A storyboard is a sequence of drawings, typically with directions and dialogue which represents the shots planned for a film production. The storyboard I used had information on camera shots, location, props, lighting, actors, sound, dialogue, editing and a narrative description. It helps the director understand what to film and how to film the scenes. Also it guides them to make decisions on what sequences to film first. It makes the biggest part, the filming process, much easier and more efficient as making a film requires a lot of time and effort.
Advantages of a storyboard
Saves time for directors and editors when filmmaking
Gives directors clear indications on how to film sequences
To get a clear picture of the visual that is being made
Helps the crew and cast with what they are doing
Informs the crew on what equipment and props are needed
Disadvantages of a storyboard
There may be problems if the storyboard isn't followed or accurate
It takes a lot of production time to construct a storyboard
May not be able to follow the storyboard due to lack of resources on set
My storyboard
Conclusion
In conclusion, my storyboard will be useful when it comes to filming the opening, therefore it is essential for planning. I will be able to shoot quicker and organise props and actors much more efficiently if I get into the habit of constantly referring to my storyboard. I also have an idea of the sound I am going to use and this will help me in the post-production process. Without my storyboard it is highly likely that my production and filming would take much longer and may not even make sense as I would only have my narrative to follow when filming, this would not have been anywhere near as efficient. The storyboard, along with the group roles will be extremely beneficial as the crew and cast will know what they are doing at all times and therefore the production will be a lot more time efficient.
Micro-elements Introduction: Micro elements in film are some of the most important aspects of film making when it comes to the application of them. The three main elements are cinematography, sound and editing. Cinematography is the general term used for camera angles, shots and movements. Cinematography is one of the most important aspects when it comes to all films and especially thrillers, this is because it can really define the character representation and the tone of the film. For example, if there is an antagonist shown on screen, which is typical for a thriller film, there will be a use of a low angle shot to show that the antagonist is above as this asserts dominance. This can also instil fear amongst the audience as a low angle shot is used in darkness, usually where you cannot see the antagonists face. Sound is also vital to a thriller film as sound can create tension for the audience or manipulate the audiences' mood in general. An example of this is off screen sound of traffic or people speaking, this can create an environment for the audience as it lets the audience know there are other people around or the place is busy, this is shown without having extras or props visible. Editing is another paramount micro element. Editing is a post production process which puts all the raw footage together to create a sequence, this is very important as the film would not flow as well if there was no editing. Editing can also consist of filters or effects such as slow motion editing which can help put emphasis on a character or an event on screen. Cinematography 1) Establishing Shot - We decided that the first movement in our thriller opening will be an establishing shot which will be used for the audience to understand where the antagonist has come from according to the type of costume he's wearing. The establishing shot/ extreme long shot will show the audience the antagonist from head to toe followed by the background from behind so its clear when the viewers are watching. This will make the audience question themselves who's funeral is this and why doesn't the character look upset. 2) Medium Shot - We decided to use medium shots as they are very simple to portray what is happening in the current scene. A medium shot is simple to do and is a type of cinematography that can transition one scene to another without the audience getting too confused or distracted of what happened. We want to use these medium shots so the audience are able to see the characters more clearly where their costume, hair and make-up is clearly visible. 3) Close-up - We've also planning on using many close-up shots to make sure that what were trying to the audience is clearer enough, to do this, we can use the clos-up shot. When our antagonist is walking up the stairs, we want a close-up of his feet walking up the stairs. When this technique is used, the audience are also able to see the hands of dead bodies on the floor when the camera closes up to his feet. This is to create more tension for the audience asking them feel uneasy and scared for what has to come after.
4) Long Shot - We also planning on using long shots in our thriller opening to demonstrate the ghostly and creepy figure that appears when the antagonist turns off the light in his bedroom. The long shot is appropriate for this scene because the viewers can see the figure clearly from head to toe but still are not able to work out who this mystery person is. This creates a chilling response from the audience which is also accompanied by the back lighting. 5) High Angle - We decided that we also wanted to use a high angle shot for when the antagonist walks down the stairs in frame 11. This is when the audience are able to witness the dead bodies on the staircase that they were able to see before. This is to confirm that the antagonist is a psychopath killer just in case some viewers didn't quite catch on what type of character he is. This creates a shock reaction from the audience because its a quite abrupt way to demonstrate what type of character he is. 6) Tilt Shot - A tilt shot we also be used in our thriller opening. This is when the audience the first clue of this psychopath killer. When he arrives home, everything seems very normal till the camera tilts towards the floor where he picks up a piece of furniture from the floor covered in blood followed by some dead bodies lying around the floor, lifeless. 7) Low Angle Shot - A low angle shot we decided to use when the antagonist walks up the stairs towards his bedroom to get change. This low angle makes him look like the dominant and superior one further making him look powerful and strong as well. The audience will feel uneasy and quite intimidated by this frame and the low angle does make him look physically bigger.
The following sounds we intend to use:
1) Diegetic Sound - We plan on using non-diegetic sound in our thriller which is just sound from the film world like the rain hitting his window of his house. This will create the tense and gloomy atmosphere better which will make the audience feel uneasy and quite scared
2) Parallel Sound - Parallel sound is when the sound you hear in a film is expected for example, we want to use parallel sound when he does simple stuff around the house and when his outside of this house. When he leaves the funeral, we hear the rain which is expected as we see it clearly in this scene. When the antagonist arrives home, we expect to hear the door slam when he shuts it on the mystery girls face. 3) Contrapuntal Sound - When we are able to see the bodies scattered around the house, we decided to use contrapuntal sound in this scene with a soundtrack that doesn't quite fit with the scene as this creates a better response from the audience, no only they're afraid but confused on why these bodies are here. There will be a soundtrack that doesn't quite fit such as classical music playing in the background whilst he goes to leave his house. This will create an even bigger and noticeable contrast between the sound and what is going on which makes the audience question this mystery character even more. 4) On-screen Sound - The on-screen sound is quite similar to diegetic sound, I want the audience to able also hear the on-screen sound that they are also able to see for example when the antagonist closes the door and leaves the house we can hear the rain and wind and the muffled chatter of other people on the street. 5) Non-diegetic Sound - We also decided that we wanted non-diegetic sound used in our thriller opening. The non-diegetic sound which is not part of the film world. We plan on using diegetic sound when we begin to edit our thriller. When the anti-hero appears, we plan on using the diegetic sound of a sound track to create more tension for the audience which will create a more chilling experience. This further creates suspense and shock for the audience as this was unexpected, moreover, this is the first appearance the anti-hero makes which the audience are introduced to which makes them even more uneasy. Editing: One of the editing techniques we will be using is slow motion editing. This will be at the very beginning of the opening as the antagonist is walking from the graveyard. We will use this to put emphasis on the antagonist and his movements, as well as the environment around him, this is to show the audience where the antagonist is. Although they do not know who he is at this moment in time, it will create confusion amongst the audience as they will question who he is and what he is doing in a graveyard during the slow motion sequence.
Another editing technique we will be using are straight cuts, these are simple cuts that will be applied throughout the opening to show a change in the shot or to show the next shot. For example a straight cut would be from the graveyard to the inside of a house where the door is visible, and the antagonist will then walk in. We will not see his opening the door or see how he enters the premises, the straight cut will help with that. We will also be using jump cuts, this is in combination with the slow motion editing as the antagonist is walking away from the graveyard, this is to speed up his movement but not so fast that the audience aren't able to see the environment he is in. Other editing techniques would be transitions so that the change from the titles and production logos to the opening itself is very smooth and does not look out of place with the tone or pace of the opening.
Filters will also be used when appropriate to convey a darker tone, for example when the antagonist is walking through the graveyard which is conventionally a gloomy and desolate environment there would be a grayscale filter.
In conclusion, I have decided that in terms of cinematography I will vary the shots as much as possible to keep the audience very interested, this is so the shots do not get repetitive and the audience are constantly intrigued. When appropriate the shots will be used such as high angle shots, establishing shots, medium and long shots. Non diegetic and on screen sound will be the most significant sound techniques I will use as the soundtrack, the sound effects and the sound showing the characters movements will be very important in creating the audiences' reaction. The soundtrack is vital as it will set the overall pace and tone of the opening, while the on screen sound will give the opening some life such as footsteps or doors being shut. When editing, similarly to cinematography I will use as many techniques as I can where appropriate to keep the audience interested.
A shot list is a document which consists of information on every single shot that will be taken during a film. In our thriller opening shot list there were the number of shots, the shot size/angle, the camera movement and other notes. Once our shot list was completed it consisted of 25 shots, although this may very during filming depending on many factors such as whether we will be able to get the particular shot properly due to lighting, or whether our movement is restricted when filming.
Example of shot list:
Conclusion:
The shot list is very useful as it will greatly assist the director, camera operator and other crew members on set. The shot list will help during filming as it will speed up the process, after one scene is shot a quick look at the shot list will make it clear to the film crew as to what to film next and what equipment they need. The additional notes help as it helps the director visualise the shot while he is on set. This will assist the camera operator and eventually the editor in the post production process.
Mise en scene is made up of body language, facial expression, lighting, setting, costume, hair and makeup and iconography. Mise en scene is vital in film, especially in thriller films. Mise en scene can make the audience feel differently depending on how the director or editor wants the particular scene or shot to come across. Mise en scene can also contribute to how the audience understand the scene, for example body language and facial expressions can clearly tell the audience if a character is feeling negative and whether the events that are occurring should have positive connotations or negative connotations. Lighting can be low key or high key, low key lighting is generally for scenes that follow dark themes and negativity, high key lighting is for a more upbeat mood as you can see things clear. Setting is important as it gives the audience an idea of what is going to happen, some settings may connote different feelings or events. For example a cemetery is a dark setting which connotes death, and therefore will give the audience a sense of fear even if nothing has happened in terms of narrative.
Body Language & Facial Expression
Antagonist: Jamie Anderson
The Antagonist Jamie Anderson will have an upright posture with a neutral facial expression throughout the opening. Anderson has this body language because he is confident of who he is and he doesn't really seem vulnerable to get easily attacked. This portrays that he is an important character, audience might wonder if he's the protagonist or antagonist due to his confident and upright body language he'll have in the opening. Anderson has a neutral facial expression throughout which doesn't indicate much yet till he gets home and remains calm when he after the viewers witness dead bodies scattered around his house. He has no reaction towards these dead bodies and simply ignores them like there's nothing there, this could indicate that his the antagonist as audiences are able to clearly infer that these people in his house were killed by him. Further suggesting that the antagonist is a psycho killer because a normal person wouldn't react to this normally. This is conventional to a thriller film because the audience are able to understand clearly that he is psycho through his neutral expression.
Anti-Hero/ Victim: Trang Lam
The anti-hero/ victim also has a slouched posture throughout the thriller opening to suggest that her body is lifeless. She's un-dead which is portrayed through her slouched and lifeless body that follows the antagonist around all day. This further portrays that she was a victim before but not longer shows that she's a victim by her neutral facial expression she has planted on her face which makes her the anti-hero, confident in what she's about to do next. Not only having a neutral expression to show that she's the anti-hero but also to denote that she's a living, dead body. She is a conventional thriller victim as her body language is slouched, showing vulnerability although at the same time, she is also an anti-hero because of her neutral expression instead of a scared expression to demonstrate that she's no longer a victim in the opening. Trang was once a victim, brutally murdered by the antagonist but has come back to seek vengeance and now is the anti-hero.
Victims: Victim 1, 2, 3, 4
These victims will be scattered around the house, they will have no facial expression, with closed eyes, it tells the audience that they are simply lifeless bodies that have been killed by the antagonist. Body language is also something to indicate that they're dead, by having a resting position on the floor, not moving at all shows that they are dead. Victim 4 who appears in frame 9 is still alive but barely conscious. He has poor, slouched body posture to show that he is a vulnerable victim trapped within this prison by the antagonist. Victim 4 has a terrified facial expression to further portray that his an innocent victim when he sees his perpetrator.
Lighting
The lighting in my thriller opening will mainly consists of low-key lighting, supported by various angles such as high, low and back. This is to portray dark and gloomy events that will take place in this opening indicating that the antagonist is in fact, the antagonist. In the first scene when we see the antagonist leaving the cemetery after attending a funeral, the weather will be very cold and gloomy encouraging the idea of pathetic fallacy. The low-key lighting directed on this man shows that he is a dark character. When he arrives home, low-key lighting is used throughout to show this man who brings negative vibes where ever he goes to tell the audience that he is the protagonist. When the Anti-hero appears, back lighting is used to only show her silhouette and creepy figure keeping her identity hidden makes the audience feel uneasy and scared. Setting and Iconography: There are 3 settings we will be using in our thriller, the first is a cemetery, the second is a house and the third is a high street or a public road. We are using a cemetery for our opening as it will begin with the antagonist walking away from it. This will cause confusion for our audience as this is where the opening will begin and there will be many questions they can ask. The setting is great as it is quite typical for a thriller film as this is where the dead rest, it is unconventional for someone to be their on their own and the connotations of a cemetery are intended to frighten the audience. An example of this are the large trees and the the greenery which usually represent nature or the outdoors, but there will be a lot of gravestones which will indicate that the antagonist was there when it is empty, this will indicate a sense of wrong doing.
The next setting we will use is a house. There will be a few dead bodies scattered around the house which will immediately confuse and frighten the audience. The antagonist walks around the house ina very casual manner and this is very unconventional as a home is meant to connote a place of safety and happiness, therefore it will bring the audience a lot of fear as being in the safety of your own home is what most people can relate to. A house with dead bodies goes far against the norm and will make the audience very uncomfortable.
The last setting we will use is a public road as the antagonist will walk down a public road as he leaves his house. This will be very unconventional as a public road is where many people will be. After the audience observes the dead bodies in the house, they will see that the antagonist is free and can go wherever he wants, this will particularly scare the audience as this shows that the antagonist could be anyone and could act as anyone.
There will not be much iconography used, there will only be blood on the dead bodies to show that they have been killed and a jacket that the antagonist changes into when he arrives home. There will also be a phone that the antagonist collects off the bed as he is leaving the room, this will serve as a distraction for when the anti hero suddenly appears behind him.
Costume, hair and make-up
The Antagonist: Jamie Anderson
The Anti-Hero/ Victim: Trang Lam
Victims: 1, 2, 3
Anderson will be dressed in black suit. This shows that he is the antagonist who knows well what he's doing. This is because the dark colour black portray his dark and evil intentions but the suit generally indicates that his confident in what he does. He is the antagonist that is the psycho killer who clearly gets away with it. He later changes into all dark clothes to make the audience fully understand clearly that he is the antagonist. He is neatly groomed to blend within society further demonstrating that he looks like a normal person who will never be assumed of these terrible things. The now Anti-hero is wearing all white long dress to show that that she was once a victim of the antagonist. It further shows her once vulnerability and innocence that was taken away from her by the antagonist. She also wears large contact lens to empathise her dark eyes to show that she has evil intentions towards the antagonist. Long black hair to hide her identity for the audience to later discover. She has a pale face to show that she's dead, also with smudge make ran down her face to show that she has been crying in her past life. All the victims would have similar clothing to show that they are the victims such as having light colours showing vulnerability. Preferably the colour white to show innocence and purity, furthermore when injured tends to contrast the colour red of blood making it stand out and more visible. Having colours like that contrasting is conventional for victims as it tells the audience almost immediately they've been hurt because they are the victim.
In conclusion, my character's body language and facial expressions will all be appropriate for the tone of the film, as well as the characters motives and goals. For example the antagonist having an upright posture with a neutral facial expression shows that he has a goal and he is confident. The settings we have chosen are very conventional to thrillers as graveyards connote death, and houses represent safety which is typically broken in thriller films. This will make them both very conventional and appropriate settings to use in our opening. The costume hair and makeup will also be conventional as the colour of the clothing will be the most significant thing. The victims will wear light coloured clothing as this represent innocence and a sense of normality while the antagonist and the anti hero will wear either black or white representing that they are neither in heaven or hell, but rather in between.
There are production roles that had to be filled for our final production, they had changed from the preliminary task as we have found who is suited to which role best. Each role has a different function and is vital to the final production and some roles are shared. The roles consist of a director, producers, camera operator, sound technician, editor, storyboard organiser, costume, hair and makeup organiser, lighting operator and location manager.
The roles:
Director - A director has to visualise the script or storyboard and then guides the crew and cast to create the film through the director's view. The director also chooses the cast and the production design and controls the the creative aspects of the film. It is important for the director to have good leadership skills and can give instructions clearly.
Producer - A producer supervises the production by selecting the location and the script. The producer also has the final say on sound and what scenes should be cut, also decides on distribution rights although this won't be relevant for our final production.
Camera operator - The camera operator, usually called a cinematographer. This person is responsible for maintaining the composition and camera angles when filming. This is to make the film look professional while following the directors instructions.
Sound technician - The sound technician assists in setting up, operating, and maintaining sound equipment. They also consult during the editing process when mixing or amplifying the sound.
Editor - The editor is involved in the post production process of filmmaking. They work with raw footage and selects shots and combines them to make a finished product. Editors generally work with the directors as they have the shots visualised and the editor has the skill to make this a final product. Editors need to have good organisational skills and be able to work under pressure.
Storyboard organiser - The storyboard organiser is charge of pre-visualising the motion picture. The storyboard will aide the director and editor greatly in the production and post production process. It is necessary for the storyboard organiser to have good organisational skills, as well as good time management skills.
Location manager - The location manager is responsible for finding and securing the location that will be used in the film. They will need to obtain all fire, police and governmental permits that are relevant to the film being made. They are also responsible for location scouting and work closely with the director and production designer as well as being responsible for public relations.
Costume, hair and makeup organiser - This is usually split into two different roles, a costume designer or supervisor and a makeup artist. The costume designer or supervisor is responsible for all the clothing and costumes that are worn by all the actors that appears on screen in a film. They are also responsible for designing, planning and organising the construction of the garments and their fabrics, colours and sizes. The make up artist is responsible for planning makeup designs for all leading and supporting cast. This includes, cosmetic makeup, body makeup and they will consult the special effects team if special effects are involved.
Lighting operator - Lighting operators or lighting technicians are responsible for the movement and set up of different pieces of lighting equipment for the separation of light. The lighting operator will also control whether there should be low key or high key lighting depending on which is more appropriate for the shot.
What are the group roles and why?
Director - We decided that I should be the director as I have good leadership skills and have a good sense of time management. This will be very important as during the filming process I will have to organise the cast and crew members, The actors will look at me for information on how they should look and behave on camera and the crew will want my input in their roles during filming. I will work closely with the story-boarder and the editors to make sure the opening is visualised correctly and put on screen correctly.
Producers - We decided that Trang should be the producer as she has excellent communication skills and this was evident during the preliminary task, she is a great problem solver and this will be very useful during filming as we may encounter problems with legality for example. This will be solved by her as she will hold onto the pre production paperwork as she had great input in it as the producer. She is also an excellent supervisor which is useful during editing as the producer should have great input during this.
Camera operator- We decided that I should be the camera operator as this would be most efficient in such a small group, as I am the director, it will be much easier to give directions from behind the camera. I also have previous amateur experience with a camera and I am keen on learning more about camera operating. I immediately stepped forward to be the camera operator on the preliminary task and I wish to improve my film making skills through the opening.
Sound technician - We decided that I should be the sound technician as it will be more efficient as I will be on the computer during editing. I also have the necessary skills to work with the software we will be using when editing our thriller to add sound to it.
Editor - We decided that I should also be the main editor as I develop knowledge quickly about software and have previous experience in amateur editing, I will use these skills and expand on them to make the opening into one of high standard. I am also confident and have good time management skills and therefore will edit efficiently.
Storyboard organiser - We decided that Trang should be the storyboard organiser as she is very good at drawing and is extremely artistic and creative, this will be useful as it will give a clear picture to the director on how I should film the shots and scenes. She is able to draw quickly and clearly and will be useful if we need to make any last minute changes.
Location manager - We decided that Trang should be the location manager as she is a very outgoing person and has a lot of knowledge on ideal locations for a thriller opening. She also has very good communication skills to request any permissions or supervise when doing so. She also has very strong organisational skills for when we are filming and therefore if we encounter a problem while filming on location she will be able to present the correct paperwork and solve any issues.
Costume, hair and makeup artist - We decided that Pervin should be the costume, hair and makeup artist as she is very creative and has the necessary skills to apply makeup for the cast. She is very artistic and will make the cast look very appropriate for the scene. For example if a victim needs to look dead she will apply the correct amount of blood or white makeup to make it look as if they have been killed or they have been dead for a certain amount of time. She will also choose the outfits appropriately.
Lighting operator - We decided that Pervin should be the lighting operator as she is very good at problem solving and is good at organisation. This will be very useful during the filming process as we may need a certain key of lighting and she will organise the area we are filming in to have that, she will also consult during editing to make the lighting appropriate for the scene.
Pre-production paperwork had to be produced before we started to film our thriller opening. We were legally obliged to do so and it will be very helpful during the filming process. The pre production paperwork consisted of a production schedule, camera shot list, location recce, location release form, risk assessment and client release form. These documents must have been completed as not only did it make filming more efficient, we needed the correct permissions to film in certain places and to prepare for and prevent any risks that may occur. The paperwork and copies of it had to be distributed amongst the cast, depending on whom it would benefit. The production schedule and location recce were given to the cast, as well as the client release form which had to be signed by each of them, the risk assessment was given to all crew members to help eliminate any risks. The director, producer and camera operator all held onto copies of the shot list to assist while filming. The forms were all produced by different crew members depending on who was more suited to which part of the paperwork.
Production Schedule:
The production schedule summarised what was going to happen during the filming process as well as when, who is involved, which scene is being shot and what equipment and props were being used. The production schedule would greatly benefit the cast and crew as they were all given a very clear idea of how the production would be made.
Location Recce:
Location recce contained information about where the filming will take place, directions on how to get there, why it is a good place to film and how it is relevant. This information will be distributed to and will be useful to all of the cast members so it will be easy for them to commute to the place where we are filming. Photos of the areas have also been included to assist.
Location Release form:
The location release form is a legal document that discussed the terms and conditions for the people that have granted us permission to film in a particular location, this form will be given to the local authorities if asked for. Also can be given to the police if they believe we are filming on the wrong grounds. To further solidify our ability to film without any delays or problems, I contacted my local council on behalf of Jager Productions to request permission to film in the cemetery, as this could have been problematic if people did not agree with this or if it breached any legalities.
Client release form:
The client release form is a legal document stating the terms and conditions that may concern any cast member. It contains all information and legalities that concern the cast members and is signed by them to show that they are aware of the fact they will not be payed for this production and what is expected of them.
Risk Assessment:
The risk assessment is another legal document which needed to be filled in by the appropriate crew member and be distributed to all the crew members as they would be dealing with the risks. The assessment contains information on what risks could be there as well as how to deal with them. This document is important as it would speed up the filming process as well as help avoid risks which may damage production value.
Advantages of Pre-production paperwork:
Pre production paperwork helps legitimise our production as it completes any legal documents that need to be and distributes them.
Assists the cast and crew to complete the production quickly and efficiently as the production has a deadline.
It analyses risks and how to confront them if they do occur, also helping with filming times.
It organises the crew and cast well, as well as informs them on the locations where we will be filming.
Problems and disagreements can be settled early due to the pre production paperwork which can also greatly help the production time and value.
Introduction: Discuss the importance of character representations in thrillers:
Character 1:
Name: Jaime Anderson
Character role: Antagonist
Age: 19
Gender stereotype of role: The stereotype for this role is a white male, his facial expressions are usually very stern and plain. This could represent depression or anger. The antagonist is usually wearing a suit or is dressed very sharply, this is to present a sense of order in his life, usually the antagonist has a certain goal to achieve, by evil means.. Further stereotypes are that these characters are very sadistic, and focussed, they do not care who gets in their way as long as they do whatever they feel they need to, they do not portray normal emotions and have monotonous feelings, this could present and unstable mindset or psychotic character.
Costume: We will stick to the stereotype and our antagonist will be dressed sharply with a suit and tie, but depending on our actor and the availability of these props, we may go with just a simple shirt and tie, this will be used to show that our character was just at a funeral, and to show he is a smartly dressed man. We will hopefully be able to portray our character with a white shirt and a black tie, with a black blazer, as this is typical wear for a funeral. This will then change as the antagonist is in his house he will remove his tie and put on a different jacket. the character does this quickly and without showing any sort of sadness as if he has just been to a funeral, it will look very casual to him as if he has done this several times before without showing grief directly after a funeral.
Hair and makeup: The antagonist's hair will be cleanly combed and neat, to show he has a sense of order and therefore a goal to achieve. He will be pale white and we may use makeup or editing to show this, to show that he has no emotion in his face, which will be in combination with his bland facial expression.
Body language and facial expression: The antagonist's body language will be very sharp and he will stand up straight, although he will look distracted as if something is always on his mind, which will present his unstable state of mind. Despite this, he will not look confused as he knows what he is doing, or at least he thinks he does. The antagonist's body language presents confidence and the fact he currently does not have any problems, but only goals, he strives for what he wants and he will get it done. He will walk in a very orderly fashion and show no slowing down or confusion. In the scene where he believes he has seen a figure in the dark, he will still hold a straight face as he is more likely to be angry that someone is in his home rather than scared, as a home is somewhere where people can be safe and comfortable.
Role within the narrative: The antagonist has the most important role within the narrative, if the film were to continue, it would be centered around him and it would show his victims and how he has come to this point and how his mind has become fearfully unstable. This character will show no reaction to dead bodies around his house, or show any emotion throughout the opening, his character is extremely peculiar and is vital to the narrative.
Audience response: The audience will feel fearful throughout the opening from the first shot of the character, they would be very confused due to the start of the opening with the graveyard. This will continue as he enters his house and there will be a more frightened reaction from the audience as he casually handles furniture with blood and simply walks past dead bodies as if they aren't there. He is very casual around frightening things and this will instill fear into the audience as this is psychotic behaviour and is far from the norm.
Character 2: Anti-hero/ Victim
Name: Trang Lam
Character Role: Character role will be played by me, I am playing the anti-hero in the short thriller opening in which was the victim before hand. After been brutally murdered by this mystery man who plays our antagonist and main character, I stalk him for what it looks like, vengeance. The audience are not able to straight away infer that I'm stalking him for that reason but it's not really necessary for a detailed narrative as it's just the opening. Slim build and white skin show vulnerability however my dark, jet black hair show that I also have dark intentions.
Age: 18. My age will be 18 because it is a typical age where teens are victimised. Old enough to be out independently but still very young to take advantage of.
Gender Stereotype of role: My gender stereotype would be a young teenage girl. Some what a pretty girl who carefully takes care of herself. The reason why she is a girl is because conventionally, females are not able to protect themselves as well as men are because of physical strength they have, therefore females are always chosen to be victims over males. As an anti-hero as well as being a victim before, I have dark black hair to portray that I also have dark intentions. Furthermore, my decisions I make during the opening might not be the best decision but that's what anti-heroes usually do for the greater good.
Costume: For my costume, I have white pale skin and white clothing to suggest that I am victim. This demonstrates to the audience that I am victim as it conventionally portrays my character as a vulnerable, innocent and pure girl. Moreover, connotations show my vulnerability as the denotations of my white dress and pale skin denote that I am dead. Usually corpses have pale skin due to the lack of sun expose to their skin. Despite my pale skin and white clothing, I also have jet black hair that further portrays that I am not as innocent as before, demonstrating I have dark intentions towards to antagonist. Being an anti-hero now, my identity is typically hidden from the audience which creates further mystery and tension as they are not able to workout who this mystery figure is, my face will be covered by make-up and hair that will curtain over my eyes. I will also have circle contact lens to make my eyes appear bigger and creepy to not just frighten the audience but to show that I've risen from the dead.
Hair and Make-up: My hair will be jet black, straighten to its full length to cover my face which is also covered with white make-up and black under eyes showing that I am in fact un-dead. It'd be a connation of wiped make-up and further portraying that I've been crying from my other life. I will also have red blood-shot eyes to show my anger, connoting death and danger.
Body Language and Facial Expression: Body language of my character will be quite neutral, an upright body language and neutral facial expression to further demonstrate that I am dead, an individual that has no emotions or feelings whatsoever because I've been murdered.
Role within narrative: I play a pass victim that has been murdered by the antagonist but who has risen from the dead as an anti-hero to take revenge on my killer. I stalk him throughout the opening making small and subtle appearances in the scenes.
Audience Response: The audience response to me should initially be quite chilling and scared at first because they don't know who I am just yet due to my hidden identity. As my character particularly does look terrifying with her pale face and big, black eyes, the audience might feel quite terrified towards because they haven't yet learned why I'm here. Feeling pity for the antagonist as his being stalked by this ghostly figure, this might all change when the witness the dead bodies scattered around his house to which then the audience learn that he is in fact the antagonist and not the protagonist. When they have learnt this, they will feel a sense of relief as the ghostly figure is stalking a bad man, having her reasons why she's doing this.
Character 3: Victims
Name: Christine, Cee-Jay, Hasan
Character Role: Their character roles portray them as victims of the antagonist. After also brutally murdered by the cruel antagonist, the victims lay dead in the house lifeless. The victims that are scattered around the house inform the audience that the antagonist is a psychotic killer which will make the audience feel uneasy and uncomfortable as the antagonist walks around his house without one single expression on his face.
Age: Age of these victims vary from 17-19 which also tell the audience that they are young people who are not able to defend themselves as well as a grown man and woman can.
Gender Stereotype of Role: Gender stereotypes of victims can vary from females to males however most victims are generally white because the audience would feel more sad towards their death to any other ethnic group.
Costume:The victims wear bright coloured clothing especially the colour white that really contrasts when you see themselves drenched in their own blood. When the colour of deep, blood red is placed onto a white coloured clothing, the audience are able to almost immediately see this telling them that these are the victims. The brightly coloured clothing also connotes their vulnerability and innocence making them the easy target for the antagonist.
Hair and Make-Up: For female victims, they often have light make-up put on perfectly. Usually very pretty which further makes the audience feel sorry for this victim. They often have neatly brushed hair that falls effortlessly on their shoulders making them also an easy target as they look innocent and vulnerable. For male victims, they usually look very vulnerable looking with also neatly brushed hair and a bright face where you are able to see every single feature. Moreover with their bright faces the audience are able see clearly demonstrates that they've got nothing to hide.
Body Language: Body language for victims are usually smaller than a usual person. Their body language often shows vulnerability by curling up into a ball making them look small and innocent. This is why the audience are able to infer that they are victims as they are not able to defend themselves. However in our thriller opening 'One Of Us', the body language on our victims are relaxed as they are conscious and dead.
Audience Response: The audience may feel very upset when they see these young victims scattered on the floor which makes them hate the antagonist even more for doing this.
Conclusion: In conclusion, it is important for the way characters are represented in films. Although Hollywood and most movies are currently dominated by white males, who play lead characters and significant roles. 'Whitewashing' is also a controversial problem in film currently as this leads to characters being wrongly represented by the wrong ethnic group, this could offend minorities especially if there is not a lot of diversity in film. An example of whitewashing is in Exodus: Gods and Kings (2014) where Christian Bale, a white, english actor portrayed a character of Egyptian origins. Therefore we have learnt that we will not have an all white cast but try to include ethnic minorities in both our significant roles and lesser significant roles.
The purpose of the preliminary task was to get used to and familiarize ourselves with the camera and the editing software. Our group had limited time and therefore had to prepare, film and edit efficiently. This was also a sample for the final film project and how efficient we have to be when we begin to film that.
Video
The scenario
We decided to have a scenario with 2 characters having a conversation that would last 30 seconds. Trang played the role of a girl that has forgotten her homework and Pervin as her friend or classmate who reminds her.
The scene begins as there is a panning shot to show Trang walking and as she walks past Pervin she is stopped by her to be reminded of the homework. As they are speaking there is a medium shot showing their conversation.
As the scene develops, there is then an over the shoulder shot as Trang panics as she has not done the homework. An over the shoulder shot is used to observe Trang's facial expression as she is the character with the dilemma in this scene, with Pervin having a supporting role.
In this scene there is a high angle shot to emphasise Trang's body language to accentuate her problem and she is upset by it.
There is then a closeup shot of Trang frantically going through her book trying to find the homework, the close up shot shows her rapid hand movement as she goes through the book which portrays her as being upset or worried about this.
Towards the end of the scene, there is an over the shoulder shot of Pervin telling Trang to "fix up" as this isn't the first time she has forgotten her homework. The over the shoulder shot puts focus on Pervin's face as she is telling off Trang.
Finally, Trang runs away and there is a long shot to show her whole body and the environment she is in, to show her going off screen so the audience can see she has gone looking for her homework.
Group roles and has this changed
For the preliminary task, I had taken the role of camera operator and director as I have had previous amateur experience with a camera and I believe as director it would be easiest behind the camera in such a small group, and I would develop my leadership skills which will hopefully be transferred onto the final project. Trang and Pervin were actors in this scenario and in our final production, Trang will be an actor but Pervin will not be as she has been chosen to do costume, hair and makeup and be our location manager, which was not relevant in the preliminary task. Furthermore in the final production Trang will be the writer/storyboarder and be in charge of the lighting, this was not relevant in the preliminary task. We decided as we are a very small group that editing will be a group role and will not rely on one person, this will mean that we will also get different perspectives when editing our final productions to make sure the final piece leaves very little mistakes while we all develop our skills to edit.
Difficulties while filming
As the camera operator, I had to get used to using and turning on the camera, as well as playback to check if there had to be retakes, this was difficult as I was not used to the make and model of the camera and I have had limited experience.
Finding an appropriate filming location so there would not be many people in the background or a lot of noise.
Some scenes had people walking past or making too much noise and therefore had to reshoot those scenes
The actors were not experienced and kept laughing during the scenes, there was no script and therefore they had to improvise after being given an idea of what to talk about.
Difficulties while editing
There was a filter on the whole scene when we played it back, after searching for the filter to see if we could remove it, and asking someone with editing experience with the software we could not find it, therefore had to leave the filter which created lines on the shot.
We were not used to the editing software and under limited time could only produce very simple straight cuts which made the changing of angles look very unprofessional.
There was also a lot of background noise we were unable to remove which slightly drowned out the speech in some takes.
What have you learned
As the camera operator and the director in the preliminary task, I learnt how to properly operate the camera, and how to make movements look smoother. I also learnt how to use a tripod although I chose not to use it as I think handheld movements would be more effective in my final production, therefore I used handheld movements in the preliminary task to gain experience. While editing I learnt how to merge clips together, and to delete and crop unnecessary clips. This editing experience will be vital for the final production. I also developed my skills to work in a team, as director this will be very important, I will need to tell people where to stand and move, as well as make sure they are portraying the correct facial expressions and body language. The preliminary task has also helped me and my group identify who will be suited for what roles during the final productions, we learnt that some of my group did not want to be actors as they were more suited to lighting and costume hair and makeup.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the preliminary task has been beneficial for me as it has given me a small sample of what the final production would be like. It has developed by skills with a camera, editing and my teamwork and leadership skills, all these skills will be vital for when I need to do my final productions as I am expecting it to be completely different to my preliminary task in terms of quality. I have also discovered what sort of mistakes can be made on a set and how to deal with them quickly and efficiently, as well as how to coordinate actors and positions.
Introduction:
My group's final idea has come together after we all pitched our initial ideas and we then based our final idea off one, with contributions from the other ideas, evidently creating a new narrative but with the same general tone and idea. We gathered the most effective and relevant parts of our initial ideas to thrillers and adapted them to our final idea, this ensured that everyone was involved and our final idea was the most effective for a thriller opening.
Title:
P.S. Your Stalker, One of Us
Sub-genre:
Supernatural (the idea of ghosts and the dead being seen) and Crime (murder that is suggested)
Narrative:
A man is seen walking from a graveyard, he is wearing a suit. The scene then cuts to inside of a house and the same man is seen walking through the door of this house. As he walks through the door a girl is visible behind him who is very pale and bruised. He then picks up a chair which is revealed to be bloody, walks towards his stairs and some dead bodies are seen around the house. He is walking in a very casual manner and he then walks up the stairs. As he walks up the stairs there is another body visible, once he gets to the top he walks into the bedroom, he goes to the wardrobe to get his jacket, as he closes the door to his wardrobe a male victim is visible behind the door, this victim is tied up and barely conscious. He then walks outside and turns off the light behind him, there is a figure visible behind him, he quickly turns around forgetting something and turns on the light, but there is nothing behind him. He walks over to his bed and grabs his phone, then turns off the light again and the figure is visible again. The man then walks downstairs and there is a cut to outside of the house, we see the man exit the house and there is then a tilt movement to a window upstairs, the girl who has been following him is visible with one hand at the window, staring at the direction of the man who is out of frame. There is then a panning shot to the man, whom we see now is walking in a public place.
Narrative structure (theory):
Our final idea will use the narrative structure of Aristotle as his theory states that tragedy is used to evoke emotion. Tragedy is suggested with the dead bodies all around the house and the victim following the antagonist, this will all evoke emotion amongst the audience.
It could also follow the narrative structure of Todorov's theory as the narrative could follow the equilibrium, disequilibrium and new equilibrium order. The antagonist would appear stable at the beginning, and then something disruptive would happen to him as it is evident in the opening there is a ghost or demon following him, although this would only show if the narrative continues further than the opening. It could then end with a new equilibrium as the supernatural being either stops following and tormenting the antagonist or has it's revenge.
Characters (theory):
Antagonist - The antagonist is the man walking around the house and the main character in the narrative. We are following the antagonist who is an apparent murderer due to my question in my primary research "What kind of character would you want a thriller film to be centered around?". The results came back with even responses to Hero and Murderer, therefore due to the narrative I will be going with murderer (antagonist), this would be the most appropriate due to my primary research.
Main Victim/Anti-Hero - The main victim will be the girl following the antagonist, she will be very pale and look very ghostly, therefore she will be presumed dead and is still following the antagonist, her character is the one that brings the supernatural sub genre to my opening as she will make sudden unexpected appearances.
Other Victims - The will be other victims scattered around the house which will suggest that they are victims of the antagonist who is casually walking around his house.
Mise en scene:
Lighting: Low lighting will be used when the antagonist is outside and high key lighting is when he is inside the house, this is to show that the house is an innocent place but this is controversial in my opening as there are dead bodies scattered around, ultimately confusing and chilling the audience.
Setting: The start of the scene will take place in a graveyard, it will then move onto the house as the scene develops and then end with a public place such as a street.
Iconography: A phone will be used when the antagonist is in the bedroom, he will go to pick it up and this will serve as a distraction for the sudden appearance of the main victim, as well as a chair for one of the victims and other furniture which will be in the house, but these will not be directly used in the opening as the characters will not interact with them.
Costume and makeup: The antagonist will be wearing a dark coloured jacket and trousers, to not draw attention to themselves. The victims will wear light coloured clothing to show the innocence.
Body language and facial expression: The antagonist will have have a very upright posture as he is confident in what he does and should not display any amount of fear as he is possibly psychotic. In terms of facial expression he will not show any emotion at all, this will further portray his madness as he lacks emotion which is a normal trait for sane human beings. The main victim/anti hero will also not show any emotion whatsoever as they have a goal which is to possibly seek revenge.
Film influences:
I was influenced by The Stepfather (1978) due to the unexpectedness of the bodies around the house in the opening and the fact he walks off like a normal person in a very casual manner, this opening heavily influenced my final idea.
I was also inspired by Halloween (1978) as this opening also had a twist or something the audience did not expect at the end of the opening. That is the main thing I am going for, to make the audience feel uncomfortable as the killer could be anyone.
I was influenced by The Grudge (2009) for the design of my main victim, this is because of the supernatural look the pale makeup that is used. The character in the grudge is difficult to look at and makes the audience uncomfortable.
Advantages:
The advantages of our final idea is that it is mysterious and will confuse the audience. It is also relatively easy to film, with minimal props and not too much editing. Our opening will also make the audience uncomfortable due to the characters attitude to having dead bodies around the house he is walking around, my opening should end with leaving the audience not knowing much but wanting to know more about the film.
Problems that may occur:
The problems that may occur are that the actors may not be convincing enough and this won't persuade the audience to feel tense or uncomfortable the way they should be. As well as this, there may be location problems such as asking for permission to film in a graveyard and being refused to do so. There also may not be enough actors to be extra bodies around the house. I may also experience editing problems as I do not have experience using the software we have been told to use, as well as editing the jump cuts properly to scare the audience effectively therefore I will have to shoot some scenes multiple times to ensure when editing I can put together the scene appropriately, this may also help any errors while filming.
Why is this opening conventional to a thriller?
This opening is conventional to a thriller due to the mise en scene we use, the lighting will be low key, and the setting will be a convention as a house and a graveyard is used a lot in thrillers. In addition to this the costumes my characters will also be conventional to a thriller, the antagonist will wear dark colours and the victims will wear lighter colours.
What themes does your thriller represent?
My thriller uses the theme of death which is evident with the bodies scattered around the house. As well as possible revenge due to the girl following the antagonist, it can be assumed that she is a victim and she is stalking the antagonist, the person who possibly killed her.
What response will you get from your audience?
My audience will be confused at the start as there is no explanation as to why the man is walking from the graveyard, once the man is in the house during the middle of the opening, the audience will have a frightened response as it is very tense due to the bodies scattered around the rooms, also the man's reaction will contribute to this. At the end of the opening, the audience will feel scared as there is a tilt movement to reveal the girl inside the house watching as the antagonist walks way, this will be a suspenseful shot used to set up the rest of the movie but also close the opening.
