What to do in the time upto the filming deadline

1. Make sure that you have done the pre production posts - all of them.  Make your posts interesting - some of you are really starting to understand how to make interesting and reflective posts.

2. Experiment - show experiments with camerawork (framing, movement, Slow Motion etc), post production techniques etc etc.

3. During your filming, ensure to capture yourselves filming - explain what you are doing, what you are trying to achieve and reflect upon the experience - what went well, what went less well.

4. Make up any key props that you require - newspapers front pages etc. Secure particular costumes etc.

5. Make sure that you have blogged all your permissions and risk assessments.
6. Research into films/dramas that have used particular props or sequences that you intend to use and see how they have been filmed. Can you pick up useful tips from these?

Feedback to deadline two - Pre Production

For those that I am supervising, you will find comments on your posts for Pre Production Planning - please read these if you have not done so already.

Generally, many of these were very incomplete - use your booklets to see what is missing.  The consequences of not completing all the criteria for deadline two are considerable - you will be docked marks for planning. 

Remeber there is a total of 20 marks for Planning. 

Don't throw these marks away.

Deadline three - Filming.

YOUR FILMING DEADLINE IS SOON!

Deadline Three – Filming

Filming stage: plan this extremely carefully. Read the booklet on this stage again. Take photos of your shoot as illustration of your decisions and evidence of your own presence. These should be uploaded to illustrate your discussion of choices and decisions made to which you each contribute.

By the deadline below: – all “rushes” (unedited, raw footage) to be completed and logged onto the Mac network as a rough cut into the correct file (Locate AS black and group).

All Filming processes, decisions and choices clearly recorded on the group blog. Each of you must contribute to this. Use screen grabs to illustrate shots and the shoot itself.

Again, use blog format fully and creatively.

Friday 8^th March, 4.10

Feddback fo deadline one

Far too many  of you present vusually uninspiring entries - few screengrabs for instance.  Also many of you failed to actually analyse and just listed elements of the 4 aspects of film language.  You need to analysse - why di this create a thriller effect - How were the openings constructed to do this?

Deadline Two

 

The first deadline for research has now passed.
If you failed to meet this deadline, it will have been noted and marks may be deducted for time management (an assessment criterion). You MUST complete this task, even if you failed to meet the deadline.
Your next DEADLINE is for planning. Study the list of requirements to the blog for this deadline. You will not be permitted to start filming unless these are done!

Deadline Two – Pre-Production Planning

A completed storyboard for the entire opening (preferably having used ‘post it’s), including initial ideas about title placing.

This needs to be made into an animatic of approximately the same length as the final film will be (shots to be timed carefully) with a voice-over explanation and embedded onto the blog.

Also:

- a synopsis for the whole film narrative from which this will be the opening (about 100 words),

- the script for any dialogue,

- list of roles (see pre-production planning advice)

- images of locations and decisions about locations,

- prop research and justification in terms of character and story

- health and safety, including risk assessments for filming and use of equipment.

- lighting decisions.

Blog Heading “Pre-Production Planning”(clearly label which group member has taken responsibility for each of the various posts).

Again, consider blog format – images, text, screen grabs, embedded video, hyperlinks, etc

If you want to film over half term, this needs to be handed in earlier in order that we can check it through and grant permission.

Deadline - Friday 15^th February, midnight.

SUMMARISING THE CONVENTIONS OF THRILLER OPENINGS

DEADLINE SUNDAY FEB 3RD, MIDNIGHT.

You have all been analysing the openings of thriller films to identify features used to create suspense, intrigue, enigma, fear and so on. These are some of the ways in which thrillers engage their spectators and create the genre. You should now be finding your own examples individually and applying some of our findings to these to explain how the openings are constructed in a way typical of the thriller genre. You should also explain how the opening is unique and different to others. You can use the check list below if you wish to analyse your own. YOU HAVE TO DO FOUR EACH.

CAMERA

· ECUs to distort

· shallow depth of field to draw attention to objects of
significance or distort perspective

· tight framing to restrict view - called restricted narration - eg
where only parts of body are visible, identity concealed>
shock delivered or enigma created

· Wide shots to create unrestricted narration and dramatic
irony and suspense

· Still (tripod) camera work (observation? suspense?)

· hand held camera for realism and/or subjectivity

· canted frame for disorientation

· pov shots/voyeurism

MISE EN SCENE

· variety of exterior settings, but often urban , or rural (rarely
suburban like Haywards Heath!)

· interior settings often reflect threat or sinister action - everyday
objects create menace

· Iconography of suspense: props may add to characterisation, OR
may create ENIGMA

· low key lighting

· desaturated colour or symbolic use of colour (eg red)

· creation of 'pathetic fallacy' (symbolic weather)

· costume, hair, make-up create realism and/or symbolise who
spectator is expected to dislike or like

EDITING

· continuity editing used for sense, flow, coherence and
realism

· parallel cutting used to connect 2 characters or places -
simultaneous action

· cross cutting used to connect 2 or more characters and
CREATE SUSPENSE

· occasionally: DISCONTINUITY EDITING (jump cuts or
shock cuts) used to fragment and disrupt sequence,
matching unsettling mood

SOUND

· diegetic sound used for realism and/or mood

· non diegetic sound as music or sound fx used to
construct mood/atmosphere and suspense

· parallel sound enhances vision

· contrapuntal sound may introduce threat or create
sinister mood

· dialogue used sparingly

Finding thriller openings

Can't think of any thriller films?
You will need to be prepared to spend several hours finding examples.
You can try using lists made by film fans on the internet (search for thriller films). Check with me that they can be classified as thrillers for our purposes (remember the difference between thrillers and horrors). If you are in college, ask to borrow some from our office for the lesson. Try to find UK thrillers, as UK films like yours will be, have distinctive use of mise en scene. Use youtube for some, but remember that you cannot use a trailer (look for the title 'part 1'). Have a look on the college streaming page for TV - planet estream - linked from the student homepage or moodle home page and browse TV thriller openings, but make sure that most of your research is based in Film as the pace is often different. Don't forget to search for big name directors in this genre: Alfred Hitchcock; Kathryn Bigelow; David Fincher; Quentin Tarantino etc.