Evaluation- Emma Ingarfield

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Cinematography

We chose to use both subjective and objective camerawork in our product, in order to create suspense rather than shock. We wanted to keep the Protagonists identity a secret so that the spectator would be kept on their toes, so used specifically tight framing to do so, whilst still making the audience aware of her presence.

We used a variety of different shot types in our piece. We used lots of Close-up's and Extreme Close-up's in the beginning of our sequence to create enigma codes, a common feature in thriller films.

We also used some subjective Over The Shoulder shots to keep the Antagonists identity a secret, another enigma code.


We used a high angle on our Protagonist in this shot, to make her appear vulnerable. We then used objective camerawork in our diagonal tilt up to reveal the Antagonist lurking, and creating suspense, a key theme in thrillers




Editing

The way we edited the chase scene in our sequence was with rapid cuts, to heighten the suspense and pace. Some inspiration for this came from the title sequence from Seven.


We used a dissolve as an ellipsis in one transition to signify a passage of time/flash back. We also wanted to show the connection between the two characters, that they know each other and are friends.




Narrative Features

We used Todorovs Three Act Structure/ Three stage Narrative in the planning of our product.

The Set-up
begins our piece as, our Protagonist is found in an ordinary situation, going to the gym, before things change.

The confrontation
begins when the Antagonist approaches the Protagonist whilst she's putting on her jacket, disrupting the initial situation. The further complications (as there is often more than one in thriller narratives) would occur later on in the film.

The Beginnings of a resolution stage
then occur when the flash forward starts. Our plan was to end the entire film in the same place, not giving closure and with the possibility of a sequel.




We also took inspiration from Seven for the resolution of our full length narrative. In seven, the Antagonists identity was not known until the end, however, he was seen before hand as a photographer. The idea for our narrative was for the Antagonist to be a close friend of the Protagonist, only to be revealed as the killer at the end.

We used enigma codes with all of the close-ups of our actress in the first few frames, so that the audience would question the nature of what she's doing and where she is. We also used it in the final scene where the Antagonist follows the Protagonist down the alley, again leaving the audience questioning.

Mise en Scene

• Make-up and Costume

We wanted both of our actresses dressed in casual, up to date clothes and not wearing too much make-up so that the audience could easily relate to them. We had our Antagonist wearing generally more fashionable clothes and an 'expensive' bracelet to establish her superiority to the Antagonist. We also wanted to appeal to a certain age group and therefore wanted to identify with them.

• Lighting and colour

We didn't use much extra lighting, other than in the gym, as we felt that the ambient light was enough. In the gym however, we used a Red Head to add some warm diffused light as to create a false sense of sectrity, another tool often found in thriller narratives.

Sound

Our Non-diagetic soundtrack is made up from conversations and background noise played backwards. Whilst in the editing suite we played around with some of our clips and found that playing our sound backwards created an interesting and eerie effect that we felt was suitable for our thriller.

In the beginning shots on the treadmill we decided to use our eerie soundtrack as contrapuntal sound to add a foreboding feeling. This is fitting with some classic thrillers such as Jaws, as on the beach, rather than jolly beach music the classic 'Dur Dur Dur Dur' sound is used.


2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The traditional stereotypical Antagonist would be male, and the Victim/Protagonist would be female. We decided to keep the female Antagonist and have her as a Final Girl character archetype (commonly found in both horrors and thrillers), however decided to shake things up a bit and have a female Antagonist as well.

We did this not only to avoid the stereotypical male hierarchy, but to add a sense of realism (another important aspect to thrillers) as sometimes rivalry and jealousy can cause serious issues between friends.

We chose our characters as a means to relate to our chosen audience, working class females aged 13-17. Our Protagonist fits this model perfectly. We wanted to address the issues that are raised by issues such as lying, cheating, back-stabbing and monetary issues, which would occur later on in our film.

Our Antagonist is dressed in nice, expensive looking clothes and wears an 'expensive' bracelet, showing her monetary position to be fairly well off, where as our Protagonist is dressed in fairly basic clothing, making her easier for the audience to relate to.

In the above image, we wanted to represent our Protagonist as weak and particulally feminine. We created a long shot with our actress off centre, mostly facing away from the camera. She begins to then gently unfold her coat and put it on, again empasising softness, domestic rituals and femininity. she is also neeling in quite a well mannered way, knees together and poised off the ground.


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

We decided that our piece was a low budget British Thriller, and therefore decided to release it to art house cinema's. We contemplated an internet release, full download for a small fee, or something a little more 'out there' like Spike Jonez 'I'm Here', colaborating and funded by Absolut Vodka, however decided to go down a more traditional road.

Whilst looking at some of the smaller distributors, we caught sight of 'Artificial Eye' and thought it may have been a good one for us.

However, after looking to see what else was out there, we decided that 'Focus Features' would be better for us as they had done a fair amount of thrillers, as well as other things linking with are narrative.


4. Who would be the audience for your media product?


females aged 13-17, living in Britain, although i would only give this film a certificate of 12A. This is because of the age of the actors used, an age the audience can easily identify with and relate to. Also, the up to date costume and modern settings, a gym and dance studio.


5. How did you attract/address this audience?

Our chosen audience would enjoy our film as it is easy to relate to as the costumes are up-to-date and fashionable, the characters are believable and everything is realistic, a nessecity for low budget thriller films. We used a variety of different shot types and angles to build suspicion, interesting and strange contrapuntal sounds to enforce intrigue, enigma codes to keep the audience guessing, choppy, fast paced editing for building anticipation and a Three Stage Narrative to hold it all together.


6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

For the making of our product we used:

• DV Camera and Tripod
  



• Red Head Lights
  




• Sound Recorder
  
  




• Final Cut Pro
  



• Imovie




• GarageBand
  
  

We had to set the white balance on the camera and use a diffuser on the lights to create a warm atmosphere in the gym, without looking glaring.

We had to use Final Cut Pro to put our recorded soundtrack in reverse, as it is the only programme able to do that.

We used iMovie to edit our opening, as we know our way around the programme.

We used GarageBand to edit our sound.



7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you think you have learned from the progression from it to the full product?


I think we have progressed since the preliminary task in means of narrative structure, lighting 180 degree rule and organisation, however we were somewhat lacking in the variety of angles we used and would have been greatly improved had we been able to re-shoot. I also think that had we re-shot, we would have taken much more time and greater care in our choices of location, and edited in Final Cut Pro, as it has a wider variety of transitions and effects.

Titles and Credits Research- Emma Ingarfield

The purpose of an opening title sequence for a film is to establish the mood and visual character of a film, to introduce the viewer to all or some of the following elements:

Characters

Locations

Narrative/Plot

Themes

Visual style

Genre

The following sequences do all of this.

The titling in this sequence is faintly red, with a red offset shadow. This symbolises blood or danger, and creates a tangible sense of foreboding in the audience.

The font used is raw and edgy, as opposed to a neat and tidy one. This adds to the element of unease. The way that it is presented on a black background provides contrast.

When the mini narrative begins, a lot of depth of field is used, disguising the main character. The focus is instead on Close-up's of household objects, Matches, a cigarette, a wine glass and champagne bottle. This would usually suggest a celebration, but combined with the mystery figure makes the spectator uneasy.

The rest of the mini narrative makes it clear that there is a reason to celebrate, the finishing of the book. The Characters facial expression, coupled with the melancholy music, leads us to believe that all is not well.

A lot of close-up's are used in this sequence, emphasising the manuscript and the writers small, perhaps guilty pleasures. This may play a part in the rest of the narrative.

When the main title, 'Misery' comes on, it almost seems to disturb the peace of the landscape, again creating unease.



the rest of the sequence serves to show the isolation that the character has surrounded himself in. The point of view shot is particularly worrying as it induces a visceral response from the spectator feeling so close to the edge.

The change in pace of the shots let's the audience know that something isn't right, as he looses control of the car.

At the very beginning, the close-up of the match and cigarette faded into colour, suggesting that it was either a flash back or a flash forward. This is supported by the scene following the crash.

http://www.youtub e.com/watch?v=pz46qS38OgM

The first shot of the title sequence is an extreme close up on the bottom right hand quarter of a woman's face. This suggests that the woman may have something to hide, and adds mystery as the spectator does not know her identity.

The camera then pans across to her lips, and the first name is seen. Her identity is still kept a secret as the camera tilts up to her eyes. She shiftily looks from side to side, sugge sting that she's either feeling guilty or fearful.

After tracking in even closer to the womans right eye, the whole screen is washed with red. This symbolises anger and violence, along with love and lust, suggesting that this will be a passionate film.

The title 'Vertigo' comes straight out of the womans eye, which is unsuspected by the audience and adds shock, especially when what appears to be a black hole or similar.

Throught the rest of the titles the graphic spiral continues, looking at times like a demonic eye, giving the spectator some forsight to the rest of the film.

The music over the intire sequence was dark and intence, building suspence in the spectators.

There is a very specific mini narrative to this title sequence, and it serves to introduce you to a mystery charecter. it gives the spectator an insight to this charecters mind, something that plays great relevance later on in the film, although the footage is not repeated.

It begins with the turning of blank pages, apparently by the wind. This alone begins to create an eerie atmosphere, especially when coupled with the re-mastered track accompanying it.

We then cut to a black background with back-to-front, wonky text, suggesting abnormality. This is emphasised by the series of abnormal images shown in conjunction with the pace of the music. This draws the audience in, keeping time with the music, as well as the confusing flashing close-ups and cinimatic text.

The whole sequence draws the audience in, as it isn't clear what's going on and keeps them on their toes.

The precision of the movements gives away an important charecter trait, but also shows that he is smart, calculating and organised.

The opening titles to panic room mostly consist of long shots of an american city, starting at what appears by the ambient lighting to be dawn, and moves fluidly on to daylight. This may represent a change, or coming into ones own.

The buildings being shown are all in an upper class area giving the spectator an idea about the kind of lives the charecters may lead. The title font emphasises this as it looks expencive and three dimentional.

The slow pans across the city scape could be a metaphor for the clam before the storm, especially when coupled with the harsh shapes and edges of the skyscrapers.

All of the shots are either high angles or taken from a great height, signifying wealth or importance.

This sequence begins with a series of thin sharp lines stretching across the screen. this could be symbolic of blades, or looked at sideways, dripping blood.

The name 'Alfred Hitchcock' then apperars in three parts. The first part, on its own seems uninteligable, suggesting a puzzle or mystery which is reinforced by the second and third parts conjoining to make a whole.

The first title appears to almost chase the grey lines away, but they come back and slice the wording away. This could represent some of the plot, that the killer may appear defeated, but comes back for more.

If the name 'Psycho' isn't enough of a hint, the way it is shown is. The text appears the same way the previous title did, but rather than staying a solid word, it shifts around eerily creating a sense of unease and forbodeing. It suggests that the charecter is psychotic and abnormal.

the rest of the sequence plays out the same with the lines and trembling titles. The lines are sometimes split equally and others not, making it appear random. This may suggest that the killer is random or insane.

Update- Emma

Unfortunately our actress decided that she did not want to do any more filming, so we are limited to the footage that we already have. We have re-shuffled some of the opening sequence, and added some more titling. Although it is not what we really wanted, we have it completed.