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.

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.”

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."

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.

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."

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

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.

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.

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.