On the run Thriller opening

This is our thriller opening titles.

Sound

Sound

For our thriller we are going to have music over the top and we aren't going to include a lot of diegetic sound. However, if we do include diegetic sound it will be the sound of the car and footsteps.

Music
The music that we use will be slow and quiet at the start but it will increase in pace when the vehicle appears. The music will remain at a fast pace until the soldiers enter the room and find it empty, in which the music will slow down slightly. The music volume will also follow this pattern of quiet to loud to quiet again.

The music will consist of mostly string instruments throughout and drums when the speed builds up. We will not have any vocals over the top of it. There will be a mixing of pitch with the string instruments which fits the typical thriller conventions of music because
it creates an unsettling atmosphere.

The violins will create a high pitch screeching noise which will be unpleasant to the audience and it will create the effect that something bad is about to happen. The drums will be loud beats and they will start off slow, then get faster and then go slow again. This also creates the effect that something bad is going to happen and it also emphasises the power in the soldiers when they move through the building.

The music that we are going to use is going to made by our friend who has experience in making music.

Music -

Diegetic Sound
There will be very little diegetic sound throughout our titles. This is because we don't want the audience to feel like it is part of the actual film and not the titles. The diegetic sound that we will include will be the sound of the car pulling up to the building and also when the soldiers are moving through the building. We are doing this because it will immerse the audience in the scene more. If we do include this sound, we will make it quiet and only have it every so often.

Location scouting

Location scouting  

Actor contract

Actor Contract

This is the contract that we will give to our actors before we start filming.

This is so that we have proof that they are willing to star in our film.

Props, costume and location

Props, Costume and Location

Props

·         Pistol

-The pistol is a G18 airsoft gun.

-It will be used by the man who is hiding, however, he will not fire it. It will be on the floor up  until the point that the car arrives and he will pick it up when he gets up against the wall.

-It is a typical thriller prop because most [crime/action] thrillers involve guns and weapons. It is also usually used by someone who is on the run.

-The gun signifies that the man isn't homeless but he is on the run and most likely dangerous. It could also give a clue as to what he did beforehand.

·         Assault Rifles

-They are black machine guns.

-They will be used by the men who show up on the car, but they will also not be fired.
-They are also a typical thriller prop because they are usually used by government agencies or the police.
-The rifles show the difference in power between the men carrying them and the man hiding. They are bigger and more powerful than his pistol. This also creates the effect that he is strong if they need all of that to take him down.

·         The Sleeping Bag

-It is just a basic fold away sleeping bag.
-It will be placed beside the man hiding out.
-It isn't a very typical thriller prop but it will aid the story line.
-The sleeping bag will create the effect that the man does not have a permanent place to live and that he is on the run.

·         Rucksack

-It is a big, expedition size bag.
-It will be place beside the man and his gear.
-A backpack of some sort is a common prop in crime thrillers where someone is on the run.
-The bag will help to create the effect that he is on the run.

·         Canned Food and Water

-These props are cans of tinned food and there are some bottles of water.

-They will be in a pile around him.
-These are usually typical props in thrillers similar to ours, where there is someone hiding out or trying to survive.
-They will help make the protagonist appear that he is on the run and hiding out.

·         Family Photo

-This is a photo of the man and his wife and daughter. The photo will be folded over on him.

-The photo will be on the floor and it will be picked up by the man in the suit at the end.
-This type of prop is usually used in thrillers to show that the protagonist has a family.
-The photo will make the protagonist appear as if he has a family to lose so he is going to fight hard and strong. However, it could also imply that they are already dead so he has nothing to lose.

·         Litter/Newspapers

-It is food wrappers and scrunched up newspapers on the floor.

-They will be used to make the building look abandoned and like it is a dump.
-They are used in some types of thrillers where a building or area is shown to be abandoned or deserted.
-They make the setting appear abandoned and will make it appear like a good place for him to hide out.

Costume

• Wanted Man- Walking trousers, t-shirt, coat, boots

This character's costume shows that he is on the run and follows the style of social realism, which is the typical style of the mise-en-scene in thriller films.

• Military/Government Agency Personnel- Black clothing, e.g. boots, gloves, balaclavas, assault vests.

This costume has been selected because the colour adds an air of mystery to the armed group of men, and suits the typical mise-en-scene conventions in thriller films.

• Suited Man- Suit, smart shoes

The suit creates an air of importance and also mystery as to why he is there and what he wants. This sense of mystery will help add to the tension, which is a key part of the thriller genre.

• Driver- Black clothing (e.g. hat, jacket, boots), sunglasses

This costume was decided upon for similar reasons to the armed men- it creates mystery and surrounds the character with suspicion.

Location

The filming location we have chosen for use in our thriller opening is situated down Dunsby Drove. The reason for using this location is because it is a deserted place with not a lot of life within a close proximity, which is appropriate because it creates the sense of mystery that is important in our opening.

 Leading up towards the abandoned farm buildings is a dirt track that we will be able to use when the 4x4 approaches, containing the armed men. The fact that the building is abandoned shows that the person that is running away has no where safe to go because he has committed some sort of crime or done something to aggravate a certain group of people and will be punished if he is found. Obviously the man has no option to run away because of what he has done.

Character Profiles

Character Profiles

Wanted Man

• Age: Late 20s
• Occupation: Unknown
• Appearance: Dark hair, brown eyes, unshaven

Not much is known about this character, all the audience know is that he has a family and is on the run from a group of armed men. This implies he has done something to provoke a group/organisation.

Armed Men

• Ages: Mid 20s-30s
• Occupations: Henchmen for unknown group/organisation
• Appearance: Wearing black military-like attire

A group of heavily armed men suggests that the man they are chasing has either done something to aggravate someone or has something that they want, and are willing to use force to get what they want.

Suited Man

• Age: 40s
• Occupation: Unknown- involved with some sort of group/organisation
• Appearance: Suited, wearing shades

This character has an air of authority and importance showing that he is high ranking in whatever group/organisation he comes from.

Filming schedule

filming schedule

We will be filming our thriller opening on Thursday 27th November 2014.

Schedule

When we arrive at the filming location, the first thing we will do is set up the opening scene of the protagonist in the building and then film said scene.

The following scene consists of the car containing the armed men and the suited man arriving, so we film this scene next.

The penultimate scene shows the armed men moving through the building in search of their target, but without luck.

Finally, we will film the shots of the driver and the car driving off to conclude the filming.

Risk Assesment

Risk assessment

When filming our thriller opening we must be cautious of any dangers or trouble that might happen.

The Dangers

-There might be sharp objects that could cut us so we must be cautious of them. We will also take a first aid kit just in case one of us gets cut or injured.

-When we are filming with replica weapons we have to be careful of passers by. To make them aware of what we are doing we will put up signs telling them that filming is in progress and that replica guns are being used.
We might also have to inform the police that we are filming so that they know, just in case a call is made.

-We also need to make sure that the building is abandoned before the shoot day because we don't want to trespass and if it is then we will have to find a new location.

-A vehicle will be in use during filming as well, so we must be cautious when in or around it.

opening titles timeline

Opening titles timeline

Auditions

Casting

Auditions:

The first audition was by Joseph. His audition was very exaggerated and we didn't think that he would be a suitable actor for our thriller. 

The second audition was by Matthew and it was very poor and it was clear that he did not want the role. Therefore, we didn't choose him. 

Next was Sam's audition which was exaggerated but we thought that he has the capability to tone it down a little and be more serious. 

Owen's audition was also exaggerated and we did not think that he looked the part. 

Finally, Archie's audition was not serious enough and so would not be suitable for our thriller.

In the end we decided to give Sam Hargrave the role of the protagonist. Although the audition wasn't the best we chose him was because he was slightly more convincing than the rest and he has previous experience in acting, so we have faith that he can deliver when we actually come to film the opening.

Shot list

Shot list  

These are the different shots we are going to film and the shot types we will use. This will help us know what we need to film on the day so as not to waste any time, although we might film more shots if we think more effective ones could be captured.

Storyboard

This is our storyboard for the thriller task.

Lighting and Sound

Lighting

For our thriller we are mostly going to use natural lighting, but we might use torches to try and change the brightness of certain places or objects.
For the scene where the protagonist is in the building we will just have natural lighting, although if we feel it is too bright, then we will try to adjust this by covering up the windows. We might also try and make his face appear darker because this creates the effect of mystery.

 

When the car pulls up natural lighting will be in use because it is outside. We will also use the weather to our benefit as it will change the mood of the scene. It is usually foggy or raining around this time of year which will again create a sense of mystery and tension.

 

When the soldiers are moving through the building we might put small torches on their guns to shine more light into the rooms. This could allow for some more shots as we could focus the camera on the light on the walls which would create a cool effect. We might also do this because it will make the soldiers appear more official and professional.

We could also use torches to create shadows in the building which would also create a sense of mystery and fear as it might be dark.

 

Sound

Our thriller will have music over the top and some diegetic sound such as the sound of the car and footsteps.

The music that we use will be slow and quiet at the start but it will increase in pace when the vehicle appears. The music will remain at a fast pace until the soldiers enter the room and find it empty, in which the music will reach a crescendo and then slow down slightly. The music volume will also follow this pattern of quiet to loud to quiet again. 

The music will consist of mostly string instruments throughout and drums when the speed builds up. There will not be any vocals over the top of it. The varying of pitch and the string instruments fit the typical thriller music style because it creates an unsettling atmosphere.
The violins will create a high pitch screeching noise which will be unpleasant to the audience and it will create the effect that something bad is about to happen. The drums will be loud beats with the pace starting slow, quickening and then slowing down again in time with the action. This also creates the effect that something bad is going to happen and it also emphasises the power in the soldiers when they move through the building. 

Target Audience

Age Ratings
Age ratings are designed to stop children from seeing or hearing unsuitable things in films. The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) give the public information about the film, like the age rating, the genre, how long the film is and what unsuitable actions are in the film that might cause the viewer to become uncomfortable. The BBFC examine films before they are published and gives them a suitable age rating.

The BBFC look at issues that children should not be subjected to, such as discrimination, sex and nudity, drugs, foul language and violence when making decisions. The more frequent these groups are in the film the higher the age rating meaning the film is only suitable for adults.


Demographics

-Age

-Gender

-Race/ethnicity

-Socio-economic class

Psychographics

-Interests

-Hobbies

Socio-economic class

A - CEO's, surgeons

B - Teachers

C1 - Nurses, accountants

C2 - Plumbers, electricians

D - Retail

E - Students, pensioners, unemployed

Timeline for our thriller

Production Company

Conventions of thrillers

Conventions - Narrative

• Thrillers are supposed to create suspense and excitement for the audience.
• The narrative resolves around the investigation of an enigma or the hero is the only person who can solve the enigma.
• They mostly involve violence.
• If often reveals the workings of particular institutions such as the police, the army or the Government.
• The thriller centres on injustice in society but solves these wrongs.
• There will be a rational rather than supernatural explanation of the puzzle.

Conventions - Setting

• A thriller can be set in an urban environment or a rural environment.
• They can be set in old abandoned buildings or new city buildings.
• They are usually set over big areas as there are usually chases.
• They can also be set in abandoned buildings and asylums.

Conventions - Characters

In a thriller there is usually:

• A Protagonist - They are usually a detective or someone on the run.
• A Antagonist - They are usually a villain or a prisoner.
• A Damsel
• Villains - They are usually English, Russian or German.
• Innocent victims/Bystanders
• Characters with dark pasts
• Psychotic people
• Terrorists
• Spies
• Special organisations (MI6 or the CIA)

Mise-en-scene

- Props

• In thrillers there are usually guns, knives and others.
• Cars are usually used for police chases or as a signal to the hero to run.
• Technology is used especially when organisations are involved.

- Costumes

• The main character tends to wear black clothing to hide their face and look inconspicuous.
• There are a lot of people wearing suits in some thrillers to show their authority.
• Police uniforms are worn in most thrillers too.

- Camerawork
Thrillers feature a lot of different camera shots.

• Long shots which allow the viewer to see the location and the setting which can make them wonder why or how they are there.
• Mid shots to focus more on a certain area.
• Close ups to capture the facial expressions of the character or to make them the centre of attention.
• Cut-Ins to show the characters hands or injuries.
• They might also have high and low shots to make the hero or villain seem more, or less powerful.
• Two-shot which usually features the boss and their aid.
• They also feature cutaway shots which takes away the attention of the main character onto something different (like a S.W.A.T team).
• They feature lots of quick cuts.

-Lighting

• The lighting in thrillers is usually dark and mysterious to compliment the story. 
• The darkness allows the characters to hide their identity.
• Lighting helps to connote emotions and thoughts             

Conventions - Sound

• Thrillers use a lot of dramatic music and face pace music.
• The music usually starts off at a slow pace and gradually speeds up which helps to create tension and build up climax.
• The sounds in thrillers change from loud to quiet depending on the pace and action. 

                 

Overall, the key elements of a thriller are to have an ongoing investigation and someone on the run from the government. It should be set in an urban environment and it must have a protagonist and antagonist. They should also contain a damsel and a villain. A thriller must contain weapons and cars to create fight and chase scenes. Police uniforms, suits and civilian clothing is another key aspect of any thriller.

There should be lots of different camera shots in a thriller that hide or show certain parts of the story. The lighting in a thriller should be low-key to create tension and the sound must be very dramatic.

Sound in our prelim

Song 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjP6i_px1qg&list=PL540068A2EF5162A1&index=4

This music is taken form 'The Bourne Identity' when Jason Bourne is at the bank going through his safety deposit box.

This type of music is commonly used in thrillers to create tension and suspense. It also alerts the audience that something is happening when the music builds up speed and volume.

We will use this music from the start and up to the point when the man meets the second Mexican in the lift. We will use it because it is slow at the start which will help build tension and it also speeds up which will fit in when the man is running away.

 

Song 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OksV3SuJejY

The music is taken from the film ‘The Good The Bad and The Ugly’ where the 3 men are standing around in a graveyard as they have a face off and draw their weapons.

This type of music is most commonly used in western and showdowns and help to create tension through it use of non- diegetic sound because the instruments used create a range of high and low pitch with different speed.

We will use this music during an intense stand-off between the man and the second Mexican, who he appears from the lift and then hits the man. We chose to use this because it fits the scene very well and it is dramatic.

 

Interrogation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVf4AqjNU9M

This music was taken from the game 'Alpha Protocol' where a man is being interrogated.

This type of music is sometimes used in interrogation scenes because it is very calm which is as it does not fit the mood.

We will use this music during the interrogation scene at the end because it is designed for that but also because it won't be too loud so it doesn't overpower the original audio.

Actors, costume and props in our prelim

Actors

-Sam Hargrave - Man

-Tom Branch - Mexican no. 1

-Glen Burton - Mexican no. 2

Costume

-Sam Hargrave - Coat/Jacket

-Tom Branch -  Sombrero and poncho

-Glen Burton - Sombrero and poncho

Props

-Revolver pistol

-Briefcase

-Chairs/Stools

-Maracas

-Torch/Lamp

Cameraman

-Sam Thistlewood

Analysis of snatch opening scene

In the opening sequence of Snatch we see the main characters in the film doing something. When we see each character it shows them doing something and then it freezes and zooms in on their face and highlights them with a thin line. A coloured background wipes behind them and then their name appears in a western style typography with a star. This is quite a cartoon style effect. 

During the next sequence the shot is made to appear as if it was one continuous pan. However, it is not but it is cleverly edited to make it appear so. This makes a really interesting sequence and it also stops the use of boring straight cuts. This effect of one shot is made by using graphic matches. For example, they cut from someone holding a diamond to another person holding a diamond by getting extremely close up and rotating the shot.

This whole opening sequence tells us that the genre of the film is an action thriller. This is because it shows us the characters doing their jobs or hobbies which give us an idea of what type of people they are. We can tell that the film is an action thriller because the characters are fighting in scenes and they are putting people into car boots.

By seeing the characters in the opening sequence we can tell that they are violent and dangerous. We can also tell that they are criminals as they are playing illegal poker games and they have diamonds and lots of money. It also implies that some of them are less violent than others and that some are maybe into the business sides of whatever they are doing. Furthermore, their clothing suggests that they are different types of people.

The sequence also gives the audience an idea as to what the film is about. Their clothing and actions make them appear as criminals which makes you thing that they are going to do something illegal. When they are in the back of the van with guns and they take off their masks it suggests that they have robbed a bank.

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene - "Having put into scene"

It is used to describe visual effects. This includes:

-Props             

-Costume        

-Makeup         

-Lighting

-Actors

-Setting

-Background

-Camera work

-Visual effects

-Shadows

Why is mise-en-scene important?

It helps to define the genre.

It sets the atmosphere.

It engages the audience.

You can understand more about the characters.

It allows directors to make their own style - Auteur

 

 

 

 

Mise-en-scene In snatch opening

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



analysis of bourne identity soundtrack

The first song that we hear in the film is a very calm song. There are string instruments playing which makes it high pitch. In the background you also hear some thunder (Ambient sound) which creates the effect of danger and distress. The thunder is probably non-diegetic sound that they added in to add effect.

The next song that we hear is also very calm to start of with but it speeds up. This creates tension and it tells the audience that something is happening. The song has low pitch string instruments throughout but also has high pitch strings when it builds up pace.

The next song is very fast most of the way through and has lots of drums in it and electric guitars. This makes it more intense and implies that there is a chase. The drums add loud bangs which is accompanied by diegetic gun shots and doors being kicked open so it fits the scene very well. Towards the end it slows down which suggests that the chase has or will soon come to an end.

The fourth song is very quiet and slow which is used to split up the fast paced music scenes and it also allows for conversations and information to be exchanged. It is incidental music as the slowness of it fits the slow moving car in the scene.

This song is very fast paced throughout. It features a lot of guitars and drums. There are some lyrics in it but they are only two or three words at a time. This music accompanies the scene very well as it is a fast paced car chase. The loudness of the song also fits with the loud car engines.

The next song is very fast pace which suggests that it is a fight rather than a chase. It is made up of lots of drums which creates loud noises like in a fight. The song has an angry and strong feel to it which immerses the audience into the fight more.

The final song starts off very calm and quiet but it builds up speed and volume. It creates tension towards the start as it is quiet and you don't know what is going to happen. When it starts to build up speed it indicates that something is about to happen and it prepares the audience rather than throwing them straight into it. Finally, when it becomes really fast it is synchronous as it fits what is happening. This song is made of string instruments which creates that high pitch noise which is unsettling.

 

 

Sound in thriller

Diegetic - Sound from the original recordings.

Non-diegetic - Sound that is added in during editing.

Asynchronous - Non-diegetic sound which is opposite of the mood.

Synchronous - Diegetic sound which relates to the mood.

Tone

Volume

Crescendo - Volume increase.

Silence - To increase tension.

Sadism - Pleasure from inflicting pain (sadist)

What makes a good thriller sound track?

-Slow pace to fast pace

-Crescendo

-Mixing in pitch

-Build up of tension

-Sadism

-Instrumental

-Minor key

-Heart beat

-No lyrics

-Sense of enigma (mystery)

sin city audience profile

Overview

Sin City was made in 2005 and it is a Hybrid genre. It is a crime thriller and it’s a neo-noir styled film. The majority of the film is shown in black and white but there are certain colours that are shown (e.g. red and yellow).

Demographics

Age:

It is rated an 18 but it is aimed at people up to 30 years old.

Gender: 

It is mainly aimed at men but it is also aimed at women.

Race/Ethnicity: 

This film is aimed at people of every race.

Socio-economic class:

It is aimed at groups E, D and C2.

I can tell that it is aimed at this audience because younger people enjoy action films and men especially like them. It is aimed at all races because there is no racial sidings or discrimination so no one will find it offensive. I think that it is aimed at those socio-economic classes because students enjoy action films and people who work in retail will enjoy something like this when they get back from work.

 

 

Psychographics

 

 

 

Interests:

This film is aimed at people who enjoy action, violence and thrillers. It is also aimed at people who like comic books, as this film follows the style of the original comic books.

Hobbies:

It is aimed at people who like being active.

It can also be appealing to people who like shooting guns.

Star Persona:

Furthermore, this film is aimed at people who are Bruce Willis fans and who enjoy the films he is in.

I know this because it contains all of the things that these types of people enjoy and it can help engage them in the film more when they have a better understanding of what is happening.

 

Peer assessment of pitch

 

Presentation skills - 2/3                                                                  
Eye contact - 2/3                                                                            
Excellent visual presentation - 2/3                                                  
Uses good shots from the film - 2/3
Uses excellent examples from advertising campaign - 1/3
Uses psychographics - 3/3
Uses demographics - 2/3
Uses socio-economic status - 2/3
Have you got a clear idea of the typical audience - 2/3

Overall - 18/27

Improvements:
I need to speak clearer and more confidently.
I need to make more eye contact.
I need to use more adverts for the film.

 

Preliminary-order of shots

-Extreme close up – The man reaching for the door handle.

-Mid shot - The man walks through the door and turns left.

-Long shot – The man walking down the corridor towards the camera.

-Close up – A wanted poster of the man.

-Over the shoulder – A Mexican at the bottom of the stairs.

-Close up – The man’s shocked face.

-Close up – The Mexican shoots at the man.

-Mid shot – The man runs back down the corridor away from the camera.

-Extreme close up – The man hastily presses the lift button.

-Mid shot - The man looks down the corridor at the Mexican.

-Mid shot – The lift opens with Mexican no. 2 in it.

-Extreme close up – The man's stunned face.

-Extreme close up - The Mexican no.2 shacking maracas.

-Mid shot – Mexican no.2 hits man with a maraca.

-High angle mid shot - The man falls to the ground.

-Black out – The screen goes black.

-Low angle mid shot – Mexican 1 is standing behind the man as he is interrogated.

-Mid shot - Mexican no.2 trying to open the briefcase.

-Low angle mid shot – Mexican 2 shoots the man with a revolver.

There will be a minimum of 19 shots in this sequence. There could possibly be more if we decide to include close-ups to show emotions and the characters looking at each other.

Vox pop research

Vox Populi - "Voice of the people"

How to get an audiences opinion?
-Verbal Feedback
-Interviews
-Ratings
-Forums
-Questionnaires
-Reviews
-Social Media

Interview
-It starts with a question.
-It then show the person with their name, age and occupation.
-They answer the question.
-It then goes to another person and does the same again.
-Then after more people the edit will go back to a previous person without their name.

-In an interview the person is on the right hand side and at eye level to the camera.
-It is usually filmed on a busy street to make it look like they picked a random person.
-The interviewer does not say much.
-The person speaks at the interviewer, not the camera.
-They only show 10 second clips at a time.