Product Planning - Prezi

I have created a online presentation using a software called Prezi. I have used this as another way of presenting our film product ideas due to its ease of information presenting.

Brainwashing Headmaster on Prezi

Genre and Audience Research

Thrillers, are becoming ever more popular with a new hit film 'I am Number Four' released February 2011 with an opening weekend of £1,628,523; shown in 393 screens across the United Kingdom. 'The Black Swan' another thriller released in January 2011, had an opening weekend of £2,762,429 shown in 356 screens. This being evidence of the ever growing audience of thrillers.

The typical thriller audience: "Someone who is easily intrigued, whom enjoys working out the developing plot themselves but never normally gets there although never gives up trying. This individual still loves the element of surprise. The average individual is under 25 years of age.

We (ATLAS Media) are targeting our film classification to be '15' thus after researching the guidelines; therefore our target audience is 15 to 21 year olds. As our main characters are teenagers/young adults, there is a pthwy in which the audience can feel a connection to their personal life or experiances can be gained. The gender of the target audience is not specific as age ranges, although for our film the gender would be mainly male, though females could be attracted to the film.

Product Ideas (Feedback)

ATLAS media products conducted a product idea's presentation, in which we would present our film ideas to the group and request feedback to improve our idea and also highlight any foreseeable problems to which we missed. Below, I have included the recording from the presentation in which I have evaluated, highlighting any problems aroused in the presentation.
Feedback Session 




Analysis of Feedback

• 2:40 - Josh C - Drifting off thriller grounds - Going to specific edit to create the headmaster as evil ensuring that we keep to the thriller grounds.
• 3:29 - Josh C - Too close to 'Childrens films' - I think that the whole location of a secondary school makes the scene and film set away from a childrens film into teenagers to students that have left school.
• 3:48 - Dean T - Once again dean meantioned to keep away from the 'Childrens idea' along with giving feedback on frames to which we are going to keep away from the stereotypical beliefs of a headmaster on a spinnning chair stroking a cat, we may even challenge this convention.
• 5:30 - Rob - Use of non-diegetic sound - We have took on robs feedback and are planning to use the 'late Motive' along tension building music and editing both fast and slow to change the pace of film.
• 6:30 - Matt W - Headmaster & New Teacher idea - We are using this feedback in our product as a away to introduce the new teacher.
• 7:10 - Josh C - Sub Genre's of the Film - Psychological, Mystery and Conspiracy.
• 8:20 - Mr Hood - Who is the Target Audience? - 18+ (people that have left school) this challenging the thriller convention.
• Silent Bell ringing - Play a sound that only the audience can hear along with the audience being able to see the facial expressions of the characters.
• 9:39 - Mr Hood - Replay footage - Play different sounds when the footage is replayed.
• 10:04 - Mr Hood - Blackboard Jungle - Film example where a new teacher is introduced.
• 10:30 - Mr Hood - Difficult to in finding age difference's - Using students and teachers with a good age difference.
• 11:05 - Mr Hood - Mr Hood also brought up the problem of getting teachers and students on board - but members of our media group could star in our product.
• 11:50 - Pleasantville - A Black and white film where all the corrupt people turn into colour - This convention is being used in our films by having the brainwashed students although still wearing uniform being a lot smarter dressed.
• 13:05 - Matt W -  Bell with flash maybe being used in Hoods room, associate flash with skits-co kids.
• 13:50 - Dean - Teacher packing up equipment, when she looks up the kids are all sitting up straight. - Possible use in our media product using the new teacher.
• 14:40 - Sam B - Do not use all students - In our media product we are planning to use just a couple of students in a classroom, this showing the possible brainwashing spreading amongst the students.
• 15:45 - Josh C - Shots being used - We will cover the shots being used when we create our storyboard, although we will use a lot of close-ups showing fear of characters.
• 16:45 - Dean - Reason for kids stopping late - this is unnecessary as we are only creating the 2 minute part of the film.
• 17:15 - Use of CCTV eg Paranormal Activity - Using this convention in the headmaster office so he is able to watch the kids that he has brainwashed.

Product Ideas (Pre-feedback)

ATLAS media arranged a meeting within our media studies lesson, in which we created a list of idea's around the ideas of thrillers. We watched all of the Youtube video examples, in order to gaze thriller conventions although strict original ideas were only used. Below, I have added the range of conventions that we are planning to challenge and use along with our pre-peer feedback. I have also listed the pro's and con's from the ideas that we as a group brought up. From a large list we selected a few ideas in which we will again come together to work on the idea and present to our media group.

Sub-Genre's

• Mystery
• Conspiracy
• Supernatural

Conventions being 'Used'

• Crowds of people
• Good Teacher/Bad Teacher
• Brainwashing
• Physco people
• Day and Night Scene's
• Uniformed Personnel (Suits, School Uniform)
• Cliffhanger

Conventions being 'Developed'

• Schizophrenc
• Tension building - slow editing and music
• Camera work - Panning

Conventions being 'Challenged'

• Teacher's personalitity changing to bad
• Children split personalitity
• Challenge school - Nice and safe enviroment - Evil
• Using the school bell for bad convention
• A Female being Captured

Creative Idea's
Skitsco police;
This was a good idea and although being very challenging to convey the idea of the police officer.We have the issue of Uniform and costume. It would be hard to create a police officer, without a resembled costume.

Mental Homeless;
This would be a good idea and possible achievable if we had further time in shooting although it would be also hard to show the 'Homeless' effect with a lack of costume and budget.

School Training kids (Brainwashing);
If we were to use this idea, we would already have a location available by using school. Although using teachers and students, possible acting and availability issues may occur.

Hanging;
If we were to reproduce a hanging, it would take a long time to produce and we only have a short shooting and editing time. Plus this idea has already been used in another media students work from our school.

Music & Lighting to Hypnotize;
This creative idea would use several conventions and we could use previous professional films to see how they produce the hypnotized effect. With the short time we have to shoot and edit, creating the effect would be very hard to create and a large amount of camera work would be required.

School bell usage;
This idea could be challenged or incorporated into our film as we could record our school bell ringing or possibly over dub the school bell by using a preset sound. If we were to use the school bell, it only rings once an hour.

Night and Day Scene's;
If we were to shoot using night and day scene's we could use or challenge the conventions although we have the issue of not being able to shoot around the school premises unless a member of staff is around.

Film Classification

Since the Video Recordings Act 1984, all 'Video works' (films, TV Programs, Video games, etc) are to be classified by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification), unless they fall within the definition of an exempted work.
I have researched into the categories and the guidelines to why the classification. I have included this research below;

 

'Universal'

This film should be suitable for all aged four years and over. They should be set within a positive moral framework. Offering counterbalances to any Violence, Threat or Horror.

'Parental Guidance'

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. Parents are advised to consider whether content may upset younger or more sensitive children. Mild use of language only, Sexual activity may be implied but infrequent.

'Aged 12 or Over'

Video works classified at '12' may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them. Brief and discreet use of nudity, Sexual activity and infrequent use of drugs or reference to drugs.

'12' only exists for Video Works, no one younger than 12 may rent or buy a '12' rated video work.

'Aged 12 or Over'

12A is a category only exists in cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a 12A film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult. The viewing is the responsibility of the accompanying adult.

'Aged 15 or Over'

The Video work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behavior. References and use of drugs is aloud but must not promote or encourage drugs, Sexual Activity can be portrayed although without strong detail. Use of strong language 'Fuck' and the strongest term 'Cunt' may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repetition of the Terms is unacceptable.

'Aged 18 or Over'

Material is in breach of the criminal law, created through the commission of a criminal offense, a risk or harm to individuals through behavior or society and the use of explicit images of sexual activity which can not be justified.

'18 Restricted'

Classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas or sex shops. The infliction of pain which causes lasting physical harm, portrayal of any sexual activity or material which encourages sexually abusive activity.

After researching all of the classifications, I believe our film would be a classification of '15'. The classification states that moderate violence is allowed although not dwelling on the infliction of pain or injury. So the use of kidnapping can be used although detail which could be copied should not be dwelled upon. Although our film is unplanned to be based around the use or reference of drugs, sex or bad language.

Source: BBFC & IMDB

Film Titles Research

I have researched and embedded opening scene's from films. As we will be creating a two minute film, we will need to include titles and a short piece of film. I researched into the many different ways in which the opening scene and titles start;

• Titles start and then the movie fades through the titles into the film.
• A piece of film, then the titles and continuation of the film.
• A piece of film (not related to the film), titles and then continuation of the film.
• Titles included into the film.

I have included a range of different opening scene's added below;

Toy Story 3

Opening Titles;

• Superimposed Title
• Toy Story Logo over the top of cartoon clouds.
• Film starts before the titles come up.
• Many of the characters featured in the film are used in the opening scene
• Standard white text
• Symbolisic of a children targeted film
• Easy to read text
• Melodramatic music by Randy Newman
• Titles fade out and the film starts (not a piece of film that is not related to the starting film eg James Bond car scene)

Due to Youtube removing the previous opening scene from Youtube, I have embedded a video from which i believe as close as possible. Many of the characteristics from the toy story opening scenes are the same through out all Toy Story films.

Skyline

Opening Titles;

• Titles are used to post comments to the audience ("Dont look up" & "Maybe we should have listened")
• Titles are backed up with a high volume of music
• Special effects and animation use to create Futuristic representation.
• Blue titles (blue used earlier in clip - symbolistic of aliens)
• Black background
• Dont use superimposing - sense of the topic needs to take up the whole screen

Spider man 2

Opening Titles;

• Flicking of a Spider man comic book.
• Turns into the Studio title.
• Graphics travel along a web (resemblance of spiders)
• Red background with white font.
• Titles break out into further film information.
• Spinning animation of 'Spider man 2'

Thriller Research

Below I have added several thriller film examples, I will use these videos to help me to identify thriller film conventions to enable me to create a realistic thriller film.
The Dark Knight
Studio - Warner Bros. Pictures
Director - Christopher Nolan
Genre - Action & Crime
U.K Release Date - 24th July 2008

Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent are forced to deal with the chaos unleashed by an rebelling mastermind who through out is only known as the Joker, as it drives each of them to their limits.

Batman raises the stakes in his bourgeois war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker. (IMDB)

Inception
Studio - Warner Bros. Pictures
Director - Christopher Nolan
Genre - Action, Crime and MysteryU.K Release Date - 16th July 2010

In a world where technology exists to enter the human mind through dream invasion, a highly skilled thief is given a final chance at redemption which involves executing his toughest job till date, Inception. (IMDB)

Paranormal Activity 2

Studio - Paramount Pictures
Director - Tod Williams

Genre - Horror, Mystery and Thriller

U.K Release Date - 22nd October 2010

After experiencing what they think are a series of "break-ins", a family sets up security cameras around their home, only to realize that the events unfolding before them are more sinister than they seem. (IMDB)

From the video's above, I have collected a range of conventions evident in thrillers. I have also included a background to thrillers.

Description

Thriller is a genre of Literature, Film and Television. The main components of a Thriller is it's use of Suspense, tension and excitement.

Famous Directors

A Key role model in the light of thrillers was Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock. He directed over fifty films in which his usual genre of suspense or psychological thrillers was repeated throughout much of them. His work in both 'Silent' and 'Talkies' film helped him to achieve further success before eventually moving to American to become part of Hollywood. His Famous film titles include The 39 Steps (1935), The Lady Vanishes (1938) and Strangers on a Train (1951).

Types of Thrillers

A thriller has many sub genres with the main being mystery and crime. Other types of thrillers are; Action/Adventure, Sci-fi, Western, Romantic Comedy, Psychological, Supsense and Tension.

Main Thrillers

The Godfather (1972 & 1974), Paranormal Activity 2 (2010), Inception (2010), The Dark Knight (2008), Goodfellas (1990) and Jaws (1975).

Characteristics of a Thriller

A Thriller includes several characteristics which are usually evident during most thrillers. I have found that the main characterisitics are;

A Plot twist

Corrupt and Dark Atmosphere

Happy Ending (Villain is killed or arrested)

A Cliff Hanger

Psycho Friends

High Adrenaline Rush

Uncertainty

Terror

Police

Detectives (Mainly Male)

Criminals

Escaped Prisoners

Assassins

Stalkers

Innocent Victims

Threatened Woman

Terrorists

Twisted Relationships

Overlapping Story lines

Conventions of a Thriller
Location

The common setting of a thriller I would expect to be an urban, isolated surbuban setting or something in strong contrast such as a big city or a quiet village. I think the setting is largely dependent on the narrative of the thriller and the types of characters in the film. The aim of the setting I think would be a location that would resemble or rebel against what is expected to happen there.

Character

The appearance of a common thriller character I think would vary depending on the narrative. An example is the character can be smartly dressed and dark colours, such a James Bond, compared to a character like the Joker whose appearance is completely different. Personality-wise I would say that a thriller character is likely to be people who are: characters with dark pasts, criminals or psychotic individuals.

Narrative

The general narrative of a thriller, shows two points of views that are either related or in contrast to one another. One of the characters is shown to create empathy towards the audience and the other who is portrayed as a villain has a dark past or twisted view. 

Props
In a thriller, the obvious prop is a weapon which is used to help define the opposites of the two characters. I think the main aim of having these types of props is to significantly add to the suspense element of the thriller. These props are a straight forward way of building tension.

Sound
I would expect the main purpose of the used sound effects are to create an eerie, creepy and create a sense of currupt atmosphere. The music used in the opening scene is non-diegetic which is an out of story sound eg sound effects, narrative commentry or mood music. The music is a way of setting the scene, this then helps the audience to see the themes and the general atmosphere of the movie. Thrillers also use diegetic sounds which also help to create the tension. These sounds are made by objects in the story or using the characters voice as a voice over.


By identifying conventions in thriller examples above, it will enable me to create a realistic thriller film, in which involves and incorporates conventions of thrillers.

Task Commission

Consisting of:

Sam Clark     Adam Holland     Tom Fisher     Lee Fraser

We are all members of Great Wyrley Performing Arts High School Sixth form Media studies group. We have come together to form a production company in which a two minute short film will be filmed, edited and produced. The following blog posts will show the pathway to our final product, through research & planning, filming and editing.  I have chosen to create a thriller due to the technology, budget and location issues with other genres within the film business;

• Science-Fiction film; would require a powerful animation software which we have no use of in school.
• Crime; we would have to promote crime, mobsters and gangster attitudes within the film in which we have no budget for.
• Horror; it would be very difficult to create a horror film due to the extend script and storyboard writing to create the horror theme.
• Historical; it would be hard to recreate the time set with no budget due to the large amount of costume needed.

During my blog, I am going to conduct research into thriller films in order to create an accurate film in the genre of a thriller. I will use videos from Youtube and films from a range of thrillers for comparison use. I will show you my journey through planning and research, filming and the final two minute edited film.

Through creating this blog and completing the production process, it will enable me to become a better film producer through completing all the stages of producing a film; by working with high definition cameras, Film production and editing software along with all the pre-production; storyboarding, scripting, location research, costume and make up research, prop research, animatic completion.

Lighting and Tracking Technique Tests

I have investigated the use of three point lighting and tracking using a 'Dolly'. As we may use these techniques within our final film. I have recorded our practise task and embedded below.

Key Light; Shines directly upon the subject and is the main illuminator. This light gives the subject the strength, the colour and angle of the key.

Fill Light; Also shines upon the subject but from a side angle and is often placed in a lower postition than the key light. This light illuminates the shaded surfaces.

Back Light; Shines on the subject from behind; thus giving the subject the rim of light; highlighting contours and separating the background.

Tracking

This is where a camera is mounted upon a camera dolly; which can be wheel based or based upon two rails. Tracking shots can be used to film smooth movements forward, backward and also along the side of a subject. Some tracking dollies also have hydraulic arms which can track on a vertical axis.

Preliminary Task

As it was my first time using a camera, tripod and Final Cut express software, I was tasked with creating a short film in which we must include;

• A Match on Action - Person walking through a Door
• A Shot Reverse Shot.
• A Minimum of Two lines of Dialogue.

The above would get me used to using a camera and software ready for future camera work as in our final AS film we may have to use these camera shots within filming. 

Our Film below which incorporates all of the above aspects is based around a student who has scratched his teachers car. The scene starts with the teacher driving in with his prize possession his Yellow Car.
We have used Final Cut Express; a film editing software and Soundtrack Pro; a sound track software for films and media, in which to create our final film (below). 

I feel our preliminary task was very successful and enabled me to learn how to use the cameras and editing software available in school. If we were too shoot this again I would possibly use two cameras to create a smoother walking through of the door and possibly over dub the dialogue using a boom microphone or use a recording package and have the actors speak into the microphone and record then over dub using the editing software. Although no real difficulties, as we left markers on the floor which could use to reposition the camera if a reshoot was needed. From making this film, I was able to learn that filming takes a very long time and each shot could take several shoots to create a 'perfect' perception of the shot and time management is very key due to a shortage in shooting and editing time available.