camera angles

taken from google images

                                  
I have refereed back to my theory work to understand what camera angles and shots to use in my thriller opening.this can also help  create a suspense filled atmosphere.

taken from google images

Questionaire

I have come up with a few questions from from target market age to what they think of films in general but also there preferences when it comes to thrillers. I also asked what they want from this genre to ensure it helps me narrow down what they will enjoy about my film.
These where the questions i asked 8 people from my target market the numbers by the answers are how many answered that choice:

 What gender are you? 

Male 2      Female 6

 How old are you? 

16-19 8


 What is your favorite sub genre to the thriller category? 

Horror 4 philological 2 disaster 2 

 What is your favorite thriller and why?

• The shining as you get random shocks that you don't expect.
• 
  Inception:  it has a great cast and sub plot compliments the main plot. 
• 
  Hunger games as its exciting!!!!
• 
  
• The shining: good plot and  great settings 
• 
  The mist as its so scary but ends really funny 
• 
  Anything by martin Scorsese because he is a legend!his films are always very artistic but also have a great storyline that stays with you long after watching.
• hunger games is great
• the maze runner has a great plot

 
What qualities make a good thriller film?

• Good plot and props 
• 
  Storyline must be thrilling with a creative soundtrack to add to the mood.
• 
  Props and realistic setting
• 
  Tense,exiting,sitting on edge of your seat and nothing boring.
• 
  Dramatic,suspense an good storyline 
• 
  Good music,and action
• 
  Good but subtle storyline 
• 
  Elements of surprise    

Do you think a good sound track effects increases the quality a thriller?  
                                                       yes 8


 What do you expect in the opening of a thriller movie?

How often do you watch thrillers?

• 2 a month 
• 1 a week 
• hardly ever 
• not too often
• now and again
  

 How do you feel when watching a thriller?

• scared, excited 
• need someone to cuddle up to 
• pumped 
• on edge of seat
• Interested to see what happens 

Do you think a main character you can relate to adds to a film?
                            yes 7    doesn't matter 1



This information i have now collated will help to know what to add to my thriller to ensure it appeals to my target audience.

Thinking into the title name for my film

I have asked my target market what they think of the names i have come up with for my film, i have chosen my title by the process of looking into the thesaurus to get a wider use of words or phases that link to my thriller plot but without giving a lot away into what will happen.The titles i had come up with where

eyes tight shut 3

dream catcher 12

mind games 8

retreat  7


The numbers beside the titles above where the amount of my target market which voted for that title.My thriller title will be dream catcher as this was the favorite from my target market.I feel this title is a clever play on words due to a dream catcher is something people use to get rid of nightmares but im interpreting the title with "catcher" as the voices in the characters dream is trying to catch/get him.

A traditional dream catcher Photo used from Google images

 Wikipedia's  definition of a dram catcher: A small hoop containing a horsehair mesh decorated with feathers and beads, believed by American Indians to give its owner good dreams.

Story board

Now i have gathered ideas and inspiration for my thriller i will be sketching out the story board to what i will be filming.

permission to film

For my film i will need to have permission forms for any actors i will use.Also getting permission to film on peoples property or land.

I ................. agree to take part in Anya Gibbins AS media studies film for public viewing and to be show in her blog online. signed ................

Once they have filled this in i can then start filming.

Focus of my thriller and looking at suspence film - The sixth sence

I have thought about ideas on what i want my thriller opening to be about/contain.I feel i am going to focus on the suspense aspect of the genre to keep audience engaged and on the edge of there seat throughout.

Helping me to understand how I will capture suspense I have looked at the film The Sixth Sense to get an idea of what they do to create this atmosphere.

The film is a supernatural thriller film written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The film tells the story of Cole Sear a troubled, isolated boy who is able to see and talk to the dead, and an equally troubled child psychologist  who tries to help him. The film stars Bruce Willis, made in 1999.

 The film captures the use of suspense by music that crescendos but also the use of non digetic sounds to make the viewer wonder what the noise is or what making the sound round the corner.I will try to use the ideas of creating my own music to impact suspense.

                                        Here is the trailer for the film take from youtube.com

my chosen Thriller locations

                                    

The pictures above are photos I have taken in my chosen locations I feel these place will help add to my film due to them containing typical thriller objects like these places being abandoned or run down,also these places give a sense of atmosphere due to them being remote and dark.I have asked permission to use these locations and the owner is more than happy to allow me to use the sight for filming.

What my thriller is about

After investigating the thriller genre I will now think about what I want my film to contain and be about.This is the idea i have come up with: the charater falling in to a deep sleep\nightmare where where hes tossing and turning.the content of his dream is him trying to escape from the voices which he believes to be real and and are trying to catch him.But will he escape the voices? Make it back to reality with this nightmare being only in his head or being met with himself in reality?

film classifcation - guilding principles

  Guiding principles are:                    

to protect children and vulnerable adults

from potentially harmful or otherwise unsuitable media content

to empower consumers, particularly parents

and those with responsibility for children, to

  make informed viewing decisions

We fulfil these roles by providing age

classifications and publishing advice

(known as BBFCinsight) for individual films

and videos. We do this without infringing

the right of adults to choose what they view

provided that it remains within the law and is

not potentially harmful. We seek to ensure that

films and videos reach the widest audience that

is appropriate for their theme and treatment.

Media effects research and expert opinion

on issues of suitability and harm can be

inconclusive or contradictory. In such cases we

must rely on our own experience and expertise

to make a judgement as to the suitability of

a work for classification at a particular age

category, taking into consideration whether the

availability of the material, to the age group

concerned, is clearly unacceptable to broad

public opinion. Our extensive research into

public opinion guides us as we seek to ensure

that classification decisions generally reflect

public sensibilities and expectations as these

change over time. 

In relation to harm, we will consider

whether the material, either on its own, or in

combination with other content of a similar

nature, may cause any harm at the category

concerned. This includes not just any harm

that may result from the behaviour of potential

viewers, but also any moral harm that may

be caused by, for example, desensitising a

potential viewer to the effects of violence,

degrading a potential viewer’s sense of

empathy, encouraging a dehumanised view

of others, suppressing pro-social attitudes,

encouraging anti-social attitudes, reinforcing

unhealthy fantasies, or eroding a sense of

moral responsibility. Especially with regard

to children, harm may also include retarding

social and moral development, distorting

a viewer’s sense of right and wrong, and

limiting their capacity for compassion.

We will not classify material which is in

conflict with the criminal law, or has been

created through the commission of a criminal offence.

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is an independent, non-governmental, not-for-profit, co-regulatory body. They are funded through fees charged to those who submit films and video works for classification.

          

They classify:

• Films, trailers and advertisements on behalf of local authorities who license cinemas

• Video works under the Video Recordings Act 1984

• Video works which are distributed over the internet under a voluntary, self-regulatory service

• Commercial and internet content distributed via mobile networks under a voluntary, self-regulatory service

They follow extensive public consultation as well as other research, expert advice and their accumulated experience over many years. The Guidelines pay particular attention to changes in public taste, attitudes and concerns and changes in the law. They also take new evidence from research or expert sources into account. They are reviewed periodically and how they are applied is reviewed when necessary.


Guiding Principles are:

• To protect children and vulnerable adults from potentially harmful or otherwise unsuitable media content

• To empower consumers, particularly parents and those with responsibility for children, to make informed viewing decisions 

U-Rating

• U = Universal

• A U film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over

• Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of

• References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be infrequent and innocuous, or have a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children

•  Potentially dangerous or anti-social behaviour which young children may copy must be clearly disapproved of. No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons

• Should have only infrequent use only of very mild bad language

• Should contain only occasional nudity, with no sexual context

• Should only have very mild sexual behaviour (e.g. kissing) and references to such behaviour

• Scary or potentially unsettling sequences should be mild, brief and unlikely to cause undue anxiety to young children. The outcome should be reassuring.

• Violence will generally be very mild. Mild violence may be acceptable if it is justified by context (for example, comedic, animated, wholly unrealistic).

• Eg Monsters University, Despicable Me 1 and 2, The Lion King, Toy Story, Monsters Inc, The BFG, Alice In Wonderland 

PG- Rating

• PG= Parental Guidance

• For general viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

• It should not unsettle a child around eight or older. Unaccompanied children of any age may watch, but parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger, or more sensitive, children.

• Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of, or in an educational or historical context, or in a particularly dated work with no likely appeal to children. Discrimination by a character with whom children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.

• References to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.  

• No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy, if that behaviour is presented as safe or fun. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons such as knives. No focus on anti-social behaviour which young children are likely to copy.

• Mild bad language only. Aggressive or very frequent use of mild bad language may result in a work being passed at a higher category.

• There may be nudity with no sexual content.

• Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only.

• Frightening sequences or situations where characters are in danger should not be prolonged or intense. However, this is more acceptable in fantasy settings.

• Violence will usually be mild. However there may be moderate violence, without detail, if justified by its content (for example, history, comedy or fantasy).  

• Eg Parent Trap, Home Alone, Hairspray, Leap Year, Ella Enchanted, Brave, Cars, Fantastic Mr. Fox

12A/12

• Films classified 12A and video works classified 12 contain material that is not generally suitable for children aged under 12.

• No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. Adults planning to take a child under 12  to view a 12A film should consider whether the film is suitable for that child.

• No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated video work

• Discriminatory language or behaviour must not be endorsed by the work as a whole. Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.

• Misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or given instructional detail.

• No promotion of potentially dangerous behaviour which children are likely to copy. No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons such as knives. No endorsement of anti-social behaviour.

•  There may be moderate language. Strong language may be used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.

• There may be nudity, but in a sexual context it must be brief and discreet.

• Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Moderate sex references are permitted, but frequent crude references are unlikely to be acceptable.

• There may be moderate physical and psychological threat and horror sequences. Although some scenes may be disturbing, the overall tone should not be. Horror sequences should not be frequent or sustained.

• There may be moderate violence but it should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context.

• Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated, and its depiction must be justified by context.

• Eg Meet the Parents, Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Remember Me, One Day, The Holiday, The Proposal, The Woman In Black, Just Go With It 

15

• No one younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema.

•  No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated video work.

• The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour, although there may be racist,                                     homophobic or other discriminatory themes and language.

• Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse (for example, through instructional detail). The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable.

• Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Whether the depiction of easily accessible weapons is acceptable will depend on factors such as realism, context and setting.

• There may be strong language. Very strong language may be permitted, depending on the manner in which it is used, who is using the language, its frequency within the work as a whole and any special contextual justification.

• There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational content. There may be nudity in a sexual content but usually without strong detail. 

• Sexual activity may be portrayed, but usually without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable unless justified by content. Works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or simulation are unlikely to be acceptable.

• There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely to be acceptable. 

• Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also unlikely to be acceptable.

• There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but the depiction of sexual violence must be discreet and justified by context.

• Eg The Hangover 1, 2 and 3, Bridesmaids, The Bling Ring, We're The Millers, Keith Lemon The Film, Ted, Paranormal Activity

18

• No one younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema. No one younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated video work.

• Could show very strong violence. May be dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury, or scenes of strong sadistic or sexual violence. May contain very strong horror, gore or sustained threat.

• Drug taking may be shown but the work as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. 

• Has frequent use of strong language and/ or very strong language (no limit on the number of uses).

• It may show strong portrayals of sexual activity including nudity.

• It could contain scenes of sexual violence,strong horror and blood and gore.

• Could show real sex (in some circumstances) as long as it is not a sex work.

• May have discriminatory language and behaviour (may be racist, homophobic or other discriminatory language).

• Work could explore themes relating to discrimination.

• Eg My Best Friend's Girl, Bad Boys, Kill Bill, L.A. Confidential, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, Sin City, Hangmen, Scary Movie

R18

• The R18 category is a special and legally-restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. R18 videos may not be supplied by mail order

The photos used are sourced from google images 
The infortmation is sourced from bbfc.co.uk

Investigating opening sequencing using ART OF THE TITLE.COM -

Mimic 1997
 This film is about entomologist Dr. Susan Tyler genetically created an insect to kill cockroaches carrying a virulent disease. Now, the insects are out to destroy their only predator, mankind.

1. The opening title of production company is dedicated on a full screen in the centre in big font  for 8 seconds this showing its importance.
2. The fist piece of film is to set the scene this is shown for 4 seconds
3. A dead mounted moth is shown only in the frame for 2 seconds and quickly fade away  this is to show the audience that this a main theme in the film but leave them wondering why therefore they will watch further.
4. Now all the rest of the titles last for 2 seconds this is due to there roles not being as significant and most of them include about 2 or 3 names at a time either in bottom left or right corner with only a few more central we know they aren't as important due to them not being central or have the frame to themselves in big font.
5. As the sequence goes on it furthers the theme of showing moths, butterfly and other insects while the titles go on the frame to.
6. we get shown the title of the film at 0.55 second this is a convention of this thriller genre
7. To the end we get almost a cliff hanger to entice the audience to see what happens this being the bugs that seemed dead in the previous frames begin wriggling and begin to crawl this happening at 2.40,then the music stops and at 2.45 we get shown a shot of a city.this to me showing a large contrast between the two but how in the movie they will be linked very heavily.
8. the music begins to heavily crescendo at 1.45 this is when we can here children shouting nursery rhymes and there photos are shown as victims of a crime.     
9.  At 1.48 the images of insects increase with louder music the images change n the screen every half a second this also adding to suspense factor.
10. after this point the images and frames used in the title are faster than before gaining a sense of being out of control.
11. the children we heard earlier singing nursery rhymes are now shown on screen individually with scared and horrified emotion.This invites audience to want to find out who the children are and what they are do with in the film.

Here is the link to the title sequence: http://www.artofthetitle.com/title/mimic/

Investigating opening sequencing using ART OF THE TITLE.COM

Coraline 2009

With a descending doll all expectation is set aside at the start of author Neil Gaiman and director Henry Selick’s Coraline. Her punch-and-cut deconstruction is distressing; at her inversion you may feel a gastric tug. You may also dream of submissive needlepoint only to awake with new eyes.
To paraphrase the film’s series of alphabet posters, “‘C’ is for Coraline — brave little girl. Who unlocks the door to a whole different world.”

Coraline
 The title for this film appears on the screen at the beginning at 0.17 seconds for 5 seconds.The button used as the O is a motif in which helps to  set the scene of what may be to come also and sewn pattern to show the title gives of a rather scratchy finish like something being unsettled and can help the viewer know that the theme of sewing and embroidery is key or widely used.The dark Burgundy and brownish background gives off a fairly dark atmosphere to the film.

This first 8 or so title sequences give a full screen dedication of 4seconds to the most famous and important actors in this films like the ones to the right.These names are placed in the center of the frame in big letting to also show importance.

Less important rolls in the film get put together like the one on the left.At 0.45 seconds

Now we start to see footage which will help us understand the film.But still leaving us with unanswered questions like whats going on?who's doll is that? whys it there?
The titles in these two frames are not central so therefore not as important as the previous as they are in smaller font and they are bottom right.

Other questions that we ask are who's are the metal hands we can see? who are they? what are they doing?are they human or robot due to metal hands?this is a way of getting the audience to stay and watch to find out who it is and also to build suspense of what they are going to in the film.


Changing the positions of the titles gives a more interesting approach and dynamics to watching this but also to allow the viewer to focus on the made thing going on in that frame that me key to the film later on.

Like the the screen shot to the right shows a doll having its eyes removed this is key to the film later on as they want Coraline to change from a girl with real eyes to a doll with button ones that's why they have changed where the title is placed for that frame.

The music in the filmalso helps set what seems are failry dark and mysticalm setting it builds suspence to know whats going to happening.Below is the music to these titles.

                                         sourced from youtube.com

Inspirations from other media - Sia

Sia Chandelier-Music Video

 Chandelier is a song by Australian recording artist Sia from her sixth studio album, 1000 Forms of Fear (2014). Written by Sia and Jesse Shatkin and produced by Shatkin and Greg Kurstin, the song was released on March 17, 2014.It is an electropop song, featuring electronica, R&B and reggae influences. Lyrically, the song has a melancholic theme, detailing the demoralisation and rationalisation of alcoholism through the typical thought process of a "party girl".
Upon its release, "Chandelier" received mainly favourable reviews from music critics, who praised Sia's songwriting and her vocals. Commercially, the single charted within the top five of record charts in countries including Australia, Norway, Scotland, Poland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. 
 On the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, the song has peaked at number 8, becoming Sia's first top ten single as a lead artist on the chart. 

The reason i have picked this video is due to where its set, an apartment which contains a generic thriller destination this being somewhere neglected and left pretty bare . elements like the dark surroundings of the apartments content and grey scale background and the filter used also contributes to the mood of the video which is clearly a sadder more darker one,the apartment seems pretty derelict and isolated and clearly not a home for anyone.its old furniture of which is in there is dated and worn out,ripped wall paper makes you want to know more like; who lived here? where is this place? why did they leave and abandoned this place?why is there been things left here? and these are all questions a want viewers of my thriller opening to ask as the un answered questions add to the suspense and un known. these elements are key to a successful thriller.therefore i want to find or create a place with simular ideas and infulences to the one used in this video. All the photos below i have screen shotted from the video.

 The paintings of people give a sences of someone watching you.like the feeling your no alone.

  The funiutre you can see in these three fames are all plain,dated and pretty random, giving the idea of no cared about this pace or that no one has lived there for a long time.

These three frames show generic places of a thriller somewhere dark,plain,quiet and abandoned.

This girl also shows a generic thriller convention of using children to show a possessed soul ect.

                                                          Here is the music video

thrillers of inspiration - pscho

Psycho 

 Psycho is a 1960 American horror-thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, and Janet Leigh. The film centers on the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Leigh), who ends up at a secluded motel after embezzling money from her employer, and the motel's disturbed owner-manager, Norman Bates (Perkins), and its aftermath. When originally made, the film was seen as a departure from Hitchcock's previous film North by Northwest, having been filmed on a low budget, with a television crew and in black and white. Psycho initially received mixed reviews, but outstanding box office returns prompted reconsideration which led to overwhelming critical acclaim and four Academy Award nominations, including Best Supporting Actress for Leigh and Best Director for Hitchcock. It is now considered one of Hitchcock's best films and praised as a work of cinematic art by international film critics and film scholars. Ranked among the greatest films of all time, it set a new level of acceptability for violence, deviant behaviour and sexuality in American films. Alfred Hitchcock's powerful, complex psychological thriller, Psycho (1960) is the "mother" of all modern horror suspense films - it single-handedly ushered in an era of inferior screen 'slashers' with blood-letting and graphic, shocking killings. While this was Hitchcock's first real horror film, he was mistakenly labeled as a horror film director ever since.

This thriller has made it into my inspiration post due it having elements and quality's within it that i want to replicate and take forward and adapt in my thriller opener, these are things like not actually showing anyone being killed in this film which to me is exciting as it allows the viewer to create there own idea of what happens when someone is killed in the film as it adds another dimension of anticipation which you never get to find out and i feel this would be an efective atmosphere to create. Another reason i really love this thriller is the how Hitchcock (the director) made no secret of his methods of using the camera to tell a story and affect the emotions of his audience:‘The point is to draw the audience right inside the situation instead of leaving them to watch it from outside, from a distance. And you can do this only by breaking the action into details and cutting from one to the other, so that each detail is forced in turn on the attention of the audience and reveals its psychological meaning.’ Hitchcock, 1937. This to me is what i want to be able to show and thats why i feel this film really gives a good base to look at when thinking into my thriller opening.Also just generally looking at this film it give me really good conventional thriller elements this being the setting in a motel thats fairly remote this showimng there being nowhere for the victim to run to get help.Also The nightmarish, disturbing film's themes of corruptibility, confused identities, voyeurism, human vulnerabilities and victimisation, the deadly effects of money, Oedipal murder, and dark past histories are realistically revealed. Its themes were revealed through repeated uses of motifs, such as birds, eyes, hands, and mirrors all seem really useful elements to use in my opening due to them being all really simple and everyday objects to film.

                                              Here's the trailer to the film