This blog has been marked. SJA 08/05/11

Final Film - Possession.

Q5

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

I feel that I have came a long way since my preliminary task. Im more confident when it comes to filming where as before I was unsure about it. During the filming of our opening sequence we used my camera, by doing this I found it more easier to film because I was familiar with it all.

How did you attract/address your audience

need to make video.

Who would be the ideal audience for your media product?

My initial audience profile:

Music:

Clothes:

Tv programmes:

The reason why I would rate my thriller as an 18 is because of the use of violence and criminal actions as our film is based on a kidnap. Also there may be possible explicit sex scenes, reason being because there are two males holding hostage a young female. Once again this would be of a violent nature.

JICNARS scale:

I would think that people from the B,C1 and C2 part of the scale would watch my film. These classes consist of 69% of the population. I believe my film is not really aimed at one particular class, I feel that anyone could really watch it which is why I chose the classes that make up most of the population. Not only are these the most common classes but they are also the most wealthy, therefore they are able to afford to pay to watch this at the cinema.

Psychographics:

I would think the type of people that would watch my film would be Strivers and Contented conformers. Strivers attach importance to image and status, wanting to enable acceptance in their peer group but they also hold onto traditional values. The reason I think this type of personality would be drawn to my film is because it shows characters of a higher status, with power and in control. I believe people who watch this would be strivers who want to aspire to this powerful role, possibly looking up to them because of their status, in belief that what they are doing is 'cool' however it is not, it may only seem this way to possible young adults who want to be this powerful figure. However most people may just be Contented Conformers wanting to be 'normal' accepts themselves. They are content and comfortable in what they do, therefore watching this type of film may not influence them in anyway as they accept who they are and don't crave anything more.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

During the process leading up to the creation of my thriller opening, I have experienced the use of different technologies all with different purposes which when put together, allowed me to create my opening. In order to record all my research and planning, I used blogger. This website allows me to create posts showing my ideas, explaining my thoughts and also expressing my work visually therefore I find it very useful to record my work and alsoeasy to use as it is more suited to the subject as it allows me to upload pictures and videos etc.

In order to create our opening, we had to use various technologies to

make sure we got the perfect shot we wanted. One of these is a tripod. By attaching a camera onto the tripod, it allows us to film with steady shots therefore there was no shakeyness that often happens when holding a camera yourself. The legs on the tripod support it, making it well balanced firmly on the ground so our shots were sure to be still.

Also with the adjustments at the top where the camera rests, we were able to add mobility, giving us the choice to add pan, tilt or crane the shotwithout it being too shakey. Whilst using this equipment, I feel like I have developed my skills. I first used a tripod in my prelimanary task, and since filming our opening, I feel more comfortable handling it. However there was one point were we had to use this equipment incorrectly.

During this shot we wanted to get right up to the car window. Zooming in just didn't give us the look we wanted. So to resolve this we closed the tripod legs, tilted the camera upwards and held the tripod horizontaly infront of us so it was then resting on the cars surface. From then we zoomed the camera slightly in and out, showing either one of both characters.

Another piece of

equipment we used was a figrig. This adds extra stababilty to our shots however it is not the same as a tr

ipod. It allows us to hold the camera ourselfs and

doesnt restrict the area we can film in because with a Fig Rig you can walk about with it and move it more freely. We only used this equipment

in one shot where I walked fastly along side the isle, towards the protagonists. It was the first time I had used this making it new to me.

As I also take photography, I took this to an advantage and decided to use my own camera, a Nikon D5000. The outcome of this is that our film is of better quality. Personally I found it easier to use just because I am used to handling it, however not often I have used it for filming so it was still a bit of a challenge. By using this technology it has allowed to produce something creative as we were able to adjust the depth of field was filming. An example of a shallow depth of field is the shot of the trolly wheels. The subject only comes in focus once it is in short distance of the lense. We also played with the focus in our last shot by shooting the car driving away, then adjusting the lense to gradually become out of focus causing the lights to be blurred. By doing this it adds creativity to the shot.

The final piece of technology we use

d was the macs. This technology was crucial because it invloves the programs needed to edit our footage - iMovie and Live type. These two technologies needed careful use as it is what we used to put our film together.

I had previously used iMovie when editing my preliminary task, therefore I was familiar with how it works. Here is a screen shot of us editing our film:

Whilst working on iMovie, not only could we edit our film but we could also add sound. Even though this program came with sound effects, we chose to use the website 'www.freesound.org'. Reason being because it gave us more of a variety of sounds which are free from copyright.

Here are the steps of how to download a sound off this website:

Once we were happy with our opening and had finished all of our editing, making sure that the shots flowed together and the sound was in sync, we then imported our work onto Livetype which was the final step. Livetype allowed us to create titles on top of our film. We were able to choose different fonts and pick through a variety of transitions as to how the title appears on the frame. We also used Livetype to create our production company logo. Here is how we created it:

In what ways does your media product use develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products.

Before creating our thriller opening, we looked at a variety of media products, learning about the typical conventions included in this genre. I learnt that thrillers are usualy based on an odd event taking place in a normal typical setting. This is why we chose to shoot our opening in B&Q. It is extremely relevant to our story line and is a typical well known DIY store however it is being used to purchase items for a kidnap which is unexpected.

- contact sheet of shots from my thriller against shots from a real film.
- discuss the overall look (mise-en-scene)
- numbered then wrote about underneath.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In our film, we looked at the stereotypical representations of gender. We show both genders, male and female in our film however the male is represented as a more dominant character because this is a stereotypical opinion, males having the more powerful role. In most films, we see males as often the criminals, the ones that the plot is based around in sinister type films. Here is an example of films with powerful male protagonists.

As our film is a thriller, we show 2 males off to kidnap a young women making the female seem intimedated and helpless which is the stereotypical opinion of females. They often play the innocent role however they are usually the ones in trouble, in the centre of the situation which is the case in our thriller. In our casting, we have portrayed the male as being a powerful and controlling by choosing tall characters which gives the feel of them towering over the girl, reinforcing their intimidating role. We also portrayed this in our camera angles, and the posture of the subjects walking.

This shot is taken from a lower level, as the characters approach and walk pass, their scale increases. Also their expression is very stirn and determin reflecting the fact that they are on a mission and they are in control.

This shot shows their posture whilst walking. We can see this more by the protagonist on the right, his step seems firm and his posture is quite masculin, reflecting a stereotypical appearance of a male criminal - tough and confident.

Not only did we look at the stereotypical male profile, we also included stereotypical female qualities. For example, we show the young women leaving her house for a night out which is often what younger females of that age do, party and have nights out. Most woman are very conscious of their appearance and care about the way they look, I have portrayed this by showing a shot of the girl putting on her makeup.

Ethnicity is also relevant when analysis this opening. The main characters are of different races - black and white. They are working together in order to carry out a kidnap. This challenges the ethnical stereotype as it is unusual to see these two different races working together. Also it is usually more likely to be someone from a darker ethnicity playing the part of the criminal, mainly because this is the stereotypical opinion. However by including both races in our opening it shows that this isn't always the case.

Script and Casting.

As a group, we all agreed that we should not include any dialogue. The effect of this is that it leaves the audience to work out the story for themselves, also including a lot of dialogue could make the actors seem quite fake. The only audio that we are including is a soundtrack, this has an important role as it sets the mood of the scene. The fact that we are not including any audio challenges us as we have to make sure that it visually makes sense and flows well together.

Our cast includes the whole group and also someone else who has volunteered to act for us. We needed an extra person as we have two girls and one boy and because we are doing a kidnap, it is unlikely to have 2 girls kidnapping a boy. Also we needed one of us to film. The volunteer will be playing one of the kidnappers. These two men have a powerful role and are the first characters we are introduced to. The girl will be playing the victim and I will be filming at some point and helping in the set.

Titles.

- Very Damaged

- Assassins Dub

- Fluoxetine

- Rough Linen

- Project Y

We felt that our film title should be bold and loud so that it stands out to the audience. These different titles are similar with the fact that they are all quite scratchy and jagged. We wanted this effect because in the scene that the film title is presented, it has a gritty, dark dirty feel, therefore this fits the mood of the scene well. Also the victim will be in a state of panic and she will look quite rough, the lettering of the title isn't neat, it is broken and in a way damaged. So these titles also depict the appearance of the girl.

Story Board.

Character Description.

In our opening sequence, we are only introduced to three character as these are the protagonists. The two men are in their early 20's. They are the dominant characters. They will be dressed in dark clothes, the reason for this is because dark dull colours represent danger and a mischievous character. They will be wearing labouring clothes such as worker boots and dirty tops so they look the part of a typical building making a trip to B&Q to collect some tools however they are preparing for a kidnap. They are both tall making them seem over powering.

The victim is going to be 18, we don't know much about this character however she is a typical young student who enjoys going out with her friends. We see her putting makeup on in her room, therefore she cares about her appearance. She is dressed for a night out, wearing heals,jeans, a nice top and her hair done up. This shows she clearly isn't aware of the later events. We have sympothy for this character because she has been taken. The audience does not know much about her personality as she is constantly controlled throughout the opening, she has no say in anything but we can see her fear.

Shooting Schedule.

Date: 23rd of January.

Location of filming: B&Q.

Duration: 1 Hour 30 mins.

Date: 25th of January.

Location of filming: House.

Duration: 1 Hour.

Date: 27th of January.

Location: Long Road.

Duration: 30 mins.

Date: 30th of January.

Location: Hostage location. - Possibly Cane Hill.

Duration: 1 Hours 30 mins.

Shot Lists

Props, Costumes and Location.

Location:

We are filming in 4 different locations. These locations help tell the story and make it flow together. Between the locations we show the car journey, from B&Q to the victims house we show shots from the inside of the car. From the house to the derelict building we are showing shots from the outside of the car. By showing the car driving fast from the outside, it makes the scene feel more rushed. However filming in different locations will not be easy, we have to make sure that the lighting is right so when we film the first scene it should be daylight and as we film the next part, the lighting should gradualy darken throughout each scene so in the last part when they pull up at the location it should be night time. The reason for this is because the opening needs to flow together and look realistic - as if we are watching this happen through one day instead of us filming randomly at different times like we are.

Sound for opening.

Soundtrack for first scene:
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=15824

This soundtrack reflects the fact that they are on a mission. It goes with the tempo of the scene because they are in a rush and determinated to capture the girl.

Waiting in the car:
http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=16651

Whilst the men are waiting in the car for the girl to come out of her house, we want to include a ticking sound which emphasises the tension between the two and makes the wait feel longer.

Car Music:
http://www.freesound.org/searchText.php?search=reggae&start=0&searchDescriptions=1&searchTags=1&searchFilenames=0&searchUsernames=0&order=1

This is a beat that could possibly be used in the car whilst they are driving to the girls house. It is quite slow and dark, I think it fits the characters personality more.

Film Synopsis and Opening Sequence.

Film Synopsis:

Our opening sequence is based on a kidnap of a teenage girl. She happens to catch the eye of two not so innocent men who are determined to make her theirs. She is unexpectedly taken as she leaves for a night out, in panic and fear she struggles to escape from them while she can but they have all control over her. These men lead two lives, both employed, both in a relationship, really leading the typical life that you would associate with a middle aged man, however they are not so ordinary as they come across at the beginning. They enjoy causing torture and suffering to this young girl but what happens when she's left with only one of the men? This girl is smarter than you'd think, she's able to tell who the more dominant one of the two men is, so in hope to succeed, she attempts to flirt with the less powerful, offering him things to tempt him to let her loose. After a flirtatious act, some violence and struggle occurs once she is untied, she manages to break free and kill the man to then discover she is in the middle of nowhere with only trees surrounding her. The dominant man is still out there lurking around in the forest. His shadows are visible and we are left with her struggle to escape when he is near by. But can she do it or will she be caught?

Opening sequence:

The opening sequence doesn't give us much information or show any personality of the characters. At first the viewers will think that the men are purchasing tools for possibly a building purpose. However once we see them waiting outside a house with a girl in view at the window, we start to question this. The fact that there is no dialogue makes it seem like they are doing something serious and feeling quite tense. The viewers are unsure what they are waiting for and why they have all these bags full of tools in their boot. The reason becomes more clear once the girl is taken, viewers are getting more indulged in the story as this is quite a dramatic seen. The atmosphere has gone from calm to heart racing by watching them kidnap this girl. Viewers by now should be hooked in and able to watch the rest. We have decided to show the girl tied up in a room but we are then going to stop the opening just before the torture start because this then leaves the viewer wanting to watch more and kind of teases the audience, also as it is an opening sequence, we don't want to actually go into the film and reveal to much, we just want to hook the viewers in.

Blood is the Drug - Student Video.

Whilst searching through other students work, we came across this clip showing the same incident as what we want to do - someone being kidnapped. I enjoyed watching this clip, it all flows well together. I feel that they have been creative with their shots, for example when the man comes out from the side we are seeing it from her point of view as he punches the camera. Also the view from car boot. The camera is placed inside looking up at the two men when they open the door, as if we are seeing it through her eyes.

I feel that the scene where they are in the room and she is tied up to the chair is really effective. Firstly, I think that the lighting is appropriate. The fact that its dark and the dim light is coming from the corner creates a lot of shadows. We can see the daylight in the window, this goes against the stereotypical thought that thrillers are more likely set at night. The set is also very hidden, we know this because the window so high, it is telling us that this may be a basement.

I really like the choice of actors, their performance is effective as it gives off that kind of cockey, thug attitude, this is implied when we are shown them chewing gum and sniggering. Also the distorted dubstep music is quite trippy, in my opinion it relates to possibly drug taking - this would fit into this thug like personality and relates to the title 'Blood is the Drug'. However I don't think that this title suites this opening that well as we are not actually shown any blood.

Initial Idea - The Disapearance of Alice Creed.

One film that we are inspired by is 'The disappearance of Alice Creed'. It is based on two men, in which we are unaware of what relation they have to each other, preparing to kidnap someone. We watch how they buy their tools from everyday DIY stores and how they set the room up with what they have purchased. They are full of concentration and determination, wanting to get the job done. We have in a way interpreted this idea of preparation by including in our storyline two men walking from a DIY store holding bags full of appropriate tools to commit this crime. Although we are not going to the extent of setting up the scene in our opening, we are just having the characters buying the stuff that would be used on the victim.

There are a variety of shots that we would like to interpretate. One being a panning shot of the

equipment that would be used for the kidnap. As you can see he is picking up each object one by one whilst the camera is moving to the right, in pace with the speed of tools being picked up. By doing this I feel that it foreshadows the grocumness of the film, showing that it will be violent. Also it enables us to focus on the specific objects, as these are what puts these characters

in control.

In this shot, we see the two men waiting. Their expression is as if they are looking out for something. At this point the pace of the shot is significantly slow compared to the constant shot by shot previously. This puts the audience on edge and creates suspense. The fact that this shot is a focus pull emphasises this feeling and creates more tension, also the silence between the characters reinforce this as well. We want to create this type of shot when the characters are waiting for the victim outside of her house.

Initial Idea.

Kidnapping.

In our opening sequence we want to have no dialogue because it makes the audience ask questions. It isn't telling us anything leaving only the actions and locations to help communicate whats going on. We want to include camera panning now and again, by doing this the audience gets a better feel of the surroundings and as the panning would be slow, it allows the viewer more time to focus on the objects they are being shown. One other aspect we want to include is having the faces hidden at the start. The reason for this is because it then makes the audience curious into who they are.

Storyline.

- 2 men casually walking out of a DIY store carrying bags full of purchased items.

- bags are put into the boot of their car.

- one by one they get into the car, this would be shot from behind in the back seat - at this point titles would show names of characters.

- shot of the lower car reversing.

- back to the shot from inside the car, we are able to see them driving.

- pull up at victims house (waiting)

- girl is seen getting ready through window, this would be from the mens point of view.

- the girl walks out of her house and the car follows slowly.

- girl gets taken, bag is put over her head, looses consciousness so we are unable to see the struggle of how she gets in the car. All we see is darkness.

- shots of car driving down long road, by this time it is the evening - lighting is dimmer.

- car passes a sign saying 'trespassers will be prosecuted' - when the car passes the camera the music will fade in and out judging on the distance from the camera.

- shot of red car lights when car comes to a halt.

- fades into darkness - title of director.

- we see through the victims eyes, the surroundings is not clear as the bag restricts vision, we can only see blurred figures. we can hear the mens footsteps and her struggling and muffling of voice as mouth is covered.

-bag gets taken off (still in her point of view) .. camera moves frantically looking at the room.

- close up of hands tied up.

- man walks to tools - panning of tools.

- other man strokes hair and says one line of dialogue, pulls all hair back.

- hair being pulled roughly causes her head to face upwards. final shot would be from above her face showing her fear then title of film would show.

I am worried that this may go over the 2 minutes however shots can always be reduced.

Questionnaire Results.

In my questionnaire, I asked appropriate questions that would help me find out what people like about thrillers and their opinion on this genre. I made sure that

I included a variety of ways to present my question so that it looked more appealing to fill out.

Here are the graphs and results made from the information I found from the more important questions:

I asked what are the first three words that come to mind when thinking of a thriller.

Here is what people said:

- Intrigue

- Suspense - Deep

- Action - Dark

- Murder - Puzzle

- Scary - Funny

- Secrets - Amusing

- Twisted Plot - Eerie

- Rollercoaster - Horror

- Fast Pace - Shock

- Jump - Glass

- Scream - Gravestone

These are the words which I expected to see, however words such as 'funny' and 'amusing' do not fit the thriller genre and what this tells me is that some people may not take thrillers that seriously, reason being if the film has a

very tacky, uneffective story line or actors. Therefore this tells me that our thriller should be different and quiet serious.

In one question I asked them to relate on the scales what they think associates with a thriller. I gave them the choice of dark or light, slow pace or fast pace, heart racing or calm and revealing or hidden.

This is what they thought:

By looking at this graph of results, It is clear that there is an obvious difference from one side of the scale to the other. Out of the 10 people I asked, most thought that thrillers associate with dark colours, a slow pace, a hidden plot and everyone thought it should be heart racing.

Seeing as we are focusing on opening sequences, I asked if the opening sequence of a film is important, just out of curiosity and all of the 10 people said yes. This makes me feel determination to make my opening sequence successful and keeping the viewer interested throughout.

Questionnaire.