S1-24 : THRILLER PROJECT 2008/9

Our final product

2008-11-10T02:45:00.000-08:00

What is below is the final showpiece.

Animatic Soundtrack

2008-10-16T03:45:00.000-07:00

Asher Howarth

The music for the animatic sequence has been created in Garageband.
We have tried to make a build up from the beginning of the soundtrack to when the characters start running, and have created a trance-like succession of shots when the music dies down significantly and builds up again.

The end of the track is fairly thick with different layers of music which creates a good atmosphere reflecting the shots of the men running.

This is a screen shot of Garageband, when making the soundtrack for the animatic.
I have viewed the animatic with the music and it fits very well. The music creates an effective atmosphere.

Animatic - Deadline

2008-10-13T01:24:00.000-07:00

Well here it is, our animatic title sequence, it gives you a good idea of what the beginning our film is going to look like.

Josh Sang & Ben Scullion

The storyboard has been created and the shot pictures have been edited together on Final Cut. There were about 20 shots.
We decided to make each shot last around 4 seconds in the animatic, however we plan to use a variety of shot duration when editing the filmed shots.
We also chose to zoom in on the main point/feature in a lot of the drawings to draw attention to it.
The zoom effect was also used to show very roughly how we were going to finally edit the shots, for example, some of the running shots zoom in and out at different speeds and angles. When completing the final edit we may use these zoom effects to create atmosphere.

The drawings on the storyboards were primarily to show from which angle the shot was to be taken from, and where the characters were positioned in the shot. We are going to add to the mise-en-scene when we start filming.
What we considered for mise-en-scene:

Props:

oil spill in the garage
cigarette ends on the floor
Rain
Dark environment and shadows
Candles in the church

Costume:

Dark clothing and hoodies

Asher Howarth

More analysis

2008-10-03T09:53:00.000-07:00

Sound Analysis - Önder Köyel

Altered States
Directed by Ken Russell
Released Date - 1980

I think this video is an interesting one to describe because both diegetic and non-diegetic sound intertwines with each other and yet still conflict together. In this title sequence, Russell used only the diegetic in the first half of the video. The sound consisted of metal creaking inside the water which is related to ships creaking under the water (i.e. the scene in Titanic when the ship was being investigated near the end of the film), there were the occasional sounds of machines beeping and printing paper. This part of the video lets the audience understand the agenda of the professor who is also seen along that scene. The diegetic sound altogether seem like an all elaborate and just plan that the doctor or professor is investigating something as part of his project.

With the non-diegetic sounds starting, all diegetic sounds end for the time being until the end of the video. We then hear a man, in his formal voice commentating of the meaning of the video. This man talks about how this is a peaceful investigation, a majority of the students have tested the hardware and the professor himself wanted to try it. This indicates to the audience that the characters are fine and the atmosphere of the scene shows that it is just an ordinary day at work. After the narrating ends, this is when the eerie sounds start. The dramatic and tense sound, it starts with a slow paced tempo which gradually grows and eventually gets louder. So the audience understand that the storyline has turned from an ordinary life into a complicated one where anything mysterious is going to happen.

The contradiction between the diegetic and non-diegetic, and I mentioned this earlier, is that the diegetic sound shows what a normal day this scene is set at, where everything is peaceful. The non-diegetic sound starts with the narrating to prolong the feeling that everything is fine until the mystery starts with the music. That their is a major flaw with the atmosphere and something dark is going to take over, which as you know contributes to a thriller.

Mise en scène analysis - Önder Köyel

Catch me if you can
Directed by: Steven Speilburg
Released in 2002

During this title sequence, we understand a relationship between the two main characters. The Mise on scene in this film describes how the first characters has a flawed personality. Every time there is a scene associated with him we see this effect of a line going up or down across the scene. And even in the scene he is associated in consists of him changing clothes in order to start escaping from the second character. This also indicates his personality is flawed because his previous personality he chooses seems to come with it's very own weakness which he cannot muster. This in term makes him weak and he then has the need to find a new personality.

Even with the second character, the mise on scene represents how much of a calm but unlucky man he is. He seems to be a man built in with patience as he waits on his target to show his flaw but is always late to pounce.

Basically this is an excellent title sequence which displays the characters strengths and weaknesses just by watching the mise on scene.

Camerawork analysis

Editing analysis - Önder Köyel

Waking the dead
Created by Barbara Machin

The title sequence for Waking the Dead has a unique way of displaying their editing skills. Throughout this clip you see a water effect, either through the background or on the credits and the use of colors add a suspenseful atmosphere. Primarily because the entire video is based on a black and dark color with the occasional twist or flash of yellow or the glimpse where the video's colors are inverted. With the credits, there is a constant movement where the audience react to.

This is the kind of editing we want to relate to within our thriller project. We want to have the perfect color contrast with the background and credits, so it is major-ly important that we emphasize the use of our credits with our editing.

Title Sequence analysis

2008-10-03T05:40:00.000-07:00

Se7en (1995)
Director: David Fincher

Asher Howarth

We watched "Se7en" title sequence and analyzed the key features.
There are heavy connotations to death, violence, and horror because of the scenes involving a razor blade. The lighting is mostly dark and shadowed giving the sequence a dark feel and atmosphere.
The wording of the titles was positioned in the dark black area of the shots.
At the start of the title sequence there was a clicking noise which created a suspenseful atmosphere. Many of the shots were layered with other quick shots and different colours, often dark red. Flashing effects are used and the use of jump cuts and very short shot duration is very effective.
The music is slow paced throughout the sequence, however still creates an effective atmosphere for the audience.

Highlander

Josh Sang and Ben Scullion

In this opening sequence it starts with a piece of text which creates the atmosphere of the film and also gives you some information about what the film is about. The music in it helps to give it the general speed of the film, which is quite fast, and it also tells you who is in it and which production companies helped make it, and of course the name of the film which is 'Highlander'. Unfortunately what you don't see in this clip is the start of the film. This is a shame because you get the feel of the film which can be quite dark in some places. It also gives you a view of the main character.

Introduction to the Group

2008-10-02T04:08:00.000-07:00

Our group members:
Asher Howarth
Josh Sang
Önder Köyel
Ben Scullion

My first time writing a blog (!) Well we have a few initial ideas which I think we should just jot down here. Well basically we have yet to decide on what storyline is going to be involved in our thriller. First things first, we have chosen a few scenes which is around East Road and Parkus piece (Garage, Church and Graveyard). For our mise on scéne, we have yet to decide on what physical objects to include but we want the entire video to be based on the white, black and dark red colours, with the occasional hint of grey and so on.

Finally after a while of ridiculous debating, we have compromised a fair name of our production. We will soon present you the "Epik Productions".

Below are links to the locations of our title sequence:
- http://www.e-architect.co.uk/cambridge/jpgs/old_church_cambridge_200.jpg
- We couldn't find a picture for the garage...