Evaluation Q7 - David McConnell

When comparing my preliminary task to my final project, I feel I have made massive improvements. This is shown in all areas - camera, mise-en-scene, editing and sound.

In pre-production, we were able to use a lot longer time span to plan for our final project. This was very beneficial as we could create a storyboard and gather audience research to create the best piece possible. Moreover, we could spend time thinking about costume, props and location; something we couldn’t do for the preliminary. Something that was also important is that we didn’t have the experience of creating films before our preliminary so we didn’t really know what we needed.

In production, for our preliminary task, we were getting used to the camera and had to revolve around the three specific shots - match on action, 180 degree rule and shot reverse shot. However for our final project, we could widen our scope and use such shots as a birdseye view, point of view and side angle. After studying in the lessons, we were able to include various aspects such as the rule of thirds into our final piece, to improve the quality.

In post-production, as with pre-production and production, we were given a lot longer time. This meant we could find the perfect music, filters and create high quality production logos. As with the production, in the preliminary task, we had very little experience with the software so we couldn’t utilise it to the best quality in the short amount of time. However this practice was very helpful for our final project.

The preliminary task had a limited time scale which meant scenes weren’t as poslished as we would have liked, the sound quality was poor and there were parts the crew could be seen in reflections. In contrast, our final project was well rehearsed, slick and well made.

Final project

Preliminary task

Evaluation Q6 - David McConnell

Evaluation Q5 - David McConnell

Film poster

TV spot

Bus

Magazine

Bus stop

Billboard

Underground poster

Official Facebook page

Official YouTube channel

Movie streaming website

Evaluation Q4 - David McConnell

Evaluation Q3 - David McConnell

Evaluation Q2 - David McConnell

Evaluation Q1 - David McConnell

Q1) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real products?

9 frame analysis

1st frame

This is the first visual that the audience sees, the main production company. As with other movies, the production company logo comes first, as they have put a lot of money into it. Other production company logos that appear at the start of films include Colombia, Warner Bros, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Dreamworks and Metro Goldwyn Mayer.

These are usually animated to create a profession feeling, an example would be the Dreamworks logo

2nd frame

The second frame shows the production company on the steps. This theme of having the credits on the stairs runs throughout the whole opening, which conforms to other movies which have their credits all appearing in one form. An example of this would be 'Spectre'. The actors and crew names all appear in the same font.

3rd frame

The third frame shows the protagonist for the first time, though we never get to see his whole face. This doesn't conform to usual films where we get to see the protagonist straight away. An example of this would be 'Blades of Glory' where we get to see the main protagonists and their back story in the first few minutes.

By not showing the protagonists face, this shows conventions of a thriller movie as it creates mystery and suspense. This is because the audience wants to know who this person is and why they are doing what they are doing.

4th frame

In the fourth frame we see further credits; the screenplay writer and the producer. These are the 3rd and 4th credits the audience sees, after the production company and the director. Without the screenplay writer and the producer the movie wouldn't of happened. This opening is unusual as the director normally wants to have their name last, while we have put their name second. This is because we feel that the credits should go in order of importance. An example of a movie that puts the directors name last in the credits is the 'Sixth Sense'

5th frame

The fifth frame shows the movie title. Originally we had the title at the end of the opening but after some feedback we moved it to the centre as the original looked like a trailer.

Original

Final

6th frame

The sixth frame shows the antagonists face in a close up shot. This appears multiple times throughout the opening in flashbacks, but this specific shot is from the extended flashback where we see the protagonist tied up. The mask covering the face creates mystery and suspense

Other films have used the same first person shot to allow the audience to get further involved in the story. An example would be the film 'Hardcore Henry'

7th frame

The seventh frame shows the main actors name. These appear one after another and are in decreasing size. Many other films only show the main actors names in their openings as they would be very expensive and would have attracted much of the audience to go and watch it. However some films choose to not show any credits, which is still very effect, an example being 'Star Wars: A New Hope'

8th frame

The eighth frame shows the protagonist walking up further stairs. This is to carry on the theme of the opening. Furthermore, the audience still do not see his face.

9th frame

The ninth frame shows the writing '4 months earlier...'. This was done to show the audience a glimpse of the ending but not all of it. This writing, which might be seen as cliché, will start giving the audience further information

Final Opening - Group

Opening Sequence for "Memory" -

Storyboard - Group

Storyboard-

Animatic Storyboard-

Mood Boards - Group

Picture Board-

Here are some pictures to get an idea for the mood of the opening.

Word Board-

Here are some words to get an idea for the mood of the opening.

Costume & Props - Group

Costume-

Props-

Script - Group

Actors
- Protagonist
- Woman
- Flashback victim

(The audience sees a dark, lonely staircase. We hear a door open; it hasn't been oiled in some time. The scene cuts to the protagonist walking up the stairs)

(Insert flashback)

(The protagonist falls to their knees, panting is heard)

(Cuts to first person)

(The protagonist opens an apartment door and sees a women lying there. She is in a wedding dress and there is a visible pool of blood around her; she looks dead)

(The camera pans down to the protagonist's hands and there is blood on them)

(The camera pans up to a picture frame on a table. In there is a picture of a man and a woman. We realise that this man is the protagonist)

(The protagonist turns back to the woman and sees that she is holding a rose)

(The rose begins to age and a petal falls off)

(The camera zooms into one of the petals)

(The title sequence is shown)

Shot List - Group

I have included below a list of camera shots and angles that will be included in our opening sequence, followed by a brief explanation of the shot and why it is used.

To create mystery and suspense at the beginning we have decided to not show the main character's face, as the audience will be put in the main character's place. So to do this a series of CUT-IN shots will be used showing the character's feet and lower half of the body.

Our opening sequence will feature short flashbacks which will be filmed in a Point-of-View of the main character, putting the audience into the place of the main character. This will be filmed using a GoPro camera that will be attached to the head of an actor using a harness. 

We will use establishing introduce the scene, it will provide an overview of the scene giving the audience an idea of where the action will take place. It would usually be a wide shot for an extreme wide shot of the scene.

3 Point Lighting - Group

3 point lighting



Here are a couple of images we took showing the different lighting that can be used

No light

Key Light

Fill Light

Back Light

Key Light & Fill Light

Key Light & Fill Light & Back Light

Overall we felt that using just a back light or fill light would be best for our thriller opening as it doesn't illuminate the person's face too much, which means that it creates a spooky atmosphere as we don't know what they truly look like. We didn't want to use no light at all as this would mean we wouldn't be able to distinguish between the person and the background, thus looking like a black screen in the final product.

Class Idea Pitch - Group

We pitched our chosen idea to the class to get their feedback and opinions...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrvdi_a_ZLc

Individual Ideas Pitches - Group

We pitched our ideas for the thriller opening to each other in our group through this podcast...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOEm3dXJ2W0

Audience Profile - David McConnell

Profile 1



Gender - Male
Age - 17/18
Clothes - Jeans, trainers, T-shirt, hoodie
Hobbies - Watching films, going out, socialising, playing video games
Last thriller film watched - Spectre
Why they like thrillers - The suspense and the action

Profile 2



Gender - Female
Age - 16/17
Clothes - Skinny jeans, jumper, baseball style T-shirts, Converse
Hobbies - Meeting up with friends, watching Netflix, going on social media
Last thriller film watched - Revenant
Why they like thrillers - The psychological theme of thrillers

Audience Research - Interview 2 - Group

Thriller research 

Interview with Alex about the genre of thrillers and his opinion on the genre.

Audience Research - Interview 1 - Group

Interview with a person that fits our audience demographic (15+)-

This is an interview I did with a participant (Patrick Boutros) he is 16 years old and likes to watch films. He said he was familiar with the thriller genre and stated how he had at least one thriller film he enjoyed (Inception). He stated also stated that higher age ratings meant that its easier for a film maker to be more creative as it allows them to do more and so create a better viewing experience for the audience member.

Audience Research - Focus Group - Group