Analysing Existing Products

Monday, 6 December 2010

Analysing Existing Products

To get a better prospective of how psychological thriller movies open to the audience we have analysed various different films so that we personally can incorporate the knowledge onto our own production.

The first film we have analysed is Seven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEZK7mJoPLY

• The first thing you notice is the use of darkness adding a sense of mystery to the scene. This links in with the theme as it makes the viewer fearful of the unknown.
• The use of the font also relates to theme as it is in a scratchy, handwritten theme which makes you think that it was rushed.
• With the way the character's face is not being shown it adds enigma as the audience want to know this mystery character is.
• There is use of sinister music which adds to the theme of Horror/Thriller

The second film we analysed was A Nightmare on Elm Street:http: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwAUJ6VdUt8

• The opening quote of the film adds the theme of horror to audience with the word "nightmare" in the title.
• The use of the text colour being red on the black background could be considered a foreshadowing of future events in the film e.g. the victims being killed & red symbolising blood.
• The "slash" just before the audience is introduced to the title gives you hunt about how the victims are going to be killed.
• Like in "Seven" you are unable to see the killer's face. only his hands and blood stained children photo's further adding a sense of mystery and enigma.

The final film we analysed was Jeepers Creepers: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8poXjG1Yd4

• The opening sequence is pretty basic, using simple black background with white scratchy text. Every few seconds the scene will change to run down home, most of the poseesion on the outside are broken down and have a large amount of cobwebs over them. At the end of the sequence to a character but see his details becuase he is blacked and closing a door finishing it off with the title "Jeepers Creepers"

Sunday, 5 December 2010

Treatment for film

Our film production "Untitled" is about how brutality and emotion can cause the destabilisation of the human mind. The "protagonist" of the film Billy has had an unfortunate life, he has been diagnosed with different symptoms and ailments that stop him from living the life of a regular teenager. He is forced to go to school where he is bullied everyday and the situation is so bad he can't go to his teachers for help. His parents resent him because of his problems and they tell him everyday that it's his fault, that he's not the perfect son. This trauma of rejection from his family and peers has caused Billy to create a split personality known as "Jack" The the personalities talk to each other all the time with Billy representing weakness and fear and "Jack" representing passion, anger and hate. Billy slowly starts to lose control over his stronger side with battle of dominance over the body ending in "Jack's" favour. "Jack" who is now in control decides to go on a killing spree harming those who did "him (Billy)" wrong his so called justice. Billy must now fight an internal struggle to gain control over his body before unsolved murders reach a new height.

Pre-Prodction Idea Board

Idea/Mood Board

• Psychological Thriller: Killer goes on the loose to try and kill past bullies.
• Action: Guys girlfriend gets caught in a drive by and guy wants revenge by wiping out the enitre mafia/mob/criminal community.
• Comedy: Two guys goe on holiday to try get laid with their girlfriends but accidently book into a famliy camping site instead of a nudist one.
• Horror: Crazed man wants horrificly put civilians through gory challenges through blackmail with the prize being they get to keep their body.
• Romance: Guy has a childhood friend who has always been in love with but finds out she is getting married to his best friend. Now he must cope with the heartbreak while trying to get his dream girl.

We as a group have decided to choose the psychological thriller becuase we believe that it will make the best opening sequence as it will allow us to expand our ideas on it and it wont have a set path meaning we change the tory if neccesary.

Pre-Production

Film Pre-Production:

Media – title opening

Group: Laurence, Nathan, Robert, Chris  

Idea:

·        Starts off with one random name written on a wall.

·        Camera zooms out and more and more names appear on the wall

·        Zooms out more and setting is a simple room with only a bed, desk, window and man sitting on bed, silhouetted out.

·        Same names flash in red, scene skips/flashbacks to dead bodies

·        Most names flash in red.

·        Five names flash in white and scene skips to group of people outside all laughing outside.

·        Zooms in on mans hand blacked out and seeing him turning a jack in the box handle

·        The sound of rain and thunder is heard.

·        Light flashes into the room and names disappear form wall and credits appear with each flash

·        E.g. (director- Robert Kerr-Williams, editing- Laurence Howe etc)

·        Music stops playing and blacked out man stand up and puts box in the desk.

·        Scene skips to group seen before, blacked out man getting closer and closer to the group.

·        Screen fades to black and film title appears.

·        Name fades away and box appears and the jack in the box springs up.

Cast needed:

Blacked out man: Nathan Larkin

Alive group: Robert Kerr-Williams, Chris Szirányi, Laurence Howe.

Dead group: around 8 extras. (no faces needing to be shown).

Sound: Robert Kerr-Williams 

Camera: Chris Szirányi and Nathan Larkin

Editing: Laurence howe

Main acting: Nathan Larkin

Max time: 2 minutes