Tuesday 27 April 2010
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in your progression from it to the full product?
moving on from my continuiety task, i think i have fully learnt how to incoperate original ideas and ones i have been inspired by from other thriller films to fully achieve my aims in my thriller opening. The group planning, and construction in the premilimary task taught me the value of everyones own personal preferences and ideas, which coming together can create an imaginative production; this is very important when contstructing a piece for a large audience. Finding an appropiate soundtrack and title sequence is also something I believe to have learnt, as this was a part i mainly played in the editing of our thriller opening. I feel i have also learnt more advanced filming techniques such as ECU, tilt and over-the-shoulder shots and how these can be used to connotate my ideas and create the imagery I desire. I have also progressed in learning how to handle the technology used in the film making process, such as the video camera, and editing equipment.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
Our genre of choice is that of British Gangster; aiming at a target audience of late teens to late twenties, with this in mind our opening must be modern and relevent to todays society, this is achieved in the shots of Eve, set in ambient light in a modern location alongside modern costume. The aspects of noir, the black and white shots of the male character, add an inviting twist to the opening, setting out to remain relevent alongside capturing the slick, cool aspects of films such as 'The Third Man' and 'Double Indemnity', the contrast on how immorality and bleakness is presented from either aspect making it much more intresting than the run-of-the-mill gangster flick. With these two aspects in mind, this greatly widens the target audience age gap, therfore making our opening a much more easier film to exhibit and distribute.
(above) an still from our film presenting the noir aspects and (further above) another to present the modern aspect that together widens our target audience.
One film that also uses the aspects of noir and modern thriller is neo-noir film 'Sin City', which in incorparating these factors made it a very famous modern-day film.
Sunday 25 April 2010
How does your thriller represent particular social groups?
How does your thriller represent particular social groups?
We have two main characters in our opening, both our main characters are British White Caucassian. In our opening we represent both male and female genders. The main character Eve is a petite white female, and suggests a slight femme fatale which is a convention of the thriller sub genre; film noir. In "the neurotic" we stick to the sterotype that women have less control, and their decissions are made be males. This is shown in our opening,as Eve is running away from her stalker who, although it was her choice to move away, her stalker forced her. Eves running away, represents her trying to get away, and start a new life, and escape her past. Our opening shows women to be weaker and inferior to men. However not necesarily more emotional, as Harleys character appears to be more emotionally unstable, with a much darker side. We tried to show this side, by using Chirascuro lighting, a technique used greatly in film noirs.
In our opening "the neurotic" there is also a negative represntation of males. As our male lead is a physcotic stalker, who is prepared to make "the love of his life" suffer pain like him. Ultimately our thriller contrasts between genders rather than sterotypes, although both genders have been sterotyped. There is also a large contrast between the Villian (Harley) and seemingly innocent victim (Eve).
Monday 19 April 2010
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
3)What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
If our thriller opening was to be shown at any cinemas, it is more likely to be ditributed at an independant cinema such Cinema City. Our film is very unlikey to be shown at a larger mainstream cinema, such as Vue or Odeon. This is due to our films British Independant genre, With our low budget, and uncovential techniques, such as an eery voice over, and soundtrack, and our mix between coloured and black and white shots.
However it is more likely that our film would not be shown at a cinema at all, like alot of low budget independant films. It might instead be realeased by us (the production company) onto the internet. Although this has complications, as our lack of copyright, means that anyone may steal, or reproduce our work, legally, and may take credit for what we have done. However we could put it on a site where people have to pay to download it, and where it may not be bit torrented. We could also upload clips on to websites like youtube, and metacafe, as a means of publicity and advertising, making our thriller more likely to be viewed.
Our film could also be shown on Tv, by channels such as film four, and channel four, which support independantly made films. However it would not be played at a peak viewing time, it would probably be played later, like after 10 o'clock at night. By showing our film on these channels we are more likely to show it to our target audience, 16-30 year olds, with and interest in independant indie films. Also our film could go straight to dvd, and be sold on a site like Amazon, which is more likely than us being able to get it onto television, or in a cinema, unless it is bought by a bigger company, to do the marketing for us.
If our thriller opening was to be shown at any cinemas, it is more likely to be ditributed at an independant cinema such Cinema City. Our film is very unlikey to be shown at a larger mainstream cinema, such as Vue or Odeon. This is due to our films British Independant genre, With our low budget, and uncovential techniques, such as an eery voice over, and soundtrack, and our mix between coloured and black and white shots.
However it is more likely that our film would not be shown at a cinema at all, like alot of low budget independant films. It might instead be realeased by us (the production company) onto the internet. Although this has complications, as our lack of copyright, means that anyone may steal, or reproduce our work, legally, and may take credit for what we have done. However we could put it on a site where people have to pay to download it, and where it may not be bit torrented. We could also upload clips on to websites like youtube, and metacafe, as a means of publicity and advertising, making our thriller more likely to be viewed.
Our film could also be shown on Tv, by channels such as film four, and channel four, which support independantly made films. However it would not be played at a peak viewing time, it would probably be played later, like after 10 o'clock at night. By showing our film on these channels we are more likely to show it to our target audience, 16-30 year olds, with and interest in independant indie films. Also our film could go straight to dvd, and be sold on a site like Amazon, which is more likely than us being able to get it onto television, or in a cinema, unless it is bought by a bigger company, to do the marketing for us.
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
1) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Our Thriller opening was highly influenced by other films, such as Se7en, and Strangers on a Train. However I feel our thriller challenges many sterotypical conventions of the thriller genre, and the British gangster sub-genre.
Some Films that influenced us included:
Red Road (Directed by Andrea Arnold)
Our storyline was strongly influenced by that of Red Road. This film also influenced the camera angle useds. As some shots of Eve seemed as though they were taken from cctv, just like in Red Road, however we used quick cuts with other varied shots, to stop it from looking like a cctv tracking shot. However unlike in Red Road, we broke conventions, by choosing to have a voice over instead of dialogue throughout. Meaning that the story is being narrated, rather than waiting for it to be told or shown by the characters. The eerie voice over also adds depth to our opening, and affirms it as a thriller.
We also used mainstream Film noir conventions although our opening is of independant British Gangster genre. We used Black and white for the stalkers shots, as this adds to his mystery, and the black, suggests isolation. We also used conventions of L.A noir for Harley's shots too, as we used lights coming through the blinds in the office, to add shadows to his face. However we didnt use these conventions throughout, and we stuck to the British Gangster genre, these being the only film noir techniques we used, for instance we did not use 1950s costumes, or have a sterotypical femme fatale, although it may be suggested that Eve played the femme fatale in our opening, she was not that of a typical film noir style.
We were influenced by the Film Se7en too. We used similar titles in our opening, as we put them over the action, so it keeps it fast paced. We also used a links of fast paced shots cutting between two different people, showing their stories are linked, which is also used in Se7en. However we decided not to use a soundtrack like in Se7en, as we feared it might make our opening look like a music video, rather than a film. However rather than just have a voice over, we added a soundtrack too, just like in Layer Cake, another film that highly influenced our production.
Although we may have used many different conventions from the thriller genre, i feel we also broke and challenged a few, such as rather than have the male character holding all the cards, and sugesting what will happen next, we decided to give this authority to the female character, eve. However she was obviously still under the power of the male, as she was running away from him, and being forced to leave everything behind. However her next moves, suggest the direction of the film.
We also broke conventions by never showing the Male characters face. This adds an heir of msytery, as well is meaning that it didnt matter if our actor didnt look too menancing, as his main influence was added through the voice over.
Our Thriller opening was highly influenced by other films, such as Se7en, and Strangers on a Train. However I feel our thriller challenges many sterotypical conventions of the thriller genre, and the British gangster sub-genre.
Some Films that influenced us included:
Red Road (Directed by Andrea Arnold)
Our storyline was strongly influenced by that of Red Road. This film also influenced the camera angle useds. As some shots of Eve seemed as though they were taken from cctv, just like in Red Road, however we used quick cuts with other varied shots, to stop it from looking like a cctv tracking shot. However unlike in Red Road, we broke conventions, by choosing to have a voice over instead of dialogue throughout. Meaning that the story is being narrated, rather than waiting for it to be told or shown by the characters. The eerie voice over also adds depth to our opening, and affirms it as a thriller.
We also used mainstream Film noir conventions although our opening is of independant British Gangster genre. We used Black and white for the stalkers shots, as this adds to his mystery, and the black, suggests isolation. We also used conventions of L.A noir for Harley's shots too, as we used lights coming through the blinds in the office, to add shadows to his face. However we didnt use these conventions throughout, and we stuck to the British Gangster genre, these being the only film noir techniques we used, for instance we did not use 1950s costumes, or have a sterotypical femme fatale, although it may be suggested that Eve played the femme fatale in our opening, she was not that of a typical film noir style.
We were influenced by the Film Se7en too. We used similar titles in our opening, as we put them over the action, so it keeps it fast paced. We also used a links of fast paced shots cutting between two different people, showing their stories are linked, which is also used in Se7en. However we decided not to use a soundtrack like in Se7en, as we feared it might make our opening look like a music video, rather than a film. However rather than just have a voice over, we added a soundtrack too, just like in Layer Cake, another film that highly influenced our production.
Although we may have used many different conventions from the thriller genre, i feel we also broke and challenged a few, such as rather than have the male character holding all the cards, and sugesting what will happen next, we decided to give this authority to the female character, eve. However she was obviously still under the power of the male, as she was running away from him, and being forced to leave everything behind. However her next moves, suggest the direction of the film.
We also broke conventions by never showing the Male characters face. This adds an heir of msytery, as well is meaning that it didnt matter if our actor didnt look too menancing, as his main influence was added through the voice over.
Other Thrillers that influenced our thriller
Thrillers that influenced, and have references in our thriller:
The opening squence of Se7en influenced our thriller greatly. Its opening is eerie, and uses quick editing and fast cuts to create this. We used this in our thriller opening by cutting between Eve and her stalker. Se7en also uses a lot of close ups linked with quick editing throughout the titles, we also used this to keep up the pace of our opening, and to stop it from being boring. We also kept the titles over the action, just like in Se7en, so that there was no black screen shots, to keep the opening energetic, and fast paced, as is our thriller. However we didnt use a soundtrack, we used a Voice over similar to the opening of Layer Cake.
The voice over is used to tell the plotline of the film, or history which is needed to prevent the viewer being confused. Layer Cake uses this to tell the History of Drugs, which is what the film is based on. We used a voice over, to add an eerie note to our opening, and inform the audience as to why Eve was on the run.
We used L'homme du train and Strangers on a train, for camera shots and angles, as both are set on trains. We used low angle shots of Eve's feet as shes walking to the train platform, this is also used in Strangers on a plane, which used low angle cuts of two people, tracking them through the train station. We also used fast cuts from both films, cutting between eve and her stalker, to show that their story is entwined.
- Se7en - Directed by David Fincher
- Layer Cake - Directed by Matthew Vaughn
- L'homme Du Train - Directed by Patrice Leconte
- Strangers On A Train - Directed by Alfred Hitchcock
The opening squence of Se7en influenced our thriller greatly. Its opening is eerie, and uses quick editing and fast cuts to create this. We used this in our thriller opening by cutting between Eve and her stalker. Se7en also uses a lot of close ups linked with quick editing throughout the titles, we also used this to keep up the pace of our opening, and to stop it from being boring. We also kept the titles over the action, just like in Se7en, so that there was no black screen shots, to keep the opening energetic, and fast paced, as is our thriller. However we didnt use a soundtrack, we used a Voice over similar to the opening of Layer Cake.
The voice over is used to tell the plotline of the film, or history which is needed to prevent the viewer being confused. Layer Cake uses this to tell the History of Drugs, which is what the film is based on. We used a voice over, to add an eerie note to our opening, and inform the audience as to why Eve was on the run.
We used L'homme du train and Strangers on a train, for camera shots and angles, as both are set on trains. We used low angle shots of Eve's feet as shes walking to the train platform, this is also used in Strangers on a plane, which used low angle cuts of two people, tracking them through the train station. We also used fast cuts from both films, cutting between eve and her stalker, to show that their story is entwined.
Characters - New storyline
Final characters- after changing our storyline:
Eve: (played by Sarah Gamble)
Eve is the main character, she is on the run from a possessive stalker.
Character profile:
• Age: Eve is 16/17
• Height: 5 1”
• She comes from a middle class background.
• She is scared, and fragile.
• When on the train she comes across as moody, later on in the opening, it is revealed that this is because she is leaving everything behind to get away from her stalker.
• She comes across as innocent, this is reinforced by her name “Eve” as it is a biblical name.
• She has dark Brunette hair, suggesting a darker past.
• She is petite, this represents her vulnerability.
Stalker: (played by Harley Evans)
The stalker is a possessive, obsessive 20 year old man, with an errational obsession for Eve. He wont leave her alone, no matter how many times she turns him down, and has the creepy view that “if i cant have her, no one can”.
Character Profile:
• Age: 20
• Height: 5 8”
• Comes from a middle class background.
• The height difference between Eve and her stalker, reinforce her vulnerability, and his power over her physically, hence why she is running away.
• His mousy brown hair, show him to be something ordinary, and plain, however the trench coat he wears suggests there is more to him that meets the eye, and adds an heir of mystery.
Eve: (played by Sarah Gamble)
Eve is the main character, she is on the run from a possessive stalker.
Character profile:
• Age: Eve is 16/17
• Height: 5 1”
• She comes from a middle class background.
• She is scared, and fragile.
• When on the train she comes across as moody, later on in the opening, it is revealed that this is because she is leaving everything behind to get away from her stalker.
• She comes across as innocent, this is reinforced by her name “Eve” as it is a biblical name.
• She has dark Brunette hair, suggesting a darker past.
• She is petite, this represents her vulnerability.
Stalker: (played by Harley Evans)
The stalker is a possessive, obsessive 20 year old man, with an errational obsession for Eve. He wont leave her alone, no matter how many times she turns him down, and has the creepy view that “if i cant have her, no one can”.
Character Profile:
• Age: 20
• Height: 5 8”
• Comes from a middle class background.
• The height difference between Eve and her stalker, reinforce her vulnerability, and his power over her physically, hence why she is running away.
• His mousy brown hair, show him to be something ordinary, and plain, however the trench coat he wears suggests there is more to him that meets the eye, and adds an heir of mystery.
Actors
Eve:
I play Eve, the main character. She is a simple character who is on the run from a possesive stalker. She is frighetened and fragile yet determined to get away from who is chasing her.
We felt that I was best to play this role, as I fit the specification. My small height made me seem weak, and vulnerable.
However my dark hair makes me seem mysterious, and connotes darkness, thus death, and suggests a dark past.
Harley
The stalker is played by Harley Evans. We felt Harley fit the role, as he had a deep voice, as the main part he plays is the voice over in the opening, although he is on screen too, there is very little footage of his face, as we felt this added mystery, and captured the audience, as they may wish to find out more about the male, and want to see his face. We also keep his face hidden, as in alot of films it is more intimidating, if you cannot see your attackers face.
Script for voice over
This is the script used for the voice over Which is said by Eve's stalker (played by Harley Evans), and is played Throughout the opening, as it cuts between both shots of Eve and Harley. The voice over is used to capture the audiences interest while narrating the storyline, yet not giving too much away so that there is still an heir of mystery. It also adds an eerie element to our opening, and affirms it as a thriller.
'She is more beautiful than the last sunset of summer, or the first snow flake of winter, and she was mine but not anymore, she is gone, where? why? There is only one thing I know for certain, she will regret leaving me. I will be her biggest mistake! Her friends say I'm unstable, I'm obsessed, but the irreparable damage I will cause will make them understand. I will show them how it feels to be crushed to feel nothing, constantly numb. My heart is an open wound that wont heal. If I can't have her no one can. I make her suffer the pain I feel every day if only for a moment a second of what I feel, will make her understand how it feels to be me. I'm isolated, but I am not alone I am tormented by my thoughts constantly. I'm never fully conscious in a state of waking sleep. But now its her nightmare...'
Harley uses a deep voice while doing this piece, making the audience feel unease, as it represents how possesive he is of Eve.
The voice over is played throughout the opening, along with the soundtrack, and does not play throughout the whole thing.
'She is more beautiful than the last sunset of summer, or the first snow flake of winter, and she was mine but not anymore, she is gone, where? why? There is only one thing I know for certain, she will regret leaving me. I will be her biggest mistake! Her friends say I'm unstable, I'm obsessed, but the irreparable damage I will cause will make them understand. I will show them how it feels to be crushed to feel nothing, constantly numb. My heart is an open wound that wont heal. If I can't have her no one can. I make her suffer the pain I feel every day if only for a moment a second of what I feel, will make her understand how it feels to be me. I'm isolated, but I am not alone I am tormented by my thoughts constantly. I'm never fully conscious in a state of waking sleep. But now its her nightmare...'
Harley uses a deep voice while doing this piece, making the audience feel unease, as it represents how possesive he is of Eve.
The voice over is played throughout the opening, along with the soundtrack, and does not play throughout the whole thing.
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