This shows Ben Hume, the director, getting the extras to crouch in front of the brick wall for our short shot duration sequence.
Here we see the filming of the shot of our extras on the wall interacting. The sound recorded from the camera in this shot were not going to be used so it was okay for Ben to talk over the shot to get the best image/framing.
Here we see Ben Hume, the director, planning the sequence for our speed shot where my character walks out into the hallway and sits on the chairs. People at the party walk around me as I sit still. Ben planned the people walking in and out of the hall, Harry sitting next to me and an extra going into the bathroom. This had to be planned well as it had to look authentic. I had to completely still trying not to blink for about four minutes.
Here we see how much attention to detail we put in the setting. This was important to the mise-en-scene to create the party atmosphere we were looking for. Also you see our extras around, one even eager to help with the detail including the position of the playing cards and beer bottles around the room. We also wanted the party to be authentic by trying to let everyone be relaxed and have a good time.
This shows us filming the shots with the killer preparing his make-up in front of his mirror. You can see we used the handy-cam method to film the killer's features as it gave it a dramatic feel. Much like the first murder case in Se7en (1995) or the TV series CSI.
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I studied the forms and conventions of thriller, finding that the two main elements that should be present within a film of this genre is suspense and tension. We felt it was important to create and express these elements as well as we could through the technical codes.
First of all the mise-en-scene was took into consideration. Our film had two main characters the killer and the lonely boy victim. We wanted to create a contrast between their locations to express the characters roles further. It begins with the party looking fun with drinking and laughing between extras. The empty bottles and the cards on the table were placed to create the party atmosphere on screen. Then the film suddenly takes a dark twist, where the killer is shown putting on bizarre make-up in front of a shrine of the lonely boy character. The black bag covering the mirror, the pictures of the boys with red circles around the head and the candles al created an unsettling location for audiences to watch.
The sound I placed within the film played a major part in the creation of suspense and tension in the atmosphere. I used VideoCopilot's Pro Scores to create a tense score for the very beginning of the film and during the transition to the killers location. Similar to Shutter Island (2010), the score keeps audiences on the edge of their seat with a constant atmospheric sound, high pitch string on sudden actions on screen and crescendos to build up drama as the title appears. We challenged the conventions of thriller by using a more pleasant track The Killing Moon by Echo and the Bunnymen which was there to settle audiences into the party scene which gave me the opportunity to shock audiences as we make the sudden transition and the sound stops. I also thought the original sound of the party did not create the overpowering sound I wanted. I thought the boy would appear even more vulnerable if he is overpowered with noise. I got party ambience sound effects from pacdv.com which were free to use and worked great to give the ambience i was looking for. We also used the track On the nature of daylight from Scorsese's Shutter Island (2010). This track worked brilliantly in the film to express a sad feeling. Much like the film, I wanted the sequence to be an emotional roller coaster with many feelings being expressed.
The editing in the positioning of our shots was done to further express the madness of the narrative. We filmed lots of strange imagery including the faces and masks of our party extras and paintings around the house. I wanted these to be used in a short shot duration sequence to puzzle to the minds of our audience. This is similar to the film Se7en (1995) where strange imagery is using in the opening credits. This opens audiences connotations of the sub genre of horror present in the film.
Through camera we used very conventional angles within the genre to express power positions and to highlight certain features of characters. The buffalo bill preparation scene in Silence of the lambs (1991) has similar shots as we have close ups on our killer's costume highlighting his odd apparel and make-up.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Our film represents a suburban lifestyle through setting and character costume. The house used in the film is of middle class shown through the furniture and décor. Also the people at the party are teenagers who are drinking and smoking which reflects the youth culture in suburban areas. The party represents a major element in the lifestyle of this social group. Also our killer's costume and behaviour of figure represents the people in youth culture who struggle to fit in and find friends, this potentially could drive the person insane much like our killer is.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Our film has an independent feel to it. With the amateur performances and equipment used I think it would be wrong to picture our film being distributed by huge film production companies such as Sony Pictures entertainment or Paramount Studios. I picture the film being distributed by more independent British companies such as Film 4 Productions or Working Title Films as these companies are more likely to support a film with a smaller budget. I think the film would be shown in art house cinemas or a local film club as being a first time film by the group we would have greater support from these audiences than if it was shown in cinemas to mainstream audiences.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
In terms of age, I would say the film should be 15 years or over. Firstly because of the horror elements of the film including the large knife being shown. Also because of the language used in the shouting scene, which follows the guidline, "There may be frequent use of strong language". I also believe our films should be aimed at regular cinema goers with an understanding and experience with psychological thrillers. The film has a lot going on to begin with a narrative that would be understood by this audience but possibly not with more inexperienced viewers.
How did you attract/address your audience?
If we were to attracts audiences for the film if it were fully made would buy advertisements in strategically placed areas considering our target audience. For example, on websites such as IMDB.com or RottenTomatoes.com where regular cinema viewers would check on these websites about news on films. Also another trending marketing scheme is through viral advertising on the internet. For example, The last exorcism ad on chatroullete.com grabbed the attention of large audiences through its shocking marketing. To get feedback for our project however, we used our accounts on facebook to post our video to our friends and asked them to like or comment the video. We also showed our class the video and also another class from school.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
We were not experienced in film making although all members of the group have researched what technologies go into making a professional looking film. We wanted to our film to look as professional as possible so we used a HD camera, the Kodak ZX1. I have learnt that using HD cameras is not a necessity and we could even possibly get a better looking image using a standard DV camcorder and up-scaling on software such as Sony Vegas, Premier Pro or After Effects. Although I was happy with the finished product, the quality looked brilliant in outdoor conditions giving our picture a crisp look. Also we used a dolly which we have learned take patience to get the perfect shot. The dolly can be hard to handle depending on what surface the wheels are rolling on. It only works on completely flat surfaces but when used correctly, the tracking shots give the film an extremely professionally look. I learned that the editing of the film is a lengthy process and me being a perfectionist, it took much longer than I expected. Although I enjoyed doing it, it gave me a chance to express my creativity through the software premier pro, which has many effects to toy with. I learned that the sound mix in the editing was the hardest element to produce. The placing of certain sound effects and transitions between them must be split-second perfect to give the impact you were looking to express.
I also learned the powers of internet marketing for films. Websites such as youtube and vimeo allow users to share their videos and have them commented on through web 2.0. This made me realise how much opportunity our generation have to become a popular film maker and the less effort needed to grab audiences than before the internet was created or even before broadband was. Through the internet we are able to distribute our film to the widest possible audience, globally.
Youtube also allows users to discover it's videos demographic through google insight. This shows the primal location of viewers, age and gender and also how they got to the video. The use of blogging has also been a great tool, allowing me to store all of my work and embed videos and pictures to express my influences and opinions.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
To get to the final product it took a lot of planning and research to know exactly what we wanted before the shoot and then editing the footage. As we were specifically creating an opening in the thriller genre we had to study it's forms and conventions. Generally the genres main elements were the creation tension and suspense through all of the technical codes. I watched films such as Psycho (1960), The Birds (1963) and Rear Window (1954) to witness the work of Alfred Hitchcock AKA. the master of suspense. I also watched some more modern thrillers including Se7en (1995), Donnie Darko (2001) and Shutter Island (2010). This was to inspire ideas for our narrative and theme. This worked very well as it clearly shown that we have paid homage to these classic thrillers and they encouraged our creativity as a group.
I have also learnt the importance of planning ahead and getting a clear vision of our film. We talked through our plot and the shots on screen repetitively to each other to reach this vision. I have also learned the importance of modern technology and to take advantage of it. We used social networking sites, instant messaging and mobile phones to contact each other concerning the project. We discussed title names, narrative ideas, camera shots and shared photographs and videos. Communication is extremely easily and we used modern facilities as much as possible to interact. The preliminary task was essential to create the final film in the best possible quality in the time we had. It allowed us to organise a schedule and mange our extras and cast and crew positions efficiently.
Here is the final product. It took me around five hours to edit as I was detailed in my work. I would consult the group of any issues and would show them the film on a regular basis for suggestions. I am very pleased with how it turned out and the amount of quality footage we got with the extras. The title took the group a while to decide and was finally chosen during the end stages of editing. We watched the film over and over to get a feel for it. We wanted the title to be in relation to the opening sequence and Ben suggested the word macabre. This word instantly made me think of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) in the opening narration.
"They have wished to see as much of the mad and macabre as they were to see that day."
Although this film is a horror film, thriller can contain many horror elements when involving a murderer. I remember this word sticking in my head when watching the film and it gave a perfect feel to the film. But we didn't want the films title to be one word so we though of daylight as conventional murder scenes would happen at night, ours was in the day which gave the film a unique twist in theme. So we decided Daylight Macabre worked well and all agreed it worked perfectly in relation to our sequence.
"In works of art, macabre is the quality of having a grim or ghastly atmosphere. Macabre works emphasize the details and symbols of death."
This was our final day filming, producing the shots of Alex's character, the killer. Alex got into costume which was planned beforehand. We needed to apply his make up correctly to give the character the creepy look we were aiming for. First of all we applied the lipstick which was heavily put on and smudged in a frowning shape. We then applied eye liner and some grey make up to make his face look dirty. The make up on his face was for character depth and also to scare audiences. It adds to the psychological aspect of the genre we were looking for. The character looks insane and creates narrative questions for audiences.
Once the costume was ready we began designing the set of the killers preparation area. We wanted it to be grungy and creepy in relation to his character so we set him in front of a mirror that had been boarded over. We used a black plastic bag to cover the mirror which added to the griminess in the mise-en-scene we were looking for. Next we wanted a sort of shrine of my character, the lonely boy, who he was about to kill. This would add even more depth to the character giving audiences connotations of his insanity. We printed of some pictures of me and cut them out to stick on the covered mirror. We also thought of the Dark Knight's promotion scheme which had red graffiti covering faces. We thought this would add more detail to the setting and give the shrine an even creepier look. We then added candles to the shrine to make the setting gloomey surrounding our character.
Finally we filmed the killer walking down an alleyway. We decided on an alley near the primal location, its look went well with the mise-en-scene of the party so audiences could connote the killer's location is close to the victims. We told Alex to walk in a odd way with his feet facing inwards to make his character look more sluggish and abnormal, adding to his villainous traits. We finished the shout in around an hour and a half and got a wide variety of shots.
We have finally got all the footage ready for me to edit.
We filmed with all of our extras who were going to be the party crowd. We invited them through facebook using the messaging system with the follwing message to 12 people.
"Need people to be in a short thriller we are making for media :) Hello people, Me Jake Hipwell Sam Askey and Alex Hyden need some people to be in a thriller opening we have to make for media, just to be people at a halloween party doing party stuff, you wont need to say any lines but might need to act a tiny bit, we really need some people though so it would be great if you could help
If everything works out right we should be filming this saturday afternoon, at Jakes house, should take 2 or 3 hours at the most.
If you can come please bring a halloween costume if you have one. Message back if you will be able to help or have any questions or anything thankyou!"
This worked efficiently and we ended up with around ten extras for filming. We told them to just be around the house and we would direct them when needed. The extras were great in the end and really took the process seriously which we appreciated as that was our major concern beforehand.
We began by filming our shots for our short shot duration clips. We got our actors to crouch in front of a wall one by one, each having their own action chosen by our director, Ben Hume. We then filmed a POV shot of me leaving the toilet and got our extras to stand in two groups in the hallway. Then we filmed a couple of shots outside showing the people at the party. We ended the shoot with our final shots of the film where I am dead outside on a lower tier. The day was a success and we got every shot we wanted that included the extras.
We now need to film the shots of our killer as he prepares himself in front of his mirror and walks down an alley, heading to the party.
First of all we needed to gather the right equipment for our needs before we started filming.
We wanted to use a HD camera to give our film a processional look. We used the Kodak ZX1. The camera worked well although there were a couple of issues. The camera gave a brilliant picture in well lit conditions although was poor in mild darkness. Also there was no manual focus on the camera but the auto focus seemed to work fairly well. We used a tripod for most of the time to create steady shots. We also used a dolly for our tracking shots which worked well after some practice and a steady hand.
We then began to film a couple of our shots. We planned to do all of the shots that didn't require any extras just within the group as we had only three hours time with them and wanted to make the most of that time.
Our first shot we filmed was of me being sick in the toilet. We needed to create an authentic looking vomit for me to use and we landed on some soup. This way the mixture was not unpleasant for me to have in my mouth while filming. The mixture worked well and looked surprisingly real.
We prepared to film and got the shot ready. While doing so we realised the camera needed as much light as possible to give it a good quality picture. We used a desk lamp to produce a bright light, this created a new crew position which was essential for our filming. Alex helped with the lighting which was carefully placed and directed by Ben to avoid inauthenticity.
Next we filmed a tracking shot of the door getting closer. This took a few takes to perfect as the dolly was hard to maneuver at first, the camera would shake at times, But we finally got a smooth shot and it looked professionally done.
Next we need to plan the time of filming for our party shots with the extras.
We started to discuss the theme of our film and influences from other films including characters and atmospheres. This was to boost our creativity and drive our narrative forward. These are the films we discussed in relation to our ideas:
Donnie Darko (2001)
We as a group loved many elements of Donnie Darko including it's time period, the 80's, the soundtrack and the cinematography used in several scenes. The film is a psychological thriller, ours is similar to the narrative of a troubled teenager. I thought The killing moon by Echo and The Bunnymen used at the start of the film as an introduction to the setting worked well. We wanted a retro feel soundtrack that created an 80's feel to the party. Also in the school entrance scene, creates an atmosphere and establishes setting very well. By the way the camera pans to the main characters with certain actions is a great way to introduce characters and makes audiences feel they are inside the film in a way. Also my character wears a hoodie like donnies character as this worked well to give our lead character a secluded personality. Because of these elements of the film, we wanted to pay homage to it.
Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Also to show off our killer's odd features we wanted to shock audiences by using extreme close ups on different parts of his body while he gets changed. An influence from Silence of the lambs in the famous Buffalo Bill scene where he unnerves viewers as he puts on make up in a perverse manor. This intention to shock audiences is what we are aiming for although in a more subtle way.
The Dark Knight (2008)
Also in relation to the make up is The Joker in the The Dark Knight. His smeared lipstick and odd make up is really effective in giving the villain a unique and abnormal look. We wanted viewers to be "freaked out" by his appearance and giving him this distinct look would drive this forward. Also the viral advertising on the posters of the film gave us the idea that we should draw red circles around my face on pictures of me. The pictures are going to be pinned up onto the killers mirror as he prepares his make-up.
Shutter Island (2010)
Martin Scorsese's Shutter Island has several elements of influence for our film. First of all the soundtrack/score that is brilliant in the way tension is always present. We are constantly on the edge of our seats and the emotion in the score works well in relation to the dramatic acting Leonardo Dicaprio and my character gives. We are using the track "On the nature of daylight" by Max Richter for our the last part of our sequence when the boy is found murdered and the group of people stand around looking down at his body. The song works perfectly in impacting our audience as it is very emotional. We want audiences to take the ending as seriously as possible and this track helps us persuade that further. Also another influence from this film is the way it messes with the minds of viewers. The scene where Chuck jumps off a cliff yet shortly after rats come out from the rock. This is a brilliant way of unsettling the audience with strange imagery. We have a shot where I face the camera whilst arms come from behind me and stroke my body. I plan to speed this shot up so viewers see it shortly and ask themselves "Was that real?" and "What was the meaning of that?". We are taking advantage of the fact that we are only creating the opening sequence of the film so we can create strange yet symbolic imagery that would puzzle audiences yet we do not have to explain it. Another example of this symbolic imagery in our film is going to be a clip between the shot of me dead on the floor where my character kneels arms wide facing the group of people as they shout abuse at me. This will hopefully surprise viewers and creates deeper meaning to our character and possibly the narrative.
To create a successful thriller opening you must consider the genre's conventions and techniques and include them as creatively as possible. Here is my list of elements I believe we need to craft and execute into our opening to make it effective as possible:
Create suspense through behaviour of figure, sound and camera.
• The killer character's behaviour of figure should be extremely quirky and abnormal in his movements. His walk should be jerky and unnatural by twitching his arms and his feet facing inwards.
• The score should be crafted to relate to what is shown on screen. e.g. When a sudden shot of the killer is shown, high pitched strings could be played to unnerve audiences. Also the atmosphere of the score should be present throughout, avoiding long period of silence. Atmospheric sounds could include wind or even low pitch bass. A successfully placed score can really drag an audience in and keep their attention.
• Cinematography can also create suspense in relation to hiding our murderer's full face. I feel it is important to keep some secrecy in a killer to add more tension and build up to the full appearance. This also keeps audiences wanting to watch for longer as the mystery behind the killer is captivating and engrossing for viewers. This would be done by only filming from behind the character when filming in either a long shot, mid shot or a master shot to not expose the face of the killer. Our killer have strange, grotesque make-up which we want to expose to the viewer but not show his full face from the front. So extreme close-ups will be used to show these features off.
• Also through cinematography we want to establish our setting. This will be achieved with a couple of short establishing shots. Also long shots and master shots will expose the setting to audiences. We have two locations for setting, one with the boys and another with the killers. We are going to expose the victims setting but are not going to show our killers setting so clearly. This will unnerve audiences as they do not know the exact whereabouts of the murderers location.
• Be simple, but not too simple. With so many AS thriller projects, I have seen many that do not have a great deal going on. It is important to learn that three minutes of film can create a lot of different feelings and circumstances. We did not want to overdo it but we feel that with two contrasting characters in a variety of shots and angles, along with different actions of the character on screen, we have enough to keep an audience entertained.
The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) catagorizes the main issues into the above catagories. The following information set out guidelines such as violence and language to be applied throughout 'U' all the way to '18'. The criteria should be taken into factors such as, whether the material is in conflict with the law, whether the material may cause harm towards the catagory concerned and whether the content is generally acceptable at the age group concerned based on a broad public opinion. The main issues are also taken into concern which contain, Discrimination, Drugs, Horror, Imitable behaviour, Language, Nudity, Sex, Theme and Violence.
'U' - Universal is suitbale for all ages above four. The films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. By using the main issues, 'U' films should contain discriminatory language or behaviour, no references to illegal drugs or drug misuse, unless a clear message of anti-drug message. Scary sequences should be mild, breif and unlikely to cause anxiety to young children. No glorification of easily accessable weapons with dangerous behaviour in which children may like to duplicate. Infrequent use of very mild bad language with occassional natural nudity, however no sexual content. While problematic themes may be present, their treatment must be sensitive and appropriate for young children. Finally, mild violence only with an occassional mild menace or threat.
'PG' - Parental Guidance is suitable for children aged eight and over. From the main issues a 'PG' film should consist of discrimination by a character with which children can easily identify. References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message, frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense to affect the child. The films shall consist of no detail or potentially dangerous behaviour which a young child is likely to copy. Bad language is only suitable unless it is mild, natural nudity is acceptable however, no sexual context. Sexual activity may be impiled, but should be discreet, when more serious issues are featured such as domestic violence, nothing in their treatment should condone unacceptable behaviour. Finally, moderate violence is allowed although it must be justified in its context such as history, comedy or even fantasy.
'12' - 12 is suitable for children aged 12 and over. From the guidlines a '12' film, discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail, moderate horror is permitted, however frequent sequences are not allowed. Dangerous behaviour which can consist of self harm may not show detail which can be copied, In a '12' moderate language is allowed, aswell as nudit. The use of sexual activity may also be portrayed, but discreetly, moderate violence is permitted in the films however the use of emphasis on blood or injuries shall not be included. Finally in a '12' film you can use mature themes, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.
'12A' - '12A' guidlines are identical to a '12' film. The classification only exists in cinemas where a adult can choose whether the film is acceptable for a child under the age of twelve, compared to '12' where children under the age of twelve in not allowed to view the film.
'15' - These films are acceptable for ages 15 and over. The guidlines portray that the work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. Another factor shows that strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised aswell as dangerous behaviour for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming but should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Sexual activity may be portrayed withiut strong detail aswell as nudity, no theme is prohibited, providing that the treatment is suitable for the ages of 15 above. '15' films can also use frequent strong language, however the language must be justified if they use the strongest terms. The final factor is violence, violence in the films may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury.
'18' - These films are only suitable for adults. No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than eighteen may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video. 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. Also where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context.
'R18' - The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ video works may not be supplied by mail order. The following examples are not acceptable: any material which is in breach of the criminal law, including material judged to be obscene under the current interpretation of the Obscene Publications Act 1959 and any sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which does not form part of a clearly consenting role-playing game. Strong physical or verbal abuse, even if consensual, is unlikely to be acceptable.
We chose our location which was my house. The location had plenty of room and unique areas for shots. It was also extremely convenient because it is located right next to school from where we were lending camera equipment and extras in the film can get to the location easily. Once we chose the location we went down to get some potential shots and angles for planned cinematography.
This is a shot of the toilet where at the start of the film our main character is sick. The framing is perfect as it fits the object and the character on screen in full.
This shot shows an alleyway beside the house which gives a great never-ending feel to it to imply mystery in the atmosphere. Also the brick wall provides a grungy texture to our short shot duration clips where characters look at the camera providing tension and strange imagery.
This is a great establishing shot of the setting which will be able to show a large amount of characters adding to the size of the party which needs to be as filled as possible. The steps on the right and the tiers of the garden provides an opportunity to have many positions for characters fitting in a lot on screen to establish characters and location.
This shot can will show the main character walking through the party to provide the film with a passage of time. With more and more actions the characters do the bigger the passage of time. We want the party to feel like its been on for a while before the main character gets murdered.
This low angle shot can give a character power on screen. It also gives greater attention to deatail of the setting.
The tiers on the garden provide a perfect image of the dead body. We picture the group of people looking down on the body and the tiers provide greater height and more room, creating a more dramatic shot.
This is another great establishing shot of the back garden. People could be seen sitting on a table of the decking area and a group could be gathered in front of the door.
We wanted to discuss the costumes of our two main characters:
1. First of all, we wanted to make the killer unique and perverse. We thought if the male killer wore a dress it would be strange and engrossing for the audience. Also thrillers succeed when the killer have originality and stand out. Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho (1960) for example has Norman Bates wearing a dress as he murders. Also we knew we were only creating the opening to the film which gave us the advantage in not having to explain the strange attributes the killer contains.
2. Our second idea for the killers costume was a unique, gritty style suit. We felt like the dress idea maybe to cliché and we were aiming for something more original. So we thought white shirt, waistcoat, skinny green jeans and classic brown shoes. The make-up was going to be the key for making our killer look strange and perverse. His nails would be painted red and brown make-up to make his face look drained and dirty. Also his hair would be messed up and long and red lipstick would be smudged in a frown. This was an influence from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008), where the Joker character has bizarre, overdone lipstick although we would swap modify this to change his smile to a frown as we wanted the killer character to be more aggressive and creepy. This gave our character a look that would persuade audiences to connote a psychotic and mental background.
We wanted the boy to stand out in the opposite of how someone would usually. The idea of having everyone wear costume made us think that if the boy did not he would stand out from the crowd. He also needed to appear isolated and confined so we imagined him wearing a hoodie to express his solitary personality. The fact that the lonely boy character does not dress up in costume separates him from his peers who he is ignoring.
A boy is sick in a toilet and re-enters a Halloween party. As the party progresses he becomes more and more isolated as he is rejected from his peers, yet he also ignores everyone around him. The dark iconography (Shots of bizarre paintings and frontal images of guests masks) of the house creates a feeling of tension and eeriness. A close up shot of a knife in the kitchen triggers the pace of the action, short shot duration aiding the rise of tension. We then cut to a mysterious figure wearing a dress rushing through an alley from behind. Then simultaneously we are cutting between the boy at the party and the figure in the alley. A shot of the knifes location shows the knife missing and we do not return to the figure in the alley for some time. Shortly after the boy dissapears from the party. A short shot of the boy dead leads to the party residents rushing outside. The people stand above, bewildered at the site of the dead body. Then a white cloud brushes of the screen and shows a shot of the people shouting extremely aggressively at the body. It then cuts to the boys looking directly at the screen, breaking the fourth wall, and cuts back to the aggressive party residents. The white cloud comes again and the people stand shocked once more. A close up of the dead boys face reveals a smudged kiss on his cheek, the sick motif of the killer in dress.
So we had to decide what characters the film will consist of and who will play, here as follows:
Cast
Lonely Teen : Jake Hipwell (Me)
Killer: Alex Hyden
We considered using external actors outside our group yet we felt it would be more reliable if we played the roles, as we know the characters we were portraying and could depend on being there when needed.
We then had to decide who would be taking the major roles in crew to shoot our film as effectively as possible. Here as follows:
Crew
Director: Ben Hume
Camera: Ben Hume/Sam Askey
Lighting: Sam Askey/Alex Hyden
Editing: Jake Hipwell (Me)
Ben was chosen director by the group as he was not going to be starring in the film. I was appointed editor as I have had experience with software, Adobe Premiere Pro, that was on my laptop.
Although we appointed positions, this was just to guideline who was taking main control over the major roles. We were all going to input on each role in turn.
We have started plans for our thriller film opening and came up with two ideas:
1.) A lonely, crippled man is being watched at every corner and glimpse by his suspiciously looking son. We wanted to convey a distressed relationship between the father and son and maybe add a dramatic twist involving flashbacks.
2.) A Halloween party where one boy is the outcast. He feels isolated from his peers, making audiences feel something dark is gong to happen to the character, we introduce a killer walking rapidly through an alleyway. Cutting simultaneously from the party and the killers location, we see a shot of a knife in the kitchen. Then we do not see the killer for a period of time and another shot of the knifes location where it appears to be gone. A scream rushes the party residents outside to see the boy dead from a lower angle, with a kiss mark smudged across his cheek to present the killers sick motif.
Obviously we decided the second option seemed more likely as we had much more ideas for it.
We then decided on the setting, as this was going to be a house party we had to arrange where we would be filming the project.
I suggested my house, so we went to take some location shots. We decided the setting was the right choice and it was also easy to get to and from school as it's located in the local area.
With reference to Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) and at least two other thrillers you have studied, as well as wider research, discuss the thriller genre and its forms and conventions.
Mystery, tension and excitement are but a few of the words used to define the thriller genre. They include a substantial state of disequilibrium with plots that hold intelligence and puzzle. Thrillers provide a sense of insecurity yet excitement and mystery. We are hidden from information that is finally uncovered through the large awaiting climax the films build gradually through their typically dark, twisted narratives. Thrillers are almost boundless with their integration with many other genres including sci-fi, action, horror and drama. Several aspects that designate a thriller include its wide range of subgenres, unique complex narratives, genre defining techniques and using the art of suspense to create shocking impacts on audiences.
This was our first practical assignment which really gave us some practice in using camera equipment, testing out some skills and techniques we had learned and give us some creative freedom to see what we can do in a short amount of time.
We planned a short sequence about a Russian roulette scene where four unique characters take it in turns to shoot the bullet. By their reaction and dealing with the game, we see our characters personalities differ from one another. We went with the thriller genre and it's clear film noire has heavily influenced the look and feel of the sequence.
To achieve this look we used heavy shadow and high contrasting light. We filmed in a pitch black room with spot lights from above. This was really effective in giving the film a dramatic yet classy look.
This was one of the first films I have been part of making and it gave me an insight in the way cameras are used and the effectiveness of using a range of cinematography.
We, as a group, also discovered the future positions of each of us as a crew. I became the main character as I was confident in my acting skills and also editor as I was experienced with video editing software. Ben Hume took over as director as he controlled the group more than others. Sam Askey and Alex Hyden were actors and helped with artistic influences and direction.
I interact with the media on a daily basis, watching television, surfing the Internet on PC and phone and also occasionally reading a magazine or newspaper. It is hard to detach yourself from it when the most popular forms of entertainment are controlled by the worlds media. I find myself searching blogs for music and films, reading news articles and reviews on a daily basis.
Modern technology gives us such easy access to information when we want it. Advertisements flood the streets and the web is too hard to ignore. I use media for most of my waking time throughout the day as i have grown up with it as it's sources have evolved massively.
