUND

We plan to use non diegetic sound, the music was inspiring as it was suspenseful. 

Evaluate - How was your research useful in terms of getting ideas for your narrative? How will have various inspirations made your sequence better?

In terms of getting ideas for our narrative, my research was very helpful as getting ideas from different films was a better idea than getting it from just one specific film.   

Planning Sound - Miss Miller

Sound is very important within any film as without the sound the audience would not know what characters would be saying or what kind of sounds would be playing in the background, or the music which plays which plays at certain times to create different effects for the audience.  If music would be playing from its soundtrack, then it may go with what the character is doing or how they character is feeling, by showing the images of what they're doing.

 

One sound technique, we will use is parallel sound.  Parallel sounds are sounds which fit the scene e.g. a happy scene would have happy music and laughter.  Parallel sound is what you would expect to hear along with what the audience will be able to see.  In the context of this thriller opening sequence, we will include the sounds of footsteps of the victim as she will be wearing heels and use music which is tense to add suspense for the audience, therefore making the audience build a relationship with the victim as they can hear what the victim is doing.  Another parallel sound we will be using is screaming, this would portray to the audience that the victim is fearful and wants somebody to notice.  This parallel sound will take place near the end of the sequence as this will create an enigma and the audience will not know what happened to her, if she has lived or died.  In terms of suspense, the screaming will add suspense because the audience do not know if she going to die or if the victim has died.  This could result in the audience feeling shocked or have a sense of fear for the victim because the scream would be unexpected and they don't know what really has happened if she is

 

A second sound technique, we plan to use is non diegetic sound.  Non diagetic sounds are sounds which the character/characters will not be able to hear and the audience will not be able to hear where the source of the sound is coming from e.g. background music or a narratives voice.  The non diegetic sound we will use is tense music, the music will take place when the victim see the killer and starts running, this will create suspense and keep the audience engaged in the film, making them keep watching as the audience will be left in suspense.  It could also indicate to the audience that something will happen to the victim.  Non diegetic sound such as the background music which will be selected will make the audience react in a way which they can feel the suspense through hearing the music as the tension builds throughout the film as they know that something could happen but they don't know when that event will happen.

Another sound technique we plan to use is diagetic sound.  Diegetic sounds are sounds which would be part of the film, meaning the sounds come from objects or people e.g. dialogue, radio or a kettle boiling.  We plan to use the sound of a car radio for diegetic sound as it adds reality to the scene.  This means the audience will be able to relate to the situation as they probably would be listening to the radio while in the car.  The sound of the car radio will be heard when a frame shows the car driving.  Other diegetic sounds which the audience will be able to hear are the car door opening and closing, the engine of the car, the bushes and leaves on the ground as the victim in running through the forest and breathing when the victim is running.  The diegetic sounds adds reality to the film.  The use of diegetic sound will ensure the audience reacts in a way which helps them relate to the situation and keep them engaged in the film.

We plan to use a range of on screen sounds, as these are sounds which the audience can see on the screen including the car radio, victims scream, the sound of footsteps. This will add reality to the opening sequence.  The sound of the car radio will be a frame of the point of view shot, of that the victim can see as she is driving.  The sound of footsteps will take place when the victim walks out of the car.  The scream will take place near the end when the screen black as something appears to go over the eyes.  The sound of the scream will also make the audience feel shocked as they don't know what happened to her as they can't see what happened.  The sound of footsteps will make the audience react in way which will make them wonder who it is and keep them engaged.  The sound of the radio will add normality to the scene and make the audience in a way that they can relate to the current situation.

We also plan to use off screen sound, this sound will take place when the car alarm has been set off, the audience will not know where the sound will be coming from meaning the sound will be off screen.  Off screen sound is conventional to the the thriller genre because the audience do not know where the intial sound is coming from creating mystery as they would want to know where the source is comming from.  The fact that the car alarm suddenly goes off unexpectantly means that the audience would act in a way which would make them feel shocked because the audience did not suspect that the car alarm would go off.

Overall, in terms of creating suspense, our thriller opening sequence, will be successful as it would include the generic conventions of thriller genre therefore creating a successful thriller sequence.  I believe our thriller be become more conventional through using these sounds because it will be able to add more of the mystery and suspenseful aspects of thriller therefore having a better effect on the audience.

 

Group Storyboard - Miss Miller

The purpose of a storyboard is get a visual idea of what would be  included in certain frames when planning a film.  After, looking at each others own individual storyboard, we decided to combine some of the ideas from our individual storyboard but not all ideas, taking into consideration what would be best for our opening sequence of our thriller.     

Benjamin Yarwood - We have decided to use the element of low key lighting as we feel that it will create a more eerie atmosphere compared to what type of atmosphere, high key lighting would create.  Low key lighting is said to be conventional the thriller genre, as it creates a sense of mystery and suspense as the audience do not really know what is there.  We expect the audience to feel suspense because what the audience can see is quite limited, so they don't really know what could happen in the darkness and lead them to feel shocked at specific moment after the suspense has built up.

Wai-lum - A second element we have decided to do is using tense music for one of our non diegetic sounds as this would be able to create suspense for the audience.  Therefore making the audience engaged with the film and make them keep watching.  This would take place when the victim sees the killer and notices that something is not right and starts running away from the killer, as he walks towards them.  We expect the audience to feel shocked when the killer is shown because the audience will react to a sound, as they would have not expected it.  The audience will feel suspense when slow music is being played because it is slowed down and could lead to something which would shock them.

Michelle Woods - A third element we have decided to use is a point of view shot, as this will help the audience build and create a relationship with the character.  This will take place when the victim is running through the forest and the camera movement will be jerky, giving the sense of chaos and urgency to the audience also making them engaged.  We expect the audience to relate to the character because they can see what the victim sees, meaning they can see what she's seeing and feel her initial fear.

We do expect our target audience to enjoy and be shocked by our audience as we think we have included the best elements for our narrative, to make it the best for our target audience.  We did incorporate each others ideas, but also considering if it would be good for our narrative and visualising what it would look like, when it comes to the point of creating it.  

I think our story board is good, the issues we may come across my include having permission to film near Repton, so we will ask permission to see if we could film there.  Other issues may include getting the actors together at a time, when they can all make it as they may have other plans.

As a group we did find this useful, as it has helped us communicate more, put forward our own ideas and help us make sure it will be the best it can be.  I think, creating the group storyboard has helped with getting an idea of what our opening sequence will look like, even though it may not be exactly the same.

Narrative Theories - Miss Georgiou

Narrative theories were made by three people, including how the narrative is made up. Three people including Vladimir Propps theory, Todorov's theory and Aristotle's theory.

VLADIMIR PROPPS THEORY 

A Russian Critic, said that the narrative is based on the characters which perform a function.  
Including characters of:

• The hero - A character that seeks something
• The Villan - who opposes/actively blocks the hero's quest 
• The donor - A character who prepares the hero or gives an object
• The dispatcher - character to makes the lack known and send the hero off
• The false hero - Takes credit for the hero's actions or tries to marry the princess
• The helper - character who helps the hero complete task

This theory is allot like Shrek, therefore meaning its based more towards fairytales and not thrillers.

TODOROV'S THEORY

Tzvetan Todorov was against Vladimir Propps theory idea of narrative theories whilst allowing a more complex interpretation of film texts with his theory of equilibrium:

• State of equilibrium
• Disruption of equilibrium
• A recognition that the disorder has occurred
• An attempt to repair the damage of disruption
• Resume or a restoration of equilibrium

The narrative is driven by attempts to restore the equilibrium.  However, the equilibrium attained at the end of the story is  is not the same to the initial equilibrium.  He argues that the narrative needs transformation.  The characters or the situations are made through the process of disruption.  The disruption itself usually takes place  outside the normal framework, outside the normal social events.

ARISTOTLE'S THEORY

Aristotle's theory was around the idea of certain theories.  The theory may include headings that are used by some producers. 

Including the themes of:

• Inciting incident
• Dramatic incident
• Character Goal
• Resolution
• Sympathy
• Empathy

Our narrative will follow Todorov's theory as it will follow a story which is realistic and will have a equilibrium included, therefore leaving the audience in suspense and wondering what will happen.  Our narrative will be realistic because we want our target audience to relate to the situation.  We will be including an equilibrium because it will leave the audience in suspense and make them keep watching, to see what will happen next.

Planning Cinematography - Miss Miller

Cinematography is important within films, as the shots show the importance of the character/object.  Another reason, why cinematography is important within films, is that certain shots can make the audience build a relationship or relate to the current situation being shown, depending on the cinematography.  E.g.  A low angled shot of a villian will possibly get the audience to feel fear, as they are made to look bigger.  Planning is required in order to produce excellent sequences because you have to get a general visual idea of what it may look like before filming.  It is required to plan the cinematography before filming because without knowing what the following shots will be shot, we won't know what effect it will have on the audience.

We plan to use the following cinematography shots:

PANNING SHOT

We plan to use a panning shot, when the car is going along the road.  We have chosen to use this shot because it helps the audience focus on one subject which is moving, making them pay more attention to the subject and making them recognise the subject in other shots.  Panning shots are conventional to the thriller genre because they are able to show the general location of the setting in most thrillers or to show a character moving e.g. a character moving across a room. 

ESTABLISHING SHOT

We plan to use an establishing shot, as this helps set the scene of where the action will be taking place and it will show a significance of the place, making the audience wonder why it was shown at that time.  Establishing shots are conventional to the thriller genre as it does help set the scene of the location and lets the audience know where it will be happening.  Establishing shots are conventional to the thriller genre because they set the scene, as it shows what the setting is like of where the action is taking place.  In thrillers, an establishing shot may be shown to show the house or the location to give the audience an idea of what is happening in the place the characters are at.

POINT OF VIEW SHOT

We have also chosen to use a Point of view (POV) shot as this, helps the audience see what is happening from the characters own view.  This shot in particular will help the audience relate the the character as the audience can see what they see and can get idea of what they are seeing in front of them.  The point of view shot is conventional to the thriller genre as it can help build suspense at some points as they do not know what they look like in some films. e.g. Halloween.  This is conventional to the thriller genre because it shows mystery and it is successful in getting the audience to relate to the character, as they can see what the character is suggestively seeing through their own view.  It is able to show mystery sometimes because the audience do not know who's point of view it is in.  Through this camera angle, the audience is able to relate to the situation as they may feel like they are apart of the film and can see what the character can see.

 

MID SHOT

We have chosen to use a mid shot, as this will help the audience see what the character is wearing, which helps them get idea of what the victim would work as, they would be able to see what the victim would be wearing.  The mid shot also helps the audience relate to the character, as if they see something that the victim is wearing, they would be able to relate to what she is wearing as it may be something that they would wear everyday. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it is able to show the audience what the character looks like and will give information on what they are, depending on what they are weaing.  Overall, making a relationship with the character. 

CLOSE UP SHOT

Another shot, we have chosen to use is a close up shot as this will help the audience focus on one thing and will be able to the victims fear in the face, when she realises the killer.  This will help the audience build a relationship with the victim, as they will be able to relate to her fear.  By seeing the victims facial expression, the audience will be able to relate to the situation/character because they will be able to feel her emotion.  We also plan to use a close up of her shoes getting out the car, as this will help indicate that a female will be in the sequence. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it helps audience see the characters facial expression in the characters face, making the audience relate to her.  Close ups shots also help to put significance on objects e.g. a knife.
 

HIGH ANGLED SHOT

We plan to use a high angled shot of the victim as this will help portray the victim as the weaker character, putting the message across that the killer is the stronger character.  It also helps portray the victims inferiority as the high angled shot will make the victim look smaller.  This will help the audience create a relationship with the victim, as they will relate to the fear of the victim and how much weaker the victim will be when the high angled shot will be shown.  This shot is conventional to the thriller genre as it helps convey the victim as they weaker character, letting the audience know that something will happen to her.  High angled shots are conventional to the thriller genre because they generally indicate weakness of the victim.  The audience will be able to realte to the situation as they would be as if they were looking down at her and feeling how insuperior, she would feel at the time.

I think our sequence will more more effective with the following cinematography shots as without these shots, it will not have the same effect on the audience. Without the cinematography, the audience may not be able to build a relationship with the characters.  Planning the cinematography was helpful for filming, as we will were able to get an idea of how the audience would build a relationship on the audience and what type of effect it would have on the audience.  Our sequence will be more conventional to the thriller genre, considering our planned cinematography shots are typical of the thriller genre.  Therefore, making the audience to relate and enjoy our thriller opening sequence.

Planning Characters - Miss Miller

Without characters the audience will not be able to have something to focus and develop a good narrative.  The audience will be able to build relationships with the characters, therefore making them more interested in the narrative.

VICTIM

The victim of this film will be a blond victim who will be 17 year old who works as a secretary.  Our victim is a stereotypical, conventional character of the thriller genre as she is blond female.  In thrillers, female blond victims are known to be innocent and have a quality of naivety about them.  The fact that the victim is naive and innocent, causes the audience to build a relationship with the audience because these qualities of the victim may make them feel worried towards her.  

The victim may be completely unaware of her surroundings and who will be around.  This would make the audience emphasise with the victim and make them feel sorry for her, therefore creating a relationship with the victim.      

The fact that the victim would be a similar age to our target audience which is a 15+ will help the audience build a relationship with the victim as she would be a similar age to them.  The experience which the victim entails will also help the audience create a relationship with the audience, making the audience develop feelings for the character.  

This character is conventional to the thriller because in most thrillers there is always a victim who is blond as they would be considered to be vulnerable, naive and innocent. 

KILLER / ANTAGONIST 

Our killer is a male aged 25, the identity of the killer will hidden by a mask, we have taken inspiration from scream as this will help create mystery.  

The killer, we have chosen is very tall, this would helps with the fact that it would help put the message across that he would be inferior and stronger than the victim.  The audience can build a relationship with the antagonist as they feel fear, as they don't initially know what he is going to do.   

The background of the killer would be that he is mentally unstable, we have taken inspiration from Halloween in this as we find out that the killer is mentally unstable as Michael gets released from the institution. 

The killer is a stereotypical character of the thriller genre as he will be wearing dark colours and a mask as this help with the whole hidden identity idea.  The audience will be able to build a relationship with the killer, as it will make them have a sense of curiosity, making them pay more attention to the killer.

The killer is conventional to the thriller genre because it's what the audience may expect when thinking of a villain.  They have to be considered the strongest of the characters compared to the victim who is the weaker character.  The fact the killer is unknown, due to the mask, would make it easier for the audience to relate as they are to envision what they want the antagonist to look like.

Overall, the characters chosen are very conventional to the thriller genre because they are, what the audience may expect in a thriller film. Considering, the victim being blonde and the villain being of a big build, tall and wearing the dark colours.  We have chosen these characters instead of others because it is conventional in thrillers to have a villain and a victim.  Another reason why we have chosen these particular characters is because if they were different it may have a completely different reaction for the audience.