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Wednesday 8th December
As a class, Andrew our media studies teacher introduced us to the equipment we had to use for our thriller opening to be filmed. He taught us how to switch the camera on/off on standby, rewind, forward, play, stop and record in different positions. Also how to set up the tripod, attach and detach the camera from the tripod. We then put our taught skills into practice by creating a short clip of different movements and shot types. In this practice exercise, we used panning shots to show Biens boots reflecting her class and position. The mid shots and the close ups, handheld or by using the tripod to see the dealers and the players facial expressions during the game. We all made sure every member of the group had a turn to film and be a part of the thriller clip.

Wednesday 10th December
Each group viewed the thriller clips. We discussed the camera angles, shot types and gave our comments in general. We then as a class discussed what makes a thriller. We then wrote examples of thriller films to help us define what a thriller is and what makes a good thriller. This is what we concluded about the Shining. Directed by Stanley Kubrick. We wrote down examples of the most thrilling parts clips within the film and discussed the ones we thought were the most dramatic and why. For example: The boys facial expressions on his face and the sound effects in the background made it scary. The fact that it was in a hotel makes it even scarier as you would not expect a boy to be frightened in a hotel. Also, Kubrick’s facial expressions were also creepy. Moreover, the blood pouring on the hotel corridor is unexpected; therefore, it makes it a good thriller.

Wednesday 15th December
Watched the thriller ‘The shining’ to create ideas for our own thriller clip. The shining is defined as a thriller because unexpected and unpleasant things happen in a setting that its least expected. There are several factors, which enable this film to be freaky. The lighting used at the beginning of the film is bright which invites the audience to assume this is going to be a pleasant film. However later this idea is contradicted. Throughout the film, the camera angels and clips create suspense and tension for the viewer as they feel a hint that something unpleasant is there or going to happen. For example the camera tracking the little boy while riding down the corridor and then leading to the mid shot of the door and door number and then the camera following the boy’s facial expressions looking through the door by titling the camera, low angle shot. Therefore, these camera shots create hints of protagonist thoughts, feelings, and events that are occurring or will occur. The instrumental sound effects the violin and piano gradually built up faster and louder. This could make the audience anxious to know what is going to happen but also anxious for the characters especially if the audience is creating empathy. The editing cuts away unpleasant scenes for the viewer but allows the viewers mind to travel and generally to think of the most pessimistic views. For example, the camera is on the boy for a couple of seconds but then instantly cuts to theses two freaky looking girls. They look freaky because of there makeup and facial expressions, however they were wearing the normal costume wear which makes people assume there just normal people but we later find out there back from the dead haunting this innocent little boy.
As a class, we brainstormed thriller genres and all the sub genres.

Monday 5th January
We then analysed two film clips. The first analysis was of ‘Collateral’ I noted the lighting was artificial and well lit up. The camera used different effects in the small clip at the beginning. It used long takes as the people walk close up. Two people shots and a low angle shots For example: when the man is picking up the brief case. The music or sound came from people talking, walking as there steps were being exaggerated a lot. Dramatic music was used when Cruise came with the brief case. This creates suspense for the audience. The viewers assume this brief case is important and has something in it. The glasses, brief case, suits, casual clothing and people walking in the station were edited. This film clip was set up in an airport.
The second thriller clip was ‘Arlington Road’ The lightening was darkly lit with shadows of people. It seemed article but there was some natural light. It was solarised. Every scene was strange and set up in a prognostic way. Something bad was going to happen. The camera movements and shots: were handheld shots, high angle shots, low angle, close ups of the dog which means there was no establishing shots, padding shots. The music and sound used screeching, bleeping, mumbling and drum sounds. This makes it dramatic and intriguing for the viewer. There were chimes, zooms, mirrored. The clips were disconnected but this is to engage the viewers more. The setting and location was on Arlington Road and house. This analysis will hopefully help us to create our grouped thriller film for our coursework

Wednesday 7h January
As a class, we then watched a documentary about film openings. The documentary consisted of peoples opinions on a successful opening to a film. Thomas Sutcliffe said: ‘Films need to seduce their audience into long term commitment. While there are many types of seduction, the temptation to go for instant arousal is most irresistible’ clearly, this quote suggests the opening of films have to keep the viewer engaged by slowly seducing the audience. In other words have a romantic candle light dinner and then make love rather than making love straight away because it won’t keep sustained interest and therefore the viewer may be directed into changing the channel. This is ultimately Jean Jacques Beineix view on the risk of ‘instant arousal’
Another quote states ‘a good beginning must make the audience feel that it doesn’t know nearly enough yet, and at the same time make sure that it doesn’t know too little’ this suggest the audience need to be kept on their toes. Therefore, this means don’t give to much information away to all at once. Keeps the audience guessing what exactly will happen next, to avoid lack of interest. In the documentary Stanley Kauffmann describes how a classical opening is like. He states a classical opening is first established by a shot of the window and then through the window, in the reception then into the office and finally the camera following the character. He believes this works well because the order is neatly laid out.
Kyle Cooper's title sequence to the film "Seven" creates tension for the viewer wanting them to find out more. Through the use of close ups and blade cuttings, sewing using a needle and pieces of things teared apart could reflect the man is violent or a psycho.



Monday 9th January
We were introduced to a match cutting shot. This is when two shots can be put together to make one. We then viewed clips with match cuts and we had to identify them. Once we understood exactly what and match cut was and viewed them we had to create our grouped clips that contain a match cut. However, each group had specific requirements of a character opening a door, walking into the room, sitting down opposite another character and then both of them sharing a few lines of dialogue. But of course before starting we had to plan exactly what is going to happen, writing and drawing out each scene with the various shot types.

Wednesday 12 January
For the Preliminary Task Our small clips were edited on final cut pro compressing the length. We added a sound track to a scene and adjusted the volume on a scene to enable the viewers to hear the characters voice. After making these adjustments, I was pleased with our end result. We then added the short clip onto our blog and viewed them as a class. Discussing the match cut effect. In the second half of the lesson, we discussed our target audience for our thriller opening, which we decided had to be 18 and over as this will enable us to create a thriller that we can use many issues. We then discussed possible narratives for our thriller openings. One of our possible location was in a renovated house that is creepy and has unexpected things happening.

Monday 14th January
We loaded our clips onto final cut pro. We also edited our clips but we didn’t finish it so we stayed in workshop to complete it.

Wednesday 16th January
Viewed each others clips and discussed them.
We were then given a ‘thriller bank’ of words to discuss an atmosphere for our opening sequence. Words like: creepy, weird, alarming, darkening, thrilling, nervous, and distressing.

Monday 19th January
We came up with several ideas for our thriller clips. Bearing in mind we wanted to create a thriller opening, so basically unexpected or freaky things happening in a normal surrounding. We also wanted to select the ‘grabber’ that sells a thriller rather than a beginning of a horror film.
These are our possible scenarios:
This idea involved a mother and a young child in a park. Whilst the mother is pushing the child on the swing her mobile rings. So she turns to answer it and when she finishes her arguing on the mobile she notices her young child that can’t walk out of the swing standing right in the centre of the park dazed. This idea works well with the normal setting idea but it was slightly difficult because we didn’t have a character to play the young child. Although it does create a tense atmosphere because it should make the audience feel anxious and to understand why this has been possible for the young child to be out of the swing when the mother looks back at her and also the child’s cognitive thoughts. Another possible idea could be newspaper clip, headlines of a missing girl, then cuts to another woman lying down in a bed but then it’s not a unique idea. Another idea was a tapping dripping blood. But the woman wakes up from a bad dream and rinses her face in blood rather than water. This is an idea which will raise several questions and will hopefully create curiosity for the audience to wanting to continue watching. This idea then developed into a more unique idea whereby the toilet releases blood when the woman flushes the toilet. A girl looking for a toilet, she has come back from a party and is slightly tipsy she is recovering from drinking too much at a party. So she found a local café and uses the toilet. She than puts her makes up on and walks to the mirror fixing her makeup she discovers blood gushing out of the toilet this then gives a close up of her shocked face and finishes like that.

We finally come up with a narrative idea for our thriller clip. Whereby a girl looking for a toilet, she has come back from a party and is slightly tipsy she is recovering from drinking too much at a party. So she found a local café and uses the toilet. She than puts her makes up on and walks to the mirror fixing her makeup she discovers blood gushing out of the toilet this then gives a close up of her shocked face and finishes like that.

Wednesday 21st January
Today's lesson was another planning lesson which by the end of we had to make our pitch to Tony, Andrew, Mickey & Marisa. We started to go over the scenarios which we had thought of last lesson and picked the one which we fort was best, the toilet one. We then started to create a stronger narrative for this idea, we then story boarded the sequence of events which were to happen in the order which we wanted. After we done this we made a shot list to record which shot types and angles which we wanted to use.
We then made a plan of the props which we will need for our sequence this included red food die and a severed hand. During the second half of the lesson we were getting prepared to make our pitch to the rest of the class. The four judges then told us what were the good parts of our ideas and which parts may need to be changed. This constructive criticism was very helpful as although you don't want to be told your idea is bad, an outsider’s view can help you to improve your idea and result in a better film opening.

Wednesday 4th February
Once we developed our final narrative idea, we began working through the ideas for our film clip. Our aim is to make our film new and exciting and unique so it can be brought, essentially if the film pitch is liked then the film will be referred as a ‘grabber’.
The elements we covered in our pitch were to help us to create a successful thriller clip.
The key images are the toilet, hand, lip stick, newspaper reporting the ‘missing body parts’ which refers to the fake hand inn the gazette.
The setting and locations will be in angel but mainly in a café in angel, with the use of natural lighting. Lighting will mainly be seen when the blood appears in the toilet and Lauren, an actor of the group notices a hand. We will use a variety of shot and camera movements to suggest different meaning, but the most significant will be when the hand appearing with blood in the toilet, using a close up shot to shows Lauren shocked and scared feelings. The music we will use will hopefully create tension for the audience.
Our target audience will aim to be 18+. We plan to finish our thriller clips by Wednesday


Monday 9th February
We discussed contraction of our clips. Things like framing, variety of shot types, shooting materials appropriately, discussing the mise en scene.
Wednesday 11th February
Filming our shot types by using different angels and movements working with mise en scene.

Monday 23rd February
Editing and viewing the sequence. Discussing lengths of walking whether shot types are correctly being placed. Editing certain clips to making meaning apparent for the reader. Using transition appropriately, using titles appropriately but also sounds.

Wednesday 25th February
We edited more clips. Got rid of a ripple effect of the toilet. Added slugs in for the credits. Shortened a close up shot of Lauren putting her make up on through the use of an over the should shot. Added the title: ‘Mortal Remains’. We also added blackout effects of Lauren screaming in shock at the end of the thriller opening. The final sound effects were added in workshop hours.