This is our completed opening two minutes of a thriller:
- Taylor Gladwin
Wednesday, 28 April 2010
Saturday, 24 April 2010
Shots that were not included/Crow enigma shot changes
As I has explained in a previous post that we would use a shot of a group of crows because it is called a murder. This seemed like such a good idea and would create another enigma. We thought we could include this because it would be a simple job of finding a group of crows and filming them. But we found out that it was very hard. We had been told that to get into the top mark ban we need to have steady camera movement so this made it even harder for us to film crows. To start of with is too hard to actually film the crows. Firstly we couldn’t find any, the only time we saw them whilst we had a camera was after being asked to leave the abandoned house we originally planned to use. This was on a cricket field near Brentwood High Street. It was private property so we couldn’t go on but when we did set up the camera and zoomed in on them they moved around and eventually flew away. We decided that it was not a major part of our thriller and wouldn’t necessarily need to be included in the first 2 minutes and did not include it. Looking back it seems like the best thing to do because it was very time consuming and to hard to actually shoot. It did save us from wasting a lot of time but would have been very good to include.
The second shot that we had planned out but did not use was the shot that I had made a wedge for. We did not use it because the out come wasn’t good enough. When we decided to go ahead and use this shot because it would be vey effective we were thinking of a shot where the pills fell directly on the plastic which was hovering over the camera and then scatter over the floor. Once we had set it up and actually had it in action we had problems of getting the pill box and all of the tic tacs to fall in the same place in the correct spot. The first shot failed because the tic tacs got stuck in Tom’s hair but that could be changed. The second shot we just had problems of actually getting the tic tacs to fall in the right place. It was a lot harder than it seemed when we were planning it. On our third attempt the pill pot rolled across the plastic back and forth. Personally I thought that would have been good at the time but the rest of my group disagreed, just as well because when we edited it looked awful. Eventually we had a shot where we were all happy in that the pills looked like they were scattering on the floor directly under the camera.
When we were editing our footage we found that the quality of the shot was very poor because the plastic that was being hovered over the camera for the pills to fall on got very dirty. This gave a blurred image that didn’t look very professional. Another problem that we found whilst editing was we could see the movement and reflections in the plastic. As it got a little bit dirty every take you could see it jolt and move around. This was highlighted by the fact we could see a reflection of the screen on the camera in the shot. We decided that if we included this in our thriller it could instantly loose marks. We tried to crop the footage but because it was within the main action of the shot it was pretty much just an empty screen. This was not how we wanted it and decided to abandon the idea of this shot and replace it with the character in the background of the hanging shot running away from something. This worked very well because it was obvious that the character Taylor’s played had dropped the pills from previous shots and the fact he was eating them of the floor afterwards.
Bradley Hart
The second shot that we had planned out but did not use was the shot that I had made a wedge for. We did not use it because the out come wasn’t good enough. When we decided to go ahead and use this shot because it would be vey effective we were thinking of a shot where the pills fell directly on the plastic which was hovering over the camera and then scatter over the floor. Once we had set it up and actually had it in action we had problems of getting the pill box and all of the tic tacs to fall in the same place in the correct spot. The first shot failed because the tic tacs got stuck in Tom’s hair but that could be changed. The second shot we just had problems of actually getting the tic tacs to fall in the right place. It was a lot harder than it seemed when we were planning it. On our third attempt the pill pot rolled across the plastic back and forth. Personally I thought that would have been good at the time but the rest of my group disagreed, just as well because when we edited it looked awful. Eventually we had a shot where we were all happy in that the pills looked like they were scattering on the floor directly under the camera.
When we were editing our footage we found that the quality of the shot was very poor because the plastic that was being hovered over the camera for the pills to fall on got very dirty. This gave a blurred image that didn’t look very professional. Another problem that we found whilst editing was we could see the movement and reflections in the plastic. As it got a little bit dirty every take you could see it jolt and move around. This was highlighted by the fact we could see a reflection of the screen on the camera in the shot. We decided that if we included this in our thriller it could instantly loose marks. We tried to crop the footage but because it was within the main action of the shot it was pretty much just an empty screen. This was not how we wanted it and decided to abandon the idea of this shot and replace it with the character in the background of the hanging shot running away from something. This worked very well because it was obvious that the character Taylor’s played had dropped the pills from previous shots and the fact he was eating them of the floor afterwards.
Bradley Hart
Friday, 23 April 2010
Coming Up With a Name for our Thriller - Changes
Before completing our filming, we had originally named our film ‘Nymphia’. We had named it this after the flower, and because the flower itself was originally going to be featured vastly in various shots throughout our opening. A picture of the flower was also going to be featured on the card that one character hands to another.
As time went on, the name didn’t seem to fit well and changes meant that it didn’t give us the same feeling it originally had. Firstly, the card that bares the word ‘Allegiance’ on it was changed, and no longer featured any picture of the nymphia flower on it. Secondly, our original filming location contained many of the flowers in the garden, and we planned to use them in the first shot of the hanging man, and have one in the pocket of the character in the suit. After having to change location, we no longer featured the flowers in any of our shots.
After filming had been completed, we realised that Nymphia as our title would not make much sense and would be lost on people. Because there would be no actual flowers present in the film, the title would seem rushed, and it no longer created the enigmas it had when we had first thought of it.
After much discussion, we came up with many other ideas for names. Some were complex, containing many intriguing words, and David and myself both thought would work well. Some were shorter and more to-the-point, which Brad and Tom preferred. In the end though, we decided to go down the simple route and simply title our film ‘Allegiance’. It made sense, since it is still a word that creates enigmas when heard, as it is not something that is said during everyday conversation. It also related to the film better, since the card used in our opening bares the same word. We are now happy with our title, and believe it will have an instant impact on people when they see or hear it.
- Taylor Gladwin
As time went on, the name didn’t seem to fit well and changes meant that it didn’t give us the same feeling it originally had. Firstly, the card that bares the word ‘Allegiance’ on it was changed, and no longer featured any picture of the nymphia flower on it. Secondly, our original filming location contained many of the flowers in the garden, and we planned to use them in the first shot of the hanging man, and have one in the pocket of the character in the suit. After having to change location, we no longer featured the flowers in any of our shots.
After filming had been completed, we realised that Nymphia as our title would not make much sense and would be lost on people. Because there would be no actual flowers present in the film, the title would seem rushed, and it no longer created the enigmas it had when we had first thought of it.
After much discussion, we came up with many other ideas for names. Some were complex, containing many intriguing words, and David and myself both thought would work well. Some were shorter and more to-the-point, which Brad and Tom preferred. In the end though, we decided to go down the simple route and simply title our film ‘Allegiance’. It made sense, since it is still a word that creates enigmas when heard, as it is not something that is said during everyday conversation. It also related to the film better, since the card used in our opening bares the same word. We are now happy with our title, and believe it will have an instant impact on people when they see or hear it.
- Taylor Gladwin
Wednesday, 21 April 2010
Music Used In Our Thriller (2)
After adding the first piece of music we chose to our film, we were very happy with it. It gave our film more dimensions and made it feel more professional, and it was genuinely tense. When we got to making the credits for our film though, that piece of music didn’t really fit in with the wording used on screen. We then decided to find another piece to play over the credits, to give our film more variation, create more enigmas for the audience and generally try to make our opening feel as creepy as possible.
We came across a piece simply entitled ‘Thriller.’ After listening to it we agreed that it had exactly the sounds we were looking for to go over our credits. The opening part has a sound very similar to glass shattering, or rain hammering against a window, but almost sounding like it is slowed down. We liked this effect, as it made the music sound almost supernatural and we agreed that was another interesting enigma for the audience to hear and try to figure out. Also during the piece, there are many high pitched sounds, some that sound like a woman faintly screaming, and some that sound similar to heavy breathing or ghosts. This gave us as a group the feeling of not being alone and not having a clear conscience, themes that are expressed throughout our film. We liked the idea of having these enigmas over the credits, as it is almost like saying to the audience subconsciously that nobody has a clear conscience, not even the makers of the film or even the viewer. We liked the thought that our film could affect people in more ways than one and then decided to use this piece over our credit sequence.
Below is the music we chose:
- Taylor Gladwin
We came across a piece simply entitled ‘Thriller.’ After listening to it we agreed that it had exactly the sounds we were looking for to go over our credits. The opening part has a sound very similar to glass shattering, or rain hammering against a window, but almost sounding like it is slowed down. We liked this effect, as it made the music sound almost supernatural and we agreed that was another interesting enigma for the audience to hear and try to figure out. Also during the piece, there are many high pitched sounds, some that sound like a woman faintly screaming, and some that sound similar to heavy breathing or ghosts. This gave us as a group the feeling of not being alone and not having a clear conscience, themes that are expressed throughout our film. We liked the idea of having these enigmas over the credits, as it is almost like saying to the audience subconsciously that nobody has a clear conscience, not even the makers of the film or even the viewer. We liked the thought that our film could affect people in more ways than one and then decided to use this piece over our credit sequence.
Below is the music we chose:
- Taylor Gladwin
Music Used In Our Thriller (1)
After finishing our filming and edited all of our footage together, we decided to put some music in our thriller opening to give the scene a darker, grimier feel and to make the viewer feel more uncomfortable and create more suspense. We visited the website www.freeplaymusic.com and began searching for music and sounds that would fit in a thriller, and more importantly fit the theme of our film. We narrowed the list down to approximately 25. As a group we listened to each one and decided whether it would be a good choice for our film or a bad choice. We also discussed what part of our opening would fit best with heightened music and which part would work better with a slight sound in the background, if anything at all.
After figuring out which pieces of music was the best, we then decided where it would go in our film. Our first choice piece was one called ‘Waiting In The Shadow’. The whole group instantly liked this and we chose it as our main piece of music for our thriller, and ended up using it in our teaser trailer as well. We liked this piece because it instantly gave us a chilling feeling, that it was a piece of music that instantly grabs anyone’s attention. As the title suggests, it gave the feeling of someone being watched, having a predator stalk them and ready to pounce. The slight heightens in volume during the piece intrigued us also, as it gave us the feeling that someone or something could be getting closer, or that a particular person could be getting deeper and deeper into more trouble and danger. The music also made us agree that playing it while only one character is on screen would give the feeling that the character could be worried about something that they have seen or done. After all the enigmas the music had created we all decided that it would be perfect for our thriller.
The group also decided to use it in our teaser trailer, as we agreed that it was the sort of music that is typically used in thriller/horror films. By using it in our trailer, we would be targeting the correct audience, and anyone seeing our trailer would know what to expect from our film. We also thought that if this trailer was shown in cinemas, it would make many people uncomfortable and stressed, the kind of feeling we want people to have when watching our film.
Below is the music we chose:
- Taylor Gladwin
After figuring out which pieces of music was the best, we then decided where it would go in our film. Our first choice piece was one called ‘Waiting In The Shadow’. The whole group instantly liked this and we chose it as our main piece of music for our thriller, and ended up using it in our teaser trailer as well. We liked this piece because it instantly gave us a chilling feeling, that it was a piece of music that instantly grabs anyone’s attention. As the title suggests, it gave the feeling of someone being watched, having a predator stalk them and ready to pounce. The slight heightens in volume during the piece intrigued us also, as it gave us the feeling that someone or something could be getting closer, or that a particular person could be getting deeper and deeper into more trouble and danger. The music also made us agree that playing it while only one character is on screen would give the feeling that the character could be worried about something that they have seen or done. After all the enigmas the music had created we all decided that it would be perfect for our thriller.
The group also decided to use it in our teaser trailer, as we agreed that it was the sort of music that is typically used in thriller/horror films. By using it in our trailer, we would be targeting the correct audience, and anyone seeing our trailer would know what to expect from our film. We also thought that if this trailer was shown in cinemas, it would make many people uncomfortable and stressed, the kind of feeling we want people to have when watching our film.
Below is the music we chose:
- Taylor Gladwin
Tuesday, 20 April 2010
Audience Feedback
After presenting our film to our friends, fellow media studies students and others who were not particularly
familiar with our film or media in general, we were very happy that the plaudits were very good and there was much praise for our thriller o
pening. One of our good friends Andrew Ansell, who is not a media studies student, had this to say about our film: “It was good, had you completed the rest I would have wanted to watch it”. This was very positive and another friend of ours, Steve Taylor agreed: “I really liked it and wasn’t expecting it to creep me out as much as it did”. We were very content with these comments, but since they were coming from our close friends there was no guarantee that they were being 100% truthful. We then decided to ask fellow media studies students so that we could get a slightly more in-depth analysis. James Moss stated: “It’s really good, much better than I expected, and the music works really well”. David Waters also believed that our opening “has the potential to be an excellent full film if it had a good budget”. To get these comments from fellow media studies students was excellent, and we truly believed that they were being truthful. We also asked people from out of school to view and comment our video. John Dow said that our film was "Really fun to watch and I would really like to know what happens later". All the praise we had gathered from everyone made us feel that all the hard work we had put in was worth it.
- David Huxford
familiar with our film or media in general, we were very happy that the plaudits were very good and there was much praise for our thriller o
pening. One of our good friends Andrew Ansell, who is not a media studies student, had this to say about our film: “It was good, had you completed the rest I would have wanted to watch it”. This was very positive and another friend of ours, Steve Taylor agreed: “I really liked it and wasn’t expecting it to creep me out as much as it did”. We were very content with these comments, but since they were coming from our close friends there was no guarantee that they were being 100% truthful. We then decided to ask fellow media studies students so that we could get a slightly more in-depth analysis. James Moss stated: “It’s really good, much better than I expected, and the music works really well”. David Waters also believed that our opening “has the potential to be an excellent full film if it had a good budget”. To get these comments from fellow media studies students was excellent, and we truly believed that they were being truthful. We also asked people from out of school to view and comment our video. John Dow said that our film was "Really fun to watch and I would really like to know what happens later". All the praise we had gathered from everyone made us feel that all the hard work we had put in was worth it.- David Huxford
What audience does our thriller wish to attract based on the Psychographics and Demographics?
For the psychographics and demographics, the thriller needs to attack a certain target audience to which we shall gain most of our profits. Therefore, we need to clearly establish the target audience and distinguish how we should inform this audience of the release of our thriller.
In terms of the Advertising social grades, we plan to
target the Emulators of society. These types of people look for role models, which our thriller may not supply this to them, however as they are vulnerable (mostly to advertising) we can prey on this, allowing us to advertise in a way which looks into their interests. As well as this, this group mainly consists of teenagers, so our advertising of this group will mainly consist of television adverts and posters at bus stops and in shopping centres (places to which teenagers culminate).
In terms of psychographics, the grades we plan to target will be the C1/C2 class. This is because we want to target the people that would go out with friends on a regular
basis, yet don’t earn a lot of money that they will do things more extravagant. From an average school in Shenfield our families have money to pay for survival (need-directed), but if after paying off bills spare money is left over, parents want to spend it responsibly, thus they spend it on small days out.
In conclusion, our thriller needs to target the people that are most likely to go to the cinema. These people will most like spend more money to see the films in which they believe is going to be the blockbuster of it’s time of release. This means that our advertising needs to be placed in the specific points to attract the audience members in which the Social grades represent.
- David Huxford
In terms of the Advertising social grades, we plan to
target the Emulators of society. These types of people look for role models, which our thriller may not supply this to them, however as they are vulnerable (mostly to advertising) we can prey on this, allowing us to advertise in a way which looks into their interests. As well as this, this group mainly consists of teenagers, so our advertising of this group will mainly consist of television adverts and posters at bus stops and in shopping centres (places to which teenagers culminate).
In terms of psychographics, the grades we plan to target will be the C1/C2 class. This is because we want to target the people that would go out with friends on a regular
basis, yet don’t earn a lot of money that they will do things more extravagant. From an average school in Shenfield our families have money to pay for survival (need-directed), but if after paying off bills spare money is left over, parents want to spend it responsibly, thus they spend it on small days out.In conclusion, our thriller needs to target the people that are most likely to go to the cinema. These people will most like spend more money to see the films in which they believe is going to be the blockbuster of it’s time of release. This means that our advertising needs to be placed in the specific points to attract the audience members in which the Social grades represent.
- David Huxford
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Rating Thriller After Filming
After the finished product was revealed, the 15 rating was confirmed to the group. The intense music and confusing adult themes are key iconography towards the certificate rating. Throughout what we saw we didn't see any strong evidence of 18 certified related iconography, thus we decided to keep with our previous rating. this turned out the be useful in the case that we din't waste time arguing being of explicit material. 
On the official BBFC website the official critiria for a 15 rated film is “strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualise”. We felt as a group that this was a good as the 'strong threat' or 'menace' isn't used in the way described by the BBFC, the rating we gave was indeed a correct one from the start and even after the extensive research conducted on it.
- David Huxford
However, because this was only the opening two minutes of our thriller, we don't know what the rest of the thriller will look like. But because our sub-genre is psychological, 18 related iconography shouldn't overburden the rest of the thriller, as we must keep the audience interested in the film, not the violence/sex etc. But because of the lack of dialogue in the opening that we filmed, we are confident to think that the rest of the thriller we would've made would have the iconography of a rated 15 film.
On the official BBFC website the official critiria for a 15 rated film is “strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualise”. We felt as a group that this was a good as the 'strong threat' or 'menace' isn't used in the way described by the BBFC, the rating we gave was indeed a correct one from the start and even after the extensive research conducted on it.
- David Huxford
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