Evaluation

My Final Piece!

Preliminary Task Footage

By following our story boards, we were successful in demonstrating the skills specified in the task, such as match on action, the 180 degree rule, and shot reverse shot.

Storyboards for Preliminary Task

Story boarding our preliminary exercise allowed us to plan each shot, ensuring that we included the specified skills that we were required to demonstrate with the finished product.

Preliminary Task

Titles

When adding titles to my opening sequence, I researched current thriller films, such as 'The Others':

I liked the subtlety of this title, and aimed to achieve something similar with my own titles:

Differing to the titles from 'The Others' my titles are not on a completely plain background, but I chose to put them towards the bottom of the screen as this is clear road making the words more clear. I used a font called 'papyrus' and added a 'glow' filter, I feel that this filter incorporates the titles into the visuals as it makes the edges softer and therefore less harsh. The 'glow' filter also suggests the surreal side to the sequence.

Analysis of Focus Group

Considering the answers of my focus group I feel that I have successfully used forms and conventions of the Thriller genre as every member of my focus group classified the sequence as a THRILLER, as well as mentioning horror, as there are elements similar between the two, yet it is the psychological impact of my sequence that defines it as a PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER.

All members of the focus group also stated that encouraged by the sequence, they would want to watch the whole film. The red herring, a common convention of thrillers, raised questions and encouraged viewers to want to know more, the cliff hangers were also identified as an aspect that would encourage them to watch on.

As I had predicted, my focus group identified the same audience that I had identified to be the target for my opening sequence. Many said an older audience due to the narrative, this is similar to my suggestion of 16+ due to the complexities plot twists, and psychological impact.

Focus Group

In order to identify aspects that I could develop and improve on, and discover whether I had been successful in using forms and conventions of the Thriller genre, I held a focus group with people aged 16+, as this is the audience that I identified would be the target for my media product.

Editing

During the editing of my sequence, I felt that the feeling of another presence was not strongly enough suggested through the nursery rhyme music and flash visuals of clowns alone, and I therefore experimented with video filters and added a filter, 'viewfinder'. This made the feeling of voyeurism, and being watched much more apparent and I feel that this gives almost a chilling feeling to the viewer as it confirms suggestions and hints made previously in the sequence, and therefore brings together the narrative.

This suggestion of another presence and the disappearance of William, emphasises the feeling of danger in the sequence, and it is this danger that leads to the 'thrills', according to CHARLES DERRY.

Music in my Sequence

Music was a very important aspect of my opening sequence, as I intended to use the music to create an unknown presence within the film, connected to the images of clown toys. I therefore researched into various nursery rhymes on youtube. I found that most of the music I had access too was not suitable and I therefore decided to record the music from the Jack in the box that I used in my opening sequence:

I felt that this had more of an authentic feel as the nursery rhymes on youtube and itunes were more polyphonic and often had lyrics. I was also able to manipulate this music on final cut pro, and did so by adding audio filters such as 'echo' and changing the speed to slow the music down at the end in order to ensure the relationship between the sound and the visuals continued, by slowing the music down the sound corresponded with the 'strobe' effect that I used in the visuals of the clown at the end of the sequence.

For a consistant background sound to the sequence, in order to create an atmosphere of mystery and un-ease, I researched into possible sound effects on itunes. I purchased 'haunting drone sound' as I felt that this sound was subtle, yet created my desired effect. I added this sound effect to the full length of the sequence and diagetic sound therefore plays in correspondance with this, and when I added the nursery rhyme music, it was again in correspondance with this. This ensures the consistency of the atmosphere.

Conventions of Thrillers include:

-High levels of anticipation.
-Adrenaline rushes.
-Ultra heightened expectation.
-Anxiety.
-Terror.


I feel that the juxtaposing nursery rhymes with the theme of the sequence adds to the anxiety, adrenaline rushes and terror as it encourages a feeling of unease. The consistant 'haunting drone sound' also encourages the anxiety and terror as it sets an eerie theme throughout, emphasised by the visuals and nursery rhymes.

Title for the film

When considering the title for my sequence/film, I need to consider the importance of the impact that a title makes on the consumer. The title is the 'first impression', I need to ensure I do not give too much of the plot away, whilst still creating an intriguing title that will encourage the consumers to watch the film. As a common convention of Thriller's is the red herring, I feel that 'I'm Coming to Find You' would be an appropriate title for my film, as this is a reference from my opening sequence and is therefore relevant, and it would lead the consumer to believe that the film is focused on the game of hide and seek, yet could it be someone else, 'coming to find' them? The title is therefore a red herring encouraging the plot twists and adding to the suspense.

Analysis of my opening sequence so far...