Ideas and guidance part 2

This video helped to remind, and teach us of the main ways to make a successful film. Combining all of the various aspects required in theory the finished production should be successful. The film outlines the importance of ;

- Fear factor
-Unique plot
-Have a good script
-Good crew
-Realistic actors
-Invest in the main 'villain' or 'monster' - film hangs on this
-Make a schedule
-Shoot the script
-Tense, frightening and creepy/scary

As well as video lessons and guidance, we were inspired by several directors whilst making our Thriller.

For example ;

Alfred Hitchcock - After watching both 'Pyscho' and 'The Birds' i picked up methods to build up tension and suspense within the audience. Hitchcocks clever use of black and white also temped the group to try a similar approach to give an eerie effect. Born in 1899 Hithcock's ideas revolutionised the film industry and gave the group many good ideas and techniques to making a good film.

Steven Spielberg - Creating films that dominated the market such as 'Jaws' and 'Jurassic Park' Spielberg was a huge player in the film industry and the methods and techniques he used helped us to develop our production and create the final piece.

Deciding the ending of the film

Initially we had come up with several ways to end the film. The first idea to show the girl tied to a chair in an abandoned house, being held hostage, was put aside as issues with the safety of the location were questionable and the risk of injury was too high. Likewise the second idea of one of the main characters being stalked, and the film ending with an arm rapping around them, using a crescendo to amplify the suspense was not used as after planning we thought our third idea fitted the story better, and gave a glimpse of the murderer himself.

The last idea put forward, was the one that we used in the end production. The build up shows the boy receiving a text as he departs from the girl, asking him to come and meet somebody to pick up some things. The boy is not again seen until a few minutes later. After the girl is shown drinking in her house, a 'mysterious' man is shown picking up a phone off the boys body lying on the floor and texting the girl to get her to come and meet him, she is obviously unaware that it is not her boyfriend. The girl is then shown running down to the body! and then is grabbed by the man. Finally the title of the film hits the audience, 'The Condemned' , followed by the credits, leaving room for though of what could have taken place after these events.

Final name for Horror/Thriller

After much debate and input, the final for the name of the film has been decided.

It has been decided that the film should be named , 'The Condemned'. It is thought this is an approapriate name for the film as the definition in the context used is, no future and a lost soul, which of course is linked back to the murder incorporated into the film itself.

Inspiration and ideas

Before the initial planning and designing of the horror thriller, the group watched many films to help give ideas of the conventions and good methods to use when creating the start of a horror/thriller film. some of the films we watched were ;

-Taking lives
-No Country for Old Men
-Seven

From watching these films we realized the importance of the beggining of films, and how they set the plot, and image of characters for the rest of the Story. Of course a title page was needed after the initial opening scene, which we learn was fairly routine in most of the films that we watched.

what are the steryotypical conventions of a Horror/Thriller?

Most films of this mixed genre often follow a stereotypical pattern and use similar methods to develop the story.

One method often used by directors is the use of suspense and tension. By creating a tense scene in a film, the filmmakers have the audience sitting on the end of their seats waiting for something, anything unexpected to happen suddenly. A good example of this method is shown in the film, 'Psycho' by Alfred Hitchcock. Hitchcock's clever use of non-diagetic sound crescendos, choppy clips and twisted plot leave the audience in a state of angst and confusion at many points in his film.

Taking aspects from both genres and combining them, the mixed genre creates a whole new style of Horror. Horrors are commonly known for the blunt, easy to follow plot with jumpy scenes that often include gore and death, however when this is mixed with the thriller genre, a psychological aspect becomes incorporated within the plot, that makes it's viewers think and ponder throughout the film.

Obviously a horror/thriller, as well as being a story packed with mystery and confusion, still must include some aspects of a horror, that can be interpreted as 'scary' by the target audience.

Possible choices for background music etc.

Overall background music:

- The streets - blinded by the light
- Pheonic amadeus wolfgang - Armistice
- Creepy twinkle twinkle little star song - sang by a little girl
- you me at 6 - fireworks

Extra sound effects? :

-Quick sharp noise as picture of knife flashes up
- Same for the flashing picture of a dead body


FINAL DECISION FOR BACKGROUND MUSIC

We have final decided on choosing the instrumental for the song, blinded by the light - The streets. We chose to use the instrumental rather than the full song with words because we thoguht the music itself helped to set the scene, and allowed the few minutes we had to play with, run smoothly and effectivly.

Final scene selection still pictures.

1) The first scene takes place at Co-op when the couple walk out of the shop.


2) The camera pans with the actors and follows them until they pass round this corner.

3) The couple then walk to this fork in the path and go there seperate ways, but the man recieves a text.


4) The girl is shown walking down the ally around the side of her house.

5) She is then shown drinking in her bedroom and then recieves a text off her boyfriend asking her to meet him.

Equipment list

Main Equipment
-1x Video camera
-1x Tripod
-1x Still camera
-1x Apple mac editing computer
-1x Dell laptop for research

Props

-2x large knife
-1x bottle of vodka (empty)
-10x used bottles of beer/wine etc
-Cocaine substitute (sugar)
-1x Debet card
-1x guitar
-2x Mobiles

Clothing

Murderer - 1x dark coat
1x coton bottoms

Main male actor (killed) - 1x white polo shirt
1x black cardigan
1x blue jeans
1x converse all stars

Actress - 1x black top
1x blue jeans

Makeup

-1x bottle of red food dye
-1x bag of flour

Cast and staff.

Main camera man - James Perry
Co-camera - Matt Marlow/Matt Bentley.
Actress - Hannah Fyfe
Main actor - Matt Bentley
Murderer - Matthew Marlow
Editing and effects - James Perry, Matthew Bentley and Matt Marlow

The cast and other staff all worked together and helped to introduce new ideas, methods, angles and creating the finished plot line.

Ideas and feedback part 1

What i think so far. Its good but if it is going to be 'Thrilling' then we need to flash to pictures or VERY short clips throughout the co-op scene and they could be of
Blood in a sink ?
Someone cleaning blood ?
Credits ?- if we could it'd be good to do them in a bloody font on photoshop first and just place them as stills rather than a title page, ill look into that on my PC
Bloody clothes ?
Matt Bentley dead ?
Alcohol ?
Drugs ?
Murder Weapon ?
Killer ?
Blood- Anything red ?
Anything that gives a bit away about the story line. Because at the moment, did you guess what's going on or is it just the same; drugs; alcohol and murder that every year 12 does ? So therefore flashing a weapon and/or a person would at least hint a possible story line ? :)


OH and, have you got any ideas of something special we could put in it to make it stand out ? like i know its a bit farfetched but having someone fall off a roof, just push the boat out to something no year 12 has done before!


Any more feedback ?
Also look through itunes at the streets songs, some of them could be sued for it and some of the dramatic 50 cent ones.


Leave me a 'stickie' to tell me what you have done and what you would like me to do when i get this back if i do!,


*feedback written by james perry

Design for front cover of dvd case/poster etc.

This is a first rough design that has been created for the front cover of our film.

The white spaces are roughly where text such as the title, and director's name etc will be placed.

The use of red background catches eyes of people and contrasts well with the black behind. The bluntness of the image, a head with knives stabbed in, suggests a scary, mysterious plot with potential for gore, and killings.

The picture of the wooden head is symbolic and could be seen as a metaphore for the dead by the audience. It takes a human head which is obviously asociated with life, butis made from wood, a dead, lifeless material.

'The Insane' short overview/analysis

This short horror film fits conventions of the horror genre as well as introducing the twists and turns included by Thrillers.

The opening scene of an establishing shot, helps the audience to gain a better understanding of where and when the story is taking place, and the title of the film, ' The Insane' that flashes up on the screen over the establishing shot automatically guides the audiences mind to what is to come next. The title alone is a good example of how the director has incorporated the themes and ideas commonly used in hybrid thriller films. 'The insane' title leads the audience to follow what is shown to them as the story unfolds, showing John Vincen slaying the 'crazy' murderers before him. However the twist does not become apparent until the end, where 'The insane' turns out to be John, and not the madmen shown to the audience.

The lunatics shown to the audience are shown through the eyes of John Vincen almost the whole way throughout the clip. a good example of this is is around 38 seconds into the film, where the director has used a point of view shot and jerky camera movements to imitate the walking, and sight of John himself.

Also, by using the classic movements, and clothing that we can all associate with the stereotypical mad, and creepy character, the director allows us to easily grasp and understand what is taking place.

Skipping to the end of the clip, once John enters the train after his ordeal with the 'mad killers', it becomes apparent to the audience that something is not right, once another 'normal' character is shown in the background of the clip through the use of a two-shot. once the main character believes that the man on the train is another mad killer, the audience realize instantly that it is in fact, him that is the insane killer, and the clever use of showing what John can see and what actually was in front of him the audience becomes aware of what they had been led to believe.

Possible names for horror thriller.

Several names have been suggested and thought over for the film. here are several examples ;

-The Cell
-The Asylum
-The phantom slasher
- The lunatic
-Maniac

As the filming is still in progress we have not yet decided on the name, and are still in the process of thinking, and welcoming suggestions.

Deffinitions/ research on british film certificates.

After much thought, the decision has been made that the film should be classed as a 15, due to the content containing violent images and adult content.

Uc - 'Universal childeren' - suitable for young childeren to watch on their own.
U - 'Universal' - Suitable for all
PG - 'Parental guidance' - may not be suitable for persons under the age of 8 without permission.
12a - Content suitable only for persons 12+ unless acompanied by an adult over 18 years of age.
12 - Content only suitable for people over 12 years of age.
15 - Content only suitable for persons over 15 years of age.
18 - Content only suitable for persons over the age of 18.
R18 - Content only suitable for persons over the age of 18 and can only be surchased from licenced cinemas or sex shops.