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making a thriller film
- Develop plot idea - Planning meetings.
- Potential locations - both outside and inside - pictures.
- Character profiles- who they are going to be.
- Sound- royalty free music.
- Sound effects.
- Transport- how to get props and stuff to location.
- Find props.
- Equipment- camera/ tripod.
- Mise en scene - Costume/make up.
- Story board
- Shot list
- Title cards.
- Scene/ production list.
From completing this task I have learnt more about planning and what to incorporate into my own thriller opening
INITIAL IDEAS
COMPOSITION AND FRAMING
Symmetry vs space
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In this task we had took pictures in pairs of objects/things with the theme of shadows, then we had to take the same or similar pictures with the theme of symmetry.
SYMMETRY
When parts of the composition mirrors itself.
FRAMING
Frame within a frame. Helps isolate character/ object of significance.
DEPTH OF FIELD
How much of the composition is in focus.
Photo by Adrienne Bresnahan / Getty Images
RULE OF THRIDS
Composition technique where frame is divided into three equal thirds.
This task helped me understand the importance of framing and rule of thirds and I will use these concepts when I am filming my own film opening.
Conventions of a psychological thriller
I researched the codes and conventions of a variety of thriller films for Unit Learning Aim A.
I found that it is conventional for a psychological thriller to have a female protagonist.
This is evident in the films: Black Swan, Hush and Run.
For example, in the opening of Hush we are introduced to the protagonist after the opening titles and the establishing shot.
Another convention are shadows and low key lighting.
This is evident in the films Run, Split and Black Swan.
For example, this scene from Run.
The films we watch contain binary oppositions to help audiences understand the narrative (story) and to create more conflict/excitement.
In a film we may see several binary oppositions .
Hero - Villain, Dark - Light, Good - Bad...
For example in the film Hush we are presented with men vs women, hero vs villain and ability vs disability
When creating my own thriller opening I have incorporated the binary oppositions of villain and hero and themes of good and bad.
Claude Levi Strauss
LEGALITIES
SWOT ANALYSIS
This task helped me understand the legalities and what I need to know before making a media product.
This task allowed me to find the strengths and weaknesses of my film opening idea and change any plans if there are any major threats.
PITCH
This task helped me gain a better understanding of my idea for the film opening and helped me change and gain more ideas for the thriller opening.
RATIONALE
Audience feedback - Questionnaire
Questionnaire responses
From the responses I found out that the majority of the audience gives most importance to the soundtrack and visuals, with this information I will try to focus on these aspects more while making my thriller to make it more enjoyable for the audience.
The majority also prefer that the opening should reveal as little as possible, I will take this in mind while making my own thriller.
With this task I learned the importance to hearing the audiences feedback and knowing what they are more likely to enjoy to be able to incorporate into making my thriller opening.
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Location recce
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This task helped me understand the importance of a location recce since it helps the director get an idea of what the film will look like and make any changes before filming if necessary.
FINANCE
This budget plan helps me understand what typically goes into making an actual film and how many different components goes into it.
SWOT ANALYSIS
This task allowed me to find the strengths and weaknesses of my film opening idea and change any plans if there are any major threats.
- casual outfit - shirt +jeans
- black hoodie and jeans
I decided that the antagonist should wear dark clothing because its conventional for a thriller and makes the antagonist look more mysterious in contrast to the protagonist, making the antagonists identity stay anonymous as it is just the start of the film.
The protagonist will be wearing casual clothes because she is just a college student inside her own house.
- Camera - Canon EOS 1600D
- Tripod
Costume plans
Equipment plans
The camera and tripod will be used for filming. The tripod will be used to film steadier scenes.
Make-up plans
For the make up I decided that the protagonist should wear light natural make up because she is supposed to be in her house. Just using light foundation to correct the skin to make it look like she isn't wearing any make up should be the best option.
Props plans
- Mug - Laptop
- Knife
With this task I learnt the importance of planning make up and costume makes and how it helps create meaning for the audience. The costume and make up can reveal a lot about a character without them even having to talk, for example how bright clothing and makeup could convey that a character is happy/extroverted.
OPENING CREDITS
Hush- The opening starts with the production company in white font against black background. Then it jump cuts to the film opening in dark thick font against a shot of the location of the film and it fades away.
- Run - Stats with studio name and uses small white font placed in the middle of the screen. After a few minutes screen fades to black and from the top of the screen using the same font a series of diseases are described then it jump cuts to a black screen with the film opening in small white font at the right if the screen. This makes the film look more professional and the white font could be associated with the one used to prescribe medicine.
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RISK ASSESMENTS
This task helped me avoid any possible hazards that could affect filming and therefore affect the end product of the film opening.
TITLE IDEAS
SOUND AND MUSIC IDEAS
With these tasks helped me learn the importance of planning sound and titles because they can help convey a message to the audience and can help set the tone of a thriller.
shot list
STORY BOARD
The storyboard and the shot list are one of the most important tasks for creating any film because it allows the producer to envision what the film will look like before its actually made and to make any changes if necessary.
CHARACTER PROFILES
Anissah Smith (protagonist/ character)
18, female
Sarah is a student and aspiring writer, she is hardworking and a selfless person. She is studios and serious about her work. Her current concerns are finishing her first novel and becoming a published author
Intruder (antagonist)
Unknown, possibly male
Killer that enters Sarah's house to murder her, identity and motive yet to be discovered.
This task helped me understand more about the characters and how they would fit in the conventions of a thriller.
filming schedule
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