Backlash

'Backlash' Rough Edit

Actor Contract

 

 

 

 

Planning Tasks

Actor auditions

For every one person, we must audition 3 people

Direct address, looking straight at the camera

-30 second scenario – reacting to a killer

Conclude who we chose and why

Typography

Choose five different names for the thriller

Choose different typographies

Explain how they represent our thriller

How they adhere to the thriller genre

Explain how they represent your audience

Get feedback on typography

Timeline

Create a thriller timeline for our thriller opening

Sound effects

List of diegetic sounds

Soundtrack that is not copy righted

Justify why we chose these sounds

Production schedule

Table

Location scouting

Filming of location

How it fits in with the thriller and subgenre

Production ident

Create on Photoshop

Pitch Video

Pitch

Storyboard

Storyboard by Grace Pengelly on Scribd

Production Company Ident

Location Scouting

Sound Effects

Timeline

Actor Auditions

Production Shot List

Shot List (60) by Natasha Shadat on Scribd

Typography

Production Schedule

Location/scene	Actors needed	Props	Shot number	Date and time
Driveway of house, walking to the front door	Chloe Daniels Jonathan Daniels	Car keys, house keys, car	1-6	8:00am
Walking through into the house	Chloe Daniels	Keys	7-8	8:40am
Kitchen	Chloe Daniels	Briefcase, knife, glass, cranberry juice, fridge, cloth	9-22	9:00am
Walking through the house, upstairs	Chloe Daniels	None	23-27	10:30am
Bathroom	Chloe Daniels	Makeup wipe, towel, dressing gown	28-43	11:00am
Bedroom	Chloe Daniels	Nail polish, lipstick	44-47	12:30am
Walking through the house, downstairs	Chloe Daniels	None	48-49	13:00am
Kitchen	Chloe Daniels	Radio, tea,	50-53	13:30pm
-	-	-	-	Lunch break – 45minutes
Corridor/ house	Natasha Shadat	Doorframe	54	14:15pm
House	Chloe Daniels	Teacup	55	14:30pm
House	Chloe Daniels Natasha Shadat	Knife, teacup	56	14:45pm
House (outside)	Natasha Shadat	Knife	57	15:00pm
House	Chloe Daniels	Teacup	58	15:15pm
House	Chloe Daniels	Teacup	59	15:35pm
House	None	Teacup (smashed)	60	16:00pm

Vox Pops Analysis

We asked 16 people a series of questions about thrillers and we are now going to use their answers to make our thriller opening successful.

What is your favourite thriller film?

When we asked people what their favourite thriller film was and their response was:

·         Taken

·         The Conjuring

·         Batman

·         Limitless

·         Legend

·         Nerve

·         Se7en

·         Paranormal Activity

·         Emilie

·         The Black Swan

·         Hannibal

What makes it thrilling?

When we asked why they enjoyed these thrillers films, the most common answer was that they enjoyed the suspense and the atmospheres in the films. Not only had this but they also said that they included a lot of action and fight scenes. They stated that these made them effective due to the excitement raised, it can be assumed that this is also due to their tense scenes. Also many people that were asked commented on the importance of sound and lighting and so therefore it is key that we ensure these are used well in our thriller opening. Moreover another thing that was commented on was the fast pace of the thrillers and how this can make tense and thrilling. Also a lot of the people said that jumpy scenes made the thriller effective and the suspense that is built towards the scares is also thrilling. Lastly one person stated that the plot twists included are what make it thrilling and the uncertainty within the storyline for the audiences viewing is effective.

 

What kind of soundtrack makes it effective?

·         Eerie and upbeat

·         Orchestral

·         Fast paced

·         Tense and fast paced

·         Suspenseful and beats which build up to a climax

·         Heartbeat sound, rapidly getting quicker

·         Eerie, quiet

·         Fast paced, orchestral

·         Suspenseful

·         Fast paced, tense

·         Violins, orchestral

·         Fast paced

Overall when asked what a thriller soundtrack should typically include, there was a running theme with the answers given. Most of the people said that an eerie, suspenseful soundtrack makes a thriller opening effective. Not only this, but they also stated that the soundtrack should be orchestral and include quite traditional instruments such as a piano or violins. One person that we asked said that they think a soundtrack that includes a heartbeat sort of beat would be effective. Also people said that an upbeat and fast paced soundtrack would be effective due to the suspense it would build for the audiences viewing. Most people said that the soundtrack must be fast paced in order to be effective. Therefore in order to make our thriller soundtrack effective we may have to use a fast paced soundtrack to build suspense and tension within the opening.

What is your favourite thriller sub-genre?

We also asked what their favourite subgenre of thriller was, their answers were:

·         Crime

·         Horror

·         Crime

·         Psychological

·         Horror

·         Action

·         Mystery

·         Psychological

·         Action

·         Action

·         Horror

·         Horror

It is clear to see that the most common subgenres were crime, horror and action. Therefore it shows what are the most popular and thus which types of thrillers people are more likely to watch. Therefore we should make our thriller one of these subgenres in order to make sure that it is successful and thrilling.

 

Why?

When asked why this was their favourite subgenre many people stated that it is due to the jump scares within the genre. Also a majority said that subgenres such as horrors and action have more suspense and so therefore are more exciting to watch. Another common answers was that the action subgenres has more fight scenes which they stated to be more thrilling to watch. Lastly a common answer was that the topics of crime thrillers interests them, so therefore we must make sure that our thriller opening is interesting and not confusing. It is also made clear that more of the people asked enjoyed horror, action and crime and so this may be important when we make our thriller opening.

How often do you watch thrillers?

When asked how often each person tends to watch thrillers the answers we received were:

·         Not often

·         Every weekend

·         Every night

·         Once every two weeks

·         Two times a week

·         Once or twice a week

·         Everyday

·         Not often

·         Not often

·         Every week

·         Three times a weekend

·         Weekly

It is clear to see within the answers to this question that due to the variety of people we asked, there are very mixed answers. A lot of people said that they do not watch thrillers very often or only on certain occasions. However the majority of people stated that they watch thrillers once or twice a week. This has made me aware of the large amount of people who do enjoy thrillers and so the answers to the other questions are extremely important due to them coming from people who have seen many films of the thriller genre. Also these answers can be used in order to determine the things our thriller must use in order to be effective.

Risk Assessment

Vox Pops Video

Mise-en-scene

Vox Pops

Vox Pop

Shot 1

Expected in the news, direct address, looking straight at the camera.

Shot 2

Expected on a talk show, over the shoulder shots are used.

Shot 3

Outside Broadcasts, factual information is given

Shot 4

Asking people questions in public, indirect gaze, looking off screen

 

What are the conventions of Vox Pops?

• Vox Populi
• ‘Voice of the people’
• ‘Man on street’
• Used to discover people’s opinions and ideas
   
  Example:

• Do not hear anyone ask the question
• Flicks between the different peoples answers
• Quick answers
• Title at the bottom of the screen, name, age and occupation
• Busy area
• Medium close up are used
• Indirect gaze
• Right of the screen
• Each person is on screen for around 3 seconds

 

What is your favourite subgenre of thrillers and why?

What kind of soundtrack do you think makes a thriller effective?

What’s your favourite thriller film?

Do you have a least favourite thriller film?

What makes a thriller thrilling?

What scares you in a thriller?

What would your ideal thriller contain?

 

Task	Person
Organise questions	All
Film the Vox Pops	Kirsten
Interviewer	Chloe
Casting – organise people to interview	Natasha
Editor	Grace

 

 

 

 

Production Companies

Dexter Opening Sequence Analysis

Thriller Opening Ideas

Idea 1:

Mystery Thriller:

Location: Abandoned house/ bedroom – Bourne or local area

Actors: Natasha Shadat, Chloe Daniels

Narrative and types of titles:

The first idea for the thriller opening is a mystery thriller, this will be set in a missing teenage girl’s bedroom. The title sequence will show the teenage girls bedroom in the state she left in in before she went missing. There will be shots shown of the girl’s diary in which the diary will be opened and one of the titles will be written on the page. Another title may be shown when a draw is opened, the title could be superimposed onto the middle of the drawers when it is opened.  The titles shown will be superimposed and also handwritten, therefore giving a variety of different titles. The way in which these titles will be shown is by an unknown person’s hand opening the drawers or places in which the titles are inside. The hand will be wearing a glove, one that would be worn by someone investigating a crime scene. Therefore this follows a typical mystery thriller convention.

 

Idea 2:

Location: Unknown, dark, cramped places

Actors: Natasha Shadat, Chloe Daniels

Narrative and types of titles:

The title sequence uses superimposed titles throughout as the thriller is an action rather than a mystery and so more images using movement and a fast pace are used. The sequence will follow a kidnapping, it will be from the abductee’s perspective and so it will show only what they see. The sequence will show small indications of where they are and what’s happening but the storyline, location and characters will remain a mystery.

 

Idea 3:

Location: House

Actors: Natasha Shadat, Chloe Daniels

Narrative:

The title sequence will show an unknown person coming home from work, it is unknown what they have done. However the shots will show a weapon being put down onto a worktop, if a knife is used then it will be covered in blood. The sequence will show the person getting undressed and then a shot of bloodied water will be shown as they are washing themselves off. The sequence will end with the person turning on the TV, on which there is a news report on a murder.

Types of titles: The title sequence will used superimposed titles as using handwritten will not give the same affect and will be difficult to be effective.

Trailer Analysis

Thriller SubGenres

What are the conventions of an opening title?

 

What is the purpose of titles in the film opening?

• Introduces the people who worked on the film.
• Sets the scene
• Foreshadow a character’s personality
• Introduces the film
• Work of the institution, cast and crew on a product.
• List the most important members of the production.
• They are now shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or static pictures or sometimes on top of action in the show.
• May or may not be accompanied music.
• Title of the film gets revealed right at the end of the title sequence

 

1. What titles do they use?
2. How are they different?
3. What effect/theme do they create?
4. What type of opening is it?

 

Captain America – The First Avenger:

1. Producer
   Executive producer
   Director of photography – Camera operator
   Editor
   Costume designer
   Co-producers
   Music
   Music supervisor
   Casting
   Actors
2. Title of the film is at the end or the sequence
3. Propaganda – past billboards, World War posters
   Music is synchronised with the images.
4. Superimposed – thematic theme

Domino:

1. Producer
   Executive producers
   Director of photography – Camera operator
   Editing by
   Costume designer
   Co-producers
   Music by
   Casting by
2. Title is at the middle of the opening
   Actors names before the titles
3. Theme of dominos
4. Superimposed –
    

Napoleon Dynamite:

1. Producer
   Executive producers
   Director of photography – Camera operator
   Editing by
   Costume designer
   Co-producers
   Music by
   Casting by
2. Titles are not edited font
3. Theme of lunches
4. Sees characters lunches, introduces them – see a school meal