Pencoed Foundation Portfolio.: 2012

Evaluation

By Hannah Parker

Introduction

I will be evaluating the two-minute thriller opening sequence I made. My aims and objectives were to produce a group project in which we had to demonstrate clear evidence of individual contribution. We had to produce an electronic portfolio that provided evidence of our groups research, planning, production and evaluation. The main part of our project was to make a two minute opening sequence for a thriller film that includes titles, a copyright free soundtrack, evidence of understanding of continuity editing, and a clear generic signifiers through character, action, mise-en-scene and dialogue. In the research stage we had to make a moodboard, read around films on a screening list, organise our own group and divide the tasks and roles equally, we also had discussions on films that inspired us. We produced a selection of analyses on mise-en-scene, camera shots, and films similar to our own. We looked at title sequence makers Saul Bass and looked at Propps and Todorov’s theories. Other objectives we had were in the planning stages of making our thriller, where we researched possible location shots for filming, got a selection of actors, did test shots and sequences and brainstormed possible ideas and we produced storyboards and scripts to help us film our opening thriller sequence.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media product?

In thriller films there are a lot of obvious codes and conventions that make for a good film. Thriller films will most likely contain a male antagonist with a female protagonist; the female’s life is put in danger to the point of no escape. What makes thrillers most intriguing is the music and editing used in them. Creepy, sullen music is often used in a thriller at a point where the viewer will not notice it but feel the tension build. Editing in thrillers is often tracking and panning at the beginning. Close ups are the most typically used as the zoom in on objects that may be poignant to the film later on. Low angles and high angles are used a lot in thrillers to make certain things in the film appear small and innocent and others big and scary. Jump cuts are also used a lot in thrillers to build tension and give the audience an idea of what could happen in the film, the climax builds greatly via this idea. The sound in thriller films is more likely omit, both non-digetic and diegetic, they are both equally important as each other. Other conventions include mirrors, low key lighting, shadows flash backs and monochrome colours.

This shot works very well as it uses both shadows and mirrors that adds a creepy effect and uses two main conventions of a thriller film. This is the most poignant shot in our film as it uses the photo frames that links in with the title of our film, framed.

We researched greatly into codes and conventions of thriller films so that we could achieve maximum tension and atmosphere in our own film “Framed.” Our media product fits most of the forms and conventions of a real media product but it does challenge some aspects of this. Starting with the lighting of the film, our establishing shot is an outside, over the shoulder shot of the antagonist. It’s night time and the lighting is dark and almost has a red tinge that suggests danger and evil. This dark outside works well with the juxtaposing of the inside shots in our films which we specifically made sure used bright lights to show innocence and good. We also took costumes into consideration and made sure that Jake (the antagonist) was in dark clothes, the only colour we can see is in the white of his mask. This juxtaposes nicely with Stevies (the protagonist) costume that is a light blue and white jumper; this suggests the innocence of the character. We have little diegetic sound in our sequence, all music used is non-diegetic, this was purposely done to create suspense and we used three different tracks to help create a mood in each part of the opening sequence. Another code and convention of thriller film is the editing.The main editing skill we used were continuity or simple cut edits; these were shot reverse shots that were simple and cut between the protagonist and the antagonist to build tension. We would cut between Stevie and Jake to build the anticipation. Our protagonist was vulnerable and innocent, we believed we showed this well while using a high angle shot while she walked up the stairs of her house, this particular angle looked down upon the subject, this makes the character look small and defenseless, this demonstrates to the audience the needed perspective of this particular character opposed to this we used low angle shots to look up to the antagonist as he walks up the stairs. This particular angle makes the character look more powerful, thus making the audience feel vulnerable and small looking up at the character, just like our protagonist; this making Stevie a much more realistic character. The last part of the codes and conventions that helped make our film a thriller was the few props we used. Jakes mask was plain white and resembled, to a certain point, a dolls face. This fitted the mise-en-scene and made the character totally un-realistic and scary to the audience, it also played on the fear of the unknown.

Inside the house our antagonist walks past and knocks photos of his victim, this drags out the suspense we started to build and makes the audience feel uncomfortable. We see our protagonist putting in headphones; this clearly shows that she will not be able to hear anyone or anything. Before Jake enters his victims room, there is a quick glance in to a long mirror, this helps giving a spooky feel to the film and shows the character looking in at themselves, this shows confidence in what the antagonist is about to do. After the antagonist has looked into the mirror he pauses outside Stevie’s room, he puts on two black gloves in quite a slow manner, we jump cut to Stevie just the other side of the door and more tension is built this way. The audience may wonder why our unknown antagonist has left putting his gloves on till last, his finger prints are all over the house already via touching the photos and walking up the stairs, etc.. But this brings in the question to light that the antagonist and the protagonist may already know each other, perhaps he is a boyfriend? However, we leave this question unanswered in our opening sequence. Our film ends with the opening title FRAMED and our antagonist, gloved, ready to open the door to his un-expecting victim. We carefully chose titles to suit our thriller genre the best. Our titles were red. This colour was deliberately chosen to represent danger, blood thirsty and perhaps passion. Our titles fade in on the right hand side then it blurs out. When coming to choose a title for our film we thought ‘Framed’ worked best because the film title is deliberately ambiguous, it links in when our antagonist touches the picture frames on the wall, the computer screen frame which could be a deliberate image throughout the film and who could be framed for the murder, perhaps the masked antagonist is not the killer.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In our opening sequence to the film we called Framed there are only two characters, although it is a small cast the sequence still represents some social groups in some certain ways. In our film we have a teenage girl who represents the stereotypical role for a female victim, powerless and unprotected. Although she is inside in bright lighting that suggests a safe environment, she is completely alone in the shots; this suggests she is isolated and clearly helpless. She’s a stereotypical girl, blonde small and petite and in fashionable clothes. These factors add together to increase the level of her vulnerability and shows how she is unlikely to fend for herself properly.

Opposed to the innocent protagonist, we have the corrupt antagonist; although he is male his face is hidden by a mask, by not showing the antagonists face creates a sense of insecurity. This gives the audience the ability to choose what and perhaps who the antagonist is; this would also work as a hook line for the audience to watch the rest of the film to find out who this person is.

Both characters are completely different, the audience would feel pity for the teenage girl and feel the urge to warn her of the dangers of the antagonist, she is relatable, unlike our antagonist who is the unknown “hard” character. These techniques are used in thrillers a great deal, films such as Psycho and Taken, as these films make the audience feel more scared and worried for the victims.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

After doing some research into the media institution and production companies we think our film is best suited for the internet or on television for our audiences viewing, for example YouTube or BBC Wales. Although our film fits the conventional boy stalks girl scenario we think our film is unique in the way we have our antagonists face cover with a mask and we play on the name of our film ‘Framed’ throughout the opening sequence.

As a group we all separately researched production companies that could distribute our film. One production company I looked at was ‘It’s My Shout’ a company that specialises in producing films for television and screen, each year they make short films for BBC Wales, the UK Film Council and the Arts Council of Wales. They work closely with other companies, community associations, drama groups and schools. Their award winning films have been shown all over the world on BBC Wales, ITV Wales, S4C and Channel 4 to name a few. They also show the films as festivals such as Glastonbury, the Celtic Film Festival and the Berlin Film Festival, these would be brilliant places for our film to be shown as it could reach a much bigger audience this way. I thought this was a good company to look at as they are based in Wales and look to work with armature directors and actors. This would be a good company to distribute our media product.

On a larger scale I think our film would be suited to a production company like Film 4, although they don’t specialise in distributing thriller genre films they have produced thriller films like ‘The Lovely Bones’ in 2009. Film 4 is a well-known film company that credits young film makers, which is what our group is. Film 4 would distribute our film throughout the UK and I think a smaller British company would be more interested in taking on our thriller for many reasons, including cultural things like the fact we are young amateur film makers, using local actors and locations in current recession state.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

I think a target audience for our thriller film is important. In the research and planning stages of film making we produced a short survey asking questions on preferred films. Younger people who answered the questioners were not as interested in thriller films as those 15 plus. Looking at all the information we collected we could see that a thriller film would be suited for 15 -18 year olds. Most major thriller films have 15 or 18 certificates. We wondered about aiming our film to a younger audience but, a young girl alone in her house being watched by a man in a white mask is perhaps a thought too scary for those under 15, and we didn’t make our audience any older as the characters in our film were both teenagers and is unlikely to appeal to those over 30. If our film didn’t contain any violence, swearing or scenes of an adult nature we could make our film a PG or perhaps a 12, but a conventional thriller film may contain these things, even if it’s not in the opening sequence.

Looking at the 15 certificate on the BBFC website because means its suitable only for 15 years and over. Quoting from the website "No one younger than 15 may see a '15' may see a '15' film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy '15' rated video work."

In the end our chosen target audience for our thriller film ‘Framed’ is going to be 15 – 25 year olds, we chose this age category for a few reasons, the first being that the actors in the film are both 17, teenagers, so our audience, even up to the age of 25 will be able to relate to the characters easily and identify with the story line. An audience of this age is also old enough to understand the complex storyline that could develop in the rest of the film. The situation the teenage girl in is also identifiable to the audience, girl alone in the house, hears a noise, goes out to investigate and returns going upstairs for protection. Although I have said we need an audience with an understanding to follow the storyline that could become complicated, our opening sequence’s idea is very linear, this will attract the audience but it won’t intimidate our audience or make them think they are of a different class to the actors or makers of the film.
Our audience response is posted above.

How did you attract/address your audience?

To attract our target audience of 15 – 25 year olds into watching our thriller film ‘Framed’ we would have to promote and advertise our film to the public. To do this we could use adverts on television or the internet like a trailer for the entire film, this way people will have an idea of what the plot is and the people who star in it, we would show clips that would draw the audience in the best. Photos and interviews of the actors and people who made the film could work well in magazines as, we are young amateur film makers and this could be something that draws in a wider audience. Adverts and blog posts could be put on website like Facebook or Twitter; two social networking sites that most young people use and would look at, they would be influenced greatly by this.
To attract our audience we have used teen actors and a teen issue that will draw in an audience of a similar age. The issue we went with was being 16 years old and being home alone at night time, this appeals to teenagers as we all want the responsibility of being left home alone, we take the element of a stalker watching the house as this is an fear many teenagers have when being left alone, being watched or attacked by someone. We use teenage actors so the audience can relate to them and empathise with whats happening on screen.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

During our media project I have learnt a lot about the technologies of filming and editing. I learnt how to use an Apple Mac computer, Blogger.com, a video camera and iMovie 09.

Using an Apple Mac computer took a while to get used to but they are easy to use, throughout the project I have kept an electronic portfolio on Blogger.com, on the blog we had to produce all our research and planning on our personal blog. The blog was easy to use and understand and it allowed us to present our findings and let our teacher and ourselves monitor our progress. Before we started any filming we did a lot of research into other films and techniques to help us in our own film when it came to the planning stages of filming where we presented a storyboard, script and other things to help making filming easier. After every lesson in the research, planning and filming stages we would update our blog with posts about what we had done in the media lessons and about our current filming progress.

We learnt a lot about the video camera and everything that contributes to make an effective looking film. Lighting, camera shots and angles were researched into greatly to give the best effects possible. Lighting contributed a lot to our film, the outside scenes were shot in the dark and this gave a spooky, sinister atmosphere to the film that juxtapositioned with the inside shots, which we made sure, were brightly lit. After we filmed all the clips we needed and imported them we realised more clips were needed to explain to the audience what was happening, we went back to our filming location and filmed some more. It was only when we uploaded the new footage to be edited that we realised the importance of lighting and keeping it the same, even by changing the colouration of the few needed clips. In the end we didn’t use any of the new footage but it was a good thing for our group to realise about the needed components of producing a good film.

After we filmed all the shots we needed we uploaded the film onto the Apple Mac computer and imported the film into iMovie 09 to edit. This editing programme was easy to use and understand and we were able to edit the sequence together by selecting the clips needed. Using all the clips that worked best, we linked together all the scenes by cutting them where one scene ended and another began, we used jump cuts in our title sequence to build tension and atmosphere, this was easily done with iMovie, the editing programme was useful in getting rid of background noise, we had no diegetic sound in our film at all as we felt we could build tension using non-diegetic music.

Using a CD of copyright free music we imported parts of three different tracks from iTunes on to iMovie in to our title sequence, adding the music was the trickiest part to do as the timing had to be perfect but after it was done it lifted our film and gave it a more eerie atmosphere. When our production logo appears first there is a high pitched sound that we extracted from one of the tracks, this fades out and is replaced by a track that we use for most of the opening sequence, this piece of music is slow tempo and non-diegetic, and it builds the tension and adds a creepy theme. After this track fades out we add the last track that fades in as the antagonist puts on the gloves and goes to open the door. Adding the last track adds the final element of creepy atmosphere and prepares the audience for what is to happen in the rest of the film.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBxUMm8DE9I&context=C412942eADvjVQa1PpcFMEVEeO68tpNFNCkR45hbkt41g9ktOHb5k=

I also found it easy to add our needed titles into the film and to time them appropriately, it was easy to find a font and colour to put our title in, we chose a font that almost resembles a typewriting font and made the titles red to represent danger and murder, and we outlined it in black to make the writing stand out against the backgrounds moving pictures.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Throughout the preliminary task of making an opening sequence for a thriller, we learnt a lot as a group and individuals about the media. Before we filmed Framed, we had and tried to film another idea, however this idea was too complex for a technology and ability that we had. This was an important learning curve for our group as it made us realise what could work best, and Framed was a much more linear story that has worked very well. One of the biggest things we learnt about was continuity and continuity editing, and how important it is. The purpose of continuity editing is to smooth over essential discontinuity of the editing process and to establish consistency between the different shots. Continuity mistakes are very easily made in filming and if the errors aren’t corrected it can destroy the verisimilitude and realism of a film, for example objects in shots could suddenly appear and disappear, it is essential to keep the smallest thing the same, things like the level of liquid in a characters glass or the way the characters hair is positioned. Prior to making the opening sequence we had to use our newly found knowledge on camera shots and continuity to make a short continuity sequence that was no longer than a minute. This was a very helpful task when it came to filming our thriller as we could look back to this task for guidance. The continuity task helped me learn about camera shots such as an over the shoulder shot and an extreme close up shot, both which we then used in our thriller. By looking back at our continuity task it helped us to remember things like the 180 degree rule that was very important in making a successful film and I think the preliminary task helped us improve our own film.

Conclusion

By evaluating my opening sequence I have clearly seen how we used and challenged the codes and convention of a thriller thus giving us an interesting film sequence that will attract audiences and give them a true ‘thrilling’ experience. Our group worked well together in finding a location, time to film and using two of our group members to act in it as well. Although our film uses the conventional boy stalking a girl we think that we have switched it up enough to make a unique film that our audience will want to continue watching even after the opening sequence.