Storyboard plan

Amy - camera woman
Duncan – Protagonist

Kirsty – Female

Joe – Antagonist

Intro

Credits over atomic bomb footage

Upbeat music

Scene one

Present - tone

Sad, depressing music

P walking along path, mid-shots

As POV on P

P comes across first memory trigger – Fs coat

          Low-angle coat upfront P background

          Angle – POV P picking up coat

Scene two

Flashback - colour

P with F – something to show their a couple, e.g. holding hands, etc

          Angle – mid-shot

Scene three

Present - tone

P goes through Fs coat and finds a mirror

Scene four

Flashback – colour

In a bedroom, F looking at reflection in mirror

P enters the room

Scene five

Present – tone

P holding up mirror, sees the reflection in the mirror of someone moving in the trees behind him, drops mirror, turns around

A approaches P through trees holding a weapon, low angle shot of As face

Scene six

Present – tone – fight scene

Small fight scene, scuffle, camera angles don’t reveal much of the actual fight, just flashes of punches being thrown, etc. to emphasize action and build tension

P comes out on top and continues journey

Our idea

We decided to go with a combination of idea one and idea two; a post apocalyptic story containing flashbacks. This idea is inspired by both ‘Memento’ and ‘The Roads’. Basically, there is going to be a man who walks through a wasteland and, as they see things, are reminded of a girl they knew before the nuclear war.

The nuclear war will be shown in the opening credits through a use of images of bombs going off. The names of the actors and camera crew will be introduced during this and will settle down before opening onto the main protagonist walking. We will use effects to make the images darker and bleak; showing the fact that it is a wasteland. The flashbacks will be of the girl and protagonist and will be defined by bright colours and slightly blurred images.

Then we will have the antagonist stalking the protagonist using a series of hand held, point of view shots. Then they will have a fight and will be left on a cliff-hanger. The audience won’t know what’s happened but will be able to hazard a guess.

We plan to do this in Horbling where there aren’t many houses and the buildings that are there are quite run down. This will be a good setting as there would still be traces of things from before the war but they would be old and likely abandoned and damaged.

Idea three (powerpoint)

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Idea two (powerpoint)

 Silde 1

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Silde four

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Idea one (powerpoint)

 Slide one

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Questionnaire results

How old are you?

Under 12	12 - 20	21 - 30	31 - 40	41 - 50	51 +
0	2	2	2	6	1

Gender?

Male	Female
9	4

What do you think a thriller should contain?

Suspense	Mystery	Other
12	6	1

Do you think a thriller opening should contain allot of suspense?

Yes	No	Sometimes
8	2	3

Do you think the opening scene to a film is important?

Yes	No
12	1

Questionnaire

1. How old are you?

-         under 12

-         12 – 20

-         21 – 30

-         31 – 40

-         41 -50

-         50 +

2. What is your gender?

- Male

- Female

3. What films do you like?

-         thriller

-         fantasy

-         comedy

-         romance

-         drama

-         sci-fi

-         horror

-         adventure

-         documentary

-         other

4. What is your favourite thriller film?

…………………………………………

5. What do you think a thriller film should contain?

 -  Suspense

-  Mystery

-  Other

……………………………………………………..

6. Do you think that a thriller film’s opening should have a lot of suspense in it?

-         yes

-         no

-         sometimes

7. Do you think that the opening scene to a film is important?

-         yes

-         no

The Road

I looked at this film because is a lot like what we want to base our project on. It’s a post apocalyptic film that shows a man and his son trying to survive in a slowly dieing world. In it they have to run from people that want to kill them and eat them and try and maintain sanity at the same time.

In the beginning it starts off in a dream, a dream of the past just before the nuclear war. It is shown brightly with as much colour and happiness as possible. Near the end of the dream things start to go wrong and that when you realise that something bad is happening or going to happen. The music in this is the same as the rest of it, quite sombre but in a way that portrays surrealism. This helps indicate that it’s all a dream.

Then it cuts to the main character, who now looks quite beaten, waking up from the dream before moving to look out at the now barren and dying wasteland. They are in a cave and wrapped up in a large amount of clothing.

During the film it goes back to flash backs a lot and they are usually dreams. We are probably going to incorporate something like this into our film opening.

screen written for same idea

Close up on eyes as eyes open. Then the camera goes back and you see them lying on the ground. Then they sit up, the camera in the same position, and look around. There is a close up on them touching their head in pain before going to some pictures of a scuffle, in black and white and disorientating. During the images sound can be heard, screaming? Then it comes back to the person who looks like they are in pain, there fingers at their temple. They then hiss in pain and look down, spotting a pole on the floor. Metal? Close up on pole before back to person who is looking at it in confusion. Close up on the pole again as they brush their fingers along it. Another black and white image, this time of another person and a girl. The other person (man?) is holding the pole above their head up as if to hit the cowering girl. Cry of “NO!” by the person watching. POV shot from person lying on the floor? Hand seen stretching out to reach the girl being attacked. Shot goes back to the hand on the pole which is seen quickly retreating and the person clutches their hand to their chest with a hiss. They then look around again and move, shuffling on their knees in pain, to put there hand on some marks in the earth. Medium shot. They then look up to see something in the grass. They gasp and the camera pulls back from their head and shoulders shot to see a (black?) object. The person approaches it, getting to their feet; medium shot again. Another wave of images, about the coat and the person wearing the coat; the girl from the last shot. They then topple over the coat before lifting themselves up off the person in it. You can now see the girl in the coat, blood on her face? Her eyes shut. Medium shot. Close up on neck as they take the girls pulse. The hand is retreats and there is a medium shot of them pulling the girl over to see the blood. They pull their hand quickly back and look at it in horror; it covered in blood. Close up of head and shoulders. Images seen again and you can see the smiling face of the girl in black and white. Then the camera goes out again and they are seen hugging the body of the dead girl. Camera zooms out steadily as they sobs rock them and it fades out to white.

story written idea for a thriller opening

I sat up, feeling the wind pulling at my hair, running its biting cold fingers through the delicate tendrils of darkness as I looked around in confusion. Where was I? I was sitting in a field, that I knew, but why was I there? What had happened before? Why couldn’t I remember? Then I saw images, quick, flashing images that made no sense but seemed to indicate some sort of battle. They were gone almost as quickly as they came, leaving me with just a throbbing head. Placing my hand up to it, I gritted my teeth before looking closely at the world around me. Next to me was a long length of metal that looked slightly beaten. This caused a whole new wave of images to erupt into my mind, showing the quick image of someone holding the metal thing up to someone as I watched on the floor. I grimaced and hissed in pain, not only for my head this time but psychologically as well. The person must have meant something to me. Looking around again I saw what looked to be some sort of scuffle marks. Scrambling unsteadily to my feet I winced before crouching down and studying it. Following the marks I could see something in the grass. It looked like a coat and I walked unsteadily towards it, another wave of images and sound hitting me before I toppled over to the coat. Only, it wasn’t just a coat, there was a body too. I felt my eyes widened as I realised that there was a human body there, unconscious. Quickly taking their pulse I realised they were dead and as I went to turn them over I felt something wet on one side of their head. Pulling my hand back with a feeling of dread I gasped as I saw red on my hand. Blood. Another wave of images took over and I collapsed beside her, tears in my eyes and grief in my heart.

Donnie Darko

             The tagline is a line from the film ‘why are you wearing that stupid man suit?’ this gives the film a sense of mystery and suspense as you wonder what relevance it has to the film and why someone might be complied to say it. When you have watched the film you understand what relevance it has as it is a line said by frank in retaliation to what Donnie asked him; ‘why are you wearing that stupid man suit?’ Mystery is a primary thriller convention.

The main character, Donnie Darko, is seen holding an axe. This makes the audience question as to why he has it and coupled with the dark background gives the film a sense of foreboding. The audience thinks it is likely to be a dark film, full of mystery. It might also lead you to believe that instead of being a thriller that it’s a horror. You find, if you watch the film, you find out that the hammer he is holding is in fact the same one that is in the head of the bronze statue when the school is wrecked.

The lettering of the name is also a very good effect as they are smudged. This gives the sense that perhaps it relates to the time travel warping its existence.

Our categories (BBFC)

Suitable for all

It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.
If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.

Parental Guidance

General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.
Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children.

Suitable for 12 years and over

Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.
The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.
The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.

Suitable only for 15 years or over

No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work.

Suitable only for adults

No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video work.

Memento analysis example

How does Chris Nolan convey ‘Memento’ as a psychological thriller?

Nolan conveys ‘Memento’ as a thriller movie in many ways and it can be categorised into the following sections:

Sound

The non-diegetic soundtrack sounds like it’s written in a sad and sombre, minor key. Instantly, the mood of the film reveals negative connotations which links into the dark colours used in the mise-en-scene. This music could make the audience feel uneasy and they may expect that something ominous is about to unfold. The music is slow and this is well synchronised with the visuals onscreen, especially the way in which the credits fade in. Overall, this powerful auditory and visual combination forms an effective, dramatic auditory experience. Additionally, it creates an air of mystery and suspense, which are key staples of the psychological genre.

This is sir’s example of an essay that he showed us to help us get used to the way of writing.

I need to learn to use the technical language and to make my writing more analytical and less like a review.

My improvements

·       More analytical.

·       Pictures

·       Speak to the reader more

·       Detail

·       Use of language

·       Paragraphs?

·       More of an essay perhaps rather than sections

'The Happening' analisis

Editingcamera's are quite low. Titles tell us we are in central park. Wind going through the trees (keeps going back). Wind is undiegetic but meant to be diegetic. Long shots, establishing shots. Pan's In on the women. Something is going to happen? Vulnerability. reaction shots to scream. Reaction shots. People stop moving – things are unconventional. Cutting to each scene with the purpose of building tension. People walking backwards. Rapid editing. Tracking shots on the dog. Why are the people not moving? Non responsive people. Confused looks. Overhead shot, onto the shoulder. Can see clearly what she is about to do. Lady stabs herself in the neck. No expression. See her stab herself.
Cut to different scene. Police cars – danger. Titles again to establish where we are.

Sound the sound is fairly heavy using instruments like trumpets, violins and drums. (classical instruments) This makes it scarier and it makes you feel more tension that something is going to happen. Sombre, sad. Light at times but still sad, signifies something bad will happen. scream - tension. Gasp. Sound building. Sparse duologue. From single violin to Cacophony of sounds. Horror music.

my first analysis essay... -_-

At the beginning you are given shots of things that the girl will have seen; the shower, the wall, her feet and this gives you the feeling that something could jump out at you at any time. Then it cuts to the other side of her so that you can see the shower curtain and the shadow on it. Knowing that something is about to happen, your heart starts to race and you become focused only on what’s going on in the film. Then, the curtain is pulled back by the killer and you see her standing there with a knife ready and poised for attack. It’s so sudden it could make you jump. The killers face is unclear and shrouded in shadow, causing an air of mystery around the person.
The girl screams as she realises what it going on. This is another thing that makes your heart go and leaves you totally transfixed on the screen. Then the killer attacks, stabbing her over and over. The short cuts that are used to show this scene is very effective in the way that it makes you tense, in the same way as a lot of short sentences in a story would cause tension and suspense, so do the cuts.
When it goes into a high angle shot to show more of what’s happening it makes the girl look venerable as she struggles against the knife. You feel dominant as you are looking at them from above. As you see the blood begin to fill the bath, you begin to feel scared for her, the close ups leaving no doubt as to what is happening. After a while of her being stabbed, it cuts to outside where it shows the stormy clouds that could be considered as rage or anger. It could be a parallel with what the girl or even the killer is feeling. It could even be what others will be feeling when they find out what happened. It goes to a close up shot of her hand sliding down the wall and you realise she’s dieing. She can’t do anything and it makes you feel sorry for her and at the same time scared of what just happened.
There is an extreme close up of the girl’s eye as it dilates from shock. Her body is shutting down but her mind doesn’t want it to. This can be seen when she clutches at the curtain at a desperate attempt to try and stay standing but it’s no good. There is a shot of the killer leaving. You still don’t know who she is and the image is no clearer. The girl then slumps over the side of the bath in a very undignified position and you can see the red wound marks on her back.
You see the blood going down the plughole before the image turns and twists into the image of the girl’s eye. The idea that the life is draining out of her is a good one and something that makes us pity the girl. Also, the fact that her blood was going down the drain signifies, perhaps, that the life that was once in her has gone for ever.
As it pulls away from her eye it continues to spin and you can see the way her face is squashed against the floor, her eyes unblinking and her face unmoving. There is no more fight left in her, the results of her assault are clear. She’s dead.

Psycho – the shower scene.

Diegetic

Diegetic – anything inside the world of the film.
Non diegetic – anything outside the film e.g. voiceovers.

Genre

Sorry i'ts late, i've only just got it working.

Genre	western	Gangster	Si-fi	Horror	Anime
What we see	Cowboys, old America.	Guns, slums and large cities.	Space ships, aliens	Blood, guts and gore	Animated characters; usually Japanese and in a distinctive style.
What we hear	Horses, guns, western music	Guns, shouting, swearing	Strange, un-natural noises. Often guns and other weapons.	Screaming, suspense music	Can be anything depending on the type of anime but often has good music.
Typical characters	Cowboys and American Indians. The cowboy’s are usually presented as the good guys.	A gangster boss or one of the lackeys who rises to powers generally takes main character. Police also.	Aliens, austronoughts, the people working in control.	Could be anyone though often based around a murderer or psychopath.	Anyone. Usually one or two main characters but can be more dependant on the anime.
Typical storyline	Something in old America with the cowboy being the one to save a girl.	Often set in America in cities and slums.	Usually set in space, in the future.	Anything that frightens or disturbs you.	Any.
Themes, idea’s, morals	Cowboys and Indians	fighting	To find knowledge or fight intergalactic wars	To scare	Any
Examples	The great train robberies	The godfather	Star wars	Psycho	Howl’s moving castle, ponyo.