Sunday, 29 January 2017
Sunday, 8 January 2017
Planning- the call sheet
A call sheet is needed in order to organise the filming. This will show the dates, times and locations of various scenes. This was useful to do before the initial filming because it allowed us to understand what had to be covered and completed. However, after editing the first draft it was evident that more filming was to be done. Here is the first call sheet that was used:
Sunday 11th December 2016- 14:00
Shots to be completed:
⇢ Footage of the A1 traffic passing by, whilst showing Henry's character looking into the distance.
Actors this day- Henry Dalrymple
Filming done by- Aaron Hayes and Callum Moore
Monday 12th December 2016- 16:00
Shots to be completed:
⇢ The stalking of the two girls
⇢The kidnapping in the dark alleyway
⇢ The boot scene of Shania being thrown into a boot
⇢The drive away
⇢The candle lit dinner
Actors this day- Henry Dalrymple, Shania Conway and Isa Cusick-Knight, Aaron Hayes (getaway driver)
Filming done by- Aaron Hayes, Finley Olley
This was an initial idea of the call sheet that was made to help organise the filming. It was useful to look back on to see what footage that needed to be done. However, the timing was unpredictable so we did not start filming until about 16:00 on Sunday the 11th. This is where this did not come useful, also whilst filming people had new and inventive ideas that were not included on the call sheet, but we did predict this was going to happen.
There is more shots that need to be completed on Monday 9th of January 2017. Through the use of social media such as Facebook, we were able to schedule another day of filming where everybody is available.
Sunday 11th December 2016- 14:00
Shots to be completed:
⇢ Footage of the A1 traffic passing by, whilst showing Henry's character looking into the distance.
Actors this day- Henry Dalrymple
Filming done by- Aaron Hayes and Callum Moore
Monday 12th December 2016- 16:00
Shots to be completed:
⇢ The stalking of the two girls
⇢The kidnapping in the dark alleyway
⇢ The boot scene of Shania being thrown into a boot
⇢The drive away
⇢The candle lit dinner
Actors this day- Henry Dalrymple, Shania Conway and Isa Cusick-Knight, Aaron Hayes (getaway driver)
Filming done by- Aaron Hayes, Finley Olley
This was an initial idea of the call sheet that was made to help organise the filming. It was useful to look back on to see what footage that needed to be done. However, the timing was unpredictable so we did not start filming until about 16:00 on Sunday the 11th. This is where this did not come useful, also whilst filming people had new and inventive ideas that were not included on the call sheet, but we did predict this was going to happen.
There is more shots that need to be completed on Monday 9th of January 2017. Through the use of social media such as Facebook, we were able to schedule another day of filming where everybody is available.
Wednesday, 4 January 2017
Planning- The first draft
After exploring various editing options, we came to the conclusion that using this editing template, meant that we could portray the trailer in the way that was effective. The flickering titles and the change in pace allowed for a feel of creepiness which is necessary for the film that is being created, therefore attracting the audience. However, there is more that we want to include work especially as this trailer is just 1 minute long. In addition, looking back at the research I did on thriller trailers, the average trailer time is 2 minutes long. Moreover, this means that more shots are needed and the trailer needs to be extended, making it more effective at attracting our audience. I believe this is a good starting point in understanding what the group wants to achieve in making this trailer.
The draft itself is still going to be used in our final product. The trailer so far, has a mysterious and exciting feel to it with the change in music had way which results in a change in intensity. This is a typical convention of thriller trailers, and this is what the audience expect otherwise they will be dissatisfied and therefore will not bother to go and see the film.
The template itself was part of one of the features iMovie has to offer. After contemplating whether to use it or not, we came to the decision to see what the it would look like. Moreover, after seeing the result that the titles, sound and effects that it has to offer, we thought it would be a great addition to have in our trailer. However, one issue we soon discovered is that we did not film enough shots to take the trailer to the next level, where the audience will have a higher feeling of anticipation. Furthermore, after making this draft we felt as though some of the shots needed to be in different places and some of them should be replaced, for example one factor that we picked up on is that the protagonist didn't look scared enough in the some of the shots that she was in. This meant that the overall feel of the trailer lacked a feeling of anxiety that the audience should feel in a thriller trailer. This is something that we need to work on when we go back to filming and when we edit the final trailer.
The intertitiles throughout the trailer have the biggest impact in my opinion. One of the main reasons why we chose to use this "scary" template was because of the dramatic effect that the titles give. For example, they have a flickering throughout the transition of clips, therefore emphasising the imbalance and distortion that the film has to offer. The flickering effect also makes the audience focus on what the text is saying. One improvement that we realised that we had to make is that as a group we were not entirely happy with what the titles said, however they will be changed when we finish the final product.
The draft itself is still going to be used in our final product. The trailer so far, has a mysterious and exciting feel to it with the change in music had way which results in a change in intensity. This is a typical convention of thriller trailers, and this is what the audience expect otherwise they will be dissatisfied and therefore will not bother to go and see the film.
The template itself was part of one of the features iMovie has to offer. After contemplating whether to use it or not, we came to the decision to see what the it would look like. Moreover, after seeing the result that the titles, sound and effects that it has to offer, we thought it would be a great addition to have in our trailer. However, one issue we soon discovered is that we did not film enough shots to take the trailer to the next level, where the audience will have a higher feeling of anticipation. Furthermore, after making this draft we felt as though some of the shots needed to be in different places and some of them should be replaced, for example one factor that we picked up on is that the protagonist didn't look scared enough in the some of the shots that she was in. This meant that the overall feel of the trailer lacked a feeling of anxiety that the audience should feel in a thriller trailer. This is something that we need to work on when we go back to filming and when we edit the final trailer.
The intertitiles throughout the trailer have the biggest impact in my opinion. One of the main reasons why we chose to use this "scary" template was because of the dramatic effect that the titles give. For example, they have a flickering throughout the transition of clips, therefore emphasising the imbalance and distortion that the film has to offer. The flickering effect also makes the audience focus on what the text is saying. One improvement that we realised that we had to make is that as a group we were not entirely happy with what the titles said, however they will be changed when we finish the final product.
Planning- Film production logo
Here is a short video showing the production logo that the group decided on. We knew what we wanted, something dark and gloomy that would attract attention from the audience. This was found on iMovie, and after seeing this it was decided that it is perfect to have this as our production logo. The street lamp turns lighter showing the mysterious street ahead, but before this there is a slow build up of light, coming from the darkness which gives it a feeling of uncertainty. After this the image then fades to black, which is the perfect beginning to our trailer and film, Love me, This turned out to be a suitable fit for what we wanted to achieve in applying a related theme to our thriller film. The text of Nightfall studios comes across striking with the bold text that is used. Furthermore this and the spookiness of the dark, wet street, adds an uneasy feel to our production logo.
Target audience and age certificates
Whilst thinking about our target audience, it was important to take into consideration age ratings, also known as censorships. This is because there is certain limits as to what content can be used at different certificates. Furthermore, we wanted to make sure we could include content that would conform to certain thriller conventions, that will make the audience have feelings of fear, anxiety and a high level of suspense. In addition, we want to achieve this and allow for teenagers to see the film, but without having to sacrifice specific themes that we want to show in our film. A common theme that I found when researching thriller films, is the fact that most of them have a 15 age certificate, or above. This shows a convention of thriller films, it is a stereotype that in the thriller genre, there is content that should not be shared with people under the age of 15.
This is the age rating we intend to use for Love me.
The role of the bbfc- The bbfc are in place in order to protect children from unsuitable or even harmful content that are in films. The classifications are put in place in order to prevent any content being exposed to children that are not suitable. For example, with the age certificate of 15 that we intent to use for our film, nobody under the age of 15 will be able to see the film in a cinema, and will be unable to buy and rent the film.
I chose the age certificate of 15 for different reasons, relating to the commandments that have to be met for the certificate.
The bbfc take into consideration the following:
・Discrimination
・Drugs
・Imitable behaviour
・Language
・Nudity
・Sex
・Threat
・Violence
These categories look at the level of exposure shown in a film.
After looking at what makes a certificate of 15, this is what I found:
・May be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language
・Drug taking can be shown, but cannot encourage or promote drug misuse. Highly dangerous substances such as solvents are likely to be unaccepted
・Dangerous behaviour should not dwell on details that can lead to it being copied. For Love me this could be the kidnapping of the girl
・Strong language
・Nudity in sexual context without strong detail
・Strong threat and horror
・Strong violence without dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury
Our film includes a scene where a girl is kidnapped by the antagonist who is a 'creepy' stalker, and there is likely to be scenes where some or little strong language, violence, horror, pain and drug taking will be involved. However, this will meet the guidelines of the 15 certificate, where there will not be a strong emphasis on the pain inflicted on the protagonist, and the drug use will not be portrayed in a way that could promote drug misuse. This will help contribute to our film creating a feeling of realism, where the audience believe this could actually happen, which give the film a sadistic feel.
Here is an example that I found of a trailer that is a thriller film, which is a 15 classification:
Target audience
Psychographics
Definition- The study and classification of people according to their attitudes, aspirations, and other psychological criteria, especially in market research.
Demographics
Definition- statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.
The table above shows some of the factors that are involved in both psychographics and demographics. Film companies need to have a target audience in order for them to make a financial success out of a film. Furthermore, by having a target audience, it allows for certain conventions that could be used to meet the demands of the audience. For example, a comedy film should include humour and if it doesn't, then the audience will not be satisfied with the film. As we are making a thriller film, our aim is to use the characteristics of both psychographics and demographics, in order to make a trailer fitted to attracting our target audience.
Demographics for Love me
For Love me, the age range will be from 15-35 year olds. This is because our age certificate will be a 15 due to strong language, violence and some adult themes, so this means any ages below 15 years of age will be unable to view the film. Furthermore, young people from the ages of 15-25 are more likely to spend their time going to the cinema and watching films. Love me also offers an exciting and thrilling plot that younger people are typically more attracted to watch. The age of around 35, is the sort of age where people still try to be young and keep up with the mainstream culture in order to keep in touch with younger generations. Moreover, I believe that people of the age of around 35 will be an audience to our film as they are still seeking exciting and exhilarating films which Love me offers.
Thriller films have a wide audience as they offer many different plots that can be appealing to anybody. However, some thrillers may showcase more violence, which would typically attract more of the male population as stereotypically females do not enjoy or seek out violence in media as much as males. We thought to adhere to this when first drafting our trailer however we did not want to exclude female audiences which is why we paired kidnapping and violence with the idea of the antagonist doing this as he is seeking love. This is because women enjoy love plots as evident through the demographics of most romance films. Therefore, Love me has the potential to attract both genders, which is what we were aiming for. This means our USP is that our thriller film is unlike others in the genre by targeting females and males simultaneously and by combining the thriller and romance genres together.
Love me is targeted at all races. This is because it does not have a heavy insight into ethnic minorities, so all races will be able to understand the conventions and content used in Love me.
Our film aims to attract both the working class and the middle class. This is because no matter what there background is, they may have an appreciation for investigations and acts of crime. Furthermore, we do not have star power, so it is very difficult to attract an international audience. However, Love me has the potential to attract the middle class because they will be more likely to appreciate the investigation side of the film, whereas the working class may like the actual violence scenes because they are more likely to be able to relate, as they statistically commit more street crimes such as kidnapping compared to the middle class who commit more crime such as white collar crimes. however the middle class may be able to relate more to the characters in our film as they are middle class people as seen through the clothes they wear, cars they drive and places they live in.
The target audience is to meet the demands of the mass market. This is because we are using typical stereotypes that please a larger audience, rather than a looking at a niche market. Moreover, the film would therefore be shown in a multiplex cinema, rather than an arthouse cinema.
Psychographics for Love me
Definition- The study and classification of people according to their attitudes, aspirations, and other psychological criteria, especially in market research.
Demographics
Definition- statistical data relating to the population and particular groups within it.
Psychographics
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Demographics
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Values
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Age
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Personality
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Gender
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Attitudes
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Race
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Interests and employment
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Location (socio-economic background)
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For Love me, the age range will be from 15-35 year olds. This is because our age certificate will be a 15 due to strong language, violence and some adult themes, so this means any ages below 15 years of age will be unable to view the film. Furthermore, young people from the ages of 15-25 are more likely to spend their time going to the cinema and watching films. Love me also offers an exciting and thrilling plot that younger people are typically more attracted to watch. The age of around 35, is the sort of age where people still try to be young and keep up with the mainstream culture in order to keep in touch with younger generations. Moreover, I believe that people of the age of around 35 will be an audience to our film as they are still seeking exciting and exhilarating films which Love me offers.
Thriller films have a wide audience as they offer many different plots that can be appealing to anybody. However, some thrillers may showcase more violence, which would typically attract more of the male population as stereotypically females do not enjoy or seek out violence in media as much as males. We thought to adhere to this when first drafting our trailer however we did not want to exclude female audiences which is why we paired kidnapping and violence with the idea of the antagonist doing this as he is seeking love. This is because women enjoy love plots as evident through the demographics of most romance films. Therefore, Love me has the potential to attract both genders, which is what we were aiming for. This means our USP is that our thriller film is unlike others in the genre by targeting females and males simultaneously and by combining the thriller and romance genres together.
Love me is targeted at all races. This is because it does not have a heavy insight into ethnic minorities, so all races will be able to understand the conventions and content used in Love me.
Our film aims to attract both the working class and the middle class. This is because no matter what there background is, they may have an appreciation for investigations and acts of crime. Furthermore, we do not have star power, so it is very difficult to attract an international audience. However, Love me has the potential to attract the middle class because they will be more likely to appreciate the investigation side of the film, whereas the working class may like the actual violence scenes because they are more likely to be able to relate, as they statistically commit more street crimes such as kidnapping compared to the middle class who commit more crime such as white collar crimes. however the middle class may be able to relate more to the characters in our film as they are middle class people as seen through the clothes they wear, cars they drive and places they live in.
The target audience is to meet the demands of the mass market. This is because we are using typical stereotypes that please a larger audience, rather than a looking at a niche market. Moreover, the film would therefore be shown in a multiplex cinema, rather than an arthouse cinema.
Psychographics for Love me
Values and beliefs
→ People that have an appreciation for heart ache as well as crime such the kidnapping we intent to include in our trailer. In addition, Love me intends to attract people who can tolerate a young girl being taken and forced to love the antagonist.
Personality
→ People who are interested in psychological thrillers that involves both romance and crime. Realists will be part of our target audience, because they liked to be thrilled by events that can happen in the real world, which our film provides. This is because mental illnesses are common in our world, and there is much unpredictability of what anybody can do. Furthermore, kidnapping is a common crime that can potentially happen to anyone.
Attitudes
→ The demographic we intend to attract, are people with a certain level of maturity, that will understand the typical conventions of thriller films, but also with plot twists that will give Love me its USP. For example, our initial idea for the ending of the film, would be to include stockholm syndrome.
Interests and employment
→ Relatively young people in both higher education or working. They will have disposable income that enables to them to keep up to date with current films. Planning- Editing
In order to make a successful trailer, the editing needs to be suitable to the film that is being made. As we are making a thriller trailer, we aim to have both slow and fast paced editing, to take the audience on a type of roller coaster ride that gives the audience different emotions through a variation of pace. Furthermore, after looking at the options available from both iMovie and Premier Pro, it was decided that using iMovie will be more fitting and useful for the trailer we aim to make. iMovie has many benefits that consist of the following:
➠Wide range of Sound Effects
➠Effective editing templates
➠Straight forward use of the timeline
➠Various transitions are available
➠Can use other programs and transfer into iMovie
➠Good range of effects
In addition to this, I had experience using iMovie by previously using this programme in our AS opening sequence. This had an influence on our decision to use iMovie over Premier Pro because as a group, we had more experience using iMovie.
On the right shows the timeline available on iMovie and on the left it shows the timeline that is used on Premier Pro. The layout on iMovie is much more clear and it is easier to complete specific task such as working your way around the timeline adding various effect that are clearly on offer. In addition, both editing softwares are beneficial to use but for us, iMovie was the right choice especially because the deadline for the trailer to be edited gives us small time to still be understanding Premier Pro.
After experimenting with iMovie it was clear to see what we wanted to apply to our trailer in relation to transitions, sound effects and filters.
Here are some of the initial ideas that the gourd had for our editing plans:
This picture shows the various filters that can be applied to a clip. We think it would be a good idea to add the filter of black and white when showing a flash back in the trailer. This will connote to the audience that the trailer is going back into time to show the occurring events of what happens. Moreover, the audience will therefore be in a position where they have slight understanding of how the flashback can cause the events leading up.
➠Wide range of Sound Effects
➠Effective editing templates
➠Straight forward use of the timeline
➠Various transitions are available
➠Can use other programs and transfer into iMovie
➠Good range of effects
In addition to this, I had experience using iMovie by previously using this programme in our AS opening sequence. This had an influence on our decision to use iMovie over Premier Pro because as a group, we had more experience using iMovie.
On the right shows the timeline available on iMovie and on the left it shows the timeline that is used on Premier Pro. The layout on iMovie is much more clear and it is easier to complete specific task such as working your way around the timeline adding various effect that are clearly on offer. In addition, both editing softwares are beneficial to use but for us, iMovie was the right choice especially because the deadline for the trailer to be edited gives us small time to still be understanding Premier Pro.
vs
After experimenting with iMovie it was clear to see what we wanted to apply to our trailer in relation to transitions, sound effects and filters.
Here are some of the initial ideas that the gourd had for our editing plans:
This picture shows the various filters that can be applied to a clip. We think it would be a good idea to add the filter of black and white when showing a flash back in the trailer. This will connote to the audience that the trailer is going back into time to show the occurring events of what happens. Moreover, the audience will therefore be in a position where they have slight understanding of how the flashback can cause the events leading up.
Planning- Music research
Before making and editing our trailer, it is essential to have an understanding of what sort of music makes a successful thriller trailer. After researching into various different types of thriller trailers such as the new film of Split, I have found a variety of sound effects that I believe will make an important difference in making a trailer that will please our audience and meet certain conventions of the thriller genre for trailers.
A wheel spin can connote different things, and it is a common use of sound used in thriller trailers in order to increase the excitation and anticipation for a trailer. It could connote that somebody is rushing away which is usually the victim which in our case is Rosey (the protagonist), or it could represent the eagerness the sinner has on chasing down their targets. Or it could represent the urgency the police force may have when trying to track down the evil in the film. This is a common stereotype of thriller films, the fact that each members of a side show a certain level of urgency to make sure they are always one step ahead. This is one sound effect that we want to include in our trailer, as we feel as though it increases the heat and intensity of a trailer, and engages the audience to the point where they feel as though they are in the scene.
This sound effect acts as a juxtaposition as it has a contrasting effect of connoting both happiness but also it acts as quite a sister sound. This is something that we could include in our trailer, as we do plan on filing in a park location. Having a clips showing a park location, with this in the background will enhance the feeling of anxiety within the audience. However, it may not fit with the theme of our film, as this this sound effect of children laughing is usually used in horror thrillers.
This is a typical convention that is used in most thrillers. This is because a scream can represent a sort of outcry, which is usually used by a victim in thriller films. A scream is an immediate reaction to something, so this is usually used in thrillers to connote that something bad is happening or has already happened. For example, in the official trailer of kidnapped, a scream is used to emphasise the pain the mother is feeling when she figures out that her son has gone missing. This is something we want to include in our film, and as a group we have thought it would be a good idea to have a scream of Rosey who is the protagonist, to ensure that the audience know what she is feeling. Furthermore, this will likely make the audience remember the trailer more, as the scream can be unexpected which could result in the being shocked by the sound. I also believe that the sound of screaming has a direct impact on me and others, as it is a straight outcry that could be interpreted in different ways. Screaming in thriller films is usually done to portray the pain of a character, however looking at different genres they can connote extreme happiness, causing a juxtaposition.
A ticking noise such as this can connote that something is about to happen. Anticipation is a key aspect that all film makers in the thriller genre want to have in both their trailer and film. This is because the demographic of the thriller genre, expect to be thrilled in some form or another, and this can be done by building up anticipation which could either be linked to the audience being scared or anxious as to what is about that happen. A clock ticking sound can also symbolise a church, and how religious imagery can be connoted in the film. This could enhance the aspect of our antagonist (Henry's character) needing help, which is a common stereotype of churches as they can act as a saviour in peoples lives. A clock ticking noise can also connote that something is coming to an end, or something is about to begin. This can be applied to our trailer, as having a clock ticking could signify the end to the antagonist's pain in the request to be loved.
Heavy breathing is a convention that is commonly used in thriller movies and trailers. This is because it can connote that a character is running away from something. It immediately engages the audience as it feels as though you are next to them, because in order to hear breathing the proximity has to be very close in a real world situation. In addition, it can portray a character as being weak, as they are choosing the flight response, instead of standing up to the offender. In Love me, we could apply this when showing a scene where Rosey tries to run away from our antagonist. Heavy breathing will connote her as being inferior and will enhance the anxiety levels of the audience as they will naturally want her to escape the kidnap.
After looking at various thriller films, it became evident that the sound effects for when something bad happens usually has some sort of thud or bang. Therefore, adding to the impact of the action happening. For example, a knife drop with the sound of a bang can represent the knife hitting the floor, in a more powerful and meaningful way. This is something we intent to have in our trailer, as I believe that it enhances the impact of specific actions.
Thunder and lightening show the great power that nature has. People also associate thunder and lightning to the wrath of God. This sound is very powerful, as it represents great danger and adds an eery effect. Furthermore, the thunder sounds could represent a bad day that is either happening, or about to happen in a trailer. This can be applied to our trailer, in order to represent the power the antagonist has, and to also connote that something bad occurring.
After looking at various sounds and effects, the heartbeat was one of the ones that stood out to me most. This is because it can either be applied to one specific character or, it can be applied to a complete scene. Meaning, that if a character is in a situation where they are getting angry or scared, a heartbeat sound connotes that their blood levels are rising and the emotion is taking over them. Or, as heard in this sound clip, a heartbeat that gets faster and faster can connote that something is about to happen. This is why I believe that including a heartbeat, will not only engage the audience, but they will feel as though they are in the scene, so very close to the characters.
A wheel spin can connote different things, and it is a common use of sound used in thriller trailers in order to increase the excitation and anticipation for a trailer. It could connote that somebody is rushing away which is usually the victim which in our case is Rosey (the protagonist), or it could represent the eagerness the sinner has on chasing down their targets. Or it could represent the urgency the police force may have when trying to track down the evil in the film. This is a common stereotype of thriller films, the fact that each members of a side show a certain level of urgency to make sure they are always one step ahead. This is one sound effect that we want to include in our trailer, as we feel as though it increases the heat and intensity of a trailer, and engages the audience to the point where they feel as though they are in the scene.
This sound effect acts as a juxtaposition as it has a contrasting effect of connoting both happiness but also it acts as quite a sister sound. This is something that we could include in our trailer, as we do plan on filing in a park location. Having a clips showing a park location, with this in the background will enhance the feeling of anxiety within the audience. However, it may not fit with the theme of our film, as this this sound effect of children laughing is usually used in horror thrillers.
This is a typical convention that is used in most thrillers. This is because a scream can represent a sort of outcry, which is usually used by a victim in thriller films. A scream is an immediate reaction to something, so this is usually used in thrillers to connote that something bad is happening or has already happened. For example, in the official trailer of kidnapped, a scream is used to emphasise the pain the mother is feeling when she figures out that her son has gone missing. This is something we want to include in our film, and as a group we have thought it would be a good idea to have a scream of Rosey who is the protagonist, to ensure that the audience know what she is feeling. Furthermore, this will likely make the audience remember the trailer more, as the scream can be unexpected which could result in the being shocked by the sound. I also believe that the sound of screaming has a direct impact on me and others, as it is a straight outcry that could be interpreted in different ways. Screaming in thriller films is usually done to portray the pain of a character, however looking at different genres they can connote extreme happiness, causing a juxtaposition.
A ticking noise such as this can connote that something is about to happen. Anticipation is a key aspect that all film makers in the thriller genre want to have in both their trailer and film. This is because the demographic of the thriller genre, expect to be thrilled in some form or another, and this can be done by building up anticipation which could either be linked to the audience being scared or anxious as to what is about that happen. A clock ticking sound can also symbolise a church, and how religious imagery can be connoted in the film. This could enhance the aspect of our antagonist (Henry's character) needing help, which is a common stereotype of churches as they can act as a saviour in peoples lives. A clock ticking noise can also connote that something is coming to an end, or something is about to begin. This can be applied to our trailer, as having a clock ticking could signify the end to the antagonist's pain in the request to be loved.
Heavy breathing is a convention that is commonly used in thriller movies and trailers. This is because it can connote that a character is running away from something. It immediately engages the audience as it feels as though you are next to them, because in order to hear breathing the proximity has to be very close in a real world situation. In addition, it can portray a character as being weak, as they are choosing the flight response, instead of standing up to the offender. In Love me, we could apply this when showing a scene where Rosey tries to run away from our antagonist. Heavy breathing will connote her as being inferior and will enhance the anxiety levels of the audience as they will naturally want her to escape the kidnap.
After looking at various thriller films, it became evident that the sound effects for when something bad happens usually has some sort of thud or bang. Therefore, adding to the impact of the action happening. For example, a knife drop with the sound of a bang can represent the knife hitting the floor, in a more powerful and meaningful way. This is something we intent to have in our trailer, as I believe that it enhances the impact of specific actions.
Thunder and lightening show the great power that nature has. People also associate thunder and lightning to the wrath of God. This sound is very powerful, as it represents great danger and adds an eery effect. Furthermore, the thunder sounds could represent a bad day that is either happening, or about to happen in a trailer. This can be applied to our trailer, in order to represent the power the antagonist has, and to also connote that something bad occurring.
After looking at various sounds and effects, the heartbeat was one of the ones that stood out to me most. This is because it can either be applied to one specific character or, it can be applied to a complete scene. Meaning, that if a character is in a situation where they are getting angry or scared, a heartbeat sound connotes that their blood levels are rising and the emotion is taking over them. Or, as heard in this sound clip, a heartbeat that gets faster and faster can connote that something is about to happen. This is why I believe that including a heartbeat, will not only engage the audience, but they will feel as though they are in the scene, so very close to the characters.
Filming schedule
Social media has a large impact on how people communicate in the modern world. This for sure helped the group communicate over the likes of Facebook and iMessage, where most of the planning for the filming was talked about. A group chat was made on Facebook to allow all 4 members to talk at once. Furthermore, this allowed us to agree on dates where everybody was available.
A few problems came with planning to film, two girls agreed to be apart of Love me, so this meant the group had to work around them, as they live many miles away. Also, at our age, all members of the group have part-time jobs which resulted in only having a couple days available during a week. However, we were able to combat this issue by agreeing on a day where we were all available. This resulted in getting the footage that was needed for the first draft of our trailer.
Here shows an example of how a group chat on Facebook helped our group communicate.
It is also currently winter time, so we had to take into consideration the time of sunset. However, I believe this had a positive impact on our filming, because the dark lighting allows for a feeling a fear and danger which is what we want to connote to the audience. If the lighting was bright then it would not create the same feel, we associate day time with safety and at night, places seem scarier and more mysterious.
A few problems came with planning to film, two girls agreed to be apart of Love me, so this meant the group had to work around them, as they live many miles away. Also, at our age, all members of the group have part-time jobs which resulted in only having a couple days available during a week. However, we were able to combat this issue by agreeing on a day where we were all available. This resulted in getting the footage that was needed for the first draft of our trailer. Here shows an example of how a group chat on Facebook helped our group communicate.
It is also currently winter time, so we had to take into consideration the time of sunset. However, I believe this had a positive impact on our filming, because the dark lighting allows for a feeling a fear and danger which is what we want to connote to the audience. If the lighting was bright then it would not create the same feel, we associate day time with safety and at night, places seem scarier and more mysterious.
Planning- Script
After researching various types of films, it was evident that a successful script was necessary in order to attract the audience. We wanted to create a script where the audience hear from both the antagonist and one of the victims in the film. Considering the characters of Daniella and Rosey, it would be more understandable to have a non-diegetic dialogue of Daniella reporting the kidnapping of her fellow friend. This leaves the character of Rosey being a slight mystery to the audience, which can be fully explained outside of the trailer in the actual film.
Here is a picture of our initial ideas for our script:
Henry- They don’t understand, they never have but they soon will. I will put an end to this and one way or another they will learn to LOVE ME.
Aaron- Is your mother home?
We have reasons to believe your daughter has been kidnapped.
Isa- All I remember is him pushing me over and everything was a blur, he’s taken her.
Rosey (protagonist, the victim)- diegetic sound of heavy breathing
Rosey- Screams
Here is a picture of our initial ideas for our script:
Henry- They don’t understand, they never have but they soon will. I will put an end to this and one way or another they will learn to LOVE ME.
Aaron- Is your mother home?
We have reasons to believe your daughter has been kidnapped.
Isa- All I remember is him pushing me over and everything was a blur, he’s taken her.
Rosey (protagonist, the victim)- diegetic sound of heavy breathing
Rosey- Screams
Planning- Characters
The actors involved will be the following:
→Henry Dalrymple- He is going to play our main character role, as the mentally ill person who wants to be loved, after a hard child hood of domestic violence and bullying. Developing this character was a complicated procedure, we wanted to portray the character as dominant and patriarchal, but with a soft side to girls. It was decided that he would go unnamed to add mystery to the character. This will engage the audience and it will make sure they are thinking ahead, and also trying to solve the puzzle with the type of character he is. He is a violent individual and often out lashes at people due to his inadequate upbringing and socialisation because of moving to many different foster homes.
→Shania Conway- Shania does not live near us, so the first challenge we experienced was trying to provide transportation for her in order to take part in our film. However, she did make it and her character was to be a young innocent teen, the stereotypical smart school girl who loves girly things such as the colour pink. It was decided that her character name would be Rosey as this name connotes peace and love which conforms to the stereotypes that we want to include in our film and trailer. This would make her the perfect target for our antagonist shown above. During the film, she is kidnapped, but is no way physically harmed. On the other hand, it is more of a psychological pain as she is forced to love Henry's character and has to be submissive to his commands.
→Isa Cusick-Knight- She like Shania, lives in a different location to our group. But, through various transport options she was able to make it on the same day which made it significantly easier to film. She plays a character named Daniella that does not get kidnapped, but is the only eye witness that was involved when it happened. She played an archetype of a loyal friend. Throughout the film, she plays a key part in finding Rosey. She has the responsibility to report everything and use the police and other detectives to track down Rosey.
→Aaron Hayes- I was not so much a character, but I was the car driver that would be shown in the film and trailer. Unfortunately, Henry Dalrymple does not drive, so it was necessary for me to play this part in order to get the shots we wanted. Also, my character is to play the detective in the trailer, but it might be a problem that I do not look old enough to play off a intellectual character who has had previous experience in detective work. However, we plan to see how the shots turn out and if they do not fit with the theme of the trailer, we will try to come up with a solution such as getting an older person to play the character or to not include it in the trailer.
→ Elizabeth and Scarlett Dalrymple- They made it clear that they are more than willing to get involved with the production of the film trailer as some of the locations are situated around their home. Furthermore, this led to having both Elizabeth and Scarlett Dalrymple being shot as Rosey's mother and sister. This would be used when the detective comes in and tells them the bad news.
→Henry Dalrymple- He is going to play our main character role, as the mentally ill person who wants to be loved, after a hard child hood of domestic violence and bullying. Developing this character was a complicated procedure, we wanted to portray the character as dominant and patriarchal, but with a soft side to girls. It was decided that he would go unnamed to add mystery to the character. This will engage the audience and it will make sure they are thinking ahead, and also trying to solve the puzzle with the type of character he is. He is a violent individual and often out lashes at people due to his inadequate upbringing and socialisation because of moving to many different foster homes.
→Shania Conway- Shania does not live near us, so the first challenge we experienced was trying to provide transportation for her in order to take part in our film. However, she did make it and her character was to be a young innocent teen, the stereotypical smart school girl who loves girly things such as the colour pink. It was decided that her character name would be Rosey as this name connotes peace and love which conforms to the stereotypes that we want to include in our film and trailer. This would make her the perfect target for our antagonist shown above. During the film, she is kidnapped, but is no way physically harmed. On the other hand, it is more of a psychological pain as she is forced to love Henry's character and has to be submissive to his commands.
→Isa Cusick-Knight- She like Shania, lives in a different location to our group. But, through various transport options she was able to make it on the same day which made it significantly easier to film. She plays a character named Daniella that does not get kidnapped, but is the only eye witness that was involved when it happened. She played an archetype of a loyal friend. Throughout the film, she plays a key part in finding Rosey. She has the responsibility to report everything and use the police and other detectives to track down Rosey.
→Aaron Hayes- I was not so much a character, but I was the car driver that would be shown in the film and trailer. Unfortunately, Henry Dalrymple does not drive, so it was necessary for me to play this part in order to get the shots we wanted. Also, my character is to play the detective in the trailer, but it might be a problem that I do not look old enough to play off a intellectual character who has had previous experience in detective work. However, we plan to see how the shots turn out and if they do not fit with the theme of the trailer, we will try to come up with a solution such as getting an older person to play the character or to not include it in the trailer.
→ Elizabeth and Scarlett Dalrymple- They made it clear that they are more than willing to get involved with the production of the film trailer as some of the locations are situated around their home. Furthermore, this led to having both Elizabeth and Scarlett Dalrymple being shot as Rosey's mother and sister. This would be used when the detective comes in and tells them the bad news.
Settings
The setting of our shots is a crucial part of making an effective and thrilling trailer.
Before filming I set out to discover various locations where it could be possible to film for the trailer. At first, it seemed the most creepy and suspenseful places were, parks, alley ways and areas of low population such as fields and quiet country roads. This is because, it is a stereotype that these sort of locations are where danger can occur. For example, the trailer of Kidnapped, showed how a child can be taken in broad daylight in the park, which connotes that although parks are for joy and laughter, they can be a place of danger. This links to our trailer idea, love is usually seen as a wonderful thing that everybody has to have, but with this, love can cause great heart ache and people can go to extreme and unhealthy lengths to find it.
Here are the following pictures that were taken for ideas to film:
This location shows a small park. We chose this area as the primary coloured fence suggests this is place that is safe for children to play and have fun as this simple colour scheme is associated with children, however the shots we filmed here are threatening and create tension and suspense. We did this to show that even a safe innocent place such as this can be corrupted by fear and danger because this suggests to the audience that no where is safe for the protagonist which creates a higher level of anxiety for them as they know the protagonist isn't safe anywhere.
Before filming I set out to discover various locations where it could be possible to film for the trailer. At first, it seemed the most creepy and suspenseful places were, parks, alley ways and areas of low population such as fields and quiet country roads. This is because, it is a stereotype that these sort of locations are where danger can occur. For example, the trailer of Kidnapped, showed how a child can be taken in broad daylight in the park, which connotes that although parks are for joy and laughter, they can be a place of danger. This links to our trailer idea, love is usually seen as a wonderful thing that everybody has to have, but with this, love can cause great heart ache and people can go to extreme and unhealthy lengths to find it.Here are the following pictures that were taken for ideas to film:
This location shows a small park. We chose this area as the primary coloured fence suggests this is place that is safe for children to play and have fun as this simple colour scheme is associated with children, however the shots we filmed here are threatening and create tension and suspense. We did this to show that even a safe innocent place such as this can be corrupted by fear and danger because this suggests to the audience that no where is safe for the protagonist which creates a higher level of anxiety for them as they know the protagonist isn't safe anywhere.
This location shows an alley way that could potentially be used. We wanted to use this setting because it a stereotypical setting for a threatening scene which is a quintessential feature of the thriller genre. This is because it adds verisimilitude by adding a setting that our demographic is threatened and wary of in real life. Also the idea of a young girl walking down a dark alleyway alone immediately puts people on edge as it young girls are often seen as weak and vulnerable and a dark alleyway connotes unseen threats and the idea that the girl is trapped as there is only one way in and out. This could be an opportunity for foreshadowing as the girl is later captured by the antagonist and trapped/held prisoner by him.
One of the people involved in making our trailer happened to have said they have a shed filled with building materials, after looking inside it was clear that this location should be used at some point in the trailer. This is because it sets an uneasy tone for the audience as it is a disturbing and creepy looking setting. Throughout the shed, there are numerous amounts of cob webs which gives an abandoned feel to the area which connotes to the audience that nobody will be there to help the protagonist as she will be abandoned by safety.
This location is where all of the inside shots can take place, for example a knife drop could be used to show that something significant has happened. Furthermore, this location has easy access as it gives us an opportunity to film basic shots that can be used in the trailer. For example, as part of our initial ideas, it is planned to use a close up shot of a out of focus candle, which connotes imbalance and emits a feeling of distortion to the audience.
Whilst searching for locations, we past this church. After watching various thriller trailers/films, I found that a repeating theme of the genre was religious imagery. Furthermore, going to church connotes that somebody is looking for some sort of guidance or help, which links to our plot for our antagonist, as he is a deeply troubled person.
Planning- Shot types and camera angles
Here is the list of shots that I believe will be beneficial in our film trailer for the thriller film, love me.
⇾ Close up- This shot is used to focus on something in particular, whether it is someones face or a specific piece of mise en scene. Furthermore, it usually shows very little background, which gives the shot a more powerful message to the audience as it is focuses on only one thing. This shot can be used to show a characters emotion, and in real life only few people like family get to go that close to your face, having an effect on the audience as they can feel more connected to characters. In love me, we can use this shot to show the emotional stress Rosey is going through, whether it would be sadness and this would include crying, or anger because she is vulnerable and this can be connoted by showing a close up of frowning.
⇾ Establishing shot- An establishing shot is usually the first shot of a new scene, its purpose it to show the audience where the action is taking place. It is usually either a wide shot or an extreme wide shot. In love me, we aim to show some establishing shots in order to show the audience where the setting is taking place. In our trailer, the shots will mostly consist of low key lighting in order to make the audience feel slightly uncomfortable, and we hope it will have a sinister feel it. An establishing shot of a dark car park or a wrecked up garage, can add anticipation to the trailer and this would make people want to watch the full film to see exactly what happens.
⇾ POV shot- A point of view shot (POV) is designed to show the audience what the character is looking at. It is used to captivate the audience and it gives them the opportunity to see what the character is seeing from their eye view. Furthermore, having a POV in our trailer will be useful as it can add tension to a scene, for example showing a POV shot when the stalker is following the girls, can connote to the audience that he is going to make an attack which leaves them on edge.
⇾ Long shot- It is sometimes referred to a full shot, or to remove ambiguity it may be called a wide shot. This shot is used to show either an entire object or human in relation to the environment they are in. This allows the audience to see the action of the character/s in the surroundings they are in. It usually corresponds with the real distance between the audience and the screen in the cinema. We may want to use this shot in our film because it will give us the opportunity to show both characters and the environment which gives the audience an idea of the area and situation they are in. An example using this could be when the mentally ill character follows the two girls to show where Rosey and Daniella are, and what they are doing, with also showing the man stalking them.
⇾ Mid shot- A mid-shot usually shows the knees/waist up. It still shows enough for the audience to feel as though they are looking at the whole object. It is usually the same distance you would talk to someone in real life. Mid shots are usually used to show a scene of dialogue or some kind of action, also they are close enough to see the emotions of characters. Including this in our trailer would be ideal when showing either an action or conversation between Rosey (the stereotypical school girl) and the main character who has kidnapped her. This is because we do not want to show the face of the character, so by using mid shots not too much will be given away but the audience will still be able to see the costume he is wearing.
⇾ Extreme close up- This shot shows either an object or person that focuses on just one feature and nothing else, this engages the audience to one specific thing. For example, if someone is crying, an extreme close up of their eyes gives the emotion more emphasis which connects the audience more to the character and what they are feeling. This will take our trailer to the next level, by having more of a dramatic effect. However, we will have to be cautious with this shot, because just one small movement of the camera will be noticeable.
⇾ Over the shoulder shot- A shot where the audience get to feel like they are peering over somebody's shoulder. It is usually used when two characters are speaking, showing each character and what their facial expression are. However, I feel as though it would be useful in our stalk scene where the audience look over the shoulder of the main character and see the two innocent girls that are about to be subject to some sort of kidnapping. This will give a dangerous and sinister feel as it gives the audience an opportunity to see the scene in a different way.
Camera angles also have to be considered, here are the following camera angles that might be used in order to connote different stereotypes and conventions that will be effective in a thriller film:
↝ High angle shot- This angle is used to make someone or an object look inferior or vulnerable, like something is bigger than themselves. This will be a frequent shot that will be used both throughout the Love me trailer and the film. Moreover, it will be a beneficial shot to use when showing the vulnerable teen Rosey when she is being kidnapped.
↝ Low angle shot- The low angle shot has the opposite effect of the high angle shot. Instead of portraying vulnerability like the high angle shot, this shot connotes power and strength. For example, a low angle shot of somebody makes them look bigger, which connotes to the audience that they are strong and in a position of power. Furthermore, this can be used in our trailer to show the kidnapper looking large and strong which is the opposite to the victim.
↝ The birds-eye view- This shows a scene from directly above, giving the audience a godlike look down on what is happening. It will look slightly strange and unnatural as objects and people will look unrecognisable. However, it shows the audience the full setting of a scene and literally gives them a 'birds-eye view'. This shot at first seemed to be an impossibility, but because of a purchase of a drone it is not possible to pull off a shot such as this. It maybe used to give the audience a relative idea of where the scene is set.
↝ Oblique/Canted angle shot- sometimes the camera is tilted to show something slightly distorted. It suggest to the audience imbalance and instability. This could be used to show the problems the mentally ill character has and how he is unstable and unpredictable.
⇾ Close up- This shot is used to focus on something in particular, whether it is someones face or a specific piece of mise en scene. Furthermore, it usually shows very little background, which gives the shot a more powerful message to the audience as it is focuses on only one thing. This shot can be used to show a characters emotion, and in real life only few people like family get to go that close to your face, having an effect on the audience as they can feel more connected to characters. In love me, we can use this shot to show the emotional stress Rosey is going through, whether it would be sadness and this would include crying, or anger because she is vulnerable and this can be connoted by showing a close up of frowning.⇾ Establishing shot- An establishing shot is usually the first shot of a new scene, its purpose it to show the audience where the action is taking place. It is usually either a wide shot or an extreme wide shot. In love me, we aim to show some establishing shots in order to show the audience where the setting is taking place. In our trailer, the shots will mostly consist of low key lighting in order to make the audience feel slightly uncomfortable, and we hope it will have a sinister feel it. An establishing shot of a dark car park or a wrecked up garage, can add anticipation to the trailer and this would make people want to watch the full film to see exactly what happens.
⇾ POV shot- A point of view shot (POV) is designed to show the audience what the character is looking at. It is used to captivate the audience and it gives them the opportunity to see what the character is seeing from their eye view. Furthermore, having a POV in our trailer will be useful as it can add tension to a scene, for example showing a POV shot when the stalker is following the girls, can connote to the audience that he is going to make an attack which leaves them on edge.
⇾ Mid shot- A mid-shot usually shows the knees/waist up. It still shows enough for the audience to feel as though they are looking at the whole object. It is usually the same distance you would talk to someone in real life. Mid shots are usually used to show a scene of dialogue or some kind of action, also they are close enough to see the emotions of characters. Including this in our trailer would be ideal when showing either an action or conversation between Rosey (the stereotypical school girl) and the main character who has kidnapped her. This is because we do not want to show the face of the character, so by using mid shots not too much will be given away but the audience will still be able to see the costume he is wearing.
⇾ Extreme close up- This shot shows either an object or person that focuses on just one feature and nothing else, this engages the audience to one specific thing. For example, if someone is crying, an extreme close up of their eyes gives the emotion more emphasis which connects the audience more to the character and what they are feeling. This will take our trailer to the next level, by having more of a dramatic effect. However, we will have to be cautious with this shot, because just one small movement of the camera will be noticeable.
⇾ Over the shoulder shot- A shot where the audience get to feel like they are peering over somebody's shoulder. It is usually used when two characters are speaking, showing each character and what their facial expression are. However, I feel as though it would be useful in our stalk scene where the audience look over the shoulder of the main character and see the two innocent girls that are about to be subject to some sort of kidnapping. This will give a dangerous and sinister feel as it gives the audience an opportunity to see the scene in a different way.Camera angles also have to be considered, here are the following camera angles that might be used in order to connote different stereotypes and conventions that will be effective in a thriller film:
↝ Low angle shot- The low angle shot has the opposite effect of the high angle shot. Instead of portraying vulnerability like the high angle shot, this shot connotes power and strength. For example, a low angle shot of somebody makes them look bigger, which connotes to the audience that they are strong and in a position of power. Furthermore, this can be used in our trailer to show the kidnapper looking large and strong which is the opposite to the victim.
↝ The birds-eye view- This shows a scene from directly above, giving the audience a godlike look down on what is happening. It will look slightly strange and unnatural as objects and people will look unrecognisable. However, it shows the audience the full setting of a scene and literally gives them a 'birds-eye view'. This shot at first seemed to be an impossibility, but because of a purchase of a drone it is not possible to pull off a shot such as this. It maybe used to give the audience a relative idea of where the scene is set.↝ Oblique/Canted angle shot- sometimes the camera is tilted to show something slightly distorted. It suggest to the audience imbalance and instability. This could be used to show the problems the mentally ill character has and how he is unstable and unpredictable.
Planning- Storyboard
Planning- Further changes
After further discussion with the group, huge changes have been made to our initial idea of Instinct. It has now been changed to Love me. This was decided after many discussions over changing our initial idea of Instinct. As a group, we worked as a team to do a brainstorm of another idea for a thriller film. Research led us to a film called Kiss the girls, which had an inspiration for Love me.
Here is a few notes that were taken down when brainstorming for ideas for our trailer. This will be expanded on when more conventions are thought of and can be used in order to make a successful thriller film trailer. We intent to do this by making sure the lighting is low key and the inter titles are portrayed in a sinister way.
We wanted to also make sure that we have an enigma somewhere in our trailer, where there is a question that is not answered, therefore making the audience try and figure it out creating a puzzle. For example, one enigma could be as to why the antagonist (Henry) commits the crime of kidnapping the girl.
Planning- Response
After the power point, it was helpful that we had the opportunity to receive feedback from not only teachers but also students. However, it soon became very clear that we wanted to change our film idea. This was because many of the other groups decided on doing a similar plot, so we wanted to make sure that there was a USP in our film. This caused a slight disagreement in the group because some of the people wanted to stick with the idea whilst others wanted to make a drastic change. An agreement was then made that the film idea was to be changed. In addition, this then led to a lack of focus on what everybody wanted to achieve as there was different opinions by all members. However, though there was disagreements, we finally decided as a group to pursue Love me which is to be created by Nightfall Studios.
This showed how different opinions can change what a film idea is. Furthermore, what we thought was going to be our final idea, changed dramatically as the group wasn't committed to it. However, overcoming this challenge made us stronger as a group as many hours were lost contemplating what idea to have for our media trailer. This was purely down to the fact that we wanted a great idea that the audience of thriller films has not seen often, or if not at all. This is the same case for big Hollywood businesses, they all want to have a great script to go off, in order to make the best film possible to please their demographic. So, this idea was a long time coming and I and the group I am in are happy with the idea we have, and we are more than ready to make a trailer that will not only be great, but will also to conform and challenge common conventions of the thriller genre.
This showed how different opinions can change what a film idea is. Furthermore, what we thought was going to be our final idea, changed dramatically as the group wasn't committed to it. However, overcoming this challenge made us stronger as a group as many hours were lost contemplating what idea to have for our media trailer. This was purely down to the fact that we wanted a great idea that the audience of thriller films has not seen often, or if not at all. This is the same case for big Hollywood businesses, they all want to have a great script to go off, in order to make the best film possible to please their demographic. So, this idea was a long time coming and I and the group I am in are happy with the idea we have, and we are more than ready to make a trailer that will not only be great, but will also to conform and challenge common conventions of the thriller genre.
Planning- Pitch of our film and response from others
Here is the PowerPoint that was used whilst pitching our film.
The PowerPoint was presented to the class with both teachers and students involved. Furthermore, this was very useful because it was beneficial to receive feedback which meant we had the opportunity to make improvements on our idea. For example, a student suggested that it would be better if family was included to see the impact of the personal life of the character who is experiencing the blackouts. Also at first, the film was to be called Instinct, however after talking to other students and teachers, it was clear that Blackout was favoured of the two. So, we took on this feedback on board and now the film is to be called Blackout as we believe it can be more related to the film whilst still being short and effective.
Here is a link to the video that was filmed during our first pitch for our initial idea. At this point, it was unclear of what exactly wanted to be achieved, for example the presentation involves a misunderstanding of what the film is called. Instead of the film being called Instinct, there was a clear misunderstanding between the group as others thought it was called Blackout.
Planning- Initial ideas
Here is a mind map showing the initial ideas of our film. These were the ideas that were generated by the group in a discussion. It was useful to bounce ideas off of each other to expand our depth in the planning of the film and trailer. At first, the film was to be called Instinct, however after talking to other students and teachers, it was clear that Blackout was favoured of the two. So, we took on this feedback and now the film is to be called Blackout as we believe it can be more related to the film whilst still being short and effective.
Research- Film titles
Looking at the titles, black and red are the most popular colours used. Furthermore, this connotes danger, blood, darkness and threat. This is common in thriller films, which is why they are used so often in order to notify the audience of what sort of plot is used. It became clear that the most successful titles were the short and snappy ones that had little text, which were almost like a cliffhanger that left the audience thinking, what is going to happen? For example 'panic room' doesn't give much away but it makes people think of what is going to be involved in the plot. On the other hand, 'before the devil knows you're dead' doesn't have the same effect. This is because it doesn't feel as scary with the fancy dress horns and tail. In comparison to this, I believe 'the ring' is much more effective with a ring of what seems to be knife carvings consuming the text giving a claustrophobic feel to the film.
Research on Thriller film
As I was going to have to make a thriller trailer, I decided that I should devote some time to watch a good example of what a thriller film is like. I went about researching various thriller films that had amazing reviews and I managed to watch a few trailers for different films. In the end, after looking at suggestions and top hits on Google, it was a reoccurring theme that Se7en was one of the most popular thriller films of all time. In addition, I realised this would be a perfect opportunity to see what a great example of a thriller film, which I can there learn conventions and techniques that seem to satisfy the audience.
I watched the trailer on YouTube and found some interesting comments:
These comments had a huge influence on the reason why I watched this film. I can say now, it was definitely worth the 122 minutes. Furthermore, this type of response was consistent throughout the comment section. These comments are quite recent, the most recent one being published just 3 months ago! This shows that the film has been so successful, people are still praising it to this day, even though it was releases back in 1995.
After watching this film, my heart was beating faster than usual. The build up and the anticipation is almost unbearable. Even within 10 minutes of the film, I was asking someone who had already watched it what the ending was, I'm now glad they didn't tell me! Moreover, this is what a thriller film should do, the audience should feel emotions such as anxiety, fear, anticipation, uncertainty, tension and should be at the edge of their seat. I for one audience member, experienced all of these feelings and emotion, and I found myself going from lying down on the sofa, to leaning forward in apprehension. This is something I want to make sure our film trailer has. Creating tension and having fast paced editing, will ensure that it will be appealing to the audience. Furthermore, when making our trailer, it is going to be important to ensure that we have the right levels of pace at the right times, to make sure the trailer shows different aspects of the film.
I found that this film helped me understand the audiences expectation of the thriller genre. Whilst scrolling through thriller films on Sky movies, Se7en was amongst few given a 5 star rating. This was evidence of this film being a success, and it was a true masterpiece by David Fincher. Further ratings I found were:
🔴IMDb- 8.6/10
🔴Rotten tomatoes- 80%
The cast:
The main characters include iconic actors/actresses such as,
This film definitely had the effect of star power. These people are very iconic in their profession and they are known world wide. These talented actors I believe took this film to the next level. Kevin Spacey played the part of the 'insane' antagonist, his performance was so convincing it was fascinating to watch.
Plot summary: It was about how two homicide detectives desperately try and hunt down a serial killer who believes that his crime is justified by the fact that the world lives in ignorance of the Seven Deadly Sins. I cannot ignore the ending of this film, it has a huge impact on the audience as the we feel for the character played by Brad Pitt. The circumstances for this character are hard to watch, which is why I believe this thriller film is so effective in drawing in the audience.
Overall, I feel as though I have learnt something from this film. The way it builds the tension towards the end is very good, and the way it conforms to stereotypes of genre is very effective. Even down to small details, of the text shown (in the count up of days in the week during the film) which comes across as very sinister. This film will be in my mind when making our trailer for our film, the trailer itself for this film is intriguing, however in my opinion I believe that the voiceover of the narrator does not match the theme of this film. Although, as a consumer of this media product, I was very satisfied with the film.
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