Our chosen genre for our sequence was Psychological thriller, which influenced how I created the soundtrack and how the rest of the group made decisions about location, costumes, camera work and the final piecing together when the sequence was edited. The decisions i made to make the soundtrack conform to the Psychological thriller genre included how i attempted to create a build-up of tension. this I achieved by using a number of sounds at certain points, for example when the camera tracks Sheridan's character up the stairs you get a sudden sight of the psycho which I used an unnatural noise that added to the jumpy and tense atmosphere.
These decisions helped develop the narrative of my specific area of micro responsibility (sound). Other aspects that helped this was the need to work closely with the editor so the soundtrack relates to the sequence. This meant changing a large amount of the soundtrack to fit into it precisely as the original draft was way too short. As a group we discussed our original ideas and put them into a story board, from this I created the draft soundtrack, knowing that some changes are going to need to be made, as the director and editor adapted the plan to improve it.
The response I was after from the audience was for them to feel the tension throughout the sequence, and hopefully my area of micro responsibility will help it be a success. From feedback we received there was good and bad points to the soundtrack, for example: "Diagetic sound is too quiet (overshadowed by sound)" I didn’t think this was such a bad mistake as there is very little diagetic sound, only things such as: Opening of doors, the brief dialogue at the beginning and the sound of Sheridan's character walking. But if we got the chance to tone down the soundtrack then it should be simple enough. Good feedback we received was: "suitable soundtrack, changes the mood as it progresses". This was our main aim for the Soundtrack so was pleased with the response.
My technical skill enabled the group to proceed swiftly throughout the project. The fact I take film studies as well as media studies helped me become familiar with the programmes needed to complete the task of making a soundtrack.
Overall I believe our film sequence was a success but would say there are few things that could be improved.
The genre that we chose in our planning was a Psychological thriller. This influenced our film extract and the decisions we made about Location, costume design, camera shots and the soundtrack. The location we chose was influenced by the genre because we needed a place that was very large and because of all the different mirrors and rooms it was quite confusing which worked well with our film. I especially like the part where you can see the woman's reflection in the mirror, I think this is a very effective and confusing shot because we wanted the audience to feel the suspense and confusion. The costume designs were not well thought out however we just needed something plain and basic for the Psycho and we also need to keep him disguised. I think that the plain black jacket did this well because it hid his face which kept the suspicion and mystery. The camera shots we used worked well and was affected by the genre that we chose, the shot in the lift is very good because its suspicious and surprising I like the way the camera stayed in the lift whilst the suspect killed the victim. There are not many close ups which isn't very good but I think the various long shots that we have work well because they do not reveal the suspects face.
My micro responsibility was costume designs and some editing. I think the editing has developed the narrative because it put everything together, the shots created suspense in the narrative. As the extract goes on the scene builds up suspense which is created through the editing. The editing combined the sound track which helped to build the tension.
The whole group worked together in the planning to create the narrative, characters and genre. We had a few planning lessons where we created mind maps and discussed the ideas and decisions. Me and Phil created the narrative in one lesson it started off as a basic thriller but it seemed like an unoriginal idea so we decided to add some twists, the genre then lead to be and Psychological Thriller. We devised the characters whilst we were creating the narrative and I think the characters are very effective and work with the film well. My favorite character is Phil's character, the accent that he used was not planned but I think adds a slight amount of humour which I think is needed to break the tension. After we had created the narrative we thought up and drew a story board which had all the different shots we wanted to use.
We adapted and changed a lot of our plans as we went on. Some due to not being able top create what we wanted and some because we thought it would improve. The mirror shot is my favourite and this was not in the story board, it was an accident by I think this is very effective and lucky. The costume design ended up different because our organisation was not good and for the killer we ended up using a coat we had with us which was lucky. I brought in my costume which was planned. did not plan to use the list however I think the shot is great so that worked out well.
I wanted the audience to react in a shocked way I wanted them to feel the tension and suspense as it went along. I think the editing did this well because it was adapted to fit the soundtrack which meant that the right sounds happened at the right time. I also wanted the audience to react to the location in a good way because I think that the location that Phil found is very good and looks very professional.
We received mixed feedback for each micro element. For the camera work people thought that the following of the woman builds up suspense I see this as a success however I would have liked to have had a lot more varied shots such as close-ups. The mise-en-scene had good feedback, people said that the mirror shot gives a strange and confused effect. The feedback showed that there was a good use of props and costumes, this surprised me so it has tuned out as a success. the other groups liked the elevator scene where it opens and closes. there was no bad feedback about mise-en-scene so this was a success also. The sound had mixed feedback. People liked the soundtrack and thought that it built suspense however they thought that the diagetic sound was too quite but altogether I see the sound as a success. The editing had good feedback, the audience liked the fact that the shot flowed into one another. however one person noticed that the was a slight jump cut.
My technical skills did not hold the group back. I have learned to use all of the programmes through media and film studies. We only used programmes that i am familiar with so my knowledge has not hindered the creating of the film extract. We have been able to use and create all of our ideas because the whole group knows how to use all of the programmes.
Altogether I feel that the film extract was a success and I would not changed many things at all.
Our short film is about a young woman who when one night stays late at work to finish her work, finds herself trapped there, and fearful of being followed by someone. But actually it turns out that she knows the person who's following her from her teenage years. The two were best friends, always with each other, as if they were meant to be friends all their lives, until the friend gets the wrong impression and proposes to her. But as she declines, it sends the young teenager into a state of pshycological meltdown, and in later years resorts to murder, leading to his last victim.
The genre for our film is a pshycological thriller. I the sequence we made sure that you never saw the stalker, making the audience wonder who he is and when he appears, try to figure it out who he is. The reason we chose to use this type of genre was because it lets the audience try and figure out whats going on for themselves, rather than be told like with other film genres.
Our genre influenced our decisions among the group in different ways. One way in which it affected us was that we needed to change types of shots. I decided to use some first person shots and not to show the stalkers face to add suspense. A shot where this occurs in my film is near the end, at this point in the office I wanted to create a tense mood and make the audience feel uneasy. I think this works well because the shots link well together and with the performance of Sheridan as the woman, she justifies the mood of the shot sets the genre.
In the production of our short extract we were all given specific roles to add different ideas and techniques to the project. My role in the group initially was as cinematographer/cameraman. What I brought to the project was the ability to get us a good location and some unique shots. These were shots like the mirror shot at the beginning of the extract, this shot I thought of. The effect this shot has is it maks the viewer think more and makes them confused. The development of the narrative through my micro element was in the way of me being able to attract the audience in with a unique location, and the range of first person shots which shows the stalkers view without showing too much of him.
Like other people, we ourselves had our problems even some of them threatening to ruin the project. For example when we first shot, we didn't manage to get everyone together because of individual problems, but as we explained the situation we were able to film again. When we shot for the first time it all went well but when we went to upload I thought we needed to go back to re-shoot some pieces as it was not telling the narrative properly and lacked something.
When we re-shot, I decided that we needed to add more variations of shots, especially close ups. One complication occurred when Sheridan accidentally forget her second blouse, this added to a bit of a continuity error. Despite of this, the end product turned out well and you are not able to notice, and even if you do notice, it makes the viewer think why it is missing.
As we were working in groups we needed to converse ideas together to help create our film. In our group I worked alongside Sheridan to create the plot to our sequence. At first we were thinking about having the last scene on the rooftop, ending in one of their deaths. Although this was our main idea we had to change it, as when it came to filming we ran out of time, and when we filmed the second time it was a different time of day, adding to yet another continuity error.
After feedback from the other groups they commented saying that good points of our film was that the shots flowed well, and that we had a good use of props and costumes. These were essential to create the mood, and they succeeded to create the genre. Although we had good points we also had bad ones, they compiled of the diagetic sound being too quiet, and a barely noticeable jump cut..
Overall I wanted our audience to respond in a way that all thrillers make you feel; who is he, why is he there and most importantly what is going to happen next. I wanted this feel to carry out all through the film so that the audience was a little confused, adding to them wanting to know what was really going on. As like from the comments, it flows well and I hope other viewers feel the way about the film as my genre needs them to feel.
Camerawork - Camera movement- following the characters builds up suspense
Mise en scene - Clever use of the mirror in one shot to give a strange and confused feel to it. Good use of props and costumes, 0bviously an office building Use of elevator close and opening.
Sound - Suitable soundtrack - changes the mood as it progresses Diagetic sound is too quiet (overshadowed by sound)
Editing - Shots flow into each other well -no jump cuts only one point where it jumps a bit but its hardly noticable
How has the genre/sub genre that you have been working in influenced the decisions you have made?- Every film has a certain genre which helps not only the audience understand what to expect but also it helps the directors and writers on how to make it. Knowing that our film is a thriller it helped a lot because it made us channel our attention to the darker side of movies and enabled us to think of ideas on what our project could be about. Because of the limited film quality i started thinking of such films as The Blair Witch project and The ring which used that quality of the camera to their advantage. How have you developed the narrative through your specific area of micro responsibility? At the beginning of the project when roles were decided i was given the role of director but during the project everyone had ideas so there wasn't a specific person on the role of director. I think director plays a big part in films because they know how they want the actors to perform and the actors is hat makes the film. How did you work with other group members to develop the narrative, character and genre in your sequence? I think the group worked well together over all there were a few complications with the filming because some people couldn't get to the location on the Sunday which was the first time we tried. After we talked about it we filmed after college and went the location together which went well. I think all areas in our project were strong which was due to the teamwork we put in.The thing i liked most about working in a group is having other people adding ideas which makes it abit more of a crowed pleaser because it no longer because a film for you it becomes a film for a group. In what way did you adapt and change your plans as you went? When filming we had a few ideas and a rough outline of what we wanted to do but when we tried them out we found that we had to choose an alternative route e.g. we started filming in a certain part of the office but half way through we found out that someone was still working in there so we had to move to a different location. During the project i was asked by the group to make the soundtrack due to the original sound mans absence but when he came back it was sorted in time. How did you want the audience to respond to your micro aspect within the sequence you created?Personally I wanted the audience to feel vulnerable and scared at some parts. As every film attempts to do is draw the viewer in that why loud music is used to create suspense and certain camera shot and transitions are used. The point of view shots we used i think had the most effect when in the office looking at the woman because it draws the audience in and builds a lot of suspense. what has the feedback you received told you about the successes and or problems with the decisions you made? The feedback we received was all positive and taken into account. The feedback process was a good exercise because lots of people gave their opinions rather than just the teacher so we could see what other peoples reactions were.
Have your technical skills enabled or hindered you making the creative choices you wanted to? The only programmes we used in the production were final cut and garage band and we have used in previous projects which have expanded my knowledge for them. Some of the shots allowed us to use different skills such as fading out at the end and rewinding footage.
I think the end result was pleasing and the work we put in paid off.
We filmed for a second time to add a few more little parts to improve out extract. When I got back to the computer we were working on and tried to upload the footage it was not there. I'm not sure what happened but thankfully we have already filmed the main scene of our short film extract.
