Thursday, 5 May 2011
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Evaluation Question 7
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Before I did the preliminary task my knowledge about filming and making a movie and editing wasn't really useful so we both me and my partner started the process from the same level and the preliminary task was the first piece you could call a edited scene we did on our own.
Therefore it was a good task to do before the actual part of the coursework to get used to camera equipment and the software "Final Cut Pro" which we have used for our editing. I would say after I finished the preliminary task I felt more confident and familiar with filming and especially editing a sequence because I have never done something like that before and never used a program like final cut before. In addition it was very useful to see what extent of your effort is needed for such a short sequence to measure how long and how much effort it's gonna take for a final opening sequence.
Before I did the preliminary task my knowledge about filming and making a movie and editing wasn't really useful so we both me and my partner started the process from the same level and the preliminary task was the first piece you could call a edited scene we did on our own.
Therefore it was a good task to do before the actual part of the coursework to get used to camera equipment and the software "Final Cut Pro" which we have used for our editing. I would say after I finished the preliminary task I felt more confident and familiar with filming and especially editing a sequence because I have never done something like that before and never used a program like final cut before. In addition it was very useful to see what extent of your effort is needed for such a short sequence to measure how long and how much effort it's gonna take for a final opening sequence.
Evaluation Question 6
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
During the process of constructing our opening sequence I have learnt a lot about technologies which are useful to create a good movie. One part was during the actual filming to get used to the camera with all the different settings and effects you can already add while your still filming.
Sony DCR-HC62E ( The camera we used for our movie)
The second part was the editing. After we collected our footage we did our editing with Macintosh computers and several programs. That was the actual part we started to play with the movie and add music and effects, make cuts and change speed. Before we started editing I have never worked with "Final Cut Pro" but after a introduction session we get used to it and could transfer our ideas into the program and change everything like we expected.
The music for our movie we made by ourselves with "Garage Band". We started to play with loops and put them together and check if they fit, delete pieces which didn't and add new ones. At the end of the day we put a continuing violin melody together with two other loops which sound like a sort of synthesize sounds. We get influenced by the movie "Shutter Island" for our own music because the music is an important part and in this particular movie the music change the whole emotion during a scene.
During the process of constructing our opening sequence I have learnt a lot about technologies which are useful to create a good movie. One part was during the actual filming to get used to the camera with all the different settings and effects you can already add while your still filming.
The second part was the editing. After we collected our footage we did our editing with Macintosh computers and several programs. That was the actual part we started to play with the movie and add music and effects, make cuts and change speed. Before we started editing I have never worked with "Final Cut Pro" but after a introduction session we get used to it and could transfer our ideas into the program and change everything like we expected.
The music for our movie we made by ourselves with "Garage Band". We started to play with loops and put them together and check if they fit, delete pieces which didn't and add new ones. At the end of the day we put a continuing violin melody together with two other loops which sound like a sort of synthesize sounds. We get influenced by the movie "Shutter Island" for our own music because the music is an important part and in this particular movie the music change the whole emotion during a scene.
Evaluation Question 5
How did you attract/ address your Audience?
Our audience are young people who want to see a thriller movie with suspense and action and an independent production. Therefore we tried through or shots, camera angles and movement to increase the suspense during the movie. We have chosen a typical characters for that kind of movie. Celina as blond, attractive schoolgirl chased by a character with a creepy clown mask to make it more exiting.
Our audience are young people who want to see a thriller movie with suspense and action and an independent production. Therefore we tried through or shots, camera angles and movement to increase the suspense during the movie. We have chosen a typical characters for that kind of movie. Celina as blond, attractive schoolgirl chased by a character with a creepy clown mask to make it more exiting.
Evaluation Question 4
Who would be the audience for your media product?
The target audience for our movie are people who like movies produced or distributed by independent companies instead of a Hollywood-production. Young people who are producing their own independent movies to get new ideas and an overview about the competitive and thriller or horror fans who wants to see a lot of suspense, spine chilly scenes an causing nightmarish movies. We have chosen a clown as the creepy murderer because there is a widespread of horror movies where the clown mutates to the creepy murderer e.g. Stephen Kings "Es" where a clown kidnaps and murders children in a small town and a group of friends tries to kill "Es".
Because we made a creepy and a kind of horror-thriller the average age of our audience should be 15+.
The target audience for our movie are people who like movies produced or distributed by independent companies instead of a Hollywood-production. Young people who are producing their own independent movies to get new ideas and an overview about the competitive and thriller or horror fans who wants to see a lot of suspense, spine chilly scenes an causing nightmarish movies. We have chosen a clown as the creepy murderer because there is a widespread of horror movies where the clown mutates to the creepy murderer e.g. Stephen Kings "Es" where a clown kidnaps and murders children in a small town and a group of friends tries to kill "Es".
Because we made a creepy and a kind of horror-thriller the average age of our audience should be 15+.
Evaluation Question 3
What kind of media institutions might distribute your media product and why?
A media institution who might distribute my media product would be an independent movie company, maybe one which is specialized on thriller movies, because our media product is not high quality produced with "Hollywood standard" with special effects or famous actors and without a million dollar budget. We made our sequence on a Macintosh and used programs like "Final Cut" or "Garage Band", these are programs which are available for everybody are not the top of the top but enough to produce a quality movie.
Therefore an independent movie company like "Coffee Films" would distribute our movie. "Coffee Films" distribute newcomers or movies made by young people from the next generation. Small independent companies like "Coffee Films" are looking for talent and mostly for young people who put a lot of effort into their productions and have new ideas and try completely new things nobody have seen before in this branch.
A media institution who might distribute my media product would be an independent movie company, maybe one which is specialized on thriller movies, because our media product is not high quality produced with "Hollywood standard" with special effects or famous actors and without a million dollar budget. We made our sequence on a Macintosh and used programs like "Final Cut" or "Garage Band", these are programs which are available for everybody are not the top of the top but enough to produce a quality movie.
Therefore an independent movie company like "Coffee Films" would distribute our movie. "Coffee Films" distribute newcomers or movies made by young people from the next generation. Small independent companies like "Coffee Films" are looking for talent and mostly for young people who put a lot of effort into their productions and have new ideas and try completely new things nobody have seen before in this branch.
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
Evaluation Question 2
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
In our opening scene we only have 3 actors. We use two girls, Selina and Celina both are blonde. They are dressed smartly in school uniform, they also look young and innocent just like how you would percieve any normal teenager to look. Blondes are stereotyped for being attractive, dumb or stupid. In the sequence they are represented this way, as two attractive girls who look after themselves like in "Gossip Girls". A good film to show blonde stereotyping is Legally Blonde. In this film, Elle, the main character is trying to win back her ''true love''. Because he wants to be a lawyer, therefore going to Harvard, she thinks if she can prove to him that she is clever, he will take her back.
Social groups like that are more likely to be chosen to play in thriller or horror movies. Alfred Hitchcock used young, attractive,(blonde) female characters in his movies, e.g. Marion Crane (fictional character) from his masterpiece Psycho or Amber Heard in "All the boys love Mandy Lane" the same kind of character we tried to represent in our sequence.
In our opening scene we only have 3 actors. We use two girls, Selina and Celina both are blonde. They are dressed smartly in school uniform, they also look young and innocent just like how you would percieve any normal teenager to look. Blondes are stereotyped for being attractive, dumb or stupid. In the sequence they are represented this way, as two attractive girls who look after themselves like in "Gossip Girls". A good film to show blonde stereotyping is Legally Blonde. In this film, Elle, the main character is trying to win back her ''true love''. Because he wants to be a lawyer, therefore going to Harvard, she thinks if she can prove to him that she is clever, he will take her back.
Social groups like that are more likely to be chosen to play in thriller or horror movies. Alfred Hitchcock used young, attractive,(blonde) female characters in his movies, e.g. Marion Crane (fictional character) from his masterpiece Psycho or Amber Heard in "All the boys love Mandy Lane" the same kind of character we tried to represent in our sequence.
Evaluation Question 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions or real media products?
Like in the "Dark Knight" we have chosen to use masks so the victim can't see the attackers face, to add to the creepy atmosphere of the movie. Therefore, the victim is even more scared of who it is handling her/him. Another reason why we chose to use masks, is that in many of the best thriller films; eg: scream the atmosphere keeps building up as you never know who is behind the mask, which makes that person more dangerous.
Another film we have looked at is ''Secrets of the Clown'', in this film a man is murdered. His best friend, then starts to have nightmares about the murder and more going on around town. They are clues to finding out who or what the murderer is. This film is grotesque, violent and bloody; which reminds us of ''Saw''. Who tortures his victims in unimaginable ways. We have used this idea in our own film where Celina is trapped in the pillory. This indicates torture, as in the medieval times, prisoners where trapped in this and tortured until there time for death.
We have used classical convention of hiding from the victims then appearing out of nowhere.
In our film, we have also done this type of convention, which is hiding in the bushes, and waiting for the victim, a shot where it seems like you look through the eyes of the murderer we used as well to increase suspense and to mark the victim, because the murderer is focusing his victim. We get this idea where the murderer observes his victim from "Halloween" and there are some scenes in "Scream" where these conventions are used as well.
In the opening sequence we have aimed to create a creepy, atmospheric clip to the beginning of the movie. In the film we have used a clown figure as it is grotesque and would freak normal people out. We got this idea from two films "Dark Knight" and "Secrets of the clown" in both films they use the image of a clown to cause fear and doubt among civilians. Normally you look at clowns as a way to make you happy, where as in these films the use the image of clowns to terrify you.
Like in the "Dark Knight" we have chosen to use masks so the victim can't see the attackers face, to add to the creepy atmosphere of the movie. Therefore, the victim is even more scared of who it is handling her/him. Another reason why we chose to use masks, is that in many of the best thriller films; eg: scream the atmosphere keeps building up as you never know who is behind the mask, which makes that person more dangerous.
Another film we have looked at is ''Secrets of the Clown'', in this film a man is murdered. His best friend, then starts to have nightmares about the murder and more going on around town. They are clues to finding out who or what the murderer is. This film is grotesque, violent and bloody; which reminds us of ''Saw''. Who tortures his victims in unimaginable ways. We have used this idea in our own film where Celina is trapped in the pillory. This indicates torture, as in the medieval times, prisoners where trapped in this and tortured until there time for death.
We have used classical convention of hiding from the victims then appearing out of nowhere.
In our film, we have also done this type of convention, which is hiding in the bushes, and waiting for the victim, a shot where it seems like you look through the eyes of the murderer we used as well to increase suspense and to mark the victim, because the murderer is focusing his victim. We get this idea where the murderer observes his victim from "Halloween" and there are some scenes in "Scream" where these conventions are used as well.
Friday, 18 March 2011
Start Filming
After we finished now story board, music and chose actors and we will start now to film and to collect some footage, also we are pretty behind others and need be finished soon.
Story Board
I just drew the story board for our thriller, unfortunately I am not a born artist and hope you will get an idea of our story. In addition I wrote underneath the pictures a short discribtion.
A creepy person is walking along a path towards the school.
Picture 3 (top) : The girls are waiting at a car Park to get picked up
Picture 4 (bottom): Someone is watching them through the bushes
Picture 8 (top): She is running through the school looking for a place to hide.
Picture 9 ( top right ) : Her last way out is a old cellar.
Picture 10 (bottom right): She is hiding in the old cellar and think she's save, it is very dark.
Picture 11 ( top left) :She takes a lighter out of her pocket yo see something...
Picture 12 (bottom left): The creepy person is right in front of her
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Wednesday, 2 March 2011
Thriller Questinare
We made a short thriller interview to get an overview what the audience want and expect from a good thriller movie.
Monday, 28 February 2011
Location
After a short half term break I and my partner Nikolas continue with our thriller coursework.
We decided that we will do our filming in school and use it as our location, cause their are some useful places which are perfect for our story. I will post some photo's and a video in the next days.
We decided that we will do our filming in school and use it as our location, cause their are some useful places which are perfect for our story. I will post some photo's and a video in the next days.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Ideas for my thriller
Today I discussed with my mate Nikolas about the story of our thriller. We thought a creepy thriller would be the best.
The story will be something like a psycho series killer murders his victims with a drill. On part will be a chase of the victim and the killer through a scary seller and ended with much suspense.
The killer with a scary mask.
Is chasing a school girl.
They ending in a creepy cellar towards the showdown.
The killer used to kill his victims with a drill.
The story will be something like a psycho series killer murders his victims with a drill. On part will be a chase of the victim and the killer through a scary seller and ended with much suspense.
Is chasing a school girl.
The killer used to kill his victims with a drill.
Monday, 7 February 2011
Friday, 4 February 2011
Thursday, 27 January 2011
My Favourite Thriller
Federal Marshall Teddy Daniels and his new partner Chuck Aule travel to a government-run mental institution for the criminally insane on Shutter Island, near Boston, when there is a report that one of the prisoners has gone missing. Daniels has his own reasons for wanting to get to the island and carries baggage of his own. He is still traumatized from what he saw when his army unit liberated one of the Nazi concentrating camps at the end of World War II and is still haunted by the more recent death in a fire of his wife and children. The head of the hospital, Dr. John Cawley, treats him alright but others give the agents a less than warm reception. Daniels particularly wants to find out what is going on in one of the wards, reserved for the most serious offenders. As Daniels begins to peal away the layers of deceit, it becomes obvious that not all is as it seems.
Source: Internet Movie Date Base
Wednesday, 26 January 2011
The Master of Suspense
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was probably the most famous director for thriller movies. He was born in England where he made his early movies. In 1939 he moved to Hollywood where he created his most famous movie psycho in 1960. He invented many techniques in filming suspense and psychological thriller movies. In his films he has done a lot with the point of view and shots to increase suspense. He have worked for more the 5 decades on making movies with a result of 53 movies he became a cultural icon.
Monday, 24 January 2011
The music makes the diffrence
For a good thriller the music plays an important part. The music makes the difference and only with the music you can build up unbeliveable suspense which attract everyone who watch it.
Typical thriller suspense music, imagine anyone is sneaking through a dark corridor, not knowing if anyone’s there and you cant see anything you only hear the music. Especially for such scenes the music is very important and and does what distinguishes a good thriller.
Click here for an example of thriller music
Typical thriller suspense music, imagine anyone is sneaking through a dark corridor, not knowing if anyone’s there and you cant see anything you only hear the music. Especially for such scenes the music is very important and and does what distinguishes a good thriller.
Click here for an example of thriller music
Film Classifications
‘U’
Universal – Suitable for all
It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.
If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice. Examples: FernGully: The Last Rainforest, The Incredibles
‘PG’
Parental Guidance
General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children
Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children. Example: The Simpsons Movie, Toy Story, Tron: Legacy
’12A’/’12′
Suitable for 12 years and over
Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.
The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.
The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work. Examples: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Pirates of the Caribbean, Yes Man, Fred: The Movie
’15′
Suitable only for 15 years and over
No one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work. Examples: The Uninvited, Good Luck Chuck, Love and Other Drugs
’18′
Suitable only for adults
No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema.
No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video.
In line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:
* where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
* where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
* where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.
In the case of video works (including video games), which may be more accessible to younger viewers, intervention may be more frequent than for cinema films.
Examples: In Bruges, Saw III, Jackass 3D
The is information above is taken from the British Board of Film Classification
List of top 50 thriller movies by American Film Institute
1. Psycho 1960
2. Jaws 1975
3. The Exorcist 1973
4. North by Northwest 1959
5. The Silence of the Lambs 1991
6. Alien 1979
7. The Birds 1963
8. The French Connection 1971
9. Rosemary's Baby 1968
10. Raiders of the Lost Ark 1981
11. The Godfather 1972
12. King Kong 1933
13. Bonnie and Clyde 1967
14. Rear Window 1954
15. Deliverance 1972
16. Chinatown 1974
17. The Manchurian Candidate 1962
18. Vertigo 1958
19. The Great Escape 1963
20. High Noon 1952
21. A Clockwork Orange 1971
22. Taxi Driver 1976
23. Lawrence of Arabia 1962
24. Double Indemnity 1944
25. Titanic 1997
26. The Maltese Falcon 1941
27. Star Wars 1977
28. Fatal Attraction 1987
29. The Shining 1980
30. The Deer Hunter 1978
31. Close Encounters of the Third Kind 1977
32. Strangers on a Train 1951
33. The Fugitive 1993
34. The Night of the Hunter 1955
35. Jurassic Park 1993
36. Bullitt 1968
37. Casablanca 1942
38. Notorious 1946
39. Die Hard 1988
40. 2001: A Space Odyssey 1968
41. Dirty Harry 1971
42. The Terminator 1984
43. The Wizard of Oz 1939
44. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial 1982
45. Saving Private Ryan 1998
46. Carrie 1976
47. Invasion of the Body Snatchers 1956
48. Dial M for Murder 1954
49. Ben-Hur 1959
50. Marathon Man 1976
Friday, 21 January 2011
The thriller is both a novel and a movie genre with different, partially overlapping subgenres. Thriller is characteristic of tension that is present not only in short passages, but almost throughout the course of action. Short-term, or representatives like Matthew Reilly even almost continuous, fast-paced action but may also occur. Frequently encountered are spacious suspense, cliffhanger, etc.
The thriller is very similar to the mystery-genre or the detective novel, but they differ in their story and tension-curves. In a thriller movie the hero often have to fight against moral, psychological or physical violence caused by his opponent. The highlight of the movie is mostly the very close but definitive victory over the evil, with the hero who often rescues hisself and sometimes others. Thrillers which are influenced by tragedies
Wednesday, 19 January 2011
AS Media Coursework
This is the ''AS Media Studies Thriller Project Blog", My name is Julian Linnemann. I am a media studies student in Aldenham School. I from Germany, Bremen. Over the next weeks I will create a thriller movie but before I start to film the first sequences I will do some research about general information and genric conventions about thriller films.
This is the ''AS Media Studies Thriller Project Blog", My name is Julian Linnemann. I am a media studies student in Aldenham School. I from Germany, Bremen. Over the next weeks I will create a thriller movie but before I start to film the first sequences I will do some research about general information and genric conventions about thriller films.
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