As media studies coursework

Final evaluation

2009-05-07T04:55:00.000-07:00

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Our product used, developed and challenged forms and conventions of real media products through the use of the four technical aspects of camera, editing, sound and mise en scene. Our media product was made in a very similar way to which real films are made. First we brainstormed ideas for a plot, then we researched a vast amount into the thriller genre and its sub categories. then we created a storyboard and shortly after made an animatic. After this we began filming. Our media product is very similar to other thriller/action movies ( such as James Bond and the Bourne Identity ) due to it keeping very well to the codes and conventions of this genre. Audiences who watched our clip could immediately identify the genre of the film showing correct use of the four technical aspects and codes, as they not only recognized it as a thriller but recognized its sub genre of an espionage action thriller. Using the four technical aspects we have successfully engaged and informed the audience of the genre. The title shot where the title “Money” appears uses the same codes and conventions as many other films of this genre.

The non-diagetic soundtrack that runs parallel to the title sequence consists of upbeat, aggressive guitar and helps engage the audience in conjunction with the sudden opening ( 0:33 ) and matching fast editing. There is also a build up before of slow mysterious musical that again matches the slow blurring text that keeps the audience anxious before the initial drop. A zooming close up out of the gun barrel ( 0:39 )is used as a transition from the title to the animation, the gun is one of the many aspects of mise en scene that reinforce the espionage thriller genre. This continues through the animation and into the beginning of our film where initially a close up of the protagonist stamping out a cigarette creates mystery as his appearance has not yet been shown. The editing has slowed significantly since the title sequence due to the audience now being fully engaged the complex plot can now unfold. The editing, sound, mise en scene and camera use forms, codes and conventions of real media products, for example here are some screen shots showing other films of this genre and how ours matches the forms of thie chosen genre. However although we have kept to the codes and conventions very well our product also challenges these conventions in certain aspects. For example the protagonist in our piece instead of being a middle aged Caucasian, as in most films of this genre, is a younger black man. Typical protagonists for espionage thrillers are middle aged, handsome, Caucasians this can be seen in most films of our genre for example Ethan Hunt ( Tom Cruise ) from mission impossible, Harry Tasker ( Arnold Schwarzenegger ) from True Lies and all the Bonds from the Bond films. The fact our protagonist subverts this shows we are trying to develop and challenge the forms of real media products in our category. We feel this may appeal more to our target audience. Our media product takes a very similar look to other films in its genre especially James Bond, due to both have long animated title sequences. This has been said by many viewers that it has a very "bondish" feel but feels different and unique, which ultimately is what we wanted to achieve.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In our thriller extract we tried to create certain social groups to make the narrative of the extract relatable. Mise en scene props such as the newspaper and the cityscape informed the viewer that the text was set in an urban area immediately using stereotypes to make the viewer analysis what the protagonist may be like if he is in an urban environment. During our first shoots, we had a difference in class in our extract with the hero being smart and formal and the villain young and hooded. Through mise en scene we had our protagonist wearing formal clothes including a shirt, tie and jacket, the colours were all black and white showing simplicity with contrasts the plot of the film, this would make him seem calm and collected in chaotic situations as most espionage protagonists are stereotypically seen as. The antagonist in our piece was then wearing a hooded jumper, trainers and jeans which reflected the rebellious and casual nature of the character. However the difference between the James Bond style detective and what looked like a typical English teenager was too abstract for the narrative we were trying to portray. After re-thinking and researching into what the villain should look like I realized both should be dressed smart and formal. Our hero in our extract looks to be aged late teens or early twenties representing the particular younger social group which is also the audience we intended to target with this text. This choice goes against the older aged heroes seen in most espionage thrillers subverting the usual stereotypes. Another key aspect that was subverted was the race of our protagonist. By having a black hero and subverting stereotypes of usual espionage heroes we hope to reach a wider audience. As racism is not a huge problem like it used to be I feel that we can easily attract a wide audience.

This seems to be an intelligent move as other films have recently taken this approach and had great success with subverting the protagonist for example Hancock starring Will Smith completely subverted what a stereotypical superhero is like and had great success. Both the age and race change I think will help to target our intended audience we are aiming at which is slightly younger than most espionage thrillers aim at.

What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?

Our media product is intended to be made and distributed as a Hollywood film, due to a number of reasons. As our genre is a very specific one which has had massive success in the past, it should be a Hollywood film. Films such as James Bond, Mission Impossible, XXX , Catch me if you can and the Bourne Identity were all Hollywood, large budget movies made by large institutions. These large financial budgets create opportunities for famous actors and extensive CGI to be incorporated into the products. Due to our budget of not being able to spend anything our resources were very limited and our equipment rudimentary. Our chosen genre has almost always been produced in this way. A suitable company to produce this product would be MGM ( Metro Goldwyn Mayer ) this is because the are a successful company which have had great success with films in our genre for example the James Bond franchise.
Other films by MGM in our a similar genre are :
-The world is not enough
-Agent Cody Banks
-Lucky number slevin
-Casino Royal
As well as a number of others and a range of other genre films. MGM’s huge success and resources would ultimately be able to make our product well publicized and successful. Our product would best be viewed in large cinemas due to its distributor and would stereotypically, like all other Hollywood blockbusters, come out on DVD in HD format a few months later. For our product in the beginning we created our own logo for LLC productions that ultimately was designed to mimic that of the MGM famous lion logo. I think our take on this was very comical and appreciated.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

Our target audience for this film is male, aged 12 - 30, middle and lower class. Through planning and preparation including questionnaires and surveys it has been determined that this is generally the type of viewer to watch espionage based thrillers. This is because it is a complex plot, high action and occasionally violent thriller that will appeal mostly to men. From our research we found that most fans of films like Mission Impossible and James Bond are similar to this. However women do watch these films occasionally to look at the male characters who are often handsome, muscular and sexually attractive or due to a romantic that takes a lesser role in the plot . Our research also suggested that it is working class people who enjoy these films with their often predictable plots and cliche characters. By following the codes and conventions of our chosen genre our product has developed a specific narrative and style that is immediately similar to other films in its genre making it immediately recognizable to its target audience. When audiences watched our extract almost all said it was like/similar to James Bond. This shows we have achieved what we were aiming for and after further questioning most answered although it seems very similar to films they have seen the would still go to see it. Also due to the BBFC our film would be given a certificate 12+ or 15+ . This would be because the film would feature violent or aggressive scenes. This is satisfactory however as the target audience is from this age up so the certificate is not in anyway restricting our possible viewers.

How do you attract/address your audience?

Due to our target audience we needed to create a text that not only attracted them but kept them engaged. Our engaging animated opening with fast music would immediately attract our intended audience and draw them into the story. Through the use of camera we created a shot were the title “Money” comes into the screen. This composition is a common feature in our chosen genre and helped establish what might be seen to the audience. Camera was used appropriately with fast zooms that matched the editing and music pace ( 0:42 ) and slower, longer shots to create suspense ( 1:25 ). Shots were used along with the enviroment/location to reinforce the idea of trying to find a criminal. A non-diagetic background soundtrack appropriate not only to the pace of the text but also the intended audience was used through the title sequence, which used similar techniques to the genre as Casino Royale. This non-diagetic music also reinforced the tone of the title sequence, creating excitement and anticipation throughout the audience. Mise en scene was the key technical aspect used to attract the audience using signifiers like the gun, cityscape and espionage protagonist to represent a genre that appeals to the viewer engaging them into the film.

Pace of editing changed dramatically between the title sequence and the start of the film, this was done to suggest to the viewer the genre of the text and to engage and captivate them. Once this was done we could lower the speed and pace of the film to a mysterious feel and let the plot unravel. From our feedback we have discovered our animated title sequence was the main feature our viewers enjoyed, this is exactly what we wanted to achieve and this engaging, effective animation follows the same codes and conventions as similar title sequences in Casino Royale and Catch me if you can.

This was shown to be very effective during our viewings of the film. Through the combination of the technical aspects and the codes and conventions of the chosen genre we created a product that directly addressed and attracted the audience we wanted to excite. All these props, location and dress code were chosen directly for this to successfully attract and address our intended target audience. We made a facebook group to publish our product and find out what people think of it. Every response was a positive one and further reinforced our success in addressing and attracting our intended audience.

This is the link to the facebook group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=69145468033&ref=ts

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

From the process of creating and filming our two minute extract I have learnt a significant amount about technologies used. Before we began I already had large experience and knowledge in using Adobe Photoshop CS3, Adobe Flash CS3 and Imovie which in initial discussions lead to me being given the role of editor and animator. My knowledge of shots and angles has greatly increased and I now know the correct techniques to really create continuity and flow through a piece of filming. They were several technological problems throughout the process of creating this product. One of these was the use of a poor quality camera which had poor focus and another being that during the making of the animation quality was lost when exporting scenes and putting them together. Both of these problems were due to limited equipment and resources available to us and overall I do feel this lack of higher quality equipment and software did lower the overall quality of our final piece. If given better resources I feel the final piece would have been much more sharper, detailed and generally a much higher quality. Software used when creating our extract was Adobe Flash CS3, Adobe Photoshop CS3, Imovie and Premiere Pro. All these were crucial in creating our extract, especially Adobe Flash for the animation and Premiere Pro for layering the audio sounds of the extract. Through the process of creating our product I feel I have learnt a very large amount about the software packages Premiere Pro and Adobe after effects CS3, as well as experience with the camera itself.

Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Throughout the whole process of making our product, from the brief right through to the final piece, I feel much has been learned. For me personally my skills with the software have always been very good especially with the Adobe CS3 collection but since the projected I have progressed even further to a point where I am completely confident with all the software used for this project. Since our first brainstorms and storyboards I feel that our product has changed dramatically but has become better rather than worse. Through camera I have leant the multiple different shot types such as close ups, mid shots, long shots etc. Editing I have learnt a lot on how to create pace and continuity creating footage that flows and runs to a parallel pace as to what’s on screen. I have learnt, mainly through Adobe Premiere Pro, how to layer sounds effectively creating a balance between ambient sound, dialogue and a non-diagetic sound track. As a group, through experience and research, we identified key aspects of mise en scene that would reinforce our chosen genre and implemented them appropriately and effectively into the text. Initially we planned to have more animated title sequence and the first few shots of real footage would be a shoot out between the antagonist and the protagonist, however as we have progressed, changed and learnt we created something much more like a thriller opening and less like a short movie or trailer. Every filming session we learnt more and changes were being made to the original storyboard every-time. Although the main plot hasn't changed and the order and main factors have been the same throughout (ie. Company logo, then titles, the animated title sequence and finally footage ) small things have been altered each week to create a more effective look, style and narrative. These small changes were simply camera-shots, angles, and props but the main plot stayed the same. Compared to the brief I think our media product has done very well. It fits the codes and conventions of its genre and sub genre and was reinforced by the audiences immediate recognition of this and positive feedback. It kept the audience engaged and alert. However there were still a few problems mainly unsolved due to the deadline and time restrictions. The animated title sequence could have gone on longer to continue over all the credits and the final over the shoulder shot was slightly unstable. If given a larger budget, with more appropriate equipment, time and software we would create a product better than this. Through the whole project much as been learnt through all technical aspects and these progressions have been implemented when possible, Overall apart from these very minor problems I think our product fulfills the brief set, creating the opening of a thriller that not only meets the codes and conventions of its chosen genre but continues by keeping the chosen target audience attracted and engaged during its play.

Final Movie Analysis

2009-04-21T03:10:00.001-07:00

This is our final opening sequence for our action based thriller Money. I think our opening was a success although not perfect. These are the comments from our teacher:

+Demonstrates excellence across most technical aspects

+The titles are highly effective developing generic / narrative features through semiotics and colour use

+The overall feel of the piece ( editing / sound in particular ) is engaging fitting the chosen sub-genre

-The transition between the titles and opening scene was ineffective - animations and titles could have continued to include 'producer' / 'director' a cross disolve into an establishing shot would have been better

-Some of the animation could have been smoother just to add a greater degree of polish to the finished product

After analysing our video I can see all these points clearly and definately agree with all of them. Also we recieved feedback from our classmates who watched the video. Most was very good and there seemed to be many comments complmenting the professional look of the final piece.

Our final piece was given an A grade unoffically by our teacher as an accurate estimate according to his mark scheme. Comments from classmates further suggested similar.

I think that Money does fit the brief to create a two minute opening to a new thriller film with titles. Although there are some small elements that could be improved I think it came out very well. Compared to our initial storyboard the final product has changed significantly but the main attributes, the logos, the long title sequence, and footage at the end has not changed.

In my opinion I think the finished product is much better than our original plan.

Feedback from our first shoot

2009-04-20T16:03:00.000-07:00

First Shooting : Evaluation and feedback
When we went shooting for the first time we gathered many shots even if we were not going to use them we decided it was better to have more than not enough. We took out our equipment (camera, tripod, props ) and also took our storyboard as we felt this would give us a rough guide of what shots to film. This assisted us during the process however we did realise there were not enough shots in our storyboard. This forced us to do some improvisation at the time. We started filming in the train station. Everyone had ago but it ended up being mainly me behind the lense. I also took photographs of specific locations i felt that I could possibly use in the opening credits, these where likely to be animated or painted over by the use of CGI. Our main actor at this point Matthew was not yet accustomed to the filming and we had various shots that could not be used due to he would glimpse into the lense. There was no dialogue in this scene as it was just Matthew roaming the area.

Once we shown our initial footage to our teacher, we became aware that most of our shots we had were poor quality. These are the main factors our footage at this stage lacked:
- the actors looked at the camera in some shots
- the location choice in a few of the shots were poor and unjustified
- the general plot was to fast paced and elaborate for the 'opening' of a thriller
- we lacked variation of camera angles and shot types/distances

Other feedback:
- too many shots
- doesn't have to be an ending to the two minute extract
- improve continuity

We decided on some changes for our next filming session:

Change the angles to keep the audience engaged.
Set a time during the day that will be suitable, for example light weather no rain/ darkness.
Make a more detailed accurate set of directions/storyboard so straightaway actors know exactly what they have to do in each scene.

Choosing a title

2009-04-20T16:01:00.001-07:00

Title name ?

After some debate and some good helpful input from our teacher we decided to call our thriller "Money". This is short, punchy, easy to remember. It will stick in the audiences mind. Also money is a matter so common that audience members can relate to it.

This title also enables the audience to think of issues and questions whilst watching the film. For example:

- the fight and or disruption it can cause between individuals.

- the importance of money in society

- how desperate people get over having lots of money

As the story-line is one of espionage in which a crime-mastermind ( played by Will Miles ) steals millions from a London Bank and the spy hero ( played by Matt James ) hunts him down, as the plot revolves around theft and wealth it seems only appropriate that the title Money links in with all of the films aspects.

My progress

2009-04-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

My progression

I believe that I have made significant progression since the start of my AS media coursework. I entered this project with a thorough and advanced understanding of software, already knowing adobe photoshop, adobe flash and imovie very well, aswell as basic skills in more advanced programs such as premiere pro and adobe after effects. Since the beginning I have quickly learned premiere pro aswell as the other softwares. As I was assigned animator as my main job in the group all these skills were crucial for me when creating the title sequence. My skills using the camera have also increased greatly although I still do struggle with getting a smooth pan or tilt. I have learnt how to edit and create continuity through a piece of video. I do feel I have exceeded my boundaries of what was expected as I often took the roles of other members on occasions including directing and editing on several occasions. Whether this is a good thing I do not know. Although I did stray from my station often to help or assist others in different roles I done this for the benefit of the team rather than to interfere. Our team however have gotten along very real and are creating excellent work to show for it.

I feel the I have gained most experience and skill through post production and working in a team in this project.

I feel the area I least gained experience in was in casting and directing.

Current progress

2009-04-20T15:54:00.002-07:00

Progress so far

Since our last filming session I have finished our title sequence which looks very good and we are planning one last filming session to capture our last footage needed. In the next filming session we will only take shots of our hero in the extract -Matt- this is due to all of the shots from his last scene being blurry due to camera and technical difficulties. Meaning that all of the previous shots taken are satisfactory despite the picture quality. This is good for us as it means that we know exactly how each shot should we just need to reshoot them clearer.

We have also been looking at songs in which we could use that would best fit with our particular genre (action-thriller). This is because the last song in which we chose did not fit well with our narrative. Since then we have been conducting wider research into copy-right free music and audio tracks.

Filming session 10/02/09

2009-04-20T15:54:00.001-07:00

Filming session 10/02/09

For our last filming session only used one of our actors "Matt" because previously we had shot Wills scene so this was all that was left. We knew exactly what needed to be filmed whilst filming Matt's shots . We decided to re-film the shots that we needed to ensure that they looked as accurate as possible instead of trying to do as much as possible in the time we had. Lawrence and I had clearly become stable cinematographers Lawrence proberly being the better due to a steadier hand. We filmed on and off the train, also as we were filming at a later time in the day alot more people where coming off the trains which meant that we gained more extras for a piece increasing the films realism greatly. The overall running of the filming session went smoothly and we occured no probelms throughout.

cancelled shooting

2009-03-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

Our group planned to shoot some more on the 5th but due to a number of difficulties, the main being that our actor had no transport to the location, we had to rearrange the shoot for sunday. Then after thinking we realised that trains don't stop at iver station (our location) on sundays so once again we had to change to shoot to tuesday. If all goes successfully then that will be our final shoot and we will have four days to edit it all together, the title sequence, wills scene and matts scene. I expect when it is all together it will last alot more than 3mins which is good because we can then edit it more and cut out the worse/unneeded shots.

Filming session 26/02

2009-03-08T09:15:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, we filmed will -one of our actors- inside our location choice. Instead of shooting as many different scenes as we could, we decided to specialise in certain areas of the shot.
For example: shooting will from a POV shot instead of just a MS or LS

We used our creativity and initiative to try and evolve our narrative so that it made more sense.

In past filming sessions we found we tended to drift away from our storyboard shots and started improvising too much. Also we wouldn't shoot the same shit enough times, this ment there was less chance of getting the perfect shot. We were much stricter this time and it paid off well. Our footage was very good and we are currently editing it.

The BBFC ( certificates )

2008-11-30T07:41:00.000-08:00

Symbol	Name	Definition
	Universal Children	Suitable for all, but especially made for children under 7 years of age.
	Universal	All ages admitted, there is nothing unsuitable for children.
	Parental Guidance	All ages admitted, but parents are advised that certain scenes may be unsuitable for children under 13
	12 Accompanied	Suitable for those aged 12 and over. Those aged under 12 are only admitted if accompanied by an adult at all times during the performance (replaced the standard 12 certificate for cinema releases only in 2002)
	12	Suitable for those aged 12 and over. No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a 12 rated VHS, DVD or game (home media only since 2002)
	15	Suitable for those aged 15 and over. Nobody younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated VHS, DVD or game.
	18	Suitable for those aged 18 and over. Nobody younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated VHS, DVD or game.
	Restricted 18	Suitable for those aged 18 and over. May only be shown at licensed cinemas or sold at sex shops, and only to people aged 18 or over.

The British Board of Film Classification decides which films are to be given which ratings. Her is a basic overview of what defines each certificate and therefore what you would expect to see in each are.

The below information is the exact statistics the BBFC use to determine film certificates. The information below was taken from www.bbfc.co.uk

12 – Suitable for 12 years and over. No-one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. No-one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video or DVD. Responsibility for allowing under-12s to view lies with the accompanying or supervising adult.

Theme

Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers.

Language

The use of strong language (eg 'fuck') must be infrequent. Racist abuse is also of particular concern.

Nudity

Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet.

Sex

Sexual activity may be implied. Sex references may reflect what is likely to be familiar to most adolescents but should not go beyond what is suitable for them.

Violence

Violence must not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood. Sexual violence may only be implied or briefly and discreetly indicated.

Imitable techniques

Dangerous techniques (eg combat, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on imitable detail or appear pain or harm free. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Horror

Sustained moderate threat and menace are permitted. Occasional gory moments only.

Drugs

Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or instructional.

'15' – Suitable only for 15 years and over

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 or DVD.

Theme

No theme is prohibited, provided the treatment is appropriate to 15 year olds.

Language

There may be frequent use of strong language (eg 'fuck'). But the strongest terms (eg 'cunt') will be acceptable only where justified by the context. Continued aggressive use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable.

Nudity

Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail. There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or educational context.

Sex

Sexual activity may be portrayed but without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour.

Violence

Violence may be strong but may not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. Scenes of sexual violence must be discreet and brief.

Imitable techniques

Dangerous techniques (eg combat, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on imitable detail. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised.

Horror

Strong threat and menace are permitted. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable.

Drugs

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

'18' – Suitable only for adults

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.

In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC's public consultations, at '18' the BBFC's guideline concerns will not normally override the wish that adults should be free to chose their own entertainment, within the law. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

where material or treatment appears to the Board to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – e.g. any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which is likely to promote the activity. The Board may also intervene with portrayals of sexual violence which might, e.g. eroticise or endorse sexual assault.
the more explicit images of sexual activity – unless they can be exceptionally justified by context and the work is not a 'sex work'.

Continuity Task

2008-11-29T13:46:00.000-08:00

We had a small set of brief objectives to complete in our continuity task. Our main objective was to film an actor enter a room, converse with another actor and exit. I believe we achieved this well. After creating a storyboard of each step in which i drew the images for and Clare annotated we began looking for a location to shoot. After choosing the Winter Gardens for our location ( this choice was made due to good lighting there and good sound quality in that area ) we began filming.

Due to one of the members of our group missing and being very short on time I ended up having to act in our continuity task. This allowed Clare to use the camera- which is something that she hadn’t done before. She filmed some great shots during the shot reverse shot sequence however her panning was rather juddery and she did need some technical support. Although the camera was not as effective as it could have been I feel that Clare gained alot of valid and useful experience from this.

Once filmed the video was given to me to be edited, considering the time I had and the amount of film I had to work with I think I done a good job. I moved a shot which was in the middle of the scene to the beginning to introduce the character and setting before the event reinforcing the realism of the extract. I also added fades at the beginning and end which helped the scene feel smoother. If we were to do this again I would change two things:

1: Have another actor instead of me so I could therefore help Clare and be more involved

2: Shot the shots several times more so that we had more clips to choose from.

Despite this I believe that the text created was successful and followed the guidelines originally set.

Practice continuity task

2008-11-29T05:08:00.000-08:00

Our task for our group was to create a scene with a small plot ( mainly beening a conversation ) and film it using shot reverse shot when needed.
In my opinion, the acting was adequate, however, as I would rather not prefer to undertake the important role of acting i decided to to get behind the camera and film for this task. I found it particularly enjoyable although the outcome was poor. Our opening started great with a good long shot and smooth cuts and close ups. However when it came to the shot reverse shot scene I made a huge mistake by breaking the 180 degree rule. From this i have learnt how to avoid breaking this important rule. We managed to work well together even with a member missing. We practiced each shot and then took the real take.
The editing and sound were well constructed and it was clear to hear what the actor and actress were saying. There were also fades at the start and end of the scene which helped it flow and made it look alot neater.

They video for this will be up shortly

Practice animatic

2008-11-29T04:48:00.000-08:00

The first task set to our group was to create an animatic. This involved doing the following three steps
:1. Creating a storyboard for a scene from a horror movie.
2.Uploading the images of the storyboard onto the apples
3.Creating an animatic with use of effects and sound to create a feel of how our scene would look filmed.

I found the task fairly easy but this may because i have large experience in using the apple software and cameras. First we decided our storyboard, i drew the pictures whilst Clare and Lawence directed me and decided shot lengths and other factors. After this i photographed the skecthes and imported them into Premire Pro. My particular role within the task was creating the animatic whilst Clare and Lawence directed me on how they wanted it to look. I also dded my opinion when i felt it valid. Afterwards I added a soindtrack then exported it. I feel the task went very well and smoothly. I think our animatic was very good had only a few small flaws for example the last shot of the blood splattering on the doorhandle could have been a better drawing and maybe a few more shots coulld have been added in and the drawings improved. Apart from these few small factors i feel it was good.

What is a thriller ?

2008-11-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

What is a Thriller

Genres help categorise films and programmes into sections. There are many different types of genre throughout film. Certain genres in turn carry their own codes and conventions, these allowaudiences to engage and understand aspects that create a certain atmosphere through the film.

With the thriller genre its main purpose is to develop a sense of anticipation, tension and uncertainty with the audience, causing them to feel "on edge'. Thrillers are designed to keep the viewer or reader anxious with suspense and action. Thrillers have also been produced in the theatre, books and television media. The thriller genre is very large, and thrillers often overlap with other genres, for example, there are horror thrillers aswell as romantic thrillers which often differ highly.

Audiences enjoy the gripping story lines and suspense seen in thriller films, this makes the genre very popular.

Codes and conventions such as the settings, characters and narrative all our key justifiers and help to establish the genre.

Following the codes and conventions of the genre these thrillers usually involve clever heros, elaborate story lines exotic settings and sudden plot twists. These combined with other media effects can create suspense thats almost unwatchable.

The plots of thrillers can vary widely due to the amount of sub genres. Supernatural thrillers will be centered round a unexplainable event or mysterious antagonist. Crime thrillers often focus on a main character trying to solve a mysterious event forcing them to contend with biological agents or unusually happenings. One of the most recognizable thrillers is the spy thriller which almost always features an often heroic and attractive spy who must confront and defeat a enemy that has far greater power then them.

Sub Genres of Thrillers:

Action thriller - In which the work often features a race against the clock, contains lots of violence, and an obvious antagonist. These films usually contain large amounts of guns, explosions, and large elaborate set pieces for the action to take place. Notable examples are James Bond films.

Conspiracy thriller - In which the hero/heroine confronts a large, powerful group of enemies whose true extent only he/she recognizes.

Crime thriller - This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Crime thrillers usually emphasize action over psychological aspects. Central topics of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central ingredients. Example, The Godfather.

Disaster thriller - In which the main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster, such as floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc., or nuclear disasters as an artificial disaster.

Drama thriller - In which the story consists of the elements of a thriller and drama film. These films are usually slower paced and involves a great deal of character development along with plot twists. Examples include The Illusionist, The Interpreter and The Prestige.

Eco-thriller - In which the protagonist must avert or rectify an environmental or biological calamity - often in addition to dealing with the usual types of enemies or obstacles present in other thriller genres. This environmental component often forms a central message or theme of the story. Examples include Nicholas Evans's The Loop, C. George Muller's Echoes in the Blue, and Wilbur Smith's Elephant Song, all of which highlight real-life environmental issues. Futuristic Eco-thrillers are of the Science Fiction genre.

Erotic thriller - In which it consists of erotica and thriller. It has become popular since the 1980s and the rise of VCR market penetration. The genre includes films such as Fatal Attraction.

Horror thriller - In which conflict between the main characters are mental, emotional, and physical. Two recent examples of this include the Saw series of films and the Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later. What sets the horror thriller apart is the main element of fear throughout the story. The main character is not only up against a superior force, but they are or will soon become the victims themselves and directly feel the fear that comes by attracting the monster's attention.

Legal thriller - In which the lawyer-heroes/heroines confront enemies outside, as well as inside, the courtroom and are in danger of losing not only their cases but their lives. The Innocent Man by John Grisham is a well known example of the type.

Medical thriller - In which the hero/heroine are doctors or medical personnels working to solve an expanding medical problem. Robin Cook, Tess Gerristen, Michael Crichton, and Gary Braver are well-known authors of this subgenre. Nonfiction medical thrillers are also a subcategory, comprising works like The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. Films such as Awake are other examples of medical thrillers.

Political thriller - In which the hero/heroine must ensure the stability of the government that employs him. The success of Seven Days in May (1962) by Fletcher Knebel, The Day of the Jackal (1971) by Frederick Forsyth, and The Manchurian Candidate (1959) by Richard Condon established this sub-genre. A more recent example is the 1980 film "Agency".

Psychological thriller - In which (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. The Alfred Hitchcock films Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, and Strangers on a Train and David Lynch's bizarre and influential Blue Velvet are notable examples of the type, as is The Sixth Sense by M. Night Shyamalan and The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (who also wrote Strangers).

Spy thriller (also a subgenre of spy fiction) - In which the hero is generally a government agent who must take violent action against agents of a rival government or (in recent years) terrorists. Examples include From Russia with Love by Ian Fleming, The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum, and television series such as Mission: Impossible and 24 (the latter demonstrating a break from the norm by Robert Ludlum, as it is as much a psychological thriller as a spy thriller.)

Supernatural thriller - In which the conflict is between main characters, usually one of which has supernatural powers. Carrie by Stephen King and Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan and Torchwood are notable examples of this genre. This type of thriller combines tension of the regular thriller with such basic horror oriented ingredients as ghosts, the occult, and psychic phenomenon; the supernatural thriller combines these with a frightening but often restrained film. They also generally eschew the more graphic elements of the horror film in favor of sustaining a mood of menace and unpredictability; supernatural thrillers often find the protagonists either battling a malevolent paranormal force or trapped in a situation seemingly influenced or controlled by an other-worldly entity beyond their comprehension.

Techno-thriller - A work that usually focuses upon military action, in which technology (usually military technology) is described in detail and made essential to the reader's/viewer's understanding of the plot. Tom Clancy defined and popularized the genre with his The Hunt for Red October, and is considered to be the "Father of the Technothriller."

-Taken from:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thriller_(genre)#Sub-genres