Extension task

How has it influences my ideas for my own thriller production? 



This clip from the shining has influenced me greatly. Through the camera techniques used to create suspense, the setting location, props, body language of the boy the fact that there was no dialogue jus spooky music all contributed to the effectiveness of this scene. It has given me the idea of maybe doing my opening thriller scene in silence. Meaning the diagetic or non diagetic sounds and camera work must be on point in order to convey the tension and suspense a thriller opening must have in order to catch the audience’s attention and keep them at the edge of their seats wanting to see what happens next

Analysis thrillers

Lesson 15-12-08

In today’s lesson we analysed six clips from thriller movies. They were 'The shinning', 'What lies beneath', '28 days later' 'Arlington road' 1&2’and 'Collateral'.

I chose to analyse the shinning because it I thought that suspense was created the most effectively in this clip. The location, lighting and sound all set the scary mood and get us as the audience ready to be scared. The clip opens with a spectacular aerial shot of a beautiful, mountainous landscape and the hotel. It then cuts to a continuous tracking shot of a little boy riding a big wheel and the desolate sound of the wheels alternately scraping across the hardwood and carpeted floors. The shot is long with quiet, relaxing visuals of what looks to be an ‘ordinary’ child playing on his bike. The young boy is wearing dungarees, a shirt and converse, the attire of a normal young boy. The ominous soundtrack that comes in quietly to build tension warns us as the viewers that all is not right at the gorgeous Overlook Hotel. Tension is also created through the camerawork as the steadicam floats eerily through the deserted halls and corridors of the hotel, creating a sinister air of tension; he turns corners before we do so we do not know what a waits behind the next corner right away. As the boy reaches the corridor containing the secret room 237, the creepiness of the eerie music playing increases as tension rises as he slows his bike as he approaches the room. He then stops and stares at the door as if he is contemplating whether to attempt to go in or not. The eerie music builds increasingly here making the audience sense the danger of the boy entering that room. Get a great tilted close up of him looking back at the door. As he slowly rises from his bike and approaches the door, the camera is positioned at his side prevented us from seeing what could be in the room. As he turns the door knob a quick flash of ill looking twin girls shocks the audience with an echoing jarring sound effect which creates a dark atmosphere. The boy quickly returns to his bike and rides of down the corridor constantly looking back at the room.

Clip from The Shining

First practice

creating suspense. Bourne identity

Thursday 11th December, in todays lesson we watched a thriller called the Bourne identity. This was for research purposes, during the duration of the film we were asked to take notes on three examples of suspense moments. After the film finshed we took time to disscuss and analysis what we had wrote and what the point of watching the film was. Watching this film gave ideas for my coursework, it also showed me techniques that could be used to create a certain atomophere, or emotion.

Introduction to thrillers, Camera risk assesment, editing

In the introductory thriller unit lesson on Monday 1st December we started our thrillers. We were put into groups of four; my group consisted of Myself, Gerald, Rhea and Pareece. We were taken through a tutorial on how to edit footage on the computers and then we were set a task called ‘’A thrilling read’. We were given a storyboard to help plan the set that would be included in our practical. The task was to show a mystery person read a newspaper in a thriller way, using a minimum camera shot of 12. This then carried on to Thursday’s lesson on 4th December.

In Gez's lesson on Thursday, we were given a tutorial by Mickey on how to use the cameras and the tripods. We were taught how to insert and extract the battery, and how to place the camera on the tripod and make sure it was secure. We were also taught how to record, put the camera on and off, and how to do different types of shots. After our tutorial we were given time to go off with our groups and start filming. Although we had to remember all the techniques learned from the tutorial and make sure were handling the camera and tripod with care, we still got to have fun as a group and record some great footage. As a group we decided to make our story about a college student reading a newspaper and seeing an article about a rapist on the loose and realising that the rapist is in the college. It progresses and the rapist is on to her having sussed his identity, he sets out to catch her.

I took the role of recording the footage so I was never in any shots. On a whole I feel I recorded a lot of good shots but I forget key techniques such as not using zoom as it looks quite tacky if it is not done properly, and not to leave too much space above the head of the person being recorded. Due to time issues we were unable to finish all our shot in that lesson and were forced to pick up were we left off in the next lesson.

Monday 8th December: Because my group and I were behind on filming, we made that our priority but were given very little time to complete it. Although were unable to perfect our footage we had to go a start editing what we had. We were told to save by using the command keys every 2minutes just in case any unfortunate events took place. Although we were not able to finish recording or editing we learnt a lot from the four lessons which I believe will be a great help when time comes to do our coursework.

Thriller Practice

Last Thursday me and my group members Gerald, Louise and Rhea planned our main 12 shots for our thriller movie.
We first came up with a scenario and broke that up into 12 stages for our shots.

We thought about different camera angles to show who the main stronger characters are and who was seen as weak and vunerable. The setting we choose was in and outside college. Since our actors were of a young age we felt we could take advantage of the space and the natural atmosphere which could emphasis our main plot to its full extent to build up tension.

After we made explained what was going to happen in the shots. We also took part in a camera and tripod presentation which helped us come to terms in how to use the equipment to its best for our thriller. Once we all knew how to operate with equipment we set out and got on with recording. Unforntunently we never finished all our recordings on the Thursday which left us to continue on the Monday.