Research - Mise en scene/Iconography- Ms Heath

Iconography

What is iconography?

Iconography is an element of Mise en scene. It refers to the objects that you can see in a specific scene and the meaning that these objects have on the scene. For example the iconography that is conventional to thriller tend to be knives, large scissors hammers and other various objects that can cause harm and build tension within the audience.

Conventional iconography from thrillers:

Our research included looking into various amount of thrillers that convey the use of iconography in an effective way. Moreover we were also knowledgeable of the specific meaning that they had. In this specific scene from the 'Scream' franchise, there is iconography used as we can see the antagonist ‘ghost face’ holding a knife which is covered in blood. This gives the image that the antagonist is ready to use this weapon again as its been used before by the blood on the knife. His approach with his hand held high with the weapon on his hand implies that his ready to cause harm at any moment. Likewise, the other image from the thriller ‘unknown’ there is also a knife that’s been used as a form of iconography to imply to the audience that the blonde lady is in trouble.

During the opening credits of ‘se7en’ we can see scissors, needles and books that have been shown as forms of iconography. This has been used to create the sense that the film is based on mystery and to cause confusion and interest within the audience at the start of the film.

To conclude, the iconography element of Mise en scene is essential in thriller films because the objects themselves can cause tension within the audience such as a knife that has been shown. The audience is left having thoughts about what would happen with the knife or the other objects. Moreover, this research into iconography has gave me a broad idea on the iconography I could use in my thriller, and the specific iconography which are relevant to use in specific scenes. 

Planning - Preliminary Task - Ms Begum

Preliminary Task

Intro:

The Preliminary task is learning how to operate and use a camera. I gained experience and had a first feel on how to operate a camera. I captured different cinematography, Including angles, sizes and movements. This had helped me gain significant experience before shooting my actual film. the preliminary task was significant to do because it gave us an idea about who in our group was and wasn't comfortable behind the camera. Another factor which makes the preliminary task important is that it make us familiar with the editing stage in which we edited our footage.



What took place in our footage:

 We chose to base the preliminary task on a student in school who was trying to get away and hide from a bully.  In a group we discussed how the actor should feel and how he should act throughout the preliminary and we agreed on the actor which was being Kay feeling frightened and wanted to get away as far as possible. In which it also included dialogue in which he was talking to himself and questioning what he should do. We also acknowledged that there would be a variety of editing techniques in which we could add to the footage.

What we learned:

The preliminary task had taught us a number of essentials that we had to consider for our own footage. The first thing was that we were familiar with after the preliminary task was the different shots and effects that they had. As shown in the example, we had used a high angle shot to portray the actor as being defenceless and weak. In which we understood that this would imply that character as being the victim in the scene. Another shot we put into practise was the Poing Of View shot. This was where the victim character was walking in the corridor with steady steps anxious about being spotted. Therefore we learnt that the Point Of View shot could be conventional to use in our thriller specific opening. 

Another factor that we had learned from the preliminary task was that we should always film extra footage. This was because that the more footage we had increases the chances of having a better end product. Moreover in the editing stage some irrelevant parts in scenes get edited and deleted so we should be completely sure that the amount of footage is enough to use.

Difficulties:

There were some aspects of the preliminary task that we found challenging. A factor that we found difficult was the relationship between the character that’s acting and camera operator. At times the camera operator would start the scene too late or early, or the character would respond too late or too early which resulted in taking the scene again. However, after couple of times this did not occur as the relationship between the operator and the actor improved.

Next factor that we found challenging was the external factors such as people that were not part of the footage crossing the scene. We had to be patient and had to concentrate on timing while taking the shots, this was because we done the preliminary task in school. This problem would not have much relevance to our actual footage because when we take our actual footage it would be planned and we would make sure that these external factors would not have an impact on it.

After we took the footage:

After filming we had to edit our shots. We had used the ‘Final cut pro’ programme to do so. As this was our first feel on editing, as a group we had face some problems such as getting used to using the programme as well as the mac. However, out of our group the role of the editor was shared between me and Kay because were able to use the programme. Moreover, we also determined the camera operator as being Jessica because she was the best skilled member of the group during filming the footage.

Conclusion:

This task has been essential in creating my actual thriller because of a number of reasons. Most importantly it made me aware of what we had to do and the steps we had to go through to make our footage successful. Furthermore it made me aware of the cinematography techniques that we could use to make a conventional thriller such as the high angle shots and the Point Of View shots. We were also able to determined the role of who the editor and the camera operator would be within our group. The task also enhanced our group work and the relationship between all the members in our group because it made us aware of our strengths and weaknesses within the group

Research - Questionnaire - Ms Gibbings

Questionnaires

Intro:
In the Questionnaire task i had to create a set of questions in which i had to give out to people in which they would answer using their own preference and then this would give me an idea about what i should include in my thriller, also I would be aware of the target audience of the thriller genre and what the target audience would require to see in the film. The questions consisted of open or closed answers.

Questions:

What is your gender? Male/Female


What is your age group? 11-14    15-17   18-25   25+











Do you enjoy watching thrillers? please state below.











Roughly, how many thriller films have you watched? 0-3    4-8    9-12   13+


What sub-genre do you enjoy most? 

• Crime thriller
• Action thriller
• Psychological thriller
• Science fiction thriller
• Religious thriller

What is your favourite thriller film? please state below.


would the trailer of a thriller make you decide if you should watch the film or not? Yes/No


What is the most appealing factor of a thriller film?

• storyline
• director
• actors/actresses
• tittle

What do you think is the most significant factor that makes a successful thriller?


How significant would the opening of a thriller be in reference to the whole thriller? Please chose one.

• Very significant
• Significant
• Not so significant
• Not significant at all

Conclusion:
After conducting my questionnaire I had drawn out some significant factors about how different people feel about the thriller genre. The first point that I was able to see was that the higher the age of the person was  the larger amount of thriller films they had watched. Therefore, the thriller genre is not popular amongst under the age of 15. Therfore, i knew that I should aim my thriller product to audience who is 15 or over. In the favourite thriller film question the films ' se7en ' and ' Taken ' were the most popular thriller films that were watched. I should consider following the conventions of the two films in constructing my thriller opening. This task helped me with my thriller opening research because it made me familiar with the demands of the audience and i was knowledgeable about what the audience would expect from a thriller. Also factors such as what appeals to the audience and the sub genres were points that i needed to take into consideration because if I follow the guidelines of what the audience expect and prefer this would enhance the popularity and success of my thriller opening.

Planning - What is a storyboard? - Miss Begum

Storyboarding



What is a storyboard?

A storyboard is a plan, a way of figuring out the story of the film before you put in the enormous amount of work of the animation itself. A storyboard visually tells the story of an animation panel by panel similar to a comic book. Moreover, it helps to pre-visualize how the director wants the screenplay to be shot. The example shown is a template of a storyboard.

 Why is it important in the planning of a film?

 Taking time in creating a storyboard would save a significant amount of time in the future. If you jump in and start creating without a storyboard you are increasing the likely hood of wasting time on work that doesn't end up being used. Storyboards give an idea of what you're trying to create and they could be used as a reference to check your work whenever you like as you go along.

What elements need to go into a storyboard?
 The first element we need to consider in a storyboard is the shot number. The shot numbers determine each shot on the storyboard in order. E.g. shot 1,2,3,4.
Another element is the cinematography used. Each frame on the storyboard is labelled with a certain camera shot. For example the camera shot of a setting being an establishing shot.
The duration is also another element. This is when we determine how long each frame would be taken for. The duration would vary with the different type of frame.
The final element I would be discussing is the lighting that would be used. Low-key lighting is used more often that other types of lighting because it fits well with the thriller specific genre that we're working on.

What makes a thriller specific storyboard?
The specific type of elements that are used makes a thriller specific storyboard. For instance in the lighting element, there would be a large amount of low-key lighting being used to portray the intense scenes.
The location used could also relate to a thriller such as a haunted house or an abandoned alley-way.
The duration could also relate to the thriller genre because if there was an attack being implied through the storyboard, the duration of the frame would be longer than a frame without an attack taking place and it would be displayed as being more in depth.
In the example, we can see a thriller specific storyboard that has been created.

To conclude, I have now learned what a storyboard is, and how significant a storyboard could be in the process of film making. Moreover, I have concentrated on thriller specific storyboards which include elements that are used just for the thriller genre. Understanding the thriller specific storyboarding elements has helped me in creating my own storyboard because I now know what is required in my own storyboard.

Research - Mise en scene/Facial Expression and Body Language - Ms Heath

Facial expression and body language

What is body language?

Body language is the way that a character is positioned to the viewers. Moreover, its their actions,movements and the physical aspect in which they present themselves in. The body language can also determine how the character holds themselves or how they act. The way a character acts is conventional to a thriller because the way a character acts in a thriller is similar to other characters in thrillers. Therefore we would need to analyse the body language of a character.

The body language of a Protagonist:

 A protagonist hero would have a firm type of body language and they would be confident in their main aim which would be defeating the antagonist  Their posture is very upright, they also have elements of being proud and being in-charge.

The body language of a Antagonist:

A antagonist would have a closed form of body language, they also would feel intimidated by the protagonist.

Comparing body language from other genres:

In a romance film the type of characters are mainly protagonist. The type of body language we would expect is a open form of body language, in which characters are open towards other characters. This is conventional to a romance film because the characters are close to each other and the open form of body language shows protagonists being happy with each other.

In a thriller film there is always an protagonist and a antagonist. The body language they have is that the protagonist would be upright and proud, however the antagonist would have a closed form of body language. This is conventional to a thriller because the protagonist and the antagonist are portrayed in having different forms of body language which would result in them to act differently from each other.

What are facial expressions?

Facial expressions is the way a characters emotions are displayed to the audience. This concentrates on the look of the face and what meaning the character is trying to show. Facial expressions help the audience to understand the way that the character has been represented in more detail.

The way a character expresses themselves is conventional to a thriller because the audience would understand the emotions the character is feeling. E.g. the antagonist being angry.

Facial expressions and body language in the following clips:

Blade:
Both characters are represented in an aggressive way, with a firm body language in order to be victorious in the fight.we can also see Blade having a firm form of body language and being determined to overcome the antagonist which is clearly displayed through his body language. The facial expression in Blade was shown as him being angry, we can also see Blade being frustrated because of his struggle to kill the antagonist.

Scream:
The antagonist's had a calm form of body language before ghost face appeared. They both were laying down on the bed. However when ghost face was present they start panicking and start moving more sharply. We also see the girls' arms spread on the window to show how eager they are to help their friend. The facial expression of the girls before the attack takes place is displayed as both girls smiling and shown as being happy because of the conversation the girls have between each other. When the attack takes place we see the girls being frightened and implying how scared they are through their facial expression.

Planning - Sound - Ms Begum

Planning - Sound Planning - Ms begum

 

 

Sound is significant in films because it's a micro element that provides atmosphere in a scene. It is important to think about the different type of sounds, especially in thrillers because every sound has a different meaning and used for a specific purpose. Some sounds used in thrillers can cause the audience to be frightened, or causes shock within the audience. It can also builds tension within the scene.

 

Some of the conventional  uses in thrillers are:

• Non diegetic soundtracks: These are used to help set the opening mood of the film and aims to catch the audiences attention.
• Diegetic Sound: This is used so the audience can have a feel of whats happening in the scene and used so the audience can experience the same sounds that the characters can hear. Such as a telephone ringing.
• Off-Screen sound: An off-screen sound is used so that the audience can hear whats happening but not being aware of where the sound is coming from. This could be used when there is a killer approaching and only the footsteps can be heard

The sound I plan to use in my thriller are:

1. Non-diegtic sound would be used during the opening credits. I have chosen to use this because it would have a good first impression on the audience when the appropriate non-diegetic sound is used. Therefore this would catch the audience's attention straight away. This is conventional to a thriller because the correct non-diegetic sounds need to be used to create a thrilling atmosphere, with a thrilling soundtrack.
2. Diegetic sound would be used while the protagonist wakes up. I have chosen to use this because it would show that the protagonist is confused and is in fear because shes been captured. I have chosen to use this because the fear would be conveyed by the diegetic sound of the protagonist screaming. This is conventional to a thriller because the victim is faced by a dilemma and she feels scared because she has been captured by the antagonist. 
3. Off screen sound would be used when the antagonist stalks the protagonist. The reason behind my choice is that the audience would be able to hear the foot-steps but they wouldn't see the antagonist. This is conventional to a thriller because it builds tension within the scene, and the audience would have a feel that the antagonist is getting closer to the protagonist.
4. Non-diegetic sound would be used again when the protagonist wakes up. I have chosen this because the Non-diegetic music would relate to the situation that the antagonist victim is in. This is conventional to a thriller because the music would build tension and would give a feel of how the antagonist is feeling to the audience.
5. Diegetic sound would be used again when the antagonist blows out the candle at the end of the scene. I have chosen this because this would be the last sound that would be heard in the scene. This is conventional to a thriller because it would lead to a chilling experience to the audience and also the audience would want to know what would occur further on in the film.
6. Off-screen sound would be used when the antagonist approaches the protagonist when shes laying on the table. This has been used because the protagonist wouldn't be aware of who's approaching her, she would only be able to hear the antagonist approaching. This is conventional to a thriller because the heavy breathing and slow foot steps would cause the protagonist to be frightened, which would result in the audience to feel sympathetic towards the victim.

Planning: Pre-Production Paperwork - Ms Begum

Pre-Production Paperwork

Introduction: Pre-Production paperwork is important because it prepares you for filming. Pre-Production could be from  making a storyboard to completing release forms. Pre-production gives you and your team an idea of what you're going to do and what your finished production would look like. However,  above all pre production is relevant because of health and safety. Pre-production is carried out to make sure that the creation of your production is a safe and secure environment

Location Release form

30/11/12

Dear Sir/Madam

I’m writing to confirm our agreement which was:

·         You are willing to allow the producers to record in the chosen location. The camera would be important to use and the property would be needed to produce the film to the best of our ability.

·         The period would come from the 10^th of December until the 24^th of December and the other days of the half days would be agreed upon before filming

·         All the rights in the recordings made by the producers at the property chosen would be secured with the producers and they are entitled to be able to assign, licence and/or exploit the same by all means in all media as they may at their absolute discretion elect. The producers would be able to refer to the property as its real name.  Moreover, shall have no obligation to the owners to include any or all of the recordings in any films or programmes or to exploit to the same in any programme or film in which the same are included.

·         If an unfortunate incident occurs such as any sort of damage done to any product caused by the film crew, we would replace or pay for it

·         What we expect from the location is that it’s a safe place to film. Furthermore, at the film of filming everyone that isn’t a part of the film shouldn’t be present in the location. We would make sure that the location is left at the way it was originally after the filing has finished.

This agreement shall be easily assignable to the producers and shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of England, Wales and Scotland.

Thank you for devoting your time in reading this agreement.

Yours faithfully,

……………………………………………………

Read agreed and understood by

Client: ……………………………………………………… Date ..................................

Ms Begum: ……………………………………………………… Date ……………….............

For and or behalf of the owners



Location Recce Form

This is the location recce form to confirm that the location the cast will be using for this Thriller is set in Leda Avenue Enfield United kingdom

The reason the cast agreed to use this location is because it best fits the scene to our film opening of “The Ritual”. This is also relevant to the thriller genre because it’s based in a dark room where the iconography and Mise en scene of the film meets the genre standard. We chose to use a dark room in Leda avenue because that’s where our opening scene will be created, filmed and edited. This is also a good place to shoot because it is not far from where the cast is originally based at. (In this Case, Oasis Academy Hadley.)

The difficulties the cast may face are based on when the location is vacant and can be used for filming and what time is the best time to start shooting scenes and to finish shooting scenes. Also the cast is to agree on contacting

each other to let the each other know that they won’t be Attending to the filming or running late to arrive at the Destination.

Given below are ways on how to get to the destination and what transport is needed to get there.

DIRECTIONS FOR LOCATION

TRANSPORTATION DIRECTIONS

1.     GET 191 GOING TOWARDS EDMONTON GREEN AT THE OASIS ACADEMY HADLEY BUS STOP

2.     GET OFF THE 191 WHEN YOU REACH INGERSOLL ROAD BY THE TESCO EXPRESS.

3.     WALK DOWN INGERSOLL ROAD AND TURN LEFT INTO RILEY ROAD AS YOU GO DOWN THAT ROAD YOU WILL BE PASSING RILEY COURT AND OFF ELMORE ROAD ON THE RIGHT AND YOU HAVE REACHED LEDA AVENUE.

To get more information on bus travel and London transportation please visit www.tfl.gov.uk

For Car, you also follow the same route as the 191 Going towards Edmonton Green and on Ingersoll Road you can either take a left turn down Elmore Road or Riley road Leda Avenue.

If you choose to walk, you could follow the same route as the 191 going towards Edmonton Green and continue the walk from Ingersoll Road or from Ingersoll Road you can go down Elmore Road around the side off the Tesco Express, you can also use quicker ways which will give you short cuts to the location (Leda Avenue).

Client release and consent form:

Name of Client:

Date:

Production:

Location:

The agreement is as follows:

· You hereby grant the producers the sole and exclusive rights to record and edit and distribute your participation in “The Ritual” during the 3^rd of December 2012 until the 17th of December 2012. Also you consent to the use of your name, likeness, voice and biographical material in connection with the publicity and exploitation of such sequences forever.

· All rights in the thriller “The Ritual”. You will be expected to arrive on time and complete what tasks you have been assigned with. You will be expected to co-operate with other members in order to create this production. You will also be expected to participate and contribute to all activities involved. Although there is a set time for working hours, if it is needed to go over time, you may be expected to work overtime unless a reasonable excuse is provided.

· This agreement shall be freely assignable by the producers and shall be interpreted in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and Scotland and especially the Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988.

Yours faithfully:

Read, understood and agreed by:

Client: ___________________________________

Date: ___________________________________

Director: ___________________________________

Date: _____________________________________

Producer:___________________________________

Date: ______________________________________

Teacher: ___________________________________

Date: _____________________________________

Production Schedule:

Location	Talent	Time	Scene/shot No.	Equipment/ Props
Kay’s House	Actors: Kay, Onat, Jessica, Jasmine	1pm 22nd December 2012	1	Camera Table Jars Gag
Park	Actors: Kay, Onat, Jessica, Jasmine	12pm 22nd December 2012	2	Camera Rope
Kay’s House2	Actors: Kay, Onat, Jessica, Jasmine	3:45pm 22nd December 2012	3	Camera Table chair Phone Bag
Kay’s House	Actors: Kay, Onat, Jessica, Jasmine	1:30pm 22nd December	4	Camera Table Knife Jar

Risk assessment