Evaluation Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this media product?

Evaluation: Question 5) How did you attract/ address your target audience?

Evaluation Question 5:  How did you attract/address your target audience?

 

While carrying out various researches into thrillers and their audiences, It was important that I found out what people like to see within a thriller film, this would allow my group to target our audience and meet their expectations of a thriller film. To successfully do this, we created a questionnaire as we believed it was an effective way of retrieving useful feedback.

From this, I saw that the target audience of thriller films were in the age groups from 15-30 year olds and were both genders. Thriller movies tend to target people who are extraverts, thrill seekers and those who are quite interested in the horror genre.

Creating a questionnaire was very useful as it was easy to keep a record, and helped us collect reliable results from people among our target audience; this also helped because we knew what to add and show to appeal to the target audience.

The most important question I asked was “What themes do you expect to be used most in thriller films? E.g. Revenge, Death…” This question was important as it allowed me to get a better understanding into what themes people expect to see most. This then gave me the opportunity to add or incorporate these into my thriller. 

 

This is some of the feedback I’ve collected:

Sahara (Female, 19): ‘I really enjoyed the narrative of this film; it was really interesting’. This helped me understand that our narrative was fairly clear and could be understood.

Zack (Male, 18): ‘Awesome, I enjoyed the whole thing’. This also helped me understand that we had met the audience expectation.

Britney (Female, 16): ‘I would’ve liked to know what happened to the female victim’. This showed me that I could’ve added something to the narrative to make it a bit more interesting.

Michael (Male, 17): “It’s quite confusing; the antagonist came out of nowhere”. This helped me realise slight faults within the narrative.

 

Final Product: Its Not Over (AS Media Thriller Opening)

above is my final product

Evaluation question 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

Evaluation Question 3 What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?

Evaluation Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Planning: Character Representations

Planning: Character Representations

 

In Thriller movies certain characters hold different purposes and give the story meaning. Characters need to be read and understood by the audience.
Character's representation are how each character is being presented in a film production towards the audience. It is important because having the right actors to play the roles that are suitable based on how they look and their acting skills can create a lot of different meanings and will be based on the audience to judge on the characters. It is also includes different personalities within the characters in a film as the audience will have their own connotations and view points on each of the characters. This will helps the viewers to decide whether he or she is a good character or if they like them or not.

Character's representation can be shown through body language, facial expressions, voice tone and appearance that need to be relatable towards the narrative

 

Victim- In our thriller the character of the victim will be played by a young white female, this is because through research I found that this was stereotypical and conventional to the thriller genre. It is stereotypical because a young white female possesses characteristics which show her as quite timid and weak, therefore the audience will also expect them to behave like this therefore have sympathy towards them.

 

NAME: Carlie Cokell

AGE: 15
GENDER: Female
ROLE IN THE FILM: Female Victim
COSTUME:
FACIAL EXPRESSION: Blank/ Clueless
BODY LANGUAGE:

From important research, I found that representing my female victim in this way was conventional because the stereotype shown is that women are weaker than man and that they are feeble and helpless.












Antagonist- In my thriller I will be playing the role of the antagonist, I am a black male 6 foot 1 in height with an athletic build. I am filling this role because conventional antagonists have a rough build or frame similar to mine, this will make the character of the antagonist even more intimidating and fit the conventions of a thriller film

NAME: Javel Robinson
AGE: 19

GENDER: Male
ROLE IN THE FILM: Psychotic Ex-Boyfriend
COSTUME: White T-Shirt, Black Jeans, Black Jacket/ Hoody
FACIAL EXPRESSION: Distressed/ Disturbed
BODY LANGUAGE:

Research: Questionnaire and results

I created a questionnaire in order to identify what people expect to see within a thriller movie, this helped me to identify the people that I handed out my questionnaire to were people of the age 16-34 this is because this is the age group of the people that I have targeted my thriller for, this is because the narrative applies mostly to them.

Below is the questionnaire that I created:

 

I handed the questionnaire out to various people who all fit within the age range and I received their feedback

 

 

 

 

Here are some of the key findings from my questionnaire:

 

This graph shows me that that most people feel worried after watching a thriller film. This has helped me gain a general understanding of how someone will feel after watching my thriller.

 

 

This shows me that people prefer to see thrillers take places in locations such as houses, this has helped me because I know the location I should choose to shoot my thriller.

 

This information tells me that people prefer to see thrillers that have a theme based around romance, this tells me that I should write a narrative based around romance.

 

This graph shows me that people prefer to see male antagonists, this has helped me in choosing the roles for the characters in my thriller.

Pre-Production Paper work

Pre-production paperwork

 

 

Before filming could be done we had to ask premission to use certain locations to film in/ on once we gained permission we then had to take out the correct safety measures to ensure no damage would be done on anyone or property.

 

This is the Location Release form, this was made to ask the owners permission of use/ access to the location.

 

This is the Release and Consent Agreement, this was made to ask permission of the parents or guardians of any cast members involved with the production

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the groups filming schedule, this was made to ensure that all crew and cast members knew when they would be needed for filming.

 

This is the Location Recce it was made to give an brief idea on how to travel to and from the location and where the address of the location is. all crew members and actors and actresses were given this.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the risk assessment, this was made to ensure that all risks have been assessed and measured to ensure safe filming.

Preliminary Task

Planning: Mes En Scene

Planning: Mes En Scene

 

 

Lighting: In our production we are going to use natural lighting to create a realistic and believeable atmosphere to create tension for the audience.

 

Setting: Our first setting will be on a street at night, this will be to create realism and give the story life.

Our second setting will be in a house, this will be to create tension and to appeal to the conventions of the thriller genre.

 

Iconography: A Mobile Phone, Handbag and a Knife will be used to avoid over complication of the scene and avoid drawing away audience focus.

 

Costume:
The costume we will be using is fairly simple but will be a clear representation of the roles being played

 

Victim: The victim will be wearing a casual white jumper, jeans and a pair of trainers to show that she is just a regular person of not much importance and to connote her innocence.
Later on we will have her in her in her pyjamas to show that she is relaxed and unaware of whats about to happen.

 

Antagonist: we will have the antagonist in dark clothing to connote his dark intentions and to also conceal his identity.

Body Language and facial expression:

 

Victim: The victim will use a variety of facial expressions and different body language to show fear and timidness.

 

Antagonist: We won't be showing the antagonists face to keep him mysterious but his body language will be show his confidence and his intention.

Planning; Final Idea/ Opening scene narration

In our group, we came up with and decided the narrative of our final idea for our thriller production. Our thriller is about a young woman in her late teens or early 20's, Who breaks up with her boyfriend after finding someone new; The boyfriend mentally snaps, he then decides to sneak into her home to murder her.

Our Chosen Title: It's Not Over.

Narrative/Plot:

The beginning starts with a mid-shot introducing the female character walking home during a night time setting. The location for this will be on the Great Cambridge Road, this location would be suitable for this first shot because it provides a generous amount of lighting but still dark enough to keep it low-key. As she is walking, a close-up shot will be used to show her messaging her boyfriend saying ''It's over ! I'm sorry but I'm in love with someone else..'' She will then continue walking home. A variety and mixture of shots will be used to then show her entering her garden. The lighting is a mixture of natural with low-key.

We then see mid-shot again from the behind of the female character as she opens the front door and enters her house. As she enters her house, a high angle long shot will be used to show her walking into the house. The lighting here will be low-key as no one else is at home and the house is covered in darkness.

As we continue into the scene , we then see the female victim go up into her bedroom to change into her pyjamas, we will use a camera trick to "jump" the process of her getting changed; once she is changed she will then walk out of her bedroom and enter her bathroom to wash her face, A high-angle mixed with a mid-shot is being used to film her as she does this. The light will be on in the bathroom this will provide some lighting in the shot.

Once she returns to her bedroom The female victim will then lay down on her bed to sleep. There will be lighting provided by a small lamp.

As the female is laying down in bed sleeping, a panning shot is being used to film slowly her feet and travelling up to her head, to then showing a clock on her chest of draws next to her bed displaying that it's really late; the pan will continue to travel towards the lamp to reveal the antagonists hand turning it off . The female wakes up in a panic turns the light back on, she then goes down to her kitchen to get a cup of water. Once She has then walked downstairs into her kitchen. As she enters the kitchen, she then gets her cup of water. There will be lighting used in the kitchen provided by the kitchens light.

After drinking her water she places the glass down on the kitchen counter, we will then use a close-up shot to zoom in to a reflective surface, this will be used to reveal a reflection showing her ex boyfriend standing behind her holding a knife. He then lunges out at her and grabs her by her hair, throw her on the ground and stabs her repeatedly in the stomach. A long shot is being used  to show what is going on but a close-up will then be used here to show her facial expressions as she's is being brutally stabbed to death. 

After a certain number of stabs, we then see the female victim once again wake up in panic from a nightmare. Once sat on the bed a reaction shot mixed with close-up shot will be used to show the relieved expression of the female victim as she realizes that it was only a nightmare, a point of view shot will be used to show her looking around her bedroom. She will notice a dark ominous figure, holding a knife is gazing at her from the corner of the room. Then it will cut to black to add tension and suspense.

Narrative Structure:
Aristotle & Bathes

Characters:
Female victim, antagonist.

Mise en scene:

- Locations: Home, Street

- Lighting: Natural lighting, back lighting, low-key lighting.

Costume:

- Female victim: White/Cream jumper + a coat, Light blue jeans.

- Boyfriend (antagonist): Black trouser, black hoodie + black coat.

Film influences:

- Takers 2010 gave us the idea/ theme of obssension.

-Panic Room gave us the idea of a mysterious killer sneaking into the female victim's home.

-Scream 1996 influenced us the idea of the female victim being home alone.

Why is the opening conventional to a thriller?
- Our thriller opening is conventional to thriller because we include typical themes of death and obssesion which is conventional to the thriller genre.

What themes does our thriller present?

- The themes that our thriller present are Obsession, Love and Death. 

Conclusion

- Our group have come together and discussed and agreed as to what we want for our final idea to be and we are all happy with the idea.

Planning: Storyboard

A storyboard is a visual plot or plan of how each shot is or will be structured

This is essential planning because it's a very efficient and allows filming to run smoother because it gives the crew members an idea of what is to be filmed and what will be on screen e.g. Characters,
Iconography, Lighting. A storyboard also tells you the length of each shot and whether sounds will be used in that shot.

Key conventions of a storyboard are:
-Duration
-Shot number
-Lighting

Below is the storyboard I created for how I wanted my thriller to look.

Conclude:
This has been beneficial to me as it has given me a visual insight on how I want my thriller to look.

Planning: Cinematography, Sound and Editing

Planning: Cinematography

 

Cinematography is one of the most crucial features within a film. It allows the audience to see the scenes at different angles and views and creates connotations and different meaning in the film.

 Cinematography I plan to use in my thriller:

- A mid-long shot will be used at the very beginning to introduce the female character walking home alone during the night time. This has been chosen because it allows the audience to see the character and see her body language and to see her surroundings. This is effective and conventional to thriller because it allows the audience to have a look at the female victim and see that she's young a white female, this is a stereotypical/ conventional description of a female victim to the thriller genre

- A close up shot will be used when she's texting her boyfriend to show the audience some of their conversation and what she's writing. I have chosen to use this because it will make the audience feel suspicious as they don't know much about the character yet. This is conventional to thriller because it makes the audience to have different connotations right from the beginning of the scene.

- A long-shot will be used from behind the female victim as she enters her house. This has been chosen because it allows the audience to see where the female character lives. This is conventional to the thriller genre because a lot of thriller films tend to be set in houses, this also connotes that she is now safe in her home.

- A pan camera movement will be used while the female victim is asleep showing . This has been chosen to show that even though she is safe in her home, she is still meek and feeble. This is conventional because it almosts make her seem like prey.

- An extreme close up shot will be used when she's looking at the reflective surface. This will be done to reveal the antagonist standing behind her. This is conventional because it shows that she is being watched and that something bad is about to happen to her.

- A reaction shot will be used again when the scene changes back to the victims bedroom with her waking from the nightmare, this will then reveal the antagonist standing infront of her holding a knife looking at her. this will be used because it helps create a cliff-hanger effect for the audience as they are left fearing for the safety of the female victim.

 

Planning: Sound

in our our opening we plan to use various non diegetic sound to create realism to the scene and to make the audience more aware of whats going on around the characters as the action is taking place.

we will add other non diegetic sounds to create tension or suspense among the audience, this will be to give them an indication of whats to come or to tease them but also drawing them into the the story more and more.

Sound plays an essential part within a movie production. It help creates different connotations, emotions, interpretations and expectations for the audience.

 The sounds that I plan to use in my thriller:

- Non diegetic sound will be used when the female victim opens her eyes from the first nightmare she has. This is used to build up tension slowly and create fear for the audience as the sound will be sudden and unexpcted.

- A soundtrack/non-digetic sound will also be used when the female victim is in the kitchen. This has been chosen because it builds up tension and prepares the audience for something bad ahead. This is conventional to the thriller genre because it will create fear and tension for the audience.

- Diegetic sound of screaming is being used when the female victim is being attacked by the antagonist. This will be done to show the audience the level of fear that the victim is experiencing.

- Non diegetic sound will then be used again when the female victim opens her eyes from the second nightmare. This will be done to shock the audience as they wont realise that she was dreaming within a dream.

 

Planning: Editing

In our thriller we will use various editing techniques to engage our audience and to help the pace and smoothness of the scene.

we plan to use slow editing at key moments to highlight what is going on and to make the audience aware of whats happening. this will give the audience time to absorb whats going on and allow them to generate thoughts aand feelings and what they've witnessed

The editing that I plan to use in my thriller:

- Fast editing will be used when the female victim is being attacked by the antagonist. I have chosen to use this to make the scene happens in a faster paced to builds up tension and puts the audience to the edge of their seats. This is conventional to thriller because tension and suspense is being created towards the audience as they are witnessing the female victim who's being brutally attacked.

- Straight cut and shot reverse shot will also be used when the antagonist is attacking the female victim. I have chosen to use this to creates a sensational action within this scene and puts the audience to their climax. This is conventional to thriller because it helps to creates different connotations within the audience to questions themselves about why is the antagonist have chosen to attack the female victim.

- Slow editing will be used when the female victim falls to the floor. I have chosen to use this to make a dramatic fall of the female victim. This is conventional to thriller as the audience will feel sympathy towards the female character after being continuously stabbed by the antagonist.

 Conclusion:

- I have identified all the cinematography, sounds and editing that I planned to use in my thriller and this has been taken from my storyboard and is something I will consider when editing.