Evaluation

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

Frame 1

This is a print screen of the starting of the film.

It shows the kingpin. We wanted the kingpin to be mysterious and shady, we tryed to show this by having low lighting.

The titles appears after the production logo, the titles are of all the people who contrubuted and helped make this film opening.

Frame 2

This is an establishing shot.

The opening shot are of someone calling the kingpin, and the kingpin conversation with the person who called him.

This print screen is of a exteme close up of the kingpin, showing his facial expression. You can tell that he is not happy about what he is being told.

Frame 3

This shot is of the main henchman who was talking to the kingpin. he is dressed in black, maybe indicating that he isnt a plesent person. In this shot he also calls another henchman, telling him to meet him at a certain location.

Frame 4

This shot is of the othr henchman driving a car, he is driving to meet the main henchman. In this shot we also see the main henchman walking to the location they have agreed to meet each other.

Frame 5

This shot is of the car being droven by the henchman. This shot is a good example of a continuity. This is a long shot so that the character can be seen. 

Frame 6

This shot is of the two henchmen meeting and running after a man across the road, the chase begins.

This shot is of the henchmen trying to catch the man who is running away from them. running away from the camera, so it was an medium shot which then became a long shot.

Frame 7

This shot is of the man who is being chased climbing over a wall because he is followed by the third henchman. We chose to use a long shot for this shot as then the character can be seen fully, and so the audience can see what the character is doing. The long shot is also used to show the audience that the characters are climbing a wall, and showing the height of the wall, this is effective because we can see that the man being chase is making great effort to run away and not to be caught by the henchmen.

Frame 8

This shot is of the two henchmen who were running after the man, they are surprised to see him gone. They split up to look for the man. Long shot is used so we can see them running to maintain consistency, and to see which direction the henchmen run. 

Frame 9

A long shot is used so we can see the third henchman running after the man, this shot is effective as it makes it realistic. Another long shot is used again for the next shot, this high angle shot is of the the man being chased running towards a wall as there is no where to go, but the man manages to climb the wall quickly and run away. I felt that this is effective as it is not expected and shocks the audience. 

 Our thriller opening sequence “Evasion” shows many conventions of a real thriller. Our thriller sequence sub genre is crime/ gangster.

When we see the kingpin at the start of the opening sequence, there is low lighting which was done to achieve a dark and gloomy mood, this is a typical thriller convention. This convention was also used in "Dare Devil", it was used when the kingpin talked to men or the people, and due to low lighting the king pin was seen as a shady character.

This an image of the kingpin in "Dare Devil".

This is an image of the kingpin in "Evasion".

A convention which I thought was important to have was the chase, many films such as “The Italian Job”, “Taken” and “The Borne Identity” has a chase. The chase is effective as it captures the audience from the start of the film. We challenged the convention by not having the chase taking place all over the world, but in a neighbourhood. Our inspiration was “The Borne Identity” and “Taken”,  in “Taken “ the chase takes place near to the end of the film, and the character being chased jumps over walls, fences and other objects, which similar to the chase we have in our thriller. 

Another convention would be the use of guns as a prop, guns are used in most crime/gangster thrillers. The group and I thought the use of the gun will make the chase realistic, as when the audience see the gun, they know they want to kill the man.

In other movies the man is being chased by a large group of gangsters/criminals or by the police .In our chase we challenged the convention by having a small group chasing the man, this was done to show the audience that the henchman are quite dangerous or that they want revenge.

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The opening sequence of Evasion has 4 four young men who are criminals, and another young man who is the man being chased. We can tell they are all athletic by looking at the chase.  The five men are middle class, we can tell this by looking at the cloths they are wearing, the mobile phones they are using and the car. There is not a broad range of age or gender but there is a wide range of races, which is Pakistani, Indian, English and Jamaican. From the opening sequence we know that two characters speak English.

The behaviour of the characters could be as it is because they are facing problems or because they socialise with bad company. The characters in the opening sequence are 19 to 22 years old, the opening sequence does not give a positive representation of this social group, as not all 19 to 22 years old are committing crimes and are equipped with guns.

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

An independent film company or an well-known terrestrial television broadcasting company such as BBC, Channel 4 or ITV would be expected to produce the movie, Channel 4 has produced "127 hours", "East is East", "Four Lions" and many more. Our movie wouldn't be produced by major studios such as "Warner Bros. Pictures", "Paramount Pictures", "20 Century fox" and "Walt Disney Pictures". It would be costly to be produced by a major studio, which we wouldn't be able to afford as it is a small budget movie. The movie would sell better if it is release over the internet and not in the cinema, as the movie opening sequence has had 345 views on 'You Tube', so an internet release would be ideal. After this there would be a DVD release, as alot of people would know about "Evasion" or would have seen it on the internet.

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for our media product would be teenagers and adults, the film would be watched by everyone but due to the content (the use of guns), we decided that the age rating would be 12A.  The movie would be watch by people who like thrillers, and like a complex story, a story that needs the audiences full attention. More males than females would watch this film, males from the urban parts of the UK probably would watch the film they could some how relate to it.

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

Thriller enthusiast would be attracted to this movie as it includes many conventions.

Yes we have reached the target audience. When we were planning the production, we thought of some factors that would appeal to the audience. A factor that we integrated was the chase, the chase we thought would be liked by the audience, as it was rapid and exciting. The chase is stereotypical to have in a thriller, we decided to put this in as people can relate to this. We think the film can be improved by having more angles can be used with the chase and also with the conversation.  

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

For the production, we used a HD canon camcorder. We used it 

  For post production, I learned how to use final cut, which is a software used to make professional movies. I used this software to edit the opening sequence, because  I also used GarageBand to make the soundtrack, I learned how to use the loops and how to edit it. The opening sequence needed a sound track to ease the viewer into movie and also to grab the attention of the viewer.

The technology helped us portray our vision of the movie, using final cut we edited the shots the way we wanted and weren’t bounded by limits.

Before we created our video we experimented with final cut, we recorded few shots and then edited them, we also did continuity exercises. We also recreated the juno opening, this gave us the chance to try different angles and shots, and also use effects on after effects. 

While we were recording the kingpin scene, we were finding it difficult to have a dim and low lighting in the room as we were shooting at day time, so we experimented with the camera settings and tried to change the exposure and the contrast.

After we made the opening, we decided to do make the opening again. We did this as we knew we could do better as we were more confident when using the equipment, and we also knew what shots were not so affect and which shots could be added to improve the film opening. At first the chase is plain and simple, but we improved it and made it look realistic.

7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to thefull product?
 I did 2 preliminary tasks, first one was call the accident and other one was the remake of Juno film opening. The point of doing the preliminary tasks was to practise my continuity techniques and to improve my editing skills. Some techniques I learnt and used was the 180 degree rule, reverse shot and match-on-action. 
To see my preliminary tasks click on the links below:
http://kevsthrillerblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post.html
http://kevsthrillerblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/juno.html

the survey

Today i made a survey using kwik survey. I then imbedded the survey on our group blog.

Production

DVD Production Company

• 10th planet
• Agenta Film

International - Production company

• cherry media limited
• Mindmaker Productions

Update

In the past weeks I completed the animation, i have uploaded it to the group blog.

Propp and Todorov

Narrative Structure

Propp  

1) Preparation
2) Complication
3) Transference
4) Struggle
5) Return
6) Recognition

Todorov

1) Equilibrium
2) Disruption
3) Recognition of disruption
4) Attempt to repair disruption
5) A return or restoration of new equilibrium

Propp - Character Types

Propp has seven character types which is:

• Hero - The central protagonist.
• Villain - Trys to defeat the hero.
• Helper - He trys to help the hero with his mission/quest.
• Mentor - He teaches the hero, or just gives the hero equipment or information.
• Dispatcher
• Blocker
• Prize - This is normally the heroine. The hero completes his mission/quest so he gets a reward.

Planning and Research

The planning and research was done on the group blog, click on the links below to view.
Plot
http://thrillergroupblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/plot.html

Shot list
http://thrillergroupblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/shot-list.html

Plan
http://thrillergroupblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/plan.html

Pitch
http://thrillergroupblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/pitch.html

Inspiration and Why
http://thrillergroupblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/inspirations-and-why.html

Inspiration/Research
http://thrillergroupblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/inspirationresearch.html

Props
http://thrillergroupblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/props.html

Similar Mise-En-Scene
http://thrillergroupblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/similar-mise-en-scene.html

Animation
http://thrillergroupblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/animation.html

weekly update

This week i have added all the members of my group as authors of the group blog. i have added a gadget on the group blog, this gadget allows me to add all the inportant links, and the links we all look at. For example, i added this link: http://www.bbfc.co.uk/download/guidelines/BBFC%20Classification%20Guidelines%202009.pdf  ,i added this link so that all the members can look at it.
 I also uploaded the group photo.

Film directors

What is a director?

A director is the person who is in charge of how the film looks. He chooses every camera angle, lens effect and set design and much more. The director reads the script, he/she then creates a vision for how that story will be told. The director can also make suggestions on how to improve the script. The director has the power to bring members to the project that he has successfully worked with in the past. The director also works with the cast, he tells them how every scene will be done, but the cast can also give suggestions to the director.

Doug Liman

Liman has directed 12 projects and has been a producer for 26 projects, and he has won 2 award and he has been nominated for 3 awards.

He has directed some famous thrillers, such as the “Bourne Identity”, “Mr & Mrs Smith”, “Jumper”.

He started of directing Swingers

He has directed many commercials, he has done for Nike.

In 2002 he directed The Bourne Identify, but he was only a producer for 2004's The Bourne Supremacy and 2007's The Bourne Ultimatum.        

Liman also directed Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), a comedic thriller about an increasingly distant married couple, both secretly assassins, who are hired to kill each other.

Casino Royale Analysis

Long shot

Low angle close up looks around

Low angle looking at elevator going up which tells us that the man A is in it.

High angle of man A looking at what floor he is at.

Low angle looking at floor level anxiously

Long shot he walking out

Low angle,

Extreme close up to see his face expression

Turns back as he hears a voice, the shot now becomes a over the shoulder shot

Close up of drawer being opened by the man A, we now know what that man A might try doing.

A shot where we can see both actors but  due to lighting they can be seen properly And also they are sitting quite far.

Violin playing really quietly.

A flashback occurs.

Over head shot taken so the audience can see where james bond kicked a man.

The soundtrack is now more dynamic, a trumpet can be heard.

Extreme close up of both actors which are fighting, the close up shows the audience that they really want to kill each other.

The soundtrack stops, and the flashback stops, and the man A is pointing his gun at james bond, this shot is a medium shot, and we can tell the the has nose room, this is good because the audience knows that he is talking and point the gun at someone.

A close up shot is used to show the audience, the Man A surprised and shocked face expression as he he relies his gun has no bullets.

A close up on james bong, with nose room showing a conversation is taking place.

James bond answers to man A question, and then a flashback occurs. Low anle to start with showing james bond standing hold a man down on his knees , we can see this as it is a long shot in low angle, so we can see all the action taking place.

A low angle close up occurs so we can see that james bong is strangling the man, we can see the mans face expression, we can see that he is trying to fight back, but we can also tell he is in pain and is struggling.

The man sees the gun, we get an extreme close up to see that he picked up the gun.

Then an mediums shot at a high angle occurs, which enables us to see that james bond smacks the the hand with the gun on to a mirror and the gun falls out.

Extreme closes ups on both characters occur, first we see James bond face which tells us he is putting all his power in pushing the other man head down. The man who’s face is in the sink, because of the extreme close up , I cant tell the man is trying to breath, trying to lift his head but he cant.

Flash back finished

High angle on man A, we can see he has been shot.

Flashback starts.

Long shot of james bond not facing the camera, so we know is picking up his gun.

A medium shot show man gain conscious

 and try’s to kill James bond, he kills him first.

Credits start

Productions name

Red background which could be blood.

The names/titles are in white and in capitals, which make it eye-catching. 

Analysis of "The Silence of the Lambs"

The soundtrack starts when we see “an orion pictures release”, and it continues to play and stops when she enters the building.

The soundtrack has an adventure feel.

When she starts running the violin also starts playing (as part as the soundtrack), the soundtrack now gives us the feeling like she is on a mission.

We hear a bird at first, maybe it is a eagle or a hawk, this tells us that the wild is present at this place, which could mean that this place could be a forest.

The establishing shot is a long shot so that the audience can view the surroundings.

All titles/names have a black fill with a white outline.

The productions name appears.

Title name appears in center of the screen, making it hard to miss

We can see she is doing an obstacle course and as she runs towards the camera, she becomes in the centre of the screen and so the rule of thirds has been used.

Then actors name appear.

Her panting tells the audience that she has been running or doing this activity for a long time, sweat also indicates this.

A close up shot has been used so the audience can see the actors expression and state.

 The female actor walks out of the shot showing the audience that she has started to run again into a certain direction.

Tracking occurs so the audience can see that she is still running.

A close up shot is used while she is running to show that she is tired or maybe strong as she has a fierce face expression.

A close up of the side of her face is used.

There is a close up on her legs while running, this could be to show she is running fast and slow down.

Panning is used to show that she is climbing the obstacle, also establish that she has done that course before, or maybe that she has skills in this field.

The camera turns and stays still as the actor runs further away.

As she starts another obstacle, a mans voice can be heard.

The man enters the shot from the right running and stays in the middle of the shot, tracking occurs.

When she is looking for the person that called her, over the shoulder shots occur so the audience can see what the actor is seeing.

When she walks into the office, she looks at a wall with many pictures on it. There is a close up of her and then a close up of the photos and then another close up of her, this is done so that the audience can see that she is looking at the wall and to show what she is looking at.

There is an extreme close up of the female actor, this was done so the we can see that the man is looking at the woman from far.

Mise-en-scene

Trees without leaves which could mean it is winter, also so the dark gloomy weather could also support this. The woman could doing an obstacle course, we know this as we see the rope at first and then a climbing obstacle. She is sweating a lot, this could be because she been doing that course for a long time. 

Storyboard task - Directors Commentary.

Activity - Thriller Opening

My Thriller Opening on Prezi

DVD Cover

Dvd cover

Thriller conventions

Thriller Conventions
dark mood :
-darkness
-deserted
-victim
-villain?  -questions
            - crime gone wrong
            - narrative answers
            - conspiracy
 -ambiguity
- plot
-enigma codes

Conventions of film openings

mixture of black screen
with titiles and footage from films
genre/mood/characters

formats
separate - sequence such as spiderman or james bond.
genre/mood
creativity - beyond the franchise.

Credits
Names such as :
-actors
-costume designer
-producer
attracts audience if actors are good

Start of the film
plot
genre -  thriller
critical moment
complication end of critical
sitiuation
main film explains

Man-On-The-Run

First 10 minutes of my spoof
A bus of criminals is going is taking some criminals to another police station.
The main character on the bus has a flashback, showing the audience he is innocent and has been set up.
They driving through a forest, and a deer suddenly appears on the road.
The bus driver tried to avoid hitting the deer, but he looses control of the bus and drives in to a tree.
The main character tries to break the window to escape, while the other criminals have opened the bus door and are walking through.
The main character runs into the darkness.
Transition to next scene.
The main character goes to a shop and buys  and wears a really bad disguise, he is wearing moustache which looks like it is about to drop and a 80s style wig.
A man with a sniper focuses on the main character, and tries to kill him.
The main character bends over to tie his shoelace.
The bullet hits a pole and bounces back and kill the sniper.

The Birds Analysis

How many shots are there?
There are 18 shots.


 What principles of continuity are used here? How successfully?
At the start of the scene, she is walking towards the door of the house. the camera is at long shot and then goes to medium shot of the porch. The these two shots were taken so it looks like one shot, the match-on-action occurs on shot 3 and 4. So the first the 4 shots look like 1 shot. The match on action is principle of continuity and it is very effective. The principles are are carried out successfully, i know this because when watching the scene i never felt like the shots were not edited properly.  

preliminary task

Final Cut

We practice match on action and the 180 degrees rule in this preliminary task. The match-on-action was correct, there is a shot of the man opening the door from outside and then a shot taken from inside the room, we see the door open immediately. 

The 180 degrees rule was not done correctly, as we did a shot on the other side of the two men having a conversation.

preliminary task - Juno

We had to recreate the Juno film opening. This was a difficult task as there were many shots, so we had to note down the order of the shots because if the shot order is incorrect, the continuity becomes poor. Next we recorded the opening, as we had no special equipments, we had difficulty getting some shots like the bird eyes view shot.

After the shooting was done, the shots had to be edited. We used Final Cut to edit the shots, but we also applied effects so it looks like the original Juno film opening. The software also allows us to apply the Juno soundtrack to our film opening.