Fixation (first draft)

Feedback
Add tagline with dis-equilibrium.
Night vision effect on camera/ recording shot.
More fast paced editing and a range of shots more shakey than static.
Voice over.
Music changed at the end.
Sound effects.

Planning - Script

Scene 1
Lewis: Hi, I'm Lewis.
Selma: Hi, I'm Selma.

Scene 2 - dating montage.

Scene 3
Selma: So I met this guy and he's so charming. I cant stop thinking about him.

Scene 4
Lewis: Hey, would you like a lift home?
Selma: Yeah sure, thanks.

Scene 5 - stalking montage.
Selma: Please help me...

Planning - Storyboards

Planning - age certifcate

We have decided our film would have a 15 age certificate. This is due to the threat of violence and intense elements of disturbance. Additionally, there is a psychological twist in the narrative, which may be confusing to a younger audience. It is appropriate for 15+ because the older audience will appreciate and understand the psychological elements, whereas a younger audience could dwell on psychological aspect which they may then copy (copycat theory). Our target audience which is between the ages of 15-30 year of age. Therefore by giving our film an age certificate of 15 we can effectively target our audience.

Planning - props

We have created a voice over to explain how our props fit the thriller genre.
https://youtu.be/_cIrMvbIdyY

Props; knife, Phone, Pin board, Binoculars, Car.

From research, the protagonist in 'The Boy Next Door', has a knife to defend herself. This is a stereotypical prop of the thriller genre. The prop makes the audience more unnerved as it is a everyday object (kitchen knife) becoming a weapon. We decided to show in  the trailer just a hand taking the knife, therefore the audience doesn't know if the antagonist or protagonist has the weapon, creating enigma.

Planning - Filming Days

Planning - risk assessment

Planning - costumes

Costume ideas

The female in our film will dress smart/casual. It she will wear a light/white colour top this is to empathize  her innocence and vulnerability. It will make audience feel sympathy towards the victim.

The male will wear smart casual clothing. The casual clothing will connote how he looks normal, however this is deceiving. The smart clothing empathizes his power ad domineering role. The majority of dark clothing connotes danger.

Friend - casual light coloured clothing to signify hope for Selma

Planning- Creating pin board

Planning - Production company logo

Our production company is called 'Moonlight Productions'. We decided on this name due to the connotations that it has with the night and low key lighting is a main convention of the thriller genre. We wanted to reflect in out production company name and logo.

From research, I liked the look of the silhouette of the trees with the light in the background. It was the foundation of the logo and everything else was added. The silhouette empathizes the darkness.

For the background I used a grey/blue colour, to make it mysterious. I added an effect to this to make the bottom lighter gradually turning darker, this is more effective as it makes the trees stand out more. This also has the connotation of the day turning to night and in most thriller film, it is mainly set at night.

We also used a circle background, this is to signify the moon. The moon has connotations of time passing and things coming to an end. The idea of a time limit and ending adds suspense and tension.

For the font I chose a jagged edge style font. I creates an effect that it has been carved out from potentially a knife which is a stereotypical prop for the thriller genre.

Planning - Characters

Our main characters, we chose to use a young male and female. They are ages 18 but playing characters in their early 20's. They will look older by dressing maturely, this will suggests to the audience they are older. 

Our antagonist is similar to the antagonist in Red Eye. He is of a smart appearance. Additionally, at first he will come across to the audience as a nice, normal man. In the film Red Eye, the protagonist is more vulnerable as there is no help as his nice exterior prevents others from helping her.

Our protagonist is similar to the protagonist in 'The Boy Next Door'. She is smart, middle class woman. In the film 'The Boy Next Door', the antagonist starts stalking/ obsessing over her. This is similar to our narrative. She is a strong female made vulnerable.






The friend

Planning - location

This establishing shot shows the location of the majority of the film. We will include the setting of the females house. This is to emphasise
her vulnerability.

From research, I noticed many films are based in the protagonists home. For example; 'The Boy Next Door', 'Last House On The Left' and 'When A Stranger Calls'. Their home should be a safe place, therefore making the home unsafe, will increase the protagonist jeopardy. Additionally, will make the audience feel unnerved.

Location of the start of the trailer when the male and female meet in the first scene.

Planning - make-up

We will be using SFX make up, for cuts and bruises as this will emphasize the protagonist danger  and jeopardy. It will also add verisimilitude as the protagonist would be injured.

We had a practice day before filming with an experienced make up artist, Chlosfx_. We practiced cuts which very successful. When we film, we also wish to use bruises as well. 

She is willing to help us as she is very passionate about make up which makes her perfect for helping us create the look we want.

With permission from Chloefx_, the images are from her Instagram page.

Planning- Mise-en-scene ideas

Planning of our mise-en-scene is important as we need to clearly established the equilibrium. We will do this through the use of lighting. We will use high key lighting at the start, then the disequilibrium will be low key lighting. Low key lighting is also a key convention of the thriller genre therefore the audience will infer that the film is of the thriller genre.

Planning - pyschographics of target audience

Personality

Our target audience will like mysteries and puzzles as our thriller is enigmatic. They will therefore enjoy the complex plot twist as they might not have comprehended it and will find it interesting/intriguing.

Attitude
Our target audience will have a mature attitude in order to understand the complex narrative and plot twist. The audience will be realistic and will enjoy the fact the story line is based around the real world and realistic characters although the narrative may be hyperbolic.


Values
Our audience will appreciate relationships/family oriented, due to the romantic tone at the start of the film. Additionally, friendship, as the girl confides in her best friend. They will value that the girl is a loving person and doesn't see the negative in the antagonist.

Interests and lifestyle
Due to our target audience of young adults, they are likely to be in education or working. This means they are likely to have disposable income to enjoy entertainment such as going to the cinema. Our audience will enjoy going to the cinema with friends to watch the latest films, to be social and keep up with trends. They will also enjoy using social media which is important for us to advertise our trailer on different media platforms.

Planning - Target audience

https://youtu.be/k2pbHqZ1mtw

Planning - Pitch

Pitch- https://youtu.be/TerRLfYMXcghttps://youtu.be/TerRLfYMXcg

The camera cut out for the fist half of the pitch, so the footage is very short.

PowerPoint - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiB1c-7q_zs&feature=youtu.be

Our feedback -

Ideas were good and well thought out.
The plot twist is interesting and unique.

However, we were told that having only 2 character  may limit what we can do and that we should include another character. From this we got some ideas to include the females, sister or best friend. This extra character would be concerned for the female being stalked and it would add more emotion in the film. The extra character would play the role of the audience as they would both be worried for the female.

Planning - discussion on name

Planning - pitch ideas

Planning - Ideas

Thriller research - Red Eye tailer anaylsis

Thriller research- conventions

Thriller research - Thrillers I watched

I watched these thrillers to understand more about what conventions are used in the thriller genre and to get ideas from them to inspire my own film.

Thriller research - title analysis

Thriller research - When a Stranger Calls opening analysis

‘When a stranger calls’ opening scene

-sound effects
-fast paced editing
-music (slow paced - heavy stringed instruments)
-close ups
-establishing shot (fair)
-diegetic sounds (scream)
-low key lighting
-enigma (what happened?)
-officer / close up on face looking at crime scene (shocked)
-Crime element established

Thriller research - what makes us scared?

What makes us scared?

• Dramatic music 
• Low key lighting 
• Death
• Ghosts
• Fear of the unknown 
• Monsters
• Insignificance 
• Isolation

Thriller research - London to Brighton trailer analysis

Production company photo. This is the first image the audience will see. 

Establishing shot of Piccadilly circus, London. This is the first shot in the film and shows the audience that the setting of the film is London. 

Close up of older woman and girl smoking. This empathizes to the audience how young she is and this is impactful for the audience. 

Fade to black in and out of the review. the review is in sans serif font and has a shadow behind it. Additionally, the background is low key lighting, with the burred bright lights of the cars. There are several reviews throughout the trailer, appearing with the same font and background. 

Extreme close up of money. This iconography suggests that money is a key theme of the film.

Close up girl revealing a sad expression. There is low key lighting in the background. Additionally, the young girl is wearing red lipstick and jumper, the colour red connotes danger. 

This mid shot shows the setting of the film. It is a run down area, this is inferred by the metal shutters of the shops and the graffiti on them. It shows gritty London, not posh rich London. 

Close up of man in taxi, previous shot his POV. The close up could imply he is a main character in the film.

Close up of the other man in the taxi. This shows the audience that his another main character. 

Iconography shows a posh hotel room with expensive looking furniture, this is very different from the rest of the trailer. The male is also wearing smart clothing (a shirt and trousers) and looks educated and rich. The audience doesn't see his face implying that he isn't a main character. 

There is a mid shot of the man and females entering the room. The framing of the shot has the females either side of the man, this centralize the man, making him look more important. Additionally, the females are following the man into the room, making the man look more superior. 

The young girl is looking around at the expensive room, suggesting to the audience she has not lived a rich lifestyle. 

There is a close up of the woman with a concerned expression in the background when the man takes the girl arm, suggesting to the audience the girl could be in danger. 

Close up of the girls face looking worried. 

Close up of woman holding a glass of which is alcohol.

The mid shot shows the woman with a bruised eye. The empathises the theme of violence in the film. The background shows graffiti on the bathroom door.

Close up of girl crying. 

Mid shot of male sitting in chair, his the framing making his central and his posture makes him look important. He is wearing a suit which suggests power. 

Close up of male grabbing female, this suggests that there could be a theme of violence. 

Mid shot of man grabbing female. This has low key lighting. 

Close up of man holding gun, this connotes a strong theme of violence. The low key lighting in the background suggest danger. 

The title is black and white (monochrome).