Final Cut Test #3 (motion)

Here I experimented with motion by reversing video. I later added a zoom effect when reversing to achieve more of a sustained and commercial look (00:14+). After this I increased the speed of which the shot was being reversed and added a flashing effect. I also tweaked colour across the video with the Vignette effect, to give it more of a 'cinematic' style. 

I shot this with my Iphone camera, however my canon 550d will be arriving next week and I will begin planning with this. 

Target Audience Considerations

The target audience of psychological thriller films tends to be a 15+ rating, if not, 18+. There are however exceptions of 12 ratings in some cases. These high ratings are often given due to the excessive violence often displayed and the psychological issues that are presented, which can be disturbing for a younger audience. 

Some examples of psychological thriller films are: 

• Se7en - An 18 rating film; we will not be using this extent of violence. 
• Shutter Island - A 15 rated film.
• The ring - A 15 rated film; psychological thriller with horror elements. 

Our thriller opening will be aimed at an audience of 15 years or older. The actors will be older teenagers (18/19), which will provide a connection between the audience who will be of a similar age. Our thriller will expose the harsh realities of gang culture and will see an interesting psychological twist be presented when a guy confronts his best mate about his involvement in gang violence. The sub-genre of thriller's gives the typical target audience. For example ‘chick flick’ thrillers would target young teenage girls because they can relate to the characters' emotions. However as our thriller is general, this is why we have opted for the 15 rating. We would expect a demographic of 15-25 to watch our style of thriller. 

We are not as dependent on the gender of our target audience, as we are of the age bracket, however it is important nonetheless to create a well-rounded audience classification. Because we need to generalise, we have identified that our opening will predominately be aimed at males because of the masculine features of the film (i.e. violence and building tension.)

Questionnaire

Our group decided to each make individual questionnaires. The point of this was to survey a wider audience, which would give us more concise results. From my questionnaire I will be getting direct information from a potential audience of our film, who will express the conventions of thriller films they favour most. This information will be used when creating the opening scene to 'The Witness'. By using the responses of people and applying them to our knowledge on thriller conventions, we aim for it to overall strengthen our opening film. It is common practice for production companies to carry out audience research prior to shooting a film and hosting test screenings, so we will be doing this same by submitting drafts of our work to achieve the best outcome. 

My questionnaire will allow me to answer my primary audience research question: 
"How can I make my thriller appealing to my audience?"

I did not opt for using a question regarding location. Over my research into thriller films, I have noticed that location does not seem to bare much correlation. Often everyday environments are manipulated to become secluded and volatile. As we also have the two ideal locations planned, this would not be of any help to us.

Title Sequences

I decided to look at the conventions of titles and how they are used in film, to give me an insight into how I can use Titles in my Thriller film.

Titles and title cards can be distinguished as follows:

• A single title card contains one name credit. Typically used in opening titles to display the name of the lead actors and the creative people involved in the movie. Generally referred to as the above-the-line credits.

• A double title card contains two name credits. Typically is used to display the names of supporting actors and additional creative people involved in the movie.

• A triple title card contains three name credits. Typically used to display the names of additional supporting actors.

• A multiple title card contains more than three name credits. Typically used to name additional supporting actors or extras.

• A main title card displays the main title of the movie.

• Scrolling titles are titles that move sequentially in and out of frame, generally used as end titles.

• A lower third is a title placed on the lower-third of the screen (although there might be other screen placements you could consider), generally used to display the information—name and title—of a person being interviewed or a location.

• Subtitles are titles placed on the lower-third part of the screen (or sometimes on the top of the screen to avoid covering relevant information on-screen or previously existing lower thirds). These are generally used to translate dialogue in another language.

• Intertitles are title cards that display the time, place, prologue, or quotes. In silent films, an intertitle is often used to convey minimal dialogue or information that can’t be deduced from the talent’s body language or the scene’s settings.

- http://masteringfilm.com/giving-titles-to-the-types-of-titles/

Here is an example of how Titles are used in the Robert Altman's 'The Player'. As we can see there is continuity in the use of font and colour for the Main title and single titles. 

Titles are used to depict the genre of a film. In the top left-hand corner where the Main title is presented, the use of a scratched font on a back drop of council flats, infers that the film is aimed at a working class audience who would understand what the film is trying to get across. This and the name of the film, 'This Is England', again infer that the film covers the harsh realities of a dark and troubled, urban England.

'Forest Gump' adopts orthodox typography, similar to other 90's films of a similar genre, such as Matilda and Mrs Doubtfire, which all include an underlined moral message. The simplicity of the film's logo is what perhaps adds to its iconicity. The use of this simple font across the title screens infers that this is not your typical horror or thriller film but actually has connotations of happiness.

Division of Labour

Each of us will be involved in the duties of Planning, Research, Filming, Editing and Evaluating.

However as we have recognised, we have each got our strong points.

Here is a brief summary;

Me: I will be doing the bulk of the filming and editing, have a knowledge of using final cut and practising with footage.

Declan: Involved in the planning side of things, including finding the estate location. Also, by having acting experience, will be able to plan how certain shots will be depicted. 

Chris: Acting as a second camera, (effectively, I will act as the glidecam camera) he will get more of the longer and establishing shots during the filming. 

Previous Student Work

Across my Research into Thriller videos, the work of previous students has been of much help.



'The Abduction' is a good example of previous student work. What I particularly like about the video is the consistency of effective camera work, by using shots that allow the audience to immediately engage themselves with the story. 

Flashbacks have been used in a controlled way. By opening the video with a flashback and later on making clear distinctions between the present day and the past reflected in flashbacks, this makes the video all the more enigmatic and allows the plot of the story to be put across effectively.

Another thing I like about the video is the use of a film/director's screen at the beginning of the video. The quality of animation adds to the professional style of the video and is fitting with the thriller genre.

I also think that the acting of the characters of a high-standard. Although we are not marked on this, I think that it has helped to achieve this high-standard of student work. By having represented a realistic scenario through good acting, this adds to the suspense of the video.

What I think the video falls down on most is the picture quality. At times, shots are out of focus. I think the director could have also given more consideration to colour correction. 



Another student example, 'Delusion', was one that I found less inspiring.

What I liked about the video was the use of non-diagetic sounds such as the smashing of a bottle and the eerie piano music. Both of these were used effectively in setting the scene.

However what I didn't like about the video was the initial establishing shots. I don't think they bared much correlation with the storyline. I believe the director doesn't go into enough depth in the couple's relationship, only using one scene to try and explain what is happening. The video is quite dependent on the narrator for this reason.

The variety of shots is also quite limited. Because the Title is introduced almost half way through the video, it is as if the director has rushed themselves with trying to summarise the plot of the story. Because of this, the video doesn't leave us on much of a cliff-hanger either, thus lacking suspense for this reason.



Again like the previous example, I think 'Hardcopy' takes too long to build suspense. The first 45 seconds deliver an impression of what is to come but also uses this opportunity to include titles. This could have been done at 00:46 where the action immediately kicks off, acting as the perfect thriller opening video. 

I think the director could have given more consideration to his fonts, with the absence of any sort of animated director's title.

Once the video does build in suspense, it is done well. The shot where we as an audience enter through the agent's bedroom window is particularly effective and we are then acquainted with the main character. The use of music during this shot is also effective, building an enigmatic atmosphere.

 The use of a loading bar on the computer screen emphasises the gripping suspense, with frequent shots cutting back to the opponent asleep. The final shot where the opponent is suddenly woke up by the noise of the agent dropping a CD is effective. However I think what spoils this slightly is that we have already seen some of the shots of the agent on the computer during the opening scene. This goes against the conventions of a thriller film. You would tend to see snippets of how the event will play out.

The director's camerawork is commendable, with a variety of steady shots used. However to improve I would have liked to have seen more hand-held filming if I steadicam had been accessible.

Final Cut Tests #2

Here, I used a different environment to exploit different effects, which best suited the mood of the video. If 'HD' is not automatically selected, select that as there is quite a contrast otherwise. I am satisfied with this test and would like to try shooting in more of an urban environment next. 

Shot List

Having a shot list will be important in defining how the key events will be depicted. We can anticipate that the finished result may alter from this.

Storyboards

Final Cut Pro #1

After downloading Final Cut Pro X for my Macbook, I decided I wanted to see what I could do with the camera on my iphone. Unfortunately, the HD Quality is not what it should be because importing the footage from the iphone to my macbook proved to be a problem. I had to instead send the footage directly to Youtube and then download it off there, before importing it into Final Cut to be editted:

Iphone -> Youtube -> Macbook -> Final Cut Import -> Export to Vimeo

- I have now got around this problem.

In the first half of the video, I focused mainly on giving the car journey a 'cinematic-look' by using effects such as 'Dream' and 'Vignette'. I then carefully used colour manipulation techniques such as'Hue/Saturation' and 'Colorize' as well as adjusting colour. To further this 'cinematic' style I then added a'letterbox' (the horizontal black lines either side of the video) and used 'Artifacts' to create the circular orange/yellow blur effect. 

In the second half, I used similar effects but rather than going for a 'cinematic-look', I chose to try different colours to display a different mood for the piece. Here I used the 'Hard Light' effect and also experimented with effects such as 'radial', 'distort'. Later on, I used 'prism' to make the camera look like it had a different lense on it and used 'droplet' to create a circular effect which catches the audience's eyes. I ended both halves with the 'flashing' effect which I think is particularly useful. In both cases, I used a different degree of intensity to fit the mood conveyed. 

Audience presentation feedback

After giving a presentation on our thriller opening (displayed in the powerpoint on 11/10/12), the class gave us feedback on what they thought of it. This has been very useful because we have been able to see the stronger and weaker points of our thriller's mould and this has allowed us to make amendments.

The biggest posing problem people have recognised seems to be the dialogue. What we aim to do is to shoot the two scenes separately. We will then lip-sync the cafe speaking scenes by externally recording the dialogue .The witness enters a monologue, so the use of flashbacks as he narrates will stop constant dialogue being necessary.

The idea of a 'twist' also seems misunderstood and people have suggested the use of 'red herrings' to build up tension. In a sense we already have aimed to do this. Although, the point of our twist is that the audience will learn the sudden identity of the 'head mob member' at the end of the opening. We are not simply tying the best friend of the witness as being this man immediately. It is something that will be slowly be uncovered, by clues such as shots of shoes and shaking hands on a coffee mug. However, most people liked the idea of ending on a cliff-hanger. 

What people credited us most for, is the consideration we have given to a dialogue script. 

Preliminary Task

The preliminary task is set by the exam board OCR to allow us to show our skills both filming and and on Imove editing the footage. The preliminary exercise was to create a video including:

•  Continuity - a system of cutting used to suggest a progression of events in real time and space (Only Cuts, no use of Flashbacks for example.)
• Match on Action - where a shot of a character starting an action and the completing the action in the next shot.  
• Shot/Reverse shot -  An editing pattern that cuts to the view in the opposite direction (used most often for dialogue)
• The 180 degree rule - Camera should be positioned on one side of the line of actions (within the 180 degree arc). Do not cross the line of action (place the camera on the other side of the line line of action).

Additional features were set by the teachers;

• Shot Variety – size and angles 
• Good Framing of shots
• Make us laugh!
• Music
• Everyone must have an appearance on screen
• Random object from the box!

Prop/Costume planning

For the Estate scene where the violence will take place, the characters will be dressed in Balaclavas, baggy jeans/tracksuit, hoodies and equip a crowbar and metal pole. 

My aim is to make the cast look realistic throughout our thriller video. Using firearms would be very predictable and move the theme away from a serious psychological thriller.  

During the Cafe, we will see the Witness and the Killer wearing different clothes to the estate scene. This highlights the change of day, thus emphasising the flashbacks. 

Both the killer and witness will be wearing casual clothing, e.g. simply jeans, t-shirt and a jacket. This will show the characters both in as civilians, creating an interesting turn of events as our audience discover the Killer's identity. 

Casino Royale: Textual Analysis

The opening scene of 'Casino Royale' is another example of a good thriller opening. It incorporates flashbacks of action to break up the present day narrative. This is different to the analysis of 'The Dark Knight' which maintains a present day narrative where all the action takes place. I am analysing Casino Royale because in our thriller, I would like to incorporate flashbacks running alongside a present day narrative. 

The scene is shot in black and white, whilst the use of a lower-third title introduces the location. As an audience who would typically associate present day James Bond films as being shot in colour, we can assume that this opening scene is part of a flashback, however we later interpret it as an establishing scene, reflecting on the James Bond sequel. (We are then acquainted with present day during the Uganda scene after the credits). During this opening scene the use of limited lighting is crucial and the setting is made eerie by the diegetic sound of the blowing wind. The car pulling up outside the establishment signifies that the passenger may come in to contact with more people, i.e. a meeting of some sort.

This long-shot is then followed by two low-angle shots of a man (Dryden) exiting a vehicle and entering the building via an ascending elevator. Here we are introduced to our first character. The use of these angles puts the character in a powerful position and reflects on the man's, perhaps middle/upper class status that is represented by the estate car and his shirt and tie. The use of slowly ascending violins during the shot of the elevator creates more of an enigmatic feel to our introduction so far. 

The elevator scene is then followed by an interesting use of a high-angle shot of Dryden. Typically high-angles are used to display the vulnerability of a character and this could suggest that Dryden will encounter trouble when entering the building. Here we learn that he may not be as powerful as we first thought. Following this, a close up of the floor number in the elevator is displayed. As the floor number slowly ascends, this adds suspense, as if this is a count down to something that will take place when Dryden exits the elevator.

When exiting the elevator, a mid-angle shot of the character walking across the building is seen. The camera follows slowly behind, panning in, which we can assume was used either by a track or dolly to create this clean movement. Having the echoing footsteps as diegetic sound, provides the shot with more of an enigma. This perhaps infers that the destination that the character is heading to, is where action will take place or we will learn more about the story. 

When entering the office, an interesting use of a slight tracking across to the open door is used following by an elevation of the camera. This is a shot I find particularly effective because it emphasizes Dryden's entrance into the room. 

After moving over to the desk and switching the light on, a close-up shot is used to express Dryden's fear and surprise. This further adds suspense for the audience, by wanting to know what it is that has taken him off guard. 

Following the shot of the safe, we hear James Bond's voice before sitting in a chair behind Dryden. This is altogether an effective introduction to bringing in the second character. The use of chiaroscuro lighting on Bond's face is particularly strong here. This has mixed connotations of a split-personality and suggests he may have bad intentions of what will come of Dryden. This also adheres to the violent flashbacks that are to follow. At this point, it may leave the audience questioning what moral character James Bond will now play for the duration of the film.

The Dark Knight: Textual Analysis

The opening scene of 'The Dark Knight' immediately sets the standard as a dark and sinister film. 

During the opening scene, an extreme long shot is used as an establishing shot of Chicago city centre. Whilst panning in, the absence of dialogue with a non-diagetic soundtrack beginning to amplify, initiates the dark suspense. The soundtrack itself has connotations of peace and tranquility, however as the camera pans closer towards the dark-tinted window on one of the skyscrapers, this changes and suddenly the situation seems slightly more hasty. From an audience's perspective, the suspense has been maintained to immediately bring in the action. Here, the first piece of diegetic sound is used when the soundtrack is momentarily interrupted by a gun firing at a window and the sound of glass shattering.  

The camera then moves inside the skyscraper to the room of the smashed window. The scene is shot using a medium close up from behind two masked characters. This further confirms that action is about to take place and the masked characters suggests that it will be an act of criminal activity. Typically of comic-book derived films, action scenes will often be the main focus of a film introduction, which will see the film play out and have our superhero bring about justice. The audience should already be able to identify this.  i love male rods up my ass

In the following scene another establishing shot of the busy city is used before zooming from behind a man holding a clown mask similar to what we have just seen the two men in the window wearing.  The camera then zooms in to a close up of the clown mask and this supports the sinister connotations that are beginning to build. There is still an absence of dialogue, however this builds suspense whilst the soundtrack has been followed through. The soundtrack then picks up tempo towards the end of the scene and the texture thickens, by amplifying and introducing drums. Altogether this brings about a transition from having a subtle soundtrack to fast passed.

In this scene, the audience is introduced to the first piece of dialouge, “Three of a kind, Lets do this”. The use of this dialogue relates to a deck of cards. Three of a kind is a term used in a game of Poker, highlighting that they are all the same and are in this together. It also suggests that somebodies lives' may be gambled with, just like playing Poker (in this case, the civilians in the bank). This is further supported by the guns props in the scene and the mid-shot from behind the three characters sitting the car, paints a tainted picture of the sinister journey they are about to take and the acts that follow.

During the scene of entering the bank, a steady-cam is used as we see the camera following the clowns running right up to the cashiers desk. This scene mostly uses medium shots in order to have the clowns and bankers in the same shot. 

In a following scene after a scene of one of the clowns breaking into the cash vault, we are acquainted with the bank owner. Before this we had seen the camera move back to the owner as the clowns entered the building, suggesting he was going to take action. What is interesting is how the bank owner goes unnoticed by the clowns and this begins to build up several enigmatic codes when he says

 “do you have any idea who your stealing from?”. This automatically makes the audience start questioning, Who is this bank owner? And is he affiliated with batman? The power hierarchy clearly shifts when the bank owner comes into shot, with the use of shot-reverse-shot between the bank owner and the two clowns hiding away. This is important because as an audience this is the first threat which has posed the clowns, up until now they have been the dominant figures in the bank, able to command the civilians and bank staff.

The ending scene finishes with two of the five clowns left, as the other clowns have been double-crossed and killed. The scene is shot as shot-reverse-shot with lots of dialogue. The clown standing to the left says to the other “I’m betting the joker told you to kill me as soon as we loading the cash”, The other replies “No,no,no,no, I killed the bus driver”, which again leaves the audience contemplating more enigmatic codes. We all of a sudden question who the bus driver is and if this clown is telling the truth. We are left wondering Where is Batman, why did the clowns double cross each other and when will the Joker appear, as he has continuously been mentioned across the opening scene.

When the bus enters through the doors, we are left with the biggest enigmatic codes yet, as we now question who the driver of the bus is and if this clown who has managed to survive, is the Joker. We know there are 6 people including the Joker involved, because of the dialogue which mentions this towards the beginning. Now, with only the bus driver left and the remaining clown, our audience should be able to identify that the surviving clown is actually the Joker and has the full intention of killing the bus driver and making off with all of the robbed money, because he has set the whole plan up.