Tuesday 27 March 2012

Bryn Walden-Jones Self Evaluation

1.   
Challenging, Using and Developing Conventions of
Thrillers and Opening Sequences


A main convention of Thriller films is to conceal identities. In our opening sequence, we have tried to make sure that the antagonist is always partially hidden. The screen shot above shows how we have purposefully positioned the antagonist facing away from the camera and in other shots the character's face is either covered by hair or a hood, or by his dark clothing (another thriller convention). Using this technique forces the viewer to question the status of the character and helps to build an enigma.


Here is a shot used in many thriller films, an extreme close-up. We have used it here as our initial introduction to the protagonist. I think the shot works well in giving an insight into the characters feelings, but also does not give away to much information and therefore sustains the viewers confusion.


Our thriller opening contains a third character. This challenges conventions of most thriller films because, to begin with, the audience does not realise that the protagonist is in danger. However I think that this is able to create more of a shock for the audience when they begin to understand where the problem lies.


In our thriller opening, we have used an opening sequence convention by integrating the credits between shots. This works well because the credits slow down the feel of the opening and work as thinking spaces for the audience. It helps the audience concentrate on the opening and involve themselves with the speed and rhythm of the opening. Having these gaps between shots also helps build tension.
Behind our text, we displayed images that relate to the forthcoming story.


Like other film opening sequences, our title is displayed at the end. We developed this by using editing to make the text flicker. This reflects how the protagonists mind is not functioning properly either.

2.
Representation of a Particular Social Group
In our thriller opening, we have tried to represent people suffering from mental illnesses through the protagonist. The protagonist is suffering from some sort of Schizophrenia or hallucinations and the antagonist is just a figure of his imagination. Therefore, to show this, we used editing to create flashing shots of the antagonist.

Similarly in some of the opening scenes of the film Fight Club (where the protagonist also has hallucinations of the antagonist) the "flashes" are used to show the protagonists imagination as they are only used when the camera angle is in his point of view. All of the flashes are shown in this Youtube clip below.


Below is an image of a brain scan with the illness schizophrenia. We used this in our opening to describe the illness more and also show that the story line of our film is realistic because we have proof of the represented group. 


3.
Here is an IMDb page for our film.

4.
5.
Voiceover - How Did We Attract/Address Our Audience


6.
To edit our opening, we used final cut express.  We had to learn how to add in transitions and credits. Final cut was easy to use because our work was previewed all the time.
We used Garage band to create our soundtrack. It took a while but we eventually learnt how to use it. We were able to match up our soundtrack precisely to our film because garageband also previewed our work.




Thriller Evaluation - Harrison Twinn

IMDB and BBFC Certification



Paramount Pictures might want to distribute our film. Paramount distributes films with dynamic such as 'Top Gun'. 'Twice' has a dynamic feel to it and has a sort of uniqueness to it.

Software and Equipment


Final Cut Express helped me learn about how to create dynamic scenes using transitions such as cross-dissolve and to use quick cuts during the editing process. One of its drawbacks that we had to solve was its incompatibility with other cameras other than what we have been provided with.


GarageBand was useful for using loops that were provided that were appropriate for our footage. Changing the tones and reverbs for the instruments were also a very useful feature to have as a plus for our thriller. One drawback was that it was hard for us to synchronize the soundtrack in time with the film.
The HD camera and tripod that were provided for us were very easy to handle and operate. The quality is also a big plus. One problem with it maybe is that the tripod wouldn't be very useful in limited spaces.

Magazine and Review


Total Film Magazine might be one example that could include our film in a review. On the cover of this magazine is 'Inception' which has the subconscious as a key element in the film which is similar to ours. Like the cover of this magazine, our sequence is set in a dark setting but it uses ordinary things, such as a building, and turns it into something extraordinary, which is the title. This is one thriller convention and our sequence has this kind of level of supernaturalism. This magazine tends to have sub-genre films on the cover as well. 'Inception' is an Action/Thriller. 'Twice' can be considered both Thriller and Crime/Detective. And just like 'Inception' our sequence has some unique element to it which is also what this magazine might go for.
This magazine includes films within its contents that seem to fit within the age range from 12A-15. I would consider our sequence to be around the age range of 15.
Because this magazine likes films that are blockbusters or are very interesting and clever, such as 'Inception', they do tend to exaggerate them more than any other magazine (e.g. bad language etc). I would consider our film to have an interesting plot and an interesting enigma to be on the cover on this magazine.

Review - 'Twice' comes to cinemas with a thrilling twist that will have you asking for answers. Caesar is the main character in this story, or as we would see it, the protagonist...but for how long? Alongside him, is Cain, the antagonist, who is the manifestation of Caesar's darker side, and the one responsible for causing insanity to fill your wide-screen cinemas with a disturbance that will have you praying for no nightmares anytime soon. The reason for this you ask? The answer...the horrible turmoil that Caesar has been put through by his suffering from Post-traumatic stress disorder. And because of this, Cain takes a full advantage on his host and pushes Caesar to do his immoral bidding. From quick cuts and static screens in editing to reverbs and echoes in sound to the symbolistic images of light and darkness (good and evil), 'Twice' will have you on the edge of your seat with enigmas and complicated webs that will have you baffled. So, for how long will our protagonist play his beliefs of peace and non-violence as the pacifist? Will he play his role the whole way through? Or will his true, hidden self bring out the evil thoughts into action by the knife that he carries? And also, what is Cain's goal and how long will he keep it up before the law catches up? So many questions...the answers? Well...see for yourself...

Representation of Social Group

Twice

In 'Twice', our thriller opening sequence includes the social group that relates to people with disorders such as Schizophrenia or hallucinations. We represented this by using a second actor to be the split-personality of the protagonist, who is the antagonist or the doppelgänger . The antagonist wears black clothing to represent the darker side of the protagonist. At the end of our sequence the antagonist drives the protagonist to insanity through harsh ways to force him into immoral decisions. We represented this particular social group, because it gave an insight into what people who had any of these symptoms of a particular disorder were feeling and experiencing.

Black Swan


Similar to our thriller opening sequence, 'Black Swan' also uses the idea of a doppelgänger to represent a split-personality in the main character, which in this film, like ours, is a darker side to the character. Also, it is similar to our sequence in the way that the main character is forced mentally by the other self.

Real Individual


The real individual who would have a disorder that was represented in our sequence would have these symptoms and would be driven to any path that the disorder leads the sufferer to. In our sequence, we only outlined one aspect of what schizophrenia can cause, but in reality, this kind of illness can give many outcomes.

Thriller and Opening Sequence Conventions

For the conventions of the opening sequence, we included the credits for each role that were given to a particular member of the group and we used them during fade outs throughout the sequence to give some suspense to it as it went along. Also, we placed the title at the end so that the audience can understand its purpose after seeing the sequence.


Also, we used images in the credits and sometimes the footage in the sequence to set up and develop the enigma for our narrative. We did this with flickering images so that we could give it a representation of the mind, which was represented as somewhat vivid, yet unclear at the same time. And because they were images that resembled scans or x-rays, the flickering could represent the flickering backlight that a hospital would traditionally use to show these images.


Normally, the antagonist would be carrying a weapon, such as a knife, to kill his victim. But instead, we made the protagonist to carry the knife in our sequence. So, in this case, we challenged this convention because we wanted to give a conversion to the protagonist so that at the end of the sequence he will become the antagonist, the same as his subconscious.


The unknown figure was also another thriller convention that we have used. The shot that best shows this, is this shot, because the darker spot in the carpet shop is where the antagonist is standing, and not only does it flesh his character out as being evil, it also contributes to hiding his identity away from the audience. This shot almost looks as if the darkness is creeping up to the protagonist, who is in the light.


And lastly, another key convention we used in our thriller opening was of the 'Achilles Heel' of the protagonist being exploited by the antagonist. In this shot, the subconscious (the antagonist) is seen in its insane state, which in this case belongs to the protagonist. This not only reveals the weakness of the protagonist, but it also fleshes it out with a different perspective, being a dark setting and a character that expresses the insanity within the protagonist.

Prezi - From Preliminary Task to Final Thriller Opening Sequence


Monday 12 March 2012

Rough Cut Feedback - S125

1.Use of conventions.
The construction of enigmas is prominant because we are kept unsure of what is going on (without being given the feeling that is 'made-up on the spot' or that is is overly confusing).  The protagonist can be seen in peril in the opening sequence of twice. One example of this is when the character in the black hooded jumper can be seen in pain, it is also seen that other characters in the opening sequence are insulting the personality and moral decisions.

2. Cinematography.
It uses a wide range of camera angles appropriately to convey a sense of mystery. This is done so over the use of close-up (which display the characters emotions which within the opening sequenced shown the confusion on the character's face).

3. Editing
The use of static video gives a distorted feel to the film, This means that the audience is unnable to guess what the next event in the film will be. Transitions are mostly cuts with some fades, which fits well in the film because it doesn't detract from the action. The film is edited chronologically and with parrel editing.

4. Sound
The use of diagetic and non diagetic sound  creates an atmosphere of fear, one example of this is when one of the characters yells 'do it' to the other character.

Rough Cut


Production Logo

We tried to make the production Logo quite dark to match the style of the the thriller.

Sunday 4 March 2012

Strategies to market film

Posters





First Poster - Schizophrenia


Since our film is related to insanity or, in this case, Schizophrenia, we might want to portray the two characters this way to show this level of madness.

Second Poster - Empty Chair in run down room


The chair is where the victim sits during our opening and the background of the destroyed well, can show insanity that works in contrast with the clean and tidy chair.

Trailers





Mr. Brooks - 2007


A trailer like this would be great for our film when it comes to marketing. It outlines a person who has a obsession for killing, and he has two sides to his personality. This is quite similar to our film.

Merchandising


The subconscious in our film wears black clothing, but the hoodie that he wears is essential for concealing his identity from the audience throughout the opening. This hoodie might be great for marketing.

List of credits and research on fonts

List of credits


- 'Directed by Harrison Twinn, Curtis Stearn'
- 'Sound by Curtis Stearn, Craig Johnson, Bryn...'
- 'Edited by Harrison Twinn, Curtis Stearn'
- 'Cinematography by Harrison Twinn, Curtis Stearn, Bryn...'
- Title - 'TWICE'

Fonts


For the credits for directing, editing etc, the font we could possibly use are of letters and words that are crumbled or shattered. It would somewhat reflect insanity or madness which is an element we are trying to represent in our film.
For the title, we could possibly use the same font as with the credits, but bolder and bigger. And since the title is called 'TWICE', we could use a kind of shadow on the title, to reflect upon the characters and the idea of two of the same person.

Specific challenges we have faced

- During the filming process, the spacing in our location for shooting was very limited and for some parts we had to improvise with different camera angles with this amount of spacing around us.

- The location was interior, but the exterior was very bright. To overcome this, we used a dark filter for the camera so that the location around us is darker.

- The storyboard and shot-list we wrote up before filming doesn't exactly match up with our film, as new ideas were added and some shots that we couldn't do were taken out.

- At one point, our location wasn't available and we had to use a different location that was different to what we intended to use.

- During our research, we decided to use ideas that stood out or were unconventional whilst keeping some conventions of thrillers within the film. Some ideas that we have were not conventional in some thrillers and it was hard for us to represent the ideas we have and incorporate them into our thriller.

Friday 2 March 2012

Analyzing opening sequence of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The opening sequence of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo contains many quick shots which appear for a very short amount of time before moving on to the next one and then the next one. THis quick flashing of different shots immediately grabs the attention of the viewer and makes them wonder why there is so much excitement going on. The fast pace also suggests that the film is going to be very exhilarating and therefore it appears from the opening sequence that it's going to be a very exciting and fast paced thriller.

The black liquid we can see flowing in the opening sequence is also moving at a very quick speed which suggests to us that the flow of the film will be quick whilst the darkness of the liquid suggests that there is a dark and mysterious element to the film. The fact that the most predominant color in the opening sequence is black tells us that there is an absence of good in the film and that there is something dark at work. The choice of song which features screaming also creates a dark and intense atmosphere for the opening film whilst the burning flames we see suggest there is conflict to come in the film.