This is our finished product, enjoy :).
Friday, 1 May 2009
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Evaluation of the finished production
1). In what way does your media production use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media productions?
There are main ways in which my piece uses and develops forms and conventions of real productions. Previously on my blog I wrote about the conventions of a thriller, an example of were we used the conventions of a thriller would be “Extraordinary events happening in ordinary situation”. We have set the thriller in our school which is an ordinary event for the girl, going to school, and the killer came in to follow her, which is an extraordinary situation. This showed that we used a convention of a thriller.
We didn’t at any point challenge the conventions of a thriller, because firstly we wanted to create a thriller so not using the conventions of a thriller would not make it work, nor make it effective. We wanted to follow the rules of a thriller because this was the easiest way of making sure we done it right and that we done it effectively.
2). How does you media product represent particular social groups?
The only social group that is shown in the whole of the thriller is teenagers. I feel there are a few different reasons why we chose to do our thriller about this age group. Some reason why would be because both me and Chris are in this age group so we know what would interested this group the most. We are both teenagers so we could act in the production, and not have to get other older actors to work in our production, and teenager viewers would be able to relate with younger actors rather than older ones.
We didn’t try to attract other social group, for example people from different religions, older people, etc. this was because it would have been much harder to try and add things into the thriller that would attract all different types of people.
I feel that they age group would range between the ages 15-25 at the most. This is because these sorts of issues are interesting to this age group and would attract them.
3). What kind of institution might distribute your media production and why?
Of course due to the fact that we are doing a AS level piece of work for school, and that we used none copy righted music, we would not sell our product, we only will show it to our friends and use it as a piece of work.
But I did some research into different institutions, used my knowledge and looked at what type of films they distributed.
As I study Media studies we have learnt a lot about Film4 as an institution. Film4, I feel would possible want to distribute mine and Chris’s film because it is a film about real issues. That is the types of films that film4 show, show our thriller would fit into it.
But if I was to distribute the piece I would think of putting it on the Internet on a free play website so that other people could watch it for free. This would be useful for people that were in my position, because it would show them what they need to do and give them some ideas for things like camera shots to include, camera angles, stories, etc. I would have found it useful to have seen a sample piece of work, but I am sure if I had done some research I would have found some.
4). Who would be the audience for your media product?
Our target audience would be over 15 years of age because that is the certificate that our thriller is meant to be. I don’t think our thriller would be very popular with the older audiences because the sort of issue that the thriller is about. Also all the actors are young and the editing that is used suits the younger audiences.
Teenagers are our main target audience because this style of film is interesting to this age group. Also the audience would be able to relate to the actors in the thriller, which would make it more effective.
5). How did you attract/address your audience?
The main ways in which we attracted the audience was by the story of our thriller. Me made sure that it is easy to follow, but still making sure that there was parts that the view had to think about and wonder about. The target audience we choose was 15-25, and after doing interviews we realised that this type of story line would really attract them to watch the thriller.
The actors that we used attracted the audience, and I don’t mean that because me and Chris was starting in it people wanted to watch it but I mean that we used actors that are in the target audiences ages group or close to there age group which meant that the audience could relate to the actors and the story. The issue used in the story could make them also relate to the thriller because at some point they could have felt like they had been being watched or followed, or maybe know someone that has been thought this situation, even if it isn’t as server as this story line.
The music we chose was very jumpy, at parts it was fast and at parts it was slow, but it was always creepy with made the audience know something was going to happen, which made them want to keep watching.
Another way that I feel we attracted the audience was the way it was edited and the scenes we used. We didn’t use fast paced editing, which would have attracted the audience, because this would have fitted with the action that was happening, but we used editing that make the whole piece flow, and really well. The shots showed that the killer was walking thought the school, and because of the clothing he was wearing, the hoodie, this meant that the audience knew something was going to happen so they would want to carry on watching.
6). What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
The technical side of the thriller is very hard. It was very hard to get the hang of using the imac’s at first, but after a few times of using them you just get used to it and do things like you would if you were on a normal computer.
The technical equipment that we used was the imac computers and the cameras, and the software on the computers imovie, which we used to do all the editing.
Editing was a very hard part of the thriller, and it took, in my view, the most of the time. This is because we had to learn have to editing, which we had from doing the preliminary exercise, but we also had to learn how to put the titles in, put the transitions in the correct places. The technology was easy to use once you knew how to do it, which meant that in the end we were doing the editing really quickly.
We only encountered one problem that I can remember will using the imac’s, which was that it would let us letterbox two of the scenes so that they looked like the other ones. This really annoyed us and meant that we left before finishing the piece because we was to annoyed and it wasn’t working, but the next day we went in to finish it and it work. This annoyed us a little bit because there was no reason for it not to work the day before, but we just glade that it worked.
7). Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the product?
I feel that me and Chris have progressed so much from what we done in the preliminary exercise. Firstly we become more focused on doing our work and getting it all finished in time. I am not saying by that, that we didn’t put effort into our work that we did for our preliminary exercise, but what I mean is that when we was doing it we didn’t come back after school and make sure it was absolutely perfect before we found we was finished. Where as when we was doing our thriller we knew that it was a very important part of our media AS level, this meant that we spent a lot of time after school, in our media lessons and at lunch times trying to finish the filming and doing all the editing.
I am very proud of myself and my partner because we done all the camera work and editing on our own, which was a lot of work because there was only two people in our group which meant there was a lot of messing about pressing play and running to the place we needed to be for the scene. But all the hard work has paid off, because we feel the finished piece is very good.
One of the main things that has changed from when we started the preliminary exercise to know, and that is that we have really come forward with our camera angles and being more experimental. Will the preliminary exercise we was only really getting used to using the cameras and trying some shots, but when it came to doing our thriller we tried different angles placing the camera in different places, doing things like high angle shots to create tension. I feel we got more confident from doing our preliminary exercise which we could use in the thriller.
I have learnt that, from doing the thriller, it is much harder than it looks. With the preliminary exercise was much easier because we only have a little list of things that we had to include but when it come to filming our thriller we had a big list of things to include, lots of rules to follow, editing to do, and time limit of about 2 minutes.
The only thing I found really hard was the time limit; it meant that we couldn’t add all the shots that we wanted. One of the shots that we would have used would have been a close up of my face to show my reaction to the door shutting “on its own”, and another would have been an extreme close up on my eye, to show my reaction also. But due to the fact that we were already over the time limit we had to keep them out of the piece. I feel if we would have had a minute longer we could have made our piece even more effective.
There are main ways in which my piece uses and develops forms and conventions of real productions. Previously on my blog I wrote about the conventions of a thriller, an example of were we used the conventions of a thriller would be “Extraordinary events happening in ordinary situation”. We have set the thriller in our school which is an ordinary event for the girl, going to school, and the killer came in to follow her, which is an extraordinary situation. This showed that we used a convention of a thriller.
We didn’t at any point challenge the conventions of a thriller, because firstly we wanted to create a thriller so not using the conventions of a thriller would not make it work, nor make it effective. We wanted to follow the rules of a thriller because this was the easiest way of making sure we done it right and that we done it effectively.
2). How does you media product represent particular social groups?
The only social group that is shown in the whole of the thriller is teenagers. I feel there are a few different reasons why we chose to do our thriller about this age group. Some reason why would be because both me and Chris are in this age group so we know what would interested this group the most. We are both teenagers so we could act in the production, and not have to get other older actors to work in our production, and teenager viewers would be able to relate with younger actors rather than older ones.
We didn’t try to attract other social group, for example people from different religions, older people, etc. this was because it would have been much harder to try and add things into the thriller that would attract all different types of people.
I feel that they age group would range between the ages 15-25 at the most. This is because these sorts of issues are interesting to this age group and would attract them.
3). What kind of institution might distribute your media production and why?
Of course due to the fact that we are doing a AS level piece of work for school, and that we used none copy righted music, we would not sell our product, we only will show it to our friends and use it as a piece of work.
But I did some research into different institutions, used my knowledge and looked at what type of films they distributed.
As I study Media studies we have learnt a lot about Film4 as an institution. Film4, I feel would possible want to distribute mine and Chris’s film because it is a film about real issues. That is the types of films that film4 show, show our thriller would fit into it.
But if I was to distribute the piece I would think of putting it on the Internet on a free play website so that other people could watch it for free. This would be useful for people that were in my position, because it would show them what they need to do and give them some ideas for things like camera shots to include, camera angles, stories, etc. I would have found it useful to have seen a sample piece of work, but I am sure if I had done some research I would have found some.
4). Who would be the audience for your media product?
Our target audience would be over 15 years of age because that is the certificate that our thriller is meant to be. I don’t think our thriller would be very popular with the older audiences because the sort of issue that the thriller is about. Also all the actors are young and the editing that is used suits the younger audiences.
Teenagers are our main target audience because this style of film is interesting to this age group. Also the audience would be able to relate to the actors in the thriller, which would make it more effective.
5). How did you attract/address your audience?
The main ways in which we attracted the audience was by the story of our thriller. Me made sure that it is easy to follow, but still making sure that there was parts that the view had to think about and wonder about. The target audience we choose was 15-25, and after doing interviews we realised that this type of story line would really attract them to watch the thriller.
The actors that we used attracted the audience, and I don’t mean that because me and Chris was starting in it people wanted to watch it but I mean that we used actors that are in the target audiences ages group or close to there age group which meant that the audience could relate to the actors and the story. The issue used in the story could make them also relate to the thriller because at some point they could have felt like they had been being watched or followed, or maybe know someone that has been thought this situation, even if it isn’t as server as this story line.
The music we chose was very jumpy, at parts it was fast and at parts it was slow, but it was always creepy with made the audience know something was going to happen, which made them want to keep watching.
Another way that I feel we attracted the audience was the way it was edited and the scenes we used. We didn’t use fast paced editing, which would have attracted the audience, because this would have fitted with the action that was happening, but we used editing that make the whole piece flow, and really well. The shots showed that the killer was walking thought the school, and because of the clothing he was wearing, the hoodie, this meant that the audience knew something was going to happen so they would want to carry on watching.
6). What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
The technical side of the thriller is very hard. It was very hard to get the hang of using the imac’s at first, but after a few times of using them you just get used to it and do things like you would if you were on a normal computer.
The technical equipment that we used was the imac computers and the cameras, and the software on the computers imovie, which we used to do all the editing.
Editing was a very hard part of the thriller, and it took, in my view, the most of the time. This is because we had to learn have to editing, which we had from doing the preliminary exercise, but we also had to learn how to put the titles in, put the transitions in the correct places. The technology was easy to use once you knew how to do it, which meant that in the end we were doing the editing really quickly.
We only encountered one problem that I can remember will using the imac’s, which was that it would let us letterbox two of the scenes so that they looked like the other ones. This really annoyed us and meant that we left before finishing the piece because we was to annoyed and it wasn’t working, but the next day we went in to finish it and it work. This annoyed us a little bit because there was no reason for it not to work the day before, but we just glade that it worked.
7). Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the product?
I feel that me and Chris have progressed so much from what we done in the preliminary exercise. Firstly we become more focused on doing our work and getting it all finished in time. I am not saying by that, that we didn’t put effort into our work that we did for our preliminary exercise, but what I mean is that when we was doing it we didn’t come back after school and make sure it was absolutely perfect before we found we was finished. Where as when we was doing our thriller we knew that it was a very important part of our media AS level, this meant that we spent a lot of time after school, in our media lessons and at lunch times trying to finish the filming and doing all the editing.
I am very proud of myself and my partner because we done all the camera work and editing on our own, which was a lot of work because there was only two people in our group which meant there was a lot of messing about pressing play and running to the place we needed to be for the scene. But all the hard work has paid off, because we feel the finished piece is very good.
One of the main things that has changed from when we started the preliminary exercise to know, and that is that we have really come forward with our camera angles and being more experimental. Will the preliminary exercise we was only really getting used to using the cameras and trying some shots, but when it came to doing our thriller we tried different angles placing the camera in different places, doing things like high angle shots to create tension. I feel we got more confident from doing our preliminary exercise which we could use in the thriller.
I have learnt that, from doing the thriller, it is much harder than it looks. With the preliminary exercise was much easier because we only have a little list of things that we had to include but when it come to filming our thriller we had a big list of things to include, lots of rules to follow, editing to do, and time limit of about 2 minutes.
The only thing I found really hard was the time limit; it meant that we couldn’t add all the shots that we wanted. One of the shots that we would have used would have been a close up of my face to show my reaction to the door shutting “on its own”, and another would have been an extreme close up on my eye, to show my reaction also. But due to the fact that we were already over the time limit we had to keep them out of the piece. I feel if we would have had a minute longer we could have made our piece even more effective.
Finished :)
Me and Chris have finished all the editing and added the music over the top of it. We are very happy with the finished piece. Everything has come together very good. The music fit in time with the piece, and we have got it so that at some points like when the killer walks onto the screen the music changes. We are having music all the way through so that it shows right from the start that someone is in danger. We will put the finished piece on our blogs today.
Wednesday, 29 April 2009
And the name is........
"The watched"
We have named our thriller "The Watched" because it fits in with the ending where the girl see a computer screen with "I'm watching you" on it. I feel this is a good name because it gives the viewer a idea of what the thriller is about and also gets them thinking and wanting to watch it.
We have named our thriller "The Watched" because it fits in with the ending where the girl see a computer screen with "I'm watching you" on it. I feel this is a good name because it gives the viewer a idea of what the thriller is about and also gets them thinking and wanting to watch it.
Monday, 27 April 2009
Saturday, 25 April 2009
We used a range of different shots. Each shot was used for a different reason. We used a long shot of the killer and the girl walking, this was used so that both the characters are in the same shot at the same time, this creates tension and makes the view feel sorry for the girl because she is getting followed and we don't know what is coming next.
We used point of view shots from both the killer and the girl so that we got into the mind of each of the characters.
We used a establishing shot to show where the thriller is set, and also in the corner of the establishing shot is the killer so it shows that he is there.
We used a high angle shot to make the girl look like she needs help and is in danger.
The type of editing that we used was a fade in and out at the beginning and end of the thriller. We also used other types of transition between the different scenes.
The way we held a steady shot by using the tripod to hold the camera, but at some points we just used our hands because we didn't have the space to use a tripod, so we just tried to keep our hands a steady as we could.
The thriller was set in a school, so all the mise-en-scene had to be to do with the school. We set some of the thriller in the class so that it was clear where it was set.
We decided not to have any dialogue in the whole piece because we feel this would ruin the tension that we had tried to build up in the piece. Also we are only having me and Chris in the thriller and at no point do the killer and the girl meet, so there would be no need for dialogue. Therefore we are going to play music all though the thriller.
We used point of view shots from both the killer and the girl so that we got into the mind of each of the characters.
We used a establishing shot to show where the thriller is set, and also in the corner of the establishing shot is the killer so it shows that he is there.
We used a high angle shot to make the girl look like she needs help and is in danger.
The type of editing that we used was a fade in and out at the beginning and end of the thriller. We also used other types of transition between the different scenes.
The way we held a steady shot by using the tripod to hold the camera, but at some points we just used our hands because we didn't have the space to use a tripod, so we just tried to keep our hands a steady as we could.
The thriller was set in a school, so all the mise-en-scene had to be to do with the school. We set some of the thriller in the class so that it was clear where it was set.
We decided not to have any dialogue in the whole piece because we feel this would ruin the tension that we had tried to build up in the piece. Also we are only having me and Chris in the thriller and at no point do the killer and the girl meet, so there would be no need for dialogue. Therefore we are going to play music all though the thriller.
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
i forgot to say....
We have changed the whole ending, instead of having the killer and the girl meet, it will end with the girl walking into a computer room an a screen saying "i am watching you" on it. This will be a more effective ending because we will leave the viewer wanting more. The reason for the change is because we thought that we had to have a whole thriller, not just the opening.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
all that is left to do is....
All we had to do was finish the last bit of editing that we did get time to do on Tuesday and put the music in. We wasn't able to do the last bit of filming on Tuesday because it wouldn't let us change the shots to have a letter box effect on them, like the rest of the film. We need this effect so that we can follow the letter box effect all the way through the film.
Wednesday, 15 April 2009
NOOOOO
Chris was looking at some of the work that we had done and there is a slight difference between the way i am standing in one of the scenes. We are going to use our media lesson tomorrow to re-film that little bit, which means that i will were the same clothes as i did before so that we keep everything the same, and finish off the editing.
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Music?
Music is still no here, but my group have found another website that the music i s sent to you there and then, which means if we don't have the music by the time we are adding the music then we have a back up plan.
Thursday, 9 April 2009
Finished
Finally we have finished all our filming that we need to do, this means the rest of the time we have we can focus on doing the editing. The editing will not be to hard because the whole piece is all in order, we just have to put it all together and add the music.
Sunday, 5 April 2009
Again, and again, AND AGAIN
We started filming our thriller the other day, but afterwards we decided to start editing and when it come round to it we decided that it did all fit together so we thought it would be better if we re-filmed the whole piece.
After we re-filmed it we when to edited it, and again things had gone wrong, so tomorrow we are going to start filming again. We would prefer to just re-film the whole piece because then it will be in order so it will be easier to edit.
We will re-film the piece tomorrow.
After we re-filmed it we when to edited it, and again things had gone wrong, so tomorrow we are going to start filming again. We would prefer to just re-film the whole piece because then it will be in order so it will be easier to edit.
We will re-film the piece tomorrow.
Thursday, 2 April 2009
started filming?
Chris had a free lesson so he thought that he would use the time wisely and start our filming, but after running thought all the bits that he could do on his own and went to edited it he realised that he did press the record button. Its OK because we can start filming together and have it all in order.
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
actors, props, setting?
The actors in our thriller will just be me and Chris. At one point we was going to have a third actor, but we decided to change the action in that shot, so it was more effective for us the just use me and Chris. Also not everyone would be available at all times, where as me and Chris will be so it is better for us if there is only us to so we can get on with the filming.
The setting for our thriller is our school. One reason is we have easy access, and another reason is that it is effective because schools are meant to be safe, but the killer just walks in.
The main props for the thriller are the hoodie that the killer wears to hide him self and the mobile phone he girl uses in the thriller.
The setting for our thriller is our school. One reason is we have easy access, and another reason is that it is effective because schools are meant to be safe, but the killer just walks in.
The main props for the thriller are the hoodie that the killer wears to hide him self and the mobile phone he girl uses in the thriller.
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Name
I have been thinking in my head for a little while now about what film we should give our thriller. We have been so involved with trying to think of idea's for the story line and camera shots etc that we haven't really thought of any names. I want to have a name where it is only one word, and it is a scary name which will get the viewer thinking about what the film is going to be about before they watch it. I would like a very powerful word, something like "UN-known", because this adds to the tension that we are going to try and build, Nady having built up tension with just the name would help. When me and my partner have another meeting we will discuss all this information and try and come up with a name.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Due to the fact that our filming will need to be done in school we will not be able to do any filming in the Easter holiday, but we have planned to start as soon as we can when we get back. Also due to the school trips that my partner has been on we was unable to start filming in school time, but we have planned in our heads and filmed some practice shots so we do know what we need to do when we get to filming. In the mean time I will be updating my blog with different research an post some last minute ideas.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Problems we may come across
There will be a few problems that we will come across when it comes to the filming for our real extract. Already in the pre-filming we have come across a few problems that we are trying to sort out. Our thriller will be set in our school grounds which means that we firstly need to get permission to be able to film in certain places for example in certain classrooms where people aren’t working. This is a problem that is in connection with another problem which is because we are working in the school it means it is going to be very busy all the time. Me and Chris have already decided that we will be doing a lot of our filming after school when there are very few people in the school. This is because the only people that will be in our thriller with be the serial killer and the victims, we feel that if we have any other people in the thriller this will destroy the tension that we are trying to build, and also we want the serial killer to be mysterious.
There will be a few problems that we will come across when it comes to the filming for our real extract. Already in the pre-filming we have come across a few problems that we are trying to sort out. Our thriller will be set in our school grounds which means that we firstly need to get permission to be able to film in certain places for example in certain classrooms where people aren’t working. This is a problem that is in connection with another problem which is because we are working in the school it means it is going to be very busy all the time. Me and Chris have already decided that we will be doing a lot of our filming after school when there are very few people in the school. This is because the only people that will be in our thriller with be the serial killer and the victims, we feel that if we have any other people in the thriller this will destroy the tension that we are trying to build, and also we want the serial killer to be mysterious.
Friday, 20 March 2009
Music
I have ordered our music on the moby gratis website. Hopeful we wont have to wait long for our music, i am hoping that it comes before we go back to school after the Easter holidays so that as soon as we have done all our filming we will be able to editing our work and add the music in the parts we want it. I will check my e-mails on a regular basis to see if we can have the music.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
Review
I am going to review everything that we are going to do in the thriller and add some new ideas that I feel would be good in the thriller. It’s going to start with the serial killer walking into the school. At no point in the whole thriller with the killer’s face be shown. This will add to the effect and build tension because the killer’s identity will never be shown. The killer will walk thought the building looking for his victim. I was thinking about wither the killer should kill a few girls or if he should just stalk the one girl. I feel that it would be more effective and we could make it more interesting if the killer only stalks one girl. We could have lots of camera angles where it is point of view of the killer watching the girl. This would build lots of tension and make the piece scarier because the viewer would worry for the life of the girl. I want to show people around the school at some points, but I don’t want anyone to notice the killer is there. Me and my partner will have to get together to talk about the different ways of doing this and not showing the killer.
Saturday, 14 March 2009
I decided to research about what people thought about “Psycho”, I got a comment off http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054215/, where a person is talking about. I thought I would add it to the blog because I have already commented personally so I thought I would add someone else’s comments about it.
“Yes, everything you've heard is true. The score is a part of pop culture. The domestic conflict is well-known. But nothing shocks like the experience itself.If you have not seen this movie, do yourself a favor. Stop reading these comments, get up, take a shower, then GO GET THIS MOVIE. Buy it, don't rent. You will not regret it."Psycho" is easily the best horror-thriller of all time. Nothing even comes close...maybe "Les Diaboliques" (1955) but not really."Psycho" has one of the best scripts you'll ever find in a movie. The movie's only shortcoming is that one of the characters seems to have little motivation in the first act of the movie but as the story progresses, you realize that Hitchcock (GENIUS! GENIUS! GENIUS!) in a stroke of genius has done this on purpose, because there is another character whose motivations are even more important. Vitally important. So important that you totally forget about anything else. I was lucky enough to have spent my life wisely avoiding any conversation regarding the plot of this movie until I was able to see it in full. Thank God I did! The movie has arguably the best mid-plot point and climactic twist in thriller history, and certainly the best-directed ending. The last few shots are chilling and leave a lingering horror in the viewer's mind.Just as good as the writing is Hitchcock's direction, which is so outstanding that it defies explanation. Suffice it to say that this movie is probably the best directorial effort by film history's best director. I was fortunate enough to see this movie at a big old time movie house during a Hitchcock revival. Janet Leigh, still radiant, spoke before the film and explained how Hitchcock's genius was in his ability to 1) frighten without gore and 2) leave his indelible mark on the movie without overshadowing his actors (like the great Jean Renoir could never do). "Psycho" is clearly its own phenomenon, despite all the big-name talent involved.Hitchcock does not disappoint by leaving out his trademark dark humor. His brilliance is in making a climax that is at once both scary and hilarious. When I saw it in the theatre the audience was both gasping in disbelief while falling-on-the-floor laughing.One more thing...Tony Perkins. Janet Leigh got much-deserved accolades for this film, but it is Perkins who gives what remains the single best performance by an actor in a horror movie. He is so understated that his brilliance passes you by. He becomes the character. The sheer brilliance of the role is evidenced by the ineptitude of the actors in Gus Van Sant's 1998 (dear God make it stop!) shot-for-shot "remake." Though the movies are nearly identical, Hitchcock's is superior mostly because of the acting and the atmosphere (some of the creepiness is lost with color). This is made obvious by the initial conversation between Leigh's character and Perkins, a pivotal scene. The brilliance of Perkins in the original shines even brighter when compared with the ruination in the remake even though the words and the shots were exactly the same. The crucial chemistry in this scene lacking in the remake gives everything away and mars our understanding of upcoming events. The fact that Perkins could never escape this role - his star stopped rising star as it had done in the 50s - proves that he played the part perhaps too well.I keep using the word brilliant, but I cannot hide my enthusiasm for this movie. It is wholly unlike the overblown, over budget, overlong fluff spewing all-too-often out of Hollywood today. "Psycho" is simple, well-crafted and just the right length.Eleven-and-a-half out of ten stars.”
“Yes, everything you've heard is true. The score is a part of pop culture. The domestic conflict is well-known. But nothing shocks like the experience itself.If you have not seen this movie, do yourself a favor. Stop reading these comments, get up, take a shower, then GO GET THIS MOVIE. Buy it, don't rent. You will not regret it."Psycho" is easily the best horror-thriller of all time. Nothing even comes close...maybe "Les Diaboliques" (1955) but not really."Psycho" has one of the best scripts you'll ever find in a movie. The movie's only shortcoming is that one of the characters seems to have little motivation in the first act of the movie but as the story progresses, you realize that Hitchcock (GENIUS! GENIUS! GENIUS!) in a stroke of genius has done this on purpose, because there is another character whose motivations are even more important. Vitally important. So important that you totally forget about anything else. I was lucky enough to have spent my life wisely avoiding any conversation regarding the plot of this movie until I was able to see it in full. Thank God I did! The movie has arguably the best mid-plot point and climactic twist in thriller history, and certainly the best-directed ending. The last few shots are chilling and leave a lingering horror in the viewer's mind.Just as good as the writing is Hitchcock's direction, which is so outstanding that it defies explanation. Suffice it to say that this movie is probably the best directorial effort by film history's best director. I was fortunate enough to see this movie at a big old time movie house during a Hitchcock revival. Janet Leigh, still radiant, spoke before the film and explained how Hitchcock's genius was in his ability to 1) frighten without gore and 2) leave his indelible mark on the movie without overshadowing his actors (like the great Jean Renoir could never do). "Psycho" is clearly its own phenomenon, despite all the big-name talent involved.Hitchcock does not disappoint by leaving out his trademark dark humor. His brilliance is in making a climax that is at once both scary and hilarious. When I saw it in the theatre the audience was both gasping in disbelief while falling-on-the-floor laughing.One more thing...Tony Perkins. Janet Leigh got much-deserved accolades for this film, but it is Perkins who gives what remains the single best performance by an actor in a horror movie. He is so understated that his brilliance passes you by. He becomes the character. The sheer brilliance of the role is evidenced by the ineptitude of the actors in Gus Van Sant's 1998 (dear God make it stop!) shot-for-shot "remake." Though the movies are nearly identical, Hitchcock's is superior mostly because of the acting and the atmosphere (some of the creepiness is lost with color). This is made obvious by the initial conversation between Leigh's character and Perkins, a pivotal scene. The brilliance of Perkins in the original shines even brighter when compared with the ruination in the remake even though the words and the shots were exactly the same. The crucial chemistry in this scene lacking in the remake gives everything away and mars our understanding of upcoming events. The fact that Perkins could never escape this role - his star stopped rising star as it had done in the 50s - proves that he played the part perhaps too well.I keep using the word brilliant, but I cannot hide my enthusiasm for this movie. It is wholly unlike the overblown, over budget, overlong fluff spewing all-too-often out of Hollywood today. "Psycho" is simple, well-crafted and just the right length.Eleven-and-a-half out of ten stars.”
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Chris and I recorded a section of film that I will be putting on my blog. The will contain me and Chris talking about the end scene of our thriller, and trying some different camera angles that we want to use. We will be putting it on the computer in our next media lesson. We felt that filming us explaining what we wanted to do would be easier than trying to write it down, and also it would be more interesting way of getting our point across.
Monday, 9 March 2009
Friday, 6 March 2009
Monday, 2 March 2009
Storyboard
We completed our story board during our last lesson and took pictures of them. Next lesson if not before we will put them on the I Mac and then put them onto our blogs. Our story board shows a basic understanding off the sort of scenes that will be in our thriller. We are stilling thinking and discussing with each other about the different scenes and camera shots that we would like to include in our thriller.
We completed our story board during our last lesson and took pictures of them. Next lesson if not before we will put them on the I Mac and then put them onto our blogs. Our story board shows a basic understanding off the sort of scenes that will be in our thriller. We are stilling thinking and discussing with each other about the different scenes and camera shots that we would like to include in our thriller.
Friday, 27 February 2009
During our media lesson this week me and Chris decided that it would be a good idea for us to try out different camera angles and try out different scenes. We felt that it would be easier for us to explain some of our ideas over film, instead of trying to explain it in words. For our next media lesson we will up load the two different extracts of film that we have created and put them on our blog.
Monday, 23 February 2009
Preliminary exercise
We have been asked to carry out a preliminary exercise in order to get us used to using the cameras and to help us practice the different angles etc.
What we have been asked to do is to film and edited a short piece of work which will involve a character opening a door, crossing a room and sitting down on a chair opposite another character. The two characters will exchange a few words.
In this exercise we had to demonstrate these four things:-
Continuity
Match on action
Shot/reverse shot
The 180-degree rule
This is what they mean: -
Continuity: - this is making sure that everything is the same though out the whole piece. Examples of this are making sure that you wear the same clothes though out the piece and use the same props.
Match on action: - this is making sure that after editing that the shots fit together and the action carries on over the editing.
Shot/reverse shot: - this is getting both the reactions in the conversation. Wikipedia has a good explanation “Shot reverse shot is a film technique wherein one character is shown looking (often off-screen) at another character, and then the other character is shown looking "back" at the first character. Since the characters are shown facing in opposite directions, the viewer assumes that they are looking at each other.”
The 180-degree rule: - this is making sure that you always film the two people on the same side every time so that they look like they are on opposite sides and that they satay in the same place. I looked on the Internet again on wikipedia at there definition “The 180° rule is a basic film editing guideline that states that two characters (or other elements) in the same scene should always have the same left/right relationship to each other. If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects, it is called crossing the line. The new shot, from the opposite side, is known as a reverse angle.”
Friday, 20 February 2009
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
There are different sub-genres. I researched on the Internet on wikipedia and got a list of the sub-genres and what they mean. here they are:-
Action thriller - In which the work often features a race against the clock, contains lots of violence, and an obvious antagonist. These films usually contain large amounts of guns, explosions, and large elaborate set pieces for the action to take place. These films often have elements of mystery films and crime films but these elements take a backseat to action. Notable examples are the James Bond films, The Transporter, and the Jason Bourne novels and films.
Conspiracy thriller - In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognizes. The Chancellor Manuscript and The Aquitane Progression by Robert Ludlum fall into this category, as do films such as Three Days of the Condor and JFK.
Crime thriller - This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. Central topics of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central ingredients. Some examples include The Killing, Seven, The Godfather, Reservoir Dogs, Inside Man, and The Asphalt Jungle.
Disaster thriller - In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster. Examples include Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaasen, Tremor by Winston Graham, and the 1974 film Earthquake.
Drama thriller - In which the story consists of the elements of a thriller and drama film. These films are usually slower paced and involves a great deal of character development along with plot twists. Examples include The Illusionist, The Interpreter and The Prestige.
Eco-thriller - In which the protagonist must avert or rectify an environmental or biological calamity - often in addition to dealing with the usual types of enemies or obstacles present in other thriller genres. This environmental component often forms a central message or theme of the story. Examples include Nicholas Evans's The Loop, C. George Muller's Echoes in the Blue, and Wilbur Smith's Elephant Song, all of which highlight real-life environmental issues. Futuristic Eco-thrillers are of the Science Fiction genre that propose ideas that will or may occur and include such works as Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy and Ian Irvine's Human Rites Trilogy and Dasavathaaram.
Erotic thriller - In which it consists of erotica and thriller. It has become popular since the 1980s and the rise of VCR market penetration. The genre includes such films as Basic Instinct, Dressed to Kill, Color of Night, Eyes Wide Shut, Fatal Attraction, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and In the Cut.
Horror thriller - In which conflict between the main characters are mental, emotional, and physical. Two recent examples of this include the Saw series of films and the Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later. What sets the horror thriller apart is the main element of fear throughout the story. The main character(s) is not only up against a superior force, but they are or will soon become the victims themselves and directly feel the fear that comes by attracting the monster's attention. Other well-known examples are Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs.
Legal thriller - In which the lawyer-heroes/heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives. The Innocent Man by John Grisham is a well known example of the type.
Medical thriller - In which the hero/heroine are doctors or medical personnels working to solve an expanding medical problem. Robin Cook, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Crichton, and Gary Braver are well-known authors of this sub genre. Nonfiction medical thrillers are also a subcategory, comprising works like The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. Films such as Awake are other examples of medical thrillers.
Political thriller - In which the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him. The success of Seven Days in May (1962) by Fletcher Knebel, The Day of the Jackal (1971) by Frederick Forsyth, and The Manchurian Candidate (1959) by Richard Condon established this subgenre. A more recent example is the 1980 film "Agency".
Psychological thriller - In which (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. The Alfred Hitchcock films Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, and Strangers on a Train and David Lynch's bizarre and influential Blue Velvet are notable examples of the type, as is The Sixth Sense by M. Night Shyamalan and The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (who also wrote Strangers).
Spy thriller (also a sub genre of spy fiction) - In which the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. Examples include From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, and television series such as Mission: Impossible and 24 (the latter demonstrating a break from the norm by Robert Ludlum, as it is as much a psychological thriller as a spy thriller.)
Supernatural thriller - In which the conflict is between main characters, usually one of which has supernatural powers. Carrie by Stephen King and Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan and Torchwood are notable examples of this genre. This type of thriller combines tension of the regular thriller with such basic horror oriented ingredients as ghosts, the occult, and psychic phenomenon; the supernatural thriller combines these with a frightening but often restrained film. They also generally eschew the more graphic elements of the horror film in favor of sustaining a mood of menace and unpredictability; supernatural thrillers often find the protagonists either battling a malevolent paranormal force or trapped in a situation seemingly influenced or controlled by an other-worldly entity beyond their comprehension.
Techno-thriller - A work that usually focuses upon military action, in which technology (usually military technology) is described in detail and made essential to the reader's/viewer's understanding of the plot. Tom Clancy defined and popularized the genre with his The Hunt for Red October, and is considered to be the "Father of the Techno thriller."
Conspiracy thriller - In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognizes. The Chancellor Manuscript and The Aquitane Progression by Robert Ludlum fall into this category, as do films such as Three Days of the Condor and JFK.
Crime thriller - This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. Central topics of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central ingredients. Some examples include The Killing, Seven, The Godfather, Reservoir Dogs, Inside Man, and The Asphalt Jungle.
Disaster thriller - In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster. Examples include Stormy Weather by Carl Hiaasen, Tremor by Winston Graham, and the 1974 film Earthquake.
Drama thriller - In which the story consists of the elements of a thriller and drama film. These films are usually slower paced and involves a great deal of character development along with plot twists. Examples include The Illusionist, The Interpreter and The Prestige.
Eco-thriller - In which the protagonist must avert or rectify an environmental or biological calamity - often in addition to dealing with the usual types of enemies or obstacles present in other thriller genres. This environmental component often forms a central message or theme of the story. Examples include Nicholas Evans's The Loop, C. George Muller's Echoes in the Blue, and Wilbur Smith's Elephant Song, all of which highlight real-life environmental issues. Futuristic Eco-thrillers are of the Science Fiction genre that propose ideas that will or may occur and include such works as Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy and Ian Irvine's Human Rites Trilogy and Dasavathaaram.
Erotic thriller - In which it consists of erotica and thriller. It has become popular since the 1980s and the rise of VCR market penetration. The genre includes such films as Basic Instinct, Dressed to Kill, Color of Night, Eyes Wide Shut, Fatal Attraction, Looking for Mr. Goodbar, and In the Cut.
Horror thriller - In which conflict between the main characters are mental, emotional, and physical. Two recent examples of this include the Saw series of films and the Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later. What sets the horror thriller apart is the main element of fear throughout the story. The main character(s) is not only up against a superior force, but they are or will soon become the victims themselves and directly feel the fear that comes by attracting the monster's attention. Other well-known examples are Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho and Thomas Harris's The Silence of the Lambs.
Legal thriller - In which the lawyer-heroes/heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives. The Innocent Man by John Grisham is a well known example of the type.
Medical thriller - In which the hero/heroine are doctors or medical personnels working to solve an expanding medical problem. Robin Cook, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Crichton, and Gary Braver are well-known authors of this sub genre. Nonfiction medical thrillers are also a subcategory, comprising works like The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. Films such as Awake are other examples of medical thrillers.
Political thriller - In which the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him. The success of Seven Days in May (1962) by Fletcher Knebel, The Day of the Jackal (1971) by Frederick Forsyth, and The Manchurian Candidate (1959) by Richard Condon established this subgenre. A more recent example is the 1980 film "Agency".
Psychological thriller - In which (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. The Alfred Hitchcock films Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, and Strangers on a Train and David Lynch's bizarre and influential Blue Velvet are notable examples of the type, as is The Sixth Sense by M. Night Shyamalan and The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (who also wrote Strangers).
Spy thriller (also a sub genre of spy fiction) - In which the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. Examples include From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, and television series such as Mission: Impossible and 24 (the latter demonstrating a break from the norm by Robert Ludlum, as it is as much a psychological thriller as a spy thriller.)
Supernatural thriller - In which the conflict is between main characters, usually one of which has supernatural powers. Carrie by Stephen King and Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan and Torchwood are notable examples of this genre. This type of thriller combines tension of the regular thriller with such basic horror oriented ingredients as ghosts, the occult, and psychic phenomenon; the supernatural thriller combines these with a frightening but often restrained film. They also generally eschew the more graphic elements of the horror film in favor of sustaining a mood of menace and unpredictability; supernatural thrillers often find the protagonists either battling a malevolent paranormal force or trapped in a situation seemingly influenced or controlled by an other-worldly entity beyond their comprehension.
Techno-thriller - A work that usually focuses upon military action, in which technology (usually military technology) is described in detail and made essential to the reader's/viewer's understanding of the plot. Tom Clancy defined and popularized the genre with his The Hunt for Red October, and is considered to be the "Father of the Techno thriller."
Friday, 13 February 2009
Interview
I had a quick interview with a group of my friends just to tell them my ideas about my thriller and to find out of it would be the type of film they would want to see. I am very pleased to say they liked my idea and couldn't wait to see the finish product. They liked the idea that the killer and the girl didn't ever meet, and that the girl didn't really know she was being watched.
Having the interview also helped me will some of the ideas that i had because the people in the other groups could help us understand what shots would work.
Having the interview also helped me will some of the ideas that i had because the people in the other groups could help us understand what shots would work.
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Target audience
The target audience for our thriller would be about middle teens because it would be a 15 to 18 certificate. This is because this is the type of issues that teenagers these days have to deal with. Also these are the sort of films that teenagers will want to watch.
also the shots of shots and editing that will will use are going to attract this age group.
Research: -
What is a target audience according to wikipedia
"In marketing and advertising, a target audience, or target group is the primary group of people that something, usually an advertising campaign, is aimed at appealing to. A target audience can be people of a certain age group, gender, marital status, etc. (ex: teenagers, females, single people, etc.) A certain combination, like men from twenty to thirty is often a target audience. Other groups, although not the main focus, may also be interested. Discovering the appropriate target market(s) to market a product or service to is one of the most important stages involved with market research. Without knowing the target audience, a company's advertising and the selling efforts can become difficult and very expensive."
also the shots of shots and editing that will will use are going to attract this age group.
Research: -
What is a target audience according to wikipedia
"In marketing and advertising, a target audience, or target group is the primary group of people that something, usually an advertising campaign, is aimed at appealing to. A target audience can be people of a certain age group, gender, marital status, etc. (ex: teenagers, females, single people, etc.) A certain combination, like men from twenty to thirty is often a target audience. Other groups, although not the main focus, may also be interested. Discovering the appropriate target market(s) to market a product or service to is one of the most important stages involved with market research. Without knowing the target audience, a company's advertising and the selling efforts can become difficult and very expensive."
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
This is a list of the top 100 thrillers according to "http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2001/06/13/entertainment/main296270.shtml" :-
1. "Psycho," 1960
2. "Jaws," 1975
3. "The Exorcist," 1973
4. "North by Northwest," 1959
5. "The Silence of the Lambs," 1991
6. "Alien," 1979
7. "The Birds," 1963
8. "The French Connection," 1971
9. "Rosemary's Baby," 1968
10. "Raiders of the Lost Ark," 1981
11. "The Godfather," 1972
12. "King Kong," 1933
13. "Bonnie and Clyde," 1967
14. "Rear Window," 1954
15. "Deliverance," 1972
16. "Chinatown," 1974
17. "The Manchurian Candidate," 1962
18. "Vertigo," 1958
19. "The Great Escape," 1963
20. "High Noon," 1952
21. "A Clockwork Orange," 1971
22. "Taxi Driver," 1976
23. "Lawrence of Arabia," 1962
24. "Double Indemnity," 1944
25. "Titanic," 1997
26. "The Maltese Falcon," 1941
27. "Star Wars," 1977
28. "Fatal Attraction," 1987
29. "The Shining," 1980
30. "The Deer Hunter," 1978
31. "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," 1977
32. "Strangers on a Train," 1951
33. "The Fugitive," 1993
34. "The Night of the Hunter," 1955
35. "Jurassic Park," 1993
36. "Bullitt," 1968
37. "Casablanca," 1942
38. "Notorious," 1946
39. "Die Hard," 1988
40. "2001: A Space Odyssey," 1968
41. "Dirty Harry," 1971
42. "The Terminator," 1984
43. "The Wizard of Oz," 1939
44. "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, 1982
45. "Saving Private Ryan," 1998
46. "Carrie," 1976
47. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," 1956
48. "Dial M for Murder," 1954
49. "Ben-Hur," 1959
50. "Marathon Man," 1976
51. "Raging Bull," 1980
52. "Rocky," 1976
53. "Pulp Fiction," 1994
54. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," 1969
55. "Wait Until Dark," 1967
56. "Frankenstein," 1931
57. "All the President's Men," 1976
58. "The Bridge on the River Kwai," 1957
59. "Planet of the Apes," 1968
60. "The Sixth Sense," 1999
61. "Cape Fear," 1962
62. "Spartacus," 1960
63. "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?", 1962
64. "Touch of Evil," 1958
65. "The Dirty Dozen," 1967
66. "The Matrix," 1999
67. "The Treasure f the Sierra Madre," 1948
68. "Halloween," 1978
69. "The Wild Bunch," 1969
70. "Dog Day Afternoon," 1975
71. "Goldfinger," 1964
72. "Platoon," 1986
73. "Laura," 1944
74. "Blade Runner," 1982
75. "The Third Man," 1949
76. "Thelma & Louise," 1991
77. "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," 1991
78. "Gaslight," 1944
79. "The Magnificent Seven," 1960
80. "Rebecca," 1940
81. "The Omen," 1976
82. "The Day the Earth Stood Still," 1951
83. "The Phantom of the Opera," 1925
84. "Poltergeist," 1982
85. "Dracula," 1931
86. "The Picture of Dorian Gray," 1945
87. "The Thing from Another World," 1951
88. "12 Angry Men," 1957
89. "The Guns of Navarone," 1961
90. "The Poseidon Adventure," 1972
91. "Braveheart," 1995
92. "Body Heat," 1981
93. "Night of the Living Dead," 1968
94. "The China Syndrome," 1979
95. "Full Metal Jacket," 1987
96. "Blue Velvet," 1986
97. "Safety Last," 1923
98. "Blood Simple," 1984
99. "Speed," 1994
100. "The Adventures of Robin Hood," 1938
1. "Psycho," 1960
2. "Jaws," 1975
3. "The Exorcist," 1973
4. "North by Northwest," 1959
5. "The Silence of the Lambs," 1991
6. "Alien," 1979
7. "The Birds," 1963
8. "The French Connection," 1971
9. "Rosemary's Baby," 1968
10. "Raiders of the Lost Ark," 1981
11. "The Godfather," 1972
12. "King Kong," 1933
13. "Bonnie and Clyde," 1967
14. "Rear Window," 1954
15. "Deliverance," 1972
16. "Chinatown," 1974
17. "The Manchurian Candidate," 1962
18. "Vertigo," 1958
19. "The Great Escape," 1963
20. "High Noon," 1952
21. "A Clockwork Orange," 1971
22. "Taxi Driver," 1976
23. "Lawrence of Arabia," 1962
24. "Double Indemnity," 1944
25. "Titanic," 1997
26. "The Maltese Falcon," 1941
27. "Star Wars," 1977
28. "Fatal Attraction," 1987
29. "The Shining," 1980
30. "The Deer Hunter," 1978
31. "Close Encounters of the Third Kind," 1977
32. "Strangers on a Train," 1951
33. "The Fugitive," 1993
34. "The Night of the Hunter," 1955
35. "Jurassic Park," 1993
36. "Bullitt," 1968
37. "Casablanca," 1942
38. "Notorious," 1946
39. "Die Hard," 1988
40. "2001: A Space Odyssey," 1968
41. "Dirty Harry," 1971
42. "The Terminator," 1984
43. "The Wizard of Oz," 1939
44. "E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, 1982
45. "Saving Private Ryan," 1998
46. "Carrie," 1976
47. "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," 1956
48. "Dial M for Murder," 1954
49. "Ben-Hur," 1959
50. "Marathon Man," 1976
51. "Raging Bull," 1980
52. "Rocky," 1976
53. "Pulp Fiction," 1994
54. "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," 1969
55. "Wait Until Dark," 1967
56. "Frankenstein," 1931
57. "All the President's Men," 1976
58. "The Bridge on the River Kwai," 1957
59. "Planet of the Apes," 1968
60. "The Sixth Sense," 1999
61. "Cape Fear," 1962
62. "Spartacus," 1960
63. "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?", 1962
64. "Touch of Evil," 1958
65. "The Dirty Dozen," 1967
66. "The Matrix," 1999
67. "The Treasure f the Sierra Madre," 1948
68. "Halloween," 1978
69. "The Wild Bunch," 1969
70. "Dog Day Afternoon," 1975
71. "Goldfinger," 1964
72. "Platoon," 1986
73. "Laura," 1944
74. "Blade Runner," 1982
75. "The Third Man," 1949
76. "Thelma & Louise," 1991
77. "Terminator 2: Judgment Day," 1991
78. "Gaslight," 1944
79. "The Magnificent Seven," 1960
80. "Rebecca," 1940
81. "The Omen," 1976
82. "The Day the Earth Stood Still," 1951
83. "The Phantom of the Opera," 1925
84. "Poltergeist," 1982
85. "Dracula," 1931
86. "The Picture of Dorian Gray," 1945
87. "The Thing from Another World," 1951
88. "12 Angry Men," 1957
89. "The Guns of Navarone," 1961
90. "The Poseidon Adventure," 1972
91. "Braveheart," 1995
92. "Body Heat," 1981
93. "Night of the Living Dead," 1968
94. "The China Syndrome," 1979
95. "Full Metal Jacket," 1987
96. "Blue Velvet," 1986
97. "Safety Last," 1923
98. "Blood Simple," 1984
99. "Speed," 1994
100. "The Adventures of Robin Hood," 1938
Saturday, 7 February 2009
In media today we watched the opening scenes to two different films. The two films where ‘Se7en’ and ‘North by Northwest’. They are both thriller films.
I have done a short evaluation for both of the opening scenes.
‘Se7en’
The opening sequence of ‘Se7en’ shows what sort of psychological state of mind the antagonist is in, in this film. The activities which he is doing, for example cutting off his finger print and cutting up things to put into this book he is making shows that he is in a disturbed state of mind. It shows he is mentally disturbed. The use of flickering on the names in the opening credits and the use of the music builds up tension and also contributes to the fact that the antagonist is disturbed. It is very unsettling.
‘North by Northwest’
This film starts by showing us the protagonist, in his everyday life. The opening sequence starts in a busy New York office block, where there are lots of people walking around. We get a sense that the protagonist is rich because he has his own assistant, but we also get a sense that is very busy, gives out lots of orders, that he is not very honest, and also two-faced because he gets his assistant to order stuff for his girlfriend and sort all the stuff out for his mum.
This film shows an ordinary man in an extra-ordinary situation because his normal city worker gets taken away by to men. This shows a case of mistaken identity.
In the background of the film there are two men watching the protagonist an when he gets up to send a telegram to his mother the two men grab hold of him and take him away. On of the indicators that something is going to happen is the music that starts to play when the protagonist gets touched by one of the two men that take him away.
In the piece of writing I have just written above I used two words, antagonist and protagonist.
The antagonist is the character that plays opposite to the main character; this is the evil/villain character.
The protagonist is the main character; this is the good/hero character.
I have done a short evaluation for both of the opening scenes.
‘Se7en’
The opening sequence of ‘Se7en’ shows what sort of psychological state of mind the antagonist is in, in this film. The activities which he is doing, for example cutting off his finger print and cutting up things to put into this book he is making shows that he is in a disturbed state of mind. It shows he is mentally disturbed. The use of flickering on the names in the opening credits and the use of the music builds up tension and also contributes to the fact that the antagonist is disturbed. It is very unsettling.
‘North by Northwest’
This film starts by showing us the protagonist, in his everyday life. The opening sequence starts in a busy New York office block, where there are lots of people walking around. We get a sense that the protagonist is rich because he has his own assistant, but we also get a sense that is very busy, gives out lots of orders, that he is not very honest, and also two-faced because he gets his assistant to order stuff for his girlfriend and sort all the stuff out for his mum.
This film shows an ordinary man in an extra-ordinary situation because his normal city worker gets taken away by to men. This shows a case of mistaken identity.
In the background of the film there are two men watching the protagonist an when he gets up to send a telegram to his mother the two men grab hold of him and take him away. On of the indicators that something is going to happen is the music that starts to play when the protagonist gets touched by one of the two men that take him away.
In the piece of writing I have just written above I used two words, antagonist and protagonist.
The antagonist is the character that plays opposite to the main character; this is the evil/villain character.
The protagonist is the main character; this is the good/hero character.
Thursday, 5 February 2009
Thriller conventions
A crime at the core of the narrative (often murder, but not necessarily).
A complex narrative structured, with false paths, clues and resolutions.
A narrative pattern of establishing enigmas which the viewer expects to be resolved.
A protagonist who is systematically dis-empowered and drawn into a complex web of intrigue by the antagonist.
Extraordinary events happening in ordinary situation.
Themes of identity.
Themes of mirroring.
Themes of voyeurism.
Protagonist with a ‘flaw’ which is exploited by the antagonist.
Titles often reflect an aspect of the protagonist or antagonist’s psychological state.
There is often a scene near the end of the film in which the protagonist in peril.
Mise-en-scene which echoes/mirrors the protagonist’s plight.
A crime at the core of the narrative (often murder, but not necessarily).
A complex narrative structured, with false paths, clues and resolutions.
A narrative pattern of establishing enigmas which the viewer expects to be resolved.
A protagonist who is systematically dis-empowered and drawn into a complex web of intrigue by the antagonist.
Extraordinary events happening in ordinary situation.
Themes of identity.
Themes of mirroring.
Themes of voyeurism.
Protagonist with a ‘flaw’ which is exploited by the antagonist.
Titles often reflect an aspect of the protagonist or antagonist’s psychological state.
There is often a scene near the end of the film in which the protagonist in peril.
Mise-en-scene which echoes/mirrors the protagonist’s plight.
Sunday, 1 February 2009
I have been thinking about idea's for our thriller.
Another Idea that I had for a scene in our thriller would be, to have a girl walking thought the park with her dog, and have close up shots to show what she is doing, but also to have long shots, to indicated that someone is watching her and following her.
Me and my partner are going to meet up soon and discuss the idea's that we have can up with independently.
Another Idea that I had for a scene in our thriller would be, to have a girl walking thought the park with her dog, and have close up shots to show what she is doing, but also to have long shots, to indicated that someone is watching her and following her.
Me and my partner are going to meet up soon and discuss the idea's that we have can up with independently.
Friday, 30 January 2009
Me and Chris got together to talk about what other things we would like to include in our thriller. We can up with the idea that you don't want to show the murders taking place. I feel that this would cut the tension, and make the piece less effective. What we have decided to do instead is to she the killer walking up to the person with out them knowing, for behind maybe, and then we will cut to a scene of the dead body. This will be a more effective way of doing the scene.
My partner and I have been discussing the different ways in which we could finish our piece. My idea was that i want to show the whole body of the serial killer but I will film into a light so that you can't see there features. I feel this will be a effective way to finish because then the audience will be left wondering who the killer is.
M partner wants to do a ending that is like mine but a bit different. He wants to show the killer coming into the dark room, like my idea, but the killer is going to come and kill us. We will be shooting a point of view shot of the killer.
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
My blog
hi this is my blog :)
I am katie and I am working in a group with chris.
For our media project we have to make a thriller.
Me and chris started to talk about the different scenes we could shot.
Here is examples of things that we have decided that we wanrt to include or have in our thrill.
I am katie and I am working in a group with chris.
For our media project we have to make a thriller.
Me and chris started to talk about the different scenes we could shot.
Here is examples of things that we have decided that we wanrt to include or have in our thrill.
- first thing is that we have decided not to include any shots of the serial killer, the only part of his body that we are going to show is his hand, which will be in a glove, this will creat tension becuase the view with have no information about who the killer is.
- we are going to use a car in one of our scenes becuase we want a strong light source.
- the thriller is going to be set in our school at night time.
- the killer will focus on killing women beucase they are weaker.
- we will not give any information about the killer.
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