Rough Cut

Figure 1

   Camerawork could be considered a strength of my thriller film opening because our shots are steady which makes the film opening look more professional. Furthermore, we have used a range of angles and shot types with some consideration of their effects; for example, figure 1 is a low-angle shot to present the antagonist as threatening and this is reinforced by the character's position on a third.

Figure 2

   Some aspects of our mise en scene are also a strength of the production, for example the location in figure 2 could be thought of as a metaphorical space (like the tunnel in the opening of 'Essex Boys', as shown in figure 3) which symbolises a transition into danger. Furthermore, the dirty environment (which includes litter on the ground and smeared graffiti on the walls) is suggestive of a grimy urban environment which creates conventional connotations of bleakness and hopelessness.

Figure 3

   On the other hand, the pace of editing is a weakness; I think that a faster pace of cuts towards the end of my thriller film opening would be more effective at building tension towards the climactic cliff-hanger, so this is something that I will refine for my final cut.

Shooting Schedules

These were our shooting schedules over the past week.

Location:	Protagonist’s home (Park Lane)
Date:	22/02/17
Start/End times:	16:30 – 18:00
Crew required:	Freya, Timiah and Sarah
Actors required:	Mattie
Equipment needed:	Camera and tripod

Location:	Outside protagonist’s home (Park Lane)
Date:	25/02/17
Start/End times:	12:00 – 14:00
Crew required:	Freya and Sarah
Actors required:	Martin
Equipment needed:	Camera and tripod

Location:	Chapelfield underpass
Date:	25/02/17
Start/End times:	16:30 – 18:00
Crew required:	Freya, Timiah and Sarah
Actors required:	Mattie and Martin
Equipment needed:	Camera and tripod

Storyboards

   Figures 1 and 2 present our initial storyboard, which includes some of the key shots which we aim to include in our thriller film opening.

Figure 1

Figure 2

   We will aim to use a variety of shot types to make our film more interesting. This includes several close up shots to create a sense of intensity whilst presenting key props to establish character and emphasising facial expressions to display the characters' emotion. On the other hand we will also use long shots to establish location. We will add some shot-reverse-shots to suggest opposition between the protagonist and antagonist.

Figure 3

   We also began to consider where we would position credits within our opening. We decided that we would dip to black to present our credits, as was done in the opening scene of 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' (as shown in figure 3). We would do this to create a startling contrast within our opening, plus as a way to transition between locations.

Sound

   In the opening of 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed', jarring sound effects are used (such as the sound of an electric drill). This emphasised harsh noise establishes an uneasy atmosphere. We would use similarly sudden sound effects in the opening of our thriller film, for example we have planned to include the diegetic sound effect of a door slamming in one of our first shots, to also unsettle the audience. The non-diegetic music in 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed' could also influence our soundtrack; it used music which increases in pace to build tension and suspense. This is reinforced by the ticking sound in the music. Furthermore, the lack of dialogue in the opening of 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed' is enigmatic and we will similarly not include any speech in our film opening to create a sense of mystery.

   Another film which we are influenced by is 'Se7en'. The first shot in the film is a black screen and the diegetic sound of traffic to establish the city location and suggest the typical connotations of a busy urban environment - chaos, corruption and immorality. Our film also has a conventional urban setting so we could include similar sound effects of passing cars in the background.

   'Panic Room' (another thriller film which was, like 'Se7en', directed by David Fincher) opens with orchestral non-diegetic music. This increases in intensity which builds tension, especially as it begins to include a fast-paced ticking sound (similar to 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed'). The contrasting pitch of the stringed instruments in this music connotes conflict, which is suggestive of the film's themes of terror and violence. We will also try to include tense music to unsettle our audience.
Panic Room Opening Titles from Ode on Vimeo.

Fonts

We have selected various fonts which we could use in the credits during the opening of our thriller film, which we have sampled with the name of our production company. Most of the fonts which we have considered, including 'Break It', are bold sans serif fonts. This is common in British thriller films, such as 'The Disappearance of Alice Creed' and 'Essex Boys'. This could be because the broad fonts may connote brutality. Additionally, 'Break It' has a fractured appearance which creates suitable generic connotations of conflict and violence.



Another font which we have considered is 'RR Ruitjes'. This sans serif font has a cage-like grid pattern which could foreshadow the capture of our protagonist. It also has a slightly worn look which connotes decay and despair. The damaged appearance could be compared to the scratchy font used in 'Se7en', which is effective because it is slightly unsettling for the audience.




Additionally, we have considered 'Tox Typewriter' as a font to use within our credits. This is a typewriter-style line serif font, like the font which was used in 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'. The uneven widths of the letters' spines in 'Tox Typewriter' could be effective because it is suggestive of the themes of chaos and disorder which are common in thriller films.

Location Scouting

Characters, Costume and Props

Lila

Lila is the protagonist of our thriller film. She is a seventeen year old girl who gets stalked and kidnapped.

Costume

She will wear casual modern clothing, presenting her as youthful. It will include light colours to suggest innocence and convey purity, like Tracy Mills in 'Se7en'. Further influenced by this character, Lila will also have blonde hair which creates angelic connotations; this is quite common for 'damsel in distress' characters in the thriller genre.

Props

The first shot we see of Lila will be of her in her room. This setting will be tidy, presenting her as neat and organised. It will have a typically feminine colour scheme including light pinks to present her as slightly girly, reinforcing her vulnerability. Close-up shots of a table in Lila’s room will reveal schoolbooks, signifying that she is young and that she is hardworking. A pile of novels will suggest that she is quite quiet and reserved, however some framed photographs of family and a few friends will present her as kind and loving. Overall, this should present Lila as a likable character who will gain sympathy from the audience.

Mark

Mark is the antagonist of our thriller film. He lives on the same street as Lila and has an obsession with her. He has planned to kidnap her by following her as she walks home from work.

Costume

Most of Mark’s clothing will be in dark colours, connoting evil; this is conventional for the genre. However, it will be casual because he tries to remain inconspicuous. He will wear a wristwatch which he will check repeatedly, presenting him as impatient and controlling.

Props

The character’s impatience will be reinforced because he fidgets (tapping his feet and folding/re-folding a photograph in his hands) whilst waiting for Lila to leave the shop which she works at. This photograph will be of Lila, which will convey his obsession with her and signify that he has been watching her for a long time.

Treatment

We begin with the sound of a door clicking shut, before transitioning from black to a close up shot of the antagonist’s feet walking onto his gravel driveway. The weight of his footsteps is emphasised by the diegetic sound of the crunching gravel and its grey colour palette constructs gloomy connotations. This close up conceals details of the character, making him enigmatic so creating a sense of anticipation. We cut to an extreme long shot, establishing the location of a residential street, which reveals the house opposite. A shot through an upstairs window, creating a sense of intrusion, presents the protagonist in her bedroom. Within her bedroom, we cut to a close up of her face which conveys innocence as she calmly gets ready to go out. A close up of her table as she picks up her keys presents props which convey aspects of her character; schoolbooks convey that she is young and possibly vulnerable, plus photographs of family and friends signify that she is kind and innocent. A jump cut returns us to the antagonist, a close up of his watch and the emphasised diegetic sound of ticking presenting him as impatient and creating a sense of threat as it suggests that time may be limited for our protagonist.

Influenced by ‘The Disappearance of Alice Creed’, we aim to create an increasing sense of threat in the opening of our thriller film which is also about a kidnapping. We will use a similarly bleak colour scheme, containing greys, to create connotations of misery and we will also use close ups to create a sense of intensity. Also drawing influence from 'Se7en', our film will have an urban setting, suggestive of themes of immorality and violence, as is conventional of the thriller genre. Another influence from this film is that we will use close ups of props in the home of the protagonist to help establish her character (as was done for the character of Detective Somerset in 'Se7en').

Mood Board

Possible Locations

Type of location needed	Possible places	Advantages	Disadvantages	Who will get scouting photos of this location?
•   House -    Drive way x2 -    Gravel for footsteps	•   Mattie’s house - Park Lane	•   Gravel driveway •   Window •   Accessible •   Safe	•   Cars parked outside houses - in the way of the shots.	Timiah
•   Shops	•   In the City Centre: -    Imelda’s Shoe Shop -    Bench outside the shop	•   Accessible •   Multiple angles through shop windows and door	•   Unwanted background noise •   Customers in the shop	Sarah
•   Underpass	•   St Stephens	•   Graffiti – interesting mise en scene, emphasizes the urban environment •   Angles - 4 way path provides a variety of shots •   Lighting - daylight is provided through 4 different entrances	•   Busy underpass – passersby could get in the way of shooting and be in shot •   Background noise - traffic above - main bus route into the centre	Freya
	•   Anglia Square - main option	•   Graffiti- interesting mise en scene, emphasizes the urban environment •   Fairly quiet- unlikely to be       interrupted during filming- smoother •   An enclosed part of the city- opposite to St stephens	•   Traffic - background noise provided by the busy roundabout close by •   Lighting - fairly cut off - narrow underpass with small entrances •   A part of the city of which attracts the homeless because of a solid shelter and quiet - may be an issue in the case they do not want any cameras around and we would not want to intrude	Freya
	•   Chapelfield gardens	•   Lighting - wide and open area - leading to a vast park - widespread lighting - bright especially in the day - in the evening, dimly lit lights provided at either end and some in the underpass itself - reflecting off puddles could create interesting shots •   Artwork - eye catching •   Puddles provide interesting shots	•   It is not that safe to be filming in at night - evening shots would be ideal •   Not very privatized - very open to the public and very much in public use	Freya
•   Street Shots	•   Norwich Lanes •   Pottergate	•   Busy - wondering through crowds - interesting shots •   Lighting •   Background noise of the public in the scenes - provides a false sense of security for both character and audience as tension builds	•   Members of the public could get in the way of the characters in shot •   Independent shops and members of the public may find it uncomfortable to be on film - prevent the chance of filming. •   Unknown as to just how busy it will be	Freya

Introduction

Hi, this is the first post of my Media blog.