'SHATTERED DARK'

As Media preliminary: Super Mario

Evaluation

ONE: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media product

TWO: How does your medis product represent particular social groups

THREE: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

FOUR: Who would be the audience of your media product

FIVE: How did you attract your audience?

How did you attract your audience? on Prezi

SIX: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing your product?

 

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product? on Prezi

SEVEN: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

 

Production Diary

16^th December
Today we planned to film at our original Location, Fay Smith’s House. After setting up the camera, the lights and hiring our actress, the camera battery we had, ran out of power and with us having no spare we were forced to change the date we filmed. Which although was an annoyance, could be beneficial as Fay, who ordered hired the Camera, forgot to pick up a tripod, so a variety of shot angles could not be achieved.

Thursday 6^th January
We were set to film again today at Jessie Pope’s house (My Grandmother), After setting up the camera, I had realised that I had forgotten to pick up a tape, and so filming could not be done this night either.

Friday 7^th January
After picking up several tapes, to ensure that we would definitely film tonight, we set up at Jessie Pope’s house. We managed to get all our filming done in the space of 2 hours, however not without problems. As a member of our group selfishly decided that she would no longer attend the shoot, there was only 3 of us, including the actress (Myself and Danielle Nunnery. Fay had already indicated she had personal matters to attend to earlier that week).
       At a specific part in the narrative, when Ebony believes a person is trying to get into her house, there is violent knocking at the front door, AND at the back door, which could have been achieved had the other member of the group turned up, as she could have knocked on the back door, while Danielle knocked on the front, and I filmed the actress. Therefore we had to work around this and I feel that we did so effectively, Danielle would knock on the front door, and I would knock on the back door, and our actress would press the record button herself and then begin to act, and we could cut out what was recorded before she began to act in the editing.
            We also encountered a problem when it came to blood. As several shots required blood. We at first decided to use red food colouring, however we only had a small amount of it, and after one shot, and we ran out. I then suggested we use beetroot juice, however when this was being washed off the actresses hands for one of the last shots, or when it was poured on the floor, it looked too much like beetroot juice, being it left a pink stain. However we, at this moment in time, have yet to resolve this; however I am sure that something can be done in the editing suit. Also, we originally intended to have a shot of white sheets, covered with blood; however the location owner dismissed the idea. Therefore we had a shot of our actors’ hand covered in blood, which gave a similar effect.

Monday 10^th January
Today we managed to capture all of our footage. However there was a slight problem with the last shot where Ebony looks into the mirror and screams. As our actress wasn’t staring into the mirror the way I had envisioned first when we began filming. I stopped her by saying ‘cut’, however forgot to press the record button again to stop it. So when I pressed it again, hoping to record the right footage, it had stopped recording, which meant that the footage on the film, was of me telling the actress how I wanted her to act and blocking the scene.
                Therefore I decided that we would not capture this footage, and the last shot would be of the actors’ hand covered in blood.

Tuesday 11^th January
Today we managed to place roughly half of our captured footage in order. At first we encountered a problem with a continuation error between the transition of the shots between when Ebony scoops the tea into a teabag and when she scoops the sugar. The kettle hadn’t began to make any noise in one shot, then in the next was making a lot of noise, so it sounded like the kettle just began to rapidly boil within a split second. Therefore I managed to make the sound of the kettle fade in, making it seem that the kettle gradually came to a rapid boil.
                Also, as we had used a phone that wasn’t plugged in we would have to use sound effects, and all the sound effects that were available to us were rather old fashioned, and the phone we used was a digital one, and so it wouldn’t look realistic as this particular phone wouldn’t make such a noise. Luckily after several minutes of extensive search, I found a sound effect that sounds realistic. After adding this, in order to make it seem more realistic and to make it more believable that this phone was in fact making this noise, just before Ebony picked up the phone I cut down the sound of one of the rings, making it last for a quarter of the time, and then cutting it off as she picked it up. I also noticed that when the phone began to ring, our actress picked up the phone far too quickly, making it evident that she was ready at the phone to answer it. To make it look like the phone began to ring a small while before Ebony made it there to pick it up, I cut and copied the first few seconds of the shot, where the phone sits alone and pasted it several times before she answers the phone, creating the illusion that the phone rang for a while before Ebony answers it.

 Wednesday 12^th January
Today I and Danielle were in an exam, and Fay did not have my password and so no editing could be done today.

Friday 14^th January
Today we managed to finish placing all the shots in order. Again we encountered a problem when the actress is supposed to lock the back door due to the constant banging, however she runs to the door to quickly, so it appears she is ready at the door, and it fails to create the suspense that we intend at this point. And so, similar to the phone, cut and copy the first few seconds of the shot (just the door) and paste it a few times before she opens the door, this would also have to be done with the sound, to create the effect that someone is banging at the door for a while before she manages to lock it. After everything was in order, we decided that the beetroot did not look like blood enough and so we may lose marks. And so we changed the last few shots to black and white, as though a flash back, this way the beetroot would look a lot more like blood, and after adding the final piece of music it would add to the ambience.

Monday 17^th JanuaryToday Fay Smith looked at graphics that could be useful for the credits. We looked on the websire http://www.dafont.com/. Fay shortlisted 'American Brovado', 'Lolita scorned' and'broke'n. Fay Attempted top edit these on Fireworks before adding it to the blog, however it seemed nearly impossible and would take too much time to perfect. We decided that we would use the font 'Times New Roman on premier pro, top avoid the cliched fonts, and to reduce the time it would take. We also discussed music, we managed to cut the time limit on the final piece of music and have found 3 pieces of music that would work well for when Ebony hears a noise and could possibly make the audience jump. In editing we found certain parts that hadn’t been captured too well as there are certain shots that have one extra snapshot frame, of a different shot. We therefore deleted these and we downloaded the music and should be ready to add them next lesson.

Tuesday18^th January
Today I noticed that the last few shots, where we intend to place the credits, did not last long enough for the credit to appear on screen long enough for the audience to read. Therefore on the shot of the phone covered with blood, and the shot of the blooded floor, I copied them and pasted them twice more, to make it seem like the shot lasted longer, and so the credits would be in on screen long enough for the audience to see.

Wednesday 20^th January
Today we came to a final decision on which font we would use for the credits. After adding the music, I noticed that the non diegetic background music I added to the video had overwritten the sounds of the banging on the door and the sound of the phone ringing. So I had to spend the whole lesson re applying all the sound and sound effects. Next Lesson we should be ready to apply credits and then we should be finished.

Section 1: The Thriller Genre:

The Thriller genre is a genre which highlights films less gory and intense than a horror and presents rather more psychological themes that require intellectual engagement. The majority of the time a thriller’s narratives will focus on danger, generally in the form of murder or natural disaster, also the narrative of a thriller tends to be rather complex, and thrills the audience as they watch it.

There are different interpretations and theories as to what a Thriller movie literally is, and all thrillers will follow at least one of these theories:


The Question and Answer Model (Noel Carroll)

This theory is based on the model that when the audience is presented with a question, the film keeps them in suspense awaiting an answer. This allows the audience to feel apart of the narrative as they will solve the answer when the protagonist does.

There are two sub-factors involved in this, known as the probability factor and the Moral factor. The Probability factor focuses on the possible outcomes of the film which is a lot more exciting for the audience, hence why Carroll believes it is so important. The Moral factor highlights the fact that what the audience believe is the morally correct thing to do, may not be the actual outcome of the film, and this can cause shock.

The Transformed City (C K Chesterton)

This theory follows the basis of a seemingly ordinary urban city/town (where most thrillers are set) and, due to the events of the film, change the city into an extraordinary place.

Concealment and Protraction (Lars Ole Saurberg)

This theory entails 2 forms of suspense that can both evoke the desired emotions from the audience and thrill them. Concealment is the form of creating suspense by hiding important information from the audience, and Protraction creates suspense by delaying a suspected outcome, as the audience already has a brief idea about what will happen, but the actual event is stretched out.

The Heroic Romance (Northop Frye)

The protagonist is an ordinary person, just like the audience. With a normal life, and a normal job and a normal outlook on life, however this theory suggest that due to the change, the character must adapt. Frye believes that a protagonist in a thriller film is generally forced to react and behave in a certain, extraordinary manner to be able to survive and stated that Thrillers 'move the world in which ordinary laws of nature are slightly suspended' and this allows characters to perform amazing acts and survive.

Partial Vision (Pascal Bonitzer)

 This theory follows the idea that what the audience cannot physically see in a thriller film, such as subtle hints about what is actually occurring, is just an important as the points they do see. When you can't actually see or guess what is going to happen in the thriller, it makes the audience want to follow the 'maze' like structure to see if the main character is able to figure this information out for themselves, for example, if we already knew the identity of a murderer, then the film would be less of a surprise and less suspense would be formed, giving the thriller less impact.

Mazes and Labyrinths (W H Matthews)

These theories origins originate from the Ancient Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. The theory is that the protagonist must pass through a ‘maze’ to reach a final outcome, due to the quandary of their circumstances.

 The literal dead ends and twists and turns of a maze is a metaphor for the narrative of Thrillers that follow this theory, that anything can happen, at any time and it cannot be expected. Certain films, such as The Shining or The Descent Contain Literal locations which present a kind of maze in where the character are easily lost, mirroring the narrative.

The Exotic (John Cawelti)

This theory revolves around the belief that objects, locations and buildings found in the thriller film, are far from realistic, and would not be found in an ordinary everyday life. It isn't atypical in Thrillers for props to have originated from the Middle East and these supplies the film with the sense of fault and diversity. The existence of a foreign object in a film provides the audience with further knowledge that the film is set in a completely different reality.

Section 2: Research into examples of comparable products (MISERY)

Misery is a 1990 American psychological thriller film, based on Stephen King's 1987 novel of the same name. Directed by Rob Reiner, the film received critical acclaim for Kathy Bates' performance as the psychopathic Annie Wilkes. Bates won both the Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe. The film was ranked #12 on Bravo's 100 Scariest Movie Moments

Narrative structure

• Paul Sheldon is the first character to be presented to us, this gives us an indication that he is perhaps the protagonist, and this confirmed when we follow him through the car crash and as he is listening to fun and upbeat music. We are also made aware of the fact that Paul is a writer as we are shown him using a typewriter.
• The only other character that is presented to us is Annie Wilkes who saves Paul from the crash, suggesting that she is also a protagonist, which creates the chance for a red herring when Annie becomes the Antagonist later in the film.

Mis-en-scene

• As the film begins it cuts to several CU shots of items (Cigarette and match, champagne flute, Champagne bottle) with Paul Sheldon typing out of focus behind the item. This displays the item as an item of importance, and it is only later we realise the importance of the items, that it is tradition for Paul to Drink that specific brand of champagne and to smoke after he finishes a novel. Also with Paul in the background typing, it gives the audience a clar indication that he is a writer.
   
• After Paul has torn his finished page from the type writer, we see a MCU of Paul analysing the page very carefully. This suggests that Paul is a very analytical character and is of intelligence, could become useful later in the film.
• When Paul assembles all his pages together and holds them in front of him, the camera cuts to a CU of the pages reading “UNTITLED: by Paul Sheldon” This suggest that Paul is also a very uncertain or unconfident character, which may impact his fate later in the film.
  

Sound

• As the film starts, only the direct diegetic sound of Paul typing on his type writer can be heard over the silence, creating the sense of his aloneness and vulnerability.
• After Paul has finished typing, non-diegetic, slow, high pitched piano music begins to play and the beats get closer and closer together, suggesting that someone or something dangerous and eerie is creeping closer to Paul.
• In the car, the Diegetic sound of Paul’s car radio is heard. The song is rather upbeat and loud, perhaps mirroring Paul Sheldon’s personality and traits.
• When the car crashes, the music stops and we are left with the direct sound of the wind and snow, giving the audience time to reflect on what has just happened

Camera work & editing

• When Paul is driving, we are shown several POV shots from the driver’s seat. This places us in the characters shoes and indicates that he is to be a protagonist and that we are to follow him throughout the film, and are going to experience similar things. By putting the audience in Paul’s position, it creates a more dramatic impact when he suffers torture and torment and we feel we suffer them with him.
• We are shown several XLS that pan across the snowy mountain sides. This creates a sense of isolation, as Paul is in the middle of nowhere and so no one is ready to help when he crashes, or when he is kept prisoner by Annie. Also, emphasis is made on the snow with the XLS and the CU/ECU of the car wheels on the snow/ice. This foreshadows the crash and the audience can sense approaching danger. This creates a rather tense atmosphere before any drama has occurred.

Editing

• When Paul is in the Cabin writing, the cutting between shots is rather slow. This creates the calm and collected atmosphere of Paul as a writer, however when he is in the car, accompanied with the music, a joyous and exciting atmosphere is created with the fast cutting between shots., again mirroring the atmosphere. Also, when the car crashes the cutting speed is rather high, creating a fast paced and frightful atmosphere.

Graphics

• The graphics at the beginning of the film are red, connoting danger and death. However this could also connote Love, expressed in Annie’s love for Paul Sheldon and his work
  

Codes and Conventions

• The film uses resourceful characters as seen in Paul and Buster. Paul Sheldon manages to collect the powder from his Novril and attempts to drug Annie, he also uses a hair clip as a key to escape his room and manages to roam the house and get to his room in time before Annie suspects anything. Buster also manages to solve the whereabouts of Paul via newspaper clippings and reading Paul’s novels.
• The film follows the Partial Vision theory as at the start of the film we believe Annie to be a protagonist as she helps Paul from the car crash and nurses him back to consciousness. However it isn’t later until we realise Annie’s true intentions and that she had no intention of phoning for help once she had rescued Paul.

Section 2: Research into examples of comparable products (FATAL ATTRACTION)

Fatal Attraction is a 1987 American thriller film directed by Adrian Lyne and stars Michael Douglas, Glenn Close and Anne Archer. The film follows Dan,A married man, who has a weekend affair with a his co-worker, Alex Forrest, who refuses to allow it to end and will resort to any measure in order to keep him. The film was the 2^nd highest grossing film of 1987 and earned 6 academy award nominations, including best picture and best actress for Glenn Close.

The film is most memorable for the particular death scene of a rodent, and coined the popular phrase ‘Bunny Boiler’.

Narrative Structure

At the start of the film, we are shown a very ahppy and domestic family household. Dan appears to be a family man, devoted to his wife and child. They live in a rather small house, and this appears to only strengthen their family bond. However Whilst at the party, where we meet Alex,  it is clear that an ambience changes, Dan seems to only talk to and touch one woman, his wife. However Alex is the only other woman he touches, this presents a disturbance in the Equilibrium and perhaps forshadows Alex’s threat over Dan’s Marriage.

Mis-en-Scene

• As the film starts, we see an XLS of New York City on a backdrop of a sunset sky. This creates a distinctly cleardivide between the urban civilisation and the sky. This could be symbolic of The distinct differnce between Dan’s married life, and his life with Alex, or perhaps signal the difference between reality and fantasy. Also, the subset is a visual metaphor for and end, or a change. Perhaps forshadowing the change that will occur in Dan’s ‘perfect’ family life. Also, the colour of the sky, orange, connotes warmth, mirroring the warmth of the family atmosphere Dan shares with his wife and child.
  
• 
  

  When the scene in Dan’s flat begins, we get an immediate sense that thie family is close, as they’re laughing and joking together, and appear to be the average evryday family, with Dan asking his wife where his suit is, and their little girl bieng diciplined for foiling her mother’s make-up.
• 
  

  In the party scene, there is always a number of people in the shot, giving us the sense of a large close gathering, and that anyone at any point could appear (Alex)
• 
  

  Also, Alex Forrest’s character is not hidden from us before she and Dan meet. We have several shots with her in the background, this suggests that she appears to be an average, normal member of society and not an antagonist, this is how how Dan percieves her at first. With the audience and Dan making the same interpretations of Alex, it is more devestating when we realise her true nature.
  
• Also, Alex and Dan's wife wear the same colour in the party sequence. This suggest that they are both similar in certain respects, and that Dan would be just as happy married to Alex, than he would his wife. Also, the colour black connotes death and misery, and this suggests that one, or both of these characters will experience such connotations.

Camera Work

• Whilst at Dan’s home, the camera angles are relitively low or waist hieght, and the acmera moves rather slowly, and cuts from shot to shot at a slow pace. However when at the party, the camera angles are highere and cut and move faster. This creates the sense of amtmosphere and excitement when at the party, suggesting that feels the wild atmosphere of the party more enjoyable than at home, foreshadowing his affair with Alex, as he prefers the wildness and unpredictability of an affair.
• When Dan and Alex meet, the camera stays in one position throughout there conversation, this could suggest that Alex has Dan trapped from the moment they meet.

Sound

• As the film begins, and the establishing shot is shown, we hear the direct diegetic sound of traffic. This sets the scene for the movie, and establishes where the movie is sat, also the fact that the city has traffic, suggest mayhem, mirroring Dan and Alex’s relationship.
• Also, when Dan is listening to music via headphones, the phone rings and he doesn’t hear. This foreshadows certain events, as after Dan has informed Alex that he wants to end the affair, she rings the house several times, and only his wife answers. In this scene, only Dan’s wife and daughter hear the phone. This mirrors the effect the phone has later in the film when Alex calls the house, as Dan will not be effected if he were to answer the phone, however should His wife or daughter answer, then they would be deeply effected.
• When at the party, we hear the diegetic sound of all the people at the part talking, this creates the hectic atmosphere of the party.

Graphics

As the film begins, we see the cast members and the name of the film in a white lock capital font on a black background. These 2 opposite colours suggest an opposite in Dan and Alex’s relationship, that the 2 contrast one another. Also, Black and white are very Gothic colours, suggesting darkness throughout the film.

Section 2: Research into examples of comparable products (SE7EN)

'Se7en' is a 1995 American thriller film directed by David Fincher, written by Andrew Kevin Walker and starring Brad Pitt, Margan Freeman and Gwyneth Paltrow. The Film follows David Mills (Pitt) and William Somerset (Freeman, police detectives working in a crime-filled city, who become deeply involved in a case involving a series of barbaric murders all in correspondance to the seven deadly sins.The following anyalasis will focus on the first seven minutes of the film.


Mis-en-scene
The mis-en-scene of the film creates an archetypal atmosphere associated with thrillers, dark and eerie. It also allows us to understand the characters and what persona they adopt and their motives.

• In the scene where Somerset is dressing,ready for work. We see him take great care in doing so. He ties his tie very slowly and carefully, watching himself in the mirror. This presents the character as a very proud and careful character, and when he is taking the items from his dresser (A flip knife, a pocket watch, some keys and a pen) he takes them in a specific order and they have been assembled in correspondance to that order. This suggests that Somerset is a rather routine based person and does things a certain way all of the time. From this we are able to gether so mcuh of Somersets character in just that scene, allowing us to connect with him and follow him through the story.
• The fact that he carries a knife suggests the setting and atmosphere of the film. The knife is a rather primative weapon and by having a shot of this weapon suggests to the audience that the place where Somerset lives is a dangerous place.
• Within one minute of the film starting we are shown a shot of a dead body pouring with blood. This prepares the audience for later events in the film whihc are much more violent and sadistic.
  Also, the room in which the body lies is very dimly lit. this creates a dark and eerie environment, again mirroring the atmosphere of the film and perhaps the murderers frame of mind.
• When Somerset approaches the body he asks the police officer "did the kid see it?" to the police officers' surprise. He then tells Somerset that they will be glad to be rid of him when he's gone. This tells us that Somerset is not liked or appreciated in his job, and perhaps doesn't like his job due to this, again allowing us to feel involved and connected with the character, allowing us to sympathise with him. Also the fact that he asked a question about an insignificant matter, suggests that he looks rather deeply into the crimes, perhaps too deeply which exposes to be both a fault and an advantage later in the film.
• When Detective Mills is first shown to us, he appears to be a complete contrast to Somerset. His hair is rather jagged and stuck up, whereas Somerset has straight groomed hair. This is a representation of their characteristics, Mills is rather arrogant and eager to work, and Somerset is toned down and reserved and does his job. Mills' tie is also hanging loosely, whereas Somerset took time into ensuring that his tie was tied to perfection. Also, Mills's shirt is evidently unironed, wheras Somerset is dressed rather dapper, again presenting us with a variation of the 2 characters from the moment Mills appears on screen, preparing the audience for how the characters will react and behave later in the film.
• The majority of the outdoor scenes are shot in the rain. The rain heavily emphasies the aspects of misery and dread throughout the film.
• Another contrast is also made between the 2 characters when we see Somerset in bed, alone. Wheras Mills has a wife (Paltrow) who he appears to love dearly. However Someret has no one to talk to or confide in at home, however there appears to be a bedside lamp eitherside of his bed, suggesting that their is an absence of someone in his life, who ought to be with him.
• Somerset's bedroom is also heavily decorated with Books and is shown to read. This implies that Somerset is an intellectual man and a discrepency to Mills as his home is undecorated as he and his wife have only just moved to New York City.
• Whilst in the scene of Somerset's bedroom, the camera focusses on the metrenome Somerset plays after reading.
  
  This could refelct Somerset's persona that he is steady and well timed as the metrenome will click at the same time all the time and Somerset will follow routine all of the time and every time. The Metrenome could also represent a trance for Somerset and a way out of his busy and hard working lifestyle, a chance to escape. We have witnessed that Mills is given oppertunity to escape from the the hard lifestyle of a New York detective via his wife and 2 dogs, referred to as his children. Mills escapes this life through family, however Somerset has no family and perhaps is married to his job and must escape through literature and the trance of the metrenome. Again creating a major contrast in the characters.
• Many of the sets and location have a high emphasis of bars and chains, for example the crime scenes tend to have barred windows or metal gates surrounding them. This could signify the high content of crime and danger in the city or perhaps symbolise Somerset's relationshop with his work, he is chained and a prisoner to it.
• When the opening credits are rolling, we getting several XCU shots of the murderer assembling his works and cutting the skin off of his fingertips. This suggests that the character is rather methodical and takes time and effort in his work, implying that the protagonists of the film are not apposing a psychopathic killer, but rather an antagonist of intellect and will prove to be a difficult criminal to catch.
  

Sound
The sound in the film again allows to set the tense and eerie atmosphere of the film and allows us to understand the characters.

• At each of the scenes where we are presented with Mills and Somerset we hear the offscreen digetic sound of New york traffic.However, At Somerset's apartment, the sound is rather faded and quiet, yet at Mills's apartment the sound is rather loud and sounds clear. This suggests that Mills who has just joined New York to work as a detective is new to the city and so everything in rather loud, exciting and Extravagant , whereas Somerset who has lived in the city and has been doing this ob for years isn’t effected by the goings on, and it seems normal to him. This gain prepares us for how the 2 characters will react later in the film.
• When the opening credits roll the music is very high pitched as often resembles a screech or a scream. The sound is very uncomfortable and eerie, contrasting the delight the murderer receives from these sound when killing his victims. Also, the music is rather warped and distorted; this reflects the character’s frame of mind as he is evidently unstable
• The song played at the begging is the Nine Inch Nails song- Closer. The lyrics of this song are rather twisted and disturbing e.g. “I want to feel you from the inside/ you let me desecrate/penetrate you” from this we can gather the personality of the murderer, rather disturbed and unwholesome.

Section 2: Research into examples of comparable products (JAWS)

‘Jaws’ is a 1975 American thriller film directed by Steven Spielberg and based on Peter Benchley's novel of the same name. The Film follows the people of Amity Island, caught in a grip of terror due to the Great White Shark that inhabits the coastline, devouring all those it can.
Notes on the opening sequence:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8SnZmUjhAA

Narrative StructureThe Narrative structure presents us with Equilibrium (Tod Rov’s theory of predictable everyday life, calm and peaceful) and Disequilibrium in the first few minutes of the film. The Equilibrium being the teenagers having a party on the beach, drinking and taking drugs, and the disequilibrium being Chrissie being killed by the shark, as it changes the predictability and calmness of the equilibrium and the film then focuses on how the narrative will form the re-equilibrium, where peace is restored.

Thriller Codes and Conventions

‘JAWS’ uses many of the thrillers codes and conventions, one being that the audience is not force-fed information, and the horror and gore of the film isn’t presented top us, it is implied as we very rarely see the shark, and when Chrissie is being Mauled by the Shark, all the audience is shown is the character screaming in agonising pain, we never see what is going on below the surface of the water, we are lead to use our intellectual engagement to realise that something is attacking her, and that one possibility could in fact be a shark.

Camera Work

• At the start of the sequence, when the camera shot is from the POV of whatever is swimming, it begins slow, and guided by the Non-diegetic Motif sound of the Jaws March, gets faster, implying that it is swimming with a purpose and that it is hurrying for something. By putting us in the POV of that character, it evokes suspense in the film, personifying what is swimming and creates an eerie and terrifying ambience.
• When the camera cuts to a shot of the teenagers at the beach, we get an XLS of the group sitting in a circle, however the circle is broken as Chrissie is removed from the group. The circle is symbolic of unity and suggests togetherness, with the circle broken, it suggests that group are not safe and are not unified by a common bond. Also the shot where the camera pans through MCU of the group talking and playing music, again suggests that there is strength in numbers, and as a group no harm can come to them, producing a false sense of security.
•  The Camera Angle and Focus is also a little distorted, emphasising that the teenagers are drunk or intoxicated with drugs. As drugs decrease the reaction, the likelihood of making rational decisions and also strips the person of their inhibitions. This will prove to be a major disadvantage when bieng attacked, foreshadowing the danger ahead.
•  The Cinematography also foreshadows certain events in the narrative. When Chrissie is running, the camera follows her at speed, however once she leaps into the water, the camera stops at the beach. As we are given the POV of the camera, we are informed that the water shouldn’t be swam in, as the camera didn’t follow Chrissie.
• When we get the XLS of Chrissie swimming in the water, she is surrounded by the ocean. This emphasises her aloneness, and that no one is around to save her, or hear her when she screams in terror.

  

Mis-en-scene

• As the film begins, we are shown a shot of the camera moving fluidly through the ocean. This automatically provides us with the information that this creature can swim with ease, also the water it swims through is rather dark, connoting grief and danger. Also as the creature is swimming through dark water, adding to the fear this creature appears to instill, as humans would find such an environment alien, and uneasy to be apart of, as this creature swims so gracefully an purposefully with no effort, emphasisng how dangerous the creature is.
• After the Jaws March sequence, the film cuts to a sequence of the teenagers all gathered around a fire drinking, smoking, laughing and playing music. This stereotypical Cliché of gathering round a fire symbolises a family atmosphere and unity. Implying that the group are safe and together, ony adds to the tension and suspense one one of the group is later killed off, presenting a 'Red Herring' where the film presents us with an event we do not expect, shocking us. 
• When Chrissie is running to the water, the shot's colours are very low key creating a misery filled ambience, foreshadowing the following events.
• We are shown a shot of a sunset. The sunset symbolises the end of someting, perhaps Chrissie's life, or rather the ending of the peace that surrounds the small town. However this is the opening sequence in the film, and the sunset, a visual metaphor for something to end, contradicts this as we only associate the sunset with an end.
• Just before Chrissie is mauled to death by the creature, we see an XLS of the ocean. This creates a sense of unknowingness, as the sea is an undiscovered form of nature, this creates an uneasy atmosphere, and it is left to the audiences imagination what could and is lurking beneath it.

Sound

• As the film begins we hear the diegetic sound of the water flow, this creates a tranquil and peacefuil ambience, refelecting the ambainece of the town. However the sound is interrupted by the Non-digetic motif of the Jaws March. This signifies that the tranquility of the town will be interupted.
• The Jaws March, possibly the most recognisable music in cinema history, the music begins slow and rather quiet, and as the camera speeds up the music gets louder and more intense, mirroring the ambience and terror that engulfs the sequence.
• When the film cuts to the scene with the teenages, the direct diegetic sound of the characters talking and playing music, creates a united and family/friendly ambience, again creating the false sense of security.
• After Chrissie has been dragged under the water by the shark, all non-diegetic music fades out, leaving us with only silence, giving the audience time to reflect on what has just happened

Editing

• At the start of the film, when we are shown us the POV shot of the creature swimming through the water, it is all done in one shot. This suggests that there is no hurry in the creature’s movements, and that it bides it’s time. However when Chrissie is running to the beach, the film cuts very quickly from her, to the drunken boy several times at speed. This creates a contrast between characters as Chrissie appears to be in much of a hurry, and is excited and eager. Also, this presents Chrissie as a vulnerable character as she isn’t careful, she is impatient and energized, proving to be her downfall laterin the sequence.
• We are also presented with a shot reverse shot when Chrissie and the boy catch one another's eyes, creating this sense of the 2 characters meeting.

Character Profiles

• Chrissie: Chrissie is presented to us as an archetypal victim in horror/thriller films, a female, sexually played, seen in underwear in the first few minutes of the film. Also presented as bait, as she is the first character to be killed in the film, and the fact that she is wearing white underwear, suggests her innocence and purity, as the colour connotes a such.
• Jaws: The creature is presented to us as an antagonist through the music and cinematography, also a powerful predator who preys on the weaker characters such as Chrissie.

Section 2: Research into examples of comparable products (American Psycho)

American Psycho is a 2000 thriller film directed by Mary Harron based on Bret Easton Ellis's novel of the same name.  It stars Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman, with Jared Leto, Reese Witherspoon and Willem Dafoe. The film focuses on Wall Street yuppie Patrick Bateman (Bale), whose mental instability and blood lust lead him to serial killing. It debuted at the Sundance Film Festival on April 14, 2000.

Narrative Structure 
At the start we are provided with a very upper class and sophisticated equilibrium, all of the characters are dining at an expensive restaurant, establishing the way these characters act and feel, which would make a more devastating impact on such a society, should crime be involved, as crime is expected least in this kind of society.

Mis-en- Scene 

• As the film begins, along with the credits, a white background is seen. The colour white connotes purity and innocence, however seconds later, red liquid drips into the frame (at first presumed to be blood) the feature of blood  death and gore, a complete opposite of the innocence portrayed at first, this oxymoronic symbolism suggests that death and gore will feature in the film, amongst a proverbial background of innocence and purity. 
• The drops of ‘blood’ fall in rhythm to the classical non-diegetic background music, suggesting that the blood and music are related. This implies that the bloodshed is somehow an art form and is peaceful and delightful, the attitude Patrick Bateman portrays later in the film.
• A knife also features in the opening credits, as it swiftly and violently chops through a steak; this is a visual metaphor for what is to happen later in the film with the murders committed by Bateman.

• Later in the sequence the blood is revealed to raspberry juice, suggesting that on the face of things, things appear to be rather normal (raspberry sauce) however when you look closer and deeper, they appear to be something else, rather dark (Blood), mirroring Bateman’s life, on the face of it, he appears to be an average member of society, however when looking deeper, he is revealed as a psychotic and deranged serial Killer. 
• The camera pans through several shots across dining tables elaborately decorated with highly expensive-looking items, cutlery and food and the characters are wearing very expensive clothing (dresses and tuxedos) This establishes the social class in which the characters are a part of, upper-middle class, where crime would definitely be unacceptable and non-existent. However this drastically changes when Patrick Bateman becomes a serial killer, verifying my earlier analysis.
  

Sound 

• At the start, the non-diegetic sound is very high pitched, using the sound of violins. This creates an eerie and sinister atmosphere, setting the tone and genre of the film. Also, as stated before, the music is in time with the dropping of ‘blood’. 
• As the cameras pans through the room of guests, we here the diegetic sound of the collective voices of the guests, all speaking with rather upper class accents, again this establishes the social class in which the movie is set, and when the waiters are shown, informing the gusts of all the luxury and expensive food items that are on the menu, emphasises this. As stated before, in this kind of society crime, like Murder, which Bateman commits, would definitely be objectionable and not to be expected within this class.

Editing and Camera work 
the camera slowly pans across the dining tables that are expensively decorated, again to set the atmosphere in which the characters live in. The fact the camera pans slowly, forces us to pay attention to these expensively decorated tables, foreshadowing later events in the film, of how obsessed the protagonist is obsessed with his physical appearance and the visual representation of everything he owns.

Graphics
 The graphics of the opening sequence are black on a white background; this creates the emphasis of 2 opposites, mirroring the upper class lifestyle Bateman leads, and his life as a serial killer.
However, once the white background has faded and we are shown the restaurant, the credits become white. White connotes innocence, and the white credits are only presented within the restaurant, again mirroring the innocence that Bateman must portray when in public.

Section 2: Research into examples of comparable products (The Butterfly Effect)

  



The Butterfly Effect is a 2004 American psychological thriller film directed and written by Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber. The film stars Ashton Kutcher, Amy Smart and Eric Stoltz and was distributed by New Line Cinema. The title is a reference to the so-called Butterfly Effect which represents a claim within the scientific discipline of Chaos Theory that the beating of a butterfly's wing can ultimately contribute to the creation of a typhoon half a world away

Narrative structure
From the very start of the film, the audience are presented with a dis-equilibrium, as the protagonist appears to be extremely anxious and scared and appears to be running from something and writes a note that makes no sense at this moment in time, causing the audience ask several questions, and they mjust watch the film in order to gain answers.

Mis-en-scene

• As the sequence begins, the camera focuses on the frosted glass of an office’s windows from the inside where a character walks behind them, his identity at this point unknown as our vision is blurred due to the opaque of the glass. Not being able to see the character, who later is revealed as the protagonist, creates tension and presents questions with the audience. From the moment the scene begins tension rises, preparing the audience and establishing the genre of the film. This could also be a visual metaphor, presenting the idea of ‘blurred vision’ and that things are not always as they seem, or certain aspects me be unclear, themes that are later explored in the film.

• Once the character behind the glass reaches the door, he kicks it open, enters the room at speed, using a sofa to block anyone else entering and reaches for a box, appearing to be in a rush and then hides under a desk and begins to write a note. As the character breaks into the room, implies that the character shouldn’t be there in the first place, and the character appears to be frightened and running from something, and wishes not to be followed as he blocks possible followers’ entrance to the room. In the opening seconds of the film, the audience are provided with vast amounts of information; leading them to answer more questions again, establishing genre. Also, the fact that the protagonist is encased with fear and worry, it adds to the tension and causes the audience to fear and worry.

• Ashton Cutcher’s character is first presented to us wearing a blue mental asylum costume, this is the first time that this character is seen and the audience can already gather that he belongs in a mental institute, this again forces the audience to ask questions as to ‘why’ and ‘how’ he was incarcerated in the asylum. The colour blue also connotes gloom and misery, features which are also presented in the narrative, including aspects of paedophilia and death.

• Also after this, the scene dramatically changes and the credits '11 Years earlier' is seen at the bottom of the screen. This perhaps releaves the audience as the countless questions that may have risen, are about to be answered.

Sound

•  At the very beginning of the film, when we are presented with a black screen, the very first sound that is heard is a high pitched and echoing sound which creates an eerie and sinister atmosphere. The sound resembles a child’s laughter, which indicates childhood innocence; however the echoing and high pitched sound adds a supernatural feel to it, suggesting the exploitation of childhood innocence, also explored in the film. First with the theme of paedophilia, and secondly when the protagonist travels through time, in order to alter his life which best suits him. 
• As the film begins and the character is seen behind the frosted glass, the non-diegetic background music is slow and also high pitched, which sets the threatening and disturbing tone of the film. When Ashton Kutcher’s character kicks open the door, the loud direct sound of the door being kicked jolts the non-diegetic sound to increase tempo and volume; this increases the tension and quickens the pace of the sequence. 
• Questions are again presented when the character begins to write a note, we at first question who the note is for, but the character begins to say things like “I am dead and my plan didn’t work/I could go back and save her.” All unnaturally occurring things to say, again evoking questions with the audience.

Editing and camera work

• At the start, the camera pans from inside the office, slowly following the character, however when he kicks through the door, the panning quickens, as does the cutting from shot to shot, where at the start, before the door was kicked in, the panning existed through one single shot. This adds to the tension of the sequence’s ambience. 
• The camera zooms to a CU of Ashton Kutcher’s face while he is writing the note, his face display’s fear and a nervous disposition, again adding to the tension and making the audience feel nervous. 
• When the security guards begin to notice that someone has broke into the office, the shots cut from them to Ashton Kutcher’s character, the closer the security guards approach, the quicker the cutting between them and the protagonist. This increases tension and aligned with the music, suggest that as they approach, trouble approaches.

Graphics 
As the film begins, the first credits seen is a quotation about the chaos theory.

Section 3: Brainstorm of content and classification of film

We decided that we would choose on a psychological thriller, as the questionnaires indicated that such a genre was in high demand. Although the Horror genre was more popular, it would not be possible to film a horror-thriller as the codes and conventions required for the film to be classed as such a genre (Violence/Gore/weapons) would not have been able to be added, as such resources are not available to us. Upon deciding on a psychological thriller we brainstormed Ideas.

Our Idea is that a woman kills her husband, however by the means of the codes and conventions of a thriller, this will be hid from the audience, and will be presented to them as though someone is breaking into the house to try kills her husband. However due to her mental instability, this is ficticious and is a figment of her imagination. 

The film follows the Question and Answer model. As the audience is aware that someone is breaking into the house and that Benjamin dies, however they are not made aware of the means. Keeping them asking questions as to what killed Benjamin and how the killer got in the house. It also follows the Concealment and Contraption Theory as many things are kept from the audience, including the fact that Ebony is mentally unstable and that she killed Benjamin. Ebony is also an example of the characters portrayed in The Heroic Romance theory, as she is an average housewife, with a seemingly normal life, but due to the circumstance of her husband’s death and her mental condition must adapt best she can. The film also follows the theory of Mazes and Labyrinth theory as throughout the film Ebony must pass through the metaphorical maze to find out who killed her husband and that it is reveald to be her follows the idea that 'anything can happen'

This however was not our original Idea. We had originally began to work on a film entitled 'Til Death do us Part', however the location was extremely difficult to find, as we intended to film in a church, and several churches that we sent E-mails to, were not willing to let us film. After a few weeks into the planning, we decided that it would be best to chnage our thriller idea and location, as the chances of a church accesible to us will let us film were slim. Or original brainstorm is posted below:

We have chosen that our film will be classified 15. As we intend to have some violence and strong language for scenes where our protagonist is psychologically disturbed and is angered that her husband has been killed. Violence will also be used when seeing the husband’s butchered body and how he came to be of such a state.

The film will not be certificate 18 as the violence isn’t rich and filled with gore and long lived, the strong language isn’t used throughout and nudity and sexual scenes do not appear.

Section 4: Audience research (questionaire)