Evaluation

Part 1:

Watch Evaluation - Part 1


Part 2:

Final Production

I have also uploaded this video to youtube, this was become it lets you view it in higher quality than Blogger.

Different Genre's of Thriller

Thriller is a vast genre which covers many sub-genres aswell. Here are some examples of sub-genres for a thriller:

(information is from wikipedia)

• Action thriller: Usually are very fast paced and involve large amounts of explosions, violence, guns, stunts, car chases, and many different types of gadgets. There is often a race against time for the protagonist and the antagonist is made very clear to the audience. Example's of this genre include "Die Hard", "The Fast and the Furious", and the James Bond films.


• Medical thriller: The hero/heroine are medical doctors working to solve an expanding medical problem, there are often several twists in the narrative and suspense is built throughout the film. An example includes the film Awake.


• Psychological thriller: The conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical, until the resolution as that is usually violent. The conflict is usually an effort to understand what is happening to them, these conflicts are made clearer to the audience in a physical form and as the character figures out the mystery so do the audience, which makes them feel more involved in the film. This sub-genre sets out to "play" around with the audience's mind but once the mystery is solved the audience may feel a sense of satisfaction because they can piece together the mystery. Examples of this sub-genre include "The Ring", "Flightplan", "The Number 23" and "The Sixth Sense".


• Crime thriller: It can involve failed or successful crimes as a basis for the narrative and often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. The most common narratives for crime thriller involve murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses. Examples of crime thriller include, "Collateral" and "Sin City".


• Spy thriller: The hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. Examples include "The Bourne Identity", "Mission: Impossible", and TV series such as 24 (which breaks conventions as it is a mix of psychological and spy thrillers).


• Horror Thriller: Tends to be very physical and very gory, it also is meant to appear terrifying and horrific to watch. They usually include a central villian, however they don't always have a main hero to follow. Examples of this sub-genre include, "Cabin Fever", "Saw", and "28 Days Later".

Film certificates

The following research was taken from the British Board of Film Classification website, this is to aid us in giving our film a rating by seeing what is acceptable for a particular rating.

Videos classified 'Uc' are particularly suitable for pre-school children and normally raise none of the issues set out below.

It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. U films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.Theme;Treatment of problematic themes must be sensitive and appropriate for a younger audience.

Language: Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.

Nudity: Occasional natural nudity, with no sexual context.

Sex: Mild sexual behaviour (eg kissing) and references only (eg to ‘making love’).

Violence: Mild violence only. Occasional mild threat or menace only.

Imitable techniques: No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons. No potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy.

Horror:Horror effects should be mild and brief and should take account of the presence of very young viewers. The outcome should be reassuring.

Drugs:No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless there is a clear educational purpose or clear anti-drug message suitable for the audience.

'PG' Parental Guidance - General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young childrenUnaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

Theme: Where more serious issues are featured (eg domestic violence, racist abuse) nothing in their treatment should condone the behaviour.

Language: Mild bad language only.

Nudity: Natural nudity, with no sexual context.

Sex: Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only.

Violence: Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed, if justified by its setting (eg historic, comedy or fantasy).

Imitable techniques: No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons. No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy.

Horror:Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor.

Drugs:Any references to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.

12A – Suitable for 12 years and over. No-one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.

Theme: Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.

Language:The use of strong language (eg 'fuck') must be infrequent. Racist abuse is also of particular concern.

Nudity: Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet.

Sex: Sexual activity may be implied. Sex references may reflect what is likely to be familiar to most adolescents but should not go beyond what is suitable for them.

Violence: Violence must not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated.

Imitable techniques: Dangerous techniques (eg combat, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on imitable detail or appear pain or harm free. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Horror: Sustained moderate threat and menace are permitted. Occasional gory moments only.

Drugs: Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or instructional.

'15' – Suitable only for 15 years and overNo-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video or DVD.

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

Language:There may be frequent use of strong language. But the strongest terms will be acceptable only where justified by the context. Continued aggressive use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity: Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.

Sex: Sexual activity may be portrayed but without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour.

Violence: Violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. Scenes of sexual violence must be discreet and brief.

Imitable techniques: Dangerous techniques (eg combat, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on imitable detail. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Horror: Strong threat and menace are permitted. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.

Drugs:Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse.

'18' – Suitable only for adultsNo-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC's public consultations, at '18' the BBFC's guideline concerns will not normally override the wish that adults should be free to chose their own entertainment, within the law. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:
Where material or treatment appears to the Board to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – e.g. any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which is likely to promote the activity.

The Board may also intervene with portrayals of sexual violence which might, e.g. eroticise or endorse sexual assault.
the more explicit images of sexual activity – unless they can be exceptionally justified by context and the work is not a 'sex work' - rated R18.

Costumes

In our opening scene we do not have many actors / actresses so we do not have to be to worried about costumes. The only thing we need to make sure of is continutity when people are seen. The victim who is kidnaped is a teenage girl who will be wearing casual clothes which shows she was taken while doing her day to day activities. We made sure that the kidnapper was never fully seen, but the shots he is shown in he is weaing different clothes. This was done as his jacket was worn in a brief shot which showed him holding a metal bar which could be used as a weapon. In the other he is shown in his basement so is wearing a vest as this shows his comfort in his home. Also he is displaying his tatoo which shows his tough side. We also made sure, in most of the pictures taken for the wall, Megan was wearing different clothes.

Storyboard

1) The first shot fades from a black screen to a shot the kidnappers victim. The camera slowly starts to pan round the victim who is tied to the chair.


2) The second shot is a close up of the wall which the kidnapper has used to track the victims moves. On the map you can see circles areas with pictures of the victim in those places.



3) Next the shot cuts back to the victim tied up, continuing from where the pan stopped in shot 1, this a continuous shot throughtout the whole opening sequence.



4) The camera then goes back to the map, the music is increasingly become tense, and creates a hint to the viewer that something bad is going to happen.



5) Fades into black screen with production company and one of the actress's names.


6) A close of up the kidnappers hands, he is cutting out a picture of the victim who was seen earlier.

7) Camera moves back to victim, with the music tempo increasing with each cut back to the vitim tied to the chair.

8) Another title screen with more actors names and director names.

9) As the camera moves around the map, you see an empty space.



10) In the space seen in the previous shot you see the kidnappers hand putting a picture on the wall, the circling where the picture was taken on the map.


11) Camera then cuts back to victim, once again continuing the pan from previous shots.


12) Main film title appears on screen


13) A closer shot of the victim from a different angle than previously


14)A shot of the wall with the map and pictures on

15) This shot is zooming out from shot 14 until it reaches an over the shoulder shot of Levi (the stalker / kidnapper) staring at the wall. In this shot you will be about to see the wall from over the shoulder and his tatoo on his right arm.

Initial Planning

Our main objective is to try create a tense opening sequence of a film with as many of the conventions of a thriller as possible. First we create the storyboard, then followed by the shooting schedule which can be seen on the post previously.

I have decided to put up my storyboard as my original hand drawn versions and also as photos i have taken to symbolise what the shots may look like.

The basic idea of our opening title sequence is a stalker, who has been following his victim for some time and created a wall of photos and receipts ect of the girl he is stalkings life. This is one of the main themes of our title sequence. Then the shots between these show the girl he was stalking tide up which tells you she was kidnapped. You never actually see who the kidnapper is, this sense of mystery helps keepo the viewing asking questions.

Shooting Schedule

Conventions of a Thriller

After looking at the 3 films to research thrillers I have discovered that there is several main conventions used to define a film in the 'Thriller' genre:

• There is usually a murder, kidnap or something similar to that. This keeps the viewing wanting to find out how the murder happened or why someone was kidnapped ect. This is one of the main themes of 'Hostage' is a family kidnapping.

• A narative which points the viewer into a different direction to that the story is going. Also it includes clues which keep the audience questioning what they are being shown and to try and let them work out what the end result of the story will be.

• Events happening to ordinary people which may help audiences relate to the situation such as Lucky Number Slevin, which shows 'Slevin' being blackmailed to perform killings for something he has not done. However the story brings up surprises later on which is in classic thriller style.
  

However the real challenge of a title sequence is to get a viewer immersed into the film as quickly as possible, especially thrillers which leave viewers asking questions from the word go. Researching the thrillers I have will help transfer ideas from them to put into the production I am making.

As there is many sub-genres of Thrillers, not all thrillers have the exact same conventions, however thrillers can be easily identifiable whether it is an action thriller or a psycological thriller as both perform the same take of keeping the viewer on the edge of their seat.

Research of Thrillers - Hostage

Hostage

The basic plot of the film is A failed police negotiator turned small town cop, must save the lives of a family held hostage, which draws him into a much more dangerous situation.

I have analysed the first 1.24 mins of the title sequence of the clip below:


The first item which appears during the title sequence is text of the names of the film company's who made it - Miramax films and Stratus Film Company. The font appears to be in 3D, with a red base and a yellow shadow which makes it stand out from the black background. The same effect is used for the production company who appears next - Cheyenne Enterprises Production. As the third bit of text comes up you see a birds eye view of a city slowly fading in until the camera is directly above it. Whilst this is being shown, there is non-diegetic music playing which is quite menacing and may make the audience associate it with war because this type of music, with the drum beat has been featured in films involving ancient war. The background then fades out to black then soon after so does the text.

As it fades in from black you see a wall and a city skyline behind it. This looks animated which may distort the audiences view of the film as it will break conventions to mix animation and real life. On the wall is the directors name. This gives a good indication of which order to put people in. There are 3 colours which are used in this shot, which are red, black and a musky white. Red connotates blood, anger, war, hate, horror, and death, and the use of this colour in the opening sequence suggests that the film may involve the examples given that are associated with it. The black may suggest that the film will be quite dark and also makes the red stand out more. The musky white is mainly used for the director's name to make it stand out from the black background. This shot cuts in to a shot which is panning downwards to reveal the lead actor in the film - Bruce Willis. His name is in bloack capitals and stands out from the background.




The camera once again cuts, to what looks like a bird eye view of the city we saw in one of the first shots in the title sequence but this time is is zooming out from the street. As it is doing this you see the Hostage logo spinning slowly into view - the same colour scheme has been kept throughout the title sequence. The font for the hostage logo is in block capitals and each letter is "jagged" and could be interpreted as to being some sort of weapon for example on the "E" there could be three guns, this suggests that there will be violence in the film. Also ontop and below the writing there are two lines, this gives a sense of being trapped, just like a hostage would be. The font also looks 3D again due to there being a white shadow on it which makes it stand out more. Also whilst the title of the film is in view there are non-diegetic sounds of police sirens which suggests that this may be a crime thriller and we may be following the police whilst they solve some sort of mystery. This shot then dissolves into a shot where the camera pans downwards/backwards, spinning slowly, towards the ground still with the view of the sky. As this is happening a building comes into view which has another Actors name on it. The next cut is made to look like there is continuity between the shots how there is a very quick change to a vertical shot of a power cable pole, which then moves to a horizontal position so you can read the name. This title sequence is very different to any other I have looked at, as it has no acting in it. It is just all done as an animation which leaves you asking questions about further plot details. For example later on in the title sequence there is a shot of a bridge which has been taped off by police. Also there is shots of allies which make you feel suspicious.

Also unlike the other thrillers I have looked at, It gives you no real background to the film such as what caused the problem (I Am Legend) or the deaths of a character (Lucky Number Slevin). This film looks more like a Action thriller which is one of the many sub genre's of Thrillers. Such as Lucky number Slevin which is a Psycological Thriller.

Research of Thrillers - I Am Legend

I Am Legend

The Basic Plot of I Am Legend is as follows - Years after a plague which was designed to cure cancer mutates and kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure.

As the start of this opening scene, there is a voiceover which sounds two commentators from a football game. While this is on in the background there is the various companies logos appears such as Village Roadshow Pictures, Weed Road Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment, and Warner Brothers.

After this has been shown the camera cuts to a medium shot of the television, it looks like the shot has been filmed from the point of view of someone watching it. As you listen you relise they are discussing about curing cancer and this sets up the plot for the rest of the film. The title sequence for I Am Legend has very similar conventions to other thrillers I have looked at however it is much shorter and very quickly make you aware that this 'cure' is going to be the problem of the film. After this the shot cuts to black for several seconds then a establishing shot of a deralicked city appears stating it is three years after the scene before. This makes you realise the cure for cancer has destroyed the city.

Research of Thrillers - Lucky Number Slevin

Lucky Number Sleven

The basic Plot of the film is a case of mistaken identity which lands Sleven into the middle of a war between two of the citys biggest gang bosses. Slevin is under constant surveillance by relentless Detective Brikowski as well as the infamous assassin Goodkat and finds himself having to hatch his own ingenious plot to get them before they get him.

I have analysed up to 1.55 mins of the following clip as this is around how long the brief suggests our Thriller opening should be.




The Opening Title consists of animation at the start which looks like paper with a torch shining on it. This makes the audience focus on the centre of the screen, creates an element of mystery and along with the numbers dissolving into words it suggests that the film may have some dodgy dealings involving money and possibly gambling aswell. Fade to black, to a medium shot of a white telephone in what looks like a hotel room. The wallpaper and the bed covers both have circles on them, which follows on from the circle of light which the audience will have just seen this could suggest that something may happen over and over again. It is also quite distorting for the viewer to look at. Fade out to black then fades in from black to what looks like a trackihg shot of an elevator which makes you feel slightly uneasy as the shots will make you feel like your not sure what's going on. This shot then dissolves slowly into a long shot of a man in a suit walking in a underground car park, the camera pans to the right and then pans to follow the man however we don't see his face properly, the main point of focus is the book/file in which he is carrying. The suit connatates a businessman who may be quite important however the angle the camera is at suggests that what he is carrying may be more important than he is. While this is happening, the actors and actresses names are appearing the the same style as the production companies on the peice of paper with the torch. It looks like numbers are quickly increasing and decreasing in value and then dissolving into letters to form each name. This supports the idea that there may be gambling or dodgy dealings with money.

The shot cuts to a shot of the camera panning upwards as if it was in the lift (as seen earlier) it suggests also that it could be a point of view shot which could be seen as creepy to the audience. The shot then cuts to inside of the car, where you can see the man in a suit going to open his car door. You then hear a silenced gun fire two shots and the window crack. This is the only time throughout the entire title sequence where the music stops. The non-diegetic music which is playing is very quiet and slow but make you expect that there is going to be more action to come. After this the shot cuts to the lift where you see a man holding the gun which you assume shot the man in the suit disapearing up.

As the camera starts to slowly pan round the car numbers reappear on the right side of the screen but this time change to one of the actresses name which is 'Lucy Lui'. The camera then stops on the man who has just been shot which becomes a medium shot. Then from the left of the screen you see a man in a trech coat, who you assume is the same man who has just killed him, pick up the book/file he was carrying an then walk off as the camera zooms onto the dead body.



Finally this fades into the paper we saw at the start to display the title 'Lucky Number Slevin' with the flashlight effect again, it also shows the numbers more clearly and it looks like there are coffee cup stains on the peice of paper which suggests that it could be office paper work and the numbers look like they are being added up and suggests further about the dodgy dealings that may take place in the film.