For homework we had to prepare 3 ideas to present to Matt and all in all Matt decided that the idea about a psycho was probably the best one to work with, because it was a more simple yet could easily be made more terrifying and tense, idea.
We had to work on what we thought we could use to improve this idea, Matt gave us some examples on how we could adjust it to make it better and more tense for the audience. He wanted us to start with the woman (psycho) putting on her make up everythings really casj, and then the camera closes up onto a picture frame with a head shot of a woman. The camera then makes a continuous tracking shot following her route around the house, revealing dodgy signs to the audience such as a bit of blood on the wall, etc. She then picks up a gas can and begins to empty it along the floor very casually and after passing the girl in the door, the psycho woman lights a match and flicks it but we don't know what happens. Just an idea.
I had the idea of making the woman look the same (be the same).
Monday, 31 October 2011
Wednesday, 19 October 2011
Salt
I found this film really effective for its audience because the beginning of the film starts with her already in danger, she's already in the midst of something of which the audience knows nothing about.
We see that although this is a thriller based on politics and conspiracies there is also action included, such as a clip from my favourite scene when she has been falsely accused. For example this big close up shot makes her look vulnerable and afraid, allowing the audience to see that she is frightened and trying to escape as she is hiding behind a car.
In this next photo there is a close up of a gun, showing that it's tense and the audience are filled with anxiety. It also shows it is a thriller because of the close up of the gun stressing the urgency of the gun in current use and what it could do.
This bird's eye view shot shows her falling onto the truck. The lack of stability in the camera and the almost shutter effect allows it to look more dangerous and exaggerates the fall allowing the audience to feel anxious and hang onto 'the edge of their seat'.
We see that although this is a thriller based on politics and conspiracies there is also action included, such as a clip from my favourite scene when she has been falsely accused. For example this big close up shot makes her look vulnerable and afraid, allowing the audience to see that she is frightened and trying to escape as she is hiding behind a car.
In this next photo there is a close up of a gun, showing that it's tense and the audience are filled with anxiety. It also shows it is a thriller because of the close up of the gun stressing the urgency of the gun in current use and what it could do.
This bird's eye view shot shows her falling onto the truck. The lack of stability in the camera and the almost shutter effect allows it to look more dangerous and exaggerates the fall allowing the audience to feel anxious and hang onto 'the edge of their seat'.
Tuesday, 18 October 2011
My Own Idea For a Thriller
We were adivsed immediately to go against the idea of choosing an idea based around damsels in distress running through a forest, because it's too cliche.
But my idea for a thriller was based around the idea of 'Misery', 'Single White Female', 'Fatal Attraction' and 'The Stepfather'. What I find most scares me is the idea of a psycho, somebody who makes a character feel safe at first but the audience gather an idea that that character is not safe.
My idea taken from 'Misery' was the idae of keeping somebody hostage, and not letting them go. I love this idea, that the audience know there is going to be a climax of how the character gets away and what they'll do.
My idea from 'The Stepfather' was the opening, excluding the idea of him creating a new identity, I really liked the idea of him going around the house as though everything is normal but the audience pick up on key bits such as, whilst he's making toast, a dead boy is on the table. I liked this a lot because I saw it as, observing a psycho.
My idea from 'Single White Female' as well as 'Misery' and 'Fatal Attraction' was the thought of obsession, and how obsession, I find creates such intensity and suspense for an audience because they never know what the psychopath will do next.
Now for my idea; the beginning of the film is the end of the film, starting off with what looks like an ordinary lady walking round her house going about her business. The camera following her at all times, watching her shower, watching her make breakfast, watching her watch tv. When suddenly she walks past one room and there is a wipe in which we see the room she has just walked past, there is a woman cellotaped to a chair. We then cut back to the beginning of the film where we see the woman on a chair going about her daily life, successful business woman, very beautiful, and then she meets Anna. Anna is the actual psychopath who then falls in love with the beautiful and succesful business woman (who does not have a name). The love is not returned and she soon turns into a crazy psycho but subtly. We then find out what happens at the end and see whether or not there is a twist and how she escapes at the climax.
But my idea for a thriller was based around the idea of 'Misery', 'Single White Female', 'Fatal Attraction' and 'The Stepfather'. What I find most scares me is the idea of a psycho, somebody who makes a character feel safe at first but the audience gather an idea that that character is not safe.
My idea taken from 'Misery' was the idae of keeping somebody hostage, and not letting them go. I love this idea, that the audience know there is going to be a climax of how the character gets away and what they'll do.
My idea from 'The Stepfather' was the opening, excluding the idea of him creating a new identity, I really liked the idea of him going around the house as though everything is normal but the audience pick up on key bits such as, whilst he's making toast, a dead boy is on the table. I liked this a lot because I saw it as, observing a psycho.
My idea from 'Single White Female' as well as 'Misery' and 'Fatal Attraction' was the thought of obsession, and how obsession, I find creates such intensity and suspense for an audience because they never know what the psychopath will do next.
Now for my idea; the beginning of the film is the end of the film, starting off with what looks like an ordinary lady walking round her house going about her business. The camera following her at all times, watching her shower, watching her make breakfast, watching her watch tv. When suddenly she walks past one room and there is a wipe in which we see the room she has just walked past, there is a woman cellotaped to a chair. We then cut back to the beginning of the film where we see the woman on a chair going about her daily life, successful business woman, very beautiful, and then she meets Anna. Anna is the actual psychopath who then falls in love with the beautiful and succesful business woman (who does not have a name). The love is not returned and she soon turns into a crazy psycho but subtly. We then find out what happens at the end and see whether or not there is a twist and how she escapes at the climax.
What is a Genre/Subgenre? Why is it important for institutions and audiences?
Genre’s and subgenres are important for audiences so that they are aware of the film they are seeing/about to see, it targets a certain audience. If you go to see saw a poster which was plain white with black font saying, ‘paranormal activity’ nobody would want to see it because nobody wants to see a film which they know nothing about because nobody likes to be surprised to a certain extent.
Subgenres are important for people who enjoy watching thrillers, some people would like the pure idea of suspense and excitement only involved with politics or crime like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. However other groups of people may like thrillers but they like ghost stories and therefore are more attracted to thrillers involving the supernatural like, The Shining.
These are equally as imprtant for an audience because they are targetting the correct audience.
Subgenres are important for people who enjoy watching thrillers, some people would like the pure idea of suspense and excitement only involved with politics or crime like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. However other groups of people may like thrillers but they like ghost stories and therefore are more attracted to thrillers involving the supernatural like, The Shining.
These are equally as imprtant for an audience because they are targetting the correct audience.
What is a Thriller?
A thriller is something which creates suspense and mystery for its audience. Hitchcock said that the key factors of making a thriller is be able to have a psychological hold over its audience and allowing them to think and question the goings on throughout the film.
Hitchcock also said that in order for the audience to be able to gain full attention and thrill from the thriller the film/TV drama has to be able to give them information. A classic case of one of Hitchcock's marvels 'Psycho' the audience are aware that somebody is entering the room but the person in the shower are unaware of his presence. This makes the audience anxious and tense; this is a classic case of dramatic irony.
You can also have supernatural thrillers, involving ghosts, vampires etc. A good thriller involving ghosts is The Sixth Sense. It’s style is very psychological which I find very intense and I know that it left me on the edge of my seat, unable to sleep.
Hitchcock also said that in order for the audience to be able to gain full attention and thrill from the thriller the film/TV drama has to be able to give them information. A classic case of one of Hitchcock's marvels 'Psycho' the audience are aware that somebody is entering the room but the person in the shower are unaware of his presence. This makes the audience anxious and tense; this is a classic case of dramatic irony.
You can also have supernatural thrillers, involving ghosts, vampires etc. A good thriller involving ghosts is The Sixth Sense. It’s style is very psychological which I find very intense and I know that it left me on the edge of my seat, unable to sleep.
Monday, 10 October 2011
The Usual Suspects
The Usual Suspects is a brilliant thriller consisting of the regular stereotypes a thriller should have, deception, intensity and an aspect of fear, horror and of course to be thrilled. The poster initiates it's based on crime due to it's heavy, bold and red writing. The red text suggests blood and red is often associated with danger. The Actor's are all lined up against what we see as a mug shot backdrop which suggests they're prisoners and up to no good. The actor's costumes are all different which suggest the characters are all different. Which automatically indicates that they have joined together as criminals do to form an organisation or to complete a task set by a fellow gang leader. We see the man in red on the far left appears to be dangerous and a threat, also the man in the black with the red shirt hidden in the corner.
American Beauty
As I am incredibly bored I decided to write a small post on a film I saw yesterday, American Beauty.
I really enjoyed this film and felt that it possessed a lot of anaylitical qualities. It is about a stereotypical family living in America with what appears to be no real problems or desires. However what we see underneath the surface is an unhappy marriage, a disobedient, stereotypically moody and upset daughter and desire to mend the prospect of an unhappy family. Although when Lester Barnham (the unhappy father and husband) is introduced to the beautiful Angela Hayes he suddenly finds the passion and zeal in his life he has lost.
When the opening line to the film is about how Lester Barnham is going to die we automatically see that we are not about to see an ordinary happy go lucky film about American life. The cooky and closely observant neighbour brings harmony to the daughter Jane and also the father, but the audience also see that his package includes a neglectful father and a dark underlying secret about his past.
The slogan to the film is, 'look closer' which suggests that there is more than meets the eye and as the film goes on we see more and more about the families disfunctions and abstract normality as the audience become enticed further into the strangeness of the family. In the end of it although we are still dying to know who murders Lester we are more intrigued by the hidden truths and the satisfaction of change and loss throughout the film.
The common theme of beauty and the colour red is seen as desire and a stereotypical beauty which we see soon juxtaposes itself because as the film goes on we see that the beauty from the roses matches Angela Hayes who is seen as desireable and beautiful, although it is soon contradicted through her innocence which then matches the roses purity and stereotypes.
Learning To Use Final Cut Pro
As I was unable to attend the original editing session I caught up on the Friday 7th October and my group helped me to understand what it was I had to do and how I went about it using the Final Cut Pro.
It was just my luck that the previous editing session they had done on the footage had been deleted so we more or less had to start from scratch. I learnt to drag pieces of footage I wanted to use onto the final cut and learnt how to edit the sound and cut and move it onto clips it merged best with, in order to have a smooth running final clip.
It was just my luck that the previous editing session they had done on the footage had been deleted so we more or less had to start from scratch. I learnt to drag pieces of footage I wanted to use onto the final cut and learnt how to edit the sound and cut and move it onto clips it merged best with, in order to have a smooth running final clip.
Shooting A Sequence Obeying the 180 Degree Rule
We had to shoot a short sequence practicing how to use a camera and getting used to the feel of filming and knowing what we are doing.
The Script was something simple involving a crisis where somebody had to go into a room explaining that the other actor had to do something with them, the other didn't want to do it. Something so simple as this offered variety in the route we could play and enabled us to think outside the box.
We shot it 5 times, all in a different angle, firstly in a long shot angle to get the full figures in which is often the basis of filming something as a basis, that or a medium shot angle. Then we did it in the medium shot, then in a low angle shot, an over the shoulder shot and a point of view shot. After we had done the basic shots which we could then work with to edit and create a final image, we did a few shots which we thought might come in handy, such as a close up on the door handle which she would use at the beginning to open, and an image of her leaving the room.
I really enjoyed this task because it was some form of experience in filming and gave us a chance to get behind the camera and see what it's like to be in film and media and whether or not we enjoyed working like that.
The Script was something simple involving a crisis where somebody had to go into a room explaining that the other actor had to do something with them, the other didn't want to do it. Something so simple as this offered variety in the route we could play and enabled us to think outside the box.
We shot it 5 times, all in a different angle, firstly in a long shot angle to get the full figures in which is often the basis of filming something as a basis, that or a medium shot angle. Then we did it in the medium shot, then in a low angle shot, an over the shoulder shot and a point of view shot. After we had done the basic shots which we could then work with to edit and create a final image, we did a few shots which we thought might come in handy, such as a close up on the door handle which she would use at the beginning to open, and an image of her leaving the room.
I really enjoyed this task because it was some form of experience in filming and gave us a chance to get behind the camera and see what it's like to be in film and media and whether or not we enjoyed working like that.
Friday, 7 October 2011
Prelims
In order to get used to the camera's we were given a storyboard involving two people walking into a room, talking to each other and leaving. It was quite fun to play the director and cameraman and get a feel for the process of shooting.
We had to do different shots for each scene to ensure we had a selection of different ones we wanted to use, such as a medium close up, low angle shot, high angle shot, big close up, wide shot, over the shoulder shot etc.
We had to do different shots for each scene to ensure we had a selection of different ones we wanted to use, such as a medium close up, low angle shot, high angle shot, big close up, wide shot, over the shoulder shot etc.
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