Investigating Thrillers

Preliminary Evaluation

Preliminary evaluation from tbgsmedia1517

After looking at the audience feedback in the comments section, I would have to agree with most of the comments. The feedback is largely positive with one piece of constructive criticism, which suggested that the stabilisation of some shots could be improved. Personally I agree with this comment and it's something that we would have to take into consideration for future filming.

From this initial warm-up production of filming I have learnt how to incorporate a variety of shots into a sequence successfully, to create an impact on the audience. Furthermore, I have identified the importance of mise-en-scene and how to make sure the background is suitable for the genre of the film, as well as the back ground sound and how much it needs to be considered in cuts between shots. Finally, for the future I have discovered that initial preparation is key during the film making process and a more detailed storyboard would have made the filming a quicker and more efficient task.

Preliminary

Preliminary Diary Blog

My Role in the Film Making

The main role I played in this preliminary film making was that of a director. This meant I had the responsibilities of taking control of the dramatic and artistic aspects, and visualisation of the script by guiding the actors and cameraman, in order to complete what I had planned for the finished films appearance.
Another role I played within this was that of the storyboard artist. This gave me the responsibility of creating visual images of what different scenes would look like, with consideration for cinematography and the effects it will have on the audience.

Experiencing Filming

My experience of filming was overall positive and enjoyable. Our team worked reasonably well with each other to complete the task within the set deadline, however there were a few arguments to what camera angles should be used for certain shots, which slowed down the process slightly.

Changes Made During Filming

The changes that were made from the original story board were some of the angles at which the camera shots were taken, in what was used as the bedroom of the main character. The specific shots we had to change were the shots of the main character when he is opening the box for the first time and when he is on the phone to his friend Jack. This was because the size of the room and the wide fisheye camera lens we started with made it difficult to film any shots, without giving away that it was a classroom and not a real bedroom.

Adaptations for Future Filming Activities

To improve the efficiency and outcome of our next film we should plan a more detailed storyboard. This would improve our teamwork and cooperation, which in turn would increase the speed at which we complete the different camera shots and would reduce the amount of time taken up by arguments/debates on which angles to use for certain shots.

Practical Skills for Next Time

Next time I would like to try being the cameraman to see if I have skills in this area that would benefit the film making process more than being the director. If I did try out being the cameraman I would have to learn from experience to quickly pick up on the  However, I thought that being the director worked well and so depending on my ability in camerawork I may try further developing my skills in directing to improve the group efficiency.

Editing as Punctuation in Film

"The whole eloquence of cinema is achieved in the editing room" - Orson Welles

David Bordwell says "If [two characters] are in the same shot, I can that they are united... If they are in different shorts, I can say that the cut separates them."

Often cinematic punctuation is punctuated by the characters actions. For example, two separate shots which have no relation can be cut from one to the other, causing the audience to imagine this relationship between the two after showing the characters reactions and emotions. Eisenstein explains this by saying that "A concrete word set beside a concrete world, yields an abstract concept."

Cuts act as narrative ellipses and are a way of description. Freeze frames are used as a moment of clarification, often to allow the narrator to give the audience particular information or insight into the story. Rewinds are commonly used to tell the same story that the audience was previously shown, from a different point of view. Long takes are often significant and include no editing for a purpose, usually to indulge the audience in the scene. Finally, another editing technique of punctuation is to film an object or area that is not the focus of the scene, in order to fill time and space while the characters state or emotion changes.

Preliminary Planning

Types of Cinematography and Editing

Types and Techniques

Shot Reverse Shot - where one character is shown looking at another character (who is often off- screen), and then the other character is shown looking back at the first character.

180-degree Rule - a simple guideline concerned with the on-screen spacial relationship between a character and another character or object within the scene.

Match on Action - a film and video editing technique where the editor cuts from one shot to another view of the same scene that matches the first shots action same action.

Eye line Match - a film editing technique associated with the continuity editing system. It is based on the proposition that the audience will want to see what the character on-screen is seeing.

Examples

Shot Reverse Shot

The camera cuts between the two characters as they are speaking to each other.

180-degree Rule

The two characters are stood opposite each other and the camera must be positioned in the 180 degrees on one side of them, in order to avoid confusing the audience.


Match On Action

The camera cuts from him about to walk through the door to a different view of the other side of him as he backs out through the door.



Eye Line Match

Shows a close up of him looking at something, then what he is looking at.

'The Birds' Commentary

Within the thriller genre, many directors and cinematographers include a large amount of point of view, tracking and medium close up shots to help create a sense of ongoing mystery and tension. This type of camerawork is used particularly well in 'The Birds' because it helps to convey the characters emotions and feelings, as well as allowing the viewer to be presented with what the characters see within the scene at the same time, encouraging them to build up a relationship and sympathize with the characters. A significant example of a tracking point of view shot is where the two main characters are slowly edging their way past the antagonists. The pace of the tracking shot builds up tension while the use of a point of view shot allows the viewer to relate to the characters fear and almost puts the in the position of the characters.

Camerawork - Different Shot Types

Editing - Stoptrick and Composite Overlay

Timeline of 'The Avengers' Sequence

'The Avengers' Timeline

Link to the sequence: http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/the-avengers/

In this sequence I have noticed various aspects that are useful to include in a sequence, in order to create it in the best presentable way, in this case suited to the action, sci-fi genre of 'The Avengers'.

A key feature is to include any words - usually of named people - in bold, clear capital letters. This helps the words to stand out and make them more easily readable to the viewer, making it more efficient at giving credit to the people or companies. This is also further done by making the names larger than the job description which causes the name to become more recognised.

I also noticed that during this sequence, the titles we're very much mentioned in an order of people who helped with production, followed by the main actors being presented, then at the very end it says "A Joss Whedon Film" which therefore gives Whedon most of the credit for the film.

Throughout the sequence the viewer is presented with multiple images of things relating to 'The Avengers', mainly consisting of their well known uniform. This causes us to build up some initial ideas for the different hero/heroine outfits or in some cases gives us a full view as seen in this Iron Man screen shot.

The soundtrack used is all non diagetic music which abruptly begins as the initial writing appears on screen, having a large impact on the audience. This then continued throughout the sequence which builds up the tension and drama, preparing the viewers for the film.

Thriller Genre

Thriller genre from tbgsmedia1517

A Day In The Life - Comedy Horror (Genre Conventions)

Narrative Events;
- Being watched by a mysterious character (Horror)
- Funny scenes such as the basketball shot (Comedy)
- An anonymous noise from in the house (in this case the crash) when you're home alone (Horror)
- The blatantly on purpose fall off of the chair following the crash (Comedy)
- Going to check out the noise even though it's dangerous (Horror)
- Doing a completely random and unnecessary pull up (Comedy)
- Seeing a mysterious character but when getting up close there's no one there (Horror)
- Knock on the door while in the shower, classic vulnerable place (Horror)
- Clears the mirror to see the killer (Horror)
- John Cena randomly slipped in (Comedy)
- Main character is killed but with the completely wrong music playing in the background (Comedy&Horror)
- Getting killed and then slapped by the killer with the runner bean (Comedy)

Characters;
-Main character who is the victim
- Mysterious character who's identity is never revealed

Locations;
- Standard house rooms; (bedroom, stairway, hallway, kitchen and bathroom) are sometimes the location of victims while they're being taunted, especially the shower. Kitchen is also essential for killer to get the knife.
- Public park - being watched in a public place is common when building up tension

Camera Angles & Soundtrack;
- Medium Shot (first scene in the bed - presents setting)
- Medium to Long Shot (when dribbling the basketball across the road - highlights the new surroundings and creates a setting transfer)
- Extreme Long Shot (from behind the leaves, when playing basketball - builds up tension)
- Extreme close up (of my face as I run past the camera and of my hand opening the door - shows emotions and fits with conventional camera shots)
- Aerial shot (from the top of the stairs to the bottom)
- A short Pan (from the pull up bar to the top of the stairs)
- Zoom (as the killer grabs the knife - to have a larger impact when building tension and to highlight the knife portraying the severity of the situation)
- Over Shoulder Shot (in the bathroom - showing the camera angle from the killers perspective, character viewpoints)
- Shot of just the shadows for the horror effect
The main soundtrack was the Dead Silence Theme all the way until we get to 'My Time Is Now - John Cena'

My favourite fims/actors/directors

My Favourite Films, Actors and Directors

A couple of my favourite films are The Avengers Assemble and Age of Ultron. My favourite actors within these two films are Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Hiddleston. I personally like these two actors because of the humour that their characters have. The reason these two films are some of my favourite is because of the incredible special effects and plot, as well as appealing to my favourite action superhero/adventure science fiction genre.

One of my favourite directors is John Favreau. The reason I admire this director is largely because he directed the Iron Man movies which are also some of my favourites, as well as the movie Daredevil which I also found incredibly entertaining.

What is Media Studies for?

Media studies is for;
- Teaching students how to analyse and critique media
- Allowing students to look at media with more than one perspective
- Familiarizing students with modern technology as well as other media such as newspapers or films
- Teaching students how to make their own films or write newspapers etc.
- Allowing students to branch off of Media Studies to pursue careers

First Video Blog Post

First Image Blog Post