Research: Thriller Genre (Tony Egan)

  The shower scene of 'Psycho' (Hitchcock, 1960) is one of the most iconic scenes in the Thriller Genre, Movie business. The film being produced in 1960, is the reasoning behind the black and white colour of the film.
  The film opens with an image of the lady, writing innocently in a notepad. The image accompanied by soft and happy sounding music. Then only a minute later, with the arrival of 'the psycho' while the women is in the shower - the music changes and the new music playing is very frantic and loud, perhaps mirroring the actions of the psycho.
 During the stabbing of the innocent women, by the psycho - the scene see's numerous jump cuts of angles on the women. This is a successful filmaking technique for a thriller genre as it really captivates the violence of a scene.

An image from the shower scene - 'Psycho'

Similarly to thr non-digetic sounds edited into the film, 'Psycho' - is the music edited into the opening title sequence 'The Sixth Sense' (Shyamalan, 1999). While the director has opted for a very dark contrast to the opening sequence - The music remains similar to that of 'Psycho' - frantic with the use of orchestrated instruments, capturing the spontaneity and tension of a thriller.

The film 'Taken' (Morel, 2008) also uses similar music in the 'Goodluck scene' - captivating the nature of orchestrated instruments. The scene also uses a very dark contrast to the scene. The film also rids of the rule of thirds, this creates a loss of structure to the camera work of the film.

The Art of The Title - Opening Scene Analysis - Napoleon Dynamite - Shane Farrell

The Art of The Title - Opening Scene Analysis - Napoleon Dynamite

For this task we had to go onto a website called Art of The Title, choose a opening scene from their vast selection and create a credit timeline. I chose Napoleon Dynamite.

The art of the title - Scott Pilgrim vs the World (Edgar Wright, 2010)

This is my timeline of the opening of "Scott Pilgrim vs the world (Edgar Wright)". On this timeline you can see exactly what the audience reads and what they hear. The top horizontal line is everything that the audience reads, you can see the producer's name and the exact time that their name appears on the screen for example.

The bottom horizontal line shows what kind of sound is playing during the opening sequence. It also shows the duration of each sound.

This is the nine frames which are in the opening title sequence of Scott Pilgrim vs the world.

The Art Of the Title - 24 hour Party People (Winterbottom, 2002)

Preliminary Task Evaluation (Shane Farrell)

Preliminary Evaluation

Our preliminary task was to create a video which featured the 'Shot Reverse shot' camera angle as well as 'continuity editing'. I worked in a group with Patson Travers and Dylan Evans to create a clip just over 1 minute in length entitled "The Deal".

Our clip followed the storyline of a "deal" but with a funny ending. We orginally had the idea of the cliche sixth form student drug deal but upon filming we thought that was a bit boring and that we were above that. So we decided to have a quiet but dramatic opening of Patson slamming through doors walking confidently towards something with a duffel bag. Then the storyline would unfold into something quite slapstick and comical. See this in the clip above...

WWW:

• Firstly for example the continuity editing, we were able to make the clip flow and look like it's all in one take. We used this in the opening of the door and passing the sandwich from one character to another.
• Secondly we were able to use sounds for effect in our editing. For example we added a pulsating drone sound at the start to create atmosphere and then broke it with a comedic bugle tap to make the audience laugh.
• Finally I think our idea itself was pretty original, we took a cliche and made it comical.

EBI:

• The one major thing we could of improved on would be the lighting. The first 3 shots were all very dark, this was due to us not adjusting the white balance properly.We had a limited time to film so we weren't able to go back to re shoot.
• As mentioned above time wasn't on our side so the next thing we could improve on would be the time management. Aiming to finish before the deadline would mean if there was any problems we could go back and fix them.
• Finally, over filming would of improved our final product too. If we were to film a few more extra shots we would have excess footage to use for cover ups or to add in if necessary.

Production Skills - The Rule of Thirds (Landscape)

Our task was to take two still images, one where we used the rule of thirds and the other where we deliberately break it. The rule of thirds is a concept in video and film production in which the frame is divided into nine imaginary sections, as illustrated on the right. This creates reference points which acts as guides for framing the image. Points of interest should occur at 1/3 or 2/3 of the way up (or across) the frame, rather than in the centre. Like many of those rules of framing, this is not always necessary but we need to know why we use it before we break it.

Using the Rule of Thirds

The first image of the church is an example where we use the Rule of Thirds. If we placed a grid over the image we can see how the bell tower is placed on the top corner of square box inside the grid. By placing the tower on the line, it makes the audience focus on the tower more than the actual building itself. The tower becomes the main point of interest.

Not using the Rule of Thirds

In contrast, the second image of the church which does not use the rule of thirds is used for a reason. As the grid has not been used, it doesn't mean that the church doesn't become important but rather it becomes an establishing shot as the audience isn't forced to focus on any specific detail of the building.

Production Skills: Rule Of Thirds (Close Up)

   Our task was to take two still images. One demonstrating a successful use of the rule of thirds. The rule of thirds is a concept in video, film production and photography in which the frame is divided into nine 'imaginary sections'. This imaginary nine box split is illustrated in the image on the right. This nine box split acts as a guide for the framing of the image.

A Successful use of the rule of thirds

 The rule of thirds has been utilised successfully in the image positioned above. Our model Michael is positioned one third in from the left of the photo, rather than the centre. However like all rules of framing this is not always necessary or desirable. In the majority of 'people shots', the main line of interest is the line going through the eye of the character. As Michael has modelled above the 'imaginary lines' would intersect between Michael's two eyes - defining Michael well. Michael is in strong focus while the background is slightly blurred, pinpointing Michael as the focus.

  However in contrast the image positioned below displays an unsuccessful use of the rule of thirds. Michael is positioned roughly one eighth in from the right of the screen. Michael does not stand out in the same essence as he does in the picture displayed above. Highlighting the importance of the rule of thirds and the captivating it can have on the photo's subject.

The rule of thirds applied unsuccessfully

Preliminary clip (The sandwich deal) Shane, Patson and Dylan

This is our preliminary task. We decided to go for the route of comedy, this clip was filmed by Shane and starred Patson and Dylan. We had to include three things: to have a close up shot of someone's hand on a door handle, walking into and room and having two characters to sit opposite each other, and to not break the 180 rule. The 180 rule is where the camera cannot go past an imaginary line which exists between two characters when they are speaking. 

1 Minute Clip - Shane and Patson

1 Minute Clip - Shane and Patson

We had a professional come in to our lesson and teach us on how to use the cameras to record and how to edit using Final Cut Pro. This 1 minute video showcases some of the skills we picked up from that lesson.

This is Shane and Patson's 1 minute clip. The filming and camera work was done by Shane with help from Patson. The clip starred Patson, Dylan, Luke and Matt as mobsters engaging in a trade in an industrial area. The idea of the 1 minute clip was to exercise our basic skills with the camera and editing. 

We believe it was a beneficial activity for our filming skills. We learnt basic filming skills such as white balance, the rule of thirds, different shots and using focus effectively.

Preliminary Evaluation (Michael Currie)

Our preliminary task was to create a video which featured the 'Shot Reverse shot' camera angle as well as 'continuity editing'. I worked in a group with Tony Egan and Elliot Stahlmann to create a 1 minute video which we titled 'The Meeting'. 

We were each allocated roles and due to the shortage of people we may of had to have double roles. Tony also had a slight injury and was on crutches which limited the areas we could go and film. We gave Tony the role of actor and he just had to sit in a chair and read his lines. Elliot was cameraman and editor while I was also an actor but the director at the same time.

Shot Reverse Shot

The best stage of doing this preliminary task was the actual filming as we sorted out what we were doing very quickly which gave us plenty of time to film then edit. We acquired lots of footage from the filming but we had to decide on what footage to use when editing as our video could only be a minute.

180 Degree Rule

One of the criteria of the task was to have a 'Shot Reverse Shot' which we included at the end when me and Tony are talking. When filming this shot we had to film from both sides which meant we had to keep in mind the 180 degree rule. We didn't break this rule which is good.


One of the main problems when it came to filming and of course editing was the lighting. The first 15 seconds of the video was fine but afterwards the lighting was darker then we wanted which was an issue. This probably happened because we forgot to set the white balance which is a mistake we will learn from and not make again. 

Me walking up stairs

When it came to editing, we had to keep in mind continuity editing as we had to keep it consistent. overall the best bit of 'The Meeting' was when I walked up the stairs as we edited that quite well. 

1 Minute Task (Michael and Tony)

We had a professional come in to our lesson and teach us on how to use the cameras to record and how to edit using Final Cut Pro. This 1 minute video showcases some of the skills we picked up from that lesson.

For our 1 minute video, we were told to use the camera skills we learnt and to go out wherever we wanted and film a piece of our choice. We decided to go on top of the Hounslow Treaty Centre as we came up with a crime/murder scene.

Elliot was our camera guy but we had to help him set up the white balance and the lighting. we filmed the scenes and then put them on the mac's for editing. Me and Tony did the editing and we first put the clips in order that we wanted. i then added in the sound effects such as the gun shot and the music. Tony then cut some of the clips down as there were bits we didn't need. we watched the final thing and we were happy with it.

From doing this task, we learnt about the importance of editing and white balance on the camera.

Michael Currie 5053, Tony Egen 5069, Elliot Stahlmann 5214

Preliminary Evaluation (Tony Egan and Michael Currie)

  Our preliminary task was to create a video which featured the 'Shot Reverse Shot' camera angle, as well as our match on action - 'Continuity Shot'. We titled our video 'The Meeting' and I worked on it alongside Michael Currie and Elliot Stahlmann. The image below is an example of how we didn't break the '180 degree rule' - which as a success in the preliminary task. We didn't break the '180 degree rule' by remaining on the inside of the table. I always remain on the left side of the screen/table - meaning 'the 180 degree rule' is not broken.

A display of a successful 180 degree rule.

A display of a successful 180 degree rule.

 







  Our 'Continuity Shots' in my opinion were quite successful. Our preliminary featured numerous continuity shots - including Michael entering through the two doors. The images below display Michael on either side of the initial door.

Michael Currie entering through the first door

Actor Michael exiting through the first door

The images above also display the successful use of 'Match On Action' - creating a good flow to the preliminary video. This is displayed through actor Michael Currie looking identical walking through the door as he did when approaching the door.

  In addition the 'GIF' below displays a good flow to our continuity shots - it is the opening to our preliminary video, which sees Michael enter the Building and travel up the stairs. The continuity shot is successful  as Michael is continually moving up the stairs, at a steady pace.

Michael walking up the stairs - displays good continuity. 

  Working in a group with Michael Currie and Elliot Stahlmann, I believe our preliminary evaluation went well for the most part.  I think we completed our shot-reverse-shot well, in addition to our tension-building opening, which features Michael walking towards the two doors and up the stairs. However I think our filtering of the camera through the white balance could have been better, providing better lighting for our final scene which features a conversation between both myself and Michael. Perhaps we could have scripted the film slightly better however I think we achieved our ultimate goal in building tension and performing a to the point conversation. It was also difficult to decide on a destination for the filming and our options were limited due to the inconvenience of me being on crutches, however I believe we coped with the task well and subsidised the filming well.

Leonardo DiCaprio - a trained actor

  In addition to the camera work and the editing of the preliminary video, I also looked at the camera during the filming - so perhaps I could critique my acting ability to achieve a better final cut - OR - use actors in the preliminary video to achieve the best final product.

Michael Currie, 5053
Tony Egan, 5069

WELCOME POST

Welcome to AS Group 1!

Welcome to our blog, we're group 1. We are (from the left) Tony Egan, Michael Currie, Patson Travers and Shane Farrell. 

 Tony Egan 5069 Michael Currie 5053 Patson Travers 4404 Shane Farrell 4287