Final cut- "Red Snow"

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Question 7) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Since completing my preliminary task I have learnt a lot of new skills which have helped me complete my thriller, an example is editing. When editing my preliminary task I struggled due to lack of experience and practise and developed a basic edit of my preliminary task. However, when editing my thriller after a lot of practise and asking a few questions on how to do particular things (eg: sound bridging) I began to feel a lot more confident with my editing skills. I was able to add special effects to my thriller like cross dissolves and compared to my preliminary tasks the edit was a lot more clear. However, without completing my preliminary task I would not have had basic editing skills which enabled me to improve with practice.
              Another important element of doing my preliminary task which helped me in creating our thriller was shooting, as when shooting our thriller we learnt many things. For example continuity as we filmed different shots on different days we had to make sure that the actors in our thriller wore the same costume each time. This became an issue as on one occasion I wore a slightly different costume which would have ruined the continuity of our thriller. Also since doing our preliminary task my ability to plan effectively has improved as I have learnt how important it is when making our thriller. For example, making storyboards and creating a shot list was vital as it gave us an idea of what our idea will look like, however once filming our plan it didn't work out as expected due to the lack of suspense and tension the shots created. Our first idea for our thriller also didnt work out as we didnt stick to the original storyboard and ended up shooting random scenes. Therefore our final idea for our thriller worked out a lot better due to stronger planning and a shot list that we kept with us when shooting, enabling us to include the shots we wanted which were the most effective.
             Working in a group was something we had to adapt to due to our differences in opinions and when we were all free to complete the shoot. We worked well in creating the idea of our thriller and giving everyone different responsibilities, for example choosing the different actors and deciding on what shot worked best for particular scenes. Some of our group made their own edit and me and another member of my group worked together on our edit to put together both of our ideas of what will look the most effective.


Examples of camera work that I have learned since completely my preliminary task are first of all shot reverse shot which was an important element of our preliminary task to indicate a conversation taking place.Also obeying the 180 degree rule was crucial when filming our preliminary task to avoid confusion for the audience.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.By following this rule the film maker can be sure that each character is shown in a consistent area of the frame, this helps the audience understand the layout of the scene. Techniques such as eyeline match and match on action enables this. Furthermore, understanding this rule assisted us when making our thriller so we could avoid confusing the audience and allow the viewer to identify with the characters. This is because the closer to the axis the camera is the more the audience's point of view resembles the characters.


I have learned a lot from experimenting with different camera angles and finding out which were the most effective, our original thriller gave us practice and experience on what camera angles work best for this genre and which ones are inadequate. For example we overused mid shots which were dull and mediocre leaving no sense of suspense and tension, they also failed to intensify the action in the scenes. We also learnt the importance of close ups and how much more effective they were than mid shots due to how they position the audience closer with the action and enable them to see the characters emotions.


Here is an example of one of the shots which would have been  more effective with a more adventurous camera angle. Although we had to create another thriller  the making of our first one was a beneficial experience as it taught us the importance of particular camera shots/movement and action which interpret the thriller genre.
Here are various a screen shots from our first thriller, the use of mid shots fail to build tension and intensify the action leaving the scene uninteresting.




















Our original shoot and edit of the opening to a new thriller film was a steep learning curve. We shot too many mid to long shots, the lighting was dreary and the action was unclear making no impact and resembling a home movie rather than a carefully planned professional opening to a thriller film. Due to this I learned the importance of tilt shots to connote a sense of confusion which raises tension which is effective in a thriller film. I also learned the importance of close ups to engage the audience with the action and raise suspense, they also enable the audience to notice the characters emotions.

The recent heavy snowfall was extremely helpful and gave us a great opportunity to film our thriller due to how it increased tension in the mise-en-scene and created visual pleasure for the audience. It allowed us to include dragging scenes of the body which created highly effective diegetic sound meaning we didn't need an overpowering soundtrack. However, after researching soundtrack and learning the importance of how it establishes the genre we finally found a soundtrack which created suspense without overpowering the scene.



After watching our original thriller compared to our final thriller I have found out the importance of the costume and how it enables the audience to identify with the character. For example, our character Blake wearing the hoodie represents him as a working class thug who has no conscience. Whereas the costume of Peter suggests he's from a middle class background due to his black expensive looking coat and suede shoes, however although he is thought as higher up in the capitalist system he's really not much better than Blake. Through this, we have learnt the effect of binary opposites as they communicate dramatic impact and allow the audience to have an aesthetically pleasing experience. Another example of binary opposites shown by the costumes in our thriller is Tiffany's red coat which contrasts with the white snow, this singles her out which could suggest that she is also singled out in society, this contrasts also suggests violation. 




As the use of binary opposites are effective they are also shown in these camera angles. On the right is a high angle shot of the tormented character Peter, this contrasts with the low angle shot of the thug Blake. These opposites show the big difference between the two characters, in costume and class especially.




           An important element of film making that I have learned about since completing my preliminary task is that not all narratives are linear and chronological, so therefore we included the use of flashbacks in our thriller to give a sense of illusion to the scene. Our non-linear narrative enabled the audience to be given further information about the characters state of mind, and find out why the events in the other scenes are happening. We used cross dissolves to inject the mise-en-scene with signify flashbacks and the contrast between illusion and reality.The cross dissolves gives our film a psychological theme as it shows the young man tormented by demons which suddenly cuts to his heavily built partner in crime. This suggests that this character is schizophrenic trapped in his split personality. Also addressing the characters frame of mind through a non linear narrative is a generic convention of psychotic characters, an example is Norman Bates from "Psycho" show shows psychotic behaviour. 
             The use of complex narrative structures have also been shown in other thrillers, for example in the opening to "Once Upon a Time in America" where the film shows a non linear narrative as it begins when Eve is shot, then cuts to Fat Mo being beaten up which then cuts to Noodles in the Opium Den with flashbacks to the slaughter of his friends who are lying dead underneath covers in the dark wet streets of New York. This sequence of gruesome events allows the audience to be transported to Noodle's memories and mindset.Our film Red Snow aims to achieve the same effect due to the border between illusion and reality becoming blurred. The audience are included in the process of finding out who murdered the victim Tiffany as the complex narrative makes them work hard to unravel the truth. Compared to our Preliminary Task which had a chronological narrative our thriller has a more complex narrative meaning we have learned a lot since our first task. Making our thriller taught us how to achieve a more sophisticated narrative through using cross dissolves signifying flashbacks and meaning we have a achieved a film that would impress itself on the imagination and become a success.

I found out that finding a correct title for our thriller that links to the action is important as an over powering font can take over the scene and draw attention away from what's happening. For example we learned that having both words bright red looked too much like a title for a horror film and was too in your face, therefore we decided to change the font to match the thriller genre. I liked the idea of having a subtle font that wouldn't take too much attention away from the scenes.


To conclude, since completing our preliminary task I have learnt that however well we planned our film other variables like the weather can make the shoot more difficult. When filming our thriller there was a heavy downfall of snow which you would think would make filming difficult, however it offered us a golden opportunity to inject the mise-en-scene with an artistic quality. Although, filming in freezing conditions was difficult at times as holding the camera still was slightly harder due to the conditions being so cold. 

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

Before beginning Media Studies I had little knowledge on various technologies which are used to construct a film, for example editing software, digital cameras and camera movement. Therefore the process of constructing the final product was a learning curve for me and taught me a lot. First of all as I had little to no experience with using a digital camera I had to learn some basic skills which with practise made me more confident with using the camera. Due to researching other thriller films and discussing them in class, I learned the importance of different camera angles and what they connote as all camera angles portray a different emotion or sense.

From the process of constructing this product I also learned how to use a digital camera for shooting our thriller and how to transfer the footage onto a computer via the capturing cameras. 

Using the editing software was a challenge for me at first due to lack of experience and practise, however through constructing this product I developed skills in editing that enabled me to make a clear edit. I learned the importance of sequencing shots and how to create a non-linear narrative instead of a chronological narrative through the use of cross dissolves. As our thriller included many flashbacks the use of cross dissolves was vital in achieving that effect so learning  how to use effects on the editing program was crucial. Our film was captured through Premier elements which enabled us to use various effects and widen our editing skills. 


Learning how to effectively use a blog to document my work was something I had to familiarise myself with. I learned how efficient it is in organising my work and adding images,video clips and presentations which I wouldn't be able to do on paper. Learning how to add labels to my blog also helped organise my work efficiently. 


Using the website YouTube was of great importance when researching into the thriller genre due to the many clips I could access from various thrillers. Also, watching particular clips enabled me to study how directors utilise aspects of genre in their films whilst connoting aspects of psychopathic villains. For example in the film Jackie Brown the killing of Melanie where Louis suddenly shoots her in an ordinary car park shows his psychotic personality.  

YouTube was also a very important website to have access to whilst researching into thrillers because it enabled me to identify intertextuality through soundtrack and character types. As being able to watch clips from different films and compare them on YouTube made it easy to do this. An example of two clips that i found through be able to use YouTube are Kill Bill 2 where the bride is buried alive and The Good the Bad and the Ugly. The character types are similar in both films as the Bride from Kill Bill is the good, Bill is the bad and Bud the ugly. Therefore I was able to post both of these clips onto my blog as evidence of intertextuality in films. 

Accessing clips via YouTube also enabled me to access clips from films that taught me the importance of soundtrack to heighten tension and build suspense for the audience. An example from a film which relies on only sound and image is "Heavenly Creatures" where the soundtrack played throughout their walk shows lyricism which counteracts with the brutality of what happens in the finale, this therefore builds up tension of what's about to happen.Also as the location is somewhat glamorous with the sound of birds singing in the background it's suddenly turned into a rather diabolical place with the sounds of the girls screams.

 Our film also relies on sound and image rather than dialogue due to the effective non-diegetic sound of the girl being dragged in the snow with the sound bridge of the phone ringing. 

The website Internet Movie Database has very useful in researching various thrillers and finding information on them, for example the cast, director, plot and also user reviews. You can also access trailers and various clips from the film which was helpful as from that I could get screen shots from the film to add to my blog. Therefore IMDB has been vital part of doing research into thrillers and a useful tool to find out other thrillers as well, as you can search for thrillers and there is a top 50 thrillers list.








When researching into the target audience for our thriller Amazon was helpful in searching for other thrillers our audience would like. This is due to the fact that when you buy a DVD or other product from Amazon it shows what other online consumers would buy which are similar products. 

Here is a clip from the film noir "Gilda" of Rita Hayworth singing Put the Shame on Mame showing an example of a traditional femme fatale. She is shown as a glamorous women who complicates the notion of femme fatale as she is not actually bad but makes her love interest Johnny believe that she is evil and manipulative. 

Whereas, the trailer for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" shows a more progressive representation of gender. The main female character isn't a passive character but is deviant and relies on glamour and a quirky fashion style. Her black clothes and make-up and masculine body represent reverse gender stereotypes.Therefore, Youtube has enabled me to gain more knowledge in generic representations and extend my understanding of the thriller genre.

Question 5- How did you attract/address your audience?

How did you attract/address your audience? on Prezi

Question 4) Who would be the audience for your media product?

Who would be the audience for your media product? on Prezi

Question 3- What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and Why?

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

First of all, our thriller shows a traditional representation of gender due to the male characters being in power and dominance leaving the female character as a victim, out of control. So instead of challenging the conventions of gender in thriller films we have conformed to them, showing men as the violent and strong characters and the women as the victim.As the two male characters in our thriller, Blake and Peter are shown as the murderers of Tiffany.Both of the male characters in our thriller whatever class are represented negatively due to the violent and immoral events they are caught up in. Therefore, the female character is shown as their victim,  she is therefore shown as vulnerable and unequal to the men.


This references the dominant and powerful male characters in  "Once Upon a Time in America" where they shoot a female character, leaving her dead. This is also shown in our thriller were the male characters team up to murder the female character, however it is unclear as to who actually murdered her.Therefore, our thriller portrays women as unable to protect themselves showing that they are weak compared to men. This attitude towards women has been challenged in other thrillers, for example "Thelma and Louise" where Louise shoots the rapist red neck Harlem. Ridley Scott therefore challenges the passive representation of women in this thriller,so instead of showing them as unable to protect themselves he shows them as more powerful and just as violent and strong as men.

 The actors in our thriller are made up of only teenagers, representing youth crime and addressing some of the problems associating with the youths of today. The two youths who are thought to be associated with Tiffany's murder both young males ages 16-17. 








The current mood of contemporary Britain is represented clearly in our thriller due to the issue of the youths being out of control and the idea that Britain is becoming unsafe because of this. An example of how our society is becoming out of control is shown in the violent riots that took place in London during the summer of 2011. This shows the young adults of today in desperation showing Britain's current mood as pessimistic and anxious. This is due to the bleak future for the youths and there little hope of getting a job. This anxious and pessimistic mood is similar to those in noir films in post war thrillers showing a bleak future for society.



The BBC news website raised the issue of why these rioters got so out of control, which was due to the lack of opportunities for them in the future, and how the younger generation are suffering from various cuts. The hoodie/yob stereotype is shown in our thriller through Blake who clearly has no conscience and is put at the lower end of the scale.This is evident in Britain today which unfortunately portrays a negative representation of all youths who wear hoodies to be thugs and no better than animals, therefore these dangerous prejudices given from the media dehumanise social groups leading to dangerous outcomes, as shown by the riots. During The Third Reich the media compared the Jews as no different to vermin, which isolated them from society meaning it was easy for them to be targeted and exterminated because they were not seen as equal to humans. So our thriller communicates the deep anxiety and vulnerability of what it is like to be a young man in Britain due to the lack of opportunities and bleak future they may have ahead of them due to that.





       Both characters Blake and Peter represent two different classes, Blake representing social class stereotypes and Peter middle class. This is due to Blake wearing a hoodie showing that he is a anti social working class thug, this is a correct representation due to the events he is involved in. Confirming the youth stereotypes of today Blake is shown as a dangerous thug who you wouldn’t want to get involved with. Whereas the other male character Peter is represented as a middle class young boy who is riddled with guilt about the events that have occurred. His social class is shown through is costume, a smart black coat which looks a lot more expensive than the cheap looking hoody worn by Blake. So therefore Peter’s costume suggests he’s from a wealthy background, as he is wealthy he must come from a well paid job meaning that people of his class are suggested as being more intellectual than working class people. Also throughout the thriller Blake is the one doing the dirty work for Peter, suggesting that Peter may have paid Blake to do it. This shows their lack of morals, also Blake’s anti social behaviour and how far he would go to possibly get money, confirming a working class stereotype of them being the lowest in the capitalist system. Furthermore, working class is shown as being alienated from society.

       


 Whereas Tiffany's costume suggests she is from a middle class background due to her contemporary high street fashion of a bright orange duffel coat which you could buy from high street shops such as Topshop. The red connotes danger signifying the danger she is in, this references to the film "Schindlers List" where the little girl's red coat is the only colour in the scene making her stand out from the crowd. This suggests that Tiffany is singled out from society, this could be why she got to where she is now.

Ambiguity and a sense of enigma is surrounding the two male characters in our thriller due to the question of who really committed the crime? Peter has a spilt personality as at one point he is shown caring for Tiffany and holding her arm as if he does have empathy. However, the fact she is in her bath poses the question of was he behind the whole thing? Peter's psychotic behaviour relates to the murderer Louis from "Jackie Brown" as one minute he is having a fairly normal conversation with a female character Melanie in a car park, then suddenly she is shot dead by him. Also, as it is in a normal environment where anyone can witness what's happening this shows that if he's in the wrong frame of mind he will show murderous behaviour without really thinking about it.

           The binary opposites theory is also shown in the two characters, as Blake is shown as the large, dominant man which contrasts to Peter who is shown as a small troubled young man sinking in distress. The high angle shot of him on the phone shows his vulnerability, although he is not the victim he is failing to face up to the reality of what's happened. His body language shows him clutching onto his hair, stressed and panicking about the consequences of his actions. The aspects of Peter's body language and psychotic personality are similar to those of Norman Bates from Psycho who is a killer with a spilt personality leading him to do horrific things. 

Target audience

Question 1 evaluation- In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

How does the clip from Doctor Who represent gender?

Gender is represented in various ways in TV drama’s, some showing the male character as the most important and powerful character, other’s showing the female taking charge. This clip from Doctor Who begins with representing gender in a stereotypical way, the male character who is the master is firstly shown in the clip as powerful and dominant. This is due to the many low angle shots of him standing higher than those around him, signifying he has the power over everyone and is therefore thought to be the most important character in the shot. The female character Martha is shown as being a lot lower down than him which confirms the gender stereotypes of women not being as important as men. There is also a long shot and then a close up shot of the master which both connote his dominance over the situation. 
Whereas Martha is portrayed as having little power in the situation at first due to having to kneel down to the master. When entering the scene the camera is at the point of view of her which puts the audience in the position of the character, this enables the audience to sympathise with that character as they are put in a vulnerable position. During this scene there is a quick cut away from someone with a machine gun whilst Martha is walking through, this establishes that there being guarded, leaving her vulnerable and in the control of all the male characters surrounding her. 
The aspects of mise-en-scene which represent and challenge the gender stereotypes are firstly Martha’s costume, she is shown wearing unglamorous clothes that look more masculine than feminine. This challenges the female stereotypes as she isn’t obsessed with her appearance like some women are thought to be. Whereas, the other female in the shot who is standing away from everyone at the back is the masters ‘trophy wife’ who is shown in a seductive red dress, which is provocative. Throughout the scene she just stands still behind the master, suggesting that she is only there to look good, she is there as the masters trophy to show off, she’s his property. This low angle mid shot of the master with his trophy wife in the background continually gets referred back to. Another aspect of mise-en-scene is the soundtrack, first of all the non-diegetic sound heard sounds like the music from a showdown in a western. This links to the showdown between the doctor and the master, it suggests there battling against each other for the most power. Also this shows the struggle between good and evil as they are both in conflict with each other, like in a western. Lighting is also an important aspect of this scene as there is key lighting focusing on the master which shows his dark side and evil personality. 
As the female are shown as being out of power and control this soon changes in this scene as Martha then challenges the stereotype as she becomes in control of the situation. The camera then changes position as the master loses his power, this shows that the male character isn’t always the most dominant. As soon as Martha begins to take control the music changes this shows her strength, and as soon as she laughs you then hear a warmer soundtrack which sounds as if it is building up to something. There is then dialogue and Martha says that she did it all on her own, signifying her power and independence. Also there are dissolves which signify flashbacks, these show what she did do on her own, and there are shots of her in nature which shows that women are powerful when they tap into nature. Gender stereotypes are shown clearly in this clip as the male character is shown as reverting to violence to gain control, whereas the female character can win with words and thoughts rather than physical strength.
During the flashbacks of Martha she is shown in the centre of the crowd on the stairs bringing everyone in unity, this shows that she represents women as bringing everyone together. Chiaroscuro lighting is shown as you can see the candle lighting on her face, this shows her significance. Whereas technical lighting is used on the master showing his evil personality. In the end of the clip there is tighter close ups showing the emotions of the characters, and a nearly extreme close up of the master. There is then a shot of the doctor who is shown as the brightest in the shot signifying his importance and power. The camera then pans up and the low angle of the master is changed showing the change in power. Finally, it ends with a panning and tracking shot towards the master ad if the camera is chasing him, this enables the audience to experience his power and control. 

Classic femme fatale - Carmen final scene

The classic femme fatale is shown in films as the deviant, irresistibly attractive female who leads those around her, especially men into danger. Firstly, an example of a femme fatale in a thriller is Marion Crane from "Psycho" who shows deviance as she steals a vast amount of money, her actions could lead those around her into dangerous situations. However this film contrasts that as she leads herself into a dangerous situation rather than others around her. Based on Georges Bizet's opera, the film by Carlos Saura's portrays the character Carmen as the classic femme fatale. It shows the story of the opera through flamenco dancers in rehearsal. In this clip Carmen is shown as a powerful and dangerous women who clearly doesn't care about anyone. There is a conflict between Carmen and one of the other female dancers, they are both shown as leaders of their group of dancers, showing their power and strength.There is an effective use of silence on the cliffhanger when Carmen stabs the other women. This builds up a tense atmosphere as if everything has come to a hold, the rehearsal has stopped due to the sudden murder.

  The final scene of this film shows the director of the production stab Carmen to death, his love for her therefore became too obsessive. This scene could make the audience question whether what's happening is real life or just a rehearsal, there is a sense of confusion between illusion and reality. During this scene you can notice that everyone dancing is of all age groups and looks, meaning that your looks and age don't matter, anyone can join in the dance. Also, Carmen is showing wearing a provocative costume which is also bright red and black, red connoting blood and violence and black signifying death. Then suddenly Carmen is then drawn away by the director from the joyfulness of the rehearsals to unglamorous toilets signifying the immoral and violent events that will occur. 

Title ideas

The title for our thriller will be 'Red Snow' this references to the location of the thriller, and shows that chilling and eerie things may have happened there. This is due to the fact that snow is supposed to be white so as our thriller is called 'Red Snow' could that signify murderous events happened there, as the colour red symbolizes blood and violence. The font for our title will be a simple looking font that doesn't take over the shot, so as it is subtle it creeps into the shot creating an eerie feel. The bright orangey red colour stands out and contrasts to the white snow, this colour is also the same as the victims coat which is a significant part of the shots in the snow, due to how brightly it shows up in the snow.

However, when editing and adding titles to our thriller this particular colour was too shocking and drew too much attention away from the actual thriller. So, therefore I decided to incorporate a more subtle colour of font that is still effective and due to it's subtlety it adds more tension and isn't too obvious.

  For ideas on how to use our title and production company name in our thriller I watched the title sequences from other thrillers, an example of one is Animal Kingdom. This particular title sequence introduces the actors names and production company subtly throughout the opening so it doesn't take over the scene. That is the effect I would like to incorporate in our thriller as it gives an authentic feel and builds up suspense.

Another film that has a font for it's title sequence which is subtle yet effective is Essex Boys. I like this particular font due to the fact that it is a basic font that isn't over the top and would look nicely in the opening to our thriller as it wouldn't take over the scene.

Locations

Once Upon a Time in America - Intertextual references

When recently watching a clip of the crime thriller Once Upon a Time in America, I noticed particular shots that are used which connote suspense and tension perfectly. This is a powerful film where the characters hide behind their tough exteriors and only show repressed emotions. Sergio Leone establishes the genre of the film with brute force, due to powerful close up shots and tilt shots.For example this worm's eye tilt shot of Noodles taken from point of view of Joe enables the audience to be positioned with the character, leading them to feel vulnerable. As it includes the audience into what's happening they would feel more afraid of the dominant character as they are beneath him. This gives the male character in the shot more power as not only is he highest and biggest part of the shot, you also see him holding a gun towards another direction meaning he is dominating the whole scene. We could incorporate a shot like this one in our thriller as during it there is a victim who is being dragged across the ground, so therefore the camera could be at the position of the victim looking up at it's assailant. This would entice fear as the audience would be put in the position of the victim leaving them feeling as vulnerable as the victim is. The worms eye point of view shot could also be used to show a identifiable object on the victim's assailant so the audience can identify with that character. As, in this shot you notice the character wearing a black trilby hat which is also shown in the classic thriller The Third Man This shows that the character of Noodles is trying to disguise himself, this is because the crime of deviant act that they committed should be kept secret. This connotes mystery and could make them the enigma because they  do not want their real identity to be found out.

The use of close ups in this film are very important as in this particular shot they engage the audience to the horror of what's happening.Also, this close up shot enables the audience to notice the characters emotions, and also allows them to clearly see how awfully hurt he is meaning that who done it to him must be menacing violent people. So therefore a representation of violence is shown here. Close ups like this would be good to use in our thriller because there is a shot where the victim is laying either unconscious or dead on the ground, so a close up shot of her face could be shown to engage the audience into what's happening.

Costume ideas for characters

Soundtrack ideas

http://www.freesound.org/people/DJ%20Chronos/sounds/33413/  -  This background sound is a recording of someone breathing into a microphone, this gives authencity to the thriller as in the thriller a man is dragging a girl around in the snow and he would be breathless. It is also quite a sinister sound which would create suspence as it isnt too loud but

http://www.freesound.org/people/klankbeeld/sounds/123807/ - This soundtrack signifys a scary atmosphere and sounds as if it is in a distant eerie environment, which links to the place the girl is being dragged to.

http://www.freesound.org/people/cunningGnome/sounds/4908/ This was originally going to be our soundtrack for our thriller due to it's simplicity and authenticy which add more tension to the thriller as the simple sounding soundtrack makes what's happening in the mise-en-scene more eerie and chilling. We were going to use this above the other two as they were more like what you may hear in a horror film and didn't work as well with our thriller.However, when incorporating it into our thriller it was too quiet in contrast to the diegetic sound and couldn't be heard very clearly, it also wasn't long enough to keep playing throughout our thriller.

        Therefore, I researched particular soundtracks on thrillers to give me an idea on the sort of thing that would work well to entice fear and suspense without out going to over the top. First of all, I would like to have diegetic sound heard as well as the soundtrack to adds an authentic feel to the thriller, especially the dragging sound of the victim being dragged across the snow.This sound bridge effect is shown in the famous thriller Psycho, as during the shower scene you can still hear the sound of the water gushing down over the non-diegetic sound.
       
 The opening to the thriller Witness has a melancholic sound to it at the beginning, which inspired me to have that kind of non-diegetic sound in our thriller due to its repetitiveness and the fact it slowly builds up tension with an eerie feel to it. It's not too loud or over the top so therefore it is subtly frightening as it leaves you waiting for something frightful to happen. Up to 33 seconds you can hear the non-diegetic sound which builds suspense and is a mellow dream like sound.




I found this acoustic guitar sound which when playing it with my thriller it worked well to create a tense atmosphere which would be fearful.  http://www.freesound.org/people/nicStage/sounds/1178/ It is loop formatted meaning that it can be looped throughout our thriller which could give a sense of a dream like situation. Also it gives the feeling that this murderer is replaying the events over and over again in his head, hence why there is quit cuts from two different scenes.

NEW FINAL SHOT LIST

Shot one- Begins with an over the shoulder shot of the male character Blake dragging the female character Tiffany under her arms through a field covered in snow, cut to
Shot two- Low angle tilt shot of a significant looking bracelet or headband falling off the dragged girls hand, cut to
Shot three-  A tilt shot of the other male character Peter entering a bathroom and sitting down, cut to
Shot four- A worms eye view of Tiffany looking at her assailant.
Shot five- Cut back to the bathroom scene where there is a close up shot of Peter looking distressed, cut to
Shot six- A low angle shot where you can see Peter's feet approaching the bracelet which has been dropped and then a quick close up shot of the bracelet when he is picking it up, cut to
Shot seven-  A worms eye shot of Peter looking at the bracelet in confusion., cut to
Shot eight- A low angle tilt shot of Peter clutching the bracelet whilst looking distressed, cut to
Shot nine- A point of view shot from Tiffany showing her feet being dragged along, cut to
Shot ten- A high angle shot of Peter getting out his phone and ringing someone, cut to
Shot eleven-A close up shot of Tiffany laying on the undergrowth with her phone ringing beside her, cut to
Shot twelve- A close up shot of the bracelet on the floor and the phone crashing to the floor.
Shot thirteen- Cuts back the close up shot of Tiffany laying on the undergrowth whilst her phone rings, cut to
Shot fourteen- Tilt shot of Peter opening the shower curtains in the bathroom but you don't see what's behind them, cut to
Shot fifteen- A close up shot of Tiffany laying on the undergrowth without the phone ringing, cut to
Shot sixteen- A point of view shot from Peter of Tiffany laying in the bath with the same costume on as when she was laying in the snow.
Shot seventeen-  Cuts back to a tilt shot of Tiffany laying in the undergrowth in the same position as in the bath, cut to
Shot eighteen- A high angle tilt of Peter kneeling down and stroking her head in a loving manor, cut to
Shot nineteen- A close up shot of Tiffany's bracelet on her wrist.

Sound
Throughout our thriller diegetic sound of being dragged in the snow will be heard to intensify the fear and reality of what's happening. Also diegetic sound of the phone ringing will be heard in shot 13 and 11. There will also be non-diegetic sound played in the background which has an authentic feel to it which creates tension and suspense.

Extra ideas
-The victim's assailant remains an enigma character due to the fact you can never really properly see him,so therefore you never really know who he is and why he's committing the crime.

- Alternative cliffhanger- the enigma character Blake could open the door to Peter's bathroom and it would be either a close up shot of his face to finally reveal him, or a low angle of him symbolising his importance and dominance. This would also leave the audience and the other character feeling vulnerable. However we decided to go with the cliffhanger of Tiffany being in the bath as it creates a dream like illusion to what's happening and it makes you question who was the murderer? Also, it shows that all along Peter committed the crime who you wouldn't have expected this shows that he is a psychotic character.

- When editing our thriller, I will put in a cross dissolve effect when cutting back from the bathroom shots to the snow shots to give a dream like illusion and that it is cutting from different time frames.

Psycho- murder of Marion Crane

This famous shower sequence comes from Alfred Hitchcock's powerful yet complex psychological thriller, Psycho.This suspenseful thriller uses themes of corruptibility the deadly effects of money. Hitchcock also guides the audience into identify with the main character who is the luckless Marion Crane and then with that character's murderer Norman Bates.Marion Crane is the generic femme fatale showing deviance who could lead those around her into dangerous situations. Although it is one of the most frightening films ever made it still has elements of dark comedy.

                                           The murder of Marion Crane is one of the most famous murders in thrillers that has inspired other directors because of how well it creates terror and suspense at the same time.This particular location of this murder is rather daring for it's time because it appeared to show Marion Crane nude, but it never actually does which could be deemed provocative for that time.Another aspect of this famous scene that was shocking for it's era was the fact that the leading female character was killed off very early in the film, which was very unexpected.
                                         At the start of the shower scene the audience follows into the bathroom, there is then a medium close up of her undressing which leaves the audience to feel uncomfortable because it is as if we are intruding into this private space. This cuts to an eye level medium shot of her cleansing herself in the shower, like she is washing away her sins and guilt. A low angle shot from Marion's point of view is them shown of the water gushing down, at that moment the only sound heard is the running water which could distract the audience and Marion if someone is nearby.

                                           The brutality of Marion's murder also shocks the audience due to how dramatically the scene changes from her normally having a shower to a slow entrance of a dark figure which suddenly cuts to Marion being horrifically murdered. This quick cut is very effective as it would have taken the audience by surprise and brought the suspense up suddenly to jolt the audience. Also in the mise-en-scene you see a dark figure lurking behind the shower curtain which is the enigma of the scene, the audience won't know whether it is just a shadow or if there's someone else there, this adds tension to everything that's happening. The purpose of this enigma is to add suspense to this film and to also leave the audience tense and feeling rather vulnerable as they are left in fear of the unknown. Diegetic sound is shown throughout this scene of the water gushing out of the shower, the noise of the shower drowns out any other sound meaning that she would be completely unaware of what might happen to her, making the murder more shocking and not expected. 

                                    As she turns in response to the feel and sound of the shower curtain being torn aside you see a look of pure horror erupt in her face. Non-diegetic is played in the background of the violin screech soundtrack which contrasts with the diegetic more subtle sound of the shower. The sound is shocking and sounds as if something horrific is happening repetitively which could therefore symbolise being stabbed a number of times which ironically happens. An extreme close up shot is then shown to draw attention to Marion's first reaction to the murderer, it highlights the sound of her scream and intensify's the terror of the murder. As close up shots enable the audience to get to know the character, this shot leaves the audience in fright as they are close to the character literally so therefore feel the horror of the murder. The consistent use of close ups inject the mise-en-scene with relentless horror.

                                                                     You see the knife slashing into her as if tearing at the screen, ripping the film which leaves the audience feeling vulnerable so therefore intensifying the terror. A series of shots are shown in this sequence which build up the tension to lead to a dramatic moment. The audience are rushed with a series of quick cuts, for example the blur of the shower water, and the hand pulling the shower curtain back. You can only catch a glimpse of the enigma who is the murderer which adds even more suspense as the audience will then identify with him and therefore feel more frightened. Once Marion had been murdered you see shadow of her across the shower curtain fall down, the brightness of the bathroom is almost blinding which could symbolise the shock of what just happened, it is also dream like meaning that surely something that shocking wasn't real. 

       All of these aspects including the location and use of close up shots reinforce generic conventions and add suspense and terror because first of all the close ups enable the audience to notice the emotions of the character and clearly see their distress. An example of a powerful close up shot is once Marion was murdered and she sinks to the floor the final shot from that scene is of her dead eye.Sudden effective shots happen before the final extreme close up, for example it goes from the shower curtain being town down and then you see the transition from the hole of the drainage pipe to Marion Crane's dead eyes. A high angle close up of the plughole is shown, which is sucking up the water and Marion's blood which suggest that her life has gone down the drain. Close up shots enable the audience to see the emotion of that character and this one is terrifying due to the fact all you can see is an extreme close up her lifeless eye. The shower location could be a generic location as the victim is left unknown of what could happen to them which adds tension, and leaves the audience in suspense. The isolated motel is also a generic thriller convention for many other thrillers and horrors.  

Props

First of all the props we decided to use is going to be a mobile phone that the character Peter will use to phone up Tiffany, another mobile phone will be shown next to Tiffany's body ringing loudly. This will create suspense as the loud noise of the phone will contrast to the silence and eerie atmosphere of Tiffany lying on the undergrowth. So, their will be diegetic sound of the Tiffany's phone ringing yet she will be unable to pick up the phone which leaves the audience in suspense.

Another prop used in the thriller is the bracelet that falls off Tiffany's arm, this is significant in the thriller as it shown being clutched by Peter, and by his reactions to finding it this shows it's importance and maybe his relationship towards the character who owns that bracelet. It is a bright coloured bracelet that shows the characters high street style signifying what her age group could be, it also shows up clearly in the snow where it is found. This shows it's significance in the thriller and the importance of it being found.

How do institutions target specific audiences in the industry you have studied?

Institutions use various techniques to target specific audiences as due to new technology, different audiences watch films in other places which aren't in the cinema. Although cinema going is still high, 11.1% of film consumption is new technology enabling recording of film on TV, this has increased film viewing. Audiences from the age of 16-24 years old use online streaming as their way to watch films. This shows how accessible the internet is for the younger generation. However there is also a high percentage for that age group who go the cinema as it is a social activity. 
                          3D films have been brought into the cinema to increase the pleasure of watching a film on a cinema screen, they are also a way of counteracting home viewing as you wouldn't get the same effects if you watched it on a computer screen. This method was proved to be popular as it generated £248.8 million in the UK alone. This shows how cinemas are progressively changing to fit in with that the audience wants, and has been changing vastly from 1999 to 2010. 
                         Another change to cinemas which has increased cinema going and that has targeted specific audiences is multiplex cinemas. 75.4% of screens in 2010 were multiplex, meaning that people want to have a choice of a certain type of film. Particular cinemas target particular audiences, for example Cinema City focuses on a local audiences showing a lot of independent films which aren't as mainstream as some you may see in Vue. However, Vue shows popularity as they show wide releases which are a wide appeal, opening it up to a broader audience. Four quadrant films such as "Shrek" aim to target a family audience as it's a film many ages could enjoy. 
                          'Lovefilm' is Europe's biggest subscription service and targets the audience who might prefer to watch films from the comfort of their own home. It sends DVDs by post and now streams all of Studio canals latest and future releases. It parters with Studio canal and supports UK and German films, widening the audience. Also, including additional distribution support through theatrical, home videos and streaming on-demand releases. 
                         The production of film can increase specific audiences because particular people like to see particular films and there are popular genres that bring in a specific audience. Working title is a company owned by Universal that makes mainly mainstream films which target a wide audience. Universal targets the US/global market with films such as Meet the Parents. However, Studio canal recently financed the independent film Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy which appealed to the European market. Although Working title did produce that, it is more known for producing mainstream Rom Coms such as Love Actually, this is a popular genre so therefore brings in a broader audience. Popular actors are also included to entice people to watch the films. Commercial films mean a wide release and as they are from major film companies and distributors they seek a popular audience. An independent film that needs to a appeal to a specific audience is 'Animal Kingdom' uses a strategy to bring in a wider audience. A young cast is used to bring in a younger audience and therefore a wider audience. 
                        Marking strategies used to promote films is highly important in targeting specific audiences. For example the independent film 'Animal Kingdom' relied on social networking via Twitter or Facebook to promote their films. Sony Pictures picked it up for US distribution, widening the audience. Also as social networking sites are more popular now, a younger audience would notice this film and as cinema going for younger people is still high, a lot of them may want to see this film. It aimed to reach a reasonably broad audience although it was just going on over 40 screens, maintaining its independence. 
                      Another independent film called Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy also used social networking to market it. It was financed by Studio canal with 30 million, this was targeted to a European market. Trailers on Youtube also promoted this film as well as a cast of popular A list actors. The rush to target specific audiences shows that the voice of the audience is more loudly heard. Therefore new techniques to market films are important due to technology becoming more and more advanced.