Wednesday, 4 November 2015

research- into location and mise-en-scene for my trailer

       
Research into location and mise-en-scene from jemimawright97

Before going straight into planning what locations and mise-en-scene i am going to use in my trailer, i think it is vital to do some research first. This is because i need to become aware of specific conventions which will benefit my trailer and make sure i get the most out of filming without wasting any time.  By delving so deep into the mise-en-scene for instance the positioning of actors and objects in the frame i have really gained knowledge which i had never even passed my mind, therefore i can apply it when i place my characters in the shot, ensuring that every single movement has a reason behind it. As a result of this i can create subtle enigmas which my audience can depict and question this should create tension. My research into lighting has also opened my eyes as it involves far more than i originally thought, especially in conveying characters emotions. From this i have decided that i am going to use back lighting in long shots, this is so the identity of the character is  hidden,this is an important convention of the thriller genre as it creates suspense and leaves the audience ignorant. In some of the close up shots of my protagonist, i have decided that top lighting would be the most efficient, this sets a sinister atmosphere and creates the feeling that she is vulnerable and deprived of light which has connotations of positivity and purity.These are just a few ways in which i intend to use different lighting techniques, i will provide a full overview in my script. My research into costume and hair and make up has helped me realize that in a sense more is less, i have watched many thriller films and one similarity between them all is that when it comes to costumes, the protagonists just look like 'normal' people you would see on an every day basis. Though with this in mind, i do need to take in consideration my characters backgrounds and social roles, this is so i can reflect this by putting them in costumes which obviously foreshadow this. This is vital as my trailers just a snapshot of the film, this restricts me from building an in depth character profile which means i will need to play on stereotypes to make this clear to the audience. When taking into account hair and makeup, similar rules apply, however i do need to make sure that when i want to show that my characters have been hurt, the bruises and wounds must look realistic. I have identify a huge contrast between low budget and high budget thriller films, the makeup really does determine the realism which in effect can make or break a film. I am going to work on this for my trailer, i fortunately have a sister who has studied theoretical makeup at London of fashion, this will definitely help to enhance the quality of my trailer. When referring to props, i am hoping to use a shotgun, obviously this will have to be artificial, though i need to focus on ensuring that this is not made to obvious to the viewers as it will simply make it appear extremely amateur. I have put thought into other forms of props which i researched, for instance masks, i believe these are really impressive in thriller films as they make you feel uncomfortable as who's behind the mask is a secret which creates an enigma, however i am going to play around with this to see whether it  improves my trailer or not.  Finally by researching the conventional locations, i have been able to establish places in my are which could be suited the genre. I am definitely going to use quite stereotypical locations such as woods, country roads and alley ways, i have seen them illustrated in many films and for me they are definitely a powerful way of making the audience feel tense and scared for the safety of the protagonist. As you can see in the images in my slide share, a lot of these locations are photographed at night, this definitely amplifies the fears associated with them, from this i am going to do most of my filming later in the day to create a more nervous atmosphere. 

Sunday, 1 November 2015

Planning-letter for location and actors


I only have to ask ask for permission for one location, as my others are out in the public. I am fortunate as my request has been accepted and also the the times in which i suggested have also been agreed. This location is perfect for my filming, as due to the fact the business will be closed, i will be able to manipulate the layout of the furniture and brightness of the lighting in order to enhance my shots. I also have the choice to include extras to add to the realism whoever if they take attention away from my protagonist i can simply eliminate them, this is something i would have no control over if the establishment was open. The reason why i chose this bar opposed to any other one in my area is because it is quirky and has a more casual feel opposed to an upmarket flashy bar. I have purposely done this as my protagonist is working class, therefore this location appears to be more suited to her which will increase the realism of my trailer. The location is also extremely versatile as there is a spacious upstairs seating area, therefore i can film a various range of shots in it. 


 I sent this email well in advance of my shooting schedule, this is because Megan works full time so therefore her free time is really restricted. However she got back to me and we were able organize time slots where we are both available and can get some filming done. I chose Megan as she is 20, however looks quite significantly older as a result of this she will fit the profile of my protagonist. She has done modeling in the past, this is beneficial for me as it will eliminate and shyness in front of the camera and also she is likely to be able to pull different facial expressions depending on the mood i intend to portray. Because i am friends with Megan, it will make filming a lot easier as we will be more comfortable around each other and  able to discuss ideas which will benefit the outcome but also point out if there's anything which may disrupt the final product in a constructive manner.

Tuesday, 27 October 2015

Planning-Story board


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Sunday, 25 October 2015

Planning-Plot narrative and narrative theories applied to my trailer

      
Plot narrative from jemimawright97

This is my first draft of my plot narrative, i have created this to make sure i have established my final idea for the plot of my film which helps me to know which aspects are crucial to include in my trailer. Consequently when it comes to filming my trailer, i can refer back to this so i can assure i don't miss out any crucial details. Because i have a clear and concise plot, i have been able to organize which of the narrative theories i can successfully apply to my trailer, this will add more depth and meaning and hopefully make it more interesting to watch  I am going to create a more detailed script for my trailer, which i can closely follow.

Friday, 23 October 2015

Planning-Mind map on; Sound, camera angles,Narrative and mis-en-scene

Mind Map created by jemima_wright with GoConqr

This mind map has enabled me to put all my knowledge of mise-en-scene, sound, camera angle and editing and then apply it to the thriller genre. By presenting them in this format it is easier for me to depict which elements i intend to use in particular parts of the trailer for  my shooting schedule. Through my filming and editing process, i will be able to refer back to this mind map for new inspiration and use it almost as a checklist to confirm i have incorporated as many of these items as i can to give my product more professionalism

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Research-Moodboards

From analysis my survey results, i have taken into account the three most popular thriller hybrids. From this i decided to make a moldboard for each, i can gain greater knowledge on each genre and then later decide the one i wish to pursue in my final piece. 

Psychological Thriller
From looking at these posters, i can tell that the narrative is generally based around just one character, this is something i hoped to incorporate as although its simplistic, it can eliminate confusion and the fear of over complicating things.  There is a great use of editing of the characters face, including a cracking effects but also making them appear through shade of blue, this sets a chilling atmosphere and tells us that there is more to the character than meets the eye. I personally think that these posters are the most powerful for me as they really catch your eye and make you want to watch the film to find out why they have been presented the way they have. 
Action Thriller
It is clear that in these posters, there is more emphasis on props such as weapons, this immediately tells us what sub genre the film is. Another thing i noticed it that the posters are orientated around masculinity and the idea of the alpha male. This has put me of using this hybrid as i have already thought of narrative ideas, which all have the similarity of using a female protagonist.
Horror Thriller 
These posters nearly all highlight a lack of identity, in nearly all of the posters, either the protagonists back is turned to us or long shots are used to hide there faces. I find this extremely effective and concealed which creates an enigma, it leaves me wanting to discover who they are. The use of textured background is also effective as they disorientate us and have connotations of corruption. From doing this research i would definitely conciser using this sub genre as it definitely has a huge fear factor.

From doing this research the psychological thriller mood board and conventions enticed me the most, i believe this is because they focus more on making the audience engaged and able to delve into the protagonist mind opposed to just simply frightening them. They are able to manipulate our minds to such an extend that we are unaware of what is reality and what isn't, i find this incredibly clever. When referring to the posters they are more striking to me as they are visually misleading and make us ask yourself many questions regarding why such editing has been portrayed? does this mean something? As a whole they create a more sinister atmosphere which is exactly what i intend to do when i create my own.