Pros and Cons of using the equipment/software

Software - Pros


- GarageBand has a variety of sound effects to use for the thriller, not just different instruments for a soundtrack.
- Final Cut Express lets us edit and rearrange clips into a sequence with ease.
- Photoshop lets us use a variety of techniques to enhance a production logo to a professional extent.

Cons


- GarageBand can sometimes be limited to what you want for a soundtrack.
- Final Cut Express can sometimes have difficulty in rendering and converting a film.
- Photoshop can be difficult to work with first-hand and can take some time to learn.

Equipment - Pros


- Camcorder is in HD quality so we can get a good quality for when we upload it to YouTube.
- Tripod is steady and professional-like.
- Filters can help enhance a shot for a certain purpose.

Cons


- Camcorder can pick up unwanted background noise - wind, airplane noises etc.
- Tripod can be take us space and it can ruin a shot if not used properly e.g not set up properly.
- Filters may not fit camcorder and may not be of correct use.

New skills that we've learnt

- We've learnt how to create enigmas which giving too much information away, to make the audience more immersed in the narrative.

-  Learnt how to create an interesting character - 'Achilles Heel'

- How to use a camera in different ways with different effects to give the atmosphere we want.

- Using Final Cut Express to edit clips and use transitions.

- Using GarageBand to create different uses of sound - ambience and tempo to build up tension and suspense.

Our target audience

Audience

- The target audience we are aiming for is the young adults

- Those who are interested in psychological thriller films are targeted in particular

Directors

Richard Kelly - 'Donnie Darko' - This film compares well with our thriller as they are in a similar sort of narrative. The plot shows a man who has a mental delusion which no one else but him can see.

Christopher Nolan - 'Inception' - This film revolves around the subconscious which is a crucial element in our thriller.

Martin Scorcese - 'Shutter Island' - This film has madness and insanity as its enigma as well as the element that pushes the narrative forward.

Possible challenges for shoot

• The weather could affect the atmosphere of the setting, for example, if it is a sunny day it could ruin the mood and tone of the thriller.
• The space in the carpet shop could be difficult to work in as it can be limited and small.
• It is difficult for some members of our group to travel and find the location which we are shooting in.
• In some shots we may accidently film pedestrians walking past the location which could affect the realism of the situation.

Review of Equipment

Software


Iphoto - To upload photos from camera to blog (Storyboards and location research)
GarageBand - To create music for thriller
Final Cut Express - To edit and rearrange different clips from camcorder to the software
Photoshop - To create the group's production logo

Film Equipment


Camcorder - Records footage
Tripod - Steadies shooting - professional. Useful for shooting different angles.
Filters (Optional) - To makes shot seem dark/light or different colour.

What makes a Thriller?

Inception

- Complex plot and storyline
- Antagonist exploiting the protagonist's weakness (Unconventional - antagonist is from the subconscience)
- Committing a crime ('not technically legal')
- Gives more questions than answers in the opening
- Obscurity and ambiguity
- Enigmas

Sherlock Holmes

- Intelligible characters
- Complex case
- Antagonist exploiting the protagonist's weakness
- Bruding atmosphere/dark scenery
- Obscurity
- Enigmas

L.A Confidential

- Murders (but its not shown)
-

Thriller Opening Sequence - Hidden

Cinematography

In the beginning of the film there is a long shot of the house, and it retains that shot for a long duration of time. Whilst this is happening, this makes the audience anxious for something to occur, and the extras walking in the shot to make it seem more realistic as it feels like the passing of everyday life.
But it is then revealed that the long shot was in fact a video recording, as the shot cuts from the long shot to a mid-shot of a husband and wife watching this recording. This shot can be considered an interval for when it cuts back to the long shot recording.

Sound


During the long shot recording, diegetic sounds that can be heard in open areas such as birds, airplanes etc, adds to the effect of realism and makes the audience feel as if they were there. Voiceovers were also used during the recording to show narrative. This is also used when the recording fast-forwards, using a noise of fast-forwarding the tape.

Editing


Parallel editing was used throughout the duration of the recording in continuity editing. One example of this is when it cross-cuts from the recording to the people watching it. But this also makes it seem as if the shots were played in montage editing, using a recording as a shot to show the past events and cutting it to the viewers of the recording to show the present.

Mise en scene


The extras walking in the shot were wearing normal everyday clothes which again, adds to the realism of  the film. The people watching the recording were wearing casual lounge clothing to show the time of day, which in this case is the afternoon. When the son comes into the shot he is wearing outside clothing and a school bag to show that he just came back from school.