evaluation

Questions that need to be answered in my evaluation:

1.    In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products (i.e of film openings)
From the very start of the thriller opening I planned to create tension for the audience and I done this by including a fast paced tone for the backing music.  The red lipstick that she has got on as part of her costume plays an important part as not only does it make her more adult like but red also is the connotation of danger and therefore shows that she is in some sort of trouble. 
We tried to mix up the codes and conventions by using a female protagonist which doesn't happen as often in other thriller films as you normally see the main character as being male.  As well as this, we watch the female protagonist being followed around and been kidnapped in daylight which is a change as it is more commonly known for people to be following you when it is dark.
As the Mise En Scene shows a lady walking around it becomes clear that she may be getting followed by someone as you only see the two props used at the end (briefcase and mobile phone), this could indicate that the sub-genre of the film is a crime thriller as there would need to be further investigation of her missing appearance, has she been killed?
 

2.    How does your media product represent particular social groups
In our media product gender is not represented in a stereotypical way as it is seen that in most thrillers the main characters are usually male.

Below are some of the main characters from the thrillers I have researched and as you can see the gender is male. 

In our film opening we decided to use a White, British Female giving her a typical 'business woman' look by making her costume a blazer, heels and a smart blouse.  The red lipstick also makes her look more sophisticated however it also gives off a warning that she may be in trouble as red implies danger.
Below our female character is shown.

As well as this, one of our props being the up to date iPhone it would link in which our social group and target audience of 18-24years olds as it is now commonly known for many people including young adults of this age and of course teenagers to be addicted to their mobile phone.
 

3.    What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I believe that this thriller opening would be more recognised by a niche audience as there are many minor things included in the opening such as the camera wobbles, the graffiti on the walls and the area used in general that would not be used in a major Hollywood studio as it doesn't progress to their standard.  Therefore I would say that our media opening would suit an independent label that may only be used as an internet only film. 
 

4.    Who would be the audience for your media product?
based on the content of our thriller opening and that the fact that it is a thriller, we have decided that our primary target audience would be female adults aged 18-24 as we have used a strong female protagonist, similar to more recent thriller films.  As the female protagonist is seen as very feminine-like, it would thoroughly appeal to women.  On the other hand, we have also discussed the idea that many thrillers can be enjoyed by people of all ages.  Therefore we believe that we also have a secondary target audience of all ages above our primary target audience and also to any gender as the idea of a strong, independent female protagonist may also be interesting to them.  Even though we discussed the idea that individuals of all ages can enjoy thriller films, we also decided that perhaps this could exclude elderly people above 70 as they may not enjoy the tension in the film and the obstructive editing as this would alarm them.  However, this would depend on the personality of the individual weather they like thriller films, and also the health of the elderly person.
 

5.    How did you attract/address your audience?
I attracted my audience straight away by starting off the film with fast paced music which my primary target audience of 18 to 24 year olds would be stereotypically into which would then in fact grab their attention and make them want to watch more. We ended our thriller with the briefcase and mobile phone on the floor suggesting that something has happened to the female protagonist.  From this the audience would be shocked and attracted to her disappearance and would want to watch on to see what happens and more importantly what has happened to the woman.
 

6.    What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Throughout the process of creating the thriller opening I have realised how incredibly important it is to have all the correct equipment whilst filming. Whilst setting up and getting ready to film it became a sudden dilemma that we had left the tripod back at school.  Seeing as we spent a good amount of time doing the protagonists hair and make-up in order to create the codes and conventions of a smart, important business women, we decided to have a go at filming free hand without the tripod.  It suddenly became clear that it was much more difficult to get a steady hand and created many wobbles in the film.  The technology used to create the film can also be unreliable as the battery on the camera drains quickly and only gives you a certain amount of time to film parts of the scene.  Because of this it is extremely important to remember to charge the camera to full battery before you start to film as otherwise you may have some difficulty fitting in all that you wanted to film on that particular day.
 

7.    Looking back at your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

Doing the continuity editing task before creating the full film product helped gain more of a clear understanding of not only the rules of filming and different camera shots but also how to use editing software for when we had to put all of our different film clips together into one piece.  I have learnt that a lot of time and effort needs to be put into filming in order for a successful final product and time management is key.  Another skill that is key is communication within the group, I felt that my teams organisation when figuring out days to film could of improved as in some cases I was only given not even 24 hours notice about when we were going to film leaving me missing out on all important filming time as I had family plans already arranged. 

storyboard

Before shooting our thriller opening film we decided to create a storyboard to plan out what we are going to film on paper before we go out to our locations and set up to film.  By doing the storyboard we can think about all the different shot types that we could include in our film.

Recce

A number of different pavements 
Negatives

1. Whilst we are filming our thriller opening there may be a possibility for any pedestrians to be walking up and down the streets and getting into our shots.  Because of this we need to be prepared to shoot the part of our film several times so that nobody else gets into the scene. 
2. As the plan is to shoot out in the open we need to put into consideration that it may be raining on the day we are planning to film and if that is the case we need to make sure we have a second day free so we can continue filming if the weather is appropriate.

Health and safety hazards

1. There may be rubbish such as sharp crushed cans that could be very dangeous to our actress or any of the camera crew.  As well as this, broken glass could also be a very be hazard and would need to either clear this up or change our location to film. 
2. As we are filming on pavements we need to be well aware of the roads next to usand consider the cars around us.

Lighting
As we are out in the open we would have good light weather depending.

Coniston Close lane 
Negatives

1. We need to be aware of other pedestrians that are walking up and down Coniston Close Lane.
2. We need to be aware of the weather and if it is raining on the day we are planning to film then we will have to reschedule. 

Lighting
As the lane includes very high walls it may be hard to capture good lighting as the walls will block this out from the camera.

what is a thriller?

Thriller Film is a genre that revolves around anticipation and suspense. The aim for Thrillers is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seats. The protagonist in these films is set against a problem – an escape, a mission, or a mystery. No matter what sub-genre a Thriller film falls into, it will emphasize the danger that the protagonist faces. The tension with the main problem is built on throughout the film and leads to a highly stressful climax.

Thriller Sub-Genres

Action Thriller

An Action Thriller uses physical action to create suspense within the film. Like a traditional Action film, this sub-genre will often have continuous motion and action including physical stunts, chases, fights, battles, and races. Often, these scenes will contribute to the overall sense of danger that the protagonist is facing.

Examples: Die Hard, Kill Bill Vol. 1, The Bourne Identity.

Crime Thriller

Crime Thriller film is a sub-genre that incorporates the suspenseful aspects of a thriller with a crime film plot. This sub-genre's plot usually centers on a serial killer, murderer, robbery, or manhunt. As opposed to traditional crime films, the storyline focuses both around the criminal and the protagonist. Crime Thrillers use both action and psychological aspects to build tension and suspense.

Examples: The Usual Suspects, The Fugitive, Jagged Edge.

Film-Noir

Film Noir is not simply a sub-genre, but rather a term for a distinct, stylistic type of crime-drama or thriller that was popular throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Film-Noir is characterized by a black-and-white style with stark lighting effects. The main character is usually a cynical hero. Film-Noir relies on a narrative voice and various flashbacks to explain the intricate plot.

Examples: Sunset Boulevard, The Maltese Falcon, Sweet Smell of Success.

Psychological Thriller

In addition to the traits of a regular Thriller, a Psychological Thriller incorporates elements of drama and mystery film. The suspense in this sub-genre comes from the mind, rather than from a psychical threat. The protagonists in Psychological Thrillers must rely on their mental resources to solve the situation. Because of their nature, many Psychological Thrillers cross over into the Horror genre.

Examples: Memento, Rear Window, Taxi Driver.

Science Fiction Thriller

Science Fiction Thriller incorporates hypothetical, science-based themes into the plot of the film. Traditionally, a Science Fiction film will incorporate heroes, villains, unexplored locations, fantastical quests, and advanced technology. These elements can be used in a Science Fiction Thriller to create anticipation and suspense. Often, this sub-genre will explore the “future-gone-bad” theme, including plots that revolve around alien invasions, dystopian scenarios, and super-diseases.

Examples: Aliens, Inception, District 9.

Religious Thriller

Religious Thriller film incorporates religious themes, including religious questions, ceremonies, and objects. Though some films can revolve around a specific church, many Religious Thrillers include supernatural experiences not pertaining to a certain religion. Exorcisms, demon possession, and church cover-ups are typical themes of Religious Thrillers.

Examples: The Devil’s Advocate, The Ninth Gate, The Da Vinci Code.

institution research

20th Century Fox

20th Century Fox, also known as Twentieith Century Fox Film Corporation is one of the six major American film studios as of 2011.  The Fox Film Corporation was formed in 1904 by a man called William Fox, who formed Fox Film Corporation by merging two companies which he had established together.  One being Greater New York Film Rental, a distribution firm which he had established, and Fox Office Attractions Company, a production company.  The merging of the two different types of companies was an early example of vertical integration.
20th Century Fox have produced some very successful films such as Avatar, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men, Star Wars, Speed and many many more.  20th Century Fox mostly create family films as they are the ones that create the most sales such as Alivn and the Chipmunks and Ice Age.  However 20th Century Fox have made many different varied genre films such as horror films such as Prometheus, Dramas such as Life of Pi, Adventures such as Star Wars, Romantic Comedies such as This Means War and most importantly Thrillers such as Taken 2.

What we plan to use in our thriller

Locations used

• The first scene includes a bendy lane (Coniston Close lane) where the mischievous briefcase is first picked up by the main actress.
• She is then secretly being filmed walking through the middle of a dramway.
• A bus stop is used where the main actress checks the bus times and waits for the bus whilst she is secretly getting filmed by an unkown person behind a garden wall.
• She will then be filmed getting onto a bus and then filmed the whole bus journey whilst the actress is sat 2 rows infront of the filmer.
• The protagonist is then filmed getting off the bus and walking down many different roads towards a bridge.

Actors
We have decided to use only 1 actress throughout the opening to our thriller so that the opening 2 minutes isn't so fullfilled.  No script is used either so the opening just shows of the main character and sets the scene and gives off enigma.
Name: Georgia Milkins
Gender: Female
Date Of Birth: 27th June 1996

Costumes
The protagonist is dressed smartly in black trousers, a white blouse, high heels and a blazer, making her seem quite important.  She is also wearing bright red lipstick which gives off a connotation of danger, is she in trouble?


Props
Briefcase: The briefcase is the main part of the thriller opening as it creates an enigma to the audience throwing out questions such as "what is in the briefcase?" and "why is the briefcase so important?"  
Mobile Phone: An iPhone 4 is used within the thriller opening as an unknown number rings the protagonist and the protagonist answers.

Gantt Chart

This Gantt Chart will help me with my time management skills in order to make sure I complete all tasks by the set deadline.  From this I will be able to see if I am keeping up to date or if I am slacking with any of my work and because of this I will then be able to see where I need to improve.  The tasks are set in chronological order making it much more easier to follow.

TASK	Week 1	Week 2	Week 3	Week 4	Week 5	Week 6	Week 7
Thriller research
Planning
Recce
Storyboard
Filming
Editing

Shotlist

                                                                         Close Up

 

 

 

Over The Shoulder

 

 

Long Shot

 

 

Mid Shot

 

 

Panning Shot - following the image

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Shotlist

I have created the shortlist below to use while filming my thriller opening in order to ensure that I film all the relevant shots and also to make sure that I do not miss any shots, later realise and then have to re-film. I can then tick the "complete" column when each shot has been completed so that I know what still needs to be done and where I am at with my filming.

Research into thriller openings

Bourne Conspiracy

Dissecting the intro to The Bourne Conspiracy opens up a wide range of different connotations and denotations when considering the movie genre 'Thriller'.

Firstly the text, following all the stereotypes of well-known thrillers The Bourne Conspiracy uses the technique of the letters coming from either side of the screen, arranging themselves and then dissolving into the background. This gives connotations of a hospitalised and computerised environment, all of which are established features of a thriller.
The black background adds to the mystery and bleakness of a thriller whilst also allowing the text to stand out as if on a screen itself. The metaphor of the letters finding themselves and then breaking apart into pieces may give an indication as to what to expect in the film. The standard thriller tends to follow the convention of a puzzle or enigma, which this title instantly registers to the audience.





Snatch

The opening credits of the thriller film Snatch includes a man looking into a diamond and the name of the film appearing on the diamond.  This makes it become clear that the film is about the diamond being snatched from somebody.  It then one by one introduces the all-male characters telling something about the personality all including that they are a bunch of bad guys.  Whilst the characters were being introduced it came up with their name along with stars next to it, maybe this could indicate their importance or their level of rebelliousness with how many stars are next to their name. 
The Mise En Scene includes codes and conventions which you would see in a day-to-day thriller including cigars, smoke and weapons.

 

 

 

 

The Maltese Falcon

Technical Construction
Sound
Orchestral music - somber, sets a serious mood

Mise En Scene
Cigarettes, Formal Clothing, Smoke

Camera
Establishing shots at the beginning

The Maltese Falcon has a classic thriller opening as it includes all the stereotypical codes and conventions that you would expect to be included in a thriller movie.  For example, the opening includes men dressed in smart suits, rolling cigarettes and smoking.  As well as the men dressed in suits, the woman are dressed formally in hats, dresses and heels.  This is also very stereotypical in a thriller however, seeing as the film was created in 1941 the dress sence may have something to do with the fashion that was around at that certain time.
In the start of the film we see the formal lady walk into a mans office asking him for help, another stereotypical code you see for the man to help the woman.  The woman asks the man to track down her sister who she hasn't seen or heard of for some time now as she has ran away with a man.  This creates an enigma which leaves the audience to question where he sister is and if the man she has ran away with has harmed her in any way.



Black Swan

A few different codes and conventions give away that Black Swan is a thriller in the opening of the film.  Music is the main key feature here as it creates tension and suspention to the audience watching.  When the second dancer enters the scene it makes the audience think "who is that?".  The orchestral music gives away the connotation that this second person could potentially be dangerous. 

Pyscho 

The film Psycho by Slfred Hitchcock starts at the very beginning with fast paced orchestral music which already makes it very tense for the audience watching the film.  As the film was produced in 1960 it becomes clear that it is shot in black and white. This helps give off extra dark shadows which helps understand and create characters dark personalities. It also helps give out the connotation of danger where everything appears much darker which can make the audience much more suspicious when it comes to things jumping out at the camera.  Once the opening credits to the film finishes, the camera quickly enters the following scene through the window which makes the audience uneasy as it makes them feel like they have sneaked in like an intruder. The woman that you come across displays many codes and conventions that you would see in a typical thriller movie as she is seen only wearing a bra which makes her come across very sexual. It is often indicated that sexual female characters often come across as stupid and weak and cannot handle dangerous situations.