Audience feedback is essential to carry out in order to receive non-bias opinions; pointing out the positives, as well as including comments on where we could have improved. This information helps us to have an understanding of where improvements should be made so that we can take them into consideration and make changes, therefore developing a better, more enjoyable to watch thriller that can be easily understood.
My group and I screened our production in a West Hatch assembly in front of year 8's, therefore having ages varying between 12/13. The assembly included around 200 students with a few teachers. Once completing our 2 minute thriller opening we decided to post the clip on YouTube. I felt doing so helped us as allowed us to gain instant feedback from random age groups, which helped us further our research of how successful the thriller is and who it appeals to.
I felt that screen our thriller to an audience would
benefit. By doing so, myself and the group are able to receive honest feedback,
including constructive critism in how to improve our two minute opening. We
chose to screen it to our chosen target audience of 12+, as it enabled us to
critically examine if our thriller appealed to them, and whether they enjoyed
it or not.
Audience's comments:
Good
comments
‘When the villain is running the
camera shot is out of focus, which keeps the characters unknown. This suits a thrillers conventions, therefore keeping me in suspense.'
-Nicole Whippy.
There was a wide range of camera shots used that suited the conventions; for example the point of view shots were very effective.'
-Emily Carr.
Constructive
comments
‘ Linking between shots could have
been more fluent to make the film run smoothly’
-Michael McNeish.
‘Some shots should have been filmed
with the tripod due to some unsteady shots’.
-Megan Gadd.
I felt that receiving good and bad comments, finding out where we went right and wrong helped us to understand where improvements could have been made. By making the changes, it means that our following audience will enjoy the thriller even more, making it more successful.
Our groups meetings consisted of logging our groups discussions week by week. The purpose of carrying out our meetings, is to make a record of what my group and I discussed per lesson when creating our planning posts; deciding what our thriller was going to consist of. Also, it helped that my group and I had done our individual planning such as our individual storyboards, which helped to develop our group storyboard.
Within the whole production process our group worked extremely well together, helping each other when we experienced difficulties in each aspect. We developed a good relationship between us and made sure if one was stuck, another would help.
Sound is important as it is used in films to manipulate the audiences emotions and to build a greater understanding. It is responsible for making the thriller more engaging as it creates more meaning about the characters and their emotions. When thinking about what sounds to include within our thriller, my group and I need to make sure that we correctly connect the sound to the scene, helping to build suspense. Below I will be adding some examples of sounds we may possible use to make our thriller conventional, making the narrative more clear to the audience.
http://ccmixter.org/files/nickleus/28581- I would like to include this within my thriller when Ruby (victim) directs her route into the dark forest. I feel this is conventional as it is extremely eery which builds tension, therefore giving the audience a greater understanding as it forebodes that something bad is going to happen as a result. This is conventional and suits the setting, as it gives the feeling of the unknown, not knowing what is to happen or what to expect. The audience get this feeling through the strings within.
http://ccmixter.org/files/nickleus/29887- I found this sound the most interesting, due to the fact that the suspense builds up and up, but then lowers again. This gives the effect that more action and drama is to come within the scene, which can be seen as quite exciting from the audiences prospectus. I would like this to be included within the abduction/murder scene where Ruby is being dragged, as her mother listens to the screams on the other end of the phone line. The type of tune makes the audience aware that this is the attack scene, giving an idea that Ruby is vulnerable. I feel this is conventional as continual suspense is built throughout, therefore making the audience nervous on what is going to happen to Ruby once she is taken away.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT194IQMBzQ- This song I have looked at was used in the film 'Taken 2'. I would like this to be a possible song choice for the on-screen sound that Ruby is shown listening to through her earphones. I feel it is a very uptempo song, that contrasts to her surrounding and what is to come. This would show the audience that Ruby has no expectation of anything to happen to her during the dog walk. I feel it is conventional and would help our thriller, due to the fact that the music contrasts; it could put the audience into a relaxed mood, that when Ruby is to be attacked they are shocked, as it is the unexpected.
In conclusion, the sounds that may be possible choices, will assist my group when we want to portray certain ideas and to draw in the audience emotionally. The sounds help to connect the narrative, therefore all coming together to build suspense and create a clear understanding for the audience. Each sound is used for different aspects of our thriller with the one that contrasts, yet still complimenting the opening scene as a whole. I feel that this selection, plus other sounds will make the thriller come together significantly and add great effect, making it enjoyable for an audience to watch.
As a group we have created a group storyboard. We have based it upon mainly my ideas from my individual storyboard, but have made a few correction making it more realistic to the resources available. The photos below shows evidence of what we would like each frame to consist of:
As a result of completing an group storyboard, my group were able to clearly show what our ideas are for our thriller, and what we want it to consist of. I have learnt that within the frames a lot of thought and depth has to be put into them so that the audience have a clear understanding of the narrative. When deciding as a group each shot that was going to be included, we made sure that they all flow well making it enjoyable to watch. In summary, our group storyboard clearly portrays all the conventions of a thriller that we will include such as; the lighting being low key during the murder scene, having non- diegetic suspense building track playing throughout most of the 2 minutes, using a knife as part of our iconography, having the clear differentiation between victim and villain and so on.
Editing is important as it is the way in which a film is put together through different shots. It is responsible for making the thriller run smoothly to create a variety of different emotions and effects. It gives the audience a greater understanding of the narrative and conventions of the thriller. When thinking of what editing styles to include a lot of in depth thought has to go into it; making sure it run smoothly and that each editing style compliments the following one. Below I will be portraying a few examples of the types of editing styles my group have used within our thriller:
Flashback- A flashback is one of our main editing styles that features in our thriller. Our flashback consists of the Mother thinking about a past memory for the events on the day her daughters disappearance. In order to portray this feature, it will be played in black and white to show the audience it is not in the present tense. We felt that having a flashback gives the thriller more realism as it informs the audience of a past event. This gives a greater understanding of the narrative, as the audience then realise why the mother was staring deeply into a photograph of Ruby in the first shot.
Montage- Within our thriller we used the editing technique montage. Montage is a series of short shots that are edited into a sequence to suggest the passage of time and to build suspense. We have many frames that we have used montage for; one being for a series of shots that switch from one location to the other, as Ruby is being dragged and her mother picking up her phone call realising that she is in trouble. Showing what is happening to Ruby, as the audience witness the reaction of her mother receiving the disturbed call, enables the audience to understand the narrative as the point of view from each character is shown. The audience develop the overall emotion of sympathy as both parties are distraught.
Fade out- We use the fade technique as the very end shot within our thriller, so that it makes it clear when the sequence has finished. A fade out is a transitional devise consisting of a drastic change from an image to a blank screen. Within this shot we have chosen a fade-to-black. This consists of the camera at a canted, low angle directly facing a brightly lit torch, an unknown character then approaches and turns the light switch off. The colouring of clothing and shoes that are conventional to a thriller and the villain character, makes it clear that it is the villain that has switched off the light. This shot gives the audience a clear understanding of the narrative and that the villain is trying to clear up the evidence of Ruby's death.
In conclusion, the editing styles that I have included within our two minute thriller opening, will assist my group in making the audience have a clear understanding of the narrative. The choice of editing styles that we have included have been well thought through so that each and every one flows and compliments eachother. Each style builds suspense and develops the audiences emotions, making it conventional to the thriller genre.
I have created my own personal storyboard. I have based it upon my original ideas of how I would like my thriller to turn out. The photos below shows evidence of what I would like each frame to consist of:
As a result of completing an individual storyboard, I am able to clearly show what my ideas are for the thriller to my group, they are then also able to share theirs, enabling us to collaborate all of ideas into one in order to create a group storyboard. I have learnt that within the frames a lot of thought and depth has to be put into them so that they are specific and clear. When deciding each shot you have to consider the following one to make sure they compliment each other so that it has a flow.
The purpose of the film credits within a film are to portray the important members that are part of the production. Credits identify the main characters and crew that have made the film come together. They inform the audience of the type of genre the film is, as the credits resemble the significance of the narrative.
Se7en - Opening Titles
The colours used
The style of credits
The use of generic conventions in a thriller film
The order of appearance
The credits within 'Se7en' are shown in white on a black background. Both are contrasting colours, therefore making it stand out. The text helps to portray the type of genre the film is and with the effect of the lettering being slanted, with a jumpy effect reflects that the character is clearly unstable. This is conventional it promotes unstable characters.
There is a specific order of appearance in which the credits are shown in:
Production company, director, actor, title of film, actors continued, casting, music costumes, editors, production, camera operators, co-producer, producer, writing, director.
Within the opening the scene between the viewing of credits, an unknown character is shown in a black and white/ sepia effect. This makes the scene very dull, but his actions portray that he is planning to take some form of action. A flash of red within, tells the audience that the film in going to involve blood and death, therefore giving an insight of what his plan consists of. The fact that one character is shown throughout the opening scene promotes he is the main character. This is conventional to a thriller film as it tells the audience that the film involves death, and with the amount of planning the character does, shows that it needs to be well thought about in order for it to come off.
There is a mixture of non-diegetic and diegetic sound which compliment each other throughout the scene. The suspense building soundtrack collaborates with with the sound of his actions (eg. turning a page). This is conventional as as a result it continues to build tension making the audience feel eager for the character to reveal himself, they want to know what he is planning to do and who may die.
Psycho (1960) - Opening Credits
The credits within 'Psycho' are shown in white on a black background with grey lines crossing through, blocking out part of the word, to then becoming clear. Both are contrasting colours and the boldness and size of text, makes it clear for the audience to read.
The order of appearance in which the credits are shown in are:
Director, title, characters, co-stars, screen play, directors, production group and music.
Within this opening scene it doesn't include any action between the credits. This makes it extremely dull and doesn't give an inside to the film itself, therefore the audience have to watch a relatively simple screen for a couple of minute which can be boring. This is an example of how new and old films contrast, and how they have improved over a period of years.
With the background being black portrays mystery, and the text in white gives the idea of innocence. The grey lines that continuously cross over the screen, revealing sections of the word within a credit. These lines suggest hidden identity and the feeling of being trapped. This is conventional as it gives a basic outline to what codes and conventions will included which suits the thriller genre, it gives an insight to what roles characters play.
This scene only includes non-diegetic sound, but what a very well chosen track it is. It is an extremely upbeat, suspense building track that plays throughout, that possibly could relate to a murder scene within the film. This in conventional as all the colouring, sound and the way it is presented, all compliment each other in portraying certain scenes that the film includes. All aspects continually build suspense for the audience as they become anxious of what is to come.
As a group, we decided that the credits in 'Se7en' were better, as we felt that there was more action in the background to feed off of, in order to get an idea of the film before it begins. It has the effect of building a greater suspense and understanding for an audience, and this is what we are going to try and aim towards when creating the credits within our thriller opening scene. I found Se7en inspirational as the colours, style of credits, sound and the generic conventions all mix and compliment each other, therefore ticking all the correct boxes in making a good opening scene.
In discussion with my group we have come to a conclusion of the type of credits that we would like to include in our opening scene:
Size: Title- Large Characters- Medium Crew- Small/medium
Colours: Background- Black Text- White A very sterotypical choice of colours which i feel is conventional, to portray the contrast between the mystery from the villain and the innocence of the victim.
Order in which they appear: 1st- Title 2nd- Characters 3rd- Crew I felt this in my view came under the order of importance for when an audience is watching, with the main focus of what film it is and who's in it.
Style of font: At a slanted angle, slightly jagged with a mixture of bold and normal lettering. Our reasoning behind our choice is to try and portray to our target audience instability of characters. It also connects with our generic conventions that we have included within our opening scene.
