Learning Aims : B
Composition
We produced collages of pictures on the topics that we were provided we collected images that we though conveyed 'Light' these were the images we found :
we compared our previous composition to a newer and improved one. And from completing this task I have learnt that framing and the skills needed for photography can help improve the quality of our film and is universally applicable between all film products
What is composition and framing?
Depth of field - The depth of field that you select when taking an image will drastically impact the composition of an image . It can isolate a subject from the background and foreground or it can put the same subject in context by revealing its surrounding with larger depth of field. (use AV settings on the camera with a depth of 4.5 and using the lens MF(manual Focus.)
Symmetry - depending on the scene symmetry can be beneficial or something to avoid. A symmetrical shot with good composition and a good point of interest can lead to a striking image.however without a good point of interest it can become predictable . Experiment with both to see which one works best.
Space - There can be a fine line between filling your frame with your subject (and creating a nice sense of intimacy and connection) and giving your subject space to breath. Either technique can be effective so experiment with moving in close and personal and moving out to capture a subject in its context. Sometimes it is what you leave out of an image that makes it special.
Rule of thirds - Contradicts symmetry and compliments space. Creates focal points in the corners of the middle square.
Framing - most of us use frames to display our images when we hang them on our walls for viewing - however framing can be used within the composition of a shot to help you highlight your main plot of interest in the image and put it into context to give the image depth. It gives the photo depth , can draw interest , organization and containment , frames can take numerous forms .
Perspective - the perspective that a shot is taken from is another element that can have a big impact upon an image. Shooting from high up and looking down on a subject or shooting from below looking up on the same subject drastically impact not only the ‘look of the image , emphasising different points of interest , angels , textures , shapes of an image.
Leading lines - lead the viewer's attention using lines in the image
Colour ( absence of color) - ther colours in an image and how the are arranged can make or break a shot. Bright colours can add vibrancy , energy and interest ,however in the wrong position they can also distract viewers of an image away from focal points . chlorous also greatly impact mood . blues and greens can have a calming impact , reds and yellows can convey vibrancy and energy. Think about having contrasting colours in your shot but be aware of what characters are wearing. Blue and purple , orange and blue or green and red.
Claude Levi Strauss
Claude Levi-Strauss believed that media is heavily influenced with binary opposition this helps audiences grasp concepts within the media we watch , this can help make the plot clearer and it can also help build excitement . From this task I have learnt about Claude Levi Strauss theory of binary opposition this is useful as i can transfer my knowledge into both practical and academic applications such as in my film production and in essay questions.
An example when Strauss's theory would be applicable is nearly with most media product or production such as a conventional superhero film having good v evil and dark v light themes that permeate the plot and subsequently the film specific examples of this include superman and Thor the dark world being the most prominent. Another example could be with humans v the supernatural this is a recurring theme in horror movies such as alien and Cloverfeild.
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Despite this all assumptions and factors in this theory are entirely dependent on the assumption that the audience takes a dominant reading (the audience understands and agrees with the implications of the media) .Despite this any other reading renders his theory inapplicable as for example someones interpretation that superheroes aren't the good guys has an impact on their interpretation of something like super man and subsequently impacts his theory for they take a different interpretation.
Audience Research and Findings
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We surveyed our target audience members in a series of questions to find out what they would feel is necessary for a convincing thriller. These are the results :
In this task i have learned that the choice for an erotic thriller would best and that music is key to creating suspense.
From this task i have learned alot about the thriller genre as a whole with the specific attributes that factor into certain succseses and on top of this have also learned about the erotic thriller sub genre.
Conventions Of Our Erotic Thriller
During our research on key conventions vital for an erotic thriller we found that death and killing are prominent themes throughout all thrillers including an erotic thriller that we will attempt to undertake. However death is often not seen and less vital in erotic thrillers than most other sub genre of thriller. We also found throughout our research that it often takes place in an unwelcoming place at an un-decedent hour such as at night however thrillers can commonly be seen to use urban and nice areas to appear as a facade for the dark and horrific plot. We also found that the antagonist is revealed at the end to the protagonists but can usually be seen throughout
as the antagonists identity could be apparent to the audience. However some directors withhold this information to create suspense and mystery during the thriller. Arguably the most important convention of an erotic thriller could be adultery or cheating these are common in many erotic thrillers and if not apparent then the theme of taboo could be shown throughout the film in place of adultery. In this affair the characters are commonly infatuated this could be mutual or un-reciprocated often cause for the thrillers main action. Also a common place in erotic thrillers is that the women are usually antagonists this contradicts most thrillers as they are usually men but this female antagonist could indicate passion or a misogynistic view on female desire. Finally colour themes such as red or blue are common this could be as they often imply lust or desire however it could also indicate passion and intrigue.
in this task i have learned about the vital factors that contribute into the production of an erotic thriller this has also taught me about the thriller genre as a whole.
Budgeting
In this task we considered the cost of all essentials in our film and found their estimated cost and then after compared this to the real life cost of things that will cost us, personally.
From this task I have learned about quantifying essentials that are vital to film production subsequently it helps to focus on all factors that must be used in order to professionally execute our film. simultaneously this task has helped develop a finished idea of the film as well as provide insight into how costly media production is.
Legal Restrictions and Guidlines
SWOT analysis
Strength - Unique idea / Unique plot / Experienced film students / Close to location and us / We have connections / We have media knowledge / Cheap labour / Willingness to comply (enthusiasm)
Weakness - Lack of equipment / Lack of common sense / Acting / We need nice setting / Dependant on the weather conditions
Opportunities - “Could” be very good / Improve camera work / Improve editing abilities / We have many replaced equipment Phone / Laptop / surrounded by advantages places for recces
Threats - Other groups are a threat / Corona virus: Could reduce timing opportunities , School closure means lack of equipment, Controlling the environment and the 50s/60s vibe
From this task i have learnt about what we could use to our advantage as well as considering our weaknesses to help us improve and work upon those weaknesses. On top of this we have considered threats and problems that could complicate the filming process for our film.
Risk Assessment
During this task I have evaluated the potential risks that could occur while filming and while preparing to film. on top of this i have summarised the severity of awareness and consequences we should give to each incident should the occur. contemplating the precautionary measures and the amount of risk that it would posses.
From this task i have learnt about the potential mishaps that could occur and how best to prepare to ensure that they do not come to fruition.
Group Planning
Make-up plans
Costume plans
Props plans
Equipment plans
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Blond wig
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Cheerleader costume
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American football jersey
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Baseball cap
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Jeans Trainers
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Fishnets
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Fedora
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Sheriff badge
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Coats
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Foundation
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Concealer
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Powder
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Etc
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Condom
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Coffee
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Fake Blood
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Torches
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Lighting (Natural)
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Rope
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Chair
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Picture of catfisher
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Picture of murder victim
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Social media account
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Camera
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Hand sanitizer
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Wax stripes
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Tripod
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Lighting Payments -
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24 bottle caps + 2 packs of tangfastics
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Captain + Coke
Produce a rationale as well as a film proposal.
In this rationale I will be explaining the main details that assist in the planning of our film. We desire to produce an erotic thriller this subsequently requires documentation and planning, on top of this I will be planning an opening for a thriller film as well as going into detail on the collection of information to maximize the popularity of the film. As well as this i will explain all potential ideas and the final idea that we will turn into a finalized product.
After using a survey to investigate the interests of potential audiences we have concluded that an erotic thriller focusing on the music as it is found to be a most key aspect in building suspense with the fulcrum of the action becoming a more satisfying relief . Research suggests that our target population is more likely to be aged fifteen to 17 years old this shows a 15 age rating could be sufficient to ensure our target audience is permitted to see our films and subsequently this could boost popularity among our target audience, attributing to our success. We similarly found that our audiences are predominantly male this shows we should target our product at a male audience. This could be done through using different signifiers that appeal more masculine characteristics in our film. We also surveyed audiences on their preference of thriller sub-genre finding that they enjoyed horror aspects as well as erotic aspects this indicates that we should have an erotic thriller with multiple horror aspects, this could be done to please audiences and boost popularity. Our product could allure and spark interest in erotic thrillers for our audience. We also found that many believe that the key to building suspense and the key to a good thriller overall is the music this can include the pace of the plot, building suspense with the music and how it can change pace to evoke feelings of fear and anticipation. Similarly they believed that the most important part of a thriller is suspense that can be achieved through a dramatic use of music. They also feel as though the production is made better through the use of an unknown hero; this could be done as we build the villains infamy and forge relatability while the villain simultaneously kills all potential hero until the final hero is revealed and eventually triumphs. The target group questioned on their preference believed that they would prefer a male protagonist that could show that they wish to see an embodiment of more masculine archetypes that could influence the plot.
We have also conducted research on similar products that achieved large scale success in mainstream media. For this reaserch we found that most erotic thrillers had a key color schemes of red , blue, white or black this could be to act as various emotianal signifires such as red indicating love and passion as well as acting as a foreshadowing of danger and on the other hand blue could simillarly show passion as well as a cold methodical way to maintain control over their main fixation (the protaganist), both red and blue are binary opposites as they are extremely contrasting and could be used in the same product to show the differneces between charecters . Finally white acts to signify purity and innocence and subsequently is associated with the main protagonist this is usually female that is associated with white in most products. White is usually contrasted eith black this could show a lack of emmotion and a hatered for thoses who are in love this spiteful vengence is a charecteristic commonly seen within antagonisits in the erotic thriller sub-genre.
Using my knowledge of erotic thrillers and combined with both my knowledge of target audiences and previous products i have concluded that focusing on an intreuging and appealing soundtrack could help increase the quality and popularity of my film opening. This will involve finding era relevant music to ensure that we keep continuity this could also be done by interpreting what an audience of our target age enjoys and conveying it into our film an example of this classical music such as 60s-70s classics or western ballads of wandering through desolation. We also found that many people of ages 15-17 have problems in the modern world such as identity, sexuality and problems with bullying or family. I found these were recurring problems in society as many youths of the ages 15-17 often required help processing these problems and subsequently a film could be the platform to ensure that people don't feel isolated by their problems. Despite this if our production attempted to involve one of these problems as a plot device then we would have to approach the topic with severity and seriousness as to ensure that it was not interpreted poorly this could influence the role in what this character plays.
We came up with amny creative and unique ideas that would involve both erotic thriller conventions and meet the needs of our target audiences. One of these ideas was to set the erotic thriller in the modern world and have our main antagonist introduced at the beggining it would be revealed that our antagonist was a transvestive that dressed as a woman and killed men that she allured back to her house. This could be done to also raise awareness for internet safety as it would often show her social media accounts as being instrumental in the killing of those men. The unknown protagonist the audience wanted could be incorporated as they are seen as another victim until it's revealed they are the main protagonist. We could appeal to younger audiences through a relevant and intriguing soundtrack involving many songs that could contradict action or that could build tension. An alternative idea could be however to have our erotic thriller set in 60s-70s era whilst retaining the premise of a transvestite killer and an unknown male protagonist however using this format and time period could bring attention to the adversity that LGBTQ+ members face even in a modern world .
In conclusion the finalised idea for our thriller will be to have an erotic thriller set in a contemporary era and will mainly follow a transgender killer revenging herself on those who cruelly bullied her in school this task will be approached with grim severity as to ensure that our intentions can be mis-interpreted as little as possible. It will aim to show the cruelty that LGBTQ+ members face in society and in childhood as they challenge conventional conformities. I have chosen this because I feel as though the sub-genre is saturated with heterosexual conflicts that only appeal to show an antagonist that has one goal and are usually conforming to various personality types.
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From this task I have consolidated my ideas to become more precise and easier to follow.On top of this i have made my ideas more coherent and solidified my intent while producing this film.
Delivering a pitch to the class
In our pitch we hoped to convey an idea of what our film would be about on a general premise for the film and for the more specific time frame of the film opening we were assigned. despite this there was wavering confidence about our capabilities to execute the product to an apt standard.
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From this task I have specified the intentions for our film on top of this we were informed in the group discussion about the potential fault in our film.
Location Recce
In this task we have finalized our filming locations and subsequently started to convey a notion as to what the final project would look like. From the evidence gathered we can see that the ideal setting would be a Forrest to accentuate the isolated and eerie vibes that such an environment conveys.
From this task we have learnt about the skills required to preform a recce such as following a creative intent to the ideal situation as well as assessing an environment.
Art of the title - thriller openings analysis
we went over the process of producing titles in adobe premier pro.
From this task I have learnt about the complicated processes of title production and how when done properly it can amplify the intended meaning for the film. on top of this i have learnt about the in depth implications of a titles presence.
We analysed numerous thriller introductions :
What titles would we expect at the opening of a film ? - CHAZ
The titles for seven show the company name in a scratchy writing; this font continues and the titles continue to represent the actors, producers and companies involved in the production of the film. This representation is to be expected in any and most thriller films. A specific example in seven would be - new line cinema presents, an arnold kopelson production, a film by david fincher, brad pitt, morgan freeman, seven(title), gwenyth paltrow, richard roundtree, R lee ermey, john c mcginley, julie araskog, mark boone junior, john cassini, reginald e cathey, pete crombie, hawthorne james, michael massee, leland orser, richard portnow, richard schiff, pamala tyson, casting by, billy hopkins, suzanne smith, kerry borden, music by howard shore, costumes designed by michael kaplan, edited by richard frances bruce, production designed by arthur max, director of photography, darius kohndiji, co producers stephen brown nana greenwold sanford panitch, co executive producers lynn harris richard saperstein, executive producers dan kolsrud anne kapleson, written by andrew kevin walker, produced by arnold kapleson phyllis carlyle, directed by dan fincher. The titles we would expect to see show the audience who was vital in production despite the fact they aren't designed to be focused on.
What order would they appear in ?
The order of titles in seven is the main title first this is adverse with Hannibal as the actors' names come prior to any other credit. Again the actors' names continue throughout as the film production company in seven comes second to the main title. After the names of actors in hannibal it goes on to say who developed it for tv and the finally the title.this is different as these vital credits come before the actors names and the films credits end with who helped produce it singularly.
What exactly would the titles say ? - BARNI
The titles for Se7en start with the production company with the distribution company, then it’s the directors name. The title comes after another shot in which there is no title. Then it’s the casting director then it’s shots without titles. After all of that the cast members come up one every shot. Then it’s the music director. Then it’s costume design. Then it’s the editor. Then it's the co-producers. Then it’s who wrote it.
Where would the titles appear in frame ?- DONNY
The titles in zodiac appear on the frame in small lowercase letters are placed at the lower left bottom frame and sometimes if the titles are to long they fill in the bottom frame.the titles fade in then they fade out and repeat some of the titles fades out into a code that slowly fades out consists of numbers and patterns that's spread out and fade as more go in frame then those slowly fade out till the next new title fades in. throughout the film opening the titles of people and what they did turn into a code/cipher. Sometimes the list of names is horizontal. Colors has to be able to stand out from the back ground so the audience can see the titles and read them main colours used are red white and black in Zodiac the titles appear in white normally covering something that would make it stand out like white font on a black background avoiding areas of the frame where it might blend in making it hard to read.
How would they be written ? (color, size and font) - CATLEEN
In the thriller film ‘‘Buried’’, they have used contrasting colours to help make the title much more bold to their audience. The plain background contrasting with the yellow title may foreshadow what may happen with the main character and how they are isolated and are alone, the title ‘Buried’ might also foreshadow what will happen to maybe the main character. The size of the font is rather large and it is all written in capital letters. This can help to make the audience only focus on the title. The way the title is shown with the bold letters and contrasting colours might imply that the company wanted the audience to think about the film title and wanted them to feel some type of emotion before the film begins.
In the thriller film “Splice”, they have used rather dark colours such as black and green merging together. In the background they have used a pattern which appears to look like veins which also spell out the title of the movie. However, this title uses lowercase and is in a more formative font which highlights the variety of styles that the thriller genre uses. This title might make some viewers uncomfortable with the way they are displaying it.
A Company Identity - Banana Slug
A company identity such as name and logo are vital for the involvement in the credits and helps to add a sense of professionalism when done correctly. We intended to use a banana slug as inspiration for the logo. This is because they are vital to nature and the life cycle also their slimy and repulsive appearance forges a sense of natural and ugly truths. On top of this after reproduction the male banana slugs eat their own reproductive organs this could act to potentially foreshadow the intriguing and innate sexual nature of the erotic thriller.
Music and sound effects in our thriller
For our thriller opening we would preferably go for a more low key and ominously quite soundtrack as to create a sense of stillness and to accentuate the gravity of the situation further.We would then look for a rise in pitch and pace as to increase tension and lure audiences in this would culminate in the ending of the opening. Hopefully leaving audiences intrigued and captivated.
Sound effects within film is one of the most important things. Similar to music, it emphasises actions and feelings. A simple sound effect can give the audience a totally different experience. It can be as simple as a door creaking which could give the audience goosebumps or a fart sound effect can make them laugh. It can add extra emotion to a scene giving it more detail and finishing the film experience.
Of course, within our thriller we want the audience to be tense and they should be on edge. However, we don’t want to go overboard as it's only the opening we are doing but it still doesn’t remove the importance of sound effect within films.
Our opening is set in the woods so we would need diegetic sound effects such as leaves crunching and the wind blowing, along with wildlife to maybe to emphasise the distance they are away from other people/civilization to help make them feel on edge as if anything does go wrong there's no one there to help them, making the audience worried which would help to intensify the scene. Depending on the time of day we shoot we could add birds or owls to our sound effects making it clear that they are in the woods and the only things nearby are trees and birds.
A sound effect we would use for the noise to kill the killer's victim either will be breaking of bones or a slash from a knife. We are considering using either the actor’s voice for their own death or would we need to find some sound effects to suit that scene.
From this task i have learnt further about the nuances that contribute to a thriller specifically the sounds and how they can offer valuable insight into the thrillers general tone and more specific intentions.
Shot list
In this task I have precisely planned the film with a clear idea on what the finished product would be desired. and on top of this the task acts as a pillar to help structure filming working with the storyboard to create an accurate and organised film.
Character profiles
lead freya
The lead was born a boy and yet identifies as female as a result of her embracing her true identity subsequently her father would mistreat her often times trying to force her into an uncomfortable role while maintaining the toxic habit of alcoholism. The fathers resentment of his daughter and alcoholism culminated in her being abused as a child and into her early life as an adult. In our product we use this as fuel to justify her slaughters of men that commonly exhibit the same toxic masculine traits as her oppressive abusive and tyrannical father.
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One idea to introduce our characterers and establish the premise of the film could be to introduce her in a hideout area and we begin with establishing shots of the area to help connote her murderous desire. More specifically we begin on a low match cut to track her feet and the camera lingers to focus on a weapon or malicious item of some kind. This is matched with the ominous music and intense low level lighting.
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As for her wardrobe we would like to see her embrace a less conventional and yet contemporary fashion such as an alternative and emo style with the use of red lipstick connoting danger and murderous intent as well as the lusty passion commonly seen throughout the erotic thriller genre.
boy victim
The boy/victim introduced in the beginning would be following Freya this is as to denote that she is leading him as well as to further symbolize his idiocy in mindlessly following. We would like him to exhibit typically toxic masculine traits such as easily aggravated, conceited, vain and hypocritical. subsequently pleading the audience to sympathise less with the victim. This would then hopefully present the audience with a moral dilemma as to who to condemn.
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The most optimum way to explicitly convey this in combination with dialog is wardrobe and body language we'd like them to be selfish as we watch Freya shiver from the cold night and their expression should objectify and underestimate our killers capacity for violence on the conceited assumptions of appearance. The desired clothing would as be from a 2010's contemporary audience and would be baggy jeans (implies his laziness and lack of work ethic) with pants on display (to covey his lack of professionalism) as well as sporting tops and jewellery (to further accentuate the embodiment of masculine stereotypes and the conceited nature of his character).
This character will only be shown in the opening of the film. He doesn't need a background or much detail to his character as his purpose is to further contrast our female lead as a serial killer.
Detectives:
Their will be two detectives that will be investigating the the murder. As most crime thrillers have two detectives that are polar opposites we will adopt that and implement it into our film to conform with this archetypal convention of the thriller genre. One of the detectives will be hardy and sturdy as well as an experienced detective and the other will be a young inexperienced clumsy detective. However they both work really well together as the clumsy detective will be athletic and strong while the more experienced one will be more clever and solve most of the cognitive problems but he will need the help of the clumsy one in order to solve the crime.
From this task I have learnt about the specific and intended traits of our characters and how that would fit into a conventional thriller while working together to further the plot. As well as finalising our intended looks and characteristics that the actors will exhibit.
Shooting schedule
All roles will be cycled and the tables only show when people must leave to film or collect shots and this implicitly shows that any names excluded on a particular day will be in charge and responsible for editing and putting together the shots collected on a previous day.
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When initially making this we were unaware of the extreme implications that COVID would carry such as nearly all dates becoming useless.
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Despite this from this task i have learnt about having a solidified intended instruction for many shots and directors in the field. on top of this i have improved my planning skills and my abilities to overcome adversity and obstruction (in reference to COVID 19)
Story-boarding
in our story-boards we seek to outline the contents of our character as well as the opening shots that would outline and set up the plots.
