EVALUATION: Question5:

5) How did you attract/address your audience?

Interviewing shooting script:

1. How did the music make you feel?
2. Does it fit the original conventions of a thriller?
3. Did you think the camera shots looked effective?
4. What atmosphere do you think the film gave?
5. How did the film make you feel?
6. Overall, what did you think?

Interview1: Hollie Needham

Interview 2: Sam James



Interview 3: Megan Bird

Interview 4: Joe James

(We asked two females and two males to get a balanced view on what both genders thought about our production)

ß By asking our intended audience, through questionnaires, what type of music they expect to be played within a thriller film this enables us as a group to look at our results and aim to meet their expectations. While enabling us to give them the thriller opening to a standard they would expect.

ßThe two main options chosen to build up an atmosphere for a thriller were special effects and sound effects. As a group we aimed to focus on these points to create the perfect thriller for our intended audience. How we did this was to create different types of lighting effects such as the following below:

  

We also included a vast amount of different camera shots from point of view to high angled to low angles shots to create different atmospheres for different periods of our thriller opening.

We also included a fade together of two shots at the ending of our thriller opening. We found this very effective as it showed of our attackers body language blended in with our victims face.

As our intended audience answered a question on which they thought the typical victim of a thriller would be, the most popular answer ticked was a woman. Therefore, our opening to a thriller sticks to there expectations.

The representation of the wording of the bible contents and the precise words aimed to be shown to the viewer, will hopefully aim to address our intended audience. This is due to the fact that we took inspiration from the film ‘seven’ which storyline if situated around the seven deadly sins. Whereas, we are aiming our storyline to the Ten Commandments, especially focusing in on ‘thou shall not kill’. This is due to the fact our main character is a religious control freak whoever, he is the attacker in our storyline. This therefore, plays on the mindset of the viewer as to how can he worship God and reckon he is a ‘Disciple’ of God, when he is going against the teachings of God. This is why we have chosen ‘Disciple’ as the name of our thriller opening.

This screenshot above from our thriller opening will hopefully aim to attract our intended audience, due to the fact it’s disturbing, intriguing and captivating. Once you will have seen this clip you will want to watch on to see what exact reference it has to the overall storyline.

The credits we produced for our opening are of a religious theme. The titles are placed on bible styled paper with religious images and bible font writing. We aim to attract our intended audience as religion plays a big aspect in some people’s lives. It is a wonderful but scary world outside our universe and can be very mind confusing to some. However, will have a big impact on our viewer if we can get the rawness and freaky side of it that needs to be portrayed to give of the real feel to our main character the religious control freak.

EVALUATION: Question6:

6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

The main sources of technology I have learnt about in the process of constructing this product are Blogger, IMOVIE09 Software and the Apple Macs.

On the apple Macs, I have learnt a vast variation of editing techniques, such as: stabilizing shots to steady them and make the shot look not so jumpy and look as if it is moving constantly, along with how to effectively create transitions between shots keeping up continuity editing. Continuity editing is the process of moving one scene on to the other, without confusing the reader by jumping between things within a certain scene. I also learnt how to create transitions between shots. I also found out how to add non-digetic sound and how to discard digetic sound by either exporting or importing them. I also learnt how it is possible to change the contrast of the colors from to either CCTV style or Sepia. The IMOVIE09 software also makes it possible to speed clips up or slow clips down. While you can also fade shots black to white or white to black, creating either a fade out or fade in effect.

I also learnt how to use the camera and what needs to be done with all the camera equipment e.g. tripod, how you can adjust the height, or tilt of the angle etc. I also learnt how to create the illusion of zooming in and out of a scene, along with pan the camera across the screen to create a smooth shot. I learnt how to create certain lighting when filming and also how much of a problem lighting/shadows can be when filming your footage material. I also learnt how essential it is to stick to the 180 degree rule of constantly keeping the characters on the same side of the shot throughout the scene when filming to not confuse the viewer along with stick to match on action.

(Images above are an example of when the 180 degree rule is broken. This is down to the fact on one shot he is situated left of the person he is talking to, and on the other shot he is situated on the right side)

I also learnt about where to get music for our thriller from. Our group got our music from Royalty Free Music and from Garage Band. We also used the IMOVIE09 software to create a mixture of two sounds combined together.

I also learnt how to transfer information onto Blogger. Blogger is the website where all coursework is transferred too and is assessed at the end of production. At first, I found it difficult to use due to the fact it took time to get used to word processing documents, checking them and then storing them on Blogger in a new post. However, after getting used to it after a while, I found it much easier as I was able to do work at home along with at school, and keep up to date with all deadlines for certain posts. I like the idea of being able to edit work, and then save and re-edit later on without having to worry about completely finishing that piece of work at that certain time. However, the only problem I found with Blogger was as anyone has access to your blog. Therefore, instead of completely plagiarizing your work, they can change the words slightly which still results in a very similar post which could jeopardize your overall grade.  

Other forms of technology used were Wordle. Wordle is useful to show a vast majority of words that are all connected to a certain subject that represented together create a montage effect. We also used u-tube to broadcast our prelim and thriller once they had been uploaded. I also used U-tube to watch thriller openings, and other students work to get inspiration for our thriller opening. Along with we also used facebook to ask for opinions on our final product by asking for opinions and negatives or positives on what they think worked well or what could have been improved.

Other forms of technology used were Internet search engines such as Google. This is so;  it enabled me to research about thriller conventions, and essential information to understand how to use camera equipment and what angles/camera shots to use when creating certain scenes.

Another form of technology used is final cut. This is a programme that allows you to create a special effect of moving one image on top of another image to create an over lap effect. We used this software in our thriller opening I created an image of a the victim girl tied up, zoomed in on her face to show her emotions combined with the attacker leaving the building he holds her captive inside.


Form of technology used:

EVALUATION: Question7:

7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you think you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

When we first started working on our preliminary task I had never before used a camera or the editing software on the Macs. Therefore, I was a bit hesitant at first to use the equipment, and to get used to all the camera angles and techniques you need to consider when filming.

The editing side of it is very easy once you’ve got to grips with how to create certain effects, and change cuts from slow speed to fast speed. Also stabilizing shots to make the scene smoother and look more professionally shot.



(This is our improved version of our Agent’s media prelim)

In our original prelim, we weren’t entirely confident and satisfied with the work we had created as there was no non-digetic sound used. After we had added the mission impossible theme tune, it instantly created an atmosphere of excitement. This therefore, had an impact on the viewer as it got them intrigued and captivated throughout the duration of our preliminary task.

However, when we created our media thriller opening we included two different types of non-digetic sound. As by this stage we had increased our understanding of the software on the Macs.

Another fault we realised when playing back our prelim was we had missed out some un-needed speech that shouldn’t have been there. Another fault we also occurred was the stabilising of the shots, we hadn’t quite realised at this point of editing.

We added writing to our preliminary task to improve to extra information for the storyline. For them to realise who certain characters are etc.

Another problem I found when looking back on our preliminary task, is that the close ups we included within our production were too unsteady and jumpy. This is due to the fact we had little experience with camera work beforehand therefore, when using the camera and tripod we were hesitant and inexperienced in doing so.



Another problem found was due to the fact, it was our first time using the camera and creating footage for our production as a group, at times we found our actors not taking it seriously enough and let the situation get the better of them. This is by the actors either laughing or joking around, due to at that precise time they did not realize just how important it was.

However, my fault of this stage of production was not to edit the section out on the Macs on IMOVIE09 software, due to not leaving myself enough time to do so. Therefore, when planning and shooting our footage for our prelim as a group we will need to bear in mind the amount of excess footage needed incase of this situation happening again, and also to allow ourselves more editing time for editing and cutting out scenes like the following.



What I think worked well is the CCTV style long shot we used within our prelim. This is used within the long walk from one end of the corridor to the other. As a group we decided on this as we thought it worked well and fit into our theme of an agent type mission our characters are involved within. The CCTV effect portrays a mysterious setting for the character involved. This image gives of a sense of the character being watched by someone else who is in higher authority than themselves. The duration of this scene almost seems to be going in slow motion building up to the character reaching the end of the corridor and the events that will occur after this.

The CCTV style shown above in our prelim worked extremely well. However, when creating our media thriller opening we moved up to the next level in editing skills this being a gloomy sepia effect.

In our thriller opening our credits and titles were a mile ahead of our preliminary standard ones. This is down to the fact we had been a hundred times more creative as a group, with our ideas and justifying them to the storyline. Agreeing on how easy/hard they would be to make, along with how we would actually make them and create the image we were aiming for. As a group we even had two attempts at making them due to the fact we were entirely satisfied with what we had produced and wanted them to look the most realistic they could. Therefore, to make them not look gimmicky and childlike but to look professional and well presented.   

ß First attempt looks tacky, unprofessional and unbelievable to the storyline. Red writing is all different sizes, and not straight on the line exactly.

à Second attempt looks professional, believable and looks better presented.

Images represent connections of God, therefore sticks to the storyline and naming of our thriller opening 'The Disciple'.

Another aspect that was improved greatly by the process of prelim à thriller opening was the differentiation of shot types.  

à Long shot of drug deal scene, the lighting has been contrasted and the pan of the camera moving across the screen is smooth and effortless.

ß Mid shots have been used more frequently; this example is of the attacker getting ready his murder weapon. The mid shots in preliminary task were unclear and only had a section of the body but were not long enough to be mid shots. Whereas in our thriller opening they are up to mid length on all shots at least making it perfectly clear what type of shot it is.

à Close up shot of dead corpse rotting away. The close ups used in our thriller are much more precise and into detail that they have a bigger impact on the viewer. 

 

When planning both our prelim and thriller opening it was essential we had a shooting script/plan to enable us as a group to make sure we shot all necessary scenes. Also we needed to know which camera angle was needed for each shot to portray a certain images. Also all necessary footage needed to be captured within our set period due to the fact we only had one day for filming. Therefore, if we did not have the footage needed we would have to make due with what we didn't have.



It is also essential when working on either the prelim or thriller opening that you stick to certain necessary guide lines and rules. These being the following: 180 degree rule is a must. Bad use of 180 degree rule can result in confusion to the reader and keeps the characters situated on the same side being the right or left.

Example of bad use of 180 degree rule:

It is also an important essential that you keep up with continuity editing within any production. In our prelim task we had one continuity error between shots. However, in our thriller opening we made sure all scenes ran over on to the next keeping the action and drama moving from one scene to the other the same. Continuity editing is essential to the viewer to stop them from getting muddled up and confused with the storyline and the way it pans out.  

Editing:

Throught the editing process of our production we added two usages of sound. One was from a copyright free website 'Royalty Free music' (http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/free-music-resources.html)
The music we would choose needed to be very atmospheric, have you on edge and antisipating the outcome of events occuring. The sound needed to be chilling, disturbed and run a shiver down your spine.
The other form of sound we created was on garage band, it was a combination of two sounds blended into one. One sound used for the duration of the time, while the other sound disolving half way through.

When editing our credits, we found that they did not look proffesional and realistic enough. They were not what we had pictured and what we wanted for our titles. Due to the fact they looked gimmicky, in a way they stood out for the fact they were done in poor quality and looked as if a group of teenagers such as ourselves had done. When actually we wanted our thriller opening to look like it had been done by proffesionals.

Therefore, as a group we went back to the drawing board and came up with an idea of religious lettering and images, which is connected to the religious aspect of our thriller. The main storyline of our thriller opening is of religion therefore, the images on the screen shot below represent an aspect of a religious faith.

When choosing the name of our production we all agreed on Outcast Productions. Due to the fact it relates to our chosen storyline of a religious controll freak that feels he is an outcast to the rest of the world because he is a desciple of god therefore, he is more important and valuable in the eyes of God. By showing the name of our production within our opening it gives insight to the viewer of what can be expected and insight on the main character and what the storyline is all about, how it will be represented and what the viewer can look forward to seeing within our production.

In our planning stage of production we aimed to include a voice over to replace a duration of the sound track. This idea would have been used to represent the main character, being the attackers, side of the story. It would give him a chance to explain to the audience why he had done what he has. This would include his reasons as to why he did it, this being him thinking he is a desciple of God, by carrying out the actions he is not physcially capable to do so himself.

However, when it came to the editing process of production, we had already sourced one sound track and made another on garage band, which when put together, represented exactly what we were aiming for.

THRILLER OPENING:

Filming Evaluation:

For our titles and credits, our original idea was to self write our credits, on bible style paper with red writing. This is for the effect red connotes blood, pain and upset. We wrote our names and candidate numbers, The title of the film, being DISCIPLE and our filming productions group name Outcast Prodcutions.

We started the day of at our first filming location, being the village of Kirky Underwood.
We filmed the disturbing deer head and the credits and titles in the morning then later moved to our second location being the bridge leading out of Kirby Underwood, which is where our capture scene of the victim took place. Our final location, was Boubly Barns which is where the hostage situation of our victim took place.


The day of our filming was a terrible bitter cold atmopshere outside, however we were able to fit in all the time for each of our locations and produce enough essential footage, for us to work on when we got to the macs for editing.


Problems we found ourself with was certain scenes that needed great concentrating and emotions to be potray for the scene itself to look realistic, after a certain amount of takes, we maganged to get the shots we were looking for.


Another problem we found ourself with was we didn't want to use too many of the same shots, we wanted to use a great variation therefore, we made sure we got high angled shots and low angled shots to show vunerability and insecurity. Along with a lot of close up shots to show characters emotions, feelings and personal space. Combined with mid shots, long shots and extreme long shots to represnt action taking place.


It was also essential we stuck to the 180 degree rule when two characters were placed on the scene, due to the fact we wanted to stop all confussion to the veiwer as to what was going on.

Final Idea expanded:

As we discussed as a group that we would merge together two ideas to make our final idea, after taking the feedback we got from our focus group, we found that there were good and bad points about idea two and idea three, but put together it made a great storyline. Idea two being the hostage situation, and idea three being the religious control freak dad, that kills his daughter as he cannot controll her. However, we would slightly change both our ideas to make the final idea more unique. Our final idea would be that there would still be a religious controll freak however, it wouldn't be his daughter that was his victim, but a girl he fantisised over, and as he couldn't have her, no-one else could.

Characters:
Victim- girl. Hannah will play this role.
The girl who the attacker falls for and becomes infatuated with. Victim is completely unware of attacker stalking her, constanly watching her, and his plot to kidnap her. Helpless and vunerbale as to the situation she finds herself in.

Attacker- Male. Henry will play this role.
He is a religious controll freak, that starts an obession with a teenage girl many years younger than him. He follows her, and watches her, spends all his time thinking about her and plotting plans on how he can capture her one day, so he can convince her to be with him. The character has someone how got his hands on a picture of the girl and constantly keeps it with him, close to his heart.

Drug Dealer- Girls boyfreind. Kingston will play this role.
His is boyfriend to the victim in this storyline. He has contact with the religious man, as he supplies his drugs however, he is un-aware of the mans obsession with his girlfriend. He think his girlfriend is un-aware of what he gets up to however, she knows and so does the religious man know. Which is one of the reasons he captures her as he is so in love with her, he dosent want anyone to cause her any harm, so he wants to take her away from the situation she is in with her boyfreind.

Costumes for Characters:

Victim- Hannah.

Casual everyday clothing. This represents just your average teenage girl, just living in a normal everyday way, doing what she would do on a normal every day, with what she would normally wear. The differences in clothing e.g. colours/logo's/types of clothing show variations in characters from one to another. Freedom of what to wear show the victim as this precise moment thinks she is free to do what she wants without being controlled. Which is what the attacker hates, he wants to be the one to controll her.

Henry- attacker.

Smart posh clothing. This shows power and authority, also shows that the owner of this clothing has some form of money to afford such luxerious clothing. This could also be connected his religious side, as he wants to look smart and well presented in the presance of god. This kind of clothing suggests he goes walking into the forrests on shooting ventures, which can we deduce as an audience that he has shot/does shoot animals. Which would make the reader think he is quite able to shoot something bigger than an animal or does have acess to a weapon to do so, which makes us as an audience fear for the victim.

Kingston- drug dealer.

A hoody is a sterotypical 'bad boy' peice of clothing, that would be worn by a gang member or a rebel. In a typical everyday situation thugs wouldn't be assoicated in criminial activity such as stealing, pocession of illegal substances or objects, vandalism, or general upset to society. A hoody hides the identity of a person and stops there face from being fully shown. Within our thriller opening we are sticking to this sterotypical theme as it creates a tense atmosphere.

Props/Objects:

Bible

Used at the beggining for credits. Also shown throughout, close up of certain wording or lines of verses that links into our theme/moral of our opening of our film.

Syringe

Used to inject the victim sending them un-concious for a period of time, while the attacker gets them to where they want to keep them captive. You will see the attacker filling his syringe with a substance before he reaches the girl.

Map

This is used as part of a plan to capture his victim, used as a distraction while he injects her.

Pills

Used in the drug scene between the religious man and the girls boyfreind. This will show to the audience they are both bad news.

Rosemary beads

Religion aspect that the attacker keeps with them at all times, to feel the presance of god with them at all times, in hope that god will forgive him for the actions he has taken.


Location for filming:
Kirby Underwood
Wikipedia Deffinition: 'Kirkby Underwood is a village of 80 households located around four miles north of Bourne in southern Lincolnshire, in the district of South Kesteven.'

    


Religious aspects of our thriller:

Title of our film:      'The Disciple'

Google definition: A disciple is a follower and student of a mentor, teacher, or other wise figure'

 Christianity Background:
As a group, we all chose a main focus that we would stick to on the christian belief, we choose the ten commandments. As a christan it is imperative that you follow all of these. One of these particular relate to our idea of our thriller being commandment number six.

1. Have no other gods.

 2. Have no idols.

 3. Honor God's name

. 4. Honor the Sabbath day.

 5. Honor your parents.

 6. Do not murder.

 7. Do not commit adultery.

 8. Do not steal.

9. Do not perjure yourself

. 10. Do not covet.

As a group, we also focussed on good vs evil.

How god and his 12 disciples teach the good in life and, and everything that should be done.

Whereas, lucifer who is the devil, is the temptation there that misleads you from good to evil.

       
                         

Production Criteria:

'Outcast productions'

Credits/Titles:

It is essential that as a group we include our full names, candidate numbers and the title for our film in our two minuite opening. We really wanted to do them to a good standard as sometimes it can look poor and un-proffesional due to not good editing techniques.

We decided on keeping the titles black and white, as we were placing them inside the bible, we wanted to portray the effect that they are actually part of the bible. The black and white text also connote good and evil, which links back to the christanity image of good being God and evil being Satan. Two complete different personalities that believed in something so much they were willing to die for it.

Font/Lettering:

As we our including our titles into our bible to make it look like they are meant to be there, as if it is part of the book we need to make them up to an acceptable standard, to give of this image. On our first attempt at doing so, we handwrote them in a red felt tip, to symbolise blood and pain. However, this didn't fit in with the image we were looking for, and we were not 100% happy with the material we had. Which is when we came up with the idea of using text on the computer, as this made it look the closest to a bible effect as possible. This method made it look alot more proffesional, and up to a better standard, which is what we were aiming for.