Showing posts with label Taio Rene Lawson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taio Rene Lawson. Show all posts
Friday, 27 February 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Monday, 19 January 2009
Filming Diary
The filming process was easy to handle mainly because we knew very much so what we wanted. As a group we had the same vision and therefore could bounce off each other very easily. This has been the case throughout the hole process so far. The one thing that I could say about the first day is that our lack of experience showed in our ability to hold concentration.
The monotonous activity of setting up the camera for every different shot brought about a slow recline in our concentration that could be seen in the amount of takes that we had to do and the time taken. This concentration resulted in some clashing of ideas between members of the group. I was happy however that despite this, we were mature enough to talk through these and continue with the work.
The second day of shooting was in the forest behind my house which was easy for me. It was a very relaxed process and less of a test than the previous day. I think this may have been because of the fresh air unlike being in a dark room shooting. In some ways the forest gave us some inspiration and we ended up shooting a few more shots than we had originally anticipated.
There was a problem in the fact that we were filming in a communal forest meaning that we had unwanted “background artists” as I called them, but they were mainly primary school kids that were rather adorable.
We found a problem regulating the sun light, creating a continuity problem for us. Through out the morning we had to re-shoot a couple of the shots or wait for clouds to help solve the problem.
Yet again, the equipment re-arranging became annoying. Unlike being indoor where you just have to move across a room, this time we had to move around a forest which became tiring by the end.
Over all I believe we left with some good shots and enough footage to create the idea that we have.
The monotonous activity of setting up the camera for every different shot brought about a slow recline in our concentration that could be seen in the amount of takes that we had to do and the time taken. This concentration resulted in some clashing of ideas between members of the group. I was happy however that despite this, we were mature enough to talk through these and continue with the work.
The second day of shooting was in the forest behind my house which was easy for me. It was a very relaxed process and less of a test than the previous day. I think this may have been because of the fresh air unlike being in a dark room shooting. In some ways the forest gave us some inspiration and we ended up shooting a few more shots than we had originally anticipated.
There was a problem in the fact that we were filming in a communal forest meaning that we had unwanted “background artists” as I called them, but they were mainly primary school kids that were rather adorable.
We found a problem regulating the sun light, creating a continuity problem for us. Through out the morning we had to re-shoot a couple of the shots or wait for clouds to help solve the problem.
Yet again, the equipment re-arranging became annoying. Unlike being indoor where you just have to move across a room, this time we had to move around a forest which became tiring by the end.
Over all I believe we left with some good shots and enough footage to create the idea that we have.
Thursday, 1 January 2009
Idea Analyzed
We have created an idea for our thriller opening that we hope will engage the audience whilst still un nerving them. I have always felt that these are two of the most integral things in thriller openings. However we have taken into account that we are not shooting a high budget film like most thrillers so our idea (previously explained by Jack). We therefor wanted to make it simple but still effective. We have organized to shoot in two easily accessible locations to help. This means no money coming out of our project. We use one actor who is also in our group which yet again cuts complication.
Our production schedule Tuesday 25th November and Thursday 27th November are the fewest amount of days we could shoot in whist still getting the shots we need. This will avoid any extra complications with clashes in our own personal schedules. Using fewer days also give us a chance to have contingency day to shoot another story-boarded idea if we don’t collect enough footage.
“A camera is sitting in an empty room. A single beam of light swings across illuminating the camera and then swinging back. Cut to a single tray of water with a few pieces of negative film in it. Once again the light swings across and swings back. Next cut to a wall in the same room with lots of photos on it of the same person. Cut to different pictures. Finally have a slow pan of the room giving us a whole look at the surroundings.
Meanwhile, in a forest somewhere a women is out running. it is early morning. Various shots of her from different angles and running up over hills and past trunks and through bushes. Another man is in the forest. he is watching her run. Following her and taking pictures for his private collection. The photos in the empty room are of this women.”
POSTED BY BRIT SCHOOL BDC AS THRILLERS AT 12:52 0 COMMENTS
LABELS: JACK
Our opening has no clear narrative. We decided to do our opening this way after being influenced by openings such as “Usual Suspects” and “Momento.” This devise is used to force the audience to want to know what can happen next. They ask the question “what is coming out of this?” However, in order to do this we must have a clear answer to that question, otherwise our opening will loose the effect that we want it to have and it will look sloppy.
We have also chosen to follow a femme fetal challenging that characters you would normally see. She isn’t Caucasian with blond hair. WIth this we hope to break through a different audience barrier and appeal to more people. We felt that the classic idea of a femme fetal was in many way out dated and by changing this we hope to show our vision of future film.
Our production schedule Tuesday 25th November and Thursday 27th November are the fewest amount of days we could shoot in whist still getting the shots we need. This will avoid any extra complications with clashes in our own personal schedules. Using fewer days also give us a chance to have contingency day to shoot another story-boarded idea if we don’t collect enough footage.
“A camera is sitting in an empty room. A single beam of light swings across illuminating the camera and then swinging back. Cut to a single tray of water with a few pieces of negative film in it. Once again the light swings across and swings back. Next cut to a wall in the same room with lots of photos on it of the same person. Cut to different pictures. Finally have a slow pan of the room giving us a whole look at the surroundings.
Meanwhile, in a forest somewhere a women is out running. it is early morning. Various shots of her from different angles and running up over hills and past trunks and through bushes. Another man is in the forest. he is watching her run. Following her and taking pictures for his private collection. The photos in the empty room are of this women.”
POSTED BY BRIT SCHOOL BDC AS THRILLERS AT 12:52 0 COMMENTS
LABELS: JACK
Our opening has no clear narrative. We decided to do our opening this way after being influenced by openings such as “Usual Suspects” and “Momento.” This devise is used to force the audience to want to know what can happen next. They ask the question “what is coming out of this?” However, in order to do this we must have a clear answer to that question, otherwise our opening will loose the effect that we want it to have and it will look sloppy.
We have also chosen to follow a femme fetal challenging that characters you would normally see. She isn’t Caucasian with blond hair. WIth this we hope to break through a different audience barrier and appeal to more people. We felt that the classic idea of a femme fetal was in many way out dated and by changing this we hope to show our vision of future film.
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Our Thriller Opening
Filming and Ideas:
At first we had only an abstract idea of what we wanted to do. We wanted part of it to be set in a forest. We also thought it would be good to have some of it take place in a darkroom and may be have a wall of photos. Throughout the darkroom scene suspense music would be played. I thought it would be interesting if we had an interrogation playing throughout the forest scene. The idea was that there would be a stalker who has been following this girl and in the scene where he follows her through the forest you find out that he’s actually murdered her as well. During later stages we decided it might give the start more energy if we cut between these two scenes and we could also add suspense if as we cut back to the forest we get closer and closer to the girl (played by Yolande). In the darkroom we cut to things the stalker has such as a film reel, camera and pictures of Yolande on his cabinet. Filming in the forest was hard because sometimes Yolande had to be a certain distance away from us and yet we needed to tell her when she was meant to run from here to there. I had to be called to give the right cue to Yolande at times. It would've been easier and a lot more cost effective to have used a radio.
The first day filming was spent 3 hours set in the dark room to reflect on the stalkers thoughts/ideas/plans. We filmed; panning shots over pinned up photos of the victim with red and white lighting, we did a white spotlight in the dark room over film reels floating in water with the effect of a tap dripping which gave a gentle ripple effect, moving the images giving a rhythm and feel of stillness and silence in the room; to create suspense as you wait for something to happen. The use of the steady, hand held, swinging spotlight in the dark over the camera gives an indication of the theme or the base of the subject is. The audience think why? What? Where? Confusing them, enforcing vulnerability on the audience as part of the thriller film.
At first we had only an abstract idea of what we wanted to do. We wanted part of it to be set in a forest. We also thought it would be good to have some of it take place in a darkroom and may be have a wall of photos. Throughout the darkroom scene suspense music would be played. I thought it would be interesting if we had an interrogation playing throughout the forest scene. The idea was that there would be a stalker who has been following this girl and in the scene where he follows her through the forest you find out that he’s actually murdered her as well. During later stages we decided it might give the start more energy if we cut between these two scenes and we could also add suspense if as we cut back to the forest we get closer and closer to the girl (played by Yolande). In the darkroom we cut to things the stalker has such as a film reel, camera and pictures of Yolande on his cabinet. Filming in the forest was hard because sometimes Yolande had to be a certain distance away from us and yet we needed to tell her when she was meant to run from here to there. I had to be called to give the right cue to Yolande at times. It would've been easier and a lot more cost effective to have used a radio.
The first day filming was spent 3 hours set in the dark room to reflect on the stalkers thoughts/ideas/plans. We filmed; panning shots over pinned up photos of the victim with red and white lighting, we did a white spotlight in the dark room over film reels floating in water with the effect of a tap dripping which gave a gentle ripple effect, moving the images giving a rhythm and feel of stillness and silence in the room; to create suspense as you wait for something to happen. The use of the steady, hand held, swinging spotlight in the dark over the camera gives an indication of the theme or the base of the subject is. The audience think why? What? Where? Confusing them, enforcing vulnerability on the audience as part of the thriller film.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Responce to "Chainmail"
As a piece, this was oe of the most sophisticated. From the titles you could tell this. instead of trying to be over complicated with ideas, they used a simple text shown over the action on film. Although others may have showns a scense of imagination they failed to seem real. If anything they seemed over hatched. This title sequence was simple, and more effective for it. They id however enhance the imagery of them by making them slightly contorted and abstract, but not over done. In some way this could go towards aiding the audience build an idea of what kind of a thriller it could turn out to be. One that is subtle but still sinister.
The camera work was interesting. It used a range of close ups and medium high angled shots for effect. The close ups of the moving chains and the quick cuts and changes helped add to the tension of the piece. Building up to something that the audience are expecting but never comes. Although this was one of the things that people seemed to hate about the piece i felt the opposite. I felt that it showed that the ilm makers had a controle of the audience; something that is needed from a thriller maker.
There was also a few uses of a high angle long range shot. On a few occasions the shot was used in the office room with the feme fatale in her work office. The camera was used used at a high angle and made her seem as though th killer was a fly on the wall or a preditor looking at her. This was also seen in the one of the beggining shots and the ending shot of a train going in and going out. It made it seem as though the stalker is always there, everyday, everywhere. In someway, using these shots in the way they have has created a scense of continuety. I don't know whether this was done on purpose but if it was or not, its there, and it looks good.
In the same office shot, there understadning of lighting came through, providing use with a shot that used noir qualities. Creating shadows and dark angles. The lighting made the audience feel as if there was something evil around, as if somehting bad as going to happen. This use of lights and an overall dirty looking set created a dark and unclean mis en scene, that made the audience feel uneasy and on edge. Like most thrillers, the mis en scene plays a big part in its aim. This was understood by the group and created the right embience for "Chainmail"
The narrative of the piece was a good chioce for a thriller, showing some classical generic themes that enhanced the piece. The idea of a chained up evil character was one that i as an audience member could easily identify, but at the same time original. It is an image that can stick with you; the moving chains and the dark areas around the building that also add the noir feel of the piece. The chains also enhanced the evil ofthe unvailed character. As if nothing could hold him down from what he does.
The image of a helpless female alone is one that is seen frequantly in thrillers. Someone that the eventual protaganist/ hero could maybe come and help or save. This is not to say that in thrillers, women are always the person in need, especially in modern day thrillers. Actors like Jodie Foster are leading the way for femal actresses to be somethin more than the person in need and in some cases the hero.
This was the first of all the pieces that didn't just resort to using a over playing track to create the tension in the piece. "Cainmail" uses the diagetic sound of the chain to build a scense of fear within us. We also heard the sounds of the computers turning as they worked in the office. All these diagetic sounds were really refreshing in some way from the others because there was something more to the sound.
Out of all the pieces this was one of few that i really enjoyed and challenged me as an audience member. I would have been interested to know what the ideas for the rest of the piece were because im sure they would have been really strong.
The camera work was interesting. It used a range of close ups and medium high angled shots for effect. The close ups of the moving chains and the quick cuts and changes helped add to the tension of the piece. Building up to something that the audience are expecting but never comes. Although this was one of the things that people seemed to hate about the piece i felt the opposite. I felt that it showed that the ilm makers had a controle of the audience; something that is needed from a thriller maker.
There was also a few uses of a high angle long range shot. On a few occasions the shot was used in the office room with the feme fatale in her work office. The camera was used used at a high angle and made her seem as though th killer was a fly on the wall or a preditor looking at her. This was also seen in the one of the beggining shots and the ending shot of a train going in and going out. It made it seem as though the stalker is always there, everyday, everywhere. In someway, using these shots in the way they have has created a scense of continuety. I don't know whether this was done on purpose but if it was or not, its there, and it looks good.
In the same office shot, there understadning of lighting came through, providing use with a shot that used noir qualities. Creating shadows and dark angles. The lighting made the audience feel as if there was something evil around, as if somehting bad as going to happen. This use of lights and an overall dirty looking set created a dark and unclean mis en scene, that made the audience feel uneasy and on edge. Like most thrillers, the mis en scene plays a big part in its aim. This was understood by the group and created the right embience for "Chainmail"
The narrative of the piece was a good chioce for a thriller, showing some classical generic themes that enhanced the piece. The idea of a chained up evil character was one that i as an audience member could easily identify, but at the same time original. It is an image that can stick with you; the moving chains and the dark areas around the building that also add the noir feel of the piece. The chains also enhanced the evil ofthe unvailed character. As if nothing could hold him down from what he does.
The image of a helpless female alone is one that is seen frequantly in thrillers. Someone that the eventual protaganist/ hero could maybe come and help or save. This is not to say that in thrillers, women are always the person in need, especially in modern day thrillers. Actors like Jodie Foster are leading the way for femal actresses to be somethin more than the person in need and in some cases the hero.
This was the first of all the pieces that didn't just resort to using a over playing track to create the tension in the piece. "Cainmail" uses the diagetic sound of the chain to build a scense of fear within us. We also heard the sounds of the computers turning as they worked in the office. All these diagetic sounds were really refreshing in some way from the others because there was something more to the sound.
Out of all the pieces this was one of few that i really enjoyed and challenged me as an audience member. I would have been interested to know what the ideas for the rest of the piece were because im sure they would have been really strong.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
My Thriller
To make my thriller of a good quality there are many aspects of the genre that i will need to take into consideration. This will be hard because the genre is really hard to pin down into what it is. You would identify that a thriller is something that has a fast paced narrative that aims to thrill the audience. however i do believe that this is the only genre that can be splti onto so many sub genres; spy thrillers, conspiricy, horror thrillers, crime thrillers and the list goes on. the key to our group making a good thriller will be trying to stick to what we deem as a good thriller but also what we can realisticaly achieve with the resources that we have.
Four key elements we need to think of when we are making our trillers are;
The theme
The narrative
Characters
A teenagers we aren't going to be able to have an actor that can play an old war s.a.s veteran or police workers like seen in most thrillers. However, youare seeing more character today that start as normal everyday people. In films like Enemy of the state with Will Smith show this brilliantly. This may be in order to make the audience have a greater connection to the characters if the can relate to the situations and the people that they are. In some ways you think of wheather it can happen to you.
The narrative is tradtionaly fast paced in thrillers, the narratives overlap with more twists and turns than the audience would have throught possoible. The protaganist would strive to stop aand opposing force from achieving their goal with a pulse raising climax. I doubt that we would be able to produce something like that. and seen as we are only doing an opening we cant unravel a full story. however thrillers fill their fist 10 minutes with intense narrative and action where the audience are never rarely board. This will be a tall order for us but i think we can do it.
The themes will have to be things that us as a group can relate to. things like crime, conspiracy suspence are constatly seen in thrillers and we will need to think of things like this to make our work creditable. They help to make thrillers what they are. This will be important in the script writing procces which might be the hardest of all the things that we will ahve to focus on.
I dont think that we can produce a piece of work that will shock the world. That would be impossible. But i do believe that if we stick to what we know and love about thrillers, we can use it to our advantage and produce something to be proud of.
Four key elements we need to think of when we are making our trillers are;
The theme
The narrative
Characters
A teenagers we aren't going to be able to have an actor that can play an old war s.a.s veteran or police workers like seen in most thrillers. However, youare seeing more character today that start as normal everyday people. In films like Enemy of the state with Will Smith show this brilliantly. This may be in order to make the audience have a greater connection to the characters if the can relate to the situations and the people that they are. In some ways you think of wheather it can happen to you.
The narrative is tradtionaly fast paced in thrillers, the narratives overlap with more twists and turns than the audience would have throught possoible. The protaganist would strive to stop aand opposing force from achieving their goal with a pulse raising climax. I doubt that we would be able to produce something like that. and seen as we are only doing an opening we cant unravel a full story. however thrillers fill their fist 10 minutes with intense narrative and action where the audience are never rarely board. This will be a tall order for us but i think we can do it.
The themes will have to be things that us as a group can relate to. things like crime, conspiracy suspence are constatly seen in thrillers and we will need to think of things like this to make our work creditable. They help to make thrillers what they are. This will be important in the script writing procces which might be the hardest of all the things that we will ahve to focus on.
I dont think that we can produce a piece of work that will shock the world. That would be impossible. But i do believe that if we stick to what we know and love about thrillers, we can use it to our advantage and produce something to be proud of.
Alfred Hitchcock
Alfred Hitchcock has changed the way film will be made for the rest of time. As a director and producer he took the ideas of thrillers to the next level developing the ideas of the psycological thriller and the tools of suspence. In his life time he directed over fifty films in a career that lasted for 60 years. He saw the end of the silent movie era into the introduction and development of sound and well into the use of colour. He had seen the potential of what film could be.
He strongly believed in the ideas of story boarding in detail. This was probably the reason his films have a great attention to detail. in a wide range shot in North by North west it is said that the camera angle is set to the same angle in the title. This hard working ethos helped him to become the most highly regarded director of his time.
Born in london in 1899 his early career started in Britain first as someone more behind the scenes but he worked his way up to direct films like Blackmail (one of britains first talkies although poorly dubd) which can be seen at the BFI. The film follows the story of a woman who is forced to kill a date she was on in self defence. Someone witnesses her and the man together and comes forth to blackmail her and her police man boyfriend.
He then went on to america and was under contract to the producer Selznick. He hated this. Hitchcock was the sort of director that liked having complete controle over his work and he didnt always feel likehe did. His first american film Rebecca 1940 ( set and written in england) about a young woman who moves into an big english home in the country. She has problems with a distant husband and the memory of his now dead wife Rebecca. The film won a few academy awards but not the best director.
Hitchcock was a director not to stick to the usual. He was known for his experimentational approach to film making. In films like Spell bound and Rope where new ideas for POV shots and extended one take shots were made, un heard of at the time.
Through his peak years ( 50 - 60's) he made films like North be North west, Psycho and The Birds, all three are hailed as some of the greatest thriller films ever made. He is a great influence and a man who has helped make the thriller genre and film what it is today.
He strongly believed in the ideas of story boarding in detail. This was probably the reason his films have a great attention to detail. in a wide range shot in North by North west it is said that the camera angle is set to the same angle in the title. This hard working ethos helped him to become the most highly regarded director of his time.
Born in london in 1899 his early career started in Britain first as someone more behind the scenes but he worked his way up to direct films like Blackmail (one of britains first talkies although poorly dubd) which can be seen at the BFI. The film follows the story of a woman who is forced to kill a date she was on in self defence. Someone witnesses her and the man together and comes forth to blackmail her and her police man boyfriend.
He then went on to america and was under contract to the producer Selznick. He hated this. Hitchcock was the sort of director that liked having complete controle over his work and he didnt always feel likehe did. His first american film Rebecca 1940 ( set and written in england) about a young woman who moves into an big english home in the country. She has problems with a distant husband and the memory of his now dead wife Rebecca. The film won a few academy awards but not the best director.
Hitchcock was a director not to stick to the usual. He was known for his experimentational approach to film making. In films like Spell bound and Rope where new ideas for POV shots and extended one take shots were made, un heard of at the time.
Through his peak years ( 50 - 60's) he made films like North be North west, Psycho and The Birds, all three are hailed as some of the greatest thriller films ever made. He is a great influence and a man who has helped make the thriller genre and film what it is today.
Monday, 3 November 2008
Get Carter 1971 director: Mike Hodges
This film is not only regarded as a british classic but also one of the most iconic thriller films in the world. It follows the story of jack carter played by Michael Cain on his return to the north to finsd out more about his brothers death.
It has a destinctive opening, in some ways an establishing shot, but not one of a place but of our protaganist. The camera slowly zooms in on him facing out towards us as the theme music plays over the diagetic sound of the wind. Imediatly you know who the story follows and recieve hints of a sinister storyline.
The opening scene is in a room with the characters gangster bosses and his contemporaries. Here you see the steriotypical characters showing power. They are over wait, wear black suits and smoke cigars. Commonly seen in films that a thriller/ gangster. They all sit back watching porn on a slide. You can imedialty see that Carter is different. He is lean, wearing a grey suit and drinks a some what more sophisticated whiskey. Our eyes are almost Blinded by the cut to the bright light coming from the front of the projector mixed with the diagetic sounds of the changing of sound work as a tool for the director to un ease his audience and create a sence of tension in the scene, something that you can also see in the subtext of the writing.
Hodges approaches the opening in a very noir esc fashion. The room is dark and shadows are created by the surroundings and the single light from the projector. Everything seems to have a hidden feeling of darkness just like the characters in the scene. It creats a evil mis en scene, the audience seem thrown into this world of the dark criminal underworld.
The dialogue is used here to start the story off. The audience is told where and why he is doing what he plans and in some ways how he is going to do it. The repetative warnings of "don't go" and "rethink this" from the people that suround Carter set up the idea that something is going to happen. It is also very interesting that this is one of the most important scenes in th whole film but it isn't played up to be. Like the rest of the film everything is done subtly. Without this scene the ending doesn't really make much sence.
Get Carter isn't just an iconic movie, it is one of the rare films that told its story with an unbelievable amount of truth. This is something hard to find in the thriller cinema of today. Get Carter helped to reperesent the generation in which it was made. With the fashion, the language and the over all mis en scene of the piece. It showed the britain of that time for what it was ; gritty and unforgiving, and it was enhanced and made better for doing so.
It has a destinctive opening, in some ways an establishing shot, but not one of a place but of our protaganist. The camera slowly zooms in on him facing out towards us as the theme music plays over the diagetic sound of the wind. Imediatly you know who the story follows and recieve hints of a sinister storyline.
The opening scene is in a room with the characters gangster bosses and his contemporaries. Here you see the steriotypical characters showing power. They are over wait, wear black suits and smoke cigars. Commonly seen in films that a thriller/ gangster. They all sit back watching porn on a slide. You can imedialty see that Carter is different. He is lean, wearing a grey suit and drinks a some what more sophisticated whiskey. Our eyes are almost Blinded by the cut to the bright light coming from the front of the projector mixed with the diagetic sounds of the changing of sound work as a tool for the director to un ease his audience and create a sence of tension in the scene, something that you can also see in the subtext of the writing.
Hodges approaches the opening in a very noir esc fashion. The room is dark and shadows are created by the surroundings and the single light from the projector. Everything seems to have a hidden feeling of darkness just like the characters in the scene. It creats a evil mis en scene, the audience seem thrown into this world of the dark criminal underworld.
The dialogue is used here to start the story off. The audience is told where and why he is doing what he plans and in some ways how he is going to do it. The repetative warnings of "don't go" and "rethink this" from the people that suround Carter set up the idea that something is going to happen. It is also very interesting that this is one of the most important scenes in th whole film but it isn't played up to be. Like the rest of the film everything is done subtly. Without this scene the ending doesn't really make much sence.
Get Carter isn't just an iconic movie, it is one of the rare films that told its story with an unbelievable amount of truth. This is something hard to find in the thriller cinema of today. Get Carter helped to reperesent the generation in which it was made. With the fashion, the language and the over all mis en scene of the piece. It showed the britain of that time for what it was ; gritty and unforgiving, and it was enhanced and made better for doing so.
Preliminary Excersize.
I found that the pre Liminary excersize more challenging than I had thought it would be. I had already used a camera before and the requirments seemed easy enough. however you would be suprised with how much you can forget, using a camera isn't like riding a bike. We also had a lot more things to think about with the making and editing of the piece. These include 180 degree rule, match on action and continuety editing.
We had gotten the cameras and desided to film in our calss room. We had our story board to refure to and evrything was planned, But the opperation of the camera was tricky. i had forgotten how to make sure our shot was level, how to tilt the camera and other little things that we needed in order to get the shots we wanted. Luckily the hero of the group Jack was there to ease our pains.
Operating the camera was a long forgotten worry when i was eventually standing infront of it. ( i wasnt just helping with the camera work i was also an actor in the excersize). i found it almost impossible to not make mistakes, causing us to waist time and film at least 5 takes of each shot.
There was a hitch during the filming. In our story board we had mis understude the idea of match on action which meant we had to do some rethinking and film some extra shots, but we handled it very well and with ease in my view. We almost had problems with the 180 degree rule untill Ms Williams stept in to look over what we had done.
In all i think we wroked well as a group and produced a coherent piece of work. I really enjoyed it.
We had gotten the cameras and desided to film in our calss room. We had our story board to refure to and evrything was planned, But the opperation of the camera was tricky. i had forgotten how to make sure our shot was level, how to tilt the camera and other little things that we needed in order to get the shots we wanted. Luckily the hero of the group Jack was there to ease our pains.
Operating the camera was a long forgotten worry when i was eventually standing infront of it. ( i wasnt just helping with the camera work i was also an actor in the excersize). i found it almost impossible to not make mistakes, causing us to waist time and film at least 5 takes of each shot.
There was a hitch during the filming. In our story board we had mis understude the idea of match on action which meant we had to do some rethinking and film some extra shots, but we handled it very well and with ease in my view. We almost had problems with the 180 degree rule untill Ms Williams stept in to look over what we had done.
In all i think we wroked well as a group and produced a coherent piece of work. I really enjoyed it.
What makes a thriller a thriller
The idea of a thriller is to thrill its audience. It will atempt to focus on one goal and there for take the audience on the journey to find this goal with the protaganist/ protaganists of the story. Tension is needed to keep the audience on the edge of there seats as the narrative comes to a thrilling climax. The characters will find that they come accross obsticles ie, situations or people (villians) that they must over come in order for the film to finish or continue it's narrative.
You will find that the thriller is very fast paced, keeping the audience guessing and edgy. This can be helped in the editing. Which is vital for a thriller. Quick cuts and changes of camera angle are alwasy sure to bee seen in a thriller film.
The sounds in the film are also destinctive and b=very important. Music and cinema are like two peas in a pod, but when music is added to thriller film it becomes a different ball game. Thrilers would lose at least 50% of there impact if it weren't for the music or sounds (diagetic or non-diagetic) sounds heard in the films. For example the high pitched strings are often used to bring tension, and this can be influenced by the tempo. Jaws has one of the most iconic musical tension building tracks. So does James Bond with its use of a great orchastra and brass horns.
Lighting helps to add to the mis en scene of a piece. This can indicate to the audience what mood the scene is and what may happen next. In films like Seven, it is always raining and dark. It sets the mood of the whole film being a dark and twisted story. This is a good example of how the director David Fincher has used sound (sound of the rain) and the lighting to affect the audience watching his film. The use of shadows in thrillers (also used in Seven) is another devise used to creat a more sinster enviornment.
The idea of using lighting to enhance the atmosphere of the film can be traced back to the film movment of Film Noir. A film i have seen recently that uses film noir ideas was Momento. In a scene where the protaganist is sitting in his room alone, you really feel like you can feel the darkness of his character.
You will find that the thriller is very fast paced, keeping the audience guessing and edgy. This can be helped in the editing. Which is vital for a thriller. Quick cuts and changes of camera angle are alwasy sure to bee seen in a thriller film.
The sounds in the film are also destinctive and b=very important. Music and cinema are like two peas in a pod, but when music is added to thriller film it becomes a different ball game. Thrilers would lose at least 50% of there impact if it weren't for the music or sounds (diagetic or non-diagetic) sounds heard in the films. For example the high pitched strings are often used to bring tension, and this can be influenced by the tempo. Jaws has one of the most iconic musical tension building tracks. So does James Bond with its use of a great orchastra and brass horns.
Lighting helps to add to the mis en scene of a piece. This can indicate to the audience what mood the scene is and what may happen next. In films like Seven, it is always raining and dark. It sets the mood of the whole film being a dark and twisted story. This is a good example of how the director David Fincher has used sound (sound of the rain) and the lighting to affect the audience watching his film. The use of shadows in thrillers (also used in Seven) is another devise used to creat a more sinster enviornment.
The idea of using lighting to enhance the atmosphere of the film can be traced back to the film movment of Film Noir. A film i have seen recently that uses film noir ideas was Momento. In a scene where the protaganist is sitting in his room alone, you really feel like you can feel the darkness of his character.
Addition to spy thrillers
In addition to the post on spy thrillers.
James Bond: quantumn of solace.
This is the latest addition to the james bond saga, bringing a new look to the originals and a faster passed narative. For once it can be said that this is now a thriller film.
Starting with a fast car chase that gets your blood pumping the story and the film doesn't stop thrilling you. The story line more complex than normal jams bond films, a tighter script and more realistic events if that is possible, to some this may be classed as the first james bond film to be credited as an actual film at all rather than a fars.
But what has made the producers want to make this change in the layout to the film?
This may be due to stiff competition in a relm that james bond once used to rule. In the last eight years films like the Bourne series and Taken have been released, challenging and thrilling the audiences. Although the special effects and technology for films have gotten smarter, so have the audiences. The expect something more than just a film they want something to think about. They want to feel apart of the world that is being shown to them.
James bond has shocked the worldwide box office with an overall take of $594 million. Its opening day in the US and UK gained it £4,940,000 and its opening weekend for the uk gained it $ 25,300,000. This film is long on its way to being one of the biggest grossing films this year.
However this is not the only franchise that has desided to take a darker, challenging and an overall more thrilling turn on the way it is made. Batman shocked audiences all over the globe with its more "sophisticated" cinematis approach. This broke the $200 million record.
James Bond: quantumn of solace.
This is the latest addition to the james bond saga, bringing a new look to the originals and a faster passed narative. For once it can be said that this is now a thriller film.
Starting with a fast car chase that gets your blood pumping the story and the film doesn't stop thrilling you. The story line more complex than normal jams bond films, a tighter script and more realistic events if that is possible, to some this may be classed as the first james bond film to be credited as an actual film at all rather than a fars.
But what has made the producers want to make this change in the layout to the film?
This may be due to stiff competition in a relm that james bond once used to rule. In the last eight years films like the Bourne series and Taken have been released, challenging and thrilling the audiences. Although the special effects and technology for films have gotten smarter, so have the audiences. The expect something more than just a film they want something to think about. They want to feel apart of the world that is being shown to them.
James bond has shocked the worldwide box office with an overall take of $594 million. Its opening day in the US and UK gained it £4,940,000 and its opening weekend for the uk gained it $ 25,300,000. This film is long on its way to being one of the biggest grossing films this year.
However this is not the only franchise that has desided to take a darker, challenging and an overall more thrilling turn on the way it is made. Batman shocked audiences all over the globe with its more "sophisticated" cinematis approach. This broke the $200 million record.
Thursday, 9 October 2008
Film Noir
Created in the 1910's- 20's, film noir saw the merging of the german expressionism and the italian neo- realism. Two very disimilar ideas but merged to help start the ideas of film noir. The idea was used to help show the inner darkness and feelings of characters not just in the actor, but in the suroundings.
The ideas and influences for the movement was seen in the developments in theater, photography, paintings. these influences may be why people refured to it as painting on screen The idea wasn't originally suited to places like america but was embraced by the europe. However this changed in the 1940-50 when the film noir seemed to take over the american screens and therefore the films of the world. The term was first used by a french critic Nino Frank in 1946 and thus the name was born.
Film Noir was often used in films that had a rather dark tone to them. Often the followed a murder story of some sort. Film makers found that these were films that drew in audiences and were cheap to make due to the lak of needing to touch up of try to enhance the lighting on set and in the editing. Therefore they were made in abundance, and in a space of a decade the craze of film noir as over. However it influences can still be seen in fil today.
Film makers like Billy Wilder double indemnity 1944 directed one of the first big time noir films. One of the most iconic is Touch of evil 1958. A thriller to use a lot of the ideologies of the film noir was a film called Odds Aginst the Tommorow 1959 directed by Robert wise. An all time classic film made after the film noir craze but heavily relied on some if its ideas was Taxi Driver directed be Martine Scorsese 1976. Staring thriller icons such as Al pucino and Jodie Foster. Michel Mann is another director who has frequently used film noir influences in films like Heat. Most recently The dark knight directed by Christopher Nolan. All these films that i have mentioned above are classed as thrillers and all have paid homage to the movment of Film Noir. Its important influence is improssible to deny.
The ideas and influences for the movement was seen in the developments in theater, photography, paintings. these influences may be why people refured to it as painting on screen The idea wasn't originally suited to places like america but was embraced by the europe. However this changed in the 1940-50 when the film noir seemed to take over the american screens and therefore the films of the world. The term was first used by a french critic Nino Frank in 1946 and thus the name was born.
Film Noir was often used in films that had a rather dark tone to them. Often the followed a murder story of some sort. Film makers found that these were films that drew in audiences and were cheap to make due to the lak of needing to touch up of try to enhance the lighting on set and in the editing. Therefore they were made in abundance, and in a space of a decade the craze of film noir as over. However it influences can still be seen in fil today.
Film makers like Billy Wilder double indemnity 1944 directed one of the first big time noir films. One of the most iconic is Touch of evil 1958. A thriller to use a lot of the ideologies of the film noir was a film called Odds Aginst the Tommorow 1959 directed by Robert wise. An all time classic film made after the film noir craze but heavily relied on some if its ideas was Taxi Driver directed be Martine Scorsese 1976. Staring thriller icons such as Al pucino and Jodie Foster. Michel Mann is another director who has frequently used film noir influences in films like Heat. Most recently The dark knight directed by Christopher Nolan. All these films that i have mentioned above are classed as thrillers and all have paid homage to the movment of Film Noir. Its important influence is improssible to deny.
Tuesday, 7 October 2008
Thriller Subgenres
A thriller is generally is a fast paced, action packed drama with quite resouseful characters. Although it can be catagorized very easily it usually includes more than one genre, which becomes the subgenre. in order to make a good Thriller it must contain suspense, clifhangers, puzzles. As long as you have these elements a Thriller can be set practally anywhere like, an exotic setting, rural areas, deserts, polo regions etc.
The general characteristics of a thriller varies like mystery stories, crime/mass murder, terrorism, assassination. They mostly deal with quite big issues, there are usually mysteries to solve and suspense is held until confrontation; in the plot there is usually a twist in the plot.
Sub- genres
- sci-fi thrillers (I, Robot), A thriller where technology ahead our time plays a large part
- Action thriller (The Matrix) Usually
- Conspiracy thriller (Enemy of the State)A violent confrontation of a hero in front of a group of enemies.
- crime thriller (Righteous kill)
- Disaster thriller (The Day After Tomorrow)
- Eco-thriller (The Day After Tomorrow)
- Erotic thriller(Basic Instict)
Christian and Yolande
Thursday, 2 October 2008
The Begginning
We are group one. In our group their is Jack Perry, Christian Graham, Yolande Bramble-Carter and Taio Rene-Lawson. Taio and I did the GCSE media course and have some minor experience of using the cameras as we made a soap opera opening sequence last year. Christian and Yolande are brand new.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
