Planning for opening sequence

Characters and their seperate roles in the narrative:




Anna (Sophie): Quiet reserved girl who fancy's Cameron. He doesn't even know she exists and doesn't notice her when she's watching from a distance. In a desperate atempt to get him to notice her, she stands in  front of his car while he's driving, hoping that he'll stop and at least ask her to move so at least he's aware of her. As he's coming towards her he's on his phone reading a text and then replying and so he hits her. She dies and the next day, starts to haunt him. She turns the radio on when he's in his car to songs that aren't on the CD that he's listening to. The three tracks will be; Bring me to life By Evanesence, I don't believe you By Pink and Grenade By Bruno Mars. She then makes him see her reflection in the mirror in the bath room and make him see blood on his hands when there's nothing there.

Cameron (Cameron):Popular and out going but doesn't notice many things. One of these things is Anna. While leaving college he recieves a text from a friend which he reads and then replys to even though he's driving. He doesn't realise he's hit Anna and carries on driving and go's to college the next day. As he drives over the place where he hit Anna, his music changes to Bring me to life, he switches the song to the next on his CD, not realising that it's not on the CD, the next sond is Grenade, this time he's happliy suprised, making a comment how he likes the song and starts singing along. The track then changes on it's own to I don't believe you. After this he gets a bit freaked out and turns the CD off and parks his car. He goes to the toilet and when he's washing his hands he looks up and in the mirror he see's Anna's reflection and turns around expecting to see her there, but there's no one. He turns back around and continues to wash his hands and looking down he sees red being washed off his hands but it wont stop. He tries to see where the source of the blood is but there's nothing. He washing more vigorously but still there's the constant red. He gives up with the water and reaches for a paper towel to dry his hands. A boy he knows walks in. Cameron asks him if he saw a girl walk out, he says no, then he asks if he can help with the blood and shows him the towel. The boys says there's nothing there and Cameron looks down to see nothing but a wet towel. 


Jake (Luka):Popular and Cameron's best friend - he's with Cameron at most times throughout college, he is one of the reasons Cameron never notices Anna. Jake and Cameron walk to college one day and are oblivious to the fact that anna is nearby. They play football, and have some lunch at the same time Anna watches them intensively. At the end of the day, Jake texts cameron whilst he is driving home from college, and Cameron replies which consequently causes Anna's death. Both characters are still however unaware of the fact Anna existed, and Cameron has nasty experiences which include a random changing of the radio, and a toilet scene where Cameron sees anna in the mirror, before turning around and seeing nothing. Jake walks in shortly after and sees Cameron shaken up - he questions what's wrong, and Cameron asks Jake if he saw a girl leave the toilets - he replies no, and the sequence shortly ends after this.

Opening finishes here.

Possible Locations: Some possible locations of our Thriller opening sequence are:

• Longroad: Car park, toilets, football field.
• Cambridge.

BBFC:

We think our opening sequence should be rated at 15 as there is no discrimination or drug use. Yes there is a threat but it's not sadistic or sexualised.

Visuals of our planning

This is the car that we are going to be using for the car crash part in our opening thriller sequence.

This is the kind of bathroom that we going to be using for the toliet scene where he thinks he see's her in the mirror but doesn't.


We are having to use mak-up to make the stalker girl look ghostly but its not going to be as drastic as the picture.



Long road sixth form college is going to be the main setting of our thriller and the car park is going to be the place were the car crash happens.

Worst thriller ever?

This thriller sees the brother and fiancee of a dead policeman infiltrate a female-led biker gang to uncover his murderer - uncovering twists and turns on the way.

" This movie is one big motorcycle accident. The plot is awful the cast is awful, everything in this one is awful. A guy's brother is killed so he and his brother's fiance infiltrate a biker gang to look for the his killers. There aren't as many biker chicks as the tagline and title suggest and we mainly see a bunch of people act drunk and once in a while we can understand what they are saying. It is an even worse movie than "Sidehackers" another Ross Hagen movie."

"A very lame attempt to show what the motorcycle culture of the late 1960's was like, the Hellcats was just plain bad."

1/10 stars - officially the lowest-rated thriller film to date.

Evaluation of the Thriller Psycho and Chinatown

"Psycho - considered one of the best Thriller films."

Both of these highly rated films are both different thrillers as Psycho uses fast because and fast camera shots to create suspense, whereas in Chinatown it's more action-packed, mind games are presented to challenge the readers thoughts about the murder and it creates fear and suspense. Both thrillers have been successful in the making, and are regarded as some of the best thrillers of all time.

PSYCHO -

Consistently listed among the best thrillers ever made, Psycho, the 1960 Alfred Hitchcock film starring Anthony Perkins and Janet Leigh, has changed the way anyone who's ever seen it feels about being the in shower. Believe it or not, when Psycho first came out, audiences weren't completely into it.  Many fans of the filmmaker were disappointed to get something all together different than they were expecting. 




CHINATOWN -
Featuring a strong, Academy Award-winning screenplay by Robert Towne, private detective J.J. Gittes (Jack Nicholson) investigates a murder and stumbles onto a conspiracy involving the future of Los Angeles. A neo-noir thriller that simultaneously pays homage to and redefines the film noir genre, Chinatown tells a complex story brilliantly and showcases one of Nicholson's greatest performances.

Extra Research - Thriller Poster Evaluation

The featured "Thriller Poster" shown above uses the conventions of a thriller to great effect. We are fully aware of the fact that the film that is being advertised is in fact a thriller because of the conventions used. Lighting is a key aspect used in the poster - Thrillers use lighting for different reasons, while trying to set up a particular overriding tone or atmosphere for the upcoming film. There is a sense of anxiety and discomfort presented in the poster which engages the audience and makes them hooked onto what the film has to offer. Characters are normally presented in the middle of the frame, this is very much the case for this Thriller poster as we can see a woman shown in the center.  The characters' movement and position usually tells us something about the person - as an audience I believe the woman is very ambiguous and presents a sense of mystery. 

Peer feedback on our planning

For our opening sequence our peers suggested a couple of things that we need to consider in our opening:

• We need to think about Health and Safety when it comes to filming the car due to the fact it could become dangerous.
• They also suggested that we should have extra time filming the car crash scene which will help to make it the best it can be. 
• We also need to make a clear decision on the location of the stalking as it needs to be in a normal place but we need consider what places will be appropriate.
• costume is also another factor that we have to consider with the ghost having to look different to the people who are alive, which means we have to use make-up and different types of clothes.
• A suggestion that the we end with Cameron looking in the mirror , seeing the ghost then turning around and shes not there.

Action Thriller Casino royale

Action Thriller-Casino Royale

Staring
Daniel Craig - James Bond
Judi Dench - M
Eva Green - Vesper Lynd
Mads Millelsen - Le Chiffre

Director - Martin Campell

• There are crimes at the heart of the storylines
• James bond has to act like a normal guy in normal situations but doesn't
• Extraordinary things are happening in ordinary sitautions.
• Use of car chases and one to one fighting with weapons
• A narrative patterns which establishes enigma's (secrets and questions)
• The protagonist has a 'flaw' which is exploited by the antagonist.
• There is a scene near the end of the film in which the protagonist is in peril.

Crime thriller 'Inside man' 1

Inside Man - 2006 Crime

Characters

Starring: Denzel Washington- Detective Keith Frazier,

             Clive Owen - Dalten Russell

    Director: Spike Lee

• There is a crime at the heart of the story which is a bank robbery.
• The main character is the bad guy is Dalten which is focused on more then the good guys.
• In the film time plays a big part in making the audience more drawn towards  the plot
• There is extraordinary events happening on ordinary places.
• The main bad guy talks to you like your apart of this story which is a good effect as it draws the audience in and makes it more existing.
• The music helps to create a bigger thrill.

Eample Production Logo's

Example 1

Example 2

own production logo

Evaluation:

We decided to look at photos of various different images. We first typed in 'Sheets' and other images until we typed in 'Moon'. There were several images that we liked but this one stood out to us. The dark shaded colours worked well together and reminded us of several things; Blood, Dim light, Thriller Myths e.g. werewolves or vampires. These are all possible conventions for thrillers and will help convey the conventions to our own thriller film.

We were given a few example production logos such as '20th Century Fox', 'New Line Cinema' and 'Warner Bros. Pictures'. 'Warner Bros.' and '20th Century Fox' logos' both have similar colours to the colours in the logo we have created. This gave us some inspiration towards the colour theme of our logo - we realised that the success generated by these companies can also work for us - we have tried to imitate their logo whilst remaining original and inputting our own designs and we found it worked really well.

Example thriller soundtrack no visuals.

Evaluation of sound track:

To create this we used garage band and put together a series of short music clips. We listened to some before we started creating and put them all together. We then listened to only 2 or 3 at the same time and experimented with different clip sounds. Once we had the desired sounds that we wanted and thought worked well together, we started to arrange and layer and put some on for repeats.
We used a repetitive under layer of sound to give the audience something to relate to when the main tune changes or new layers are added. This fits into the Thriller genre as most Thriller sound tracks had a repetitive under layer of sound.

Analysis of sound in thriller opening sequences.

1) Refere to your notes, discuss the different types of sound used in the three opening sequences.

• Diagetic/ non-diagetic
• Does the sound/music work with the visuals
• What makes it work with it sub-genre?

Catch me if you can.
In Catch me if you can the sound used is non diagetic which matches the visuals of the animation used for the opening titles. There is repetition of the main tune used which is split by new sections introduced to the music score. The instruments used were orchestral which helped create the mood of mystery and the sense of being chased or running as the tempo was slow but the rate of the notes when played made it seem fast. The new sections fitted into the different locations portrayed in the animation so that the audience gained a sense of recognition.

Face off.
The main tune in the opening sequence for face off is played softly by strings in a non threatening way to make the audience feel relaxed, to lull the audience into a false sense of security. Under the main tune there was a repetitive sound of a 'ting' noise. This is almost child like as it's one of the most used sounds by children and children are repetitive. A child's laughter is introduced to the sound and the picture of a 'merry go round' is shown to the audience. On this there is a father and son playing, the child's laughter is match on action to the visuals. The music changes the same time as the visuals where the audience is faced with the barrel of a gun and is able to see inside. The music turns slightly more threatening but the innocence is still there to remind the audience of the innocence of the father and son. The sound reflects the visuals to help create suspense for the audience. We then see and hear a gun shot.

Panic room.
The sound is introduced by a gust of wind. The sound for this opening sequence is immediately setting the mood to gloomy for the audience which tells them what mood the rest of the film will be like. The music is played by strings which is the most common instrument for thriller films. A harsh cello sound of short sharp notes is introduced when the tune changes slightly. Ambient sounds of traffic and wind is now introduced to the sound layering the music score. The main tune comes back towards the end of the opening sequence but the cello is still being repeated.

Sub Genres of Thriller.-Melissa's extra work

There are several sub genres within the genre thriller which include mixed genres. Some examples are:

Action thriller
Conspiracy thriller
Crime thriller
Disaster thriller
Drama thriller
Erotic thriller
Legal thriller
Medical thriller
Mystery thriller
Paranoid thriller
Physcological thriller
Political thriller
Religious thriller
Supernatural thriller
Techno thriller

Analysis on a past student/groups work-P1 01

Video: Level 3
There is evidence of proficency in the creative use of many of the following technical skills.

• Holding a shot steady, where appropriate.
• Framing a shot, including and excluding elements as appropriate.
• Using a varity of shot distances as appropriate.
• Shooting material that is appropriate to the task set.
• Selecting Mis-En-Scene including, colour,figure, lighting, objects, and setting
• Editing so that the meaning is apparent to the viewer.
• Using varied shot transistions and other effects selectively and appropriatly for the task set.
• Using sound with images and editing appropriatly for the task set.
• Using titles appropriatly.  

In P1 01's opening sequence, they used an appropriate setting for the genre (thriller) and their story line; Abandoned car park, bath room and corridor. Their use of costumes and props help set the mood of the opening sequence and establish to the audience the potential personalities of the characters introduced. The use of black clothing and hoodies help to show the audience that the characters don't want to be identified and by not being able to see their faces questions the audiences thoughts of who the characters are. Black clothing symbolises possible threats and evil which connects with the characters state of mind within the film. The opening sequence was in colour which helps the audience to establish the moods of scenes and possible characters that may be wearing different colours which symbolises different personalities and roles in the film. The lighting in this opening sequence is natural light coming through windows or lights in rooms being on. This opposes the stereotypical view of a thriller as most lighting in thrillers is dark and eerie.
In this opening sequence, the different types of camera shots are; point of view, establishing shot, long shot, close up, over the shoulder and mid shots. These all contribute to the genre thriller as it makes the whole sequence flow. The point of view shot creates tension and helps the audience to put themselves into the characters position. The long shot and the establishing shot help to show the audience the setting of where the next scene will take place. The close ups take hold of the audience's attention and stop any other distractions that could be happening within the frame. Over the shoulder shot lets the audience feel like they're there as a third person looking at the action in front of them and causing the audience tension again. The mid shot allows the audience to see the characters actions and also the environment around him and see his reactions.
The use of the car park in the opening sequence is creative as a typical thriller would have possibly have been set in a forest or an abandoned gloomy building. The point of view helps us as an audience to feel the fears of the character's vision. The sound was created on garage band and fits with the actions of whats happening in the sequence.
The titles where put in between shots and introducing us to the creators of the film/opening sequence. It looks professional and works with the slow pace of the opening sequence which gets gradually faster till the end.






Research and planning: level 3

• There is proficient research into similiar products and a potential target audience.
• There is proficient organisation of actors, locations, costumes and props.
• There is proficient work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding.
• There is a good level of care in the presentation of the research and planning 
• Good time management.   

They have researched and analysed many different and similar thriller opening sequences which has helped them gather ideas for their own opening sequence. They have also researched into BBFC classifications and have decided that their own film should be rated at certificate 15 and have given an explanation of why. They have also explained what a film must and must not have to be at this BBFC guideline of 15.
In their planning, they have described briefly the age of actors suitable to be in a 15 rated film classification. They have also given specific details and street view maps of the location of where they plan to film and explained why and how it would benefit their end product of the opening sequence. Their costumes and props have been thoroughly researched into and have also provided images of the style of their props and costumes. They have provided a screen shot which shows the shot types which they have used for there opening sequence. A storyboard has also been uploaded onto blogger which clearly shows there storyline and shot angles. They have shown a lot of detailed planning of their whole thirller opening sequence which has helped them to gather ideas together and see how they've deveolped there project. This group have presented there planning and reasearh in a clear and smiple way. They have used simple techniques like bullet pointing, paragraphs and good use of imagrey to make it easier to read.

Similarities and differences of two thrillers

Disturbia and bourne Ultimatum

This films starts of with showing a fast current of the river where the father and son are clearly bonding. The river shows that this film is going to be at a steady pace that is going to based upon a father and son relationship. The car crash tells us that a crime is going to be at the heart of this thriller. And the slow music suggests that it’s going to take a while before the storyline is understood and people start to believe what’s happening with the killer. And because no-one believes him that there is a murderer next door it which plays in his mind to prove people wrong but then people don’t believe him which makes me questions is mental state.

However Bourne Ultimatum starts of with a lot of quick shots and its already clear that a crime is at the heart of the thriller. The darkness creates a dim and dark feel which gives a better thriller affect. It also starts of with fast paced music which shows that there is going to be a lot of action. This is a action thriller

These are both different thrillers as Bourne Ultimatum uses fast because and fast camera shots to create suspense. But in disturbia they use mind games with all the characters to create there fear and suspense. They both base their thrillers on police offences which control the whole storyline.

BBFC Classification for a thriller

Bristish Board of film Classification
For 15 years and over

Person's younger then 15 are not legally allowed to watch a '15' film in the Cinema. Anyone younger then 15 also cannot buy  or a '15' film.

Discrimination

The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour.

Drugs

Drugs can be shown on screen butt he film as a whole must not promote or ecnourge the misuse of drugs.

Horror

Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised.

Imitable behaviour

Dangerious behaviour such as, hanging, suicide and self-harming should be focused on in detail so such things cannot be copied. Weapons which are easy accessible should not be glamorised.

Language

There can be frequent use of strong language for example 'fuck'. But stronger terms may be acceptable if they are justified by the context. If these terms are repeated or used in unacceptable manners then its not acceptable

Nudity

Nudity may be allowed in the right context but it must be with great detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.

Sex
Sexaual activity maybe shown without a lot of detail. The maybe verbal references to sexual behaviour, but no stronf references are acceptable unless they are in context. works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation are unlikey to be acceptable.

Theme
No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate for 15 year olds.

Violence

Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.


For 18years and over

No person younger than '18' may see this film in a cinema
People younger than 18 may not buy or rent an '18' rated film

In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

• where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
• where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
• where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.

In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.

Sex education at ‘18’

Where sex material genuinely seeks to inform and educate in matters such as human sexuality, safer sex and health, explicit images of sexual activity may be permitted.

Sex works at ‘18’

Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated images, or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.

Psychological Thrillers- Sophie's extra work

Momento 2000

• Close-up of photograph have a vogeristic feel- the viewer has a priverledge perspective steam of consiousness- voicover- internal thoughts. Dramatic and mysterious music which helps to build suspence, some may use string instruments.
• The opening sequence signals to the viewer what to expect in the rest of the film, distortion of reality ,discruption of time, repitition and loss of memory.
• Questions unreliable narrative
• Mistaken identity for example 'Lenny' I told you my mane is Lennard.
• The use of point of view shots in the hotel room tells us the viewer is unsure where it is. This could indicate he may also be unsure of who he is.

         

Thriller conventions Sophie and melissa's extra work

• A crime is at the core of the narrative
• A complex narrative with clues and false paths which would be a non-linear narrative
• There is an enigma (mystery) for the audience. This would ussually be solved at the end of the film.
• Suspence is always used as it is the key to a thriller. Music/score can help add and to create suspence if used properly.
• A narrative pattern of establishing enigma's (secrets and questions) which the audience expect to get resolveded.
• The protagonist who is systematically dis-empowered and drawn into a complex web by the antagonist.
• Extraordinary events happen in ordinary situations
• Themes of identity
• Themes of mirroring
• The protagonist has a flaw which is exploited by the antagonist
• The title can often reflect an expect of the pro/antagonist. of there psychological state.
• Theres often a scene near the end of the film in which the protagonist in peril.
• Mise-en-scene which echo's the dilemma/ trouble
• The lighting in a thriller often reflects the mood of the scene or the character focused on in a particular scene. It also adds to the mystery and suspence.
• Often POV shots, fast action shots and close ups
• Main characters often accustomed to danger e.g. law enforcer, spies, soldiers etc. or normal civilians drawn into danger
• Hero usually beats the villain
  

Evaluation For The Preliminary Task

In this preliminary task we were able to sucesfuly use a range of different camera angles and shots to create a better flowing sequence. We were able to develop these skills in othe last task which made this task more successful. we have learnt that continuity played a big part in making this sequence to make it at a better quailty to makeit easier for the audience to understand and follow it.


Filming in our loctaion was very difficult due to students wondering around college this meant it took us longer to film to get the correct shot. And we only had a small amount of time to shoot the sequence which meant some parts of the sequence where rushed. Sometimes we struggled to get the right angle becasue we had limited space in which we could use.

Our preliminary opening sequence uses a few micro elements for the genre Thriller. We didn't use any non diagetic sound so we just used ambient sounds which are natural which makes it more realisitc and creates a lot more suspence with her heavy breathing and footsteps.

shots

Storyboard

spider diagram

prelimary task