G321 Film Opening Analysis

Horror: Low level 4
No titles
Not very clear storyline
Hand held camera effective for Horrors
Good use of Music
Good Location

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Horror level 4
Good storyline
Excellence used of Titles and Location
Excellent Camera  Work in General




Romance:Level 3
Good Creative storyline
Camerawork was good
No Titles
Good Location

End of module 2 review

Location Shots

 Location Shots

 The Photographs above, is the typical setting for a Thriller film. The Top Left is South Bank Bridge, which is in the heart of the City and perfect environment for a Thriller. The Top Right is of the MI5 building, which could relate to a political/ Espionage based film.

Below are a couple of Locations that could be a possible location or setting to film my opening Thriller scene. As you can see the shots are either a dark setting with a very much urban appeal to it, a Typical scene  for a Crime Thriller. Also there are shots that could be use for follow the character for my opening scene.

Indivual: Idea Presentation

The Plot
It was a hard decision choosing the right Sub-genres for my opening scene. However considering the fact that we don't had a huge budget. So in the end i chose a Crime Thriller, and the Scene that i'am going to use is Planning a Robbery. Its simple because you can restricted to the one room, however you can go outside to change the scene. The scene starts of in a dark box room. With coffee cup and empty rubbish, on one wall, it is filled to the brim with maps, routes , photographs of banks and strangely and man right in the center. The Veteran is standing in front of it with a cup of coffee. After that the character exchange some dialogue including some hints and pointers of what is going to happen the next day, then the Veteran reveals that its only about robbery a bank that its also about revenge. The second scene is of the Veteran standing in front of a big tall building, and the scene ends with him walking in.

Characters
There are two main character, with no names i would describe by the amount of experience they had in the business, one a Rookie and the other a Veteran. The Rookie, is a naive and impulsive character. Feeds on the fact that he thinks that he is made for the business.
The Veteran is clever. Wearing a plain suit he looks like he keeps himself to himself. Throughout both scenes, the Veteran face is not meant to be fully shown.
Of cause you will have the Natural Extras in the clips due to daytime London.

The Collage 

Inspiration: Films/Directors

Homeland is a Drama/Thriller TV series. The reason for is being my main inspiration is the main character Carrie, who plays a obsessive role with Sgt Brody. She has the same room with the rubbish and most importantly the wall that includes maps, photographs, newspaper articles etc.

Directed by: Quentin Tarantino

Directed by: David Fincher

Falling Down Foley: Tom, Nicole Calum and Molly

This is are Falling Down Foley re-make. We got given a clip with many different types sound. We had to draw up a Timeline, and record the sounds coming and going out, the section that we recorded from was 30-2.30 Seconds. Below are pictures of the Timeline we created. After we got all of the sounds we, used Garage Band and downloaded the sounds we needed of Sound Bible, and we put them back into place. This help my skills using Garage Band increase dramatically and know what type of sound we include for are Thriller opening scene.

Thriller Spoiler Review: Limitless

Limitless

The opening scene of Limitless is of the main character Eddie Morra of the edge the balcony of his expensive penthouse. With Russian thugs lead by the less intellectual Gennady, are trying to knock down his door, the Enigma Code question is how he got there? and What is he going to do?
Eddie Morra is the main character who is a unemployed writer, which definitely seems more talk than action. After many failures, Eddie girlfriend breaks up and she is succeeding in the Editing business. As he is walking down the busy and fast pace city of New York, Eddie bumps into to his ex-brother in law after they go for a drink, Vernon offers him a drug that goes by the name NZT-48. This new drug lets you access and use 100% of your brain capacity. Eddie takes the drug but feels nothing, by the time he gets to his flat the drug starts to kick in. Just in time for when his Landlady bombards him with questions about rent. The drug allow Eddie too see with clarity and confidence which allows him to have a degree in law and gets him straight into the Landlady bed. As he gets home he detects mess and cleans it up, writes the book in a night, in a matter of hours the publisher loves it after 40 pages.
The day after the drug wears off a Eddie is left clueless and is in a situation were he has discovered something that might change his life. He visits Vernon for more, but realized he has no money. As Vernon sends him on some errands, but Eddie comes back to Vernon killed. Eddie calls the police and  hunts for the drugs, he finds the stash, and is interview shortly but is released. After he takes the pill, Eddie becomes a new person by getting and new suits and going to clubs and parties a making new friends. Soon after these last couple of days he realizes he needs to do more with his brain. The Stock Market. By upping his in take to two pills a day Eddie finds a glitch and cracks the the Market using Mathematics and algorithms. This gets him recognize by Karl Van Loon and owner of business that invests in Energy. As Eddie is getting settled in he starting to get headaches, days passing in minutes not knowing what he has done. He meets his old wife, and she used to take NZT-48 but managed to get off the stuff, however the side effect was that it left her dumber with a lower IQ and couldn't concentrate for more than ten minutes. After taking less and less of the drug, Eddie got better on the way but he had some close misses.


As Eddie got back on his feet, he invested in a lab to making more of the drugs in six months for two million. Eddie got paranoid starting investing in bodyguards, millions on a impregnable penthouse. The Russian thug Gennady took one of Eddie's NZT-48 tablets, has he realize the rush and the clarity of things, Gennady wanted more. But Eddie couldn't supply himself and Gennady. Also after getting he tablets stolen from his jacket Eddie was getting needy!
As it comes back to the opening of Eddie on the edge of balcony, he remembers that he left on tablet in the pot. As Gennady and his thugs are slowly opening the reinforced door, Eddie was rushing too find the tablet and drops it into the drain. As Gennady has him sitting on the chair defenseless and injects the dissolved NZT-48 into his bloodstream, Eddie is waiting with a knife behind his back. Eddie stabs Gennady in the stomach, and as they are both laying on the floor, one dead and the other near it. Eddie takes one last gamble and drinks Gennady blood full of the NZT-48. As a miracle it works, and Eddie manages to kill the other to thugs then it blacks-out.
12 Months Later...
Eddie Morra is a successful Senator running for President. He finds the bugs in the NZT-48, and takes it out so the drugs didn't have the side effects. Eddie Morra beats death.

Limitless i think is a lot of sub genres, it include Psychological how Eddie sees through the drug and what affect it has on him. But also its a Crime Thriller, including murder and Crime which the main character is both involve in. The location is in New York, a fast moving City. Its Restricted and Non-Linear we only know what Eddie Morra does, which helps keep full of suspense and tension, and there is no clear story structure it starts in a flashback.

My opinion of the film was that is was brilliant. It makes you really think about what it be like if you took the NZT-48, it keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. Its probably one of my best films!
Rating 4.9/5 Stars

Match on Action

                                                   
This is my Match on Action. Sir gave us a couple of clips of the same scene, we had to put the clips together to make them all look like one movement. We created the video on final cut pro, this will prepare us for are Preliminary Task, and are Thriller Scene at the end of the coursework.

Re-Make of Se7en Edit

This Is a re-make of the seven edit. Are teacher gave us a set of pictures and videos that could relate to a Thriller film. We use film cut pro to put the pictures together and add text in a suitable order to make a Thriller story.
We got a better understanding of a Thriller through this by looking at different still images and seeing how it could have Thriller story behind it. Also we learnt about title sequence and how some actors in their contract have a deal that if they are in a film they need their own slate in the title sequence.

180 Degree Rule- Prezi

180 Degree Rule- Prezi

This is a presentation that we created on Prezi. This will help are understanding on the 180 Degree Rule. This ill help us prepare for the Preliminary Task.

Opening Scene: Analysis

Usual Suspects

Sub-genre: Terrorism/Crime
Location: Oil ship
Scene: Murder
Character: Murderer/Hit man/ Terrorist
Enigma Code: Who is this character?
Non-linear
Restricted

  
 Memento

Sub genre: Pyschological/ crime
Location: Dark Room
Character: Murderer/ Psychological unstable
scene: Murder scene/Flashback
Enigma Code: Why is he taking Photos?
Non-linear
restricted




The Machinist
Sub genre: Crime/ Murder
Location: Rokey Beach
Scene: Murder/ hiding the body
Character: Murderer
Non-linear
Restricted
Enimga Code: Who was the Victim?






Vertigo
Sub genre- Crime
Setting:rooftops
Scene: Chase scene
Character: Dective
non-linear
restricted
Enigma Code: Why were they chasing him?

Fight Club: Spoiler Review

Fight club

Fight club makes sense at the start. Edward Norton plays a unnamed protagonist, an everyman , who is also discontented from his white-collar job. He suffers from Insomnia has trouble sleeping, he feeds the crave by buying expensive furniture and goes to cancer and other horrible diseases meetings.  He meet a unusual man called Tyler Durden played by Brad Pitt, who sells soap for a living. The main character who we will call the the Narrator, goes back to his well organized and well bought apartment, which suddenly blows up as he arrives back from his business trip. The Narrator meets up with Tyler for a drink, after they get drunk they start having a fight, tyler tells the Narrator to hit him, they both find that they have a uncontrollable crave for violence, Fight Club is born. The Club gets bigger and bigger, when it finally reaches to a point where it's members, including Tyler and the Narrator, can perform destructive acts of sabotage and mayhem. After The Narrator becomes weak after a car crash, Tyler informs him that his dream is to have mankind start all over again, from point zero.

When the Narrator wakes up, Tyler is gone, and only a pack of flight tickets with his name on have a clue on his current location. The Narrator goes through America, hoping to find Tyler, but it seems that everybody's confusing between the Narrator and Tyler Durden. While in his Motel, The Narrator call Tyler's girlfriend, Marla Singer but she hangs up on him, saying that he, and not Tyler, left her. When the Narrator hangs up the phone, he looks around and sees Tyler sitting in front of him. Why does everybody confuse between us? he asks him, to which Tyler response: "Why do you think anybody would confuse between us both?". The Narrator freezes - he suddenly realizes the horrific Truth. Tyler Durden and him are actually the same Person. 

Tyler is a split personality of the Narrator. When realizing that, Tyler informs him of his plan: to blow up all the credit card buildings, and by that having the mankind to start all over again. The Narrator is determined to stop it. He informs Marla to leave before bursting into one of the buildings and disarming the bomb in its bottom. Tyler is disappointed. He fights the Narrator , pulls out a gun and carries him to the top of the building, from which he can see the Mayhem. However, since they are the same person, The Narrator realizes that the gun is in his hand. In order to destroy Tyler, he shoots himself in the Jaw Tyler disappears, but mergers with the Narrator. Marla and the Narrator stand and watch the destructive power of the crazy anarchist Tyler Durden has created.

This is a Thriller because the audience is restricted, we only know what the Narrator knows that Tyler is a crazy man. Also the Setting is in a unknown city, its dark and corrupt with Tyler Durden and project Mayhem pointing it back to the stone age. Also the Narrator suffers from insomnia has troubling sleeping, has special an also weird craving to fulfill his need. My opinion of the film is that it is a successful Thriller, and it definitely keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

Rating: 4.8/5

End of Module Report: Self Evaluation

My Level: 12/20
My Grade: C3

Improvement:

• Need to Annotate, and polish the posts up in terms of presentation and detail.
• Complete and upload finish Tasks: 
• 2: Napoleon Dynamite
• 6: Timeline Map
• 7: Se7en Remake
• 8: 2 more spoiler reviews (9 frames and trailer embedded)
• 9: Dexter Remake
• More pictures and embedded videos.

Evaluating

Steadiness/Level
Quality of image
Correct Framing/Angle
Sequence Creates Suspense/Paranoia (makes no sense)

Group 1-Shot 1- Haven't re winded the tape.
                          -The shot is white Balance.
                         - Not level wonky
              Shot 2- Not level
                          -Good Focus
              Shot 5- Focus is poor
                          -Exposure, should be used.
                         - Good is used, over the shoulder shot.
            Shot 7- Good picture.
                       -Exposure needs to dimmed.
                         -Focus is reasonable.
            Shot 2- angle is incorrect
                        -white balance
                        -good acting
                         -Bad framing.
             Need to be re-winded, get the frames right, also need to shoot in order.

Group 2- Shot 1-Nice Framing, too dark.
                         -Medium long shot, good.
                         - Exposure, and white balance is nice.
                Shot 2- Leveled shot.
                          - white balance needed to better.

What is a Thriller Re-Cap Quiz

21-28 Impressive. You are thinking around elements we have discussed in class and have clearly been studying around the topic and applying your knowledge rather than just remembering. I'm expecting a good Thriller from you.

Now comment on your blog:  

Self evaluation  

How many did you get?

-I got 27/28

Are you meeting the expectations of an A Level student by taking responsibility for your achievement/grades?

-Yes i think i am, I'm keeping with the school and homework, but i still think there is a lot more room for improvement is terms of organisation.

 

How much do you know - how effective has your note-taking in class? 

What was the activity that stood out that helped you remember (watching student work, making the se7en edit, studying own film examples, or the mind map)? 

-Overall everything has contributed to my knowledge of thriller films. So all the note taking and mind map gives me a background information, which are shown in examples in Thriller films, and it gives me a clear view of what is a Thriller. shooting helps me get a feel for a Thriller. 

How effective has your 3 hrs Independent Learning (H/W) been?

-I think the homework has been very effective in terms of studying what is thriller. especially watching a thriller, gives you more of a interest in Thrillers 

 How will you improve?

-Organization of my Homework and getting it done soon as possible.

Analysis of a Thriller-Butterfly Effect

Butterfly Effect

The butterfly effect is a psychological thriller. The film is classed a thriller because is keeps the audience on the edge of their seats and creates mystery throughout.

The film starts of with a innocent kid called Evan, that suffers from usual blackouts. The blackouts creates mystery as the audience does not see what happens during it, they only see after it happens. Evan goes a sees a mental doctor, the doctor tells him to keeps a journal so that later on he can try and recall what happened. As more blackouts happen, it lets the audience piece together what thought happened. the first blackout is of Evan and Kayleigh in a basement with Kayleighs abusive father. The second blackout is of a teenage Evan pulling a prank with his friends Kayleigh, Tommy and Lenny. The prank starts off with putting a explosive piece of dynamite, in a letter box. Then it blackouts. The third blackout is set in the local cinema, with Tommy, Kayleigh and Evan. As the teenage couple Evan and Kayleigh, have their first kiss, which is romantic as any teenage first kiss. Tommy interrupted and saw his best friend, kissing his sister and goes into a frenzy, beating up the guy next to him. By this time you can see Tommy turning into a abusive and physical character. As the blackouts continue into his later stage in his life, he works out a way to relive his past blackouts. The audience starts to get a view of what actually happened during the blackouts, and sees how Evan tries to change them. However changing the blackouts creates  a different that he comes back to. Every time he comes back after a blackout something else changes for the worse. By the end of the film Evans blackout keeping on changing the future and always one of his friends and family are in the worse. Evan finally finds out that he has too never meet Kayleigh in the first place, so that none of the specific actions takes place.


I think the Butterfly Effect falls under the genre Thriller because of things like characters and the mood of the film, also what doesn't it make it a Thriller for example setting and costumes. The Butterfly Effect is a Thriller because of the Character, the main character is Evan, someone who is mentally unstable and has no control over his life until he figures it out. Also the fact that you don't truly know the character as image and personality changes throughout the film. The Mood of the film is tense and has a Enigma Code, which is "what happens during Evan blackout?". The film is Restricted, we only know what the character knows which creates tension because, we came only imagine what actually happens.
The Setting of the film lets it down a bit because i think if the film was naturally a lot darker it would create mystery and suspension. 


 I think that the butterfly effect is a great and suspense filled Thriller because in the eyes of the audience, you are Restricted , when he relives the blackout. Thats why is is a great psychological Thriller. My rating for The Butterfly Effect as a Thriller would be 3.5/5

Genre Iconography Moodboard

Above you can see my Genre Iconography Mood board, this is was i think sums up was a Thriller film is. The mood board includes things like characters, sub-genres, setting, props and typical scenes that they have in a Thriller film. For example Batman, character that we see as a hero but alot of this deeds involve killing and breaking the law. Another example is the alley way, this setting could involve scenes like a kidnapping, phone call and maybe a chase scene.

Overall i think i have used images that show that i understand what a Thriller is, and what types of things are use to make a thriller.
Below is a collage of film poster that i think come under the genre Thriller. Their a some good examples like Usual Suspects, Memento which are Crime Thrillers. There are some Psychological ones like Inception and Shutter Island.

What is a Thriller: Mind Map

This is a mind map i have produce on the online software of bubbl.us. It contains information on what is a Thriller. It includes Mood and Atmosphere  Typical Scenes and Characters.

By creating this i have backed up my background information on What is a Thriller. And how every aspect is link together to create the overall Thriller.

title sequence