Sunday, 31 January 2010
So then.
Obviously I'm not satisfied with the quality of the pictures, and the way Blogger does things is beyond me, I can't figure out how to change the orientation of the previous post, but there are one or two pictures there that do us some justice, so don't give up on us yet :)
Recce Shots!
Right, just went out and suffered the cold for a little bit to get these shots done, I've been meaning to do it all weekend but stuff kept getting in the way :) Because of Blogger's quite frankly SILLY way of doing things I'll have to get Jack to sort out this picture layout, but for now these are four of the shot's we'll be using, NOT in chronological order (Thank you Blogger)
Pre-recce-shot info
Will here!
I'm going to wait for it to get dark this evening and go out to take all of the shots that I drew on our storyboard. I'll be taking the pictures via the camera on my phone because in honesty I don't own a digital camera with a better camera than my phone. My phone uses an 8 Megapixel camera anyway, so it shouldn't be that bad.
anyway, Those should be up here at some point tonight, provided that my laptop functions smoothly.
I'm going to wait for it to get dark this evening and go out to take all of the shots that I drew on our storyboard. I'll be taking the pictures via the camera on my phone because in honesty I don't own a digital camera with a better camera than my phone. My phone uses an 8 Megapixel camera anyway, so it shouldn't be that bad.
anyway, Those should be up here at some point tonight, provided that my laptop functions smoothly.
Saturday, 30 January 2010
Title ideas! Part 2..
Using relevant pictures, (as we have not filmed yet or taken pictures of our location), I have created some title credits using pictures of alleyways and street roads (like what will be in our film).
Like the title credits for Panic Room, I tried integrating the text into the background/ environment. I used my name as a template:
With some text opacity editing:
I think this gives a nicer effect then the text just appearing on a black background or even just appearing on the shot. However this could be difficult to do.
Like the title credits for Panic Room, I tried integrating the text into the background/ environment. I used my name as a template:
With some text opacity editing:
I think this gives a nicer effect then the text just appearing on a black background or even just appearing on the shot. However this could be difficult to do.
Title ideas!
We have decided how the beginning titles will appear ("Pluto Pictures" and "a JAW production").
But we haven't discussed how the other titles will appear (our names; "Will Shaw", "Jack.." etc.. and possibily "produced by.." etc.)
I love the concept of the titles being integrated within the movie instead of appearing on a black background. Like the opening credits to Panic Room:
I like how the titles integrate with the enviroment/ background. The text's style is similar to the buildings and I also like how the text is positioned at the same angle as the buildings.
I am going to have a go on photoshop to create a similar effect and will post it up later.
But we haven't discussed how the other titles will appear (our names; "Will Shaw", "Jack.." etc.. and possibily "produced by.." etc.)
I love the concept of the titles being integrated within the movie instead of appearing on a black background. Like the opening credits to Panic Room:
I like how the titles integrate with the enviroment/ background. The text's style is similar to the buildings and I also like how the text is positioned at the same angle as the buildings.
I am going to have a go on photoshop to create a similar effect and will post it up later.
Character codes.
Antagonist (Jack):
A very mysterious figure. Very little information is given about this character. A methodical killer that is focused on killing for a reason. A confident killer that knows what he is doing.
Victim (Will):
A boisterous young man that is up to date with modern times. A socialistic character that has an interest in rock music. Finds himself in a difficult situation where you can see his real personality - fear.
Protagonist (Andrew):
A sophisticated investigator that has the history to show he is capable of catching the killer. A very traditional and stereotypical investigator that works hard and will do anything to complete the job.
A very mysterious figure. Very little information is given about this character. A methodical killer that is focused on killing for a reason. A confident killer that knows what he is doing.
Victim (Will):
A boisterous young man that is up to date with modern times. A socialistic character that has an interest in rock music. Finds himself in a difficult situation where you can see his real personality - fear.
Protagonist (Andrew):
A sophisticated investigator that has the history to show he is capable of catching the killer. A very traditional and stereotypical investigator that works hard and will do anything to complete the job.
Friday, 29 January 2010
Logo Update
We have discovered that our "Pluto Pictures" picture is not royalty free so we need to change it to a royalty free appropriate picture. This will be uploaded at a later date.
Lighting ideas
We mostly planned everything out well.
While making the story board I Placed all of the shots strategically, so that all of the action (if any) would happen underneath street lamps. For any places that require slightly more light we will use will's brothers car headlights at the appropriate levels to give the light we need.
Storyboarding
Today I have taken pictures of the storyboard and I will upload it when I'm home.
I will edit this post with the pictures later.
Hello
Just posting to let you know we are on our way to catching up and being completely comfortable with our time period. All is good dont fret!
Wednesday, 27 January 2010
Ideas for title opening
I made some "logos" using photoshop to display as titles in the beginning of our opening in our thriller. We decided to invent fake but plausable movie companys: "Pluto Pictures" and "Jaw Productions". So I made these simple logos that we could display instead of text:
(The logos would be seperate images)
(The logos would be seperate images)
Changes in narrative
We have decided to change a few things in our narrative in conjunction with our earlier narrative post. We will not have credits shown on an actual envelope in the opening scene as we think this will cause a dip in the intensity of a thriller by creating a slightly more humorous context. The credits will just show as text like the other credits.
The other change we have decided to make is the transition between The first scene and the second made to be two days earlier. We were going to just have text at the bottom saying two days earlier but instead we will use a transition to show this subliminally. By using a picture of the victim on the investigators desk we can show that he is the subject being thought about. This will then blend in with the other scene of The Victim running.
Health And Safety
Health and safety is vital in our media piece as we are running through streets where cars are a threat. Obviously we do not want to be in any danger throughout our filming process from cars or any other moving vehicles. To prevent this from happening we will have people marking either side and center of the roads we are currently producing our thriller opening. This should prevent any accident happening. There is also a scene where i am writing a letter. There is also a danger from our actor Will tripping as he is running through the street. To prevent this happening we will have someone checking dangers i.e shoelaces are done up tightly and there are no objects/substances on his running way that could cause slippage/tripping.
Tuesday, 26 January 2010
Just a Quickie
I intend to watch the film "Memento" at some point soon. I downloaded it because i saw that it was number one on someone's top ten list of thrilller films. it sounds good, so I'm looking forward to it :)
Monday, 25 January 2010
Storyboard writeup
I'm just going to quickly write up the storyboard in detail.
We start by seeing a had writing a letter. The letter isn't so important but the viewer should take note of what else will be on the desk, a police badge, a firearm and newspaper articles that allude to a recent murder. We will see a bird's eye view of the desk a little to the right of the character. He will throw a letter onto the desk and Ideally it Will have some opening credits written on it. We will then cut to a shot from behind the chair at the desk and slowly zoom out as the character in the chair gets up and walks out of the door behind the camera.
The next shot is of the pavement at an empty street. the words "2 days earlier" will appear on the screen before someone runs from left to right. A series of shots follow this person as they run all the way down the street, stop at the and and then turn down another street. we are given to believe that they are being followed as there are one or two shots where there are trace elements of pursuer appearing on camera before it cuts to the next shot. The running figure turns a corner and then another and goes through an alley. They run through this alley and come to a garage. They bang on the garage door in desperation and then see if they can lift the door and they can. The camera follows them through the garage and into a back garden (this would be my brother's garden). They pound on the patio door and shout "HELLO?!" before giving up and bolting through the garden gate. In front of the house there is a green and they run across this and down another alley. Turning another corner they are confronted by a dead end. for the first time we see the runner's face clearly as car Headlights illumate him entirely. At first he raises a hand to shield his eyes from the light but then fumbles a firearm out of his trousers. He shouts something along the line of "You Won't take me too!", turns the gun to his head, closes his eyes, begins to scream. A gunshot is heard as teh screen cuts to black, at which point the title will slowly fade onto the screen.
We start by seeing a had writing a letter. The letter isn't so important but the viewer should take note of what else will be on the desk, a police badge, a firearm and newspaper articles that allude to a recent murder. We will see a bird's eye view of the desk a little to the right of the character. He will throw a letter onto the desk and Ideally it Will have some opening credits written on it. We will then cut to a shot from behind the chair at the desk and slowly zoom out as the character in the chair gets up and walks out of the door behind the camera.
The next shot is of the pavement at an empty street. the words "2 days earlier" will appear on the screen before someone runs from left to right. A series of shots follow this person as they run all the way down the street, stop at the and and then turn down another street. we are given to believe that they are being followed as there are one or two shots where there are trace elements of pursuer appearing on camera before it cuts to the next shot. The running figure turns a corner and then another and goes through an alley. They run through this alley and come to a garage. They bang on the garage door in desperation and then see if they can lift the door and they can. The camera follows them through the garage and into a back garden (this would be my brother's garden). They pound on the patio door and shout "HELLO?!" before giving up and bolting through the garden gate. In front of the house there is a green and they run across this and down another alley. Turning another corner they are confronted by a dead end. for the first time we see the runner's face clearly as car Headlights illumate him entirely. At first he raises a hand to shield his eyes from the light but then fumbles a firearm out of his trousers. He shouts something along the line of "You Won't take me too!", turns the gun to his head, closes his eyes, begins to scream. A gunshot is heard as teh screen cuts to black, at which point the title will slowly fade onto the screen.
A quick update.
I'm just about to ring the other 2 members of the group and speak to them about when we can start filming. I was hoping that we might start filming this coming weekend, although it depends entirely on whether everyone's available or not.
Title for our thriller! (And credits)
Title name
Credits
(in order)
Pluto Pictures presents..
A JAW Production..
Acronychal
Target audience
"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."
Friday, 22 January 2010
Update! Storyboard complete.
The story board is now complete! In this post will contain information on props, lighting, sound, location, cast list etc..
Props
Handgun - Realistic BB gun
Keys
Police badge
Investigative documents
Pencil
Newspaper clippings
Cast List
Will Shaw - Jared O'Callahan
Andy Watts - Investigator
Jack Dunn - The Walkin' Dude
Costume:
Jack Dunn - Long coat covering suit trousers with black polished shoes
Andy Watts - Tailored tweed suit
Will Shaw - Jeans & Hoody
Lighting
Outside - Scenes are appropriately placed near street lamps for natural dark lighting. Will use artificial light, such as car headlights, torches, spot lights, if needed.
Inside - Just a desk lamp to make it damp
Sound
Non-Diagetic - Music created on computer using cubase. (slow, minor, creepy/fast paced heavy texture/background, unobtrusive)
Diagetic - Footsteps, Gun shot, Breathing, Scribbling
Location
First location (writing the letter) - Will Shaw's home office
Second location (running scene) - Newport - Frambury Lane, Cherry Garden Lane, Bullfields, Will Shaw's brothers house
Problems - Cars will be a constant problem (in the way, making noise). Tripping over while running.
Editing
The titles and credits will be added via editing on computer. We will use editing to cut scenes.
Monday, 18 January 2010
[#2] Thriller plot
Location: Woods / Forest
Time: 5-6 (Dusk)
A man and his girlfriend are taking a nice stroll through the woods. The man decides he needs to urinate, and so dissapears into the trees to satisfy his bladder.
The camera follows the man. While he is urinating, you hear a scream. The man recognises it as his girlfriends and so frantically runs to see whats happening. He cant see his girlfriend anywhere but hears a faded scream some distance away. He then runs in that direction.
There are multiple different camera shots of him running. Then he sees a barn and slowly walks up to it. It goes into a POV shot of the man walking up to and opening the door of the barn. You then see darkness and it ends there.
Time: 5-6 (Dusk)
A man and his girlfriend are taking a nice stroll through the woods. The man decides he needs to urinate, and so dissapears into the trees to satisfy his bladder.
The camera follows the man. While he is urinating, you hear a scream. The man recognises it as his girlfriends and so frantically runs to see whats happening. He cant see his girlfriend anywhere but hears a faded scream some distance away. He then runs in that direction.
There are multiple different camera shots of him running. Then he sees a barn and slowly walks up to it. It goes into a POV shot of the man walking up to and opening the door of the barn. You then see darkness and it ends there.
Friday, 15 January 2010
[#1] Thriller plot
It is dark outside. The camera is up facing the sky. The sound of a telephone starts to ring. It rings for quite a long time. The camera then tilts downwards to a telephone box where a figure walks into the booth and picks up the phone. You cant hear any conversation, as the figure does not talk. You then see the person exit the booth and hurriedly walk off. You then follow this figure to a barn or abandoned dwelling. The rest is yet to come..
Free Periods
Using HTML (HyperText Markup Language) I created a table that shows when we all have our free periods.
Week 1 is complete and week 2 will be finished soon.
You can find it at the very bottom of the blog.
Edit - Week 2 is complete so now we can see whenever people are free to do some media work!
Week 1 is complete and week 2 will be finished soon.
You can find it at the very bottom of the blog.
Edit - Week 2 is complete so now we can see whenever people are free to do some media work!
Thriller music details
Looking at a few songs or sequences we may want to use for our piece and music from Other thriller movies such as I am legend and seven. There are two different types really used. There is the slow minor tonality music which is usually quite expressionist and has very little texture to the music. Often the stylized dark piano is used with a minor bass and a odd scale played over the tops to give an eery/unusual affect. An example of this is air bender's lullaby from avatar.
There is fast paced action music for an opening scene where there is action or adventure. This is usually backed up by fast drums and a lot of synthesized sounds. The song would still be minor but sometimes atonal to not set it heart on either major or minor to give it that weird effect. Ambient is also very used in thriller movies. The Lo Fi quality and slow pads give it the "out of this world" effect. An example is microscopic by Gas.
There is fast paced action music for an opening scene where there is action or adventure. This is usually backed up by fast drums and a lot of synthesized sounds. The song would still be minor but sometimes atonal to not set it heart on either major or minor to give it that weird effect. Ambient is also very used in thriller movies. The Lo Fi quality and slow pads give it the "out of this world" effect. An example is microscopic by Gas.
Thriller Music
Here is a good example of the sort of music we want to have as our opening shot music. Obviously we cannot use this due to copyright and loyalty reasons but it helps us on what sort of things we want to use. hoefully you can understand a bit more as well
Clear Definition of a thriller
The genre of thriller is a very small one. Broadening between action and horror. Films such as Saw is seen as a thriller by alot of people and critics but it is actually of the horror genre as it has detailed explicit scenes which are usually left out of thriller movies although maybe still playing a part in the films. E.g in Saw there is a scene where A man is chained to the wall and out of desperation cuts his own foot off. This is shown clearly in the film where as the same thing may happen in a thriller but they would leave out the gory, distasteful, bloody scene.
The actual definition of a Thriller as approved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/THRILLER
a work of fiction or drama designed to hold the interest by the use of a high degree of intrigue, adventure, or suspense
Obviously this isnt very detailed but i hope i have expand on it a bit more.
The actual definition of a Thriller as approved from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/THRILLER
a work of fiction or drama designed to hold the interest by the use of a high degree of intrigue, adventure, or suspense
Obviously this isnt very detailed but i hope i have expand on it a bit more.
Establishing Shot
These are some establishing Shots and what happens in them.
Thriller Opening
Death comes at a price
Thriller opening examples
The Dark Knight
-Fast pace edits
First scenes a criminal act
Naturalistic sounds, minimal talking
Se7en
-Loads of Extreme close ups
-No Dialogue
-Tense Music
Sleepy Hollow
-Close ups, established shots
-Props- Book, detective
- No dialogue
Terence’s idea
Psychopathic serial killer breaks out of prison and tries to kill his father who he blames for the way he is. The father of this serial killer is the president of the United States. When this serial killer was a boy he was neglected by his father at the age of eleven and was put in a special home. Ten years later he would be the most dangerous serial killer in America. President tries to hide background and covers up everything. His son then announces his intentions to kill his father.
Gulaid’s idea
An extraordinary man is in the park where he is in a standstill whilst the world blurs past time, the man has an eerie presence about him as the camera closes in on him you scars over his face with blood all over him, but as time moves on you tell it’s not his blood but the blood of someone or something, someone is following him he don’t see the person but can sense them like he has a sixth sense. As the person is in touching distance the man disappears all of a sudden leaving the follower angry and distressed.
Rahib’s idea
Pitch Black – credits will appear slow and faded
Short flashes of voice over of a police interview(no dialogue throughout rest of scene)
Camera following a man from his house to road where he meets a girl, shots of knives, rape (not explicit) film grain affect. Black and white
Shots of police photography, taking fingerprints, evidence etc.
Henna’s idea
Starts off silent and a pan shot of park. Twilight time of the day. Then suddenly hear a gun shot and blood on the screen with the name of the movie.
Then have a follow shot of a woman running wearing a long black coat and you only hear her heels hitting the floor and he breathing. She then get’s pulled into a ally way by a man, (you do not see the stranger’s face)
they walk out as soon as another man (authority figure) passes the ally way with a gun and you see she has now changed her clothes and her hair (wig) and walk in the opposite direction. Then there is a cut to the cemetery during the day and the same girl at a grave stone on her knees. Names of actors flashing across the screen
Target audience
“Contains strong bloody violence and very strong language”
Release date: October 2010
Final IdeaRahib’s idea – Death Comes At a Price
Characters – Man, woman, and figure of authority
Setting – house, dark lit road
Props – knives, hoodie
Storyline – a case being re-open after 20 years, and we tell the story from the criminals point of view and the goings on of that night.
Meeting the thriller convention
No dialogue
You get small hint of what character is like
Very dark and mysterious
Tense music
Low key lighting
Leaves you at the edge of your seat
Thriller Opening
Death comes at a price
Thriller opening examples
The Dark Knight
-Fast pace edits
First scenes a criminal act
Naturalistic sounds, minimal talking
Se7en
-Loads of Extreme close ups
-No Dialogue
-Tense Music
Sleepy Hollow
-Close ups, established shots
-Props- Book, detective
- No dialogue
Terence’s idea
Psychopathic serial killer breaks out of prison and tries to kill his father who he blames for the way he is. The father of this serial killer is the president of the United States. When this serial killer was a boy he was neglected by his father at the age of eleven and was put in a special home. Ten years later he would be the most dangerous serial killer in America. President tries to hide background and covers up everything. His son then announces his intentions to kill his father.
Gulaid’s idea
An extraordinary man is in the park where he is in a standstill whilst the world blurs past time, the man has an eerie presence about him as the camera closes in on him you scars over his face with blood all over him, but as time moves on you tell it’s not his blood but the blood of someone or something, someone is following him he don’t see the person but can sense them like he has a sixth sense. As the person is in touching distance the man disappears all of a sudden leaving the follower angry and distressed.
Rahib’s idea
Pitch Black – credits will appear slow and faded
Short flashes of voice over of a police interview(no dialogue throughout rest of scene)
Camera following a man from his house to road where he meets a girl, shots of knives, rape (not explicit) film grain affect. Black and white
Shots of police photography, taking fingerprints, evidence etc.
Henna’s idea
Starts off silent and a pan shot of park. Twilight time of the day. Then suddenly hear a gun shot and blood on the screen with the name of the movie.
Then have a follow shot of a woman running wearing a long black coat and you only hear her heels hitting the floor and he breathing. She then get’s pulled into a ally way by a man, (you do not see the stranger’s face)
they walk out as soon as another man (authority figure) passes the ally way with a gun and you see she has now changed her clothes and her hair (wig) and walk in the opposite direction. Then there is a cut to the cemetery during the day and the same girl at a grave stone on her knees. Names of actors flashing across the screen
Target audience
“Contains strong bloody violence and very strong language”
Release date: October 2010
Final IdeaRahib’s idea – Death Comes At a Price
Characters – Man, woman, and figure of authority
Setting – house, dark lit road
Props – knives, hoodie
Storyline – a case being re-open after 20 years, and we tell the story from the criminals point of view and the goings on of that night.
Meeting the thriller convention
No dialogue
You get small hint of what character is like
Very dark and mysterious
Tense music
Low key lighting
Leaves you at the edge of your seat
General background of Opening Sequence
A good film opening
DO's
- Thrilling music. Tense at moments. Build up of tension
- Make the viewer interested / intrigued and want them to see more
- Tell the viewer the genre and location of the film
- Use different camera shot techniques
- Use Mise en Scene effectively
- Show the protagonist and/or antagonist
- Give away too much of the plot
- Have unprofessional / unsteady camera work
- Tacky looking movie with cheesy music
- Boring titles
- Irrelevant sound to the movie
Sunday, 10 January 2010
Potential music for thriller..
I've been looking at (well actually listening) to potential thriller movie music. My favourite instrument is the piano so that is what I've been listening to.
The first song is the instrumental from a very deep, dark and graphic rap song.
Listen up to 20 seconds (up to when the beat comes in). I was thinking that this could be good thriller music. It is very mysterious and dark. Even though it lasts 20 seconds it could be looped.
The second is Moonlight Sonata comosed by Beethoven.
I like this aswell because if used correctly it could be very effective. The notes change from low-high and vice versa which adds variance.
I have just remembered that we cannot use copyrighted music which I forgot about. So thats quite annoying.
P.S. Obviously the music depends on the content of the thriller movie.
The first song is the instrumental from a very deep, dark and graphic rap song.
Listen up to 20 seconds (up to when the beat comes in). I was thinking that this could be good thriller music. It is very mysterious and dark. Even though it lasts 20 seconds it could be looped.
The second is Moonlight Sonata comosed by Beethoven.
I like this aswell because if used correctly it could be very effective. The notes change from low-high and vice versa which adds variance.
I have just remembered that we cannot use copyrighted music which I forgot about. So thats quite annoying.
P.S. Obviously the music depends on the content of the thriller movie.
I was flicking through the channels on TV the other day and came across the beginning of the movie Hostage.
I find the titles really fascinating. I love how the titles are blended in or integrated with the background. It is similar to the title sequence of Panic Room. I really like titles that integrate with the background instead of just appearing or flashing suddenly onscreen. To do something like this on our thriller movie would be very challenging but I think if pulled off could make it very good.
To focus and understand the music I listened without watching the video. My lack in instrument identification means that I do not know which sounds I hear however it is some kind of orchestra. The music exerts a great sense of mystery and wonderment which adds effectiveness to the scene.
I think the sequence and the music go together really well as the video is very red, black and dull whilst the music is dark and interesting.
Friday, 8 January 2010
Potential Intro music
Whilst sitting in my room at home I was listening to music while performing various other tasks. I was listening to a band called "I See Stars" And I realised that the first minute or so of the song "I am Jack's smirking revenge" would be quite effective as a background track for the thriller introduction. I am aware that the video Below is entitled "Save the Cheerleader" but I am quite sure that this is wrong and that the person who posted the video needs to sort hi facts out.
Listen up until around 1:05 (unless you have good taste in music)
I thought that the slow movement of drums to synth worked well in building up for the climactic outburst of the song, and the same could happen for the movie, an minute and a bit of buildup to a loud outburst of action. I ran all of this past Jack, Who is sitting next to me as I type this and he agreed rather helpfully that this could be a very good soundtrack to the beginning of a thriller film.
Listen up until around 1:05 (unless you have good taste in music)
I thought that the slow movement of drums to synth worked well in building up for the climactic outburst of the song, and the same could happen for the movie, an minute and a bit of buildup to a loud outburst of action. I ran all of this past Jack, Who is sitting next to me as I type this and he agreed rather helpfully that this could be a very good soundtrack to the beginning of a thriller film.
Thursday, 7 January 2010
Thriller Research - Panic Room
Movie: Panic Room
I enjoyed watching this as it was so intense and gripping!
There are two events happening during this scene. Which merges into one.
The first one is the man fighting the woman and child. The second one is another man struggling to reach a gun.
From the beginning you see an injured man dragging himself along the floor with a sledgehammer. He then leaps onto a woman who is also down on the floor and they start wrestling. The woman trying desperately to escape him.
Then it cuts to another man on the floor who seems injured trying to crawl and reach a handgun. It then cuts back to the first seen where the child now uses her injection needles to stab the man in the back. The man punches the child away who starts to scream. It then cuts to the other event where you see the mans hand close to grabbing the gun but then an unknown hand wearing a glove appears from nowhere and picks the gun up.
It then cuts back to the first scene again where the man beating up the woman picks up the sledgehammer and is about to kill her with it. You see a (POV) Point Of View through the eyes of the man with the sledgehammer, that looks at the woman about to die, who lays there motionless.
It then switches to an (OTS) Over-The-Shoulder shot behind the woman on the floor where you can see the man about to hit her with the sledgehammer. Then all of a sudden a man from nowhere appears with the glove and pistol and shoots the man.
The reason why I think it is so intense is because of the music and sound. Throughout the whole scene there is a medium pitched orchestra which is the non-diagetic sound that adds a significant dramatic effect without being obtrusive. In other words, it's hard to notice it's there, but without it, the scene wouldn't be as effective.
The diagetic sound is the screaming from the child. It is loud and you can see the child scream so the viewer is obviously aware of it. It is played across both the events that occur in the scene. And again, intensifies the drama.
At the end when the man shoots the other man, you hear the sound of the gun. And when that happens all other sound is lost. This kills the build up of tension and climax.
I enjoyed watching this as it was so intense and gripping!
There are two events happening during this scene. Which merges into one.
The first one is the man fighting the woman and child. The second one is another man struggling to reach a gun.
From the beginning you see an injured man dragging himself along the floor with a sledgehammer. He then leaps onto a woman who is also down on the floor and they start wrestling. The woman trying desperately to escape him.
Then it cuts to another man on the floor who seems injured trying to crawl and reach a handgun. It then cuts back to the first seen where the child now uses her injection needles to stab the man in the back. The man punches the child away who starts to scream. It then cuts to the other event where you see the mans hand close to grabbing the gun but then an unknown hand wearing a glove appears from nowhere and picks the gun up.
It then cuts back to the first scene again where the man beating up the woman picks up the sledgehammer and is about to kill her with it. You see a (POV) Point Of View through the eyes of the man with the sledgehammer, that looks at the woman about to die, who lays there motionless.
It then switches to an (OTS) Over-The-Shoulder shot behind the woman on the floor where you can see the man about to hit her with the sledgehammer. Then all of a sudden a man from nowhere appears with the glove and pistol and shoots the man.
The reason why I think it is so intense is because of the music and sound. Throughout the whole scene there is a medium pitched orchestra which is the non-diagetic sound that adds a significant dramatic effect without being obtrusive. In other words, it's hard to notice it's there, but without it, the scene wouldn't be as effective.
The diagetic sound is the screaming from the child. It is loud and you can see the child scream so the viewer is obviously aware of it. It is played across both the events that occur in the scene. And again, intensifies the drama.
At the end when the man shoots the other man, you hear the sound of the gun. And when that happens all other sound is lost. This kills the build up of tension and climax.
Sound
Sound is not all just about the music overdubbed at the beginning of films and at tense moments. It is used for emphasis on certain things i.e a mobile phone ringing may be completely overdubbed off camera to make sure it is known it is ringing to the audience and is playing a big part in the scene. I like the idea of fusing diagetic sound with non diagetic like a scene from the film "One Hour Photo" where the diagetic shop music merges with the overdubbed sound track of the scene. Alot of the time the audience may not be aware this is happenin but when you take it away it removes alot of authenticity and realism away. I.e in an office there would be phones ringing in the background of the scene. I will posting alot more on sound as that is what our group have decided to assign me.
Wednesday, 6 January 2010
Dawn of the Dead - Title Sequence Analysis
Video: Link Here
I watched the title sequence of Dawn of the Dead to expand my knowledge on thriller films.
I watched the title sequence of Dawn of the Dead to expand my knowledge on thriller films.
I like the editing in this title sequence. Throughout the sequence you see images or short movie clips and then a black screen with a title which repeats. I quite like this as it cross cuts between the titles and the clips which splits everything up. Instead of the two merging to one.
It displays a sharp and quick clip of the movies content and zombies. It shows enough to make you know its a zombie but it doesn't show enough to give a detailed or clear idea about the zombie. On 18 seconds and onwards, dialogue is introduced. There is a speaker that anwsers questions. Questions about the zombies are being asked. However every questioned that is asked the speaker is unable to answer. This leaves the viewer entertained and slightly "on the edge of their seat".
Then at 40 seconds the soundtrack comes in and the clips become longer and the title parts less frequent.
I like the way how the text appears and dissapears on the titles. It is a red "bloody" font which is small and barely uses up the screen. It appears or dissapears by "slithering" away like a snake or blood. It is a simple but effective method of editing/graphics used.
Then at 40 seconds the soundtrack comes in and the clips become longer and the title parts less frequent.
I like the way how the text appears and dissapears on the titles. It is a red "bloody" font which is small and barely uses up the screen. It appears or dissapears by "slithering" away like a snake or blood. It is a simple but effective method of editing/graphics used.
Saturday, 2 January 2010
I just watched "One hour photo" in order to better research how a thriller works
I was interested at how the film begins at the ending.
The narrative throughout was very interesting and helped to keep the film in motion
I noticed that whenever Si was narrating or just walking around his own little "theme tune" would play, this really helped to draw me in.
The music was very atmospheric throughout and really helped to set the mood, it also seemed to scale with Si's emotional state, getting faster and more erratic when he was emotionally compromised.
there was a shot that was used a lot during the course of the play where Si would be walking towards the camera while the camera backs away at his pace. This was an effective shot on all occasions as it allowed you to look at his face and read his thoughts while he was on the move.
An instance of this that was particularly effective was when he was walking through the store, and the ambient, diagetic music that they played in the store suddenly blended with a more sinister, non diagetic theme as Si's expression turned from a resigned good humour to a dark, purposeful stare.
A good thing about this film was that it really lets the viewer think. It makes you wonder why Si is the way he is and there are hints dropped later in the film about his past but there's no conclusive evidence. This leaves the audience to find closure by using their imagination, combining Si's actions with the subtle hints of what went on earlier in his life.
Overall I thought it was a brilliant film, dark, creepy and thought provoking. A brilliant example of a modern thriller.
I was interested at how the film begins at the ending.
The narrative throughout was very interesting and helped to keep the film in motion
I noticed that whenever Si was narrating or just walking around his own little "theme tune" would play, this really helped to draw me in.
The music was very atmospheric throughout and really helped to set the mood, it also seemed to scale with Si's emotional state, getting faster and more erratic when he was emotionally compromised.
there was a shot that was used a lot during the course of the play where Si would be walking towards the camera while the camera backs away at his pace. This was an effective shot on all occasions as it allowed you to look at his face and read his thoughts while he was on the move.
An instance of this that was particularly effective was when he was walking through the store, and the ambient, diagetic music that they played in the store suddenly blended with a more sinister, non diagetic theme as Si's expression turned from a resigned good humour to a dark, purposeful stare.
A good thing about this film was that it really lets the viewer think. It makes you wonder why Si is the way he is and there are hints dropped later in the film about his past but there's no conclusive evidence. This leaves the audience to find closure by using their imagination, combining Si's actions with the subtle hints of what went on earlier in his life.
Overall I thought it was a brilliant film, dark, creepy and thought provoking. A brilliant example of a modern thriller.
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