Holidays update!

Since the Christmas season was coming up we decided to get some filming done.
We went to the Anderson shelter with one fully charged camera in hand. Firstly, we re-filmed our close-ups we had taken of our main actor (he has now dyed his hair...what a continuity error that could have been). We then managed to film the whole of the introduction to the challenge. Richard Heartly's reaction as he wakes up (our main characters name) and the apprentice's first onscreen appearance. We also managed to get our final shot of the door. The keys unfortunatly have not been finished by D.T. yet but they are meant to be finished when we get back in January to film the main action. I feel after working in the freezing for hours to get the right shots we managed to get some sucsessful footage. Good job everyone!

What happened last lesson?

So we have started filming (only just) and last lesson we took shots in school of what is going to be on our television screen which we hope to edit today.
For the first time we met up (actors and all) and could tell them what they woould be wearing and doing.
We made a few changes to our script as we thought in the limited time we had a conversation would be too long and instead of that we would have the Puppeteer merely announcing the challenge
So here are the changes we made

Puppeteer: Hello…Richard…Remember me? *laughs menacingly* Of course you won’t…and if you don’t do as I say your never going to. You must put the keys in the locks in a minute otherwise your fate will be decided by…my apprentice...

Can't wait to start filming the other scenes and fingers crossed if we knuckle down to it we can edit all that we filmed on Monday today!

Shot List

1. Establishing shots (x2)-High angle for the first and wide angle for the second looking down into the room
2. Longshot showing the room-table, Richard, apprentice
3. Close-up-Richard's face shocked and confused
4. Close up-masked face on the television screen
5. Long shot of the room as the apprentice comes into the light behind Richard and we can see the table with the challenge before him
6. Close-up-Richard's face now filled with fear and dread
7. Mid-shot-of the door Richard will have to unlock (this could be called an establishing shot as technically the door is coming into light onscreen and this is the first time it is revealed)
8. Long shot-looking up at the television screen as it shows power
9. High angle shot-showing Richard panicing
10. Close-up-Richard's facial expression-scared and beads of sweat have begun to form
11. Back to high angle shot-Richard stares wide-eyed at all of the keys and eventually grabs one
12. Mid-long shot-Him with the key looking at the door before him
13. Close-up-A lock on the door as the key goes in
14. Mid-shot-Of the chain falling away
15. Close-up-A lock on the door as the key goes in
16. Mid-shot-Of the chain falling away
17. Long shot-nervously reaching to open the door his hand is shaking
18. Extreme close-up-Between the door and door frame so as the door wipes across it goes to black

Last Years Thriller Openings

The one I have chosen to mark is the thriller by the name of "Goodbye..."

I feel that this opening delivered most features in the Level 4 band well. Sound was used in the appropriate places and the nature of the soundtrack was one that suited the piece.

At the start they use a 'flashback' revealing to us information about the story. This is a narrative convention of the thriller genre.

I feel there weren't many close-ups in the piece which is very important as it clearly shows expression of how the characters are feeling.

Overall however I feel that this piece would make a good thriller opening.

Music

We began to talk about the kind of music we could use in our thriller and I gave two examples of soundtracks that I knew from other films which we may be able to replicate the style of. If we can get anywhere near this good with the equipment we have it will be amazing but check these out.
Theme from 28 Days Later:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSYYEDXaGo0&playnext=1&list=PL37E7641A5B0E3CC4&index=5

Select piece from Inception:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TSK12Mf7ZM

I am aware that the first film isn't a thriller as such but I still think that the soundtrack can be applicable.

Opener Inspiration

In Wednesday's lesson, one of the things we talked about briefly was what we could do with our opening titles. As inspiration, we found the True Blood opening on Youtube... if we get anywhere near this, we'd be doing rather well. ;)



So well edited, and put together - I hope you'll agree! Obviously, only having a 2 minute time limit means we can't go to the same length as this example... but it made us think about what we could do with our opening titles.

More Film Treatment!

The Script

(Scene opens with Richard lying on the floor. He breathes in heavily and begins to cough and splutter. He sits up disorientated and breathing heavily.)
Richard: Wha-…(coughs) where am/I?
Puppeteer: Welcome to my little playhouse Richard Heartly.
Richard: How do you know…
Puppeteer: Awh he looks scared (laughs menacingly).
Richard: What…what do you want from me? Why am I here?
Puppeteer: Complete the challenge you see right here, match the keys to the lock, or you will suffer a fate worse than death as you race to beat the clock.
Richard: I won’t/ do it
Puppeteer: But otherwise the whole world will know your little secret…remember that? Good luck
Richard: Wait…but…oh god…ok…
(Music starts)


Narrative techniques

• Narrative retardation-the identies of the puppet master and the apprentice are very much concealed
• Deadlines-he must complete the challenge before the time runs out
• Principle of concealment-the identities of the villans of the piece and what is behind the door? Does it lead to his freedom or another challenge? Will a secret be revealed? Is the door anything important?
• Mis-direction-you do not know where he is (we are not told where this room is or what leads on from it)
• Morally complex characters-why is our 'victim' even in this situation in the first place?

Film Treatment

Cast

Victim: Richard Heartly - Kind & intelligent.

Apprentice: Masked and mysterious he does not talk preferably a large build so he looks menacing. He will be masked.
Dungeon Master: A man, perferably deep and scary voice with a menacing laugh.

Setting Nick Anderson's Anderson Shelter. (wow)

Dark room with character. Not going to know he’s in there. 1 table in centre of room. No windows. 1x set of double doors locked.

Short Synopsis including possible of title

Final Title: The Puppeteers Playhouse

Synopsis: The main character Richard must complete a series of puzzles to unlock the secrets about the murder that the dungeon master hides. As he follows the twists and turns of the game he finds himself in deeper turmoil...

Director Study: Chris Nolan

As part of our investigation and preperation studies, we were asked to look in depth at a certain film director - mine was Chris Nolan. (click to enlarge!)

Sir Ridley Scott

Sir Ridley Scott, born 30 November 1937, is an English film director and producer known for his stylish visuals and an obsession for detail.Scott was born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England, the son of Elizabeth and Colonel Francis Percy Scott. He was raised in an Army family, meaning that for most of his early life, his father — an officer in the Royal Engineers — was absent. Ridley's older brother, Frank, joined the Merchant Navy when he was still young and the pair had little contact. During this time the family moved around, living in (among other areas) Cumbria, Wales and Germany. He has a younger brother, Tony, also a film director. After the Second World War, the Scott family moved back to their native north-east England, eventually settling in Teesside (whose industrial landscape would later inspire similar scenes in Blade Runner). He enjoyed watching films, and his favourites include Lawrence of Arabia, Citizen Kane and Seven Samurai. Scott studied in Teesside from 1954 to 1958, at Grangefield Grammer School and later in West Hartlepool College of Art, graduating with a Diploma in Design. He progressed to an M.A. in graphic design at the Royal College of Art from 1960 to 1962. His filmsHis films include The Duellists (1977), Alien (1979),Blade Runner (1982), Legend (1985), Thelma & Louise (1991), Gladiator (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), Hannibal(2001), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), American Gangster (2007), Body of Lies (2008), and Robin Hood (2010). 

An advert for the Thriller genre

Slightly psychopathic? Haunted by wrongs from your past? well we want you! If you love tense situations that lead into violence or death, you must be able to show the darks side of society. Experienced in stalking or being paranoid is essential. Seeking vengeance on society or specific people? Intent on murder or crime? Must be comfortable in dark alleyways, basements, creepy run down towns.

A collage of our target audience, Teenagers.

This is a collage of what we thought interested our target audience. Our target audience is teenagers so we cut out things we thought were important to teenagers from magazines. We came up with all the obvious stuff, like cars, junk food, women, fashion, cars and music. We also came up with some rather random stuff as well, like Ozzy Osborne, Superman, and even Thomas the Tank Engine.

Roman Polanski

• He was born in Paris and is a Polish-French director.
• He was born 18th August 1933
• He writes directs and acts
• Over the years he has won 14 awards. He has two Golden Globes and two Ceaser awards
• He has had 3 wives (two ex-wives) he is currently married to Emmanelle Seigner
• You could say the reason his view of the world is so warped is due to life experience
• As a child his mother and father were both taken to concentration camps and his father died but his mother survived
• He mostly stayed with Catholic families during the war and occasionally slept rough

Some of the films he has done include:

• 'The Tennant' (1976)
• 'The Pianist' (2002)
• 'Oliver Twist' (2005)
• 'The Ghost Writer' (2010)

'Shutter Island' Opening Q & A

What does the set up reveal to the audience about setting? Where is this place? What gives you information?The film is set on a remote island we can tell this from the fact that they have to take a boat to get there. Also there is the factor of the establishing shot of the island itself looking dark and with eerie music over the top makes it seem remote and desolate.

What does the set up reveal to the audience about characters?
The set up reveals what kind of a character Teddy Daniels is as once upon the island he is disarmed therefore making his less powerful however we can tell that he is used to being a strong character as at first he will not surrender his firearm to the guard.

What does the set up reveal to the audience about interrelationship between characters? About their goals? Are there any things you learn here that become important later on?We know that Teddy Daniels and Chuck are work partners as they discuss the case and where they are each from. The fact that they haven't worked together before is important.

What is this 'world' like? Safe? Happy? Dangerous? How do you know?
Dangerous. This is made out by eerie music and also the background to the characters themselves. For example the factor that they are police officers means they deal with criminals everyday. But as the warden tells us this is not only a mental institution for the criminally insane but the most dangerous criminals are taken here-to a remote island.

What possible conflicts or strains are there that will become part of the story later on?
The guards are weary of the two partners from the start. The fact that his wife died is important as it is part of Daniels' complex character. Also the working relationship between Chuck and Teddy is very important as they get very close yet everything is not how it is perceived to be.

How does this film opening fit with the codes and conventions of thriller films?This film has many codes and conventions within the opening and I shall only name a select few

• Sound bridge
• Close ups of 'shaken up' Teddy
• Eerie tense music
• Establishing shot
• Flashbacks
• Colour editing-everything is grey and dark
• Lots of point of view shots-looking at the guards and looking at the wards
• Mysterious characters-mental patients, guards on edge, Teddy has a complex past, most are strangers to one another
• Red herrings

For all these reasons and many more I think 'Shutter Island' is a very conventional film to the thriller genre.

Definition of the genre Thriller

Thriller:-The obvious aim of a thriller is to thrill it's audience, it does this by trying to evoke intense emotions such as apprehension and exhilaration in the audience. You can often recognise a thriller by the amount of suspense and tension; setting (society is often a corrupt place); you can find examples of plot twists, red herrings and cliff hangers and more often than not you can judge a thriller upon the levels of violence, crime and murder shown onscreen.
Some examples of thrillers you may know include

• Inception
• Fight Club
• Silence of the Lambs
• Bladerunner
• Psycho
• Dark Knight
• The Shining
• Reservoir Dogs