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.

PLANNING: STORYBOARD - MISS BEGUM

 

What is a storyboard? Why is it important?

A storyboard is a series of illustrations which has been assembled together in order to create a meaning to it. These are the pictures that together can tell a story. They are often used in the pre-production stages where the vision/ idea is placed onto paper and then can be developed with all the other members and used to film. These are great tools in pre- visualization when crating a moving image. Storyboard is the best way to share your own vision. It is also extremely easy and self-explanatory thus it doesn’t require much effort to present to others. Storyboarding is important because it prepares you when you begin to film as you have already planned what shots you want to include. This can save you time because there is no try and error but precise and stable base for your product.

 Advantages of Storyboarding:

• Easy to create
• Helps to visualise the idea
• Easy to amend if needed
• Quick to Present
• Allows to plan ahead on all micro-elements
• Can be used during filming to know what to do
• Helps in organisation of ideas

 

This is the storyboard which I created basing on my Opening Scene Narration:

 

 

 

Conclusion:

 

 

In conclusion, storyboarding was very beneficial and significant during the production making. This is because not only I was able to visualise the narrative but could compare my vision with other team members and we were able to see what shots would work best and which ones wouldn't be as effective. When creating this storyboard we had to consider the different camera framing so we get the best from our shots, as well as could list the different aspects that would effect our shot such as lighting and colour or dialogue. Additionally, we will be able to use this storyboard and its descriptions during the editing stages as we have mentioned what transitions and edits we intend to use, which is another way why storyboarding was so beneficial. This storyboarding task was vital because without this our planning wouldn't be completed and we would be unprepared to film as well as it has helped to make the idea come to life because of the visualisation of the narration. It also helped to see clearly what could be achieved and what would be harder to film which is necessary to think about because we want to prepared and realistic about our idea. 

 

 

 

 

PLANNING: OPENING SCENE NARRATION - MISS BEGUM

What is an opening scene narration? Why is it important?

An opening scene narration is a written story that follows events chronologically and is told in real time, as if writing a book. Opening scene narration needs to have fluency to it, therefore it can be read easily and the reader will understand it fully. In this case the opening scene narration will be the detailed story of our opening thriller and what is the intended story/ plot. Having a detailed narration is important because not only it will make the plot seem clearer but can also be used to create a storyboard around it and clearly think about the microelements that should be used at each stage.

 

Scene Narration:

·         The scene begins with an extreme close up of many bits of paper torn into pieces and being left on the floor creating a chaotic atmosphere for the audience. Crane shot reveals more cut outs which form the very first opening credit, the production name. The image cross-cuts into the front cover of Elle magazine, the model on the front cover has been beheaded which already concerns the audience and triggers their fear because it is an unusual and barbaric act. The screen crosses back to the messy pieces of paper, displaying a close up of another acknowledgment, the director’s name. Quick shot of a double page spread with more beheaded models is accompanied by an eerie sound, making the audience feel much more worried and inquisitive because this is such a sadistic idea. As the scene develops, a cross cut shows a close up of a hand drawing a ‘W’ with a red lipstick, thus creating a sense of violence because red connotes blood; making the audience scared. Back to the floor, there is more opening credits, this time it’s the main casts in the film written on the newspaper cut outs. This is accompanied by continued eerie non-diegetic sound which is enhanced by the change of pace, tone and volume in order to have a bigger effect and be more recognizable by the viewer. By the third cast member, a medium close up displays a red bra which is grabbed in a sharp movement by an anonymous hand. This already makes the viewer assume that someone must be in a hurry or stress because they are rushing, thus making the audience feel tense too because very little is explained to them.

·         In the middle of the sequence a zoom in on the mannequin makes the viewer place their full attention on this iconography, hence infer that this will be a significant part of the scene. This short frame cross-cuts back into the opening credits, now acknowledging the editor. Because of this short edits the audience cannot form a clear structure therefore making them feel insecure and ambiguous. The camera quickly cuts back to a close up of the mirror, this time an ‘S’ is drawn on with the red lipstick which is confusing to the audience as the sentence is not fully revealed; making them curious. Another straight cut presents a medium close up of more magazine covers with female underwear on the floor which is grabbed off the screen by a hand. This is accompanied by eerie non-diegetic sound, thus making the viewer feel uncomfortable because this is quite uncommon and seems to be something the character is ashamed of because of the quick movements. Moreover the audience is displayed to an unknown figure with a close up. They seem to be putting on tights and the jump cut with under lighting make the scene look distorted and threatening which is a conventional trait of a thriller. Another extreme close up shows someone putting on a red lipstick and another, of a person putting on a handbag. This is still accompanied by the under lighting, which yet again seems mysterious and unclear for the audience who are still baffled about what is going on. These short edits then flash to a medium shot of the mannequin and a posture trying to fit a dress on it. The back lighting will allow to keep the character anonymous and create more build up and tension towards the climax.

·         Towards the end of the sequence there are much sharper edits from one shot to another which yet again reinforces that the climax is soon to come and the audience will have a chance to see the mysterious character. A close up takes the audience back to the mirror where the red lipstick was used to write the letter ‘T’. This can be quite frustrating for the viewer who is still aggravated and eager to find out what is written and who is this mysterious character. A double page spread is additionally shown with more beheaded women. The top lighting proposes that they are innocent and vulnerable which makes the audience feel pity towards them. The frame crosses to a medium shot of a dress which is now violently taken off the mannequin and the character starts to dress themselves. The audience can see that the dress doesn’t fit at all and it takes this character a lot of effort to try and look good and feel satisfied with themselves. This dissolves into a long shot with a low angle of a muscular body. Because of the under light it is hard for the viewer to tell exactly who this is but there is sense of superiority created by the low angle. The viewer can feel threaten. The slow tilt shot fully reveals the character who in fact is a middle aged man. This is likely to shock the audience because this is not so common for a male to cross-dress. This reaction is conventional because many thriller opening have an element of surprise and a twist to it.

·         At the end of the sequence the male character walks towards a wall and we can see from over his shoulder another cover of a fashion magazine with a head of a model which has been scribbled on. His face is truly frustrated and full of rage which is caused by jealousy and the thought that he has been deprived of such beauty. In anger he smudges all the make up on his face and the under lighting helps to exaggerate this distortion creating fear for the viewer. Aggravated, the character walks out and the back lighting helps the audience to infer that he is up to no good. This slowly dissolves into a zoom in of the mirror and the viewer finally gets to see what was written on there. It reads ‘Who is that Woman?’ which is in fact the title of the film. This title would make the audience intrigued because they are unsure who this is about and will keep questioning themselves whether the male character meant himself, a model or completely someone else.

 Key Theory and Themes:

• Barthes's theory of Semiology and Cultural Understanding- the mise en scene we intend to use will have different connotations that will create meaning to the audience and draw upon emotions. The iconography of red lipstick will alert the viewer of danger as red has connotations of threat and blood. On the other hand it shows femininity because stereotypically it is the female gender that uses make-up tools, thus misleading the viewer who will assume the character is a female. Another significant denotation would be the mannequin which has connotations of fashion but also promotes the idea of ideal body shape which is essentially what our character is longing for. The mannequin could make the viewer feel insecure about their own body but at the same time will connote fashion and female gender.
• Alvarado's theory of evoking emotions through the use of themes- the theme of morality will be present throughout the opening where the audience will be able to question the characters actions and observe whether what he is doing is right or wrong, thus reflecting on their own mistakes and life. Another theme will be obsession, evident by the way the character is madly consumed by fashion and females, thus evoking the feeling of fear and insecurity as they are aware that this is someone who will do anything to reach his goal which will make the viewer feel insecure as they assume that he is dangerous and out of control.
• Propp's theory of characters- which will be shown by the antagonist who plays the villain. This follows the theory as Propp stated that there are eight characters that often reoccur in every story. These are: Hero, Villain, Donor, Dispatcher, False Hero, Helper, Princess and Princesses' Father. By displaying a villain in my opening I have followed the theory of characters and allowed the audience to feel familiar with the individual, as they expect to have an antagonist in a sequence.
• Todorov's narrative structure- in  my opening my group and I have decided on a simple narrative of start, middle and end. The equilibrium, being the few opening shots of credits and mannequin which then turns red and some beheaded women are shown, which is the disequilibrium. The new equilibrium begins when the character is revealed and we realise that this is a man. I think that this simple narrative structure is effective as it will be easy for the viewer to follow the sequence as well as understand it.

Key Themes 

• Morality; the viewer will question the antagonist's actions and ask themselves whether this is right or wrong.
• Hatred,which is evident in the brutal act of beheading women and will make the viewer feel disgust towards the character.
• Mystery. The audience will not know who the character is until the end of the sequence. This will keep the element of surprise, conventional of a thriller.
• Obsession. This will be portrayed in the way that the antagonist is fixated on fashion band females, thus making the viewer feel scared seeing that he is a threat.

Conclusion:

Creating an opening scene narration was a beneficial idea because this will help me to understand our narrative in much more depth and detail of what we are looking to achieve. It has also helped us to know exactly what is the audience response that we are hoping to receive form the viewers which is important because if an opening doesn’t evoke any emotions then the audience will not feel like this is worth their while and will stop the viewing, thinking that the film is bad. This is because openings often determine whether the spectator is interested or not. Moreover from such a detailed description it will be helpful to create a good story board which will also help in the production and allow us to know exactly what each shot will look like.

PLANNING: FINAL IDEA - MRS. QUINLAN

What is a final idea? Why is it important?

Final idea is the concept that you consider to use for definite without many corrections. Often the final ideas have to be well thought through; considering the possible advantages and disadvantages as well as the issues that would have to be tackled. Additionally it has to be something that everyone in a group agrees on because there has be teamwork and compromises for the group to work. Final ideas are important because they are something that you should stick to a follow in order to stay organized and be sure of your intended outcome.

After a discussion we have finally created a unique and original final idea that we intend to create for our thriller opening.

Final Idea:

Title: Who is that Woman?

Sub-Genre:  Psychological thriller

Narrative/ Plot:  

The opening begins with pieces of paper ripped on the floor. Once in a while these will create the typography for the opening credits. The eerie music will accompany extreme close ups of beheaded women in newspapers which has been cut out or scribbled on which will help to introduce the mood as well as the theme of hatred. Moreover there will be short and quick cross cuts to someone putting on a hand bag, lipstick and tights as well as other clothes. Simultaneously the camera will dispose a mystery character putting on clothing on a mannequin; as if trying to put up a new outfit together. This will be accompanied by cross cuts of fashion newspapers of famous and expensive magazines such as Glamour or Elle with models. The anonymous character starts to take the outfit from the mannequin and puts it on themselves. The final shot will reveal the male who wears this costume and walks out the room. (Fade to black)

Narrative Structure:       

·         Aristotle: the different themes should evoke meaning and response from the audience, whether emotional or physical. For example the theme of mystery will intrigue the audience who will be curious to know who the mysterious character is. 

·         Barthes: the idea of cultural references will be explored by the idea of a male putting on females clothing and being interested in becoming the other sex. Also the theory of semiology will be explored by the use of denotations such as magazines or lipstick and their different connotations.

Characters:

·         Unknown character: the main character is the antagonist however his identity is only revealed at the end. The way that the shots will be framed and the contribution of lighting and cinematography will show that this character is evil.

Mise En Scene:

Costume, Hair and Make-Up:

·         Antagonist: male antagonist in female clothing such as tights and blouses or dresses. This will subvert the conventional image on an antagonist but will be interesting to explore and develop in order to create an effect on the viewer. The Make-up should be heavy so it will be easy smudged in order to reinforce the idea of evil nature.

Lighting and Colour:

·         Throughout, lighting will be mostly low key with highlights of top lighting and under lighting. The low key will allow the audience to feel the thrilling atmosphere. This will be used throughout so when we use different lighting angles it will become much clearer and have a bigger impact on the audience. The top light will allow to highlight the important iconography or typography which is relevant to the narrative. We also intend to use this when displaying the mannequin and the fashion magazines, not only reinforcing their significance but creating a specific representation for the audience as top lighting often glamourizes the object or makes them seem vulnerable and pure. Moreover the under lighting will help to create the chilling atmosphere as well as create a representation of the antagonist and reinforce his evil intensions. We want to use this angle when antagonist is fully introduced in order to make him look evil and dark. This will be suitable as it will make the audience feel threatened and scared of him, which is conventional response to an antagonist.

Setting:

·         The unknown setting will help to make the audience feel insecure because they are completely vulnerable and exposed to their surroundings as everything is hidden and mysterious. Because of the use of lighting it will look like they are surrounded by darkness.

Iconography:

·         The newspaper cut outs which will also play as typography

·         The Mannequin

·         The magazine pages

·         Lipstick which will be used to write the title of the film

Facial Expression and Body Language:

·         The antagonist will have an aggravated facial expression to show his anger and frustration towards the magazine models. In addition he will also feel hatred towards these covers. His body language should look feminine in order to suggest that he is imitating the female models, however because this doesn’t work he becomes stiff and has rigid movements.

Film Influences:

·         Seven- this is because there are many cut outs and highlighting just like the character from the Seven opening did. Also we plan to use lighting in a similar way to the opening of Seven where there were many light bulb flashes and yellow highlights to create fear amongst the audience. Additionally, the cinematography techniques of extreme close ups and close ups are used to create suspense for the audience.

• Silence of the Lambs- this is because the antagonist in the film had brutal  tendencies towards the female gender and tried to become one by murdering his victims and taking their skin. Simultaneously he has an obsession with mannequins and make-up, similarly to our character.

 

 

Advantages of the Idea:

·         Its original

·         Influenced by a classical thriller

·         It is chaotic and will make the audience question the material

·         Doesn’t give away too much of a narrative which is what an opening should do

Possible Problems and how to overcome them:

·         The possible issue that will occur is to find a dark enough location that will allow the lighting to work effectively. This could be tackled if we film during an evening or night.

• It might be difficult to get hold of an actor that will be fine with wearing a dress. This could be tackled by compromising with different costumes or finding someone professional enough to play this role
• It can be difficult to get a mannequin, this could be tackled by either creating a simple one or slightly adjusting our narrative.

Why is it a Conventional Opening?

This idea is conventional to the thriller opening because it evokes the right audience responses. These include fear from the anonymous as well as obsessed antagonist. Moreover the use of themes such as mystery, obsession and hatred are often explored in thrillers which will also cause the audience to feel tense as well as enhance the narrative. Lastly this opening doesn’t give a lot of information about the film but has just enough to intrigue the viewer and continue to watch. Additionally, the cinematography techniques such as close ups and extreme close ups are conventional in the thriller openings because they allow to keep the element of surprise without revealing too much but giving enough to impact the viewers mind and make them curious as they become eager to find out more.

Possible Themes:

·         Mystery

·         Morality

·         Obsession

·         Hatred

·         Revenge

Audience Response:

·         At the beginning the audience is likely to feel confused as they are kept in tension because of the lack of knowledge about characters and narrative.

·         During the cross cuts of beheaded models in newspapers the audience will feel disgust and fear as well as curiosity because they are unsure of what is going on.

·         As the Audience are exposed to the shots of putting on lipstick, tights and hand bag they can become more relaxed as if thinking that this is all a mistake and someone is just getting ready to go on a night out.

·         When the audience are finally introduced to the antagonist they are probably shocked to see that it is a male and will feel uneasy. They can also feel confused and question what is he up to and why does he feel so strongly about these models and fashion. 

·         At the end they will find themselves terrified and insecure because the sequence leaves them with no answers to their questions.

Conclusion:

Overall creating a final idea from the initial plans was highly beneficial because we were able to compare our individual outcomes and try to combine them together to make something original and unique. This final idea is more than likely to still be adjusted and amended during the actual production because you can never plan everything ahead, however having a solid idea that is intended to be followed is significant so there is always something to go back to when we get stuck or confused. I think that this final idea is conventional and will work well because of its originality as well as the thorough evaluation of the possible obstacles that will need to be tackled which was important as you have to be realistic about creating a product and knowing what could limit you.

 

RESEARCH: GRAPHS AND EVALUATIONS- MISS BEGUM

What are Graphs and Evaluation? Why are they important?

Using my questionnaire I have created graphs to make a visual representation from my feedback. This has allowed me to see clearly what the participators thought and what answers were the most dominant which were the ones I would consider using. Creating these graphs was important because they have helped me to organise my feedback neatly therefore allowing to decide what are the audiences' recommendations. Moreover after organising my results I have evaluated each graph and decided what I should use in my opening basing on the audience response. This was significant because this is what the questionnaire was made for in the first place. By evaluating my graphs I was able to make a decision on what I want to include and whether it will be appealing for my viewers. I now know that if I follow the feedback my thriller will be successful because I am doing what the viewers expect and want me to do.

These are the Graphs and Evaluation which I created:

Other Feedback:

Additionally, I have also asked some open questions that required the participator to express themselves freely by writing down their answer. I think that these questions are also important as it cannot limit the participator and allows them to say what they truly think. However it is also crucial to not place too much of open questions because the person taking the questionnaire will get bored, tired or frustrated as questionnaires are meant to be quick and direct.

These are the open questions I asked and some of the common answers that were given:

1)  Do you enjoy watching Thrillers? Please Explain.

Common Answers:

- 'Yes, because they have the right balance of action and horror at the same time'
- 'I enjoy watching thriller movies as they seem unique and original rather than cliché.'
- 'I like to watch thrillers because they leave me thrilled and tense and have clever plots'



2) Why is this sub-genre so effective in your opinion?

Common Answers:

- ' because psychological thrillers always have a great twist at the end'
- ' mystery thrillers are effective as they engage me fully in the story, as if I am the character trying to solve the puzzle'



In my opinion these questions and answers were significant. The replies from Question 1 allowed me to see what does the audience like about thrillers which made me come to the conclusion that I need to make my opening effective so the viewers will not be disappointed and will keep on enjoying thrillers as much as they do now.

Secondly from asking Question 2 I was able to see specifically what the audience likes about their preferable genre which was important because if I plan to create a psychological thriller I need to know what is so good about it and why is it successful in the audiences' view. Therefore following their replies I will meet their expectations.


Conclusion:

Overall, creating graphs and then analysing them was highly beneficial for my understanding and for my further planning and production stages. This is because in order o make an effective and successful thriller it is important to consider what the public wants. Therefore evaluating their preferences has helped me in my decision making and deciding what will work the most. Some of the decisions I made while evaluating my graphs were:

• to create a psychological thriller as it seemed to be the most popular and effective in the viewers opinion
• deciding on a typography for my opening credits
• choosing the 15+ rating for my thriller