Reflection on School Trip

From going on this school trip, I learnt so much which has really made an impact on what I'm doing.
I found a good website to use is: www.artofthetitle.com, we were given his blog address which was www.petesmediablog.blogspot.com

I learnt that in my own title sequence, we need to give a sense of what the film will be about but can't give too much information away.

SOUND IS IMPORTANT.

Our task is to create the titles and opening of our film and we should aim for two minutes.

We are awarded:
- 20 Marks for Research and Planning
- 60 Marks for Construction
- 20 Marks for Evaluation

*Need a lot on blog*
*Visual evidence and explanations*

PRELIM: - what worked and what didn't? - get others advise on what they liked
RECREATIONS
CREATE OWN PRODUCTION COMPANY
LOOK AT FILM OPENINGS

To look at other students work - type in 'G321 film openings' on youtube

Titles Analysis - timeline, each time a title comes up and what it says
Possible Scenarios
25 Word Pitch
Moodboard
Treatment
Peer and teacher feedback

Some advice we was given is that we should know what is going to happen in the whole film even though we're not filming it but this will help us.

Recce Shots of Locations
Examples of shots
Costumes
Props

Storyboard
Animatic
Moodboard

Logistics Planning - including a risk assessment

The Shoot:
- People, Places, Props, Costumes
- Rehearsing
- Equipment, jobs on the day
- Keeping a record of the process

Edit:
- All need to do a part
- Screenshots of process
- Importance of audio and titles
- Foley - not just music
- Rough cut deadline
- Peer feedback

Evaluation:
- seven questions become seven tasks e.g. nine frames, split screen comparison, voiceover on distribution

Most common problems:
- looks more like a trailer/short film
- insufficient titles
- poor sound and lighting
- confusing for viewer

Iconic Thriller Directors

Alfred Hitchcock was a British film director and producer. He directed many suspense and psychological thriller films. Hitchcock had a distinctive and recognisable style, the use of the camera in a way that mimics a person's gaze. Many of his films have twist endings and thrilling plots featuring violence, murder and crime. Some examples of his films include: Psycho, Rear Window, North by Northwest, Vertigo, Strangers on a train and The 39 Steps.

Quentin Tarantino is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and actor. He began his career as an independent film maker with films with non linear story lines and violence. Tarantino's style is recognised by taking violence to a new level, he ignores all the rules. Some examples of his films include: Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill.

Chris Nolan is a British-American film director, screenwriter and producer. Nolan's style is recognised by beginning and introducing his main characters with a close up of their hands performing an action, he also usually starts films with a flashback or a scene from the end of the movie. His films usually revolve around characters that have some kind of psychological disorder and the storyline in his films usually involves a determined character seeking vengeance over the death of a loved one. Some examples of his films include: Memento, Inception, The Prestige, Insomnia, Batman Trilogy.

Nine Frame Title Sequence Design Analysis

For this task, we analysed Casino Royale's opening title sequence design. We chose nine stills from the sequence which we felt were important to the opening. 

1. This first still shows us a blood like substance dripping down the whole screen, this gives the audience an insight of what this film may be about and what it will include e.g. violence.

2. This second still shows the title of the film in capital letters which shows that it is quite important. The images around the outside are very interesting and show the symbols from the pack of cards, this is a very important symbol within the film as it is based around gambling. The four symbols around the outside may represent bullet holes which also give the audience the idea that this film will include violence and guns.

3. This shot shows the character with this gun which shows the violence and aspect of the film. Notice the creative and interesting background which could show that the film is very creative and interesting too or maybe it could show that there are things going on behind what is happening from the main scene.

4. This shot again shows two guns, showing the violence and action within the film. The man on the left represents a character from a card which is again showing the audience a bit about the film. Also notice again this background and interesting shapes between the two characters.



5. I think this shot is quite significant as it has the guns shooting, the aspect of the film, along with if you look at what is coming out of the gun you will see shapes from the pack of cards e.g. hearts, clubs, spades and diamonds.

6. This shot shows the fighting of the characters in which shows the aspect of the violence within the film as well as the interesting background in which you see some of the different symbols. Because of the silhouette of the other character, it is quite private of who this other character he is fighting is which may attract the audience to watch the rest of the film.

7. This shot shows a character in which also looks like she is from a pack of cards and has all the different symbols on her and all around. The background is also very interesting with the different shapes.

8. This still shows the audience the card from the pack, aspect of the film, with the shooting the holes into the card which also shows the other aspect of violence and guns.

9. This last still shows the audience a close up of the main character, Daniel Craig's face. This is the first we see of his face in this opening which lets the audience know who he is and a close up of his face is used to let the audience see the expression in his face.

Opening Title Sequence - Taxi Driver

In the Taxi Driver opening sequence, the music started off fast but then turns into classical/jazz music. We see a city which is bright but the lights are faded. There are 'booms' and drumming in the music which makes the audience slightly scared and thinking something is going to happen to them, it builds up suspense. We hear a saxophone which makes the mood feel romantic and relaxed. There are extreme close up's used of the eyes. There are also close ups of the taxi used. The sequence is quite steamy which builds up mystery. Some bits of the sequence are blurry and we can't see what is going on which creates the mystery.

Analysis of Title Sequence

For this task, I did the Se7en title sequence. I found that the music was scary in the back ground, it started of very quietly and slowly, there was sounds over the top of the music, they were squeal sounds and were creating this atmosphere. The music then got a bit louder and was a bit faster making the audience feel like something was going to happen.
The sequence was mysterious and edgy. Some parts of the sequence were repeated and a lot was blurry creating this mystery. There were lot's of extreme close up's used but we never see much of the person's face, the title sequence does this to create the mystery and make you want to watch more to know who this person is and what is happening.  There was also a lot of cutting used.
The credits were showing in writing that also created the atmosphere as it was scary. The writing looked like hand writing and sometimes moved slightly creating a 'scratching' effect. There was a lot of flashing and the pictures used were carefully picked, a lot of them including blacking out clip's on some of the pictures.

Certficate Ratings

'U' films should be suitable for children aged four and above. They should be set within a positive framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror. There will be no references  to illegal drugs, scary scenes should be mild, there will be no dangerous or inappropriate behaviour. Infrequent use only of very mild bad language, occasional nudity, with no sexual context. Mild sexual behaviour (for example, kissing) and references only (for example, to ‘making love’). Mild violence only.

A 'PG' film should be for general viewing, however, some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. References to illegal drugs may be used but only with a suitable anti-drug message. Frightening scenes should not be intense, and mild bad language may be used. Sexual activity may be implied but discreetly and infrequent. Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed if justified by context.

 A '12A/12' is only suitable for those aged 12 and over. Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent. Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted. Dangerous behaviour (hanging, suicide, self harming) should not be in detail. Moderate language is allowed and the use of strong language must be infrequent. Nudity is allowed but in sexual context it must be discreet. Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Moderate violence is allowed but shouldn't be in too much detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by context.   

A '15' film is only suitable for those aged 15 and over. Drug taking may been shown but the film must not encourage drug misuse.  Strong threat and menace are permitted. Dangerous behaviour should not be in too much detail. Frequent strong language is permitted but the strongest terms are only accepted if justified by the context. Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail and there may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour but the strongest may not be accepted unless justified by context. Violence may be strong but shouldn't be in too much detail of pain or injury.

An '18' film is only suitable for adults. It generally can have whatever it likes in it although the content may not harm the viewers or be intended for use of sexual stimulation, this would only be accepted in an 'R18'. 

Thriller films are usually 15's although some may be 18's due to the content. This also gives the thriller films their target audience. 

   

Composition, Lighting and Editing

This is my research I completed on composition, I watched some videos on youtube explaining this to mean which I then took stills from and took notes on the most important parts, which is shown here.













For information on lighting please visit Dann Stamp's blog and for information on editing please visit Beth Funnell's blog.

Purpose of opening

The purpose of an opening in a thriller film is to engage the audience and to keep them excited for them to watch the rest of the film. You want a good opening to keep the audience interested and you also want to give them a slight bit of information for them to be interested with and to give them a taste of what the film will be about and what will be in it. However, you don't want to give them too much information in the opening so that you would give it away as if you do they will know it all and won't want to watch the rest as they will already know it all.

25 word Treatment

The Hunt: Our film will include stalker scene's in which the stalker will be hurting his victims, you will be able to see this in the opening and once he has he will move straight onto the next victim.

Homage to: Hannibal, Silence of the Lambs, Psycho

Brainstorm Scenario

This is a brainstorm I created with another member of my group, Beth. We chose to brainstorm psychological thrillers because we would like to base our final project on this genre. Therefore we have obtained some more detailed research into it.

Nine Frame Analysis