MARKET RESEARCH - CODES AND CONVENTIONS - CHARLIE

We will be creating a film in the thriller genre and will therefore be conforming to things such as:

- Intimidating and tense music

- Abrupt sound effects (slamming phone back onto the hook)

- Typical noises (Train pulling up at train station)

- Not being able to see certain characters faces until later in scene

- Creating suspense and tension

- A range of camera shots

- Dark credits and unusual font style

- The use of props.

We will not be subverting from anything in a way because I feel that when making a scene in the thriller genre it is important to stick to the conventions as that is what makes it appeal to the audience in the first place. If there was a lot of elements subverting from the stereotypical representations then the genre might lead away from Thriller and into a different genre and we don't want this happening.

Many thrillers these days draw from more than 1 set of conventions. However, it is still possible to create a list of thriller conventions. Below are some typical characteristics of films in the thriller genre.

Thriller Generic Characteristics:
- The narrative centres around a crime e.g. a theft, violence or a murder.
- The title is often short and catchy so it is easy to remember. 
- The narrative presents ordinary situations in which extraordinary things happen.
- Micro elements combine in a build up of suspense.
- Themes of identity are common: mistaken identity, doubling, amnesia.
- Themes of seeing, reflection and mirroring. Manipulation of perspectives and optical illusions are common.
- A series of important enigmas are set up in the opening sequence of the film, it is further complicated during the first part of the film and only resolved at the very end.

LINK FOR MID-PRODUCTION SURVEY - CHARLIE

Click here to take mid production survey

My Comments:
This is the link that will take you to the mid-production survey!

PRODUCTION MEETING NOTES: DECEMBER 14TH, 2013

December 14^th, 2013:

What I have completed since the last meeting:

- I have now decided that the opening scene should be created in the thriller genre, primarily because thriller was amongst the most favourite genres when the audience research survey was conducted.

- The tasks that I have completed are the treatment, storyboard, response to brief and the location, equipment and organisation research.

- I have managed to film all the footage needed.

What I still need to complete:

- Tasks that I aim to complete hopefully by the next meeting consist of a write up of the target audience research survey, at least three existing product analysis’s, begin the editing of the footage we have recorded.

How is the blog currently looking?

- All work that I have completed has been posted to the blog, I have written a small paragraph about myself and why I am studying A-level media studies. This has made the blog look more professional and the colour scheme conforms to the thriller genre.

How is the filming/editing currently doing?

- ­I have completed all of the footage at the moment and plan to begin editing very soon. I have not yet edited the footage that I have as I wanted to get all the footage together before I began the editing process.

THRILLER GENRE MOODBOARD - CHARLIE

Above, are a collection of thriller covers. Although not all stereotypical we have a range from fantasy thrillers, to down and dirty thrillers. Although different movies nearly all have one thing in common, all of these covers use well known, famous characters on the front with serious down to business faces to promote the movie. 

A similarity between the covers are the colour scheme. In a number of these covers we see the colour red being used on the titles. Red is stereotypically a colour associated with blood, death, horror and therefore being used for a thriller cover projects the association. Meaning the movie may contain certain horror aspects but still fits appropriately in the thriller genre. Not only do they use the colour red, a lot of films also plaster it on a black backdrop to intensify the colour and really make the title stand out and catch the eye of the customer looking to buy it. This, as well as creating a good image for the thriller genre is a great marketing technique as these will be posted on buildings, bill boards and buses and to have such striking titles and images it will be one that will stick in the viewers mind.


In this DVD cover we see a range of similarities with the poster. Firstly, they have the same colour scheme as each other with the DVD cover having the luminous white capital letters standing bold against the solid black background, making the writing stand out so when people skim read the small writing at the top they take notice to the writing in white (supposedly the most important part). On the poster we have familiar colours mainly for promotion purposes. This creates a familiar association to the movie, as people with reading disabilities can easily associate the colours and images to the movie. However, unlike the poster, on the DVD release we see the appearance of a famous actor (also the main character). This creates a visual recognition for people who may not have gone to see the movie at the cinemas. For they may see his face on the front cover and know that they've seen other films of his such as 'Casino Royale' and 'Quantum of Solace' and want to see this movie because of it. 

My Comments: This is a moodboard that I have created of the typical thriller films that I aspire to make the film similar to. Films such as Dead Man Down, Safe House and The Bourne Legacy are films that create that thrill for the audience to experience and I want to try and breakdown the different aspects of these films so that i can incorporate the different techniques into my production.Some aspects that I have noticed about films in the thrill genre have is that they contain:- Tense ongoing music to keep the audience engaged and interested.- Fast movements by characters so that the atmosphere is intense.- A wide range of different shots in scenes where there is fighting and violence.- Where there is violence there is a tendency for objects to come flying towards the camera at speed to make the audience jump.The thriller genre is a common genre chosen by film makers as it is one that can be used to entice and excite the audience when viewing, this is the main reason why I have chosen to create an opening scene in this genre.

SHOOTING SCRIPT - CHARLIE

Shot	Shot Description	Time (min:sec)	Audio / Dialogue
1	FILM BEGINNING: Black background, red text showing the name of the production company.	0:00	BM
2	Character A lifts up phone to read text (The text is shown to the audience but the face of character A is not)	0:08	BM
3	Character A walks into the telephone box, only the characters legs and feet are shown in this shot as he opens the telephone box door.	0:13	Train passing in background.   BM
4	Mid-shot of character A in telephone box as the telephone mysteriously rings, he answers the phone.	0:18	Ambient Sound: Voice of character A speaking on the phone to Character C – ‘I won’t let him get away’. BM
5	Black background similar to shot 1, red text saying ‘presents....’	0:27	BM
6	Shot of Character B exiting the train and arriving on the train platform, the camera remains in the exact location until the character has walked out of the shot. The character is looking around suspiciously.	0:31	Train arriving on opposite platform.   BM
7	Establishing Shot as camera pans the exterior of Crystal Palace train station until it reaches character B.	0:39	BM
8	Mid-Shot of character B smoking cigarette outside train station, members of the public walking past.	0:46	BM
9	Long shot of Character A inside the train station, Character B walks past the camera unaware that Character A is present, camera then zooms and focuses on Character A.	0.50	BM
10	Black background with red text. Relates to shots 1 and 5. Final part of the sentence making up the words – ‘Playback Films Presents... Abducted!’	0:59	BM
12	Camera tracks Character B as he walks down pathway and goes out of camera pivot range, audience go from seeing the front of him to seeing the back of him	1:08	BM
13	Side-angle shot of Character B as he walks past children’s playground side on to camera. There is then a two second gap before Character A follows doing the same thing.	1:19	BM
14	When Character A walks out of camera view, the shot changes to a shot of Character A from behind as he walks past the camera (to link in with the previous shot).	1:24	BM
15	Two-shot of both Characters A and B, walking one behind eachother with Character B unaware of Character A’s presence. Character B is texting on mobile phone.	1:27	BM
16	Point-of-View Shot from Character A’s perspective, stalking Character B.	1:31	Character A heavy breathing   BM
17	Camera pans down to focus on Character A’s footsteps as he walks onto grassy field.	1:41	BM
18	Long Shot of Characters B and C communicating from Character A’s Point-of-View, jump cuts into close up of Characters B and C.	1:43	BM
19	Character’s B and C shake hands (from Character A’s POV) Character B speaks.	1:46	Character B - ‘So what’s this all about?’ BM
20	Character C nods head to Character A whose hand grabs the back of Character B (from Character A’s POV, to imply violence is going to occur – screen cuts to black.	1:49	BM
21	Credits appear on black themed background with red text, film and directors names appear.	1:52	BM
22	Same themed background as shot 21, ‘Coming Soon!’ and the released date appear.	1.56	BM
23	FILM ENDS	2.03	SILENCE
Key: BM – Background Music