Title Sequence Timeline

From doing this task I have learnt about the different roles within the film industry and the importance of the order they are put in. For example in my video the director came last, because they have more importance and they should be left till last. The music fits in with the action that is happening in the background when the tempo speeds up the cuts are more quicker. The music that they have chosen fits in well wih the genre of the music which is thriller, the music sounds dramatic and eventful just like the opening sequnence.

Independent Film Distribution

What is an Independent Film Distributor?

A independent film distributor is normally completed outside major film studios such as Paramount and 20th century fox, the movie produced are normally of a lower budget compared to a high end movie. Also the technology and quality of the end product is different to something distributed by Paramount. There's also a limit on the release, so only a few theatres will show this movie for a shorter period.

Difference?
The main difference is that they are completed outside of major film studios- so they wouldn't be as popular, also they are lower budget movies as they are not forecasted to make a big profit compared to other film distributors. They are recognised at film festivals to present there film before release this something major film studios don't do. Major film distributors distribute their movies internationally, where as independent film distributors only distribute their movie sometime nationally and only in limited theatres.

Vertigo

 

Is a UK based film and distribution company that was founded in 2002 by Allan Niblo and James Richardson. Their mission is to create and distribute commercially driven movies. They distributed the box office smash hit Street dance 3D. Also created and distributed Spring breakers which James Franco starred in as a main actor. They have produced 25 films and distributed a further 35 films. Tom Hardy, Rupert Wyatt and Ben Gregor are some of the rising new talent from Vertigo Films.
 
Entertainment One

Entertainment One distributes films in the UK, Canada, USA, Spain, New Zealand and Australia. They are the leading independent Film Distributors around at the moment as they distribute internationally. They have distributed many movies through DVD and downloading, also home entertainment tv programmes. The main movie distributed by they is 'Twilight' and another more recent one is 'How I Live Now'

Film Distribution

Film distribution from Monika-Solanki

Who watches thrillers?

Who watches thrillers from Monika-Solanki

Audience Research

Research
Idea 1- Both Mr and Mrs Smith passed away in a unfortunate car accident, with only their daughter Emma Smith surviving. Full of guilt, the orphan child looks for revenge on the ones who care for her, but what has changed?
Research: Sound to familiar (similar to the movie Orphan), not very unique and doesn't sound very thriller like as its so similar to a previous movie. It does fit in with the sub genre because it sounds as if she's possessed by some sort of demon. They wouldn't watch this movie as its familiar to the movie orphan and it doesn't live up to that movie.

Idea 2- Two best friends host a sleepover, Anna and Sam are having one of their regular sleepovers when suddenly the night takes a turn for the worst. They are trapped in Sam's room, at 12pm the supernatural events unfold. Who else attended the sleepover.
Research:  Sounds unusual and isn't similar to any other movies out there at the moment. A good idea because of the fact that all the supernatural events happen at 12, when most people know as a scary time, so they can relate to it. They would watch it because it definitely has a thrill factor as everything happens in one room.

Idea 3- Late at night at school after filming there coursework, two friends Jack and Kate need amusing, so they turn to dares. As a joke Jack chants 'Bloody Mary' three times- nothing happens. Until they are alone. They soon enough regret there actions as it takes a toll on their loved ones.
Research: Its really different in a good way, because there hasn't been this type of movie released in the recent years. Its unique because it uses a superstition that most people believe in and bring it to life, also most supernatural movies target the individuals only, but this idea also targets the victims families and friends. They would definitely watch this movie as it would be a ideal supernatural thriller to watch.

Own Ideas (Mind Map)

My Idea
Looking at different thriller opening scenes has influenced my idea about how my opening thriller sequence should look. There are many different types of openings such as instant action, Flash back and reverse order. For my opening sequence I want something simple, maybe reverse order.

• First shot would be a teenage kid (preferably a girl- vulnerable and innocent) in an isolated location with no escape.
• Lighting would be dark and only a little bit of light focusing on the villain
• The villain would be someone who has server OCD and always has the need for everything to be perfect and in the perfect position.
• Maybe the villain could be at a desk in dark clothing with specific intentions (Narrating the story)
• I would want up beat music from the very beginning all building up to something. Shorter shots and quicker cuts, lights flashing and to finish with a big ending to finish the opening scene.
• Music should be loud and up beat. signifying the opening to a thriller movie. Also, it should get louder gradually and be building up to something.
• Right at the end the whole scene will be blanked out, exactly how a TV screen blanks out and it will jump to the caption '1 Month Earlier'.
• There would be complete silence throughout the video from the victim, but the villain will be narating what he is going to do.

Analysis of thriller opening (Final Destination 5)

Final Destination 5 is a horror thriller movie and always leaves the audience questioning what will happen next. The opening 4/5 minutes shows a lot and what we have in store for us.

There are many close ups used in the opening sequence as this is a horror so as a audience we will want to know how the characters react to the events in the movie. In this case the boy who has the vision is left distraught at the end and wondering whether its true. So as the audience we also question whether its true. There's a good use a quick pan of the characters when they are trying to run away from the danger, we can clearly see where they are running and there isn't a lot of space behind them. The frame was set well when the girl was trying to cross the bridge as it was a birds eye view we could see the consequences of falling and we could see her destination. A wider shot has been used in this opening scene to emphasize the chaos going on the bridge and has a more dramatic feeling to the scene.

There's been a good use of sound effects used from the very beginning, we can hear the builders working, then it leads to the cracks in the bridge, and slowly we can hear and see everything fall a part which causes the gap in the bridge. We can also hear the cars screeching and crashing which indicates a accident and danger. As the audience we are horrified to hear the screaming, it indicates danger. We can hear all sorts of sound effects, when they are running quick and breathing quick, when the glass smashes of the coach, we see it as a big impact. We are left in silence when there was a crucial moment, when the girl was trying to cross the bridge, it was silent because we didn't know whether she would cross safely, we left in suspense, all these sound affects are a good use of non-diegetic sound, also the mood of the background music which is non-diegetic as helps set the scene and create a mood and atmosphere within the audience. We also hear diegetic sound which comes from the characters voice, it helps tell the story and create more emotion- when we hear the screams we sense fear.

A good visual effect that has been used is the blood that we see, knowing that the events scene aren't shot as the same we see. The extreme use of blood makes the audience horrified and left wondering what might be next as it happens so early on in the movie. Most of the filming of this opening scene is probably CGI (computer generated imaging) because the scene we watch would be impossible to create as we cant actually physically break a bridge and cause this much commotion in real life. It also helps create a horrific scene, something the viewers may find disturbing but will still want to continue watching as they are intrigued by the effects used.

The scene is set on the bridge, which can be a dangerous as its so high up, so we get a sense of fear. Most parts in the opening scene we are always left in suspense not knowing what will happen next but also the atmosphere is fearful and danger, fearing for the characters. The clothing the characters are wearing make them look like normal, everyday kids you see going on a school trip, they all seem innocent- which is the main objective of a thriller, its something we will never understand. The villain going after innocent people without a meaning, and this idea about thrillers is presented well in Final Destination 5.

There are many good usage of cut away shots, for example when the characters are looking at something bad, we are cut away to see what they are seeing. Looking at the opening scene I would assume that majority of the filming has been done over a green screen and most of the effects have been edited. For example when she falls on the pole and it comes through and their blood gushing out everywhere- it would be definitely impossible to create in real life with editing in effects. Each shot has been correctly selected and been put a correct order so that it leaves us anticipating for more and as each shot leads to the next event.

Analysis of thriller opening (The Dark Knight Rises)

The opening of The Dark Knight Rises uses many technical effects to make the audience intrigued. Camera shots and angels, sound, effects, mise en scene and sound effects have been considered when making the clip.

As its the opening scene of the movie, the shots used aren't extreme close ups, because as a viewer it wouldn't be what we assume the character sees. The very first shot is a establishing shot of who is in the car, to us it looks like a military high security vehicle. It then jumps to a shot of the man who's waiting for them, the shot is a low angle and he shows the audience he has power, also the way the frame has been set up- the way he is stood gives us the impression he is important. Also there's a birds eye view of the plane, which shows us how high the plane is. They show this to us so we know how dangerous it could be- especially when they open the door. The characters are positioned in such a way in the frame that they never make eye contact with the camera, even if there's a close up they will look natural and in direct contact with the camera. The filming of each frame was done well, because it kept the identity of the men under the black masks a secret, and as a audience w didn't expect the main villain to be under one of the mask, we were left questioning the masked men.

The music from the very beginning sounds like its increasing in intensity which leaves us in suspense. The tempo also increases implying that its all leading up to something big. The music is important to give the thrill and excitement, without the music it would just be shots without meaning. The personality of the music also indicates what kind of movie it is, and from listening to the opening scene it leaves the audience with the idea that the movie is going to be action packed and suspenseful. There also sound effects such as the gun shot, which makes us jump because its so loud and implies someone may die or someone is in great danger. There is some sort of ambient sound used, when the door of the plane opens you can hear the wind blowing violently. All these sound effects are non diegetic, they are all added to impact the audience, for example when they used the explosion sound when the top of the plane blew off, it makes the audience jump and makes use belive that it is action related.

When looking at the opening scene, we come across many military like weapons which could mean its action linked but could also mean there may be a murder in the movie, but also the military like outfits signifies actions. Also the prop the main character 'Bane' is wearing is interesting because its not something that characters wear, as its looks like a mask, he may be seen as the villain as he is hiding his full identity and also he is only know as just 'Bane'. The scene is set during the day, so there is natural light and is quite bright, but the characters are mainly dressed in dull colours, this could signify danger. The set is the plane which is flying around, this signifies danger as they are a great distance from ground, and later they open the door to the plane.

When looking at the effects used in the opening scene I can tell that they possibly could have used CGI (computer generated imaging) when shooting the pane scene, as this can be very dangerous if actually filmed on a plane. Majority of action movies use this type of effect as some of there scenes are very dangerous to be done in real life. Stunt men were most likely to be used when filming what happened outside of the plane- when the plane was hijacked also because actors aren't trained to perform moves as seen.

There are many cut away shots used, this engages the audience with the scene as it shows what the characters are looking at and what they are doing. The shots all move fluently and link with each other. We see most of the characters speaking there lines, so we don't get confused. Each character is always on the same side of screen so we as the audience don't get confused. The tempo of the cuts aren't too quick in the sense that we miss dialog, everything is at the same tempo, but eventually speeds up- when 'Bane' is lifted from the plane. It was quick because it looked realistic like that.

What is a Thriller?

What is a thriller from Monika-Solanki

Prelim Task Evaluation

Media prelim evaluation (4) from Monika-Solanki

My Prelim Task