Class Feedback Summary

GOOD

• Good use of books as props to show protagonist's mental state
• Good variation of shot types
• Good credits implemented into the scene and suitable for film
• Good use  of diegetic and non diegetic sound effects

IMPROVE:

• Make the ending less like a trailer
• Fade out the soundtrack (was supposed to fade - final cut problem?)

Title Pane

 

(numbered from left to right)

1. (Convention 1) An example of a normal activity happening in an extraordinary situation which is the girl having a murderous split personality.

2. (Convention 2) A flashback is a common convention of a psychological thriller.

3. (Convention 3) The eye is a common convention used in psychological thrillers as it gives a sense of mystery and covers the themes of identity.

4. (Camera work 1)We used this significance of an eye and used extreme close ups to give a sense of distortion. 

5. (Camera work 2)This is an example of a mid shot.

6.  (Lighting)We used dull lighting to create a dreary atmosphere.

7. (Costume) A shot of a main costume of the protagonist.

8. (Prop)A shot of a prop with narrative significance.

9. (Location) An example of an important location.

Final Thriller Sequence

Final cut deadline day.

Today is the final cut deadline and we have and we feel we have completed our opening deadline and have achieved our aim of completing it on time as we were unable to do so for the children's film project.

However, we received some last minute feedback from Andrea in which we have corrected which was to have more continuity within titles. Also we got feedback in which required us to make some adjustments with colour correction. We are also anxious as our thriller opening sequence is 1 minute 30 seconds which is shorter than the recommended time by Andrea and Holly. However we are happy with the piece and feel adding more would compromise the quality.

To conclude, We feel we have followed the marking criteria and are happy with the sequence we are submitting.

More accurate film poster

Poster 1

7th March Progress

After discussing our rough cut so far with our teacher, we will be making the following changes if given a chance to shoot more film and also some other general improvements:

• In the part where there are 'typewriter' style credits we will reshoot this to be typed on 'Lucy's' laptop to add to the element of confusion.
• We will re-film the phone conversation to make it less obvious that the voice is voiced over by another person. 
• We will take still photographs of 'Sean' to place in between the shot of the memo and the end of the conversation, probably with an accompaniment sound effect to portray the shock. 
• We need to cut/change the baseball bat scene to look more realistic

We have added an animated title and finished the majority of our other credits, as well as mostly finished the sound and editing, with a wide variety of transitions and effects.

7th March Update

This lesson we will be completing our credits and hopefully add an animated title 'Evanesce' to our sequence which will hopefully make our piece more unique and dynamic.

Thriller Opening Classification

I believe that our thriller would be a 15. Though it contains violence and gore, it is very moderate and the film does not focus on these elements. The violence does bump up the rating, along with the psychologically disturbing theme of split personality. However, it would not contain strong language or scenes of nudity.

Marking Criteria - Self Evaluation so far

Level 1 = Up to 23
Level 2 = 24 - 35 (Basic)
Level 3 = 36 - 47 (Proficient)
Level 4 = 48 - 60 (Excellence) 

• Holding a shot steady where appropriate. 
• We think we are level 3/4 on this, as we have used the tripod to hold the shots steady in some places such as establishing shots, and used a shaky, handheld effect for an anxious atmosphere in certain scenes. 

• Framing a shot, including and excluding elements.
• We think we are level 3 for this as we have framed shots, eg. The picture of the empty bench is framed by a tree, and possibly may reach a low level 4. 

• Using a variety of shot distances. 
• We think we definitely are level 4, as we have used long shots, close ups, extreme close ups, mid shots, establishing shots etc.

• Shooting material appropriate to the task.
• We think we have shot material appropriate to the task as it fits in with the conventions of a psychological thriller - imagery of an eye,  not trusting the narrator - we also think that it is clearly an opening as the beginning of the plot is shown chronologically - so a level 4. 

• Selecting mise-en-scene
• We think we should get a high level 4 for this, as a large amount of the footage is focused on mise-en-scene, especially costume and make up - the evil Lucy wears black make up and nail varnish, with dark clothes - and good Lucy has the opposite, no nail varnish and little make up. The locations have also been chosen carefully, for the effect of unsettling the viewer as they are conceivable places.  

• Editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer.
• I believe we have achieved a comfortable level 3 at this as we have edited in a way that portrays confusion and anxiety to the viewer, and allows them to understand the situation, eg. 'evil' scenes being edited to be black and white.

• Using varied shot transitions and effects.
• I would guess we reached a level 4 at this because we have used several different shot transitions available in final cut, as well as using effects to blur and affect the footage in different ways.

• Using sound with images.
• We have used a lot of sound to achieve the atmosphere - a soundtrack and also several sound effects to the make the situation seem realistic.  

• Using titles appropriately
• At present I would say we were only a level 3 as our credits are animated but still very simple - we are planning to use photoshop to edit text and spice up the credits and titles to fit the genre. 

Credits

We have several screenshots of footage which needs credits, and are now looking at fonts which match the theme and atmosphere of the clip.

Update - 2/2/11

So far we have...

• Completed a rough cut of our footage, lasting roughly 1min28secs
• Added sound (voice over, music, sound effects)
• Edited the footage
• Edited part of the credits
• Looked at fonts for the rest of our credits

We are aiming to...

• Add photoshopped text to the rest of the credits

Sonic Moodboard

Thriller Shot List

My Targets for the Thriller Project - Sam

• To try and learn to use the camera more effectively
• To learn more editing techniques on final cut
• To make more notes during the project to help with my final evaluation.

Overall Children's Film Evaluation

Top positive points:

• Good use of sound that was appropriate and effective for the genre and action
• Good use of mise-en-scene to appeal to the audience

To improve:

• Clearer/more emphasised shot distances to create greater effect
• More sophisticated use of framing to give a more professional look etc

Filming Dates

We are planning to film on the 12th and 13th February in Cambridge. We will need to bring our group members along with some other volunteer actors.

Pitch Qs & As

Who will be acting and voicing over?
Sam will be the main character Lucy - Musty and Abi will be 'murder victims' along with other volunteers. A friend will also be acting as the voice of Lucy for the voice over.


What does the flicker in the screen signify?
It signifies the visual change from good Lucy to bad Lucy, but also reflects the shifting of her personality.


How many murders will be filmed?
We won't film very many murders (6-7), but as it is montage we can use clips from a few murders to put together in a way that they look different, eg. different angles/effects. 


How long will it take to film?
We will be borrowing the camera and tripod for a weekend. 


Location ideas:

alleyway

Lucy's room

possible murder location

Final Idea - Psychological Thriller

We are developing this idea:

'The sequence would start with a closed eye (mise-en-scene of pretty makeup). When the eye opens, there is a camera-like flash, which then cuts to the main character walking down an alley-way. The screen would then flicker, as through with interference, and then show in black in white, the main character killing someone in the same alleyway. The screen would then flicker again and go back to the main character simply walking, and the person she was seen killing walks past - reaction shot. A voice over will then start as she is shown writing on pads of paper and screwing them up etc as she explains how she cannot discern what is and isn't real. Filtered music would start with the faster pace of editing and she would be shown trying to take pictures of what she has done - the flash would show fast images of her killing people and stealing etc. It would then show that in the folder where she saved her pictures there is nothing. It could then cut to her closing her eye (mise-en-scene of dark make up) and then black screen and then to her face. She would say how she doesn't know who she is. A knocking on the door would change her thoughts and she would get up and turn off the music, run downstairs, the camera looking at the door as she opens it and the visitor greets her, finally cutting to the name of the film.'

The sub-genre is psychological thriller, with strong themes of identity and reality. The credits shown in the opening sequence would not be intrusive to the opening, in a simple text such as:

'Panther Production Presents'

This would be done so not to take away any of the building atmosphere and uncertainty portrayed in the first 2 minutes. The film will be called 'Evanesce' which means 'vanish'. This title is speaking to how the main character's personality is vanishing and she is becoming someone else. Within the first opening 2 minutes there will only be the main character, named Lucy Rima. Her first name is a reference to Lucifer, as she has sinned.

We plan to film in several locations:

• Sam's house
• An alleyway
• Various outdoor places, eg. in gardens, backstreets. 

We won't concentrate hugely on the lighting, as there are many effects we wish to use on final cut to manipulate our footage. In the 'good' parts, we are planning to over-exaggerate the brightness of the colours, and we are filming the 'bad' parts in black and white, in which we can change the saturation to mould effects. The mood will be strange and creepy, with an emphasis on bright colours and then the huge contrast of simple black and white. 

Costumes will be quite simple: for her 'good' side, Lucy will be wearing a dress and tights, with natural looking make up and pink nail polish. For her 'evil' persona she will be wearing black trousers, top, black leather jacket, black knee-high-boots, black nail polish and with dark make up.

The sound will mostly consist of non-diegetic string undertones, and the voice of Lucy. Also included would be muffled effects, such as camera noises. Lastly there would be a partial, diegetic soundtrack included to create an atmosphere, which would then be switched off by Lucy. 

Most of the camera shots will be either long shot or close to extreme close ups. The long shots will often be canted angles as they will be when Lucy is murdering people, and the close ups will be of key props, for example a knife, her eye, a chain used to strangle someone etc. The editing will be a mix of continuity and montage. The beginning will be continuity until the diegetic music starts. This will then change to montage editing with close ups of murder weapons and long shots of the murder, until the music is then stopped. The editing will then become continuity again. 

Thriller Opening Ideas

Idea One: Psychological Thriller

• Our psychological thriller would have a main theme/plot-line of an unclear line between reality and hallucinations. For example, the main character could be seen walking down an alleyway and then the screen would flicker, like static, to show a quick shot of them stabbing someone in the same alleyway, and then flicking back to them walking - this leaves the viewer in the same mental confusion as the main character - what is and isn't real?

• The plot-line would focus on the character trying to figure out what actions she is actually doing, and what she is hallucinating. She would try to use a variety of things, for example to write down what she sees, take pictures etc - but she still would not know eg. the notes being confused, the camera disappearing etc. Eventually she would end up finding out she has a uncontrollable split personality that acts on her subconscious violent throughs, when she kills someone close to her - for example a boyfriend or best friend - she dreams she does it, and when going to visit that person, she sees they are actually dead. Also, throughout the film we see her 'nice' personality morphing slowly into the violent girl in her 'hallucinations', ending with a voiceover stating that she used to be scared of her hallucinations, but now she knows that being a killer is a part of her. 

• The conventions we would include would be things such as the imagery of the eye often seen in this sub-genre, unreliable narrator - the audience would not trust the main character's narration/voice overs as she is seen to also be a killer. We would also include fast-paced editing, and the theme of identity - as in she does not know who she is, the killer or the normal person. 

the opening sequence: 


The sequence would start with a closed eye (mise-en-scene of pretty makeup). When the eye opens, there is a camera-like flash, which then cuts to the main character walking down an alley-way. The screen would then flicker, as through with interference, and then show in black in white, the main character killing someone in the same alleyway. The screen would then flicker again and go back to the main character simply walking, and the person she was seen killing walks past - reaction shot. A voice over will then start as she is shown writing on pads of paper and screwing them up etc as she explains how she cannot discern what is and isn't real. The music pace would speed up with the pace of editing and she would be shown trying to take pictures of what she has done - the flash would show fast images of her killing people and stealing etc. It would then show that in the folder where she saved her pictures there is nothing. It could then cut to her closing her eye (mise-en-scene of dark make up) and then black screen and then to her face. She would say how she doesn't know who she is. If we have time, the music will become almost actiony as it cuts from her walking in a normal 'pretty outfit' to her in dark clothes and an 'evil persona', finally cutting to the name of the film.

Idea Two: Criminal Thriller

• The criminal thriller would, as with the conventions of this sub-genre, focus on the criminals. A gang of criminals are seen robbing a bank at the beginning, before being turned on by one of their own who shoots their way out and takes the money. The film would focus on the search within the gang for the traitors accomplice, who is still hiding in the gang. Conventions included would be double-crosses, shoot-outs and obviously, the crimes such as heists. 

• The main themes would be identity - as in, who in the gang is betraying them. This lack of trust would cause the audience to not trust any of the narrators, which would create an unnerving effect. There would also be narrations from each character, which would show everything from a different perspective, intensifying the identity crisis. 
• 
  

the opening sequence: 

The film would open mid-way through the initial bank robbery, the camera positioned in a voyeuristic view, filming through the window, and cutting to them stuffing money in a bag. There would be a voiceover of the gang leader explaning the steps of the robbery and cut to relevant actions, eg buying the guns etc. This would be a long montage. It would then cut to the end of the gun as the traitor shoots two of the gang members and runs with the money, ending with the title.

Idea Three: Mystery Thriller

• The plot line would consist of the main character finding his best friend dead on the floor. He would then be arrested and questioned - as he is the main suspect. The plot would consist of the main character both avoiding the police before he can be convicted of the murder, and trying to solve the mystery of who really killed them. The end would leave the main character dead after being shot by the police, who then discover a bag holding evidence that makes him innocent and incriminating his sister. The final shot would be of him in a coma in the hospital, and his sister coming in the room with a knife. 

• The main themes would be the imagery of the eye, which would be the clue as his sister has a company with an eye as the logo. It would also contain themes of perception, as we would also see the evidence against him cutting to the perspective of the police officers chasing him. 

The opening sequence:

It would begin with a pool of blood growing from the body, and then feet walking in the room. There would be a voiceover of the main character explaining how it all began when his friend was found dead. It would show handcuffs being clipped around his wrists and cut to him in an interrogation room. The voices from the interrogation would stay but the images would change from the interrogation to him finding his friend dead. It would end with him finding his only clue - a torn piece of paper he takes from the body, showing a badly drawn eye, and then cut to the title.