INITIAL SHOT LIST.

SHOT LIST - 


(This was our initial idea for our thriller, when shooting we then realised it wasnt tension building or suspensful enough as there was no element of fear. )

• The first shot located in a normal bedroom and is an over shoulder shot of a girl looking at a picture of her and someone else both looking quite close together. Diegetic sound of the girl crying will be shown enabling the audience to feel for the character. 

• It then cuts to a close up shot of her crying which enables the audience to get to know the character and see the characters distressed emotions. The audience should already be left in suspense and should start to question why this girl is crying? and what relevance does it have to this picture? Who is the other character in the picture? 

• This then cuts to a mid close up shot of the female character standing in her bedroom and there is a  window in the shot as well with the character underneath showing the audience the location and the window could bring light into the situation.

• This cuts to the camera then zooming into the window and then you see the title of the film which is currently undecided. Also whilst the camera is zooming into one of the window frames the sound of the girl crying gets quieter and this shot fades to the next scene.

• It then cuts to a close up shot of the lift buttons also showing some of the lift door, the female character is then shown pressing the button on the lift, the camera shows a close up shot of her hand pushing the button. It shows the importance of her entering the lift as you don't know what could happen when she enters the lift, it leaves you in suspense. You can also hear the diegetic sound of the lift coming down, as it is a diegetic sound it adds tension to what's happening. The door then opens and you see the character walk into the lift, the audience can see the character in the lift as the doors close but only not all of her, giving a sense of ambiguity  to the scene. 

• Cut to a shot of the character looking ahead into the distance, this will be a close up shot so the audience can get to know this character. The character will have headphones in whilst she is standing in the lift and there will be diegetic sound of the music the character is listening to, however it the audience will only be able to slightly hear the music as the audience would be put in the perspective of someone nearby that character who can only hear a quiet sound. This gives the illusion that there may be another character near by but your never sure if there is or not.

• Cuts to an over shoulder shot of the character walking out of the lift as the door is opening.The diegetic sound in this shot will be of the female characters footsteps. You then see her look at someone however you cant see who she is looking at but an over shoulder shot of that character is shown walking into the lift.

• This then cuts to a shot of dingy looking toilet, the camera then pans across the toilet cubical's, this will set the scene and show the audience what a grim place it is. The female character then enters the toilet whilst taking her headphones out and walks into one of the cubical's and shuts the door.

• You see a close up shot of her sitting in the cubicle in distress looking petrified, there's something about this other male character that has threatened her and the audience are left in anticipation on what has happened between them. You then see an over the should shot of her looking at the same photo she was looking at in the beginning. Background noise of someone entering the toilet will appear, we know this by the sound of footsteps.
• Cuts to a point of view shot of the female character who is about to gradually open the door.This could make the character and the audience both seem vulnerable as there is no clue as to what might happen in the next few seconds. 

• The last shot shows the door opened and the male character standing right behind it looking menacing and powerful. He looks a lot bigger than her in the shot showing his dominance over her showing her vulnerable she is. However the audience are still not able to see his face clearly making the situation even more ambiguous.

• There would be ambient lighting used throughout to make everything seem more realistic and as the locations are dully lit this creates a tense eerie atmosphere.

Extra shots I thought we could include

-There could be a mirror shot where the camera just focuses on her reflection in the mirror, making the character seem more isolated and shows the intimacy's of being alone. It also allows the audience to see her emotions and get to know this character more.
- A point of view shot could also be used when the female character is hiding from the other leaving a tense atmosphere as your left unsure as to what will happen to this girl.
-When in the lift the girl may have dropped something that you see on her beforehand, for example a ring or a bracelet, she could be wearing a ring when she presses the button the lift but then suddenly after seeing the ambiguous figure the ring is on the floor in the cubicle which could be the last shot.

Characters + Costumes
-Female character- hopefully played by Alice. She is a vulnerable character - maybe she has gone through a lot in her life, audience are left unsure as to what has really happened to her.

Male character- He is a menacing character currently not cast. He should play a dominant fearful role making those around him feel threatened. His costume could show what kind of character he is- maybe arrogant and powerful due to a leather jacket or big black cowboy style boots which is also shown the film Kill Bill where you can tell what kind of character Bill is just by seeing what he is wearing. Another character like this is shown in Essex Boys and is Jason who wears fake gold jewellery and striking shirts showing his fake yet powerful and threatening personality.

Locations (pictures due to be put up shortly)
-A bedroom sets the first scene which will have hardly any objects in it and nothing that could give an idea of this characters personality. Set in a dingy public toilet and a poorly lit lift with little daylight in both- showing the cut off from what's happening and reality. This location is like in Witness where the little boy is looking though what is happening through the door this is also a grim dirty location making everything seem more gritty and fearful.

Reservoir dogs clip analysis

Directed by Quentin Tarentino in 1992 this film shows the difficulties that occur when five criminals are hired to carry out a jewellery robbery. Showing thriller conventions throughout to add not only fear but suspense as well to this crime thriller. Mostly shot in a dark grim warehouse making the crime seem more vulgar and wrong, this is a generic location for a thriller film because there isn't much natural light entering in it meaning that it makes the place feel more claustrophobic, and that there is no escape. Also as it is a dark and bleak place it reflects on what's happening as whatever happens seems twice as bad because of where it is situated, it makes the audience feel uneasy about what's happening. 

                                     Ironically right in the middle of this film the song 'Stuck In The Middle With You' is played as an introduction to a horrific torture scene involving the character 'Mr Blonde' and the cop that they held hostage.You see Mr Blonde dance to this music it this is ironic as you would normally expect a dance scene to be featured in a film where something good is happening whereas this completely contrasts this and makes what's happening seem even worse. When listening to the lyrics to this song it tells you that maybe the cop is wondering how he got into this situation and is scared he won't make it through this torturous situation alive. You could say that the cop being tortured is stuck in the middle, as the officers shouldn't have let the situation get so out of control and the criminals are on the other side who are leading him to potential death. A particular lyric that stood out to me which if you listen to carefully gives you an insight to what's happening, "It's so hard to keep the smile off my face" this could be because he knows that there is an undercover cop there too and that the cops are outside waiting to bust the operation make the torture stop. Also Mr Blonde seems to be in control of everything but really everything will get out of his control sooner or later and the cop knows this which relates him to the lyrics of this particular song. 

Particular shots that stand out in this film which set the genre and add suspense is the 'trunk and hood' point of view shot, Quentin Tarentino showed this shot when the Mr Blonde shows two of his accomplices the cop that he kidnapped and put into the trunk of his car. This shot is also featured in another one of Tarentinos films which is Kill Bill when the bride is looking into the trunk of the car at the character Sofie Fatale. This shot is from the point of view of the character in the trunk, it enables the audience to feel threatened as they can see what's happening though that characters eyes and makes them feel vulnerable. This particular shot also makes the three characters in the shot seem more dominant and therefore signifies their power.

Another shot used in this film which adds suspense to this film is a mirror shot of the character looking at themselves in the mirror but the camera only shows their reflection in the mirror. This enables the character to reflect upon a certain situation that may have happened. Also it tells the audience the character is alone and lets them get to know the character more. They can do this as it is a close up shot of his face, showing his reaction to what he can see in the mirror. There is also another scene where the undercover cop also known as Mr Orange looks into a mirror at himself before covering his real identity with a new nasty persona.


When watching this dramatic scene this shot particularly stood out to me due to the tension and fact you're left unsure as to who will be left dead. I researched what this particular shot is called and it is 'The Mexican Stand-Off', it is when two or more opponents aim at each other with guns. This shot was originated in the western 'The Good The Bad and The Ugly'. It is very effective in this scene as it leaves the audience in suspense, also Mr White is shown defending Mr Orange who is badly injured. The pool of blood around him and his arm are slightly covering Mr Whites legs in this shot which could signify that he's going to be the next one to die.

Costume- Throughout this film you see the criminals wearing smart black and white suits, the character 'Nice guy' who is Eddie Cabot doesn't wear the suits making him stand out more,He wears his normal clothes meaning that he isn't fake. As most of them are wearing the same suit this indicates that they all have a bond together, and operate like a pack of dogs. Their costume plays a big part in this film as it gives you an idea of what kind of characters these people are as subconsciously people judge others by what they wear. So these characters are trying to show off that they may have a lot of money and that they are typical gangsters and that it would be a mistake to mess with them.

Props-

Image analysis of screen shot from "Thelma and Louis" Ridley Scott (1991)

Location- Shot in a car park which is ordinary place making the events which are happening seem more dramatic and realistic. You can where it is from just seeing this screen shot because first of all there is a van in the background. This is a generic location for a thriller film as car parks can sometimes be claustrophobic closed in places as seen in Essex Boys. This creates tension as it might make the character feel trapped as if there is no way out.

Characters- This shot shows a dominant women holding a gun up to a less powerful man. This changes the normal female stereotype and shows her standing up for herself and how she's not being pushed around by a man. This is similar to the female characters in Kill Bill who also play dominant aggressive roles who stand up for themselves. Quentin Tarentino shows how fierce and brave women can be in that film, where they are not afraid to strike revenge.

Lighting- Non-ambient lighting is shown in this shot which adds fear and suspense as it is not natural light meaning that it isn't shot in a public place so therefore sinister events can occur more easily. This lighting is also shown in Essex Boys creating a frightful atmosphere to a normal place. You focus on the barrel of the gun in this shot because the light reflects on to it, this is done to draw your attention to it and to signify its importance to the scene.

Camera angle- A medium close up of both of the characters is shown, a close up shot is particularly used so the audience can see both characters facial expressions and reactions to what's happening. This enables the audience to establish with the characters, as you get to know the female character in this shot as a dominant powerful women, whereas from his facial expression you see the male character as criminal, as he looks annoyed that he has been caught. The female character is taking up most of this shot which also signifies her importance and power, she is taking control over the man instead of him feeling in control which he shows in the scenes before hand. 

Essex Boys analysis

                           Made in 2000, Essex Boys is based around the events in 1995 of the murders of three drug dealers. This film displays great conventions of a thriller film with particular shots which would be good inspiration of what to put in a thriller opening. With opening credits of the actors names with sinister lines scratching on the screen in different directions giving off an eerie feel to it already without the film properly starting. The first shot shows a man walking into a dismal garage which opens as the shot begins with a car in it. Chiaroscuro lighting is used to connote the point of focus this gives of the illusion sense of a nightmare. Noir lighting is used to firstly show the theme of the film and also it could be used to pay tribute to other older thrillers made which incorporate noir lighting, for example the film The Maltese Falcon made in 1941 and considered to be the very first film noir.

                    Located in a dingy ancient looking garage which is a very claustrophobic space as well making it seem even more grim and somewhere you wouldn't really like to go, it also makes you feel as if your behind closed doors, this shows a sense of ambiguity to the film. The first bit of dialogue you hear is the voice over of one of the main characters Billy, this gives the audience a chance to warm to him as they would feel he's talking to them and as it is from his point of view it allows them to get to know him as a character. The location of this film is shown through cultural signifiers, for example road signs the voice over of the opening to this film shows Billy's Essex accent which connects to the title of the film and enables the audience to get to know him more. 

The next shot is a medium close up revealing a new character (Jason) we see him through a dirty car windscreen and he has a shadow across half of his face which could signify two parts to his personality, maybe one part is menacing. It is a point of view shot as the camera is positioned where Billy is sitting in the car so you can see what's happening though his eyes. He's shown wearing a leather jacket and rather striking shirt, showing that this character is rather arrogant, this is similar to the character Bill in Kill Bill, so compares well with his character. 

                     

We then see a point of view shot of the car with the only characters we've been shown so far driving through a dark tunnel. The car looks as though it is driving through a confined space as it is a long shot making the car seem smaller. As the car goes further into the tunnel the tunnel starts to resemble the barrel of a gun, which also relates to the genre of this film as it shows stereotypical crime aspects. Another element of this shot which nearly tells you something bad is going to happen is the 'STAY IN LINE' writing on the ground which is almost telling Billy to stay where they are and not go on any further. There is also two stops signs on either side of the tunnel as they are about to approach it which is almost blocking them from entering, making the tunnel seem like a dangerous path for them to take.

  

 There is a brilliant medium shot of the character we were first introduced to (Billy), it shows the light from the tunnel reflecting in the shape of prison bars on to the windscreen. This shot is significant as it is showing that Billy is being introduced into the criminal world, it gives the audience an idea of what may happen to these characters and what kind of people they might be.

This shot shows that Billy is overlooking everything that's happening, he is watching behind the windscreen of the van which shows the comparison of the two characters. The white van adds to the fear of the scene as it implies that anything could happen and then disguised in the back of the van, this adds a sense of mystery to the events. Billy's character compares to the character Josh in Animal Kingdom, as like Billy he knows about all these crimes  his friends and family are committing around him, yet he's not actively changing it but neither is he joining in and become a part of them.

The audience get to see the attack happening through Billy's point of view this lets the audience connect with the character and see everything through his eyes. It also makes the scene more realistic as you feel that your there too experiencing the events. This is a good shot to use in a thriller as the fact it is a point of view shot creates suspense because you feel like your their witnessing the crime which adds to the fear of it.


The next scene is located at Essex marshes, the location shows what a violent, dangerous man Jason is as he has not only seriously hurt the victim but has found a remote location to dump him on. This scene shows Jason's moral bankruptcy as the fact that he dumps this seriously injured man off in a grim isolated place with no care at all shows what kind of character he is. As soon as the man from the back of the van tries to escape Jason continues to beat him up even more whilst shouting at him. To finish this violent attack off, he pushes the man into dirty water, this shows his lack of empathy and morals. The landscape is bleak and desolate, it also very isolated meaning that it would take a long time for this man to be found. Dreary colours are shown in this landscape as if anything good about it has been washed out, it is also very dead looking which could signify that it is a dangerous place to be. This is a generic location for Thrillers, it has all the aspects of what you would expect a thriller to have in it. It contrasts to the end scene in Heavenly Creatures where it is filmed in a bright, appealing location, making the murder seem even worse because you wouldn't expect something like that to happen there.

           
Terry Windosr utilises thriller conventions in a variety of ways in this shot, first of all the location is a big signifier of a typical thriller convention. The dreariness of the location shows the audience straight away that this is a crime thriller. It shows an old unused car which is filthy that Billy has to fight his way through. Diegetic sound is shown through this scene as you hear the sound of the garage door, and the car starting, this makes the scene more realistic and adds suspense.

        The brightest source of light in this image is the street light situated next to Billy this is chiaroscuro lighting which is featured in most thriller films. This lighting gives an more eerie feel to the film This shot from the film The Big Sleep shows perfectly noir lighting often added to newer thrillers.

Heavenly Creatures analysis

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Based on a true story, this film is a a biopic which is about two young girls (Pauline Parker and Juliet Hulme) who conspire to kill Paulines mothers when she tries to end and interferes with their intense, obsessive relationship. This is the murder scene showing great shots which show a lot of thriller conventions, for example a lot of close ups on the time. For example before they all go out there is a close up on the clock in their house, as time is a very important factor, as when there is a crime happening the police always like to know what time it happened so the clock then symbolises that a crime is going to happen. Another factor of this clip which adds to suspense is that when they are walking it is in slight slow motion showing a dream like feel to what’s happening, this makes you feel that it is unrealistic. It also shocks you as you then think is this really happening? You know something awful is about to happen by the intensity of it, you can see in the girls faces that they are going to do something horrific and your just waiting for it to happen. Peter Jackson creates a lot of suspense in the finale of this film as it looks as though they are having a normal walk but really it is building up to a climax, which is the brutal murder.
                        
The location of this film is somewhat glamorous compared to most thrillers as instead of the normal dreary and dismal locations displayed it shows the beautiful landscape of Christchurch which adds to the authenticity of the film. It’s not a stereotypical thriller location meaning that it contrasts to other thrillers and makes this film more chilling as you wouldn't expect a murder to happen there which adds ambiguity. This location also challenges generic conventions as it turns something lyrical, which is the beautiful scenery and sound of birds singing in the background, to a rather diabolical place when you then hear the angry screams of both of the girls. The place where they go for a walk has very narrow pathways showing that there mother is trapped with them and won't be able to escape, this adds to the fear as the audience can see how in danger there mother is. There is the shot which shows the narrow pathway there mother is going to take, this shows that there is no going back for the three characters. T
                                             

Continual close up shots of all the characters feet are shown throughout there walk to symbolise the importance of the journey they are about to embark upon. Not only are they physically going on a journey but they are mentally as they are changing from being innocent school girls to being murderers, challenging the stereotypes of how young girls should act.




The character Honora Parker Rieper is shown in the mise-en-scene with a bright light reflected onto her face, this indicates her importance to what is going to happen. I think this is a great shot to signify a characters importance and is a good shot to use in a thriller, as it not only shows the audience that something significant is going to happen with that character, but it also shows that character as being innocent. This is represents religion as if someone was to go to heaven you picture a bright light coming down on them, so this could symbolise her death as some people may say you go to heaven when you die, so maybe this a clue that her death or something dreadful is about to happen.

A close up of Juliets hands held together is shown to show that she is nervous about the events about to unfold, and signifies that she may be unsure about whether she is about to do the right thing. The soundtrack played throughout their walk is called "The intermezzo" from Puccinis opera "Madam Butterfly". This specific soundtrack may have been use as it shows lyricism which counteracts with the brutality of what happens in the finale. It adds a lot of suspense to the clip as well as it goes perfectly with the scenery and builds up the tension of what's about to happen, as although the audience will suspect something awful to happen, the sudden contrast in sound may shock them.

Witness (Peter Weir) clip analysis

Peter Weir has used many thriller conventions throughout this clip to establish what genre this film is and to give an effective tense and fearful scene that you would expect a thriller to have. 

Camera shots+movement
An opening shot of a medium close up of the young Amish boy which is also a slightly low angle shot showing his importance to the film and how important he will be. Cuts to a panning shot of the statue where the camera is where the boy is, looking up at the statue showing him a new culture from what he is used to. It is a low angle which shows how significant the religious statue is.The cut between the statue and child shows the child's curiosity and admiration towards the statue and life in general.Cuts to a high angle shot of the station showing the child's vulnerability and how insignificant and alone he seems to be. The rule of thirds is incorporated in this as it shows straight away what part of the shot the audience would be most strongly drawn towards first. 
                                                 Cut to a long shot of the child and his mother  to establish where they are, they are sitting alone in the station showing how isolated and different they are, as it is so empty it suggests something threatening will happen making them seem vulnerable. The shot shows a vanishing point where you don't quite know where it leads to, the child then walks towards the vanishing point showing how he is a brave character as he is very young and is walking around a deserted station alone.
                                                 Cut to a close up shot of a new character from a low angle showing that this character has significance to the film. A shot of the child is shown in the gap between the door showing that he is able to see what is going which builds up the suspense. There is a close up of the child's eyes to show he's been watching everything that's happening. Each shot only really shows the characters head and shoulders so the audience can see their reactions to what is happening and there expressions, particularly the young boy when witnessing the murder. When the attack is happening you only see it from the child's point of view meaning that you don't see everything that happens which builds up the tension and adds to the fear of it. A close up shot of the boys hands frantically locking the door is then shown then cuts to him standing without his hat on suggesting a Christ figure as his arms are positioned like a crucifix would look which shows the significance of religion and culture in this film. 
                                               Cut to a shot of the police man and then the iconic entrance of Harrison Ford a well known actor and a main character in this film, he enters surrounded by people showing his importance to the film.


Sound
Non-diegetic sound begins this scene as there is a soundtrack playing first of all this cuts to no sound but a dialogue which is diegetic sound which is known as normal background noises, for example footsteps. There is no music playing and as it is then diegetic sound this makes it more realistic so adds suspense. When the man is being attacked there is no dialogue meaning there is non-diegetic sound, this makes the scene more dramatic. Also non-diegetic sound is used in that particular moment because dialogue would be a distraction to what's going on and wouldn't be needed to add to the fear of it. There is then a shot of the man's feet as he is opening the toilet doors during this non diegetic and diegetic sound is used to increase the tension and to build up an intimidating atmosphere. 


Lighting
Ambiant lighting is used in this scene which is non-artificial lighting to show how grim the station is as it is low saturation showing washed out colours making the location seem more eerie. When an important character enters the colour blue is in the background which shows he will be a good character as blue is symbolic as being dependable and trustworthy. 


Mise-en-scene
The young boy's costume first of all shows that his family have a traditional life as he wears Amish clothes, also he wears a hat which looks like a halo showing his innocence in the film. The location is a very empty nearly deserted train station which is fearful, but although it is just a normal place people would visit daily that makes it more threatening as you wouldn't normally expect something frightening to occur there. In the murder scene, the toilets are filthy and are a claustrophobic unglamorous place. One of the murderers is wearing a suit which matches the dreary disgusting colour of the toilets showing how worthless he is, however his tie is bright red signifying danger as it resembles the colour of blood.


Representation
This film shows a big representation of gender as the traditional mother stereotype is portrayed in the boys mother and in contrast the men have the high careers showing that there is sexism still going on as they are seen to be more important than women. There is also a negative representation in this film of race, as traditional views still stand as early on in the film there is a black man who is one of the murderers.

Pulp fiction- Opening scene

The opening to Pulp Fiction shows a perfect example of obeying the 180 degree rule when filming. It also shows a shot reverse shot showing that a conversation is happening and as the 180 degree rule is obeyed the audience wont be confused of who is talking. Another example is a tennis or rugby match where the 180 degree rule is abided by so the audience know which side each teams goal is.

Kill Bill Vol.1 - Opening Scene

Directed by Quentin Tarentino this clip is a opening to a Thriller film, using Thriller conventions and specific ways to draw the viewer in. The first establishing shot is a high angle close up of the brides agonized face showing her serious wounds. The diegetic sounds of her breathing shows you straight away that something frightening is happening and creates a tense atmosphere. You can also here the sound of footsteps in the background creating suspense and showing someone else is entering.
                                                   It cuts to a tracking close up shot of someones shoes signifying an intimidating character. It then cuts back to the brides face showing how petrified she looks when hearing the character approach her. The bride and the footsteps are connected to establish the relationship with the male character and the bride, it also shows the difference in power between the bride and the anonymous shoes.Then the first dialogue in the film is the males voice who says "Do you find me sadistic?" whilst the camera is showing a continual close up on the bride to show her reactions to whats happening. This also makes the audience warm to her as she is the only character they know so far and the male is unknown to them so they would have sympathy for her.
                                                  There is also a shot of the males napkin with his name Bill on it to show what kind of character he is, and that he is clearly quite arrogant. All shot in black and white to add two effects, firstly to create either a flashback effect or give it a creepy feel, or secondly to pay tribute to other older thrillers, for example the Hitchcock classic Psycho which also has Noir lighting. Ending with a horrific cliff hanger of a gun shot this opening scene estabilishes the thriller genre which the director wanted to show the audience.

THE OTHERS- possible case study

This film could be thought of as a supernatural thriller with an old fashioned touch to it as it is set towards the end of the Second World War. Nicole Kidman stars as the lead role in the film playing a very intense character who becomes convinced that her family home is haunted. She is a mother of two who is waiting for her husband to come back from the War, leaving her feeling lonely and showing early signs of depression. Her children are photo-sensitive to light meaning that they are forced to live in darkness. This just makes the massive house they live in more creepy and is ironic as the film is visually dark and mentally dark. Also your left in the dark for most of this film as your never really sure whether there is some kind of supernatural events happening in the house or is it just to give suspense and keep you in anticipation when watching it. The ending will either really surprise you or you may have suspected it all along, but I think how it is revealed is shocking and terrifying making you feel surprised whether you suspected it or not.

BLACK SWAN- possible case study

   

One of my favorite films, A psychological thriller set in New York City, where a very vulnerable character (Natalie Portman) and talented ballet dancer finds herself locked in believing she is turning into 'the black swan'. She has a split personality and has frequent hallucinations as she gets wrapped up in the world of the Black Swan. You see the terrifying journey of her life with twists and turns throughout, you slowly see her develop a mental illness which is very interesting and could be seen to be outraging to watch as some of the scenes are rather disturbing. The main character (Nina) becomes obsessed with her lead role in the Ballet show that she starts to get in touch with her dark side which shows her split personality, beginning to threaten her career as a dancer and her sanity. Winning awards for its cinematography and showing great performances this film is the plot of a good thriller. However you could argue that it is a mix of different genres but the key aspects of a thriller film are included in Black Swan. For example in many scenes in which Nina is alone, you see her fragile mind start to buckle under the pressure of her life as a ballerina.

How has Working Title adapted to changes in the film industry?

How has working title adapted to changes in the film industry?
Working Title, like everything, has adapted to big changes and developments in the film industry. Originally founded by Tim Beven and Sarah Radclyffe in 1984 it continually progressed producing many popular feature films, making a profit of £17.8 million in 2004 alone. Among the company’s many films, Richard Curtis was best known for writing Rom-Coms such as, ‘Love Actually’, ‘Bridget Jones’, ‘Four Weddings And A Funeral’ and ‘Notting Hill’. ‘Love Actually’ is an example of a film which was packaged to appeal to particularly the US market, featuring the popular typical British actor Hugh Grant who sells the film himself as romantic comedies written by Richard Curtis and starring Hugh Grant have provided Working Title Films with a massive profit.  Set in London with many shots of Buckingham Palace appealed to the US market as it a big part of British Culture. Also the mix of British and American actors makes the film appealing to an international audience. 
                                                                The way Working Title packages its films increases DVD sales as popular actors are included in the films which appeals to the audience, also being one of the most successful British companies influences people to want to watch the films as they must be pretty good. Another key feature of Working Title which increases DVD sales is its choice in genre, as it is never controversial and is well liked for the majority audience. Another way the films are packaged for DVD sales is the way in which they are aimed for the international market meaning an increase in DVD sales as the films are global. An example of this is the film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; the filming locations are in Hungary, Turkey and England as well meaning that this film is aiming to appeal to the European market by showing different locations. Directed by a Swedish director, financed by France and a great British cast, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is marketed to the European market. It shows that European film makers can now finance big productions independently.
                                                                Whether you prefer to watch films at a cinema or at the comfort of your own home there will always be films available for everyone to see, although many people like to illegally download there films, cinema going is still popular. A current Working Title film which is shown in the local multiplex Vue, is 'Johnny English Reborn' it is a sequel and is an action/comedy with a popular actor added to create the package, Rowan Atkinson. The budget of this film is currently N/A, however an example of another  Working Title film is 'Paul' which has an estimated budget of $40,000,000, showing that the CGI effects in this film increased the budget. This film is an adventure/ comedy with a bit of Sci-fi in it as well, appealing to a wide range of people. As A list actors are also included in this film it some people may watch it to see the actors, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg who are known for being in popular comedies. 'Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang' is another popular Working Title film aimed specifically at children and families with its comedy/fantasy genre. Like a lot of Working Title films it contains well known faces to increase the popularity of it, for example Emma Thompson and Bill Bailey. It has an estimated budget of  $35,000,000 showing that a lot of money went in to this film to make it a success and make the special effects realistic. 
                                                             Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, a British film produced by Working Title was not financed by  Universal, as they were not prepared to take the risk, Studio Canal of France financed this film instead. Reasons for Universal not wanting to finance this new film could be due to the fact that they want a film that they are positive will be popular for a wide audience and will bring in a big profit. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is an ambiguous film meaning it isn't for everyone and isn't a typical Working Title film like Love Actually that a lot of people would go to see. As soon as international production company's got a look at this film and saw it as a success Universe took control and decided to distribute Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy in the UK. The estimated budget for this film is 30 million US dollars showing that being financed by a big production company is vital. 
                                                        A particular Working Title title film which has been packaged to appeal to global markets is the film 'Wild Child', a cast of American actors and British immediately broadens the audience and creates an international market. Financed by Universal this film had a estimated budget of $20,000,000, and was distributed internationally as well as in the UK. Other key features of this film include the Rom-com genre targeted to appeal to all audiences meaning it widens the target market. Showing a stereotypical view of a posh English boarding school, it shows what international viewers would expect to see.
This film reminds me of the film 'Mean Girls' clashed with the English chick flick  'St Trinian's' and filled with cliches, meaning that it adds a taste of what English Rom Coms are like to American ones to widen the audience and appeal to a global market.

Preliminary task

This is the video my group made for the preliminary task, the actors were me and Emily, it was filmed and directed by James and Serena. This short film was edited by me and James using the editing software.

How are new technologies affecting the ways in which we consume films?

New technologies are affecting the way in which we consume film because due to computers we can now watch films online without having to leave our homes to see a new film. Cinema going is still high, however due to the new technology 11.1% of film consumption is by watching films recorded on TV. The rise in percentage on how many people watch films illegally makes it harder to profit from film as less people go to the cinema as they can watch new films from the comfort of their own home. Due to technology the new most popular way of film viewing is on live television as you don’t have to go anywhere to watch it and you can store and record films to watch any time you like. Online streaming has led to a higher percentage of 5.5% of 16-24 year olds who now use it to watch new films, this shows that this age group would rather watch films online as it is free and because they use technology so much very easy to access. However the percentage of 16-24 year olds who go the cinema is also a high percentage as it is a social activity for them.
                                     New technology such as 3D films bring more and more people into the cinema whatever age group they are, this is because it makes film viewing exciting. Also you wouldn’t be able to get the same effects through online streaming meaning the cinema becomes more popular. They have generated £241.8 million in the UK proving how popular and profitable it is. Like all technology cinemas are progressively changing and have done throughout 1999-2010. Multiplex screens have been brought into the UK from 1999 this shows that although new technology has affected the ways in which we consume films there is still a high demand for cinema going as 75.4% of screens in 2010 are multiplex.  
                                      The profitability of the video/DVD market has slowly risen from 1999-2004. This shows that the more technology had advanced the more it was used. From 2004 to 2010 It was uneven meaning that more people are starting to watch films online so therefore they don’t need to buy DVDs. By 2010 the figures dropped dramatically as there was a less demand for renting DVDs as they can be accessed with the new technology in other ways without having to pay. For example films can be accessed via live television, online streaming, recorded television, piracy, or legal downloading. The figures for the total audience for feature films on television has a huge effect on the way we watch film as 4 million people use digital TV to watch films meaning less people will go to the cinema. Film consumption at home is changing because there are now so many different ways of consuming films that it is more possible to stay at home instead of leaving your house to watch a new film.

Evaluation

Planning
In  preparation for the preliminary task our group came up with a script and a storyline of what we would film. Emily and me were the actors, we had a conversation about a job interview which i was about to have, I then realize that I'm late and rush off which ends the scene and is the 'dramatic' moment. We wrote down a shot list so we could make sure to include the key shots to make it look as good as possible and to complete the task correctly. We also made a story board giving us a clear idea of what camera shots we will do and how the scenes will look. We decided to do a linear narrative meaning that it would have a sequential narrative with a beginning, a middle and an end.
                           Planning was useful to us because it meant we didn't miss out on using any particular shots and writing a script before hand meant that we wouldn't forget what to say and keeps everything organized. We changed slightly from our plans as the room we first decided on filming in didn't work out well as there was a lot of background noise so we filmed elsewhere, apart from that, we stuck to our plan. An example of the planning I did is this shot list:

Shot 1: Birds eye view of me sleeping with book over my face cut to
Shot 2: Long shot of me laying on chair sleeping, cut to
Shot 3: Birds eye view of Emily walking down the corridor, cut to
Shot 4: Medium close up of Emily walking through the door and into the room, cut to
Shot 5: Medium close up of me waking up and the book falling off me, cut to me picking up my book then Emily walks in, cut to
Shot 6: A Shot reverse shot of me and Emily having a conversation, cut to
Shot 7: A long shot of the conversation with me and Emily sitting opposite each other.
Shot 8: Extreme close up of me holding a phone, time then changes on the phone, cut to
Shot 9: Me running out of the room then cut to a long shot of me running down the corridor for my job interview. 

Camera skills
The camera skills i have developed and gained knowledge on are most importantly the shot reverse shot which was used to show our conversation which is the main part of the scene. When doing so I learnt about the 180 degree rule and how you can break it, if you do it can confuse the viewers. My confidence with using the cameras has grown as I now know basic techniques when using them and how certain shots portray a particular emotion. The area I most lack confidence in when using the cameras is making sure that I don't break the 180 degree rule as it is so important when filming. However, after practicing I feel I will be able to gain confidence using the cameras and making sure I don't break the 180 degree rule! When shooting our preliminary task continuity was an issue as we filmed on two different days so my clothes were slightly different the second day so I have to make sure I wear the same clothes if it happens again.

Editing skills 
When completing the Preliminary task I had to use the editing software for the first time, my first task was to learn how to transfer and capture the filming we done on the camera onto the computer. Once on the editing program I found out how to cut particular parts of the video that we didn't want by using the 'in and out' buttons to choose the exact parts of the filming we want and to cut out the bits we didn't want. I then was able to transfer what we wanted onto the time line to create the best clip possible. I'm still not overly confident with editing after practice and learning which buttons do which thing I'll be able to edit without panicking too much!

Notting Hill Movie (1999) - HD Trailer #1

Notting Hill is a Romantic comedy which is a light, entertaining film to watch. The key feature which is used to sell this film is the popular genre, Romance. The audience is an important part of a genre meaning that the viewer has to recognise the genre elements which they most prefer. Although there is so many Rom Com films out there, viewers never tire of seeing them and they are still increasingly popular. Another main addition to selling this film has to be the A list cast, Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts are the main characters. More Brit Rom-coms such as Love actually and Bridget Jones Diary also star Hugh Grant as he has become an iconic figure in this genre. The soundtrack of this film includes popular music and the typical British Rom Com location in London which appeals to the audience. It also features a reasonably accurate representation of stardom in the narrative and the way it portrays the press and paparazzi is very accurate which makes the film more realistic and believable. Another aspect of this film which sells itself to the audience is that it is a best selling novel meaning that as the novel is popular the film must be pretty decent. Also what sells this film to the audience from watching this trailer is the romance and chemistry between two very different types of people which makes the audience have the idea in their head that anyone can fall in love.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Official Trailer [HD]

 This film Tinker Tailor Soldier Sailor is a mysterious thriller. Colin Firth influences people to watch this film, and is a way of marketing the film as if you see that famous actors are in a certain film it may persuade you to see that film. This trailer sells this film as a dramatic thriller, it gives you the impression that it is a dark and sinister tale which has a complex plot. When you see this trailer you expect a fast paced film with suspense and anticipation. Every character in this film seems suspicious making this trailer leave you confused, but keen to figure out the plot. You are left with unanswered questions once you have watched the trailer as its leaving you with questions deliberately to show you that it is ambiguous and also to hold your attention. I think it involves you into the film as you feel like you are solving the mystery, there are quick shots of all the characters meaning one of them is the answer to the mystery. 

CAMERA ANGLES

Bird's eye view-

This adds to audience appeal giving the audience a different view of the action.

              

Over the shoulder



This shot allows you to establish the location and the action. 

The over the shoulder shot looks like somebody is following the person placing the audience in position of the character.


   
                                                  

Long shot

Medium close up

                           This shot brings focus to the characters.

Worm's eye view

   

This shot is often used to  indicate fear it allows the audience to view events from a character's vulnerable perspective. 

Tilt shot

This shot is to show confusion and disorientation sometimes indicating a nightmare.

Extreme close up

This is used to closely identify with a character or with an action. It is often used to symbolise horror in a film. For example the close up of Marion Crane's dead eye in "Psycho".

High angle

This is the kind of shot you would use to show insignificance or vulnerability.

Low angle

This one gives the opposite effect to the high angle shot as this one gives the character a status of power and menace.