PLANNING: SHOT LIST- MISS BEGUM

What is a shot list? Why is it important?

A shot list is a schedule of all the cinematography techniques that you intend to use during your filming stage. This can be created using your story board or opening scene narration because it has enough detail for you to use and list exactly all the framing. Our shot list consists of all the angles/sizes and movements that are being used as well as it includes quick notes on what they will display which is beneficial because it allows to stay organised and if the filming crew gets stuck they can refer back to this, alongside with the storyboard and all the other planning tasks. This shot list needs to be approved by the director who will know exactly if this matches his/hers vision. Creating a shot list is highly beneficial because it helps to stay organised and allows to plan exactly the types of shots you are using and if you have included enough variation of techniques to engage the viewer.

This is our Shot List:

 

 

The advantages of a shot list:

• allows to structure your sequence in greater detail
• helps the cinematographers when filming
• helps to decide whether there is enough range in your cinematography
• plans exactly what to use and when
• can be used at any stage of filming
• can be referred to when someone gets stuck
• easy to create
• simple to follow
• easy to adjust if needed.

Conclusion:

Overall, creating this shot list was highly beneficial for our group members because it has allowed us to plan exactly what cinematography we intend to use and when, which is important as in order to create something proficient you need to plan it out first and adjust before deciding on a final. Additionally it was easy to create and will be taken when filming, so everything stays in order.

PLANNING: MISE EN SCENE- MRS. QUINLAN

 

What is Mise en Scene? Why is it important to consider it in your opening?

Mise en Scene is an important factor that helps in the characterization and realism of the sequence. It includes: costume, hair and make-up, iconography, facial expression and body language, setting, lighting and colour. These are important because together with other microelements they complete a whole and can create some sort of reality that is viewed by the audience. It is important that Mise en scene is well planned, together with other microelements, and considered when deciding on a narrative because different stimulus will affect the way Mise en Scene needs to be presented. This microelement works with any other one and together can create a strong effect and cause an intense audience response.  For example setting of a graveyard can have a bigger impact on the audience response if cooperated with an eerie non-diegetic sound, thus creating suspense and tension amongst the viewers. Similarly with cinematography where a long shot can display full costume of a character and therefore give the viewer an insight on their role and intensions. Simultaneously Mise en Scene on its own can already help the viewer to create some assumptions based on the way that these aspects are used. For example a black attire will propose evil intensions and perhaps suggest that this character is an antagonist because of the dark connotations that the black colour holds. Therefore, Mise en scene is important to consider because if used inaccurately it will cause distortion to the scene and can leave the audience frustrated and angry because they already hold some expectations and if they are subverted the sequence will not make sense to them.

The intended Mise en Scene for our Thriller Opening.

Iconography:

·         News Paper cut outs- these will play as typography to our opening credits and will be used throughout. We decided on this less typical typography because it will make the viewer intrigued and much more engaged into the viewing as they are encountered with something less familiar. Additionally, often newspaper cut outs are associated with threat and blackmail because these help to hide the antagonist hand writing and keep them anonymous, which can create a sense of unsettlement for the spectator who will feel uneasy about using such a secretive way to present the opening credits, as nothing obvious is revealed.

·         Magazines- another inevitable iconography used will be the different fashion magazines which will be constantly referred to and shown throughout the opening, forming a montage of images. We decided to use magazines because it will fit nicely with the idea of newspaper typography but in addition, will give an insight into the character's life and interests, which can be significant for the audience. Simultaneously, these can be a false clue for the audience who will instantly connote fashion with the female gender, however as an element of surprise we decided that this deception will impact the audience more when they start to realise that this is in fact a male character. Additionally, these magazines will have beheaded models on, which yet again will help to give an insight of this character likings as well as show that this is the antagonist of the narrative and someone we should loathe.

·         Red Lipstick- another iconography that will be reinforced throughout the opening is the red lipstick that will be used to write the title of the film. We wanted to use red lipstick to reinforce the female nature and yet again confuse our audience which will help buildup to the climax and emphasise this element of surprise. At the same time red is a strong color with connotations of evil, proposing that this is an antagonist, as well as blood, which will symbolize that the character has brutal intensions, but also passion. This reflects that the antagonist is someone with an obscure obsession and crazy mania towards his interest. The red will alert the audience as we connote this strong colour with danger and evil.

·         Red Bra and Underwear- this iconographies will be briefly accompanied by one of the cast names. We decided that the character will quickly grab these props, as if rushing to do something or being ashamed, which will intrigue the viewer who is unaware of what is happening. We decided on a red bra and underwear because bras are part of female attire which will lead the audience to assume this is a female character. We want it to be red as, similarly to the red lipstick, this colour has strong connotations and will also imply sexual desire or romantic passion which will seem obscene when we realize that this is a man, thus surprising the audience.

·         Mannequin- This will be displayed at the middle of our sequence and a zoom in will be used to introduce this and show its significance. We decided on a mannequin because it will show that this character has a passion, nearly an obsession, for female fashion and females overall. This will make the viewer feel uncomfortable, knowing that this person's desires are out of control, which is typical of an antagonist as often they have a fixation on one thing that they keep hold of throughout the film.

·         Mirror- Lastly, we intend on using a mirror which will display the title written in lipstick. We want to use this iconography because it will be a metaphor for a reflection of his past as well as the real him. It will also help to reinforce the idea of female gender because stereotypically they tend to spend a lot of their time trying to improve their image and looks which shows that this character wants a change in his life, making the audience reflect on themselves.

Body Language and Facial expression:

·         The main character will have a steady and firm body language, when the audience is finally fully introduced to him at a low angle. This will give him superiority and authority amongst the viewers who need to look up to him, which will make them feel intimidated too. At the same time this posture will show that this is a strong character and is determined about something, which contrasts his feminine side and unconventional clothing.

·         When the character leaves, his body language will be very masculine and juxtapose the feminine clothing. This will give the audience more insight into the character, proposing that this is someone who has a split personality and seems lost in the society; not knowing how to behave or fit in.

·         The character will have an angry facial expression when he looks at the magazine cover. This will represent his feelings of hatred towards the models, allowing the audience to infer that he is either jealous of them or has a troubled mental state in which case he can be seen as a threat because people have various misconceptions about mental disorders thus naturally fear the unknown.

·         However as the character calms down and leaves, his facial expression will seem lifeless and dead, proposing that he is fed up or has another goal. This concerns the audience because they can infer that he will take out his anger in another way, probably cause harm to someone else or himself. This therefore leaves the viewer in apprehension, because they could worry for the possible victims but at the same time do not want him to end his life or hurt himself.

Costume:

·         The character will be seen putting on a hand bag which will reinforce the feminine nature and propose his subverted values and morals, because it is not mainstream for a man to wear a hand bag. This makes the audience feel uncomfortable as often we do not want to stay open minded or think ‘outside the box’ therefore we begin to loathe the character and associate him with bad deeds or intensions which are then justified when we see more beheaded women.

·          Another significant costume that we intend to use is a dress which the antagonist will wear. This will show that he stands out from the crowd and isn’t ashamed of it but will continue to aim for his own longings and goals, without anyone’s approval or thoughts whether it is right or wrong. This will make the audience scared, because knowing that this is such an obsessed character, will show that he will even cause harm just to reach his goal.

·         Lastly we intend on using holed black tights. The holes will represent the unfulfilled life and aspirations which are then taken out on someone innocent. At the same time it will show the carelessness towards himself because of the fixation on his goal, which has blinded this character. Black will also represent evil nature, because of the dark connotations that this colour holds. Overall this will make the audience afraid of the antagonist because they see that this is a psychopath with no morals or rules and could hurt others with no obligations.

Lighting & Colour:

·         Lighting - The lighting we intend to use is low key with top lighting throughout the scene. This is because we want to create a cunning and evil atmosphere and make the audience have a fearful response because dark connotes threat and death. Moreover we will use the top lighting to focus on the objects such as the magazines and the writing on the mirror. This will show the significant parts of mise en scene and make the audience focus their attention on these factors. The top lighting will also glamourize the female models thus showing that they have control and significance in the character’s life, thus acknowledging the audience how serious this fixation is. On the other hand it can make them look vulnerable and innocent because top lighting has such connotations which can draw pity from the viewers. The under lighting will be used when the main character is displayed and begins to put on tights and a dress. We want to use this technique because it will help to create a distorted image of the frame and character, thus proposing the evil intensions and negativity, which will scare the spectator. Lastly, we think that these lighting techniques are conventional to the thriller genre as it will evoke the right response from the viewers and keep them in suspense throughout the opening.

·         Colour- The colours that we intend to use during the editing stages is a dark yellow filter. We decided on this because it will help to convey the idea of toxic life that this character carries. It will also show danger as often yellow with dark highlights are used on caution signs. This will make the audience feel fearful as they can expect something bad to happen. In addition, it will give them an insight of the character and their nature. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it causes the right audience response and creates a thrilling atmosphere.

Hair and Make-up:

• Hair- the character will have a messy hair when he is finally presented to the audience. This will help to reinforce that this is an antagonist as often they do not care for their appearance but mostly focus on their goals. This will make the audience feel uneasy when looking at him because it will look terrifying and threatening together with other uses of micro-elements which will contribute to creating a fearful atmosphere.
• Make- up- the antagonist will have a messy make up, smudged all over his face. This be an intertextual reference to Joker who has a messy make-up to represent his psychopathic nature. We chose to do this because it will reinforce his chaotic life and mind. This will make the audience feel sacred, because they realise that this is someone who cannot stabilise himself and can cause harm.

 

      Setting

 

·         The first part of our opening scene will be set in a drama room because of its lack of lighting and wide spacing thus giving a thrilling atmosphere, appropriate for the genre, and easy to film in. We also chose the drama room due to the scratches and marks on the black floor which creates a distorting effect to the audience as it gets them thinking what caused all the scratches and overall looks concerning. This is conventional to a thriller genre because it will create a threatening and chaotic atmosphere for the viewer, who is unaware of the location just yet, and because of the surrounding darkness. This will make the audience feel intrigued but at the same time scared as often we fear of unknown but want to find out what is being hidden from us.

 

·         The rest of the opening scene will be set in 'Moda Istanbul Boutique’ where the location will be much clearer to infer for the viewer. We decided that this location would be suitable for our opening scene because it can give an insight into the character past or hobby, thus show the audience what are they like. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it will be an isolated setting with low key lighting, creating a threatening atmosphere. Also, often settings are used to create a specific character representation. This will make the audience feel scared because they can sense that something bad will happen through the isolation and low key light which is often evident before the climax.

 Conclusion.

To conclude, Mise en scene is a very important factor in the moving image and helps to fulfil the director’s vision by making it seem believable and realistic. Knowing exactly what Mise en scene we plan to use is highly beneficial to our production because we will then be able to create an accurate representations, which will help the audience when viewing the opening. We have clearly discussed our use of Mise en scene and how it will complement the genre and have its originality which is important because we do not want to make something too obvious for the viewer who will quickly get bored. Therefore planning this was important just as looking at all the other micro elements.

 

 

PLANNING: CHARACTER REPRESENTATIONS- MRS. QUINLAN

 

What are character representations? Why are they important?

Character representations are the specific aspects that create a character, often based off on stereotypes. Each character type has specific connotations and representations that define him and create that role, which allows the audience to identify the different types and respond to each one differently. Protagonists, antagonists and victims are only some of the typical characters that the audience have to encounter in thrillers. All of these have own stereotypical traits that distinguish them from one another. These representations can be conveyed through an accurate use of the micro-elements.  For example an antagonist would wear a black attire to show their evil intensions, in contrast, a victim would wear white costume to exaggerate their innocence because white connotes purity.  Character representations are important because they help the audience to differentiate from one another, thus having a specific reaction and feelings to each one. Without these representations, films would not make as much sense and the audience wouldn’t be able to infer anything, leaving them with frustration and anger.

These are the different representations for our thriller opening character:

Name: Unknown. - We chose to keep our character anonymous because it will create more threat around their character as well as hinting the viewer that this is someone they should be afraid of because they have something to hide and are a secretive person that we should stay away from in order to avoid trouble.

Character Role: Antagonist- we decided that this character will be an antagonist. This is because they are very secretive and try to hide themselves away from everyone, which are typical traits of an antagonist as often someone tries to hide when they’ve done something wrong, as well as they are capable of evil acts and intensions. For example, beheading models on magazine covers is a brutal act, proposing that this person intends on hurting these females, which immediately makes him look like an antagonist.

Gender Stereotype of Role: the character is a male, which the audience learns towards the end of the sequence. Stereotypically males are the antagonists because they tend to be represented as the dominant gender and have power over the subordinate females. Therefore making our antagonist a male will have an impact on the audience who will find this character much more threatening and superior. Additionally, beginning a thriller with a male antagonist will make the audience lose their hope because they are unaware whether there is a protagonist to safe a day which will cause extra audience response.

Age: 30-35. - This is because stereotypically men at this age are usually settled and married, having a family and leading a good life. However by juxtaposing this idea the audience will see that this character is corrupted and leads a completely different life; proposing different morals. It displays an a less idyllic reality which is often explored in the thriller genre. This would make the audience cringe and feel intrigued with the unfamiliar image.

Costume: The character will be wearing black tights with ripped holes in them in order to show that he is trying to be attractive and sexually appealing. The ripped holes on the other side will metaphorically show that the character is somehow missing his personality and has an unfulfilled life and desires. However the holes can show that putting these thighs on was an effort because they do not fit him at all suggesting that he feels like he doesn’t fit in society, as well as has some psychopathic tendencies because of lack of respect and care for his own body and appearance. This would make the audience feel pity towards him because it seems like he is an unhappy and disturbed person who needs a health care professional. On the other hand, knowing that this is someone who is capable of so much hatred and brutality towards the subordinate gender shows that this is a dangerous character that we should beware of and stay away from. Additionally, the character wears a bright dress which seems to be too tight for him, making the audience feel disgust towards him because they feel like this is an obscure obsession or even perversion towards women. The dress will look untidy too, again reinforcing that the character doesn’t care for himself thus making the audience feel uncomfortable about the whole idea of a man dressed in more feminine way.

Hair and Make-Up: we plan to place red lipstick and dark eye shadow on the antagonists face. This is because we want to reinforce this idea of not keeping care for himself because if makes the whole atmosphere less comfortable for the viewer. Additionally this make up will then be heavily smudged which will show the carelessness as well as give the character an evil and psychopathic look. His hair should be messy to reinforce the idea of carelessness and make him look even more threatening and capable of any deed; making the viewer feel insecure and scared about their own and others safety.

Body language and Facial Expression: The character will have a rough body language and movement throughout the opening to try to show his dominance as well as emphasize that he is in fact the antagonist that we should be afraid of. The sharp movement could emphasize on his psychopathic personality and carelessness towards other beings and himself. It will also help to show his neurotic personality which will make the audience feel uncomfortable knowing that this is an unstable character and  cannot control himself at all times. His facial expressions will be full of hatred and anger, especially when looking at the beautiful female models on the front covers of fashion magazines. This will display the true loathing towards the opposite sex, making the audience (especially female viewers) insecure because they will realize the strong feelings that the antagonist has for the female models.

Represented as: psychopathic through his destroyed costume, hair and make-up. This is because all these aspects will look undone and the idea of walking around in this state and manner seems unacceptable and silly on the antagonist’s behalf. This will make the audience feel afraid of the character. Moreover he will be represented as an antagonist because of the implication of beheading young women which is a cruel act and only an antagonist would be capable of that, thus making the audience feel afraid of him.

Role within the Narrative:  He is an antagonist because his role will evoke feelings of disgust and loathe from the audience due to his acts. This will be evident when he seems to plan on beheading models and seem to have so much hatred towards them. We then start to feel disturbed when he picks up the red underwear because it seems controversial and disturbing.  However, when he starts to dress up and smudge his make up the audience will feel confused because they start to pity him a little, as he seems to need urgent care but isn’t going to receive any, which leaves them in dilemma. At the end the audience are left with this dilemma because the character walks out leaving the viewer with wonder.

Conclusion

To conclude, character representations are an extremely important variable when creating a sequence because knowing exact distinctions between each character will allow different audience response and reactions towards these roles. Additionally, if these representations are wrongly planned then you are at risk of losing your audience who will get confused over the inaccurate representation. From this planning task I realized that our antagonist is not the most conventional and stereotypical antagonist however this characterization works for his type of role and his outcome in the opening and will cause the right audience response that will suit the thriller genre. We chose to subvert our character representation as often these are not original and are repeated in films, thus making the veiwer feel bored. By challenging this we have got rid of the monotony in thriller films and can impoact the veiwer intensly as they do not expect such change.

PLANNING: PLANNING CINEMATOGRAPHY, SOUND AND EDITING - MRS. QUINLAN

Introduction

Microelements are the essential aspects that create the film. These include:

·         Cinematography

·         Sound

·         Editing

·         Mise en Scene.

Together they make a frame come to life and create a moving image that then can be viewed by an audience. Cinematography is the way a frame is shot/taken. It varies between angle types, shot sizes and movements. Angles can help to show different power distributions amongst the characters as well as their status between one another. The shot sizes help to introduce a setting if using an establishing shot but can also place emphasis on details, if using an extreme close up. Movement can help to show how a character is feeling, hence point of view, but can also introduce someone significant- tilt shot. Sound involves everything that you can hear during the viewing, whether artificial/added or real. It helps to make the scene seem believable as well as is often used to create a certain atmosphere. A heavy eerie non- diegetic sound will make the scene seem fearful where as a parallel sound of a beach will make the footage relaxing. Often sound compliments editing in order to have a maximum effect on the viewer. Editing are the transitions as well as edits that help to transfer one frame to another. If done fluently, editing is often unnoticed by the spectator. Different edits have different meanings, often a fade to black will show that something significant has just come to an end. Lastly Mise en Scene involves everything that is on stage including the actor. These involve costume, hair and make-up, body language and facial expression, iconography, setting, lighting and colour. This completes the whole image and can create a realistic representation because different types of setting or costume will contribute to different connotations. For example a black costume connotes evil intensions and is usually worn by an antagonist. Microelements are important because without a complete set of these, the film would seem unrealistic and incomplete thus making the audience feel uninterested and lacking a bond, which will stop them from viewing.

Common uses of Cinematography in the Thriller genre.

In the thriller genre cinematography plays a massive role in helping to represent a character as well as provoke an audience response. Often camera angles are used to distribute the power and status of each character. Such as a low angle will be use to display someone with a lot of influence and dominance. Camera movements will create tension or put emphasis on something significant. For example a zoom in will place emphasis on something relevant to the narrative or characters. Shot sizes will help to portray what is going on in the frame and will allow the audience to gain a clearer understanding of what is happening. For example an establishing shot will help to establish the scene and give the audience a clearer understanding of possible outcomes.

 

This is a list of the most significant cinematography techniques that we plan to include in our thriller opening:

Close Up

One of the first cinematography techniques will be a close up of a double page spread from a fashion magazine with three beheaded women. We chose to use this shot because it will allow to show clearly the iconography and the beheaded women so the audience can put their full attention on this image. Also the close up will not reveal the identity of the hidden character who stays anonymous until the end of the sequence. This shot is conventional to a thriller because often close ups are used to show something significant without revealing the main character which helps to create a build-up of tension. This close up will have an effect on the audience as they will become curious of who could commit such a cruel act to a vulnerable female models. A similar close up is used in the opening of Seven where the character crosses out and highlights different texts from the Holy Bible without revealing his identity. This technique works well in this opening because it helps to keep the element of surprise and suspense for the viewer who is oblivious to the character on screen.

 

Medium Close Up

Another shot that we decided to use was a medium close up which will display one of the cast names as well as a red bra which will be quickly grabbed by someone’s hand off the screen. We chose to use this shot because it will allow to show two things at once, one being the credit and second being the red bra with a hand. However it will be close enough not to reveal too much of the characters identity and keep the audience intrigued. This shot is conventional to a thriller opening because often close up shots are used continuously in order to stimulate the spectator senses as well as their curiosity. This shot will make the audience feel curious because they are unable to predict what will happen as well as are not able to tell anything about what is going on. A medium close up is effectively used in the opening of Saw where the male character is exposed to the light and realizes that he is kidnapped. This allows the audience to see his fearful facial expressions but does not show the full location, leaving them in suspense.

 

Zoom In

We decided that we will use a zoom in when the frame introduces the iconography of the mannequin for the first time. We chose to use this camera movement because it will help to place emphasis on the mannequin and suggest that this is something significant and will play a part in the narrative or influence the character. This movement is conventional to the thriller genre because often thrillers tend to use zoom in in order to make sure that the audience will focus their full attention on the object/ person that the frame displays. I think that this zoom in will make the audience feel intrigued because they will be wondering why is a mannequin such a significant object and how will it influence the upcoming actions in the narrative. A zoom in is effectively used in the ending scene from Psycho. This is evident when the antagonist gives his final monologue and the camera zooms into his facial expression, showing that he is in fact a psychopath. This zoom in makes the audience place their attention on the character and allows to learn something about him.

 

Extreme Close Up

Another shot that we have decided on is an extreme close up. This shot will display the character’s lips which are being painted with a red lipstick. We decided to use an extreme close up to display this frame because it will place emphasis on the red colour as well as help to keep the characters identity anonymous.  The emphasis of red will make the audience feel fearful because red connotes evil and blood which proposes danger, thus creating a threatening atmosphere for the viewer who will expect something dramatic to happen. This shot is conventional to the thriller genre because usually extreme close ups are used in order to make something very significant and show its importance in the narrative. An example of an extreme close up is used in the thriller Knowing. The dates and numbers which were circled in red marker were often displayed in an extreme close up to show their importance in the narrative as well as to show that they are dangerous, which was evident by the use of red marker.

 

Low Angle  

Moreover, our group decided to use a low angle when the character is partially revealed. We wanted to use this angle because it will show this character’s supremacy as well as suggest that they are in fact dangerous. This angle is conventional to the thriller genre because often angles help to establish the hierarchy and power distribution between the characters. In thrillers, low angles, are usually used to make someone look dominant and powerful in comparison to others. This angle would make the audience feel intimidated by the character who has much more authority and supremacy over the vulnerable viewer who needs to look up to the character.  A low angle is used in the thriller Wanted where the character of Morgan Freeman is displayed at a low angle to show his high status and power within his crew.

 

Tilt Shot

We have come to the conclusion that a tilt shot should be used to fully introduce the character, starting from bottom to top, displaying his full image. We want to use this movement because it will allow to closely display the antagonist and almost evaluate his features, including costume, make up and body language which will allow to convey the character representation. This movement is conventional to a thriller genre because often tilt shots are used to introduce a significant character who will have a massive impact on the narrative. This tilt shot is likely to make the audience feel shocked realizing that this is a man who wears female clothing but at the same time they could feel fulfilment because they finally got to know who the anonymous character is. An example of an effective tilt shot is used in the opening of a mystery thriller Chloe, where the tilt shot reveals one of the main characters, allowing the audience to see her body language and costume.

Long Shot

Lastly my group and I have decided to use a long shot at the end of our sequence. This shot will display the silhouette of the antagonist walking out of a dark yet unknown location. We want to use this particular shot to end our opening because it leaves the viewer with a cliff hanger. Additionally the viewer will be in apprehension because they are unaware of what the antagonist actions are and where did he go. This shot is conventional to the thriller genre because often long shots are used to allow to the audience see full body as well as surroundings. Because the setting is very dark the audience will be able to infer that this character has evil intensions. A long shot is used towards the end of thriller Seven, where Somerset runs towards Mills and the antagonist to tell them what is in the ‘box’. That shot allows the audience to see full body language and the deserted location giving the audience some information but the scene.

Common uses of Sound in the Thriller Genre.

Sound plays a massive role not only in thrillers but any other genre. Sound helps to stimulate reality thus making the viewing much more believable which will have an impact on the viewer who could get too involved into the sequence and effected by it. In thrillers, sound helps to manipulate the viewer’s emotion as using different types of sound will provoke different emotions and reactions. Thrillers tend to use different volumes of sound effectively during the tense moments as well as in build-ups to the climax which alerts the audience about the upcoming events in the film. Moreover when the scene is silent, it can also effect the viewer who will wait in tension, expecting something huge to happen.

This are the sounds we intend to use in our thriller opening

There will be non- diegetic/ contrapuntal sound of a ballerina box used right at the beginning of the opening credits. We chose to use this because it will not match with the dark atmosphere of the scene, making the viewer confused and intrigued. This will also express the childlike innocence behind the story as well as how much damage obsession and hatred has caused. This is conventional as this kind of non-diegetic sound can give a background story and additional knowledge for the viewer. From this the audience will feel insecure because the simple tune will have a haunting effect giving this scene a fearful atmosphere.  The innocent track will be then replaced by growing eerie non diegetic sound.

Non-diegetic sound of an eerie metallic sound track will then be used throughout the opening scene, however it will be manipulated in pitch, volume and pace in order to make the sequence exciting. We chose this because eerie metal music will support the thriller genre, already signifying the audience what they could expect from the narrative. This kind of music could also scare the viewer which is an outcome of a thriller. This is similar in the opening of Seven where the non- diegetic eerie sound changes in volume throughout to create thrill as well as tension for the viewer.

An increase of tempo of the non-diegetic sound track will be used when the unknown character in the opening scene picks up the red bra while typography is being presented. We chose to increase the pace in order to place emphasis on this iconography. This is conventional to a thriller opening because it shows the audience that the red bra has a significance to the whole film and gives them stimulus on what to expect. However, it could make the audience insecure because such iconography can cause controversy and knowing that this could have a large significance in the film could show that this thriller will be touching upon sensitive topics.

The use of these sounds will help to establish the genre of the film as well as help the viewer to infer the character’s role within the narrative because of the way that he has been presented. I think that the use of the mild and innocent ballerina box music in contrast to heavy metal is effective because it shows the change that the character underwent and how much hatred they have gained from being completely vulnerable and innocent.

Common uses of Editing in the Thriller Genre.

Editing works its best when cooperating with sound because together they can have a bigger impact on the viewer, according to Godwin. In thrillers editing often matches the sound which does in fact create a more threatening atmosphere and gives a thrilling experience. Editing techniques such as a fade to black are often used in thrillers to show that something has come to an end. Another editing transition used is a cross dissolve that allows the frame to look distorted thus having a confused yet thrilling effect on the viewer. Often editing pace has an impact on the viewer. For example if using slow paced editing the viewer can feel relaxed because they’re not expecting anything bad to take place. However if the editing pace is fast then the viewer can infer that the climax is about to occur, making them feel tense and uneasy about the upcoming events. 


These are the Editing techniques that we intend to use in our Thriller Opening.

Cross-cut:

One of the first editing techniques that we chose to include were the cross cuts. This editing technique is mostly used in our opening thriller as a transition between the frames. We choose this technique because we want the scene to be chaotic and make the audience feel intrigued and create a mysterious atmosphere. This shot is conventional to a thriller genre as it can give the audience an insight of what is happening and at the same time create some chaos. We decided to create mystery throughout the opening thriller, thus we though that this editing will be suitable for this shot. This transition will make the audience feel confused but at the same time eager to find out more.

Dissolve:

Furthermore, a dissolve will be used when the opening credits, acknowledging a cast member are displayed with the iconography of a red bra, then a dissolve is put in place to transition into another frame. This is because it is the first iconography where the audience are able to make assumption about the character, thus the dissolve transition will focus of the iconography and make the audience feel curious and want to find out more about them. This editing technique is conventional to a thriller movie, because it introduces another frame fluently, or sometimes makes the scene looks chaotic if it is used effectively. This will make the audience engage and want to find out more what will happen next. A dissolve is used in a good manner at the end of the thriller Psycho where the character dissolves into another frame. This one is interesting because during the transition a skeleton is shown, thus foreshadowing the possible outcomes for the character. This dissolve has allowed the audience to gain some insight on the character and resolution of the narrative.

Jump Cut:

Additionally,  a jump cut will be used when the mysterious character begins to put on tights. This is because we don't want to make the audience feel bored or show them how to put on some thighs, but to save time while filming and also make the scene look distorted and tell the audience that this is someone who could have issues or stand out from the rest. This editing technique is conventional to a thriller genre because it allows more action to take place in a short time making the audience pay more attention. Also it's a technique that adds distortion and negativity to the frame which it's what it were looking for in order to create an accurate character representation of an antagonist. This jump cut will make the audience feel confused but will be able to infer that this character could be an antagonist.

Slow Motion:

This slow motion technique will be combined with the tilt shot when the mysterious character wears a lady dress and starts to reveal his identity. The slow motion will focus on the action that is taking place, while the tilt shot will partially show the identity of the mysterious character. This will make the audience feel interested as they are eager to find out who it is and what kind of role are they going to play within the narrative. This is a conventional editing technique for the thriller genre because it helps to place emphasis on a specific object or character. This will make the spectators feel intrigued and keep them watching because they can infer that this is a significant part of the opening.

Fade to Black:

Lastly, we decided to use a fade to black at the end of the opening scene. This is because we want to demonstrate that the opening scene has come to an end. This will leave the audience questioning what will happen because nothing obvious has been revealed. Also black has connotations of death and misery, hence the audience are more likely to think that the character was the antagonist and is ready to commit negative actions. This will make the audience feel frustrated as they do not know what were his intentions and we are left with suspense which is conventional to the thriller genre as the theme of mystery is presented. A fade to black is effectively used in the opening of Se7en, right at the end of the opening credits sequence. This technique has show that this is a dark film as well as left the viewer with suspense as they are unsure what could happen next.

Conclusion.

In conclusion, looking at the different micro-elements was highly beneficial for our production because it allowed to examine different techniques we intend to use and how will they make the audience feel. This is important because if we use the unconventional micro elements we will not receive the right audience response and loose our audience. At the same time, we were able to look at the variety of techniques which is also significant as without a range, the audience would get bored easily and stop the viewing too. After this planning task we are now able to say that our opening has a range of technique that will allow a successful opening.


 

PLANNING: PRODUCTION ROLES- MISS BEGUM

What are the production roles? Why are they important?

Production roles are the jobs that are assigned to a member of the production and these are the people who take care of the area to which they have been placed into. In the industry often these people are professionals and each one is hired to complete the task in the field of their strength, because they specialize in it. These are the members that create the ‘film crew’ and build the film; allowing it to happen. However because there is only a limited number of members in our group we had to take more than one role. These are the roles that we had to be distributed between one another:

·         Director

·         Editor

·         Sound

·         Location Manager

·         Lighting Operator

·         Producer

·         Camera Operator

·         Storyboard Organizer

·         Costume, hair and make-up artist

These roles are important because without a clear organization of who is in charge of what we would be in chaos and mess, not knowing what to get on with. Production roles are very important because it can help to distribute roles equally, thus making sure that no one is overloaded with work as well as everyone works in their preferred field which they feel passionate about and can work to the best of their ability.

 

The Different Roles Available.

Director – a film director is in charge of the visualization of the script by guiding the filming crew as well as actors in order to complete his/hers vision. It is in fact the director’s role to choose the cast as well as other members which he then closely works with to complete the film and bring it to life. Directors need to look out for others and make sure to give constructive feedback in order to improve the work of the crew. On top of that they need to stay organized and within the film budged. A director has to be responsible and feel confident with his decisions and teamwork skills.

Producer- film producers take on a variety of roles no matter if they are independent or employed. Producers cooperate many aspects of the film such as selecting a script, which would then be given to the director, being in charge of the finance and budgeting. Producers cannot always personally supervise all of the production. Therefore they are entitled to hire executive or line producers who altogether with the director will help to finish the film making. However it is the producer who has the last word on music, editing and everything else within the production.

Editor- a film editor is part of the production. Their job is to work with the raw material of shots and frames and place them together in order to create a whole; according to the script and overall concept of this production. They add all the transitions as well as the edits in order to enhance the film. Often if the editing stage goes well it is not visible nor noticeable for the audience. Editor must work intensively by developing the footage as well as complementing it with sound, pace and acting for the film to make sense and look as realistic as possible. Editors play a massive role in the film industry because this is a time consuming and hard job which is often unrecognized by the spectators.

Sound Operator- they are responsible for recording as well as sometimes adjusting the sound during the filming. These usually include the dialogue, background sounds and music. Often sound operators work closely with editors because these two film aspects always complement one another to create a realistic footage. On top of that sound operators are in charge of adding soundtracks to the film. Usually the recordists will be asked to arrive with their own equipment. These include: microphones, mixing desks, cables, headphones and other technical apparatus.

Location Manager- a location manager is a crew member who is in charge of finding an appropriate location, accordingly to the director, and securing it for the filming. They need to gain permission from the authorities and let them know the exact situation and plans of how the crew wants to use the space. The location manager also has to emerge with the possible issues that could arise during the filming and if the authorities are convinced and know that no one’s safety will get violated they will allow to film. These members will work with the production designer and director to find the most appropriate place that will fit the director’s vision.

Lighting Operator- these are in charge of controlling artificial lights during the filming process. They work with the director and cinematographer/ story boarder to help pursue the vision.  Lighting operators are responsible for the movement and set up of lighting equipment to create shadow or necessary lighting in the scene or specific character.  They may also lay electrical cables, wire fixtures, install color effects or image patterns, focus the lights, and help out during the placement of additional effects during the editing stages. The role of light operators is risky because it involves hot and heavy objects therefore this role must be taken by someone responsible.

Camera Operator/ Camera Person- in the film production these members are often called the cinematographers. The camera operators are in charge of operating the camera and trying to use a variety of cinematography techniques to enhance the sequence as well as create a character representation. If done fluently, cinematography is often unnoticeable for the eye and comes naturally for the viewer. Throughout the production the cinematographer will work with the director and story boarder to help pursue the idea and vision. Often the camera person needs to be creative and have a talent for picking up naturalistic shots. They usually have many camera assistants in order to capture the best shots which then get send off to the editor.

Storyboard Organizer- the storyboard organizer has to make sure that the story drawn by the artist flows and has fluency to it as well as complements the script. They have to make sure that everything is right before submitting the idea to the director who needs to approve it before filming. The organizer works with the artists in order to make sure that no further amendments need to be made so the filming can begin as soon as possible. 

Costume, hair and make-up artist- the artists’ work closely with the actors as well as the director in order to pursue a believable and appropriate character that will suit the director’s vision. These artists apply prosthetics onto the actor to make them suitable for their role. They are in charge of picking the costume and hair styles which need to be approved by the director. This is an important job as they are in charge of creating character representations which need to be conveyed to the audience and if these are done inaccurately then the film would not attract the intended target audience.

 

The roles assigned and Why.

Director- Gulustan- as a group we have decided that Gulustan should take on the role of the director because she is capable of managing a group as well as giving constructive feedback and guiding others during their work. Additionally she has good leadership skills. Furthermore she has been the director in our Preliminary Task and did a good job directing hence we decided to nominate her. She is also hard working and will be able to supervise everything well.

Producer-Bibi- we decided that Bibi will be the producer of our opening thriller because she can cooperate well as well as has many skills which will enable her to make good decisions for our group and make sure that our production runs well and will be successful. Additionally Bibi is organized and will be able to help the rest of us stay on top of the task and complete this without many difficulties.

Editor- Natalia- I was nominated to do the editing because I am hard working and patient which are necessary skills during the long lasting and time consuming editing process. Moreover I found it interesting during the Preliminary Task therefore we decided that I will be able to widen and develop my knowledge by editing the final piece.

Sound Operator-Gulustan- our group has come to the conclusion that Gulustan will be in charge of sound. This is because she has a passion for music and is quite experienced with the program which will help her when creating our soundtrack to our opening. In addition Gulustan and I will gladly cooperate together in order to make sure that the edits match the soundtrack.

Location Manager- Bibi- in our team we have decided that Bibi will take care of the location management. This is because she knows a lot of possible settings that would fit our narrative and give us the right conditions to film. She is also polite and will be able to ask for permission to film in the intended location.

Lighting Operator- Natalia- I was nominated to be in charge of lighting. This is because I know a lot about the different lighting techniques and how to use it effectively in order to help create a character representation and cause an audience response. Additionally we have considered that this is a risky job but I am responsible enough to take care of my own and others safety.

Storyboard Organizer- Natalia- we decided that I will take care of the storyboard because I like to draw and will be able to visualize the narrative easily. This is important because without this the cinematographers will not be able to film the footage accurately. Therefore together with Gulustan we will work on creating her vision.

Camera Operator/ Camera Person- Bibi and Gulustan- as a group we decided that Bibi and Gulustan will take the role of the cinematographers. This is because Gulustan is the director too and will be able to pursue her vision clearly and accurately. Bibi will be in charge of other camera because she is able to work well with Gulustan who will direct her when necessary, and I will be in charge of lighting while they film.

Costume, Hair and Make- up Artist- Natalia- lastly we decided that I will be the costume, hair and make- up artist. This is because I am a creative person and will be able to pursue exact and accurate character representation which is necessary in a film so the viewers will know exactly who everyone is.

 

Conclusion.

To conclude, this task was highly beneficial and important in the preproduction stage. It has helped us to organize our roles and preferences as well as chose the roles for ourselves which will allow our group to stay coordinated. In addition we have found out about each ones preferences and strengths which is important because we want each one to feel comfortable and confident in what we’re doing. By completing this task our group is now much more likely to create a decent sequence because we are working in our favorite fields.

PLANNING: PRELIMINARY TASK - MISS BEGUM

What is a Preliminary Task? Why is it important?

The preliminary task is when your group is given a camera and without much instructions you are out to film a sequence and edit it on your own. The aim of the preliminary task was to familiarize with the camera as well as the process of filming and editing your own sequence. On top of that it finally allows all of your group members to participate in something that you have done together; being completely left with one another and fully relying on others can also strengthen the teamwork and cooperation skills. The criteria for the preliminary task was:

·         Editing on action

·         30 second long material

·         Range of cinematography.

Preliminary task is important because it prepares you when you are to make the thriller opening and then edit it. Also it will provide the basic knowledge which can be build and improved upon so the opening will look much better and professional. This task allows to experience what filming is like and teaches you how to avoid making mistakes. Lastly completing this task will allow to measure the progress and skills that have been gained when we come to evaluating our opening.

 

The Preliminary Task:

 

The Scenario of our Preliminary Task:

Within our team we have tried to come with a simple scenario that would fit the 30 second criteria. We decided to keep it simple by basing our narrative around a conversation between two classmates. One of them does her homework.

·         The material begins with Bibi who is peacefully doing her homework in an empty classroom. This frame holds for a bit in order to reflect the peace and precision/ effort that is placed into her work.

 

 

·         She is interrupted by her fellow classmate, Gulustan. The medium long shot allows to see Gulustan fully as well as the door that she has entered in.

 

 

 

·         Gulustan sits next to Bibi who is willing to help her out so they can both complete the set work. The two shot shows they are classmates and keen on helping each other.

 

 

 

·         As they both sat down and begin to work, Gulustan notices Bibi’s bracelet. Continued two shot shows both students and their reactions during the conversation.

 

 

 

·         Bibi explains that she brought it last Friday.  Zoom in is used to put emphasis on the bracelet and show that this is an object of significance within the narrative.

 

 

Group Roles.

As a team we have given one another roles so we would stay organized and know exactly what each one would be doing, without an issue or chaos. However knowing these didn’t mean that we couldn’t give suggestions to one another, we have passed ideas over and discussed each one in order to get the best out of this task. We have assigned the roles by preferences and personal strengths therefore everyone was able to work in their favourite fields thus creating something good as a whole. Before starting we have decided that I would take care of filming because I plan to film in the final production as well as I am interested in the camerawork and cinematography and it would be beneficial if I got to experience the filming for myself, thus preparing for the final production. Gulustan has taken the role of director because she has given good ideas throughout and tried to support everyone by giving constructive feedback and suggestions which is partially what directors do; she has also acted. Moreover, we have decided that Bibi would take part in the material as well as be in charge of location and lighting however it was quite easy to allocate the setting because we were in school and this worked well with our scenario. Lastly all of us have taken on the editing of the preliminary task. This is because we were able to gain experience necessary for the actual production. Besides doing it together was easier because we were able to equally distribute the work and we worked together, improving our cooperation skills which is extremely important when working in a group project.

For our final production we have decided to change some of our roles in order to make sure that our product is the best it can possibly be. Gulustan will still be the director as she worked well in that field. She will also be filming and taking charge of sound. Bibi and I will take on the role of editing the sequence because we have enjoyed it before and feel confident while doing it. I will also take care of the Mise en scene, necessary for the filming as I know a lot about representations and how to convey or subvert them. Bibi will be come the producer of our production as she is well organised and will help to guide us during the production.

Difficulties encountered during Filming.

·         First off it was difficult to zoom in/out. This is because the button was sensitive, hence you had to be extremely careful in order to zoom in slowly, otherwise it would smudge the image and look unprofessional and noticeable/unnatural for the audience. This was resolved by trying to practice using the zoom in/ out button and try to get the right take. 

·         Another difficulty that we have come across with, was the fact that we were unaware of how long the footage was lasting. This is because each new take has started with a count from 0. This was resolved by filming few more takes in order to have more material that was cut out later on, during the editing stage.

·         A difficulty that we had to tackle whilst filming was the lack of knowledge about editing stages. We didn’t know exactly what is available in Final Cut Pro because we were unfamiliar with the program and weren’t aware of all of its features. This was resolved by deciding to take short and simple footage which wouldn’t cause a problem to edit.

·         Lastly, the difficulty that we had to encounter was the other people that came across our way while we were trying to film our task. Some people tried to enter the class room or walked past causing a distraction for the actors. This was tackled by really trying to put our full attention on the task as well as trying to ignore others.

·         The ‘start/stop’ button had some delays. Hence it was hard to end the filming at the appropriate time. This was tackled by cutting out the unnecessary footage during the editing stage.

·         It was difficult to hold the camera still, it made the image look shaky and unclear. We tried to tackle this by making slow and precise hand movements however I think that this issue could be solved with a use of a tripod.

·         We were also limited by the lack of battery which meant that we had to film while charging which made the camera movement harder and distorted. This needs to be taken into consideration when creating the opening. The camera has to be charged, otherwise we would be limited in movement and could potentially miss out on better shots.

 

Difficulties encountered while Editing.

·         It was difficult to get started. This is because we were unfamiliar with the program and had to check out all of its possibilities and features. This was resolved by trying to work out how everything works and just practicing with different frames. We have used simple cuts which allowed to complete this preliminary task. However for the final production we will be able to use the best edits and transitions that will compliment the thriller genre and draw audience response.

·         It was hard to remove the unwanted footage because sometimes we had cut it too little or too much which made the scene look distorted. This is necessary to know because we have tried to leave the best examples and get rid off the rubbish ones. For the final production we will have to film for a little bit longer so it would be easier to erase the unneeded film. We will also need to be very careful when we edit.

·         Another difficulty that we had to tackle was to edit the footage so it fitted the 30 second criteria. This was hard because if something was removed we had to make sure that the rest of material flows and works well with one another. In the final production this would be tackled by clearly planning our filming. Therefore it was very important to create a detailed storyboard so we will know exactly how long each frame should hold for.

·         In addition, another difficulty that we encountered was the process of saving the footage into a safe drive so we could access it later on. This was resolved by making a copy which was placed onto a USB and desktop. For final production this shouldn’t be a problem because now we are confident in saving our footage.

 

What have you learned during the filming of this Preliminary Task?

Completing this task was very beneficial for my understanding as well as allowed me to learn new skills. Some of these included operating the camera as well as getting to know its features better. Bearing in mind that we are not professionals in using such equipment, this preliminary task allowed us to familiarize and realize that filming is not as easy as it looks and you have to be careful throughout to gain a decent amount of material which then could be adjusted during next stages of production. From this, I have learned that shooting more takes as well as footage is necessary because if you lack in material then it will be hard to go back and film it again because of aspects like lighting that could not be restored/ recreated to film the footage again and make the material float and match together. Therefore it is important to film as much as you need and then easily get rid of the irrelevant takes. Furthermore I have also learned how you could roughly estimate the length of your footage. This will be helpful when filming the final production because the criteria is to create a 2 minute opening, therefore timing is essential and needs to be taken into consideration. From this, I learned that in order to be secure about the timing and amount of footage you can simply film more and then chose the best takes to make a good opening sequence. Moreover this task has also helped to improve our group work and skills like cooperation. This is because we only had each other and could only ask for one another’s help which strengthened trust within our team as well as helped to understand our strengths and weaknesses more. Giving one another constructive feedback and suggestions has improved our communication skills. Assigning different roles before the preliminary task has helped to experiment with different jobs and gave us a deeper understanding of what we are good at and what we can do during the final filming and make this the best we possibly can.

 

What have you learned during the editing of this Preliminary Task?

During the editing stage I have also learned many new skills as well as developed some of my background knowledge. I also improved the teamwork skills because yet again we were left to edit on our own and had to agree with one another. During the very beginning my group and I tried to play around and experiment with the different features available in Final Cut. This allowed us to widen our knowledge and possibilities that we could use in our final production. We have looked at different transitions such as fade to black or cross dissolve which we plan to use in our thriller opening sequence later on. Moreover this also allowed me to familiarize with the actual program as I have never used it before. I realized that Final Cut is not difficult but very time consuming and a lot of thought needs to go to every action because you are constantly building upon your material and try to develop it by using different edits and transitions which is what we will try to achieve in the opening sequence. Therefore it’s important to have an idea of what is needed later on. Moreover I was able to practice how to save the progress and finished product which is significant because you always have to be sure that you have made a copy on a safe source so your work will not get lost. Simultaneously, when we got to the editing stage we all started to communicate and work on editing, without the role distribution. This was necessary because we all got an insight into the editing process as well as each one could try to add something from themselves as well as practice it. This showed who is good at editing and could potentially take this role on in the final production. The editing process was also helpful to strengthen our teamwork skills because we communicated throughout.

Conclusion.

To conclude, completing this preliminary task was highly beneficial and an essential part of this production. It has helped us to prepare for the real process and allowed to avoid unnecessary stress which would be caused by the lack of experience in filming and editing. As much as it has been a straight forward and fairly simple task we had encountered different difficulties of which some we tackled and some learned lessons from but we are now ready to avoid later on when filming and editing. It also allowed to build our confidence and independence because we could only rely on each other which made us feel responsible for one another, thus helping to ensure our safety when going off to film. Additionally the task has given us an insight into the filming and editing processes which seemed exciting as well as interesting. Lastly this preliminary has helped us to assign roles for the final production and making us a much more organized team. Organization is the key to create a good sequence because without it we would be in chaos and unsure of what we are supposed to do; possibly leaving something important behind. Overall, I think that preliminary was helpful because it gave me a taste of what the real production is like as well as what is expected of me later on. I also have a much clearer view of the possible adjustments that need to be made for the thriller opening because I am now aware of what I need to be careful about and how to improve.