The Rationale Behind our Thriller

We designed our thriller in the hope of not following the traditional format and killing off what the audience would think to be the main protagonist within the first two minutes of the film. By doing this it should create an element of surprise for the viewer but also add mystery and suspense throughout because it will leave them thinking what is the film really about. Although not directly intentional our video was heavily influenced by Quentin Tarentino and is clearly visible when watching our thriller. There is gruesome violence and a hint of irony due to the use of the soundtrack changing from a classic minor movie style soundtrack to a very major, civilized French piece of music; Je ne Regrette Rien. The first piece of music talked about is inspired by Christopher Nolan’s Inception, which works with our ambitions to create a film set in France 1956. The following image is of the torture scene in Reservoir Dogs whilst the song 'Stuck in the middle with you' plays over in the background.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ukstws19D4 

 

As our first error with this task was that we discovered we didn’t have enough shot variety we wanted to completely change this and include a large number of different shots in a small amount of time. We chose shot types such as point-of-view in the car strangulation scene to give the audience the victims perspective and put their feet in his shoes creating a sense of panic. Conversely, we also chose to show the killer’s perspective too as to create tension, the film Phone Booth inspired this. Other shots such as close-ups of the killers feet and hands were used to build on this tension and in addition many other shots will be used, for example high-angle shots to show the victims vulnerability and give the impression that he won’t survive the fight.

 

The overall effect we will try and pursue is to build up tension until the strangulation occurs. This climactic moment in the film will be far more intense due to the different shots we will try and incorporate to the shoot. 

Evaluation of Editing

When editing our video we began by creating a draft version including correct sequence of clips supported by the defined audio we felt applicable to this genre of thriller: crime. Upon creating this draft version we came across a few errors with our filming leaving us unable to utilise a wide variety of shot types whilst still maintaining that essential ‘thrilling’ atmosphere. This led our group to having to rethink the way we would create our thriller opening. We decided that by just using the camera footage of the car scene and shooting some additional footage we would be able successfully edit a good video.

This screenshot here is a good example of a few of the different techniques we used when filming. The first notable technique is the speeding up of clips to create a sort of time-lapse effect. We incorporated this into the scene where the victim we know now is dead and the camera follows the rope from around his neck to the boot of the car. We chose to speed this up as not only would it be too long a clip without doing so but it also flows well following on from the fast-cut editing used in the actual murder. The rope scene was included to link the murder section with the end titles/where the name of the film is revealed. It also shows the audience a little more of the crime scene giving them more of an insight. Another technique we used that you can see here is just a one second blank clip. Combined with fade-to-black transitions we used these to create tension in a scene, split up the different sections of the scene and also ‘fit’ with the soundtracks in each section. For example a pause in the music coalesced with a pause in the visual aspect, we found, is a very useful and effective method of creating suspense and tension. 

These two images displayed here are to show how we created our titles for the thriller opening. To begin with we designed a French newspaper (as to fit in with the theme of the film) and placed in pictures of each individual in our group but so that it looks like an article/set of articles. We then filmed a continuous shot following the rope from the front of the car to the boot of the car, where the newspaper was laid. When doing this we used close-up shots to film snippets of newspaper combined with the images of us. When we edited this in to our video we chose to split up the clips and freeze frame where the camera stopped on each person. Then we simply added text to the freeze frame, which produced a very professional but simple way of displaying our credits.

 

"Le Monde" - Our two minute thriller opening!

Thriller Storyboard and Shotlist Feedback

Some people we asked had concerns with the original shot-list. This was mainly with the sequencing of scenes and how the protagonist would shift from the countryside to the centre of a busy town in such a short period of time. We took this advice into consideration as we thought it might be an issue. Therefore we changed our storyboard accordingly. The intention for shooting now is to just shoot the car strangulation scene in the film. This will be supplied with the back story of 1956 France, giving the audience an idea that there is some kind of espionage backstory to the protagonist's situation.

Feedback of the story board were far more positive, and this helped us shape the plans for our film:

"Love the idea of having point-of-view shots from both the victim and the killer" JG - Media student

"Using a range of shots is good to show the conventions of the thriller" MM - Media Student

"I think you will struggle to put the shots together in an order that is coherent, and you will struggle to avoid putting in things that ruin the continuity. But if it is right then it should be really good' CC - Media student

"The shot types that your using sound really cool, I like the idea of using the French music in the film!"  EP Media Student

"Building up tension to the final strangulation is a good way to keep the audiences attention, I like it!" CH - Media Student

Test Shots for our Production

The following are some test shots that we took of the car in place where we wish to film. We used the software Picasa to create an evening effect which allows us to use the conventions of Film Noir. The setting in this shot looks like the car is alone and therefore as an audience we will also get the feeling of isolation from help. The close-up test shot of the hand turning the ignition is one that will split the film between the first soundtrack and the second giving a distinct change in atmosphere to the film. The last test shot is one that we use as one whole shot, it will follow the rope from the dead body to the back of the car. This will be where it meets with the titles in the newspaper, interlinking with the strangulation scene.

Location Shots Revised and Lighting

 

We were concerned with the lighting for our production and so we decided as a group to shoot all of the video in the daytime even though most of it would be set at night. We chose to do this because the quality of the video would be much better and more visible for the audience if we simply filmed it in day and used a 'day-to-night' camera effect on our editing software. With this the location for the shoot changed as the street lighting was no longer necessary and chose a street near a local church. The stone walls lobviously fit in the time period set as they belong to the church. We can also, if needed to, film the car against the bavck wall rather than parked next to the others to avoid ruining the scene and including modern cars.

This location will fit the conventions of a thriller because of the abandoned feeling that this scene will produce when a night effect has been put on the footage and the shots of a lone car parked outside a church (and graveyard). In the framing all the audience will see is the car and the abandoned street. This will create the effect of making the protagonist isolated from the world. They will have no help escaping the assassin. There is also a gate separating the path from a river. This reinforces our wish to include elements from Film Noir. The angular structure to the gate gives a tense feeling to area which is only emphasised by the graveyard to the right of the path. Not only this but we hope to record a shot looking through this gate again reinforcing the Film Noir feel.

Choice of props for our Thriller!

We will use car keys as a tool to que the next soundtrack of the film; when the engine is switched on the radio will also turn on and the music will begin to play. We will then be able to insert non-diegetic sounds to change the atmosphere of the scene. They also serve as a distraction from the gun that will be in the front compartment.

The Morris Traveller is the main setting and car that we will be using to base the strangulation scene. It is a confined space, which helps us address the conventions of a thriller by introducing a claustrophobic atmosphere; putting the two characters in an intimate space with intentions of murder. The car also fits the time period of 1956, however it has no alarm in it that can be activated and offers no real chance for the protagonist to help himself when being attacked.

The thick orange rope will be used to strangle the protagonist with. We chose this colour because we wanted it to resonate in the audience's mind and almost resemble blood. It is also not the kind of colour rope that youy would expect to see in a strangulation scene, which agains adds mystery. We have also planned to use a long length rope to create a continous shot following the rope back into the boot of the car. Here the newspaper will be laid down and we can use this for our title sequence.

The gun in the film has obvious connotations with danger, violence but also importance. It can be expected that the protagonist is dangerous from the basis that he has a gun. When the audience sees the gun this instantly creates tension and suspense as we do not know what is to come.

Choice of costume for our Thriller!

The costume we wanted to use for our shoot had to make the protagonist look mysterious to the audience. We don't want to give too much away to the audience about his history, there just needs to be a sense that there is a history and he is dangerous. The black jacket makes him look dark and doesn't show whether the character is good or evil. The character will also be wearing a white shirt and black trousers. This fits the conventions of Film Noir as we are consistently using blacks to portray the character.

The Killer will be unidentifiable by the audience because she will be wearing a black hat and that is all we see of her apart from the black gloves she will wear to hide her hands. Again, these will be black to portray that sense of mystery that will run in the film. The film doesn't give the audience any indication through the use of costume who is good or evil. The hat hides the killers face so we learn very little about her. However, because of her actions we learn that she too is a dangerous character which creates a sense of threat to the thriller.

The last item of clothing for the killer in our short film is a pair of black leather gloves. We have chosen these because it helps to hide their identity and doesn't give away the fact she is a woman. They also have a sense of creepiness about them as it makes the murder look more thought out and planned because using gloves will not leave fingerprints. The last point to make is that the gloves will help to suffocate the victim (Harry) rather than just using their hands.

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Questionnaire Feedback

Storyboard for our Thriller

1. The opening shots will be of the car that the main protagonist will be entering. The protagonist will be walking to the car, looking around him to make sure there is no one around him. This gives the audience an indication that he has a history behind him that arouses suspicion and also makes us feel like someone is watching him.

2. When he gets to the car we will see close ups of his hand reaching for the door, and there will also be point-of-view shots from inside of the car looking out. This emphasises the idea that he is constantly being watched by someone.

3. When the car door opens this will give us the opportunity to use match-on-action to show him entering the car. at which point he will enter take the gun out from his trousers and place in the the front compartment. Whilst this occurs the soundtrack will have reached full volume and the audience will feel like something is about to happen. The protagonist will then shut the door and silence will fall.

4. The silence will remain as he puts his seatbelt on and then reaches for the ignition of the car. As he starts the car a new soundtrack will start and will change the mood of the scene to one that is more light-hearted, but still keeping that sense of danger.

1. Then the assassin will reach over with a rope and the strangulation scene will then strangle the main protagonist. This will be whilst the new soundtrack is playing over it and will provide us with the ability to use fast-cut editing to make it far more thrilling.

2. The main protagonist will then die and there will be a huge emphasis on point-of-view shots from the perspective of the main protagonist. There will also be close-ups on his face as he dies, this will give the audience an indication that he is losing the fight.

3. When the protagonist dies there will be a shot of his body and the camera will move following the rope used to kill the man towards the back of the car this is where the film shall double up with the beginning of the film showing the titles.

4. At the end of the shot the focus will be on the titles printed on a newspaper to show the audience future events, written in French it will explain the context of the soundtrack to the film.

Intentions for Actors in our Film

 













There will be two actors in our video. Harry Preen will be the character who is a spy evading capture in German occupied France. We will present him to the audience as a stereotypically 'cool' character, rather than a vunerable one. This will be done by, as stated in the costume post on my blog, dressing him in a leather jacket carrying a gun. We hope this will appear ironic to the audience as not only is he killed in his car but a woman is the criminal behind it. He will be styled like the main protagonist in the film 'Defiance'.

Helen Wilcock is the main protagonist and the killer in our film. She will be presented as a modern day femme fatal but very secretive and hidden from the audience. We will use shadow to cover her face and only show glimpses and clues as to whom the killer might be. She will be wearing a dark hat to help conceal her identity and leather gloves to muffle the sound of her victim, emphaisisng the crudeness of her behaviour.

Location for the Thriller

Questionnaire for the Thriller Genre

The following questions apply only to the thriller genre.

1.What is your favourite sub-genre of thriller?

2. What is your favourite Psychological thriller film and why?

3. How do you usually hear about new thrillers?

4.What is your favourite poster for a film and why?

5. What is your favourite trailer for a film and why?

6. What props would you expect to see in a psychological thriller?

7. Do these thrillers grab your attention on social media?

8. What is the worst psychological thriller you have seen and why?

9. What things do you believe directors get wrong when shooting psychological thrillers?

10. What characters appeal to you and why?

11. What grabs your attention in a psychological thriller?

12. What types of props do you expect to see in a psychological thriller?

13. Do you feel that black and white films have more of an effect in this genre?

14. Do you feel that black and white films have more of an effect in this genre?

15. Do your personal interests affect the types of films you watch?

Preliminary Evaluation

For this task our aim was to create a short film of around 30 seconds to demonstrate the skills we have learnt this far into the course. We accomplished this by using our knowledge of various camera shots and editing techniques to film, edit and produce a video which included the 180° rule, shot reverse shot, match on action and continuity editing. Other criteria set, for the storyline, was to have two actors entering a room, sitting down and having a conversation. As a group we developed upon this idea into two men entering a room, not in succession, and one assassinates the other. In order to film steady shots for this video, we used an adjustable tripod allowing us to use different types of shot whilst maintaining still.

The first shot we chose to use is a medium close-up of the “victim’s” feet as he walks down the corridor. This shot helps to create initial suspension right at the beginning of the scene, as we cannot see their face.

Here is the following mid-shot of the victim. We chose to use a high-angle shot in order to emphasise this actor as the victim and not the killer. By looking down on the character it portrays to the audience that he has less power and is more vulnerable. To accentuate and establish either characters persona even more, we reversed this for the killer and had the camera looking up on him.

This close-up of the victim’s hand, later on in the scene, builds and creates a tense atmosphere by implying that something may happen when he enters the room. It is also the first part to one of the techniques set in the criteria for this video; match on action. When the handle turns and the door opens, we show a mid-shot of the victim entering, which provides evidence for this technique.

I feel that the editing carried out by our group was of overall a very good standard. We enforced all techniques presented to us in the criteria such as the match-on-action, which was filmed and edited successfully and also the shot reverse shot, when the assassin pulls his gun on the victim. However this being said we did unfortunately break the 180° rule by crossing the line when filming the shot reverse shot. I believe that the continuity editing was done well but not to perfection as there could have been a few milliseconds in each shot perhaps trimmed in either direction. Conversely though, we incorporated the use of several fade transitions, both black and white, to build suspension and a sense of action and, in addition, to conclude different cuts. 

 For the title sequence we chose to use a set of standard iMovie text-based animations to conclude the video and credit each individual. In my opinion I feel this could have much been improved by filming a unique set of credits using different techniques. We chose to use the colour red for half of the text to emphasise the blood that would be expected after the shot finishes. Overall I believe the video was relatively successful but there are mistakes to learn from when filming the successor.

Pitch Feedback from JC

Our Preliminary Video!

Preliminary Shot List