Final product

Here is our final thriller opening, 'Manor Way'

Enjoy...

Feedback

Feedback
Here is some feedback that I received from another member of my target audience after they watched  my thriller opening ...

From watching this back I have realised both the positive and negative things about the thriller opening I created, I think that if I was to do this opening again I would put the shot when Rediola is revealed in slow motion in order to build tension and suspense as the audience awaits for the reveal. I also think that I would cut out the final shot of the girl , and add a longer shot of the car , this is becuase it would suggest she has died and therefore build tension. 

Feedback

Feedback: 

Feedback

Feedback:   

I used social media such as YouTube, in order to post my thriller opening and retrieve comments and reviews from my target audience. I done this in order to enable myself to understand any improvements that could be made if I was to produce the whole thriller film.

 

After receiving these comments I have realised that the music of my thriller opening should have started earlier, in order to reduce the very sudden panic that is created. From these reviews I can see that the opening fits with the target audience as overall comments were positive and everyone seemed to enjoy it.

I also asked a friend who is 17 and therefore within the age bracket and this is what she said.

 

Question seven:

Question 7:
Looking back at your priliminary task, what do you think you have learnt from the progression of it to full product?

Over the course of filming from the beginning of the year in January where I created my priliminary task to my final product, I have learnt a lot about how films are produced as well as learnt many techniques in order to create the most realistic video possible. My priliminary task contained very simple shots and lacked any form of specialised editing as no filters, music, or even text was added. The video itself as well as what happened in shot was very simple, consisting of only a boy walking into a classroom and then a discussion shown between him and his friend. Diegetic sound is the only form of sound used within the short clip, and is only dialouge between the characters in shot. Camera angles are also relitivley simple throughout with no complex camera compositions used. Throughout the priliminary task establishing shots and close ups are the only shot types present, showing little variation in my knowlege. Filming the priliminary task did however, allow me to understand rules that should be followed when filming, for example the 180 degree rule stating that characters wthin a scene should always have the same left and right relationship to each other in order to create a realistic approach as well as minimise the posibility of confusion amongst the audience. Another rule that I learnt during the prduction of my priliminary task is cutting on action or match on action and is when a shots are edited so that one shot cuts from another shot that matches the first action. A common example of this is when someone opens a door handle, and this rule is used within our priliminary task as the boy opens the door.  Shot reverse shot is another rule often used within film that is presented in our priliminary task. It is when one individual is shown to be looking at another character and then the other way around, and is used to enable the audience to undertsand that a conversation or exchage is taking place between two characters. Using these techniques in the priliminary task gave me a wider understanding of how to create a realistic film that creates no confusion for the audience.

Between making my preliminary task and final product there where a number of steps taken in relation to the planning of my thriller opening. An animatic and also storyboard were produced in order to give both myself and also the other members of my group a clear understanding of the shots we needed to film and how the film should run, meaning that during filming it was much easier and everything ran smoothly. Research was also done into who our target audience would be giving usa cleear undertsanding of who we are aiming the film at and thefore make it more specific to those individuals.

Filming our preliminary task meant that I was more understanding in how to use the equiptment meaning the filming process was much easier with little mistakes being made. Our thriller opening 'Manor way' also contained many more complex camera angles for example, establishing shots, low angle shots, and close ups as we were more aware of the effect on the audience of using these shots. Shallow depth of field was also used when the girl is holding the scissors at the end of the clip emphasising to the audience the significance of the scissors for later on in the film. The creation of our Re-Shoot of  'Misery' allowed us to learn how to create shallow depth of field using a camera, before using it effectivly in our opening. Editing the preliminary task meant we had further and more developed knowlege of how to use final cut pro, and within our thriller opening far more complex effects were used. Filters and also transitions were used throughout the opening, for effect, creating tension amongst the audience and emphasising the uneasy emotions being experianced by the character. Typography was also used on final cut pro, whereas no typography or titles were used within our preliminary task. The production logo, and also title of the opening were made using after effects to create more complex amd develped typography that we hadn't been unaware of when filming our prelimiary task. Another development from our preliminary task was the use of the non diegetic sound of music that we used in our thriller opening, to create tension and build suspense, whereas no sound was added to the first task.

Overal the creation of our preliminary task meant that I was aware of more complex camera angles as well as effects and filters to create a more improved video.

Here is our preliminary task:

Question six

Question 6:
What have you learnt about technologies from the processes of costructing this product?

Question five:

Question five:
How did you attract/address your audience?

Question four:

Question four:
Who would be the audience for your media product?

Audience:

                               

Question three:

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

Question three from elliebeth1234

Question two:

Question two)
How does your media product represent paticular social groups?

Question one: part two

Question one) part two

Question one: part one

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

Use of Garage Band:

Music Creation:
For our Thriller opening we thought it would be best to create our own music in order to make it more original, as well as add tension and create suspicion from the audience.

Whilst making the music we decided to layer up a variety of instruments in order to add to the overal panic that we wanted to express through the short clip. As a result to our Thriller opening being relitivly simple with no dialogue or little diegetic sound I also decided that the music also should be simple and shouldnt be extensivly over layered causing too much confusion to take place within the short clip. The music was made alongside the finished clip itself in order to ensure that the music increases in volume as well as the number of instruments exposed so that tesion will be created, as well as the pancic being experianced by the character at that specific moment increased. As the short clip progresses the tension and fear experianced by the young girl increases, providing reasoning for the increase with music volume and pace that we have choosen to use. It was important for us that the shaker was added at a low volume throughout the entirity of the short clip so that there is a sense of continuity and a constant is remained. The shaker almost adds a sinister feel to the thriller as it builds suspense and also represents the unsure emotions that are being experianced by the character herself. The marimba is also brought in at around 7 seconds in order to increase tension and express the importance of what happens at that particular moment and the fear that the young girl is experiancing. Overall music is used to highlight emotions during particualr shots, for example as the car almost hits the character and represent the impact of what might come. 

Editing:

Editing: final cut pro

For the editing of our short thriller opening 'Manor Way' we used final cut pro in order to add some simple effects and piece together the entirity of our thriller opening. Using final cut pro we were able to use some effective tools to enable our thriller opening to be as we wanted it and also add to the feel we wanted to create.

As shown in this screenshot from final cut pro during our editing we added text to our opening during the final stages stating '7 days before' as the film would continue into the storyline of the opening. While using final cut pro we changed the font and size of the text, we decided that it was neccesary to keep the text small and simple and to go along with the simplicity of the opening as a whole and keep the focus of the audience on the storyline and the emotions being experianced by the chararacter. We also added an effect to the movement of the leters so that each letter doesnt appear at the same time, this glitching effect represents the panic of the situation as well as the negitivity that would come later.  

     

There was also other texts added using final cut pro throughout the short clip that we also kept simple so that it fits in with the simplicity of the opening itself. We also added effects over the shots in order to control the colourings of the shots and keep them relitivly similar. The effects used are all dark, and mysterious in order to add to the eerie and unusaul aspects of the short clip. Transistions are used between the shots however, kept simple so that it isnt over confusing and fits in with the simplicity of whats happening. We tried overal to make the short clip effective in expressing the issues and emotions faced by the character whilst still being effective in the use of music and colour to create tension and cause the audience to feel slighly uncomfortable. A common transistion used is fade, in order to give the gradule and simple join between the shots.

After Effects:

After Effects:

We used after effects in order to create both our titles and also our production company logo, here is the logo that we created:

Using After Effects to create my production logo meant we were able to add transistions and movements in to the logo. We used the position and also opacity control buttons to cause the writing to fade in and out as well as move in to the screen slowly.

Feedback

Feedback:  

Here is some feedback that I received from a 15 year old girl who is also in the target audience of our thriller opening , after listening to her feedback of our rough cut I have realised some important aspects that should be changed in order to improve our final piece before being completed. I think it is important that music is added, therefore myself and my group are planning to make some music, this will be played throughout most of the short clip, however will be paused as the girl is revealed to create tension, as well as allow her heavy breathing to be heard enabling the audience to understand the fear she is experience and as a result to this creating empathy.

     

rough cut survey

survey: Here is a thriller survey for my rough cut, this is designed to give me further feedback on how I could improve the thriller opening. Create your own user feedback survey

Marketing

How would you market your thriller? 

If I was to market my thriller opening I would use a variety of techniques in order to ensure that my short opening is well known about previous to distribution. The main method of distribution I would use would be to publish my thriller opening on a large variety of different social media accounts, and also social media companies, for example instagram, and also facebook. By doing this my thriller opeming would hopefully become known, and therefore linked, and posted by a variety of different people. If this method works, it is a quick and simple method to make a film opening or trailer known about by its target audience. This is called viral marketting. I would also create posters, and a variety of leaflets that could be put up within public places where my target audience will usually be found such as a school. This method will mean that the thriller will quickly become known about, and therefore continue to spread through word of mouth. If i had a suitable budget for my thriller opening, I would also advertise my thriller movie throught social media adverts, for example on snapchat, as well as through tv. This is the most popular method of distribution as it quickly adverises a movie to a large audience of people in a very short amount of time. As a result to this I think that digital advertisment through TV's is the most succesful and also reliable.

evaluation of rough cut

Evaluation of rough cut:
It is important that we analyse our rough cut in order to ensure that the final is as good as possible. I will evaluate the use of camera angles, sound and also editing in ordert to gather a better understanding of how I should improve the thriller opening.



Within our rough cut we used a a variety of camera angles, in order to create effect and give an understanding of the emotions being experianced by the characters. We included a high angle/ birds eye view of the girls feet at the beginning. I think that this is useful for giving the audience the sense of how the individual herself its feeling, as it appears that we are the young girl, looking down at her feet. This therefore also adds to the realism of the thriller opening, causing enigmas to be created, and the audience to begin to want to find out what happens next. Further on in the short clip, a low angle shot was used as the characters face was revealed for the first time. The camera begun by her feet, and slowly panned up her body until her face was revealed. This created once again tension for the audience, creating that 'edge of the seat tension' expected within a thriller movie. I do however, think it would have been useful if a high angle, or birds eye shot was used to show the entire setting, and the surroundings, this would have enabled the audience to have a clearer understanding of where the young girl is, as well as understand the concept that she is very close to her home.


The lighing within the thriller opening, is relitivly good, as the darkness represnts the setting, and the hour of the story taking place whilst we are still able to see the individual clearly, as well as any ther neccesary aspects of the shot. The shadows that are created within the shots, are useful in order to create a sense of panic from the audience, and add to the eerie sense of the scene. I do however, think that in some cases, the light is slightly too bright, for example as the young girl begins to walk forward, causing a slight difference between the shot before, and the one that is being shown. Light was used effectivly as Rediola's face is revealed, as lighting from both directly infront of her face, and also slightly above from street lamps, creates slight shadows, whilst still allowing us to see small details for example the large brusises and dirt that is on her forehead and around her face.

Sound within the thriller opening although is not set finally, is of a good quality and emphasies the pace and issues that are taking place within the scene. The music progresses in both volume and pace as the short clip continues allowing tension to build, and suspicion to be created amongst the audience. In some places however, the non diegetic soung of music, is too loud resulting in the diegetic sound of footsteps, and also heavy breathing to be limited and unclear. This heavy breathing accentuates the idea of panic from the character, causing the audience to feel uneasy and add to the suspense that is being created.



Overall there are a few things that should be done in order to improve the opening scene. Firstly I think that the light should be altered slightly using editing to accentuate specific shadows, as well as highlight specific parts of the shot. By doing this, the opening will become more eerie, and therefore add to the overal plot of what is taking place. I also think that filters, and effects should be used on specific shots, in order to make a more natural flow between the shots. For example there is one shot of the girls feet, where the lighting has increased massivly from the scene before. In order to make this appear more natural and realistic, a filter should be applied to make it slightly darker, and match the lighting in the shots both before and after. I also think that the music within the thriller opening should decrease slightly in volume, in order to allow diegetic sound such as breathing, and the footsteps as the character is walking to become more apparant. In order to improve the thriller opening, we would also like to make our own music. This is becuase we would liek to ensure that the pace and volume increases at specific points within the opening in order to create tension, and emphasise the emotions of the character herself. Finally, I think that we should add some smoother transitions between the shots, this is in order to ensure it looks natural, and also realistic, and able to create tension between the audience. After these changes have been made, the opening scene should hopefully appear more realstic, and create suspense amongst the audience. It will hopefully look more professional and reduce any misunderstandings amongst the audience.

lighting technique

lighting technique:
Lighting is used within films, especially thriller movies, in order to create an emotion from the audience, foreshadow what might come, and set the tone of whats happening. Within our short thriller opening we used minimal lighting in order to create a realistic effect for the audience. Street lamps, provided most of our lighting, as the setting that we choose has regular and bright streetlamps all they way along the street. We also assured that filming started just before it was completely dark outside, so that it seemed more natural and less lighting was needed. We did however use a hand held light that was reflected from the other direction using a reflector. With some shots, as we moved further away from a street light, lighting would become minimal so torches would be held from a distance. There was also many cases where lighting was to bright from the street lights, so we used the black side of the reflector to reduce the glare very slightly. Although within our thriller opening lighting may often be minimal, this was done in order to create shadows, and highlight further the idea that this is during the middle of the night and therefore the girl hereself wouldnt be able to see. We wanted it to be easy for the audience to connect with the young girl, and feel her struggles as she attempts to escape.

Some examples from other thriller pictures or scenes are these:





The lighting within this picture is minimal, and similar to many of the shots within our short opening. Shadows and glares are created on the side of the characters face, almost representing her fear and worry, creating a sense of panic from the audience. It causes suspicion, and although all aspects of the shot are not clear, this is done in order to emphasise the characters emotions. we have used slightly more lighting as the characters face within our short clip is revealed, in order to accentuate the panic and fear on her face. Shadows however, are still created, to show the setting, and cause the audience to feel nervous for what could be around.









        
Similarly the lighting within this picture is minimal, yet the car beams create an almost errie effect. Within our short clip, we also done this, where a care headlights provide natural, yet almost spookie lighting. Ours however, are giving of more light, creating a possible sense of panic from the audience as well as accentuating the fear of the young girl in front of the car. The beams, create shadows of the girl, adding to the realism of the clip.

Costume analysis:

Costume analysis:

It follows is a thriller film in which represents many of the thriller conventions represented by my thriller opening. In relation to costume, I think that my thriller opening 'Manor Way' has many similarities to this scene from 'It Follows' creating a similar effect on the audience.

Throughout the scene the young girl is wearing a plain white pyjama top, white being a colour of purity represents the character to be innocent therefore causing the audience to pity her or even empathsise with her slightly. Similarly the character within my thriller opening is wearing a white top, also representing her inncocence or vulnerability as a character. Both short clips therefore follow the steriotypical view of female individuals being weaker or more vulnerable to danger than males, and are often assosiated with weakness much more.

As you can see within both short clips white is used emphasising innocence of the girls and suggesting vulnerability and the danger they might be prone to. Pink however, unlike within 'It Follows' is used within our short thriller opening to represent our characters innocence further. Pink also usually being associated with girls causes our character to fall under the usual stereotypical character of a 'girlie girl' and presenting her to essentially be girlie and therefore weak. Something unusual done by 'It Follows' is that the director has put her in very revealing clothes, unlike our chaacter who is showig very little skin, as well as healed shoes creating a negative perception of the character. Young teenage girls are often associated with wearing little clothes or showing too much skin allowing their character to fit into this bracket. Doing this causes the audience to question her vulnerability and possibly wonder what has been happening. The director has also chosen to put her in heals, causing conflict between the audience as we are unsure of why this is when the character has clearly been at home, as well as is running. This could have been done as a mechanism to accentuate her vulnerability as wearing heals will make her unable to run very fast or even to suggest her feminine characteristics. These heals are a dark red, suggesting passion and danger, therefore creating a sense of panic from the audience in relation to whats going to happen next. This contrasts the black trainers being worn within my thriller opening. We chose to use black trainers as black can represent negitivity and therefore the danger awaiting.

As shown within both short thriller clips both characters have long hair that is down around their faces, this also adds to the femininity presented by their characters as they fall into the usual stereotypes of young girls. Their girlie nature being presented therefore once again highlightes their vulnerability and weaknesses further as females are usually associated with being the weaker gender.

Another difference between the thriller clips is that within 'It Follows' the girl is shown to be holding a hand bag or purse, this once again highlights femininity and therefore possibly weakness causing the audience to sympathise with the character slighly more.

Overal both short clips represent females to be the weaker gender by using feminine associated colours such as whites and pinks in order to cause the female audience to associate with the character as well as to cause the audience to have empathy for the characters overal.

Typography

A thriller or a horror?

What is the difference between a thriller and a horror?

A thriller? well as we all know a thriller is a genre of film that creates the edge of the seat tension we all desire and love while watching films, in many cases this can be scary, seat gripping films where enigmas are created almost every few scenes, however this isnt always the case. Thrillers come in a variety of subgenres, such as, action thriller, spy thriller, romantic thriller and so on, and therefore may not always be scary. They do however, always consist of a variety of questions that the audience will begin to ask them self and attempt to work out while watching, causing the audience to want to watch on.

A horror? well a horror on the other hand has one main purpose, to inflict fear upon the audience watching and keep the audience using that sense of fear that a large proportion of the population appear to desire for no particular reason. A horror will always be scary, and will always cause some form of fear or panic from the audience, well at least thats their role! Horrors also usually only end one way with death, in comparision to a thriller where its mysterious nature means the ending will never be predictable and will usually never end simply with death.

Filming

Filming:  

Here is a video from while shooting, Rediola the main character was taking practice shots while the tripod and also reflector were being set up and placed ready for filming.

It was important that the reflector was angled well in order to enable it to reflect the light from both the street lights and also the torch light that was being used. Filming practice shots of rediola enabled us to understand the importance of lighting and ensuring we were positioned well to ensure that there were no shadows causing the scenes to be difficult to see.

Meeting one discussion:

Meeting one discussion: On our first meeting we discussed small aspects of our short thriller opening for example special affects and costumes. We decided that Rediola should be wearing light pink pyjama bottoms with a white pyjama top in order to not only allow the audience to understand that she has escaped somehwere during the night and add to the realism of this but also represent that the 17 year old girl is quite girly or feminine. We also discussed and practiced the makeup of Rediola, and it was decided that she shouldnt be wearing any makeup, to add to the realism of the idea that she has been woken up in the middle of the night, however, she should have large bruises and cuts across her face and jaw line to create enigmas for the audience as to what has happened to her.

Here are some pictures of what she will be expected to look like during our 2 minute thriller opening:

We decided that the character should have a very dark and bruised
eye as well as jaw bone in order to cause the audience to wonder
what had happened to her. We also added a bloody hand print around
her neck to possibly be suggestive that she was strangled and to
emphasise her suffering. All of this should be done when filming the
real clip in order to keep the audience wondering, and begin to create
ideas themselves as to what has happened.

 Hopefully the fact that the audience are completely unaware of what has happened previous to what they are able to see within the thriller opening wil result in enigmas being created, and the audience therefore continuing to watch more. The excessive makeup causes the audiences minds to essentially run wild and completely create ideas as to what could have happened.  For makeup we kept it natural, with no facial makeup other than the bruises that we created around her eye, forehead and also jaw bone. Doing this added to the realism of the short clip as makeup is not commonly worn to bed along with pyjamas.

 The bruises have slight hints of yellow and brown colourings to them, by doing this we have been suggestive that these bruises are old and therefore possibly that she has been trapped somewhere unknown for a while. Bruises begin to turn a yellow colour as they get older causing the audience to begin to ask questions in relation to how long the young girl has been suffering for.

 While I was doing Rediola's makeup, Lara began to set up ensuring that all equiptment was working properly and was ready for filming. We Chose for Rediola to be wearing pink and white in order to represent the innocence of the character as a young female and therefore in that sense almost comply with the usual stereotype that females are innocent and more vulnerable than males.