Analysing students' opening sequences of Thrillers- Unorthodox.

Emma Snow

Tammy Harris's, Isobel Humphriss's, and Emma Snow's Unorthodox. in my opinion is what a classic thriller opening sequence looks like. Although there are some aspects which I am not particularly fond of, the opening sequence contains numerous conventions which allow it to resemble an opening sequence for a film of the thriller genre.

The clip opens with an introduction of studio production company, which in my opinion, is the most popular way of starting any film, not just thrillers. The video which is used for this part of the opening sequence is also very impressive as we see almost an extreme close up of a girl opening her eye. This fits in with the semantic field of 'vision' which is what this group has chosen for their company's name. 

My attention is immediately drawn to the writing and the font; of which I am not particularly fond of, though I understand why it may have been chosen; It almost seems 'scratchy' and perhaps psychedelic which could symbolise the behaviour of certain characters in this film (or opening sequence). Another point which I would like to make is the positioning; the text seems a little bit off centre, though not drastically. I will hopefully avoid this when it comes to making my own thriller opening sequence if I choose to centre my text.

Furthermore, the black and white colour filter is reminiscent of the older, classic thrillers and perhaps is an indication of the nature of this thriller, being psychologically related in some way; as were many of (e.g) Hitchcock's films.

Another close up is used to put the viewer in perhaps the point of view of the protagonist and thus allows the audience to form opinions on the character's habits; in this case, the sequence makes the audience focus on the character's possible drug use. It may also be an indication of the character's mental or physical health, in this case, the audience may assume that the medicine is to do with the character's mental health as he seems rather psychologically disturbed through his expressions etc.

In addition to this, the audience will see an over the shoulder shot while the character looks into the mirror. This further strengthens the theme of psychology.

A point which I cannot provide a screenshot for, rather a time, is the flickering and jittering of images switching from colour, to black and white. This is done at 1:10 where the character is looking at his wall of, what the audience may assume to be, victims. Perhaps the short sequence through when this is happening, is done to disturb the audience and raise awareness of the significance of that specific wall and it's contents, however, I feel that this is rather too much and perhaps 'over-done' as we've already seen clips of the wall flash on screen beforehand. I would personally avoid using this technique in my own opening sequence.

Lastly, the sound is used very effectively, especially in the beginning, when we hear a sound bridge occur between the establishing shot and the shower shot, as well as another layer of sound for the rather unsettling music. I will aim to use layers of sound such as this in my own opening sequence.

Audience Research (Questionnaire) Pt.2

I typed up the questionnaire (with Ed's input as to the phrasing and kind of questions we should include) on Google Forms. We chose this format in the end because it is the most accessible and simple to use, with unlimited responses and questions. We were also able to insert pictures for examples where needed, i.e. the question on low-key and high-key lighting. This was especially important because we know that some of the respondents may not know what some of these terms actually look like. As well as this, we also took the time to define technical terms such as mise-en-scene where appropriate.

Furthermore, the questions which we included were mostly multiple choice or very short answer questions since it is unlikely that people will want to be answering long paragraphs and spending a lot of time completing it. 

The link to the questionnaire is below:

Questionnaire

Audience Research Pt.1

Areas to research

Ed and I are going to create a questionnaire which we'll send out and share with people in our school, as well as branch out with people outside of school to varying ages. Our research areas will include:

• Mise en scene
• Preferred location
• Lighting
• Antagonist/ Protagonist preferences
• Costume
• Role
• How should music and sound be used
• Diegetic
• Non-diegetic
• Aesthetic
• Colour scheme
• Fonts 

Research Ideas

Ed and I are going to be working towards creating an opening sequence which resembles existing thrillers'. Due to the short spae of time we have in completing this task, we must first note down thoroughly the research we must complete. An example of this list is provided below. As well as this, some extra research which we intend to carry out will ensure that our opening sequence is as authentic as possible and to avoid the mistake of accidentally producing an opening sequence for a horror film or a trailer, like some other students have fallen into the trap of.

The research which we plan to carry out includes:

• Analyse past students' work
• Blogs
• Opening sequences
• How to shoot specific shots through our story-board in:
• Weather conditions.
• Specific lighting.
• Times of day. 
•  Audience research:
• Include questions about the narrative.
• Aesthetic (so colour schemes and fonts).
• The music or sound, what makes a cliche and what makes it thrilling. 
• What kind of thrillers are they interested in. 
• Antagonist/ protagonist preferences.
• Appropriate places to film:
• We plan to go over our story-board in detail to determine how many places we need to visit. Over the weekend, we'll also visit places which we've found to see how appropriate it is for the purpous.
• Get permission if necessary. 

Prelim Task- Evaluation

Padnapped

Joelle Riley, Csenge Nemeti, Patrick McCann (2016)

Joelle, Paddy and I had decided to create a conversation scene which had conventions typical of the thriller genre, as well as include opening credits so we can really use the techniques which will be required to making an actual thriller opening sequence.

The plot behind this scene is the idea that a rich couple had found themselves in trouble with a business woman who kidnapped one half of the couple. Unconventionally, the male character was kidnapped and it was up to the female character to pay the ransom after a short conversation sequence. 

Editing

We used sharp cross-cuts to keep reminding the audience that Paddy's character is kidnapped and in danger even though my character had lied later on intentionally to Joelle's character when they exchange dialogue. The example that I've given on the left is not at the point yet for when the two characters talk about the captive being safe but it is one of the examples in which I think we used cross-cutting effectively.

This was done by selecting several spare shots which we took and inserted them between takes which would be too long. One was the mid shot of when I walk into the room in which Joelle is standing. Without the quick shots of Paddy inserted, the take would have been too long and looked empty. 

As well as this, knowing that we had several spare shots was quite relieving because we knew that if we needed to fill in certain parts (such as the shot of me walking in) then we can do so, without recycling footage. It also allows a variation to work with.

Another major editing task we had to do was to create a CCTV affect. This became my responsibility, however, we all contributed to decide on what kind of CCTV footage we were intending to achieve since there were many different options. For an example, some thrillers such as Rear Window (Alfred Hitchcock-1954) demonstrate a different kind of surveillance through a lens which enlarges what one may see through a camera. The point of view shot is then faded at the corners to a round shape to create almost a bevelled edge and the effect that the audience is looking through the lens themselves. 

Another thriller which uses surveillance is Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme- 1991) which also uses a form of telescope but a blue filter is applied to make it seem like a night vision camera was used. 

Camera

I think that our camera work was successful due to the different shot types which were used in our opening sequence in order to aid the interest raised between our audience. As well as this, we came across complications (as mentioned in the construction process) which were resolved through re-filming. I was also responsible for the high-angle shot and found a way to do this by sitting on top of a cabinet in the corner. 


Our most successful shot was probably the close up of me (the antagonist) opening the door to the 'interview room' as it perfectly frames the subject we were aiming to film which was my hand reaching for the handle. I think that this shot helps establish the idea that the antagonist is in control and she is free to come and go between rooms as she pleases.

Mise en Scene

Our mise en scene largely focused on the costume of the characters to create representations and lighting to create the atmosphere of a cold environment. I think that the costume was rather successfull to create the essence of a rich victim (as produced by the big name brands he's wearing), a distraught wife (as produced by the shaken hair, sleepless eyes and tired costume) and a slick business woman (as produced by black clothing).

The lighting however, seemed rather inconsitent due to our own error of not being careful enough to remember the certain angles and areas light was placed into to create the pervious shot.

Sound

We had some complications to do with sound due to the noisy classrooms, which was of course our fault for not filming in a quieter environment or a time which wouldn't have been so noisy. We should also have planned for any music which we intended to included because this took up a lot of time during the contrsuction process.

Prelim Task- Editing Process Pt.2

Tuesday 8th November 2016

We finished the entire process by adding sound which included a recording of an earthquake at the beginning to create the effect of a blocked ear, commonly found in many thrillers to create tension. As well as this, we added a high pitched sound, almost like the long extended bleep one often hears if a character had gone death. This was put into areas where the quick cross-cuts of Paddy tied up in a room occured to create the suggestion that not only was he blind (due to the bag over his head) but there was also no noise or any other sign of life.

As well as this, we made credits which included:

We used the caption tool in Adobe and wrote them in Courier New which also matches the timer on the CCTV camera shot. We made sure to vary them in size, boldness and positioning on the sreen, taking inspiration from other thrillers which had also put their credits in random bits and corners such as Se7en by David Fincher. 

Prelim Task- Filming Process Pt.2

Thursday 3rd November 2016

The rest of the filming went smoothly. We were able to get the correct shots for the conversation part of our scene, ready to edit for after the weekend. The process took two to three hours due to the number of shots we had to organise.

These are the shots we were able to film this day.

Analysing students' opening sequences of Thrillers- Invite

Invite

 Johnny Hawes (2011)

 Camera

Mid-shot 

Canted angle

Aerial Shot

One of the first shots the audience experiences is a mid-shot of a person opening the gate. This perhaps connotes the character's importance due to the audience being forced to look at his upper body. As well as this, he is the first character who's face we see and further strengthens the connotations of his importance. 

A canted angle is then used to suggest that the character is rather 'odd' or disorientated in terms of his thoughts, despite his actions looking rather normal and innocent. The audience may expect a psychological thriller as using this camera technique certainly appears commonly in such a sub-genre.

Lastly, an aerial shot is demonstrated when the character is taking coffee out of the bag with a teaspoon. It is possibly used as a reminder that the character is performing day-to-day, normal tasks, adding to the question of the character's mental state, as above.

Black and White 

Sans Serif, teal font with shadow

Editing

The black and white filter used only when the character walking through the gate is seen; the suggestion is that he has something to do with the past as 'black and white' has connotations of nostalgia (films produced before the 1970s were in black and white). The expression "...is history" could perhaps be appropriate here, especially because it's revealed in the end that the character had died.

Furthermore, text appears in corners of the frame in a bright blue/ teal sans serif  font with a dropped shadow to make them 'pop out'. They also break typical thriller conventions as the look rather childish and like pop-art, however, I am not thoroughly sure about the reason behind this.

Matching a cross-cut

As well as this, cross-cutting eventually matches up two scenes and creates an illusion of two dimensions coming together. This is particularly interesting because it almost 'intertwines' the characters' fates subconciously. The audience knows (without realising) that the two characters have a close connection within the narrative of the film. This is because the edit is rather inconspicuous and is done without the audience really noticing it due to the fluency of the camera work. 

Sound

A slow crescendo is used by producing a beat similar to a snare but rather synthesised. This then reveals a layer of base once the protagonist takes a mug from the rack. This to me seems rather comedic and suggests that the crime which takes place involves a sadistic approach to which the criminal relates to, perhaps indicating that there is some sort of psychological aspect to the narritive. Of course, this also means that this opening sequences conforms to typical conventions of thrillers (often themed around a psychologically disturbed protagonist).

 Mise-en-scene

This opening sequence contains several spects which make it a typical thriller opening sequence. One of these is through the use of costume, closely tying in with representations. For an example, the victim is introduced wearing casual-wear including a jacket, unbuttoned shirt and jeans. This suggests that he is comfortable in the environment he is in as he doesn't feel the need to dress up as people involved in business tend to do in thrillers. This however is contradicted by the choice of location.

Outside location

The fact that the space of fliming the victim's scene is set outside, is interesting because an outside environment has connotations of coldness and unfamiliarity. This could put ourvictim in a position of vulnerableness and therefore sets up the notion that he is easily killed or inflicted violence on. 

Kitchen environment

A direct juxtoposition to this is the location of the criminal, being a kitchen. This environment seems very warm and inviting. He's obviously comfortable in performing daily morning tasks such as making coffee.

Coffee

This leads into the point that the kitchen is an area often utalised in the morning, especially for making breakfast such as toast and coffee as implied in the sequence, therefore, allowing the audience to interpret the setting of the sequence in the morning, which makes a rather sinister time for the commiting of crime, especially as serious as murder.    

Another prop which is significant in this sequence is the gun, which is placed on the kitchen counter.  the use of firearms is a typical convention found in the thriller genre, therefore it is appropriately used in this opening sequence.

Gun

Overall, I don't particaulary favour this opening sequence due to the editing that is used to insert the text. To me, the teal blue and the font makes it rather comic and silly considering the genre of the film. As well as this, I do not like the opposing colour schemes, a scene being black and white, another being full colour.

However, the opening sequence conforms to the conventions of the thriller genre which allows the audience to quickly establish the genre of the film before they get too far into it. As well as this, the range of camera angles make it very interesting to watch, though it could be considered that the canted angle shots are rather over-used. 

Ed and I will sure be careful to not over-use certain shot types or break too many thriller conventions to prove ineffective.    

Prelim Task- Editing Process Pt.1

Friday 4th November 2016

Long shot using a strobe light.

All our shots were put into the correct order, adding sound where necessary (though not all sound has been added). We also managed to film the missing shot which I didn't film properly last time, however, we decided to make a few modifications as we thought this would enhance the effect of the scene. I recorded a high angle shot from the corner of the cupboard, the effect of this being a CCTV camera (which we can later edit to grey-scale) while Joelle recorded the long shot again but with a strobe light.

To the high angle shot which I recorded, we added a clock countdown using Courier New font, closest to the font that is usually seen on home video cameras etc. A problem with this however, was that we had to create the text ourselves using the 'title caption' tool on Adobe which proved more difficult than initially imagined as the placement had to be just right in order for it to look as even and natural as possible. This was almost achieved but the text seems to wobble slightly as it counts up three seconds so if I am going to use this technique in my future project, I must remember to calculate the positioning even more carefully.

This was a longer process and took us two hours to complete, with more to do for Tuesday.