In class, we watched three different thriller openings so that we could examine the codes and conventions of each text. This enabled us to compare it to our text to distinguish if we were including the right things. Furthermore, it gave our group an inspiration to try and improve and enhance the potential success of our opening.
1. Sixth sense
- Music leads sequence= makes it very slow
- effective sound = getting louder as titles progress
- slow pace= build up= story telling through the use of music
- black and white throughout- reinforcing thriller genre darkness)
- title of film= change in sound
- opening production labels= no sound= introduction to genre is ambiguous
- light= connotations= dark verses light= good verses bad= binary opposite
- slow pace shoot
- cut to show tone changing in the text
- woman getting wine, going into the dark cellar= subvert male
2. The Village
- Production= light= tea bag look= musky
- eery non-diagetic music
- trees= village= environment= surroundings= realistic
- credits= black and white- using nature to set tone
- dominated by black = darkness (thriller)
- sounds like large footsteps= build up
- nice mise en scene= environment= green= subvert
- POV (links to title= union= village) shot from village perspective of man grieving
- cut of falling angel= appears as if a statue is speaking
- shaky camera= emotions= feelings
3. Lady in the water
- black and white
- story feeling= juvenile= cartoons
- break down= complicated story
- editing= moving cartoon clips
- message of narrative told in cartoon
- CU of male= important character
- sound= realism= people taking at once
- characters in background= insignificant
+ music always lasts longer in thriller
= use diagetic sound
+ make own sound effects = layer things up
+ hold shots
+ holding our shots= matts face= train = newspaper
Tuesday 31 March 2009
Friday 20 March 2009
Self evaluation
From the teacher feedback in which I recieved I was very pleased with the results we got from our rough cut. The positive areas of our text outwayed the things in which we needed to improve on. This was good because it meant that as a group we could focus all our attention to the certain areas of improvement.
Personally, I felt that the improvements and suggestions we were given meant that we knew exactly the things that needed changing. In order to improve the quality of our product, I have decided to research more sound effects to determine what will best fit within our text. Through doing this I believe it will strengthen the text and help best meet with the generic codes and conventions of an action/thriller genre.
In order to make the extract consistent and consise we have decided to cut our actor Will from the text. I am hoping that it will increase the 'thriller'ness of the text because Matt is never in contact with the suspect/criminal. Therefore making the audience more engaged and kept waiting for something to occur.
The editing of the action/thriller text will need to be closely looked at. We decided that the shot from Matt dropping the cigarette after Will's scenes (and soon to be title sequence once certain shots are removed) was too quick. This was due to the use of cross dissolve as part of the transition that separated the two shots. Consequently, meaning that the audience missed the majority of the shot because of the rapidness of it. Therefore we will either use a different transition/re-arrange the shots/ re-order the sequence.
As part of my self progression I am pleased with the time and effort in which I have contributed. I have thought of ideas consistently to enable the editing, narrative and entire sequence to progress. I can also understand the improvements in which have been given and will therefore make a consious effort to re-evaluate the text to ensure it can perform its best to meet the generic codes and conventions of a thriller genre.
Personally, I felt that the improvements and suggestions we were given meant that we knew exactly the things that needed changing. In order to improve the quality of our product, I have decided to research more sound effects to determine what will best fit within our text. Through doing this I believe it will strengthen the text and help best meet with the generic codes and conventions of an action/thriller genre.
In order to make the extract consistent and consise we have decided to cut our actor Will from the text. I am hoping that it will increase the 'thriller'ness of the text because Matt is never in contact with the suspect/criminal. Therefore making the audience more engaged and kept waiting for something to occur.
The editing of the action/thriller text will need to be closely looked at. We decided that the shot from Matt dropping the cigarette after Will's scenes (and soon to be title sequence once certain shots are removed) was too quick. This was due to the use of cross dissolve as part of the transition that separated the two shots. Consequently, meaning that the audience missed the majority of the shot because of the rapidness of it. Therefore we will either use a different transition/re-arrange the shots/ re-order the sequence.
As part of my self progression I am pleased with the time and effort in which I have contributed. I have thought of ideas consistently to enable the editing, narrative and entire sequence to progress. I can also understand the improvements in which have been given and will therefore make a consious effort to re-evaluate the text to ensure it can perform its best to meet the generic codes and conventions of a thriller genre.
Rough cut, Teacher practical feedback
Mark= 42 Grade= C
FEEDBACK:
- Camera work is controlled and steady throughout
- Framing of shots is mostly well concieved with elements included/ excluded as appropriate
- Some variety of shot distances is evident- the number is limited due to sturtcure/ content of the extract
- Most of the material is appropriate to the task set however there is too much leaving the extract significantly over the 2 minute time limit
- Mise- en- scene has been clearly thought out with effective use of iconic/ symbolic signifiers, choice of location, dress and props
- Editing is competent- there is considerable socpe for improvement here which will also improve pace and continuity
- Shot transitions are mostly ok but they need work- again this is directly connected to the sequencing and continuity of the piece
- Non-digetic sound has been used generally well but the opening needs some re-thinking. Also non-digetic sound could be far better utilised. This is one key aspect that limits the project
- The title sequence is highly effective but comes to a somewhat clumsy and abrupt end. Again see editing.
Targets for improvements
- You must revisit your use of sound- the non-digetic sound needs to be higher in the mix during the latter stages and more needs to be made of sound effects to add to the mood of the sequence as a whole.
- You also need to reconsider the opening- the noise/ chatter does not achieve the intended effect and gets the title sequence off to a rocky start.
- Editing needs considerable work - the transition from title sequence to live action needs to be slower and smoother.
- Also, you need to consider losing a whole section. What's more you need to pace your clips with a little more finesse and deliberateness.
- Finally, you need to hold some key shots for longer. This will add to the 'thriller'ness of your piece.
FEEDBACK:
- Camera work is controlled and steady throughout
- Framing of shots is mostly well concieved with elements included/ excluded as appropriate
- Some variety of shot distances is evident- the number is limited due to sturtcure/ content of the extract
- Most of the material is appropriate to the task set however there is too much leaving the extract significantly over the 2 minute time limit
- Mise- en- scene has been clearly thought out with effective use of iconic/ symbolic signifiers, choice of location, dress and props
- Editing is competent- there is considerable socpe for improvement here which will also improve pace and continuity
- Shot transitions are mostly ok but they need work- again this is directly connected to the sequencing and continuity of the piece
- Non-digetic sound has been used generally well but the opening needs some re-thinking. Also non-digetic sound could be far better utilised. This is one key aspect that limits the project
- The title sequence is highly effective but comes to a somewhat clumsy and abrupt end. Again see editing.
Targets for improvements
- You must revisit your use of sound- the non-digetic sound needs to be higher in the mix during the latter stages and more needs to be made of sound effects to add to the mood of the sequence as a whole.
- You also need to reconsider the opening- the noise/ chatter does not achieve the intended effect and gets the title sequence off to a rocky start.
- Editing needs considerable work - the transition from title sequence to live action needs to be slower and smoother.
- Also, you need to consider losing a whole section. What's more you need to pace your clips with a little more finesse and deliberateness.
- Finally, you need to hold some key shots for longer. This will add to the 'thriller'ness of your piece.
Thursday 12 March 2009
Filming session 10/02/09
During our last filming session we used only one actor "Matt" as we had previously shot our other actors scenes. Whilst filming Matt's shots we knew exactly what needed to be filmed. Instead of trying to do as much as possible in the time we had, we decided to re-film the shots that we needed to ensure that they looked as accurate as possible. We filmed on and off the train, due to the fact that we filmed at a later time during the day it meant that we gained more extras for a piece. This was good for making the extract appear more realistic as in the opening of this type of text it would be unusual to see only just one actor. The overall running of the filming session went smoothly and we occured no probelms throughout.
Sunday 8 March 2009
Progression
Since our last filming session we have edited our title sequence and are planning one last filming session. In the next filming session we will only take shots of one of one of our actors -Matt- this is due to the blurriness of our last shots. Thus, meaning that all of the previous shots taken are satisfactory despite the picture quality. This is good for us as it means that we know exactly how each shot should look.
We have also been looking at songs in which we could use that would best fit with our particular genre (action-thriller). This is because the last song in which we chose did not fit well with our narrative. Since then we have been conducting wider research.
We have also been looking at songs in which we could use that would best fit with our particular genre (action-thriller). This is because the last song in which we chose did not fit well with our narrative. Since then we have been conducting wider research.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
