Lizzie's Media AS blog

The Good Daughter : Final cut

2010-04-20T03:46:00.000-07:00

Evaluation : The Good daughter

2010-04-19T07:18:00.003-07:00

Thriller opening production evaluation

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

The research I had done into the femme fatale in the thriller genre helped inform the character of Isabella, the femme fatale in our production. In my research I looked at a femme fatales from a range of films the classic archetype who pays for her deviance Eve from ‘Once Upon a Time in America, Anna from ‘The Third Man’ who is enigmatic, Jackie Brown from ‘Jackie Brown’ who is assertive and street wise and Thelma & Louise from ‘Thelma & Louis who rebel against gender expectations and pay the price. The research I did into femme fatales very much helped and inspired the development of the character our femme fatale. The character type of Isabella challenges the conventions of the genre and character perception. The convention of the powerful male is challenged in that Isabella kills Joules, but this is contrasted with the controlling voyeuristic authority of the father figure. Thelma is an extension of the femme fatale who is represented as loyal, brave, independent but doomed like Isabella.. The character type of Isabella was inspired by these femme fatale characters, Isabella is enigmatic and strong like Anna, she is street wise and can handle herself like ‘Jackie Brown’ and rebels against gender expectations like ‘Thelma & Louise’ (by murdering her lover). Isabella’s controlling and obsessive relationship with her father portrays her obsessive compulsive behaviour and controlling tendency. The costume for our productions femme fatale was inspired by that of Anna in ‘The Third Man’. Eve’s costume reflects her strength as a female character as well as being deviant and feminine for example Anna from ‘The Third Man’. Anna’s costume is reflects her strong enigmatic character, but also embraces her femininity and beauty. Isabella’s character is similar to that of Anna’s, we felt that having Isabella in a costume that was based around that of Anna’s would embrace and reflect her character fully, and allow the character of Isabella to represented and understood by the audience as we want her to. The urban, city street location of our production was developed from research into thrillers that include urban city locations such as ‘Essex Boys’ and ‘Layer Cake’. The low angle shots of the bridge adds a romantic dimension to the locations, the presence of bars on the bridge a darker sense of entrapment and danger. The character type of Isabella was developed from research into such femme fatale and female characters as Eve from ‘The Third Man’. Eve’s character type is strong she is the allusive women. The strong level headed character of Jackie Brown also informed the character profile of Isabella, Jackie is street wise like Isabella and challenges the forms and conventions of archetype women, Isabella kills her ex lover Joules for the murderous pleasure, and satisfaction of her father, thus she is the victim.

Anna - The Third Man
costume

The use of the blinds and mirror in the mise en scene where developed from research into the mise en scene in psycho. At the start of Psycho Marion and Sam stand and look out of the blinds, this creates bars across there face, reflecting the trapped nature of the characters. Christian and Isabella our trapped by each other, their controlling and obsessive relationship for one another means they are mentally trapped, paranoid and anxious. A similar relationship is in 'China Town' where a young girl is abused by her mom-ster Father.The mirror represents Isabella looking back onto herself, reflecting and analysing her physical and mental state, indicating that is obsessed with herself too. It also reinforces the notion of looking which links to the sinister voyeuristic shots of Isabella’s father. Isabella’s constraint to express her emotion and has lead to her inner turmoil and compulsive obsessive behaviour. There are several scenes in the production using mirrors and reflection, the use of mirrors and reflections represents the characters mental claustrophobia and deep obsession for one another. The use of ECU and CU of the reflection of Christian in the reversing mirror side mirror make him look sinister and creepy. They also create a sense of entrapment for the audience, the car a claustrophobic space, but deeper than that Christian’s own mind, the audience are brought into the mise-en-scene though the use of ECU and CU. The mirror shots of Isabella and Christian reinforce the notion of looking which links to the sinister voyeuristic shots of Isabella’s father. The shot of Christian car window opening at the beginning of the production and shutting towards the end symbolises death of Joules, Christain's control over his daughter has led to Isabella what he believes what he wanted. The window is as if the opening and closing of 'the case'. The opening of the window draws the camera and auidience into the car, allowing the audience to engage with Christians character, as well as being trapped by him, they to experience his controlling nature.

How does you media product represent particular social groups?

The female character and femme fatale in our production Isabella is strong, deviant, cares for her appearance, she is dangerous, but allusive, her character challenges the forms and conventions of the perception of women in the thriller genre, Isabella murders her ex lover for the twisted pleasure and revenge. The victim of the murder is a man, being killed by a women, this again challenges the conformities of the genre and character perception. The connotation of the convention of the aggressive male, such as Jason in ‘Essex Boys’ and the hoods in ‘Lockstock’, is challenged as well as gender stereotype. Isabella is a powerful lead character, a woman who takes control. But the control is whoever ambiguous, the cliff hanger leaves the question does Isabella kill her boyfriend because he has betrayed her or is she doing her jealous Father’s bidding. A similar female character is Louise from ‘Thelma & Louise’ she too takes control and kills Harlem who rapes Thelma. The character of Isabella is very much inspired by Louise. ‘Ridley Scott challenges the pre-conceptions and conventions of the thriller genre with Thelma and Louise, committing shooting a man in self defense the both of them go on the run, mocking macho behavior. But their deviance eventually destroys them as they leap of the edge of The Grand Canyon’ - Taken from my research into femme fatales and the role of women in the thriller genre. Again the character Jackie Brown from ‘Jackie Brown’ was also very influential on the character of Isabella; ‘Tarantino twists the audience pre-conceptions of the genre, he plays with stereotypes of gender, ethnicity, sex and age, and with this very controversial (the thriller genre) leading character pushing the audiences out of their preconceptions and creates a strong, interesting, deviant lead and femme fatale.’ – taken from my research into femme fatales and the role of women.

The father as a voyeur is inspired by Norman Bates from ‘Psycho’ who watches Marion Crane through a spy hole in the wall.

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

Our thriller opening would most probably be distributed on internet video hosting sites such a You tube, shared on social networking sites, Facebook, Myspace, there is also an opportunity for our production to be distributed on blogging sites such as Tumblr and Blogger. Our production could be uploaded to sites that host youth talent such as BBC Blast. Because of the nature of the plot matter, abusive family relationships, and the film could be part of a campaign arising awareness of abusive relationships and educating the impact of such relationships on young people. The film could also be entered into a short film competition such as You tube’s video contest, Indie short films, and BBC.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

Our production would be mostly highly watched and rated by a audience between the ages of 15-25 because of the psychological genre the controversial and deep plot would suit an older audience. Isabella is played by her strong, controlling voyeuristic Father (Christian) their relationship as Father and daughter is unusual and controversial. The narrative raises issues and interest of abusive family relationships, Isabella constrained by her bidding Father. The control Christian has is ambiguous, as the cliff hanger leaves the question does Isabella kill her boyfriend because he has betrayed her or is she doing her jealous fathers bidding. From the response to our thriller opening from a selection of year 12's (16-17yr old) the average rating out of ten for the production was 7.5, the production was most highly scored on its camera work, editing, and standard of mise-en-scene, colour, figure, lighting etc. The information gathered from these questions to the response of the production showed that an audience aged 16-17 enjoyed the visual aspects of the production highly, and most said they where inspired to watch the rest of the film, indicating that the plot was successful at engaging the interest of the audience. The review from this group showed a balance of ratings between males and females; with them averaging very similar scores, neither males or females seemed to enjoy or dislike it less then the opposite sex, this could possibility indicate that when showed to a wider audience there could to be a similar equal response to the film between male and females.

How did you attract/address the audience?

The relationship between Isabella and Christian is based around and formed upon Christian jealous and voyeuristic threatening behaviour, his controlling obsession with his daughter. The relationship between Isabella and her father is likely do attract audiences who are interested in psychological thrillers, the controversial and unusual nature of the character relationships in the film raise questions about abuse whilst also raising interest of high level cases of abusive family relations in the media. The film addresses the disturbing power Christian has over his daughter. We tried to incorporate as many C.U’s and E.C.U’s into the production as possible to engage the audience in the action and to raise pity and fear. The close ups of Christian (the Father) and Isabella’s eyes draws the audience into the mise-en-scene, and allows the audience to engage with the characters. Christian’s powerful and intimidating stare closes the audience into an uncomfortable claustrophobic space, the cross fades between the two characters heightens the disturbing intensity between the two characters.

When editing our production to establish the controlling and obsessive relationship between Father and Daughter, Christian and Isabella, we used a number of cross fades. By using cross fades we could cross over pervious shoots over the forth coming ones, this meant that part of the previous shot could still be seen over the forth coming one. This overlapping of shots reflects the constant; control and obsession the character have over and for one another. In the shot Isabella can be seen leaving, from the previous shot, cross faded over the ECU of Christian’s eyes. This merging of the two shots of the two characters shows their controlling and obsessive relationship, the ECU of Christian’s eyes represents his watching over his daughter even when he cannot physically see her; she is constantly on his mind and vice-versa.

The presents of the bars in the mise en scene connotes danger and represent Joules entrapment. The bars from the previous shot have been cross faded over the present to heighten the presence of the bars, and the effect they carry. This is the establishing shot of Joules, the presence of the bars in this establishing shot show him to be a trapped character. Joules has been deceived by Isabella into thinking they have a strong and loving relationship; he is now trapped in her twisted game and will be killed as a result of it. Nearly all the shots with Joules there are bars present in the mise en scene, reinforcing entrapment and danger. The bars represent danger, the dangerous relationship and position Joules is in with Isabella. Joules is present in the left hand third of the screen which draws the audiences attention to him, his face and dress it dark, representing mortality and his lack of control over it.

The low angle C.U of Christian makes Christian look powerful and in control, he dominates the mise en scene. The cross fade used allows Isabella still to be see walking up the stairs; this again represents the voyeuristic character of Christian and the Control he had over her. The composition of the shot makes it seem as if Christian is looking up at Isabella walking up the stairs, this reinforces the notion of Isabella being watched by her Father. The edges of the stairs create bars across Christians face; this represents Christian’s entrapment, his mental incapacity to leave his daughter alone, the struggle he has with his voyeuristic behaviour. The bars could also represent Christian to be in danger, will Isabella find the strength to break free from her own compulsive behaviour and her voyeuristic father. As Isabella is in the mise en scene too the bars could also represent her danger, she has committed a murder and will inevitably pay the price for it. The strong lighting on one side of Christian’s face represents his schizophrenia.

The title of the film appears at the end of the production, by cross fading the previous shot of Christian driving away onto the current shot of an E.C.U of Isabella's eyes, it appears as if Christain was driving though Isabella's head. Representing the controlling voyeuristic nature of Christian and the relationship he has with his daughter. The cross fade links the two characters, their difficult and destructive relationship. The appearance as if Christian is driving into Isabella's head represents Christian's control over his daughters mental well-being, it is suggested that Christian abuse has caused some mental disturbances to his daughter. This shot is particularly powerful and represents the relationship between the two characters with disturbing intensity. The C.U brings the audience into the mise-en-scene, heightening the disturbing nature of the family relationship, as well as the controversial and difficult issues that is raised in the production. The production finishes on a E.C.U of Christian's eyes, Christian appears sinister, the E.C.U engages the audience into the mise-en-scene as if under the creepy controlling look of Christian, the audience are made to feel uncomfortable and tense.

It was important when choosing a soundtrack for the production that it fitted with the dark and intense nature of the production, and its themes of control and an abusive family relationship. We choose a sound track that we felt added to and heighten the mood and tone of the mise-en-scene fitting the action well. The steady but intense beat of the music means that when editing we could cut the footage to the beat, heightening tension and drama further. The sound track evokes tension and fear, the sound track is quite dark, moody and heavy. The stings in the sound track make the music eerrie, creepy and intense. The soundtrack reflects the drama well. The soundtrack envokes feelings of fear, intensity on to the audience, building up the drama and provoking these emotions as the footage goes on.

Soundtrack
Hyperion's Fate - Sunny Days Are Over

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

During the production and process of our thriller opening I have learnt the importance of camera angles and camera movement in media productions. We tried to incorporate as many CU’s in the opening as possible, we realised that CU’s are important as they bring the audience into the mise en scene and helps them to engage in the action as well as characters and understanding them. The process of constructing storyboards also helped with the understanding of different camera angles, and by doing practise shots of different angles I could understand further the different camera angles, shot types and movements. The digital cameras where fairly easy to use, there was little difficultly with the cameras on shoot, and having had previous experience with using the digital cameras in the preliminary task I had no problem using them. I found it easy and very practical using the blogs, using the blog for my work meant that I could easily type up notes from lessons as well of having the advantage of embedding pictures and video's to enhance my work. I had no problems using or understanding how to use a blog, and have used the tool to my great advantage to boost the quality and detail of my work. With regards to embedding video's from YouTube into my blog this was again straight forward, when adding soundtracks ideas to my blog, I had considered uploading them as MP3's, but this proved difficult and by using YouTube I made a simple 'music video' on 'Windows movie maker' for the tracks and uploaded them myself and then embedded them into my work. When editing the production my previous experience using the programme in the 'Preliminary task' meant that I had some good knowledge of how to use the programme. Combining the knowledge and affects of the group the editing of the production was a long task, but with few problems, the most arduous task was cutting down the large amount of footage we had, and decided where to add cross fades etc.

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

Having already gained experience with using the editing software ‘Premier Elements’ in the preliminary task I was benefited by this previous experience when editing the thriller film. My skills with using the software where greatly improved from when I edited my preliminary task, I could use the software more efficiently, and with a greater ability to use the tools and functions of the software. I feel that I worked well with the other members of my production group, when planning, shooting and editing our film we work constructively as a group and got on with the tasks we needed to do to our full ability. When planning our production we shared ideas and listened to one another, considering each others ideas and developing them to work towards an idea for our production. Previous experience from the preliminary task meant that we had good planning techniques such as creating shooting maps and shot lists, skills which we used and developed further when planning our production. The preliminary task also helped me you understand and use the 180° continuity editing, gaining understanding and experience with both of these helped with producing our production.

When shooting our production we where almost all at each shoot, we feel having all the members of the group at the shoots meant that we could contribute ideas and opinions about the shoot collectively whilst on the shoot, this meant that anything filmed could be fully approved or disapproved by all members of the group, resulting In highly throughout and developed footage that all members of the group where happy with. All members of the group arrived on time to the shoots as to did are actors; this meant we could film efficiently and have time for any re-shooting, variation of camera angles and improvements, which was highly beneficial. When choosing the soundtrack for our production we all have a similar idea to the kind of music we wanted to use. We started first by simply looking though music on a member of the group’s ipod, looking at genre, tempo and style. By looking into these aspects of music and finding what genre etc that we felt would best suit our production we could look to finding something similar by an unsigned artist/band on the internet. This also meant that when looking for a soundtrack online we could save some time as we had some idea collectively of what we where looking for and had in mind to use. We had narrowed are search down to three tracks that we felt where best fitted to what we had in mind, from the site www.unsignedbandwebs.com the final track was then collectively chosen by the group with some guidance from our teacher also. We chose Hyperion’s Fate - Sunny days are over, we felt the track was dramatic and tense, creating and heightening the drama and suspense of our opening.

Our initial narrative idea involved the exchange of two briefcases between two notorious gangsters, Christian and Joules, for money in return for incriminating evidence, with Christian's deceitful daughter, Isabella, intercepting the money via the murder of Joules with the intention of taking the money to run off to start a new life; eventually getting caught by her father. Reflecting on our original plot idea we felt the narrative was too confusing, the numerous briefcases, exchanges and betrayals that occurred in our plot would have been far too confusing/overwhelming for any audience to take in and fully understand what is going on in such the short space of time we had to work with (2 minutes). Having realised this, we reconsidered our narrative and came up with one that we feel to be far less confusing, and fits much more neatly into the two minute gap. The narrative needed to be more interesting and engage the audience, a controversial or challenging narrative would be very effective at engaging and interesting an audience in the 2 minute time space. We learnt that focusing on family relationships and jealousy are more realistic and make for a stronger and compelling film, our film having turned originally from a crime thriller to a psychological thriller.

REVISE The Good Daughter

2010-03-17T04:45:00.000-07:00

Title
The Good Daughter

Genre
Physiological thriller

Brief plot

Isabella murders her lover Joules by stabbing him in the heart. Isabella murders her lover for the twisted thrill and to please her father Christian. Christian disliked Joules, Isabella and her fathers close; obsessive relationship leads to Isabella killing Joules, pleasing her controlling father. The cuts between Isabella and Christian reflect the close cut between Isabella's eyes to Christian's, the father is watching his good daughter.

Shots

C.U of Isbella looking in to mirror putting on lipstick
C.U of Isabella smoking - 'smokescreen production' title is over this shot
M.S of Isabella's feet walking across the room and picking up suitcase leaving through the door
C.U of the reflection of Christians's eyes in the the reversing mirror of his car.

'The Good Daughter'

We chose to call our production 'The Good Daughter' because it reflects the controlling, obsessive relationship between Christian and his daughter. It also suggests Christian pleasure that Isabella has done what he wanted and killed Joules. The title could also been seen an ironic, doing bad to be good. The title integrates the theme of the obsessive, controlling relationship between Father and Daughter; it also reflects the ironic and twisted nature of the characters and their actions.

Soundtrack

Hyperions fate - Sunny Days Are Over

Genre

Progressive / Experimental / Classical

Looking though the a search engine style site full of unsigned artists and music called www.unsignedbandsweb.com we found this song. The song was posted under 'instrumental'. We felt that the song was dramtic and errie and would acoompily are footage and mood of our production well. I have written to the artist via the site to let them know we are using the song in our production/ ask for premission, below is the body of the email:

Hello

I am a student at CNS 6th form Norwich, England studying A Level media, as part of my coursework I have to construct the opening to a thriller film. For the soundtrack we have to use a copyright free piece of music. After looking though the site I found that your track 'Sunny days are over' would be perfect for my production. I writing to ask/ inform permission if I can use it in my production.
Kind Regards
Elizabeth King
CNS 6th form

Further contact information:

www.myspace.com/hyperionsfate

Audience feed back on the sound track

When asked 'Does the sound track effectively enhance the mood & tone? 12/12 people said it did.

Example of questionnaire anwser:

The sound track adds to and heightens the mood and tone of the mise-en-scene fitting the action well. The steady but intense beat of the music means that when editing we could cut the footage to the beat, heightening tension and drama further. The sound track evokes tension and fear, the sound track is quite dark, moody and heavy. The stings in the sound track make it eerie.

I have uploaded the track onto my account on You tube:

Titles

'Smokescreen Productions'

Are production company is called smokescreen productions
'Smokescreen Productions' will appear over the C.U of Isabella smoking.
We have decided to have the production company on a separate frame as we have time to. This will appear for 4-5 seconds at the start of film.

'The Good Daughter'

The title of our fill will appear towards the end of the opening somewhere. Possible over a shot of Isabella that then cross fades to one of Christian, to establish and intensify the link between the characters.

Actors names

The actors names will appear over the establishing shots of them. For example the establishing shot of Isabella is when she is looking in the mirror putting on lipstick, the establishing shot of Christian is the C.U of the relection of his eyes in the reversog mirror, and Joules when he is waiting behind the railings on the bridge for Isabella. When placing the actors names over these shots it is important not to spoil these shots with the titles, if they do indeed do so they will be moved to a secondary shot.

Thelma and Louise - Thriller research

2010-03-17T03:50:00.000-07:00

Thelma and Louise

Director
Ridley Scott
Release date
12th July 1991 (UK)
Production companies
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Pathé Entertainment
Percy Main
Star Partners III Ltd. (in association with)
Filming locations
Bakersfield, California, USA

Bedrock, Colorado, USA
Canyonlands National Park, Moab, Utah, USA
Cisco, Utah, USA
Colorado, USA
Courthouse Towers, Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, USA
(scene where Thelma & Louise lock police officer in his patrol car trunk)
Dead Horse Point State Park - State Highway 313, Moab, Utah, USA
Gorman, California, USA
La Sal Mountains, La Sal, Utah, USA
(opening vista)
Moab, Utah, USA
Shafter, California, USA
Silver Bullet Saloon, Long Beach, California, USA
Taft, California, USA
Tarzana, Los Angeles, California, USA
Thompson Springs, Utah, USA
Vagabond Inn - 3101 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA
(Oklahoma City motel scenes)
Valley of the Gods, Mexican Hat, Utah, USA
West Valley City, Utah, USA

User comments/reviews and ratings

From looking at the user rating report on IMDB the information reflects that this film was most highly enjoyed by female aged 30-44, fameale aged 18-29, and males under 18 who all had the same average (7.8)

IMDB user comment/review
"loved this movie from the first time I saw it, but it wasn't until I sat through it the third time that I figured out why. It is clever, exciting, and funny and is shot in the middle of the breathtaking scenery of the American Southwest. However, the thing that makes it special is its illustration of pure friendship. It may be difficult for some men to cross the gender boundary and connect with Thelma and Louise, yet doing so is critical to appreciating the film. If you can make the connection then you can get its message -- we all need a friendship like the one Thelma and Louise had. This movie will strike a deep emotional chord.....if you aren't afraid to let it. And if you happen to be too emotionally closed off to appreciate what I think the movie says about friendship I think that you will still enjoy the characters, acting, action, and humor. It is a ten out of ten."
Steve from San Antonio, Texas

External comment/review
'The film switches moods violently, and sometimes it just jerks your chain. But this is movie dynamite, detonated by award-caliber performances from Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon in the title roles.'
Peter Travers for Rolling Stone

Thelma and Louise and the main characters in the thriller 'Thelma and Louise'. They are an example of the 'modern' femme fatale, the strong women. Dressed in denim and wearing aviators they are almost the opposite of the classic femme fatale. They are dressed to look strong and confident, masculine andnot for the visual pleasure of men. Ridley Scott challenges the pre-conceptions and conventions of the thriller genre with Thelma and Louise, the main characters, two women in control, powerful and dangerous. This is taken from the scene where they look a policeman in the boot of his own car, Ridley Scott mocks the conception that men have power over women and noticably policeman. The girls take his gun and sun glasses and ride off, very much a 'girl power' moment. They are two women who took the law in there own hands and because of it are now on the run and proving to be clever strong and deviant.

After discovering Louise being assaulted by Hal, a man Louise had got friendly with in a bar, she warns him to back off, and pulls a gun to his neck. Thelma is in control of the situation, she is the one with the power- the gun. Thelma takes up around two thirds of the mise-en-scene, also indicating strength as she takes up more space in the mise-en-scene, pushing Hal out. Thelma is dressed in unflattering, gender neutral clothes, she is covered and not exposed - this makes her look strong and not vulnerable to the exploitation of a drunker man with only one thing on his mind. The lighting is dark and it is raining outside, a generic signifier of the thriller genre. The gun is a generic signifier also, connoting crime and murder.

The damp, dark urban location is a generic signifier of the thriller genre. As Thelma and Louis speed away from the scene of the murder Louise takes control and drives the car. Louise having taken the control of the situation into her own hands and murdering Hal she now has to avoid deal with the consequences, she and Thelma's fate lie in her hands. The dark, damp mise en scene represents the dark and dangerous situation Thelma and Louise are now in, they are on the run, not knowing what will happen next. The darkness could represent the characters uncertainties, anxiety and desperation.

Thelma & Louise tiny car against the huge transport trucks is a metaphor, the trucks representing male dominance. Misogyny means hated or fear of women, this is implied by the directors as he cleverly uses the trucks to symbolise male dominance as they close in on the females, represented by their small car. This could represent the director’s perception of the conforming representation of women in the thriller genre. It could also represent the attitudes towards woman during America at that time and how they are represented, how they do not have the same rights and responsibilities as men.

REVISE Developed storyboards

2010-03-14T15:03:00.000-07:00

Developed storyboards, developed from the first idea for the opening.

REVISE Initial storyboards

2010-03-14T14:54:00.000-07:00

Initial storyboards for the first idea for the opening:

REVISE rough storyboards for final plot idea

2010-03-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

Rough storyboards for final opening idea.

Developed storyboards detailed

2010-03-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

Shot No. 5

Shot Type. Close up

Action Christian picks up briefcase from resting place.

Close up of hand/ watch establishes charater, gold rings, expensive watch.

Sound

Diegetic sound of breifcase being lifed up.

Lighting

Non-ambient street lighting.

Shot No. 6

Shot type. Close up

Action

Close up of Joule's feet/ bottom half of legs. Bottom of briefcase 2 can also be seen. Joules is waiting to meet Christian for the exchange. The close up of the shoes/legs establishes his smart dress.

Sound

Lighting

Non ambient street lighting

Shot No. 7

Shot type. Close up, tilted shot

Action

Joules is waiting to meet Christian for the exchange.

The tilted shot connotes uncertaintity, anxioity.

The fact that he is framed in a doorway connotes/forshadows that he is being framed/decieved.

Sound

Lighting

Non ambient street lighting.

Shot No. 8

Shot type. Medium Shot

Action

The breifcase exchange

Audience research results, graphs and report

2010-02-07T10:05:00.000-08:00

Results from my questionnaire. I gave my questionnaire to 15 of my friends, 8 being girls and 7 boys.
In the research I carried out I wanted to see wether a persons sex and personality affected audience preference. My questionnaire consisted of open and closed questionnaires. The closed questions producing quantitive data which I have shown in graphs and open questionnaires producing qualitative data I have written in a report.

1 girl preferred to go to cinema city, 5 boys and 5 girls to Vue 2 boys to Hollywood cinema and 2 girl to Odeon. A question followed this asking why they preferred there chosen cinema, a girl who chose the most popualar choice of cinema, Vue said they preferred that cinema because, 'It's in the city centre and close to the bus stop, its easy to get to and meet up with friends there.' A boy who prefered Vue said they chose that cinema because,' It's in the city centre and close to the shops, close to pizza hut and you go for something to eat before.' From looking at why they chose that cinema girls maily prefered there chosen cinema because it was close to the city centre, one girl who said they prefered Cinema City said they like it because, 'It's really cosy, and unique, and often quite quite which I like, they also show films you can't see at the big cinema's.'

6 girls and 2 boys said they had a close circle of friends. 5 boys and 2 girls said they had a large group of friends. This question was one of the personality questions I used to get a general idea of the participants personality. Asking this question ment I could establish a link between a persons anwser to this question and a later question related to audience, 'Do you prefer to watch films alone or with others?'

2 boys said they would keep the wallet

1 girl said she would take the things she found valurable. 5 boys and 7 girls said they would hand the wallet in to a Police station or lost property. This was another personality question I used in the quesionnaire. I Asked this question ment I could establish a link between a persons anwser to this question and a later question related to audience, 'Have you ever illegally downloaded a film or owned a pirate copy of a film?'

3 boys and 1 girl mostly consumed films on the internet or watching online. 3 girls and 2 boys said DVD's, 2 girls TV - broadcast, satallite, and 2 girls and 2 boys said at the cinema. By then asking why they prefer to consume film in their chosen medium I could make links between sex and personality.

1 girl and 1 boy said a good review is most likely to get them to see the lastest film, 3 boys and 4 girls said favourite actor, 2 boys 1 girl said favourite genre, and I girl and 1 boy said if they like the look of the subject/plot matter.

2 girls said they where most likely to see, hear go to find out about the lastest films by word of mouth. 2 boys 1 girl said online review 2 boys 2 girls said visiting cinema websites, 1 girl 1 boy said advertising in the cinema.or listings, and 2 boys and 2 girls said trailers.

Written results

From the question, ' If you found a wallet would you ...? 7 girls to 5 boys answered that they would hand the wallet in. 4 out of five of both the boys and girls said they preferred to watch films with others too. One boy who said they would keep the wallet also answered that they had owned a pirate copy film and when asked why, they answered 'it’s free and easy'. This person also preferred to view films at Hollywood cinema and also preferred to watch films alone. From the question 'Where do you mostly consume film? 3 boys to 1 girl answered 'On the computer/laptop' one of the 3 boys who answered this explained that they preferred this medium because, 'It's easy to sit and watch a film from a laptop, you can put it anywhere, and I mostly sit in bed and watch films.' 3 girls to 2 boys said they mainly consumed film through DVD, all 3 of the girls generally answered that they normally borrow DVD's from friends and then watch them at home on a laptop or computer. The 2 boys and 2 girls who answered 'at the cinema' when later asked 'where are you most likely to see, hear go to find out about the latest films' answered 'trailers'. From the question, ' Do you prefer a film to have a male or female lead? 5 boys preferred to go see a film with a male lead, 2 answered female. When asked why, one of the boys who answered male said, 'Allot of films especially action films are written and rely on a male lead to make it good.' 4 girls preferred to go see a film with a male lead and 4 said female, when asked why one of the girls who answered 'female' said, 'I prefer a film to have a female lead because I feel that I can relate to the character more.' she also answered like most the girls that she had a small close group of friends and heard about the latest film by word of mouth.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I feel that overall the results gathered from our research have indicated my expectations were generally correct, and that a person’s sex and personality effected things like their preferred media to watch films and where to watch them. The results from my research have show a clear relationship between the three, for example, the bar chart of the results for 'Where are you most likely to see, hear or go to find out about the latest film’ boys where more likely to find out on the internet from cinema sites etc than girls; clearly shows that there is a difference with viewing habits with boys and girls. Of the people who chose to watch film online, the majority also said they has owned a pirate copy DVD this being most likely because they use the internet allot, don’t have the money to buy films, or can't be bothered. It was interesting to see that the majority of people who answered in that way where boys. The personality question I used in my questionnaire provided some interesting results for example the people who answered that they would hand in a wallet they had found hadn’t owned a pirate DVD, the majority of these people also preferred to watch films with others. My research has been interesting to do and I have found out some interesting relationships between an audiences sex and personality.

Auidence Research questionnaire example

2010-02-04T05:03:00.000-08:00

Initial Research into the habits of the British Film Audiences questionnaire

Gender
Male
Female

Do you have a small circle of close friends, rather than a large number of friends?

small

If you found a wallet would you

Keep it

Hand it in to a Police station or lost property

Take the things you find valuable and discard the wallet

In Norwich which cinema do you prefer to go to?

Odeon

Cinema City

Vue

Hollywood Cinema 1 cheap and dirrrrty ;P

Where do you mostly consume film?

On the internet or watching it on the computer

DVD

TV – broadcast, satellite and cable

DVD – hired

Cinema

Why do you mostly consume films in your chose medium?

Arggggg its a pirates life for me. (Its easiest to watch)

What is most likely to get you to go see the latest film?

A good review

The film having well known and or you favourite actor’s/ess’s

The film is your favourite genre

Like the look of the plot or are interested in the subject matter

Where are you to most likely to see, hear or go find about the latest films?

Word of mouth

TV interview

Online interview

Visiting cinema websites (listings)

Billboards, posters

Advertising in the cinema

Newspaper and magazine interviews and reviews

Trailers

Do you prefer films with a male or female lead actor?

Male

Why is this?

Fits in with more action films

Have you ever illegally downloaded a film or owned a pirate copy of a film?

yes

Is so why?

I’m always skint.

Do you prefer to watch films alone or with others?

alone

Auidence Research questionnaire template

2010-02-04T04:58:00.000-08:00

Initial Research into the habits of the British Film Audiences questionnaire
Gender

Male
Female

Do you have a small circle of close friends, rather than a large number of friends?

If you found a wallet would you

Keep it

Hand it in to a Police station or lost property

Take the things you find valuable and discard the wallet

In Norwich which cinema do you prefer to go to?

Odeon

Cinema City

Vue

Hollywood Cinema

Why do you prefer your chosen cinema?

Where do you mostly consume film?

On the internet or watching it on the computer

DVD

TV – broadcast, satellite and cable

DVD – hired

Cinema
Why do you mostly consume films in your chose medium?

What is most likely to get you to go see the latest film?

A good review

The film having well known and or you favourite actor’s/ess’s

The film is your favourite genre

Like the look of the plot or are interested in the subject matter

Where are you to most likely to see, hear or go find about the latest films?

Word of mouth

TV interview

Online interview

Visiting cinema websites (listings)

Billboards, posters

Advertising in the cinema

Newspaper and magazine interviews and reviews

Trailers

Do you prefer films with a male or female lead actor?

Why is this?
Have you ever illegally downloaded a film or owned a pirate copy of a film?

Is so why?

Do you prefer to watch films alone or with others?

Primary characteristics and conventions of film noir: Themes and styles

2010-01-25T06:39:00.000-08:00

Primary Characteristics and Conventions of Film Noir: Themes and Styles

The primary moods of classic film noir were melancholy, alienation, bleakness, disillusionment, disenchantment, pessimism, ambiguity, moral corruption, evil, guilt, desperation and paranoia.

Heroes (or anti-heroes), corrupt characters and villains included down-and-out, conflicted hard-boiled detectives or private eyes, cops, gangsters, government agents, a lone wolf, socio-paths or killers, crooks, war veterans, politicians, petty criminals, murderers, or just plain Joes. These protagonists were often morally-ambiguous low-lifes from the dark and gloomy underworld of violent crime and corruption. Distinctively, they were cynical, tarnished, obsessive (sexual or otherwise), brooding, menacing, sinister, sardonic, disillusioned, frightened and insecure loners (usually men), struggling to survive - and in the end, ultimately losing.

Storylines were often elliptical, non-linear and twisting. Narratives were frequently complex, maze-like and convoluted, and typically told with foreboding background music, flashbacks (or a series of flashbacks), witty, razor-sharp and acerbic dialogue, and/or reflective and confessional, first-person voice-over narration. Amnesia suffered by the protagonist was a common plot device, as was the downfall of an innocent Everyman who fell victim to temptation or was framed. Revelations regarding the hero were made to explain/justify the hero's own cynical perspective on life.

Film noir films (mostly shot in gloomy grays, blacks and whites) thematically showed the dark and inhumane side of human nature with cynicism and doomed love, and they emphasized the brutal, unhealthy, seamy, shadowy, dark and sadistic sides of the human experience. An oppressive atmosphere of menace, pessimism, anxiety, suspicion that anything can go wrong, dingy realism, futility, fatalism, defeat and entrapment were stylized characteristics of film noir. The protagonists in film noir were normally driven by their past or by human weakness to repeat former mistakes.

Film noir films were marked visually by expressionistic lighting, deep-focus or depth of field camera work, disorienting visual schemes, jarring editing or juxtaposition of elements, ominous shadows, skewed camera angles (usually vertical or diagonal rather than horizontal), circling cigarette smoke, existential sensibilities, and unbalanced or moody compositions. Settings were often interiors with low-key (or single-source) lighting, venetian-blinded windows and rooms, and dark, claustrophobic, gloomy appearances. Exteriors were often urban night scenes with deep shadows, wet asphalt, dark alleyways, rain-slicked or mean streets, flashing neon lights, and low key lighting. Story locations were often in murky and dark streets, dimly-lit and low-rent apartments and hotel rooms of big cities, or abandoned warehouses. [Often-times, war-time scarcities were the reason for the reduced budgets and shadowy, stark sets of B-pictures and film noirs.]

Some of the most prominent directors of film noir included Orson Welles, John Huston, Billy Wilder, Edgar Ulmer, Douglas Sirk, Robert

Thriller film soundtrack ideas

2010-01-21T06:44:00.000-08:00

Abysmo - The path

Taken from http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/

After looking through the site, we where looking for something similar to the Kasabien and Reservior Dogs theme we had researched.

Another strong track we are considering using is:
Hyperions Fate - Sunny Days Are Over
This was also taken from http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/

Thriller Audience research: graphs and report

2010-01-20T01:32:00.000-08:00

The results from our questionnaire showed that the audience preferred mainstream films to independent films. When asked why they explained that mainstream films have good special effects, and normally have their favourite Hollywood actors. Our audience expected a mainstream film to have a ‘Hollywood’ cast and several big city locations. They also expected mainstream films to have professional, high budget special effects and big stunts. Our audience expected an independent film to have unknown actors, minimum worldwide set locations. They also expected independent films to have little special effects and big stunts, with more attention spent on plot, and a good soundtrack. Our audience expected a thriller films to have generally dark, urban damp locations and when asked about British thrillers they expected a location with tower flats, dirty urban streets, a working class/industrial setting. When asked about characters in thriller film they mostly expected the lead to be male, white and working class, with females normally being used as tools in crime. It is intresting that females preffered independent films more than males, this could be because males prefer a big comfy action film, whereas women a instresting plot with deep charaters. Males preferred action thrillers to all other sub genres, this could be eviendence for my earlier point. Whereas females preferred crime thrillers, this again evidence for my earlier point, that females enjoy a ingaging plot rather then an explosive action packed macho film.

From the research we have concluded that from our sample the audience preferred a mainstream film; the passive hollywood blockbuster is popular for an audience who dose'nt want to be challenged, and wants to enjoy seeing their favourite actor/ess and special effects.

Shooting analysis 18/1/20

2010-01-20T01:18:00.000-08:00

After school we shot the last few scenes we needed to do and we expect after one more session of filming we will have finished, and will have time to do any re shoots if necessary. Having needing a car for the scene Bens Dad whoi works for Mercedes, let us use a Mercedes for shooting. This was ideal as we where looking for a good car to shoot with as this is meant to be Christians’ car. The car was parked down a side street and we had the car for half an hour and managed to get all the shots we needed. Bens Dad was also on hand for some shots. There was the occasional problem of cars and people walking past but apart from this the shoot went well. We used the car headlights and street lighting to are advantage, creating shadows.

The car we shot with.

Shooting Schedule: 18/1/10

2010-01-18T02:40:00.000-08:00

Shooting analysis 16/1/10

2010-01-17T10:15:00.001-08:00

On Saturday 16th January we went out and shot shots - . The location for these shots where Trowse Bridge and Trowse, Hopkin homes/ YMCA. This was our third time of shooting. The weather was very damp and along side with the good street lighting the combination created some very good reflections and shadows which looked both striking and moody. It was very cold but we managed to shoot most of what we hoped to achieve apart from some shots which we couldn’t shoot because it was too dark, we are instead shooting these on Friday. Overall the shooting went well, with our actors on set on time and the right weather.

Shooting analysis, 15/1/10

2010-01-17T10:05:00.001-08:00

On Friday 15th January after school I went and filmed the final shots of out opening. This was our second day of filming having previously done some filming in Trowse on Monday. The location for the final shots was one of our actors house, Isobel Bailey, this was very convent because the actor was on location. We decided to have Christian’s and Isabella’s house for this location because it was suitably fitting for the part, being fairly large and well furnished. The shoot went very well and I made good use of the lamps and slit blinds in the house, the result of which I could create some good shadows in the shots. The door of the house was particularly interesting and old fashioned with coloured glass panes above it, using this to my advantages I shot Isabella walking past them outside, managing a good looking shot. I also did some shooting outside, in a alleyway near Isobel’s house, the alleyway had perfect lighting from several streetlamps and created excellent shadows. The shooting outside went very smoothly with no problems apart from the occasional dog walking, overall all the shooting was very successful and I felt some very good shots where achieved.

Shooting Schedules: 15/1/10, 16/1/10

2010-01-17T09:50:00.000-08:00

Locations: UPDATED: Isabella & Christian's house

2010-01-15T10:06:00.000-08:00

Isobel Bailey's house/ Isabella & Christian's house

Shots of Isabella getting ready to leave her house and past life behind after having returned from taking the money
-Taking adress from notice board
-Packing last item in bag
-going out

Notice board

Isabella takes an address of the notice board, the address where she is heading for to start her new life.
C.U of Isabella's hand taken adress

Front door

Front door Isabella leaves from.

C.U of Isabella hand on door knob
M.S from the top of the strairs going across hallway and out of door.
C.U of Isabella's feet, suitcase can be seen.

Window

Blind's create perfect shadows and are moody and atmospheric
and reminisant of eary thrillers

Due to revisions with our plot the shots with Isabella leaving the house have been cut. The shots of Isabella smoking agaisnt the blinds will remain.

Research into Bristish gangster Films

2010-01-13T11:25:00.000-08:00

The working class, gritty British gangster film, where such scarcely figure in British cinema until the 1940's. Before this there was a feeling that 'gangsters' were something essentially American and British cinema stuck to the gritty crooks. For some decades, British crime movies tended to feature solo criminals, crooks and often murderers, as in Hitchcock's The Lodger (1926) and Young and Innocent (1937). In the 20's and 30's Detective stories were popular, the famous Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie-style detection stories notably. The less tightened censorship restrictions began the emerging of British gangster films onto the cinema screens. By 1951 the concept of a British gangster movie had become familiar enough for the production of a spoof, 'The Lavender Hill Mob', by Alec Guinness led four years later by another film another by him, 'The Ladykillers' (1955) and gangster comedies such as Two Way stretch (1960) more recent light hearted titles include Rock nRolla(2008).
A popular subject of gangster films are Heist films notoriously having plot twists, and focusing on the characters' attempts to formulate a plan, carry it out, and escape with their attended loot. Two famous examples being 'The Italian Job' with its famous and literal cliff hanger ending and more recently 'Sexy Beast' (2000) with a soon release due of a new film made by the same director: '44inch Chest'.. British gangster films have significantly over the past years having to develope with a changing and diverse society from the early noir gangster thrillers to modern thriller more frequently surrounding the Recent publicity of urban youth crime and violence the 'yob generation'. This has been reflected in a number of films, notably Kidulthood (2006) and its sequel, Adulthood (2008).

Generic Signifiers of British gangster films

British Gangster films settings typically tend to be dark, gloomy, urban streets. On working class derelict estates, neglected apartments/flats warehouses and other locations where criminal activity can take place unseen. The characters usually involve male leads, criminals with little morals and remorse, who are selfish and are out to make money and a living for themselves, though the liberty of something else not caring who they hurt in their way.

A report by Jane Burnside @ Virgin Media/movies says that the top ten British Gangster films are the following: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Brighton Rock, Get Carter, Villain, The Long Good Friday, The Lavender Hill Mob, The Krays, Face, Reservoir Dogs and Sexy Beast. Looking through various over top tens and research into British gangster films these titles come up again and again as greats of there genre.

Thriller Audience Research Questionnaire

2010-01-13T02:26:00.000-08:00

Thriller Film Audience Research Questionnaire

Do you prefer mainstream or independent films? Why do you prefer your chosen film type?

What do you expect from an independent film?

What do you expect from a mainstream film?

What sub genre of thriller genre do you prefer?

Crime Thrillers
Action Thrillers
Gangster Thrillers
Noir Thrillers
Other (Please state)

Why do you prefer this sub genre?

What do you expect the locations in thriller films to be like?

What do you expect from the characters in a thriller film? Consider their behavior, attitude.

What is your favourite thriller film? Why?

'Our Friends In The North' change in Mary + wider context

2009-12-17T06:34:00.000-08:00

How does Mary change and how does this represent the wider context?

With contrast to the previous scene Mary seems less passive, when in conversation with Tosca she questions him and has a more equal say in the conversation, whereas before she would have tolerated Tosca's strong willed manner. Mary's changed attitude as stronger, less passive and independent women reflects the wider context and ideology at the time. Women where bringing to push for independence and break free from the constraint of a patriarchal society, the development of a strong willed feminist movement which prompted the change of social values and representation of women.

What signs are there that Tosca and Mary have different ideologies? Who struggles with the shift in hegemony?

The conversation between Mary and Tosca in this scene reveals a clear clash of ideologies. Mary is pushing for independence, to break free from the constraint as a housewife and an arrogant strong willed husband. Tosca views Mary’s want for such things as selfish. He does not believe it is right for her to want to be independent, get qualifications and separate from the ideology of a housewife which, is what Tosca would much for prefer she to be. Tosca believes that he should not have to financially support her and pay for house keepers, when he believes she should be doing it. Tosca is fixed in a then growing old ideology of an obedient housewife. Tosca is arrogant to the change of social values and the increasing strength of the feminist social movement. He is arrogant because he struggles with the unfolding shift in hegemony; his arrogance helps him believe that it is not happening.

Shooting Schedule example

2009-12-16T03:42:00.000-08:00

How is the camerawork and editing used to emphaise difference in the clip from 'Our Freinds In The North'?

2009-12-10T06:45:00.000-08:00

Two shot of Nicky and Helen Winsor establishes a retionship between the two characters and unity as a couple. They are both smiling this shows they are comfortable and confident. They are smartly dressed this conotes that they are well manered, socially confident and are most probably used to going out. This is a master shot and is linked back to at the end of the footage.

Two shot of Mary and Tosca establishes a relationship between the two characters. The over the shoulder shot creates a sense of intensity and reflects Mary and Tosca's discomfort. Having Nicky and Helens faces out of focus in the shot gives the feeling of Mary and Tosca being watched and maybe judged, as if comfrentational.

Long shot establishes contrasts between the couples and emphasises the awkwardness of the situation. Mary Tosca and Nicky have smiling faces whereas Helen does not, as a result of a witty remark Tosca had made mocking Helen. Helens straight face shows establishes top the audience that she is not amused by this incompetent humor, reflecting points about her character.

The close up of Helen establishes the intensity of the scene and conflict between Helen and Mary. The lighting in the background is quite dark with Helen faces illuminated making her face stand out this is done to make Helen's face and expression a focal point and drew the audience’s attention to it. This also intensifies the awkwardness and confrontation of the scene.

This close up of Tosca illustrates his daftness and is bad mannered with little social etiquette. His action is clumsy he is clearly out of place and this is shown by his failure to eat spaghetti. The shoulder of Mary can be seen connoting the enclosure of the characters in this awkward situation enclosed in the almost claustrophobic confrontation.

Prelim Task questions

2009-12-09T10:48:00.000-08:00

1) What camera and editing techniques and codes did you use in your film and how do they influence the audience’s understanding of the film? (e.g. camera angles and shot types etc; Match on action, Shot/ reverse shot , 180 degree rule )

For the opening of the film we used a long shot to establish the surroundings, using the vanishing point of the road, and the line of the trees as a mark of the third, with Dan to the left. This was followed by a medium side shot of Dan from the side establishes him - his dress, age, style and the bicycle. After this a tracking shot and then a high angle pan and close ups of Dan locking up the bike all establishing to the audience his journey and surroundings – school. We used a long shot of Dan walking into common room to establish the surroundings influencing the understanding of the audience. The dialogue was shot to match the action using the 180 degree rule, Dan and Andy having the same left/right relationship to each other shooting over the shoulder, the closer a camera is placed to the axis, the more emotionally involved the audience will be having the camera placed on the characters shoulder - over the shoulder shot meant the audience where more evolved and made the situation clear to understand.

2) How did you use new technologies in your construction, planning and evaluation (e.g. digital cameras; non-linear editing software; YouTube and blog) and what skills do you have at using this technology? (Strengths and weaknesses. e.g. steady/ shakey camera; variety of shot types; smooth/ clumsy transitions; independence when using technologies.)

The functioning of the camera was easy to pick up. With the aid of a tripod are shots could be done steadily and on even ground with guide the sprit level. When shooting our first shot and using the zoom it was unsteady and jumping with some practice repeating the shot I gradually mangered to make the zoom smoother. After this practice I found zooming easier and found that my zoom was steadier and less jumpy. When shooting the tracking shot of Dan on the bicycle I found it hard at first to keep up with him this was due to the small maneuvering space. To resolve this we decided to slow the action down and I held the camera in front of me to help make keeping up with Dan easier and keep him in shot, from the result of this the shot was done more successfully.
In are film we used a varity of shot types, using the tripod we shot long and mid shots, this was done easily and successfully, and with handheld filming we shot a tracking, panning and over the shoulder shots, with out the aid of the tripod it was harder to keep the camera steady and with some practice mangered to make are shots steadier. When filming the dialogue it was hard to hear the dialogue due to loud background noise. We repeated the shot loudening the speech but this didn’t improve as the background noise was too heavy. To resolve this we decided to use clip on microphones’, I found the microphones’ easy to use, they plugged straight into the camera and on the person speaking. Reshooting using the microphones the dialogue was vastly clearer and louder and from aid of the microphones greatly improved from before.
When editing our film it was the first time I had used the software. With some guidance I found the programme fairly easy to use, the programme is laid out simply and I found it easy to identify the tools. We cut our film - repeat takes added transitions to smooth some of our footage and added music. I found cutting the film fairly easy to do and using the razor tool and by making the timeline bigger with the slider easy to find the exact moments to cut. We used a transition to cut a long piece of footage which we felt was too long and also used one to smooth out a skip in the footage. When then found a music track which we felt fitted with film, this was then saved to a memory stick and added to the footage. The music was then cut so it wouldn’t go over the dialogue. Then we added sound effect to our footage. From looking on free sound we found a good bicycle bell sound effect and added it to our film, the site was easy to use and had many good sound effects.

3) How successfully does your final product meet the brief?

The final product includes film of Dan crossing the common room walking over to Andy pulling out a chair and exchanging a couple of lines with him. This dialogue was shot to match the action using the 180 degree rule, Dan and Andy having the same left/right relationship to each other shooting over the shoulder

Thriller research

2009-12-07T06:28:00.000-08:00

What I want to find out

Investigate sub genre
What the audience expect of
location
Props
Characters
Settings

How I am going to investigate

Interviews with resources
Questionnaire
Clip screening followed by questionnaires

5-10 Minute clip screening
Possible clips:

- Once Upon In America

-Psycho
- Layer Cake
- Thelma and Louise

Followed by questionnaire/ discussion of
-Expectation of
location
Props
Characters
Settings
Etc
-Comparison of a mainstream with independent - Using films also in the sub genre are film will be - crime/british gangster thriller.
for example
-Essex Boysv Casino Royle
Discuss auidence expectationsof mainstream and independent thriller film discussion will be filmed and someone allicated to ask questions and lead the discussion.
-Will shall also have a short question aided with visual prompts.

Rough dicussion question ideas
-What do kinds of conventions do the auidence expect?
-Do they prefer mainstream or independent?
-Do they expect different or cetain locations, props etc from a mainstream, independent?
-Discuss what the audience think of thrillers that challenge them as an audience? Say challenge generic conventions - Taritino's Jackie Brown challenges the generic convention of a male white lead.
-What are there expectations of mainstream and independent films?- What do they expect of them? Which do they prefer?

Cosmetics Unit - Perfume Advert - Assement Sheet

2009-12-03T12:17:00.000-08:00

Developed location ideas

2009-12-03T12:15:00.000-08:00

I took these photos of location idea for the briefcase exchange - meeting of Christian and Joules, and the assult on Joules. Trowse - pumping station and under Trowse bridge. Under the Trowse bridge and around that area are delelict industrial buildings. There are various old doors and buildings under the bridge. hiya. There is also in this area a large old industrial building and more similar buildings at the back. Ajacent to the area under the bridge is the Norwich - London train route.
Close up of the area under the bridge has old rail and storage rooms which are now boarded up. There is still evidence of the rail past. There are several interesting aged doors and arches in this area.

Midium shot the same area, in this photo the arc of the connecting bridge from the quary (Lafarges) can be seen with the train way just beyond this.

Medium shot of a large derilict industral building in the area. Beautiful arced window and door and clock tower. Run down, old, abanded and quiet making the perfect place for the briefcase exchange.

Close up of the door of the above building. Beautifully old. Could be possible place of briefcase exchange the arc of the door representing the framing of Joules. Below a photo of more buildings in this area, large and towering.

Inspiration for the setting came from watching previous thrillers such as Once upon a time in America and The Thrid Man.Where as you can see, the dark, gloomy back-alley setting has been proved as a great generic thriller signifier, and we feel that this would give the perfect feel to our thriller, as the dark, gloomy, isolated streets give a sense of fear, that danger may just be around the corner... For example in this shot of the character 'Noodles' coming out of a doorway round the back of a dark alley. The Third Man a noir thriller is set in the post war derelict urban streets of Vienna, Austria. The buildings show signs of the war that has past, smashes windows boarded up doors. The streets are often wet and gloomy. The buildings looking striking and dominant with there wet glaze of the raining sky and dark and light on dark contrast. Characters shadows climb the dark walls looking mysterious and threatening. The dark provides perfect places for a lurking character, hidden in a doorway. The darkness can make characters look strong, mysterious, threatning but on the other hand vunrable and alone.

Prelim task

2009-12-03T06:23:00.000-08:00

Soundtrack - initial notes

2009-12-02T01:56:00.000-08:00

We feel that to have a soundtrack to the background of our thriller opener would be a great effect which is used in nearly all successful thrillers. Having listened to a selection of songs and bounced different soundtrack ideas off of each other, we found that this song 'Club Foot' by Kasabian would be an ideal song for our opening, as it has the exact right feel about it and would fit perfectly into the opening shot when Joules is stepping off of the train and walking through the station. Our idea that the song would work well in a thriller is supported in the video itself when the time is at roughly 1:18, the makers of the video include a handgun, which is a generic signifier of the genre. Also at 2:04 you can see a briefcase being used, another signifier which we ourselves are using in our film.
Obviously, because of the ruling that we're not allowed to use copyrighted songs by signed artists in our videos, this particular song is not a possibility. But we may well look for other alternatives for a soundtrack by unsigned artists who might have a song giving a similar effect to this kasabian classic.

Soundtracks and thriller film genre reseach

Pulp fiction
-Dick Dale ''Misirlou''

No film score was composed for Pulp Fiction, with Quentin Tarantino instead using an eclectic assortment of surf music, rock and roll, soul, and pop songs. Dick Dale's rendition of "Misirlou" plays during the opening credits. Tarantino chose surf music as the basic musical style for the film, but not, he insists, because of its association with surfing culture: "To me it just sounds like rock and roll, even Morricone music. It sounds like rock and roll spaghetti Western music." Dick Dales rendition of ''Misirlou'' is as famous as the movie its edgey fast pased famous guitar riff opening perfectly sets the film that follows.

Reservoir Dogs -
George Baker ''Little Green Bag''

Original released in 1969 'Little Green Bag'' was written by Jan Visser and George Baker. In 1992, when the song was used in the film Reservoir Dogs featuring during the iconic ''hero walk'', it became an international cult classic. Tarantino has said that he feels the music to be a counterpoint to the on-screen violence and action. He also stated that he wished for the film to have a '50s feel while using '70s music.

http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/

From searching unsigned bands in google we found this website. The allows unsigned artists to make an account and uplaod their music, giving chance for downloading and artist information. The site is divided by artist and genre. There is an very good extensive varitey of genre From christian rock to ska. We searched through genres we felt where relative to are film - instrumental, alternative, jazz, big band and blues. Finding several good tracks we saved them to a memory stick. The site is brilliant and we will be looking further into the site.

Costume - initial notes

2009-12-02T01:49:00.000-08:00

The costume that we intend to use for the characters in our film is a modern smart, formal dress (for example suits, briefcases, overcoats and flashy jewellery. We decided to have the characters in the proposed costume because it reflects our characters as being fairly 'well-off', high up in society. A character in smart dress conotes importance and strenght. For emaple in 'Resiorv Dogs all the powerful, strong male characters are in suits, they stand out to be important, the way they dress shows that they are in control.

Joules is business man character and will be wearing a full suit, long jacket and smart shoes to reflect this. He will be also wearing a designer watch and have a briefcase with him. The watch reflects Joules obbession with his look and 'youthful' cockiness. The briefcase - the generic sig, is large and black.

Christian will also have a very similar dress and some rings and a watch more 'gentlemen' to clearly establish his wealth and importance in his particular business, possibly a cigar on-the-go too could also give connotations of the kind of character we are trying to achieve. Christian is a smart and flashy but not to the extend of being cocky like Joules.

Briefcase
Generic convention

In thriller films briefcases are used to carry illegal items - stolen goods, documents etc the briefcase decises these items it conceals the occupiers attentions and goods. A briefcase could hind the occipiers emotions - remorse they are detacthed from the moral imlications of the crime. The briefcase could also seperate the occupier from the crime, it is a metaphorical brick wall. Pulp Fiction joins the intersecting storylines of Los Angeles mobsters, fringe players, small-time criminals, and a mysterious briefcase. The dress-suited pair (John Travolta as Vincent Vega and Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield)are on their way to retrieve a briefcase from Brett (Frank Whaley), who has transgressed against their boss, gangster Marsellus Wallace. Marsellus Wallace's briefcase in Pulp Fiction basically serves as the item that the drives the plot and yet which contents are never revealed. Subsequently, much speculation has arisen as to what the significance of the briefcase is and what it contains.

Our inspiration for the costume for the opening of the triller film came from watching other thriller films where with similar smartly dressed chracters which where powerful criminals who where street wise and well dressed. We looked Pulp Fiction, Casino Royle and reservoir Dogs. All of which have male leads who are ingaged in criminal activites, are powerful, street wise, flashy and smartly dressed, they are in control.

Casino Royle

James Bond is know for being well dressed, suited and booted. His dress reflects his self control, power and social status. What ever situation he gets in Bond is always smart.

Pulp Fiction

Isabella

Isabella is well dressed and is dressed suitable to portray a costume of that of a modern femme fatale in the case of Isabella she dresses flatteringly, tight skirt, shirt, long winter jacket with a fur trim, ankle boots. Her costumes reflects her well off, high social status and her personal importance to look good.

Make - up
Dark strongly defined eyes connote confindence and strenght.

The eyes are framed drawing the audiences attention to them.

Red lips draw attention also connoting confidence and strenght and divience.

The fur coat simblises Isabella's wealth and status . A fur coat is a luxary item and shows the auidence that Isabella is wealthy, well fashioned and concerned with her appearence but not nesscercelly what people think of it; the fur coat could also symbol individuality and diversity, standing out making a statement, a fur coat is seen by some as a 'taboo' item of clothing to wear.

The tight pencil skirt and ankle boots and feminine and reflect Isbella's deviant nature. The shoes are patent and black similary is the skirt they are matchingly smart to Joules and Christains dress and being black they do not stand out, they make it easy to lurk in the darkness. Isabella's dress in strong and invidual smart and apprioately reflecting her character.

Dress experimentation 1

First experimention with dress

Long beige coat
Lace tights
White shoes
Red lips
Dark Eyes
Suitcase

The coat looks good and fits the ideology of the character
The shoes look good but these may be changed for boots for convience in a later scene.
The red lips and dark eyes look striking and also fit well with character ideology.
The suitcase is smart and again fitting to the character.
Overall this costume fits the character ideology and reperesents the character suitably and as entended. The costume makes Isabella look confident and sophisticated.

Developed synopsis - locations and character profiles

2009-11-30T14:34:00.000-08:00

Christian

Age: mid-40's

Actor: Martin Lambert

Christian is weary of his daughters lover, Joules, and does not like his daughter being with him. Christian has a controlling and obbessive relationship with his daughter.

Isabella
Role: Sleek, street-smart, deviant, sophisticated, daughter of Christian, Joule's lover.
Age: early 20's
Actress: Isobel Bailey

Isabella murders he lover joules, stabbing him in the heart. Isabella has an obbessive relationship with her father and kills Joules to please him, as well has getting a twisted pleasure out it herself.

Joules
Role: Isabella's lover
Age: Mid 20's
Actor: Harry Ewing

Joules, Isabella's lover is unware of the obbesive, controlling relationship of his lover Isabella and her father, he is murdered by his lover.

The interception by Isabella in the taking-back of the money, and murder of Joules. Isabella deceives her father and attempts to take off with the money Christian has just handed over to Joules. Isabella's intentions are to get away from her Father and the criminal world she lives in, without him finding out.
- Joules gets off train carrying briefcase A

- H
e walks through the station to station entrance and looks at watch

- Camera cuts to Christian in stationary car, who also looks at watch

- Isabella walks into shot in Christians car headlights (POV shot through windscreen) - close-up of Christian's eyes shows his confusion to her whereabouts (why is she there?) establishing her character as having some kind of relation with Christian

- Christian's phone rings, hearing 'i'm on my way etc.' and hangs up

- Christian gets out of his car

- Cuts back to Joules also hanging up,
who continues walking out of station and through street

- Mid shot Joules framed in door way - framed in fate!

- Camera cuts to Joules arriving at meeting destination

- Joules sees Chris' shadow/hears footsteps approaching

- Switch of briefcases is made - handshake

- Chris walks off out of shot

- Joules looking smug, walks off round corner, followed by camera

- Isabella is seen lurking in the shadows

- Close up of boot only handle of knife is seen.

- reveals knife from her boot

- shot of Joules' shadow on wall with Isabella
approaching behind and attacking with knife, falls to the ground

- Isabella retrieves briefcase B and walks off

- low angle shot of Isabella walking off with Joules' hand in the foreground
- focus changing from Isabella to hand

- Close up of Christians hand hanging out of car window
- watch further establishes link of relationship between Christian and Isabella.

- Outcome- Isabella murders Joules without the knowledge
her father and takes the money with the intention of running away thus deceiving her father.

- Isabella walks away (note the close-ups of hands) a close-up of a hand on her shoulder creating suspense. Who's hand is it? A partner who she is also running away with? Her Dad?

Development

Extreme close up of Joules'swatch - tilt shot - inter textual reference to 'The Third Man'.
Christian's car
- Cuts to Christian in stationary car, who also looks at watch - links characters and scenes

Extreme close up of watch - tilt shot

Different watch establishes different character and personality.
- Christians hand on steering wheel

Mid shot Joules framed in door way - framed in fate. waiting for Isabella

-Isabella arrives to meet Joules.

Cut back to Christains still waiting in car

Joules and Isabella walk off, headlights can be seen following them, but they do not notice.
Joules and Isabella imbrace, Joules falls/slumps to the ground, Isabella is froze is horror blood can be seen.
Christian grabs/ hand on Isabella's shouldier.

End.

NEW (15/1/10)

Location
Isobel Bailey's house

C.U of reflection in mirror of Isobella putting on lipstick
M.S of Isabella packing last item in suitcase
C.U of Isabella picking up suitcase
M.S of Isabella walking to notice board
C.U of Isabella getting adress
M.S from strairs of Isabella leaving out door
C.U of hand on knob
As Isabella leaves though door, shadow/figure can be seen behind her. Use of glass doors.

We revised are plot because it was too complicated. Instead of the original idea of having a exchange between Christian and Joules, with Isabella intercepting. We felt that we needed to change are idea to make it more controversal, engaging and interesting.

We have cut the shots of Isabella leaving as these are boring and unessery.
We have cut the CU's of the watch/s as these are now not needed.
We have cut down the number of shots in Isabella's house.

Final narrative

CU of Christain in car behind steering wheel
Keeping shots of Isabella getting reaady
CU of isabella's eyes whilst smoking
cuts to CU of Christian's eyes - as if looking at one another
CU's of Joules waiting
CU's of Christain
Isabella and Joules meet, embrace etc
Joules is shot by Christian.

Isabella murders he lover joules, stabbing him in the heart.
Isabella has an obbessive relationship with her father and kills Joules to please him,
as well has getting a twisted pleasure out it herself.

Christian is weary of his daughters lover, Joules,
and does not like his daughter being with him. Christian
has a controlling and obbessive relationship with his daughter.

Shooting Locations

Isabella's house
Christian's car
Castle gardens - meeting place
Allyway

All props and costumes are the same.

Alfred Hitchcock: The Master Of Suspense Thrillers

2009-11-18T02:50:00.000-08:00

No list of suspense or thriller films can be complete without mention of English film-maker/director Alfred Hitchcock. He helped to shape the modern-day thriller genre, beginning with his early silent film The Lodger (1926), a suspenseful Jack-the-Ripper story, followed by his next thriller Blackmail (1929), his first sound film (but also released in a silent version). Hitchcock would make a signature cameo appearance in his feature films, beginning with his third film The Lodger (1926), although his record was spotty at first. After 1940, he appeared in every one (in Rope he gets of a bus in the opening) except for The Wrong Man (1956). Alfred Hitchcock is considered the acknowledged auteur master of the thriller or suspense genre, manipulating his audience's fears and desires, and taking viewers into a state of association with the representation of reality facing the character - In Rope Phillips constant guilt and remorse over strangling an innocent friend to death, David. Hitchcock's films often placed an innocent victim (an average, responsible person) into a strange, life-threatening or terrorizing situation, in a case of mistaken identity, misidentification or wrongful accusation (i.e., in Rope, the brutal murder of an innocent victim - David).

The famed director often capitalized on a 'red herring' or gimmicky plot element to catch the viewer's attention - dubbed a McGuffin (or MacGuffin), that would propel the plot along its course.

Hitchcock usually cast leading actors against type (Gregory Peck, James Stewart, Cary Grant) opposite cool blondes (Madeleine Carroll, Joan Fontaine, Ingrid Bergman, Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, Janet Leigh, Tippi Hedren, Lila Crane - Psycho) who were often subject to misogynistic abuse, threatening humiliation, or murder - femme fatale. Hitchcock would then explore the darker sides of human nature through the situation, including sexuality and voyeurism, guilt and punishment, or paranoia and obsession, an example of this in Rope Brenden becomes obsessed by the intellectual concepts of Nietzsche's Übermensch and the art of murder, a means of showing one's superiority over others, a dark obbession which leads to a brutal murder of one of his college friends. Hitchcock usually let the viewer know that some horrible event would happen - creating unbearable suspense while viewers waited for the inevitable - the opening of Rope is a hight angle shot over a bustling street below, calm and ordinary, the camera then pans round to a upper apartment window with the curtains shut, the camera sits still for a couple of minutes - creating suspense and preparing the audience for the horrible event behind the curtains.

An example of HItchcocks' cool blondes- Lila Crane from Psycho, Lila runs away with a vast amount of money she has taken from her boss and ends up being brutally mudered at a motel she stays at by a dark twisted man.

Thriller planning - initical loactions ideas

2009-11-11T13:46:00.000-08:00

Thriller planning - location ideas

Norwich train station.
Planning to feature train in thriller film opening.
Shots inside and outside trains station.

Trowse

Trains run though Trowse good place for train montage. Shots of train going under bridge and can be followed as far as Trowse Mill, with good spots for shots which can be done safely.

Once Upon a Time in America- Thriller reseach

2009-11-04T01:55:00.000-08:00

Once Upon a Time in America

Director

Sergio Leone
Date of release

1984

Production companies

Embassy international pictures

PSO international

Warner Bro's, pictures

Filming Locations
Chambers Paper Fibres, Plymouth Street, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy
(studio)

Auidence

User ratings
From using the figures on IMDB this film is show to be most popular amongst males under 18 and males aged 18-29. This is a demographic of the typical auidence for this film, males between the age of 18 and 29.

User comments

IMDB user:
'A sprawling, deliberately paced, and generally a superbly crafted piece of work'

'It's been said that when one watches a "spaghetti" western (one of the "Man with no name" films with Clint Eastwood) filmmaker Sergio Leone's trademark cinema style and flair for clear storytelling is instantly recognizable. This is no truer than in his most ambitious effort, Once Upon a Time in America, in which his usage of close-ups, concise camera movement, sound transitions and syncs, and the sudden change in some scenes from tenderness to violence.'
Author:
JackGattanella from United States, 19th October 2003.

External review (to IMDB)

'Once Upon a Time in America is an outstanding film on several levels. Its length and its impeccable attention to period detail give it the feel of an epic. But at its heart, it is the story of one man's journey through life, and the price he's paid for the choices he made along the way.'

Author:

Dana Knowles, June 1999.

How does Sergio Leone ultilise the generic conventions of a thriller film in 'Once Apon a Time in America?

Extreme close up, utilised to involve the audience in te action. This is the establishing shot of Eve at the beginning of the film. Her face is illuminated by the glamourous tiffiny lamp, and the audience see her face propably for the first time in portrate. Eve is presented as the 'classic' (thriller) femme fatale; pale skin, red lips, perfectly mangered tightly curled hair and a glamourous hat suitably perched on top. The lamp indicates her glamour and asthetic values, she cares and take pleasure in her appearence. The shots are simple, and dramatised with the use of chiaroscuro lighting and compostion.

Sergio utilses the theme of murder and crime with this high angle shot of the bed with bullets holes in the shape of a person similar to that of a 'murder etch' it and thus introduces the theme of fear and murder. The high angle shot is used to make Eve look weak, powerless and out of her depth. The bullet holes in the bed are a warning to Eve, a threat. This theart indicates to the audience that Eve is in trouble, and most posibly get murdered. The utilisation of chiaroscuro lighting is used to reinforce the sense of nightmare and suspense.

Eve fits the generic thriller archetype of a femme fatale. Her dress is generic of a femme fatale, dark red lips, tight skirt, long glamourous coat. Her dress exposers her to the violence of males, she is dressed in a way that is provoctative and alluring, which is at her weakness. She has high asthetic values and takes care in her appearence. Eve is ultimatly murdered for her reluctence to reveal the where abouts of her lover Noodles, who is a gang member. Eve's relationship with Noodles ingages her into this crime world, in which she does not belong.

Research into Femme Fatale with reference to Femme Fatales from thriller film.

2009-10-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

Femme fatale

Dictionary definition :
A femme fatale is an alluring and seductive woman whose charms ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations.

In the gangster thriller film 'Once Upon A Time in America' this is the first establishing shot on the femme Eve. Her face is illuminated by the glamorous and expensive Tiffney style lamp. Eve is a 'classic' femme fatale, dark eyes, red lips, and pale skin - 'classic' make up, tight skirt. Tightly curled perfectly presented curled hair and a glamorous hat. She is wearing pearls also a generic signifier of the femme fatale and thought to be unlucky, and could represent her unlucky fate. Her glamour, red lips, tight skirt and blonde hair are elements of objectification. She is also passive, a stereotyped dumb blonde who defines herself through men, she is marginal to the action and a victim. Her deviance is that she is a loose woman and thus pays for her sins.

Another modern femme fatale, Jackie Brown, from the film 'Jackie Brown' directed by Quentin Tarantino. As did Ridely Scott in 'Thelma and Louise' Tarantino challenges and smashes the conventions and pre-conceptions of the thriller genre can be seen in 'Jackie Brown' by having his main character as a middle aged, black female. Tarantino twists the audience pre-conceptions of the genre, he plays with stereotypes of gender, ethnicity, sex and age, and with this very controversial ( the thriller genre) leading character pushing the audiences out of their preconceptions and creates a strong, interesting, deviant lead and femme fatale. Jackie Brown is a flight attendant who gets caught smuggling her boss's gun money on the airline she works for. Tarantino turns the audiences preconceptions on there heads with the leads smuggling of her male boss's gun money. Jackie Brown is strong, deviant confident and powerful she knows how to get what she wants and it clever in how she does it, she is in control and makes fools of the male that try and stop her. This movie poster reflects Tarantino's want to challenge the thriller genre and its audiences. Jackie is holding a gun this shows that she is in power and control, she has a large bag filled with money this shows that she is deviant, her tight short skirt and alluring dress objectifies her but also makes her look confident.

Opening to Jackie Brown

The first 1.50
Jackie is on a convabelt and constantly in the right third of the screen, a use of the rule of thirds, a persons eye is said to be drawn to the right, so she is placed on the right to be in constant attention of the audience.
Low angle tracking shot
The use of a low angle shot makes Jackie look powerful and in control, she works confidently with her head held high. The use of tracking means the audiences attention is constantly on Jackie and places the audience in the mise-en-scene, as if they are right beside her.
2.15-2.23
Mid low angle tracking shot
Mid angle shot, she low angle, makes the audience fell as if they are underneath her.
2.23-2.33
Close up, tracking shot

The opening sequence of 'Jackie Brown' is the establishment of Jackie (as a main character), the purpose bring to show the audience what she is like. Without dialogue the audience establish from the clever and powerful use of camera angles, costume and soundtrack Jackie is; confident, strong, powerful, safisticated, dominating, sucessful. The soundtrack played for the durrarion of the opening is upbeat, safisticated and confident, and reflects Jackie.

Cosmetics advert analysis questions

2009-10-21T10:18:00.000-07:00

'Freyja is 26. She works for a large branding company agency. She lives alone and has a cat. She works hard and enjoys her job. She likes to be independent and has a strong character. She socialises with friends at the weekend, going to cafes and bars. She is good at balancing her time well between her work and social life, she believes it is important for women to have a good career she enjoys and close friends. She is good with money; she likes high quality lasting products as she feels they are worth the extra cost.
The target audiences for my advert are social climbers and succeeders. They are most likely to be young professionals. I chose to advertise a red lipstick this was because it connotes strength, feminity, power, and naturally stands out- individuality I felt that this perfectly suited the target audience. The advert appeals to the audience by connoting strength, independence, wisdom, success and individuality. Having chosen to advertise a lipstick it was important that the face of the model, being the main focal point of the advert gave connotations of the audience’s ambitions and ideology, I had this in mind when constructing the advert.
The face of the model is highly illuminated making it look radiant; this draws the reader’s eye/attention to the face. A strong radiant face connotes wisdom, power, strength and beauty/purity. The use of simple strong 'classic' make up makes the model look sophisticated, fashionable, feminine and professional. This appeals to the readers ambitions to be individual, strong, and independent. The dark eye make up draws in the reader’s attention to the eyes, it frames them. I decided to have the model looking up in to the sky as this shows she has ambition and that she has hopes/goals, her eyes are locked into the dark and gripping excitement of her fate. This appeals to the audiences ambitions to be successful, to achieve and strive. There is a pleased expression on her face showing that she is confident and happy with who she is and what she stands for. This appeals to my audience because they are confident and stand for what they believe in.
The model is wearing a fur coat; this connotes luxury, strength, and individuality, all these of which can all be linked to success and are all appealing to the target audience. The reader can only see the arm of the coat, enough to be seen and appealing as part of the advert but not too much to distract the readers eye and divert the focal point of the advert. The advert has a strong colour scheme red, black and white, these colours all being strong on there own and also complimenting each together when together. Black is the colour of authority and power, white symbolises innocence and purity. The most emotionally intense colour, red stimulates a faster heartbeat and breathing. It is also the color of love, it draws attention. I chose these colours as they all have connotations of which the target audience aspired to be/where attract to. When designing the logo for the product I knew it had to have a name which could be related to the discussed ideals. When looking at my chosen picture Roxie came into my head, it seemed to fit perfectly and stand for everything I was trying to make my advert stand for. I used a 'hand written' style font to give the look of it having being written in lipstick. I put black and red roses (connoting passion, feminity), and lips (connoting passion feminity and relating to the advert matter) behind/around the font, complimenting my advert and enhancing the visual appeal to the target audience.
I used a digital camera to take the photos of my model. I took several and choose one, this was based on a criteria that it had to have: the right lighting, and most importantly the lips looked strong and highlighted. I found the digital camera easy to use, it made it easy for me to take good photos and upload them with ease onto my computer. I edited my advert in Photoshop. It was the first time I had used Photoshop but with some instruction found it easy to find my way around the programme and make use of the tool/effects. Photoshop allowed me to construct my advert to be as I wanted it and is where I really made the advert come alive.
My advert represents women as strong and independent; that they are passionate, individual and enjoy being so. They can be successful and social climbers in a patriarchal world.

Film industry research - British Film industry - London to Brighton

2009-10-21T01:32:00.000-07:00

Powerpoint presentation researching production, exhibtion, distrubution and marketing of the British film, London to Brighton.

Essex Boys- Thriller film research

2009-10-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Essex Boys

Director
Terry Winsor
Release Date
14th July 2000 (UK)
Product Companies
Granada Film Productions
Filming Locations
Southend-on-sea, Essex, England, UK
Essex, England, UK
Gray Thurrock, Essex, England, UK

User comments/reviews and ratings

From looking at the user rating report on IMDB the information reflects that this film was most highly enjoyed by females aged 18-29 followed by 18-29 year olds.
IMDB user comment/review

"A good film on several levels. The unflattering comparisons that some critics have made between it and The Usual Suspects are completely misguided as directorial intent and effect in the two pictures are dissimilar. Winsor's film, it seems to me, brilliantly evokes both the drabness and cruelty of the criminal mindset."

External user review

"A gritty and atmospheric gangland drama, with some smart twists, "Essex Boys" purrs along nicely for the first 75 minutes and then suffers a dramatic loss of balance from which it only belatedly recovers."

How does Terry Winsor the generic conventions of the thriller genre in ' Essex boys'?

The setting is damp, gloomy, dark and full of cobwebs. Chiaroscuro lighting injects the mise-en-scene with a sense of illusion, mysterory and crime. Whilst the enclosed space of the garage suggests claustrophobia and vulnerability, intimidation. The cobwebs create a sense of fear, they add to the feeling of mysterory and the presentation of an uncomfortable space. This shot is an excellent example of the use of the rule of thirds; the car takes up roughly two thirds and the boy the remaining third. The car is dusty and filthy and audience assume that the fact it has been in storage for a long time and the fact that it is now only being used that it may be for some kind of criminal activity.

The setting is damp, gloomy, urban and unglamorous; this is heightened by the strong artificial lighting which could connote the characters exposure, vulnerability as they enter the criminal world. These are all generic settings for a thriller film. The shot of the tunnel is clever and powering, the tunnel is shot to look like as if it is a barrel; this references to crime, they are travelling down the barrel of a gun. They are in a white van (another thriller convention) and are trapped, in their fate, and their decision to cross into danger and the criminal world. The audience feels as if they are trapped also, in the tunnel, car with Jason. The tunnel is a claustrophobic space, yet another thriller convention. The vanishing point of the shot leads the audience’s eye, furthermore the point of view shot engages the audience, and the audience feels as if they are in tunnel and car.

The artifical light of the tunnel relects on the windscreen of the car, looking like bars, making Jason and Billy appear behind them, thus indicating there fate - they will end up in jail. The foreground is in focus and the background not, Billy being in the foreground the audiences attention is drawn to him. Jason can be seen with his hands behind his back, relaxed and cool. THe bars also suggest entrapment, Billy is now trapped in his dissision to get involved with Jason, crossing over to crime. The car is a clostrophobic space, Billy is trapped in the car with the powerful, crime guru that is Jason. Billy is in danger of becoming like Jason, and ending up behind bars.

The dull grey open empty Essex marshes, eerie and dangerous and the perfect place for crime. With nothing around for miles and the tide flooding in soon Jason leaves the double crosser for dead. The white van - a generic thriller convention can be seen small yet threatening against this solemn landscape, Jason is at home in the van and the marshes they are his world and reflect his life. The empty marshes suggest a lack of morality and remorse in Jason, like them he is too empty. The marshes featurelessness suggests the society Jason moves in, his world of crime, ruthless people and crime commited without due care or remorse.

Initial research into the habits of British film auidences - proposal

2009-10-19T07:12:00.001-07:00

I am going to do one questionaire for my quantitative and qualitative research. For my research I will focus on two audience segmentations, gender and personality type - favourite colour. I will be asking open(qualitative)and closed (quantitative) questions on marketing; how the audience of Norwich find out about films. I will explore the effectiveness of above and below the line advertising and how gender and personality type influences responses. I will also look at exhibition, the venues in which audiences of Norwich consume film and how their gender and personality type influences their choice.

Rope- Thriller Film Reseach

2009-10-19T01:44:00.000-07:00

Rope

Director

Alfred Hitchcock

Date of Release
28th August 1948 (USA)
Production companies
Translantic Pictures
Warner Bros, Pictures
Filming Locations
Warner Brothers Burbank Studios
- 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

User comments and ratings
From looking at the user rating report on IMDB the information reflects that this film was most highly enjoyed by females aged under 18 and aged under 18. I found it is surprising that under 18's most highly enjoyed this film because of the early date it was released.

IMDB user comment/review
"Rope is one of the finer films that Hitchcock made. Philosophy, sociology and psychology are contained in equal parts. The plot is simple, the characters are complex and Hitchcock's treatment of the Leopold and Loeb parallel quite deft. The final soliloquy from Jimmy Stewart's character, Rupert, is not only one of the finest examples of Stewart's acting abilities but also of film-making."
Greg Strange, from Fort Worth, Texas

I agree with Greg's comments about Hitchcock's simple plot which completely compliments the complicity of the main characters. Hitchcock addresses the Leopold and Loeb case though this good plot and superbly exihibited characters. The film is simple and clever, Hitchcock has made such exellent without complication. He addresses philosophyical, sociologyical and psychological strenghts and weaknesses of his characters very cleverly.

External comment/review
Hitchcock could have chosen a more entertaining subject with which to use the arresting camera and staging technique displayed in Rope. Theme is of a thrill murder, done for no reason but to satisfy a sadistical urge and intellectual vanity. Plot has its real-life counterpart in the infamous Loeb-Leopold case, and is based on the play by Patrick Hamilton
By Varity staff

I disagree with Patrick's comment that Hitchcock could have picked a more intresting subject. Hitchcock pressents a extremly intresting story though a simple plot with exceptional acted and intresting characters.

How does Alfred Hitchcock utilise the generic conventions of the thiller in the film 'Rope'?

In the top of a New York apartment Brandon Shaw and Phillip Morgan, two well heeled college students have just strangled one of their college acquaintances, David Kentley with a rope. They dispose of the body in a large chest and plan to later get rid of the body that evening. The opening of the film shows images of a bustling street, this is shown using a high angle camera - a bird’s eye view. The camera then follows up through an apartment window; (panning from the high angle shit of the street below the camera is placed on the balcony window) this is a point of view shot and makes the audience feel as if they are coming into the scene. This then cuts straight Brandon strangling David soon after some surface the pause before going though the window is almost used to steady/prepare the audience for the scene is to follow inside, this creates drama and tention the audience are left to ponder over what is comeing. The rope is a signifier of crime, murder and brutality. The gloves also signify crime, they hind the identity (finger prints) of the criminal, murderer. The close up shots shows the strength of the Brendon and his power over David with his hands taken up a large proportion of the mise-en-scene. The effect of the close up of David's facial expression makes the murder seem very real to audience putting it in right up in their face they are held up in witnessing this cold hearted murder. The curtains in the background connoting that what is happening inside does not need to be seen by anyone else. They are up to no good. The room is not shabby but comfortably arranged these boys come from a good background.

The body is put in a chest which is placed in the centre of the room. Brenden then later plans for his quest to dine on this later. The guests, unaware of what has happened, include the victim’s father Mr. Kentley and Aunt Mrs. Atwater (his mother is not able to attend). Also there is his fiancée, Janet Walker and her former lover Kenneth Lawrence, who was once David's close friend. "Now the fun begins", Brandon says when the first guests arrive. Brandon's and Phillip's idea for the murder was inspired years earlier by conversations with their erstwhile prep-school housemaster, publisher Rupert Cadell (Stewart). While at school, Rupert had discussed with them, in an apparently approving way, the intellectual concepts of Nietzsche's Übermensch and the art of murder, a means of showing one's superiority over others. He too is among the guests at the party, since Brandon in particular feels that he would very likely approve of their "work of art". This chest becomes a focus point throughout the whole film and is in a way a clostiphopic space, with David trapped dead inside and with him also Phillips worries and guilt, he is himself trapped emotional. With Brenden playing and toying with a nervous Phillip as he lays out the buffet upon the chest. The chest is almost constantly in the mise-en-scene. In this screen shot Phillip sits on the chest looking rather nervous. The windows are of the length of the room, the room is flooded with light. This connotes the exposure of Phillip and Brenden and that they are not as powerful as they think and will be found out.

The whole of the film is shot in the upper floor apartment the action is continuous without time lapses. The apartment is a claustrophobic space. The action in the film being shot continuously is a clever way in Hitchcock engages the audience the audience feels as if they are watching in real time. Brendan banters with his guests and acts as if everything is ordanary and not slighty at all like a man who has just commited murder, he believes that is part of the fun whereas Phillips mind cannnot ease as long as the chest is in view.

Rope opening

Opening with high angle shot over the city establishes the streets below and the area setting fairly calm and ordinary, the audience sit calmly as Hitchcock prepers us for the horror that follows. The camera pans round to a window and after a few seconds of suspense building then though the shut curtains, the curtains being shut conates. Then cutting straight to a close up shot (taken up the whole of the mise-en-scene) the strangerling of David inside, the constrast from the quiet streets before is intense and uncomfortable. The camera then pans out to a long shot revealing the chest. The chest becomes a focal point of the film, inside David and Phillips guilt and worry, both are trapped. The curtains are shut and the room is dark connating crime. Brenden is extremly calm compared to Phillip, and is suggested to be the stronger of the two, he is in control of himself and the situation whereas Phillip can hardly talk.

Roxie Red - cosmetics advert

2009-10-15T06:31:00.001-07:00

Roxie Red
Originally uploaded by Lizzie!1

This is my cosmetics advert
=]

Cosmetic advert analysis- Dior midnight poison.

2009-09-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

The advert for ‘midnight poison’ perfume suggest that buying the perfume will make you deviant, powerful, confident, sophisticated and individual.

This advert is for a perfume by Dior called ‘Midnight Poison’ for women. It is aimed at females from the ages of 15-30. The teenage audience is drawn in by the adverts individuality, confident and beautiful female header who is also playful and energetic. While the older end of the target audience relates to the sophistication and confidence of the ad, the desire to be strong and independent.

The advert features a birds eye shot of a young female, with her eyes looking up directly at the camera, at the reader. Her eyes are the focal point of the picture, they are at the central point of the picture, this is to drawn you eyes to hers; they are inviting the reader into the frame, and are immediately drawn to this point first, then your eyes are directed down to the words, ‘Midnight Poison’ and then ‘A new Cinderella is born’. The ad has been laid out to guide the reader’s eye; this is an affective way of getting the purpose and messages of this advertisement across, and is successful at doing so. The direction of her gaze shows she is confident, her eyes have a powerful hold on the reader, and you are encouraged, by the positioning of her eyes to aspire and to desire to these feelings. Similarly the positioning of her hands shows her confidence, her hands are in a claw like position as If you are in her grasp but at the same time touching her face suggesting she is gentle and passionate as well as being strong and deviant. Her body is positioned in the diagonals of the photo this creates a sense of movement and energy and is designed to stimulate and excite the audience.

Her pale skin-suggesting innocence and rouge lips-suggesting passion give her a strong feminine composure, she is powerful and deviant almost similar to that of a femme fatal a connotation with is then associated with the product to help to appeal to the reader. The advert has a commanding blue and black colour scheme; this provokes mystery and illusion inviting you in to the unseen, the dark and nightly, to be seductive and dangerous to be illusive and thus links to the perfume name, ‘Midnight poison’ The fairly tale like dress of the model is to show she is an individual, this appeals to an audience who has aspirations to be so for example teenagers. This also links to the tagline located at the bottom of the advert ‘A new Cinderella is born.’ Suggesting like Cinderella the reader can be‘re-born’ from dull to beautiful, all your hopes and dreams will be achievable with power and confident and independence being an individual women which you shall gain from buying this perfume.

Adverts_123 (Dior perfume ad)

2009-09-24T04:41:00.001-07:00

Adverts_123
Originally uploaded by cnsmedia_ElizabethKing

Check it out!
-Brief analysis of a perfume.

2009-09-14T01:21:00.000-07:00

Mise-en-scene
Meaning everyting in the scene, refers to all visual aspects of the scene. The process of setting a stage, with regard to placement of actors, scenery, properties and using them to direct the scene.

Connatation
An idea or meaning suggested by or associated with a word or thing for example: the thriller film genre holds connations of suspense and murder.

Denotation
Somethings literal meaning without association to something else for example a tree is a tree.

2009-09-10T04:27:00.000-07:00

2009-09-10T04:22:00.000-07:00

Hello, Hola, Bonjour!

2009-09-10T04:15:00.000-07:00

Welcome, this is my AS Media blog.