Contents

Introduction/Welcome

Story Board

Continuity Excise

Thriller Title Sequence Analysis

Treatment of my Thriller Opening

My Thriller Narrative

My Shooting List

Risk Assessment

Animatic

Editing Process (Sample Shots and Rough Cut)

Location

Main Production

Audience Feedback

My Evaluation

My Evaluation

Below you can view the sort of directors cut about the film where I include information about what shots I could of improved on. But I am going to talk about different areas.

How's does my media product develop or challenge forms and conventions or real media?

My Thriller opening shows the use of different media styles and concepts. For example when I show the POV shot instead of showing the view from the character I used the brief case as the focal point. I also think that with other Thrillers you will never find just a background noise, such as the dripping effect, on it's own I think that by cutting out the music that would usually be found alongside the sound effect I have

been able to create more tension than usual.

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

I feel that my product would not be distributed through mainstream theaters or production companies, this is because it is not up to the standard to other Thrillers produced by professionals. I would show my media product on social networking site such as Facebook and Youtube. Other productions have been distributed

in similar ways such as the amateur prequel to The lord of the Rings Trilogy.

How does my media production attract your audience?

One way attracted people to see my media production is by creating a short trailer for my film and uploading it onto the social networking youtube. This will give me a wider audience to try and manipulate, by giving a sample of the film people can see if it is there sort of film and if so they can return to view the whole production. Another reason would be plainly the type of film that the young generation have come to love.

What have I learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I have learnt throughout the process of constructing this media product about different editing techniques I also learnt about the implements of web 2.0 technology and how it can be used to advertise or spread a media product. I have also been able to learn and use ATMO s this then stops the sudden transitions from the locations ambient noise. I used this to make sure the car from one location doesn't just stop but continues this will make the viewer feel more part of the production. Finally i have learnt how to edit audio, I have used this method to make the drops from the sound track go at the same time as the drops of blood in the landing. I was able to complete all of this through the video editing software Final Cut Pro.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

I think that in my media product represents people as vulnerable if someone gets the upper hand over them. It also shows how people can be motivated to do things they wouldn’t usually do because a loved one needs their help. It is hard to give an answer to the representation of characters since in my opening sequence there is only one character, but this character shows he knows what he's doing and is determined to find his family. We also see from the car he is driving that he may not have that much money or he's fallen on hard times, alternatively he could be using this vehicle as a cover.

What sort of audience is my Media product aimed at?

I feel that my product could be distributed to people aged 13 to 18 because the production does not contain elements that most hardcore thrillers contain, things like excessive blood or murders. These thrillers are usually branded at an 18 because of the amount of blood and horror in them. I would say that my Thriller is very subtle in comparison a a film like Saw or Psycho and would be probably compared to more of a mystery thriller.

Looking back at my preliminary task how do I feel I have progressed from the it to the full product?

I feel that I have been able to develop more complex narrative, I have also learnt how to use visual effect software such as Adobe After Effects. I have also increased my knowledge on camera angles such as the Point of View shot I used in my product. I have also increase my knowledge into movie genres. Finally I have my skills and knowledge of audio manipulation and can now edit audio within the Final Cut software.

Audience FeedBack

To gather evaluations I gathered people in to see the thriller. After they viewed the film I got them to answer some questions.

Overall I think that my thriller opening has come out pretty well I still think I can improve a large amount of it. I think things like the Point of View shot came out really well and during the editing process I have learnt about how using a sound from a scene can be repeated

Main Production

Locations

Editing Process (Rough Cut & Sample Shots)

I'm am now at the stage of editing my project. The recording of the project took me four days, this meant I exceeded the time originally planed for n the Shooting List.

The recording took place on the roads of Wem and in a field about a mile outside of the Wem area. I had decided that in order to keep a sense of mystery about the opening I would only used sound such as dripping and a phone call instead of the more commonly used background music.

I have used Final Cut Pro to edit my footage and Adobe After Effect CS4 to create the Row 51 production screen, to do this I am going to follow tutorial a off of the website Video Copilot. I am

also going to use After Effects to create the main title.

Below you can see my rough copy of my production and some sample shots. The sample shots where taken to see how the final shot would come out.

Sample Shot

Rough Cut

Animatic

I used more story board to create an animatic this gives me and the viewer an idea of how my final project is going to look.

Risk Assessment

Hazard	Yes	No	Severity of risk	Likelihood of injury	Persons at Risk	What precautions have you taken to eliminate the risk
Are the technical crew competent	Yes		L	L	Joel Wright	All operators to be briefed on operation of all equipment.
Tripping Hazards	Yes		M	M	Joel Wright	Make sure any trailing wires are either taped in place or moved where none will trip on it.

My Shooting List

In this post I will include my recording timetable, this will show me when I am going to complete the different sections of my production. Also there will be a list of any equipment that will be required to complete the recording. This should help the recording procedure.

Day 1 Recording List

What is the Scene?	Where is it going to be filmed?	Date?
Door Scene	Home	4th Dec
Phone Scene	Home	4th Dec
All Car Scenes	Home, Station Rd, Whitchurch Rd	4th Dec
Conversations (Audio Only)	Home	4th Dec

Day 2 Recoding List

What is the Scene?	Where is it going to be filmed?	Date?
Digging Scene	Providence Wood, just outside Wem	5th Dec
Walking and Running Scenes	Providence Wood, Wem Alleys	5th Dec
News Report	College	5th Dec

Day 3 Recording List

What is the Scene?	Where is it going to be filmed?	Date?
Dripping Scenes	Home	6th Dec
Blood Drops	Home	6th Dec
Titles	College (using Adobe After Effect)	6th Dec

Equipment Needed

Day 1

1 X Camera

1 X Tripod

1 X Car

1 X Actor

1 X Phone

Day 2

1 X Camera

1 X Tripod

1 X Actor

1 X Transparent Container

1 X Letter

1 X Briefcase

Day 3

1 X Camera

1 X Tripod

1 X Fish Tank

2 X Lights

1 X Red Blood Mixture

My Thriller Narrative

In my production we are following the life of a man, who's family have been taken. We begin by seeing some drops of something and just hearing the sound of the drops. These shots fade in and out, separated by the Titles.

During these scenes of droplets and tile we see a man running down a alley, this makes the audience wonder what's happening: what are the droplets and who is the man. The whole thing continues until the final drop which is red. The screen then fades to red which in turn pans out from the side of a car. Then there are a couple of scenes while the phone conversation goes on, these show the man receiving a case and driving to his destination.

Then conversation then stops and the man starts walking down the country roads. He reads a letter left buy the man on the phone. This is while mans voice is reading it for the audience. He then starts to dig and throws the case inside. The audience are then moved to a point of view shot from the case as it gets buried. The spade gets thrown into the ground and instantly the news report starts about some one being missing.

Treatment of my thriller opening

My Thriller Opening

Sound Track –

The sound track I am going to use is the sound of something dripping, the dripping will be every second and will have about 50% re-verb to give it an echo to it. This soundtrack will remain until the fade to red scene. At this point the natural track of the car and person will be played with a phone conversation over the top.

Title sequence for“Row 51”

Blurred cinema is shown in the background while the title is displayed


Video –

Scene 1-

The first scene will begin with just blank, the first credits will begin to come up and stop when the black backing begins to fade. The sound track will be playing at this point

Scene 2 –

There will be a Fade transition into a video of a pool where a drip keeps falling into it causing ripples (this will be with a black background); these drips will hit the water at the same time as the soundtrack. M/C

Scene 3-

The pool will fade using a fade to black transition, and then the next set of credits will appear using a fade transition.

Scene 4 –

In this scene we use another fade transition, the credits will stop and the black will fade to a video of someone walking down an alley. L/S


Scene 5 –

Using a Fade transition, the video of someone walking down the alley fades into a close up of a one of the droplets. The camera follows the droplet until it hits the water. E/C

Scene 6 –

The camera moves to a bird’s eye view of where the droplet has hit and then shows the ripples moving out. The title of the film overlays the video of the ripples. “Every Last Drop!” appearing one word at a time. M/S

Scene 7 –

Now in this scene the images begin to flicker: static, person walking down alley (different shots). At this point the only other sound you will hear apart from the dripping it the static noise (white noise, in moderation)

Scene 8 –

The Flickering slows and stops then it fades to black the final credits is displayed.

Scene 9 –

The title fades and the droplets continue for about 3 more drops. The final 4th drop is then dropped and it is red. C/U

Scene 10 –

The camera cuts to an image looking through the glass bows where the droplets have been falling, and the 4th droplet hits the water then spreads in the water like blood. C/U

Scene 11 –

Fade to RED transition

Scene 12 -

Red turns to side of car as it pans out, Sound of a phone ringing begins

Scene 13 -

Cuts to a shot of a phone ringing

Scene 14 -

Cuts back to a shot in the car, Ringing stops

Scene 15 -

Shot of Car Key being turned, phone discourse starts

Scene 16 -

Car drives off

Scene 17 -

Cuts to a door swinging open and a case on the other side

Scene 18 -

Shot of car driving down the road

Scene 19 -

Cuts to a shot down the side of the car

Scene 20 -

Car pulls up and a person gets out with a case

Scene 21 -

Phone call cuts off, and cuts to a picture of the man walking down a country lane

Scene 22 -

Cuts to scene of person walking up to a gate

Scene 23 -

Man picks up a not and reads it, Person's voice from the phone reading it

Scene 24 -

Cuts to the man digging a hole with the case next to him

Scene 25 -

Man throws the case into the hole and begins burring it

Scene 26 -

Cuts to the man throwing the spade into the ground

Scene 27 -

As soon as the spade hits the ground it cuts to a news report.

Thriller Title Sequence Analysis

The film I have chosen is called 'SUR LE SEUIL' this translates into English as 'Evils Words'

At first you notice that the background is flickering and jumping ll over the place, this makes the viewer feel uneasy because they cannot focus on a specific detail because it keeps moving.

Through out this opening you can hear the sound of metal clags and drum this is non-diegetic sound.


The next thing that can be seen is the Titles begin appearing and just like the background you can just read them but they're flickering like the background. Then we hear the first diegetic sound, this being the knifes swiping each other. This sound adds to the viewers curiosity, as they are wondering whats happening.


After the flickering continues for a couple of seconds a spot of red appears on screen and it begins flickering lick every thing else on screen. The viewers are now trying to connect thing and may presume the red is blood. Then there is more diegetic sound of someone screaming and now viewers are wondering does this have something to do with the sound of knifes and the red.


Just to make sure viewers have made the connection between the red spots and the sounds a background video fades in showing people screaming and cowering in a corner. The viewer now knows something has happened to these people and its going to play a part in the film.


The red spot continue flickering on the screen and start growing, this may be associated with blood splatters.The opening finishes by continuing the flickering but introducing scratches and more graphic scenes of screaming, blood and people running.

After looking at this thriller opening I am considering using mostly diegetic sound apart from a phone call that the viewer can hear. I feel that there is to much movement within the titles and is does not give the viewer much time to read them. I think that during the creation of my thriller i will over lay the title onto a video instead of just a black background. And finally I am going to increase the amount of footage by actually showing a part of the story line instead of just showing flickering images.

Continuity Exercise

Firstly the continuity excise is about making sure that items or clothing does not change within a scene. For example if Nicolas walked into a room in scene one on our first day of recording, on the next day he would have to wear the same clothes to keep the continuity of the scene.

So after going through the storyboard we were ready to film. During the filming of the task, Nicolas and I took turns in using the camera, for example if I was in a scene Nicolas would film and if Nicolas was in a scene I would recorded it. When it came to recording a scene with the two of us in it, the recording fell to the person nearest the camera (if it was an over the shoulder shot, looking over Nicolas's shoulder he would record the scene.) While recording we followed the storyboard closely to maintain our continuity.


After we had finished the recording we uploaded the scene to our editing software "Final Cut Pro". Now we had all the footage we began editing it, referring back to the storyboard to make sure the video was as close to it as we could achieve. After we had completed the editing process we added in the titles, and transitions these included the "Fade
from black" at the start, and also the "Fade to black" at the end. Then finally we exported
the whole project as a Quicktime movie.

Evaluation
After watching through our video a couple of times we agreed on a couple of things. We think
overall we think that the video is good as a whole, but we think that some of the shots could of been
improved. For example: the shot of the door handle could of been improved by using a tripod to
make the video more stable, also we could of used more shots to make the conversation more
interesting. There is only one scene in our opinion where it really doesn't work, this is the scene
where Joel stands up with the paper in his hands. We believe this because when watching the we
Joel starts standing it cuts to another shot looking up at him, it is the cut between these scenes that
does not work, the video short of jumps from starting to stand and when stood. Another scene that
could of been improved it the first scene, when Nicolas is walking down the corridor the camera
could of followed him down the corridor before stopping instead of just a static shot. One of the
shots that we think worked really well is the high up shot of Nicolas walking into the room as this
shows him throughout and also his destination.

Story Board

We have created a storyboard as it an important part of planning, and with out it there is nothing to refer to when creating the final product. We can now see what sort of effects can be used this is because by creating our story-board we can debate weather non diegetic sound should be used or not, also we had to consider things such as what shot sizes should be used and overall where we would be basing our production, we had to alternatively think about whether we had background music or whether we just stuck with the natural recorded sound. And finally we discussed about any additional changes that could be made . These additional changes can the be made to improve the overall viewing pleasure of the video.


The story board image are in reverse order