Initial ideas for music

This is a late posting about my initial ideas for music for our thriller.

Slipknot - Vermillion Pt.2 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DoTUIe1-2fo
I thought that this song fitted the idea well from the point of view of the kidnapper. The song would make it sound as if he is obsessed with the girl and therefore is kidnapping her. The song also has a creepy tone to it that creates a sense of anticipation because the main focus of the footage is on her. I decided that this song does not fit as it sounds too sad and the pace does not match the style of shots we chose.

Half Life 2 - Soundtrack 27 http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JxAtea-UP60&feature=related
This is a soundtrack from the game 'Half Life 2'. The game is a horror/thriller in its own right and contains moments of high tension and suspense throughout. This particular track contains low, droning sounds which create a dark atmosphere. This could have been ideal, however there is no climax to the track and it stays very similar throughout. Therefore this track could only have worked if coupled with another to create a climax in the opening.

How I will contribute to avoiding problems

It is almost inevitable that there will be problems that we will encounter during filming. To try and limit the damage, I will try and:

-Be punctual and attend all meetings/shoots
-Explain myself better to help people understand what I am thinking
-Stay focused and keep others focused
-Make sure the shot list is being used and the shots are being checked
-Communicate with others to make sure that arrangements go to plan
-Try to ensure that we have extra footage to give some leeway when we are editing

Characters

Different characters will create different elements in the story and act as plot devices to push the story forward.



The protagonist can come in different shapes and forms. They are sometimes weak, with many weaknesses and we see how they develop and change in order to overcome the obstacles in their path. A weak antagonist creates empathy amongst the audience and also allows the audience to associate with the character being normal. A protagonist that has many strengths gives the audience less to fear if he easily overcomes his obstacles. This is why his power is often taken away in thrillers, leaving him exposed.

Weapons

Various weapons are used in thrillers. They are used to create a sense of danger and threat in the film, which are elements that are important. The choice of weapon can say alot about the character who wields it and can also enforce conventions of the genre.

The knife is a conventional tool used in thrillers and is often used by killers and victims. It suggests a domestic killer because this weapon is commonly found in homes and so it is easy to get hold of. This can also display improvisation of innocent characters as they defend themselves in states of urgency.

Samurai swords and Oriental weapons. In a Western film, this can suggest that the character has some sort of obsession. In an Eastern film, these weapons are less surprising and give the films more variation and flavour. Although stylish, these weapons are not the most subtle and so are more likely to be used with serial killers and in gang wars (e.g. the Triads).

Guns can be used in a variety of ways. They can be used to threaten others, where the criminal is holding someone hostage or to force the your will on someone. Guns are also very efficient in killing and so are used by modern day assassins. Larger and more powerful guns that give an advantage over others can create fear and force the victim to hide and be indirect, which can create suspense.

The mind is also a weapon. It can be used by characters to confuse and outsmart their victims by trapping them. The victim can be tricked into a false sense of security, bringing them closer to the antagonist, so they will be off guard.

I think it would be ideal to draw the audience in to the story and create a sense of anxiety or fear by creating a false sense of security. Also, it could be a good idea create a threat by putting the characters in a gunpoint situation.

Latymer AS Thriller - Group 6 2006

This is the opening sequence to 'Exposure'

I enjoyed this sequence very much because it creates a high amount of tension and anxiety, which are key to a good thriller.

I think that editing is used effectively by including fast cuts and showing many insert shots. This pace matches the frantic movements of the character pictured and allows the audience to feel the tension of the character. I think that this is greatly helped by the choice to use purely diagetic sound in the first half. This makes the sound of the characters footsteps, the rustle of bags and the character's heavy breaths stand out a lot more than they normally would.

With these two factors combined with the fast action create the feeling that he is running from something, being followed but also high levels of and tension. It feels as though whatever he is fleeing from is about to appear and so the audience is on the edge of their seats. This is because the fast cuts make the viewer try and watch out for clues that appear in shot, but the shots quickly fly past them and so it is felt that something vital may have been missed and that they are in for something unexpected. I think the best example of this is when he is in the bathroom and washing his face. The camera focuses mainly on the cabinet and the characters reflection in it. This framing is typically seen in thrillers and horror-thrillers where a killer or monster suddenly appears in the reflection. This scenario is registered in the audiences mind and so they are in the suspense of whether anything will appear and experiencing the shock it created in past experiences, again.

I feel that the second half of the sequence, when he walks towards the room, is somewhat of an anti climax, although it does tell more of the story and shows the use of some excellent imagery. In my opinion it varies from the first half too much by having a change of colour from black and white to sepia and a slower pace. I find this confusing because the character has gone from frantically collecting his belongings into a bag, to slowly walking into a room and carefully picking out a picture off of the wall. To me erases the feeling of danger that was set up previously and causes me to think that it wasn't necessary for him to be running so urgently in the first place.

Overall, I think that this opening sequence is successful because it has a well picked choice of shots, fast paced and frantic action sequences and some high quality imagery.

Short Film - Brief Analysis

Martilino

This is an early short film by an up and coming director, Monshur Alam.



The very beginning of this short film uses a series of shots that are stringed together by fades to black. This creates a sense of enigma right from the start because we remain unsure about the location and characters involved. The narration also gives a sense of enigma by describing something without giving many clues as to what exactly it is "if I have to then it's going to be done". Along with this there are a variety of shots that come after each fade, ranging from big close ups, close ups and long shots.

The sequence starts with a very brief establishing shot of the main character in a dark and seemingly empty room. The room is dimly lit by an electrical light, signifying the dark and urban environment that the film is set in. The next shot is a big close up of a gun held in someones hand, which helps illustrates the serious tone of the scene. The next shot is a continuation of the opening shot and this time tracks in closer to the character, drawing the audience into the story. We see a close up of the main character's face that is half hidden in shadow. This, along with his dress codes, possession of a gun and the dark environment all point towards gangs, death and murder.

I think that this is a suitable opening as it sets the tone and structure of the film out well. I like the use of non-diagetic musical cues during the narration in the beginning. The sudden use of the piano accurately timed with the revealing of the characters face creates a serious manner to the character and what he is saying. The menacing piano is used throughout the narration and creates a climatic and dramatic effect, which is seen towards the end, where there is a montage of the victims being shot in the head.

I think that the narrative of the film is well chosen because it encounters issues to do with street crime and gang culture. It portrays members of the gangs as murderers, who are trying to out do each other by doing the most horrific crimes possible. This glorification of random murder as well as the view expressed by the main character of how he is pressured to go one step further even though he knows that the others are sick and twisted. The director chose to veer away from the horror genre by focusing on the action and build up of tension rather than showing the gory details of what is being committed. He sets the scenes up so that the audience feels vulnerable by placing the victims in normal and realistic situations, rather than going down the sadistic route of horrors like 'Saw'.

To improve this film, I think that the character should have been lit by a stronger light, as we cannot see much. This will also create a more defined shadow on one side of his face and signify the fact that he is not the protagonist or antagonist. It's possible that the the main character could have told the story in a more interesting way by using more gestures and facial expressions. I think quality of sound recording and tones of voice could have been better, but is nevertheless very good for this low budget film.

Narrative Structure - Todorov

Torov's narrative structure theory simply outlines the chain of events found in the storyline to conventional films. The sequence of events is said to go something like this:

Equilibrium - The starting balance in the story, where normality is held.
Disruption - An event that breaks the normality and causes irregular changes in the environment.
Thwarted attempts - The characters involved try to restore normality, but fail.
Resolution - Eventually, they succeed in overcoming the disruption.
New equilibrium - A new order is restored. Anything affected by the disruption is most likely to have changed, thus this equilibrium is new.

Applied to the film 'Scream'

Equilibrium - At the start of the film we see a teenage girl in a house, behaving normally and representing the student body at the college she attends.
Disruption - The young couple are murdered in the beginning of the film, which leads to fear as fellow students realise there is a murderer.
Thwarted attempts - Students attempt to fight back and work out who the killer is. Protagonist emerges. Police get involved and try to protect.
Resolution - The murderers reveal themselves and are then killed.
New equilibrium - Assumption of a happy ending with the protagonist winning and therefore allowed to continue her life.

This narrative structure theory almost works for this film. I don't believe that the film shows a true equilibrium either at the beginning or end, only one that is assumed by the audience. Otherwise it seems to fit well.