Production Log Week 2

Worksheet Analysis - One Hour Photo

Again with the use of the application 'Photoshop CS3' i was able to put these scanned images together to make it easier to view.

Inside Man

For this task i am analysing 'Inside Man'. This is a Crime-Thriller which is directed by Spike Lee.

At the beginning of the opening sequence we establish the production companies: Universal Pictures and Imagine Entertainment. This is done with music, right from the beginning. Its Bollywood music with the sound title 'Chaiya Chaiya'. The use of this sound is unusual for an american crime thriller, but it is used to establish indirectly to the audience that there is a mystery throughout the movie. This is done by the lyrics of the song referring to 'My Shadow' which in terms of this movie and the thriller genre, is suitable due to its mystery.

It then continues to a medium close up of a character named Dalton Rusel. This whole scene is a Flash-forward but the audience do not know it at the time. Its used successfully as the audience don't know it till the end. The Codes for this to be executed are normal, nothing to convey that the audience are watching a flash-forward because it is set like that in the narrative to build up for the twist at the end. This is establishing that the narrative is non-linear due to the clip at the beginning. This clip is central throughout the movie, it shows this clip, then repeats it when it reaches that stage in the narrative, and then continues in a linear sequence of events.

The Dialogue in this clip is crucial in creating a mysterious atmosphere for the audience, making them ask questions, whilst giving them clues/foreshadowing what is to come. It begins with; "My name is Dalton Russel, pay strict attention to what i say because i choose my words carefully and i never repeat myself". This is a formal introduction to the character, without giving away much about him, we can tell he is a strict and imperative person. He then continues with more dialogue to further the narrative, but to also create more questions for the audience. "I have told you my name, thats the who. The where can most ruddily be described as a prison cell. But there is a vast difference in being stuck in a tiny cell and being in prison". The point where he begins to speak about the vast difference between the two, there is a cut to Don in the small area which is described as a prison cell, which is smaller than an actual prison cell. This the cuts to him reading a book, writing and then doing push ups. This dialogue is mainly used to create a mystery in the audiences mind, but also give them set questions to focus on throughout the film, so that they can get ready for the twist at the end. It creates the question of why would you be in a location which is described as a prison cell, if it isn't a prison cell? This means that he has strong reasons of why he is in the location which at the moment in the film, can only be described as a prison cell.

This then goes back to the medium close up of the characters face and he continues his dialogue to say; "the what is easy, recently i planned and set a motion of events to execute the perfect bank robbery. Thats also the when. As for the why, beyond the obvious financial motivation, it is exceeding simple, because i can. Which leaves us with only the how. And therein as the bard would tell us, lies the rub". This piece of dialogue gives us answered questions throughout. It also shows us that the character is over-confident. To end this scene, the dialogue gives us the question of how. Which means to the audience, that the how will be explained throughout the rest of the film. This short scene is used effectively to draw the audience into the film which begins with questions, and works on the curiosity of its audiences and makes them want to know the answers, therefore they will continue to watch the film. From the point of dialogue; "because i can", the background begins to become visible from its initial black to show the walls in which he is confined in, and from that, it zooms in the background whilst keeping the character in the same position, which was used to show the walls of confinement of the character becoming smaller and smaller. This scene ends and fades into opening credit with a very long shot of the van which goes towards the bank which is going to be robbed. Music continuing from the track 'Chaiya Chaiya'.

This was a upbeat track which is unconventional for an opening sequence of a thriller, but established the morning of the day in which this sequence of event which has been explained takes place.

The opening credits have an interesting typography which represents the film well.

These two examples of the typography used in 'Inside Man' symbolise that the movie has a focus of time. This is shown by the title being set out like a watch. This is telling the audience a theme of the film is time, along with crime through the use of dialogue about the bank robbery.

This opening sequence is overall a very successful opening sequence in terms of creating the mystery for the rest of the movie, and anticipation to find answers. It also does well to set out questions for the audience, identifies themes of the film such as crime, and uses cinematography and typography to convey certain aspects of the film.

The Life of David Gale

What thriller genre is it?
It is a political thriller dealing with the controversial topic of the death sentence.

Brief outline of the story:
A man (David Gale) against capital punishment finds himself accused of the murdering of a fellow activist and is sent on death row.He then explains his story to a reported who then follows his life up until the time of his trial. The film is from his perspective and how events that he was accused for are reenacted showing the real truth of his innocence.
The opening
It opens the credits small lettering and white coloured causing tension and suspense.The use of no sound at the beginning works well to create an atmosphere for the audience.There is no music to start with but the sound of the wind in a remote desert area. The long shot creates suspense and that someone is watching the car.This makes the audience feel uneasy and curious as to where it is and what tone to expect for the rest of the film.The audience are made to ask questions when the women gets out of the car and starts to run e.g why is she running? what is she running from?who is she in the plot and were does she fit into the story.The music starts to build as she starts to run portraying she is panicked and desperate to get somewhere.The use of a pan from her feet to her head slowly lets the audience see her identity for the first time as before it was hidden by the the dark lighting.Cuts were used to the present to let us see who the women really is and how her character plays an important part in the narrative.

Clues given in the opening

The music sets the mood and creates tension for the audience so we have a hunch of what type of story it may be.

Main thriller conventions used were
Red herring were used to show the wrong lead dusty showing his relationship withConstance (murdered character) and how they made us think he was responsibly for her death.It challenges the audience to make there own perceptions of the character and who they think was responsible. flash forwards were used throughout the film as he was telling the reported events from the past but still keeping the with the present,to show David Gale re telling the events leading up to the trial.An example were this is used is when it goes back to when the allegations started of.He was a professor and slept with his student who accused him of rape, flashbacks were used to create suspense.Dramatic irony was also used to show this and the audience knowing that it wasn't rape and she consented to it.Pathetic fallacy was used to create a dark atmosphere e.g when they are driving through the town of Huntsville it is dark and makes us feel uneasy going into the unknown place for the audience and characters.It sets the scene of the murder story.

Examples of codes that represented these conventions

The camera shots and angles were used to create a disjointed story. The first scene used long shots hiding her identity and not knowing who or why she was their. close ups were used to show us her character.The editing used longer takes and quick cuts between each of the characters.This was to see give us and in site into each of the characters reactions towards the murder and how they perceive the evidence e.g the two reporters.The music helped to create tension and a feeling of uneasiness.the scene thatportrays this is when bitsie is waiting outside of the public toilet and the man in the car is watching her , this makes us feel anxious as both the audience and the character don't know who he is or why he is watching her.

Does it Have typical thriller conventions?

In my opinion I feel it has typical thriller conventions included in the film which create theatmosphere of fear,tension and suspense.The codes represents them well through the camera editing and music and use this to impact on the audience.

The Shining

What type of thriller is it?
The shining is a psychological thriller as it deals with the change of attitudes and mind turning evil. It includes allot of violence and distress.
Outline of the story:
A Family heads to an isolated hotel for the winter holidays. This is an evil and spiritual presences influence the father into violence, while his psychic son sees horrific things from the past and future.
Opening:
It starts of with a deep sounding music showing us the woodland mountain areas, lakes and roads. The credits were slow paced and had a neutral colour making the audience feel uneasy and unsure.It impacts the audience well as the music causes us to be anxious, scared and apprehensive as to what is going to happen. it follows a car driving through the area which would e the family. It makes the audience wonder what is so evil in this area? What is going to happen to them on there trip? Who lives there? Being able to question it makes it appeal more to the audience as they want to carry on watching out to find out the next bit. Cuts were made to show each area of the mountains making us wonder what significance it has to the story and characters.
Thriller conventions used were?
Dramatic irony is used thought the film as we know when Johnny is going to latch to his next victim. Foreshadowing is an important one used as well as the music makes us know when something may happen e.g. build up of the music becoming louder or quieter or no music at all. Flash forwards were used to show the little boys state of mind thinking into the future and having bad thoughts. There is a twist as you don’t expect Johnny to fall down the stairs in the scene with his victim; you always associate the antagonist to have the control and upper hand over the victim’s actions.
Codes used to add to conventions were?
The Camera used hand held, long shots and close ups. The hand held created a realistic account of the victims feeling and panic when being faced with Johnny e.g. when Johnny is walking towards her up the stairs the cameras angles it low to show it from her perspective as well angle ling it high for his. Close ups of his coming towards them. The most famous scene shows how simple editing can have the biggest effect on the audience appeal for examples cuts from his and her reactions makes the audience feel suspense and scared for the victim. The audience has an insight into Johnny character already by the close-ups of his face. The use of dialogue and setting helped to make it more thrilling for the audience e.g. him putting him self as the bad wolf from a fairytale. The editing had a lot of Long takes sop the audience wouldn’t expect something out of nowhere to happen, making it more interesting. The setting made it realistic and contrasting the situation with an ordinary setting which the audience feel comfortable and aware of in there own lives. The music helped to create constant tension and suspense throughout by increasing the speed and level of volume and tone for the biggest impact on audience’s reaction.
Does it fit into typical thriller conventions?
In my opinion I feel it has all the conventions of a thriller and portrays this well through the codes to create the feeling of panic and horror for the Protagonist and a sense of cat and mouse for the Antagonist.

Ideas for Opening Seqeunce

Production Log Week 1

Target for this Coursework

I have to make myself a target to successfully complete while doing this unit.

By watching the clip 'Deadline', i have realised that keeping a shot steady, a good sense of editing to convey the narrative and the use of sound is going to be very important. Therefore my target is to perfect these techniques when producing the opening sequence of our thriller.

Conventions of Thrillers

Conventions of Thrillers - Phonebooth

Thanks to 'Photoshop CS3' it was possible for me to put these scanned images together to make it easier to read.

Worksheet - Evaluation of past student productions

Evaluation of past student productions

For this post we were asked to evaluate past student productions with levels 1-4, 1 being minimal evidence of creative use and 4 being consistence in excellent use in a creative manner.

The first production i evaluated was 'The Parallel Touch'.

After evaluating this clip i felt that it was average in terms of the criteria which was evaluated e.g. framing, variety of shots, sound etc.

The next production i evaluated was 'Deadline' which i thought was less understandable, and to me failed to establish clearly, the narrative for the rest of the film.

The last production which i evaluated was 'Withheld'.

I felt that this production was the best out of the 3. This was because it created a strong sense of verisimilitude. Also because this was a piece of work which i felt was well thought out and planned, with the use of every shot creating meaning and building suspense just like a thriller conventionally does.

At the end of this evaluation of all 3 productions, thanks to the use of constructive criticism i can steer clear of what not to do when creating my opening sequence of my thriller.

Location Ideas

Here are 2 locations which i believe could work well for a thriller with natural dark lighting.

Independent Research on Thrillers

I have used my spare time to research some movies in the Thriller Genre. One of my favourite thrillers is 'Angels & Demons'. This is a very interesting thriller because it creates a sense of mystery behind a subject of reality. It has conventional aspects like a 'false ending' and 'red herrings'.

Here is a trailer to Angels & Demons:

Another great example of a mysterious, captivating thriller is 'Vantage Point'. I watched the movie over this weekend to find that it had many conventions of a thriller, its use of many different perspective or as they call it "vantage points" create the sense that its a puzzle which cannot be put together without all the perspectives. Common to all thrillers, the film becomes more revealing as the time goes on, and through that, more captivating to the audience.

Here is the trailer for Vantage Point:

The last movie which i researched was 'The Number 23'. This is a thriller which has an element of making it believable in reality, conventional to the genre.

Here is the first part to The Number 23 which i watched to gain an example of what could be expected when producing the opening 2minutes of my thriller.

Another part of my research was finding what makes a successful thriller and i came across a useful article which drew my attention.

10 Basic Ingredients of a successful Thriller

Here is a screenshot of the article which i have read.

Preliminary Exercise Feedback

Strengths & Weaknesses

Strengths

• There was a strong and well established narrative.
• Good use of High Angle at the stairs showing vulnerability.
• Match On Action + 180 Degree rule were both done with strong execution and success.

Weaknesses

• Some points the long takes were not necessary as suspense was already built up.
• Lighting in the room at the end was partially yellow, would have had a better effect if the lighting was darker, with the use of black gels etc.

Premilinary Exercise - The Chase