Thriller opening

Friday, 21 December 2012

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Shot types
Angle
Movement
Notes
Close up
Eye level shot
No movement
Shot of main character with eyes closed
Close up
Eye level shot
No movement
Main characters eyes snapping open
Medium close up
Eye level shot
No movement
Main character putting red lipstick on
Mid shot
Low angled shot
Tracking
Main character imitating thriller poster
Mid shot
Eye level shot
Tracking to close up
Showing poster of the thriller the main character is imitating
Long shot
High angled shot
Panning
Shows the room of the main character
Medium shot
Eye level shot
Tracking to highlight the wardrobe
Showing the one dress in the wardrobe in her room
Medium shot
High angled shot
Tracking in
Highlights the stuff on the mattress
Point of view
High angled shot
No movement
Shows the main character looking at a newspaper
Close up
High angled shot
No movement
Highlighting the drinks and the cigarette
Close up
Eye level shot
Focus in
Shows main character smirking
Extreme close up
High angled shot
No movement
Shows main character circling picture in newspaper
Close up
Low angled shot
No movement
Shows the clock being upside down
Point of view
Eye level shot
No movement
Showing main character pausing a film on the TV
Close up
High angled shot
Tracking towards
Shows the time paused in the movie
Medium shot
Low angled shot
No movement
Shows the words and items hanging off the back of the door
Close up
Eye level shot
Tracking
Highlights the two items on the back of the door
Close up
Eye level shot
Track backwards
Showing the hanger swinging in the wardrobe

Thursday, 20 December 2012

Group discussion about PDE

Production: We have chosen to use DNA films because they are behind some of the most distinctive UK films of recent years. Also because forthcoming projects of theirs include supernatural thrillers. Films they have previously produced include 28 Days Later and The Last King of Scotland.  

Distribution:
UK - Because this is where it will be filmed and will be produced by independent film company.

Germany - Because they have a large English speaking population.

USA - Because many successful American films are popular in the UK, so to test whether independent British films can succeed in America. Also because previous Femme Fatale films were American so the sub genre links back to the original iconic Film Noir movies.

Australia - Again they have a large English speaking population.

China - Their country is very technological so releasing a new film there should produce a widespread audience.

Exhibition: 

Our target audience would be people who favour the thriller genre, but also who like independent film companies. This would provide us with a niche audience who are keen to follow our films. Our film certificate would be 15 as the film would feature scenes inappropriate for younger ages. Social class does not affect our film as it does not relate to any particular one. However people who are well educated in similar films will appreciate watching this as they will be able to identify the homage used in this film. Finally, audiences of an elder age would benefit more as they would be able to relate to original film noir movies and point out 'Fatal Attraction' in the background, where as a younger audience would not be familiar with it.

Aspects of our film will contain things that certify a 15:
Violence
 Strong language
Scene of torture

 This is an image of the BBFC website saying what makes a film a 15.

Monday, 17 December 2012

Presentation - thriller plan

This video was the presentation done by me and my group talking about what our plans for the thriller opening. I think that we said all the necessary things about how we want the opening to look like. Also I believe that the storyboard made it clear to what would happen in the opening of the thriller. This is the Prezi presentation done to go with the presentation seen in the video.

Saturday, 8 December 2012

5 Theories

1. Todorov ~ Narrative theory
Five stages 1. The equilibrium where everything is well and peace is set.
                  2. A disruption to the order so something evil comes to disrupt the peace and course havoc.
                  3. A recognition of the disruption where the audience sees the result of it.
                  4. Attempts to repair where the characters try to bring back the peace but don't succeed at first.
                  5. New equilibrium where everything is peaceful but thing are different from the beginning.



This can be related to modern films such as Click
 The equilibrium is when he has a job and a caring family.
 A disruption when he gets a remote to control life being he started to hate he life due to over working.
 A recognition when the remote goes on auto pilot and his life starts flying by with him having no control.
 Attempts to repair when he tries to get rid of the remote and get his family back.
 A new equilibrium when he wakes up before he got the remote but now loves his life again.

2. Barthe's ~ Enigma Code
 Barthe's enigma code says that with any for of media (television, film) makes the audience question something and draws the audience in. (creates a puzzle to be solved).

3. Propp's ~ Character roles
 Valadimir Propp's character theory says there is seven or eight main characters that are in the majority of films. These are: 1.The Hero - The one to save the day (usually male)
                         2. The Princess - The one who the hero marries and is also often a victim
                         3. The Helper - The one who is there to help the hero on his journey
                         4. The Donor - The one to give the hero an important item to help him
                         5. The Dispatcher - The one to tell hero what has to be done, and sends him.
                         6. The Father - The one who rewards the hero at the end of his journey
                         7. The False Hero - The one who tries to hinder the heroes progress
                         8. The Villain - The one who the hero is trying to concur.

This can be seen in many films such as Shrek
  The Hero - Shrek
  The Princess - Princess Fiona
  The Helper - Donkey
  The Dispatcher - Lord Farquaad
  The Villain - Lord Farquaad

4. Levi -Strauss ~ Binary opposites
Says that the way we understand words is not necessarily from its meaning but from the difference from it and the opposite word.
For example the understanding of "coward" comes from the difference between "coward" and its binary opposite "hero".

5. Voglar ~ 12 steps of a heroes journey
The heroes journey:                                   The heroes inner journey:
             1.Ordinary world                                        1.Limited awareness of problem 
             2.Call to adventure                                     2.Increased awareness of need for change
             3.Refusal of call                                         3.Resistant to change (fear)
             4.Meeting mentor                                       4.Overcoming Fear
             5.Crossing threshold                                   5.Committing to change
             6.Tests, allies, enemies                              6.Trying out new conditions
             7.Approach                                                7.Preparing for major change
             8.Ordeal, death & rebirth                             8.Change in feeling of life & death
             9.Reward                                                   9.Accepting consequences of new life
           10.Road back                                             10.New challenge
           11.Resurrection                                          11.Final attempt
           12.Return                                                   12.Mastery







Thursday, 6 December 2012

Homage - Resevoir dogs


Homage is used to show respect or dedication to a previous film or director. It can also be used in a comical way for example the scary movie franchise where they mimic scenes from other movie and put a funny twist on them. It is often used now because of the advances in technology, and there are many examples such as the opening scene to Jackie Brown(1997) being an homage to The Graduate(1967) but one of the first uses of homage was in swingers where they imitate the walking scene from Resevoir dogs. In the shots in this post it clearly shows the similarities between the two and how well dome the homage was done by Doug Liman (Director of Swingers).

Group narrative

I think that this was well done because we talked about all of the important things and the storyboard was explained well even if the drawing were not the best! However me in particular needs to use more key vocabulary such as mise-en-scene, protagonist and antagonist. I should of also elaborated more on the shots I was talking about in the storyboard. (I did not talk about the meanings behind why things were in the shot, such as when Cinderella is looking into the mirror it represents her becoming more like her mother and the evil step mother is noticing and will try to prevent is from going any further.)


Vladimir Propp's Character theory


  1. The Hero – a character that seeks something
  2. The Villain – who opposes or actively blocks the hero’s quest
  3. The Donor – who provides an object with magical properties
  4. The Dispatcher – who sends the hero on his/her quest via a message
  5.  The False Hero – who disrupts the hero’s success by making false claims
  6.  The Helper – who aids the hero
  7.  The Princess – acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villain’s plots
  8.  Her Father – who acts to reward the hero for his effort
Vladimir Propp came up with his character theory when he was a Russian critic in the 1920's. He mainly looked at the narrative of folk tales, and noticed that the same characters came up again and again.


This can be applied to modern films even if not all of the characters are easily distinguishable.
Such as the Harry Potter franchise.
The Hero - Harry Potter
The Villain - Voldemort
The Donor - Albus Dumbledore
The Dispatcher - Albus Dumbledore
The False hero - Severus Snape
The Helper - Ron Weasley / Hermione Granger
The Princess - Ginny Weasley