Music

For the section taking part during our title sequence, i.e the actors names and film title we will be using a sound called, ghost 1.wav. The clip starts off slowly at the beginning so we would need to cut that out, this will be ok due to the clip of film we need it for is only around 30 seconds and the music is 51 seconds. For when our character is running, or for our shots in the woods we plan to use a sound called, distriff_2.wav as it is disturbing and interrupts the peacefulness. As its only 14 seconds long we will need to repeat it. For shot 1 we will have a sound called cellos down down.wav which is a slow eery sound that will gradually build up the tension. As the clip is 21 seconds we will have to extend the panning shots to make them in time with the music. This will help us to lengthen our piece out as it is slighlty short of 2 minutes.
For our party scene we will be using diegetic sound, as it will be difficult be match music to the shot as we need people to dance in unison with the music and doing this would be hard to do.

Our party scene will include a sound called Chaser RMX 2.wav as it is only 7 seconds long it may have to be repeated.

shooting schedule.

day 1.
Location : My Bathroom.
Props: tap, blond wig, black/dark brown wig, mirror, makeup, makeup bag & hairbrush.
Shot numbers: 1 3 6 7 8 and 14.
the camera will stay in the same position from the end of shot 1. The camera only moves when it pans the bathroom.

Location: My bedroom
Props: wardrobe, jeans/trousers, jumpers, skirts, shorts, shoes, bags, mobile phone, bed, blonde wig, television.
Shot numbers: 17 24, 25 & 26.
camera will be in the same place for 24 and 26.

Location: My Kitchen
Props: knife, water, ketchup, and Clock.
shot numbers: 4 and 9.


day 2.
Location: blaby woods, bouskall park.
Props: trees, bike
shot numbers: 12, 13, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23.
camera will remain in the same position for 16, 18, 20 and 23.

day 3
location: drama studio, Winchester road
props: flashing lights from the drama studio, blonde wig, black/brown wig, glow sticks.
shot numbers: 2, 19
the camera will not be in the same place for either shot.

day 4
Location: ollie park, whetstone church and Grave yard.
Props: gate, swings, church, gravestones.
shot numbers: 5, 10, 11, 15.
the camera will not be in the same place for any of these shots.

Risk Assesment.

As part of our planning for our final film piece we have taken into account some likely risks.
While filming in my bathroom we need to take into account dropping the camera in the sink, slipping over in the shower when filming. These risks can be reduced by cleaning the shower before filming in there, and not wearing socks in there. And keeping the camera on a tripod so we are unable to drop it. My bathroom is rather small, so if a lot of people are moving around tripping over peoples feet or the legs of the tripod could occur, this could be prevented by only having the people we need in the bathroom.

While filming outside in the dark, we may experience a lot more accidents, this could be wiped out due to having torches, and making sure we are aware of surroundings and be careful when we are moving around. As we plan to film near busy roads, we need to watch where we are going so we don't end up going off the path by accident. Whilst filming the knife shot, be extra careful when handling the knife and make sure no one steps on it when it's on the floor. Filming on a bike could cause a lot more accidents, so we must make sure we are familiar with the surroundings we will be riding in, be careful whilst riding the back and make sure we don't drop the camera.

While filming the swings in the park, make sure people don't walk directly in front of the swings so decreases the risk of getting hit. While Filming in the dark we may run into other members of the public, this could be wiped out by using torches while filming and being careful and stay aware of surroundings. Also hitting people, the camera, or the window whilst throwing objects out of the wardrobe is a big problem, we need to make sure we aim where we will throw the objects and practice it before using the camera. Also being chased by Dogs in Balskell Park could be a big problem, we need to make sure there aren't any dogs close by before we film.


Now we have identified the risks we can illuminate injuries to cast members or any memebers of the public.

gothika

Gothika,was created in 2003, a horror/supernatural thriller movie directed by Mathieu Kassovitz and written by Sebastian Gutierrez, is the story of a psychiatrist (played by Halle Berry) in a women's mental hospital who wakes up one day to find herself on the other side of the bars, accused of having murdered her husband.

Gothika is the story of a psychiatrist, Dr. Miranda Grey (Halle Berry), who works at a mental hospital and has a car accident after trying to avoid a girl on a road during a stormy night, while driving back home. She rushes to try to help the girl, who turns out to be a ghost of the deceased daughter of her boss (Bernard Hill). The girl, in turn, gets possession of Miranda's body by burning her after she extended her hand to the girl.
Miranda next wakes up in the very hospital she works for, but as a patient treated by her co-worker, Dr. Pete Graham (Robert Downey Jr.). Drugged and confused, she remembers nothing of what happened after the car accident. To her horror, she learns that her husband Douglas (Charles S. Dutton) was brutally murdered and that she is the primary suspect.
While Miranda copes with her new life in the hospital, the ghost uses her body to carry out messages (most noticeably, she carves the words "not alone" into Miranda's arm) which leads her former colleagues to believe Miranda is suicidal and is inflicting the wounds on herself.
Meanwhile, Miranda bonds with one of her former patients (who is now her fellow inmate), Chloe Sava (Penélope Cruz). Several times in sessions, Chloe had claimed that she'd been raped while in the hospital, but Miranda had always attributed these stories to mental illness. One night the door to Miranda's room in the hospital is opened by the ghost that has been haunting her. When she passes Chloe's room in the hospital, she can hear the rape occurring and momentarily sees a man's chest pressed against the window. The man's chest bears a tattoo of an anima sola. Miranda realizes that Chloe was not making up these stories, and when she sees Chloe the next day, she apologizes, and the two embrace. Chloe warns Miranda that her attacker was going to target Miranda next.
Miranda begins regaining some of her memories bit by bit, and slowly comes to remember herself killing her husband. She realizes that the ghost had used her body to murder Doug. This is why all of the physical evidence points to Miranda.
Miranda escapes the hospital, having recognized the girl as a ghost. Seeking clues to the mystery of why she killed her husband, she goes to a farmhouse in Willow Creek, Rhode Island. In the cellar of the barn she discovers a room containing a blood-stained bed, what appears to be a box containing injectable drugs, restraints, and video equipment. She watches the tape that is still in the camera and the viewer hears a woman screaming as if tortured or raped. In the final seconds of the video, which the viewer sees, Doug is seen covering a woman's lifeless body on the bed with a sheet. At this point, police arrive, and one officer comes closer to Miranda and draws a gun to her while she is holding a knife to him. Miranda backs up to a stair case, and all of a sudden a pair of hands are seen coming from between the stairs, and they wrap around Miranda. The hands belong to an injured, franticly screaming girl trapped in the crawlspace behind the stair case. She is one of the girls kidnapped and raped by Doug. The police release the girl, and Miranda is arrested and taken to jail.
While waiting in jail, the sheriff (John Carroll Lynch), who was Doug's closest friend, listens sympathetically to Miranda's idea that the rapist with the anima sola tattoo was also Doug's accomplice. Insulted by Miranda's unflattering psychological profile, and realizing that she suspects him, the sheriff reveals that he is the accomplice with the tattoo and attacks Miranda. Miranda kills the sheriff in an act of self defense, with the help of the ghost.
After proving their innocence and sanity, Miranda and Chloe are released from the asylum a few months later. Miranda claims to be free of the ghost's influence, but finds that she has become a medium and still sees ghosts, one as a young boy standing in the middle of the road. As she walks away, a poster is seen with the words "Have you seen Tim?", and a picture of the same boy.

• Dark castle entertainment is a division of Silver Pictures, a production house affiliated with Warner Brothers. It was formed in 1999 by Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis, and Gilbert Adler.
  Dark Castle Entertainment's name pays homage to William Castle, a horror filmmaker from the 1950s and 60s. When first formed, the goal of Dark Castle was to remake William Castle's horror films. After two Castle remakes, it moved on to producing original material, along with remakes of non-Castle films. Starting with RocknRolla, the company began producing genre films other than just horror. Dark Castle entertainment and Columbia are incharge of producing the film.
• alot of diegetic sound is used in the opening such as an eery sound,this could be done using something like violin/strings.
• dissolves are used to cut from the production companies to the distrubtion companies.
• Columbia pictures and Warner Brothers pictures appear, before the disappear again with a 'zoom out' effect. blurred white font is used showing that the text isnt important to the film narrative or that someone doesnt want us to see it. The next title is out of focus and close up before then zooming out and is in focus on a black background, representing good on evil.
• The main actress' name Halle Berry, appears first showing the audience that it will be her that we see the most in the film and her that got the most money for being in this film.The film title then appears showing that the lead actress is more important that the film name.
• Non-diegetic sound of girl talking/whispering in a husky voice is played before the title dissolves into a clip of the girl who's talking making the sound now diegetic. And also creating confusing to the audience as they are unaware of who's the voice is that could disorientate them.
• Low-key lighting is used which creates a shadow on one side of face and eliminates that fact that she's very pale as well.
• Her hair is ruffled, eyes look puffy which are mise-en-scene and done dileberatly unwell or to show the girl is distressed in some other way not her physical self or getting much sleep.
• Point of view shot from patient of the main actress shows a meeting allowing audience to see the relationship. Although it could look like a police investiagation, but we later come to see its a psychologist and patient. The psychologists character is presented as neat, professional looking with her hair slightly up and away from face which emphasises that she's a professional and at work, and is a total contrast to the patient.
• There is then a point of view shot with a reverse shot then it cuts again to the doctor creating uncertainty to the audience.
• Diegetic sound of patient still talking but they aren't seen in the clip could be seen as non-diegetic though, could have been done to confuse the audience or to show that the girl's information is important.
• A panning shot from behind the wired fence suggests that the patient feels trapped.
  Shot still behind wired fence while the patient is talking about her step-father, this suggests she feels like he's trapping her.
• Over the shoulder shot shows that the director wanted us to see the world from the girls view.
• Non-diegetic sound is used as very faint string music can be heard.
  Diegetic sound of gates being buzzed open at the psychiatric hospital breaks the string music representing the next clip will break the peace of the film.
• Girl is talking peacefully and then has a sudden outburst, accompanied by non-diegetic electrical/electro sound to emphasise the situation and make the audience feel tense.
• Non-diegetic, eery slow music which doesnt last more than a few notes it could be an organ playing but its unsure which makes the audience feel unsafe.
  
• Patient grabs the doctors hand, in order to make the audience jump, and links to the organ sound, just speeded up.
• Camera movement speeds up and pans 180 degrees to the back of doctors head and reveals the patient to us. The shot starts with the patients face lit and then after the 180 degree pan her face has a shadow on it. suggesting she has a dark side or is experiencing dark things. The light and dark on her each half of her face contrasts showing a good and bad side to her personality and that she should be seen as unreliable.
• When backing away the whole of her face is in darkness showing that something evil has totally taken over her or alternatively she is keeping a dark secret that is beginning to eat away at her and take over her life.
• She's taken away by guards and is she's screaming, the main characer walks away showing a contrast between the two people and how the main character is able to just walk away from these situations after shes done her work, but the girl needs help to be dragged away from her problems.
• Other actors names appear on screen - dissolve and zooming out then dissolve showing that they arent as important to the film as halle berry.
• a Tracking shot of character symbolises the camera tracking their wereabouts.
• Non-diegetic music from piano and strings is eery and mysterious.
• Depth of field shot shows the patient screaming and gets put in a cell and then quickly switches focus to the doctor walking in the foreground. Symbolising the doctor walking to into the patients life.
• Tracking/panning shot of character walking. symbolising that the patient is being tracked by someone.
• Their Job has been confirmed by shot of sign when she walks through security even though it has been established all the way through this opening sequence that she is a psychologis/psychiatrist. This is also shown by people in orange jump suits.
• Director's name appears last and the title sequence is over.

This is a strong psychological thriller opening because of the use of non-diegetic music which builds up suspense and tension. Also the use of low-key lighting throughout, and the use of camera shots and where it is placed, for example behind wire fencing.

Film certificate.

i toke this from The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) website, as they are in charge of giving all new films a age rating as to what the required age is to watch the film. We researched this in order to give our film an appropriate rating and in order to conduct our audience research.

Videos classified 'Uc' are particularly suitable for pre-school children and normally raise none of the issues set out below. It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. U films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.
Theme;Treatment of problematic themes must be sensitive and appropriate for a younger audience.

Language;Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.

Nudity;Occasional natural nudity, with no sexual context.

Sex;Mild sexual behaviour (eg kissing) and references only (eg to ‘making love’).

Violence;Mild violence only. Occasional mild threat or menace only.

Imitable techniques;No emphasis on realistic or easily accessible weapons. No potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy.

Horror;Horror effects should be mild and brief and should take account of the presence of very young viewers. The outcome should be reassuring.

Drugs;No references to illegal drugs or drug misuse unless there is a clear educational purpose or clear anti-drug message suitable for the audience.

'PG' Parental Guidance - General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young childrenUnaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.
Theme;Where more serious issues are featured (eg domestic violence, racist abuse) nothing in their treatment should condone the behaviour.

Language;Mild bad language only.

Nudity;Natural nudity, with no sexual context.

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

Violence;Moderate violence, without detail, may be allowed, if justified by its setting (eg historic, comedy or fantasy).

Imitable techniques;No glamorisation of realistic or easily accessible weapons. No detail of potentially dangerous behaviour which young children are likely to copy.

Horror;Frightening sequences should not be prolonged or intense. Fantasy settings may be a mitigating factor.

Drugs;Any references to illegal drugs or drug misuse must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message.

12A – 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 overNo-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. But the strongest terms 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 adultsNo-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' - rated R18.

Our Film will be certificate 15, as it includes horror that is unsuitable for a 12. This also makes our research into our audience as we can ask our peers on there views of our storyboards as well as asking people who are over the age of 15, as they would be able to watch it as well. Our film will be based at people aged 15 to about 18, and this will be who we conduct our audience research on.

planning for final piece.

21st of Novemeber
finished editing preminilary exercise, started planning final piece.

Production company - Black Forest productions.
- Film club productions.

Actors
the main character is Charli, she will be a shown as a blonde = purity & innocence.
shown in titles in a Polaroid picture, with her name written underneath.

Lucy will be the ghostly girl who appears in the mirror behind Charli,
Helena, Tom, Tom, Jenny, Georgie, Amy & others to be in party scene.
confirmed

Locations used.
My Bathroom, Kitchen & bedroom.
the woods in Blaby.
Main road that connects countesthorpe to blaby.
theatre - need to book it.
Whetstone Church - need to check ok to film

We will need
a tap.
a mirror
a hairbrush/ makeup
a knife
a clock.
a blonde wig
a brown/black wig
glowsticks.
make up bag
church
grave stones
metal gate
swings
wardrobe - shorts, t-shirts, jeans/trousers, shoes, bags, skirts, jumpers, dresses.
mobile phone
bed

Wednesday 26th Novemeber - started drawing out the first page of our storyboard, we unable to finish it this lesson due to lack of time and constantly producing new ideas. We started off by drawing all the ideas and then starting again a fresh when we are able to order the clips but at the moment we are still running new ideas off each other.

Thursday 27th Novemeber- We began to order our storyboard, and research into our target audience. Also charli asked Amy Helena and Lucy about starting in our piece and all have confirmed.

Inbetween these dates we completed our storyboard and added small sections due to it not being long enough, as it was only 55 secs until we added a 30 second actor piece which led it to be 1 min 25 sections. We tweaked our storyboard some more and have got it close enough to 2 mins with some time left over incase clips are needed to be extended or needed to add small clips in.

Friday 5th Decemeber- Charli and i created a mind map of possible name for our film piece...
and decided that The Mentality would be the best name as it means irrational way of thinking. We feel this is appropriate as our film consises of a teenage girl appearing to imagine seeing and hearing things. We came up with using the, as many other films in the thriller genre do so such as:

• the ring


• the usual suspect


• the grudge


• the french connection


• The Lady From Shanghai.

Storyboards;
These are the storyboards and extra information that goes along side our storyboard.

Charli and i have decieded to start filming after exams in January, due to time being consentrated on revision. However i think we may need to start earlier than this as we could end up with alot of rushing around and not leaving enough time to consider technical problems or problems involving other people using equitment. Our shooting schedule recomemends that it will take us four days to film our piece leaving us enough time to edit.

19th december - started to plan our music and sound for our final piece.

preliminary piece.

This is our final preliminary piece. it didnt go quite as well as we predicted due to the lack of sound quality on the speech. The soundtrack we used came from http://www.freesound.org/ collecting this gave us a few problems as it wasted alot of time looking for a correct sound, and trying to download it also caused us problems. Leading to us over running on time.

Storyboards

This is the first page of our storyboard. We kept many of the shots the same, although originally we aimed to include only Charli and I in our piece but needed another actor as someone needed to operate the camera.

This sheet of the storyboard becomes confusing as on my original storyboard there was colour to represent the difference between Teacher and Student. The scanner however was unable to pick up colour.

Thrillers

Thriller is a broad genre which includes many, often overlapping sub-genres. Some of these sub-genres are :-

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 the 'James Bond' films and 'The Transporter'.

Pyschological thriller - In which 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'.

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'.

Silence of the lambs

The opening shot shows a pale, watery sky with trees silhouetted. The font in which the text appears on screen is a type face font which appears in the bottom right corner, to establish the location. There is then a pan down to reveal the main character running into shot, climbing a rope and then running into the next shot. The shots are linked through the theory that the character runs into them.

There is a tracking shot which follows the character as she runs, which is filmed from behind some trees to show that she is running, using a medium shot to show that she is running. Before the camera zooms in to close up shot from side-on in an offset frame. A cut in feature then shows feet running, before the camera switches to a mid shot of the character running and then an extreme close up to show distance.

The use of violins and strings is slow and atmospheric to hint towards mystery.

Mise-en-scene shows details, such as where the character works, why shes running, and hints at ideas about what could happen.

• The FBI caps, showing they work in the FBI.
• tracksuits, showing that keeping fit is important.
• characters in uniform, such as all men in red tops.
• men wearing shirts, and suits, showing that what they do is important
• signs on the wall, so audience get a sense of what happens in the building.
• a grey office type building, showing something important happens.

The titles; begin with stars names and ends with director's. Using a black block font, with a white outline. Other important figures are also included in the titles such as the producers, excetitive producers, screenplay, director of photography, and designers. The text establishes Jodie Foster as the leading actor, and her character as the main focus of interest. She is represented as a strong women in a man's world. Well respected by those around her as well as being tough and determined

opening to 'The Interpreter'.

The pace of the title sequence is quite slow, and starts with a prologue where the titles are stopped as to not disrupt the narrative. The title sequence starts off with universal studies, and then the four different production companies. The title sequence involves the sound of wind blowing, creating an unsure, uneasy openness. The non diegetic sound, is taken from the next shot. The actors names come zooming out and then dissolve into the black background behind. The prologue is slow paced, and as it finishes reveals the more or less abandoned setting.

An establishing shot, establishes the setting in Africa, showing a traditional women carrying things on her head, with a hazy mist and alot of dust, coming off the roads to show that it isn't filmed in a rich, industrialised country.
The shots then skip to a forward time, with the camera on a crane, helping to establish the place. The African setting is also hinted at due to chanting, which could be either diegetic or non diegetic. Its difficult to establish what is going on, until the camera focuses on the three characters in the jeep, and zooms into the notebook in the hand of one of the characters. We are unable to read what the notebook says, but can tell that its important due to the zoom in on it, the camera then zooms back out and cuts to an exterior shot.

The camera cuts from each character, shot reverse shot, with dialogue to accompany it but its unclear as to what is said due to it not being in English. The camera then switches to the back of the car along side the characters, with hints of there being a a mass slaughter, and they are there to investigate. Artificial sound effects are heard, showing that photos are being taken, when the photo is being taken it switches to a black and white, still frame showing these photos need to be taken notice of, as they could be important to the narrative. We also get the view that the setting is derelict and something happened there to make it so deserted. We can tell its deserted due to the weeds growing, and lack of windows and doors. When the "sports ground" comes into view, we get a low angle shot showing its importance in the film. There is then another establishing shot of the jeep as it pulls up in the car park, and shows how small it is compared to the sports ground. A cut in action is then cut in to remind the audience about the notebook.

As we see a silhouette in the main doorway, sound effects for a hearbeat are then heard, over exagerated showing the man in the doorway should be feered. This is a low angle shot, placed in the left third of the screen. Two of the characters from the jeep enter the sports ground, while the other with the notebook stays in the jeep. As they take a tour through, there are alot of black rooms, rudden with death bodies. We then see a child with a machine gun, who shoots two people before the names of the directors and people such as screenplay in section to both the left and the right of the screen.

This then leads to us understanding what the main characters job is, he is a interpreter. There are alot of fast paced panning shots as another car turns up, the directors name is then in white writing centered in the screen. Although there is alot of conversation in a language other than English, we don't get any subtitles so we don't know what they are saying, or what the writing means showing a need for the interpreter to be there.

There is then a cut to a UN meeting, where we hear a women's voice that appears to be translating something, there is then another cut to the security section towards the doors of a building, and their scanner machines begin to break, this then leads to a security lock down, and everyone is evaluated

duel & speed.

1. How does each try to capture the audiences attention?

Duel, tries to capture the audiences attention by opening the film with a point of view shot of a driver driving somewhere, at a high speed with what appears to be the radio but we are unsure due to the rushes tone of the speaker, it could be the characters. The audiences attention is then captured again as the point of view switches from a persons to on the front of the car [the spoiler] so it looks like a point of view shot from the car. Throughout these scenes the radio is still on as the car travels through the city and then out towards the desert plains. As the car moves through different areas the scenes are edited together with dissolves. Towards the end of the opening scenes the camera switches position from the front of the car to a over the shoulder shot of the main character in his wing mirror. The position of the camera then switches to the passenger seat where it appears to be a point of view shot, even thought there is no one there.

This captures the audiences attention as they become bewildered about where the car is going and why the driver was in such a rush to leave the city. The readers also long to find a road sign or something that shows the location they are in, or where the character is going.

Speed, captures the audiences attention using the music and scoring, as the opening scene consists of a panning shot of the lift shaft, and without the music it appears to be a repeated scene. The music is jumpy and fast paced which builds up tension and creates suspense. The way in which the actors names are shown on scream also catches attention as they are unusual and different due to them being blue, 3D and in a block capital font. The way in which the text appears on the screen also creats attention as it is wiped up after the camera pans past a metal bar, symbalising they have gone down another floor, and is wiped back up to remove the text after the camera has panned past another metal bar. When the title appears the word "speed" appears on the screen alot faster than the others, symbalising speed. It is also in alot bigger font, which is spaced out more. The music is cut out at this point to make room for a noise similar to the taking off of an aeroplane and a bang when the word finally stops on the screen. After the camera has finished panning the lift shaft, it cuts to a shot of a "caution" sign above the lift door which makes the audience question whats happening and begin to feel uncomftable.




2. Which one is more successful & why?

Speed is alot more successful as it helps to capture the audiences attention alot more and makes them want to watch on to determine why the lift has a "caution" sign above it, and as to what the building actually does due to the men in suits walking around, and the readers know the business is also important as it has many floors, which we discover later is 46. The music makes the film suspence and without this the film would be boring.

Thursday 30th October.

Couldn't start to film our preliminary piece due to use not having a DV tape, so instead did work on Narrative structure.

Vladimir Propp.
Vladimir Propp extended the Russian Formalist approach to the study of narrative structure. In the Formalist approach, sentence structures were broken down into analyzable elements, or morphemes, and Propp used this method by analogy to analyze Russian fairy tales. By breaking down a large number of Russian folk tales into their smallest narrative units, or narratemes, Propp was able to arrive at a typology of narrative structures. By analyzing character and action types, Propp concluded that there were 31 generic narratemes in the Russian folk tale. While not all were present, he found that all the tales he had analyzed displayed the functions in unvarying sequence.

Functions
After the initial situation is depicted, the tale takes the following sequence of 31 functions:
A member of a family leaves home (the hero is introduced);
An interdiction is addressed to the hero ('don't go there', 'don't do this');
The interdiction is violated (villain enters the tale);
The villain makes an attempt at reconnaissance (either villain tries to find the children/jewels etc; or intended victim questions the villain);
The villain gains information about the victim;
The villain attempts to deceive the victim to take possession of victim or victim's belongings (trickery; villain disguised, tries to win confidence of victim);
Victim taken in by deception, unwittingly helping the enemy;
Villain causes harm/injury to family member (by abduction, theft of magical agent, spoiling crops, plunders in other forms, causes a disappearance, expels someone, casts spell on someone, substitutes child etc, comits murder, imprisons/detains someone, threatens forced marriage, provides nightly torments); Alternatively, a member of family lacks something or desires something (magical potion etc);
Misfortune or lack is made known, (hero is dispatched, hears call for help etc/ alternative is that victimized hero is sent away, freed from imprisonment);
Seeker agrees to, or decides upon counter-action;
Hero leaves home;
Hero is tested, interrogated, attacked etc, preparing the way for his/her receiving magical agent or helper (donor);
Hero reacts to actions of future donor (withstands/fails the test, frees captive, reconciles disputants, performs service, uses adversary's powers against him);
Hero acquires use of a magical agent (directly transferred, located, purchased, prepared, spontaneously appears, eaten/drunk, help offered by other characters);
Hero is transferred, delivered or led to whereabouts of an object of the search;
Hero and villain join in direct combat;
Hero is branded (wounded/marked, receives ring or scarf);
Villain is defeated (killed in combat, defeated in contest, killed while asleep, banished);
Initial misfortune or lack is resolved (object of search distributed, spell broken, slain person revivied, captive freed);
Hero returns;
Hero is pursued (pursuer tries to kill, eat, undermine the hero);
Hero is rescued from pursuit (obstacles delay pursuer, hero hides or is hidden, hero transforms unrecognisably, hero saved from attempt on his/her life);
Hero unrecognized, arrives home or in another country;
False hero presents unfounded claims;
Difficult task proposed to the hero (trial by ordeal, riddles, test of strength/endurance, other tasks);
Task is resolved;
Hero is recognized (by mark, brand, or thing given to him/her);
False hero or villain is exposed;
Hero is given a new appearance (is made whole, handsome, new garments etc);
Villain is punished;
Hero marries and ascends the throne (is rewarded/promoted).
Occasionally, some of these functions are inverted, as when the hero receives something while still at home, the function of a donor occurring early. More often, a function is negated twice, so that it must be repeated three times

Characters
He also concluded that all the characters could be resolved into only 7 broad character types in the 100 tales he analyzed:
The villain — struggles against the hero.
The donor — prepares the hero or gives the hero some magical object.
The (magical) helper — helps the hero in the quest.
The princess and her father — gives the task to the hero, identifies the false hero, marries the hero, often sought for during the narrative. Propp noted that functionally, the princess and the father can not be clearly distinguished.
The dispatcher — character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off.
The hero or victim/seeker hero — reacts to the donor, weds the princess.
False hero/anti-hero/usurper — takes credit for the hero’s actions or tries to marry the princess.

These roles could sometimes be distributed among various characters, as the hero kills the villain dragon, and the dragon's sisters take on the villainous role of chasing him. Conversely, one character could engage in acts as more than one role, as a father could send his son on the quest and give him a sword, acting as both dispatcher and donor.

Tuesday 28th October 2008.

started working on preliminary piece with Charli.
used the whole double lesson to plan and write storyboard.
Idea sorted out, booked camera's for double lesson on thursday.
Need to bring in props - glasses and change of clothes for teacher to wear.






Storyline for preliminary piece.

A teacher is seen walking across 16+ in search of a pupil who owes her coursework. The puplil is found hiding in a class room, and a conversation occurs over where the pupils homework is.

pyscho

Psycho is a 1960 suspense/horror film directed by auteur Alfred Hitchcock, from the screenplay by Joseph Stefano about a psychotic killer. It is based on the novel of the same name by Robert Bloch, which was in turn inspired by the crimes of Wisconsin murderer Ed Gein.The film depicts the encounter between a secretary, Marion Crane (Janet Leigh), who is in hiding at a motel after embezzling from her employer, and the motel's owner, the lonely Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins).
It initially received mixed reviews but outstanding box-office returns, prompting a re-review which was overwhelmingly positive and led to four Academy Award nominations. Regarded today as one of Hitchcock's best films and highly praised as a work of cinematic art by international critics,Psycho is also acclaimed as one of the most effective horror films. It was a genre-defining film, and almost every scene is legendary, many having been copied or parodied. The film spawned several sequels and a remake, which are generally seen as works of lesser quality.
"The Shower Scene" has been studied, discussed, and cited countless times in print and in film courses much with debate focusing on why it is so terrifying and how it was produced, including how it passed the censors and debate over who actually directed it.


discuss the use of camera shots, movements, editing, sound and mise-en-scene.
Parlor scene
The scene begins with non diegetic sound, such as conversation between Norman and his mother, from the house, showing that there is two people in the house, and that Norman's mother isn't very happy about the fact that he is offering food to a women he doesn't know. We later find out that this is because Norman's mother takes over his personality whenever he feels a physical attraction to a girl. Norman and his mother have alot of dialogue showing an argument, which is backed up by non diegetic music, which gets louder the more angry they both become. There are two camera which switch between both characters as they talk, using Sharp cuts between both, to show the tension, and to make the audience feel as uncomfortable as Marian would.

The cameras then zoom out to reveal a house, which appears to be a cliche of a haunted house which is silhouetted in a dark and cloudy sky. The house gives the impression of gothic horror happening inside. The eary, jumpy music also builds up the tension. Mariann's hotel room is well lit, which contrasts with the darkness of the house, symbolising her purity and Norman's darkness.

Marian starts with her perspective view, whilst in conversation with Norman showing that she is control, the camera then cuts from her perspective to a long shot of both characters revealing that the door to Mariann's room is open, revealing what Norman may be thinking, and using the openness of the door as a sexual hint. The camera then changes to Norman's point of view, which disjoints the audience as they are not used to seeing his views. From Norman's POV shot we see Marian surrounded by light, showing an angelic side to her. Norman then leads Mariann into the parlor, this also defigures the audience from the change of setting.

The usual suspect

The Usual Suspects is a 1995 American neo-noir film written by Christopher McQuarrie and directed by Bryan Singer. The film tells the story of Roger "Verbal" Kint (Kevin Spacey), a small-time con man who is the subject of a police interrogation. He tells his interrogator, U.S. Customs Agent David Kujan (Chazz Palminteri), a convoluted story about events leading to a massacre and massive fire that have just taken place on a ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro Bay. Using flashback and narration, Verbal's story becomes increasingly complex as he tries to explain why he and his partners-in-crime were on the boat. The film, shot on a USD $6 million budget, originally began as nothing more than a title taken from a column in Spy magazine called "The Usual Suspects" after Claude Rains' line in Casablanca. Singer thought that it would be a good title for a film whose poster he and McQuarrie had come up with as the first visual idea. The Usual Suspects was shown out of competition at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival and then was initially released in few theaters, but received favorable reviews and was eventually given a wider release. McQuarrie won an Academy Award for the screenplay and Spacey won the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance.

The film starts with a slow opening, starting with the names of the production company, followed by the names of the actors in alphabetical order, which is unusual as they mainly go in order of appearance, or who's wages are biggest. The opening starts with a slow pan along the water, which is played on a loop. This creates a mood appropriate for the film - deliberately slow, showing it needs concentration. The film then goes straight into an extreme close up, followed by a zoom out into a medium shot, revealing a mystery figure. The usual suspect begins to question: who's vision of events is this?, towards the beginning of the film.

There is a lot of low key lighting and non diegetic sounds, of footsteps, a voice is also disguised to show that the audience are still in the dark about whats happening. We then discover that Verbal, is the one talking about a man called Kasier Soze, and opens thoughts over whether Keaten is still alive or not. The audience has formed an attachment to Keaten, so his killing isn't shown. This could also be because he may be Kaiser Soze.

We then have a dissolve to Verbal in court, with the spotlight on him. There is also an overlapping between shots. As well as bluent representation with the police dressed in suits, and the casualness of the work men. It also shows that the police lack respect for others, due to them pointing guns in their faces. There is also non-diegetic sound, as the convicts are introduced, music is played, for example Latino music is played, which suggests a latino person is about to enter. Keatens introduction is longer than anyone elses showing he is the most critical person. Low angle shots represent authority looking down on keaton, as if looking down in ashame, the next shot is then a over the head shot to represent looking down in judgement. Only one camera was used.

The usual suspect was a low budget film, so it was low on special effects and explosions due to the lack of funds.

This is a good film to study, as the director and producer produced a succesfull film with small funding. Which is what the brief states for both our preliminary piece and our final piece.

Double indemnity

Billy Wilder
Writers:James M. Cain (novel)Billy Wilder (screenplay) ...
Release Date:6 September 1944 (USA)
Genre:Crime Film-Noir Thriller
Tagline:It's Love And Murder At First Sight !

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0036775/plotsummary

Double Indemnity (1944) is an Academy Award nominated film noir starring Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, and Edward G. Robinson. The movie was directed by Billy Wilder and adapted by Wilder and Raymond Chandler from the novella of the same title by James M. Cain that first appeared in 1935 as an abridged 8-part serial in Liberty Magazine.
The story was based on a 1927 crime perpetrated by a married Queens woman and her lover. Ruth (Brown) Snyder persuaded her boyfriend, Judd Gray, to kill her husband Albert after having her spouse take out a big insurance policy—with a double-indemnity clause. The murderers were quickly identified and arrested.

The opening scene starts with a speeding car, jumping the lights in an American city. Its nightime, which is typical of Film Noir. The setting is deliberately dark, and lit by only streetlights, showing that it is not filmed in a studio but on location. A man, Neff, gets out of his car with a mysterious enigma, with his coat over his shoulders, showing that it could be filmed near winter time. The low-key lighting literally keeps us in the dark. There is also dialogue in the opening scenes hinting at key information, given to the audience by the lift operator who reveals the mans name, Neff, that he is working late - something unusual is going on and that he works in the insurance business.

The lift operator is internally put into the film to reveal this information to the audience so they wonder why he is in the office working late.

i walked with a Zombie

Was directed by Jacques Tourneur, and was the second film to be produced by Val Lewton (Vladimir Ivan Leventon) in 1943. The film was made for RKO. The film was produced to be a "horror" film but as it was a B movie it wasn't as successful as they imagined.

Val Lewton, was given the title " i walked with a Zombie" and was instructed to create a film that fits with the title.

How does the film attempt to create atmosphere in the opening scene?
The film uses alot of low key lighting in scenes such as walking to the home fort and diegetic & non-diegetic sound is used when the drums are played to show the corn is ready to be collected, and when they head towards the voodoo place.

I walked with a Zombie, has a peaceful and relaxing opening. The calm music and images of a peaceful ocean behind the credits help to calm the audience, this however creates an uncomfortable feeling, as they are unaware what to expect. The voice over of a women, is non-diegetic sound which helps to introduce the film to the audience. The lighting is concentrated on main characters, and the less important characters are shadowed. This determines who are the vital characters in the film, the women starts to give a voice over account of what happened, in her opinion, this could show that she doesn't have a very powerful position in the film, due to her blurred account of what happened.

We see the women arriving at a house, looking neat & presentable, this creates a sense of unsettlement to the audience due to the women looking "normal". The disorientates the audience. Diegetic sound occurs as hunting appears on the screen, alongside a fast pace music. This is also shadowed by the moonlight, and its low key lighting. This is contrasted with the brightness of daylight scenes.

Slavery is also shown throughout the film, with various hints toward voodoo. We can see Slavery from the diegetic sound of humming, showing a depressive mood, caused from lack of freedom. The dialogue shows how although the "workers" aren't slaves, the "whites" have more power over the "blacks".

Alot of shadowy, eary lighting is used, showing that the audience don't know exactly what is going on. As soon as the family is introduced, we find out there is some tension between the two brothers of a family, and that they have employed a women to do a certain job. Showing elements of secrecy, as we are unable to receive the whole story. Whilst identifying the characters, point of view/perspective shots are frequently used, as well as low key lighting.

References to both zombies, and voodoo occur in the opening scene crying as a child is born, and the locals are celebrating the death of someone in order for the child to be born. The story of the two brothers is also showed in a song, sang by the local people. Miss Jessica appears to be a "mental patient" although she is really a zombie, and not actually alive.

Film noir

Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as stretching from the early 1940s to the late 1950s. Film noir of this era is associated with a low-key black-and-white visual style that has roots in German Expressionist cinematography, while many of the prototypical stories and much of the attitude of classic noir derive from the hardboiled school of crime fiction that emerged in the United States during the Depression.

Film noir was most popular in the early 1940s to the late 1950s. As were crime dramas, showing moral and amigutity showing that there was no right or wrong. Film Noir started as the audiences required respect from the "Villain" type characters.
Typical characters include :

• private eye
• salesman. (good talker/charmer)
• drifter (surviving on wits)
• businessman
• trapped housewife - femme fatal

Amnesia is also a recurring theme throughout the genre with very none optimistic endings.

Before the 1960's there was such thing as the Hayes Code, which was a code created by hollywood production companies making censership stricter than it is now. Meaning that most films included fear, mistrust, loss of innocence and paranoia. They also had very strong views on sex, and Psycho was deemed "out there" for showing a women in a bra