production roles

camera operators- perform a vital role within the camera department on feature films. They support the Director of Photography, and the Director, by accurately carrying out their instructions regarding shot composition and development.

Actors- An actor communicates a character and/or situations to an audience through speech, body language and movement.

sound technician-  are required to assemble, operate and maintain the technical equipment used to record, amplify, enhance, mix or reproduce sound. sound technicians identify the sound requirements for a given task or situation and perform the appropriate actions to produce this sound.

editors- A film or video editor is responsible for assembling raw material into a finished product suitable for broadcasting. The material they work with may consist of raw camera footage, dialogue, sound effects, graphics and special effects. This is a key role in the post-production process and the editor's skill can determine the quality and delivery of the final product.

film director- This role is responsible for managing the creative aspects of a film, such as controlling what goes into the film plot, directs the actors and picking the location.


location manager-  are responsible for making all the practical arrangements for film or photographic shoots taking place outside the studio. one of their jobs are assessing scripts or story boards and scheduling them according to location

storyboard organiser- Storyboard Artists translate screenplays, or sequences from screenplays, into a series of illustrations in comic book form.

sam jenna me bonnie - actors
film director noone specific 
editors- all members of team 
location manager- jenna 
storyboard organisers- jenna and me 
sound tech all of us 
camera operators- jenna bonnie 

preliminary task

The main purpose of this task was to test out our skills and knowledge for the first time by recording a short clip of Sam and jenna having a conversation and coming in from different angles. The task gave myself  and the group an insight on how to use the camera,and think about particular things which we would need to consider when creating our thriller such as appropriate locations, camera shots, character roles and if certain things are necasarrialy needed in a shot.

I found this task to be one of the most intersting so far as i was able to try out the editing programe which myself and my group will be using in the finishing touches of our thriller, i learnt what different things do what on the programe and how to cut certain parts of the recording we didnt need, and how to join camera shots together so it joins smothly rather than suddenly jumping to the next frame. I also learnt the different features on the camera and the correct settings for certain lightings. Being able to use the tripod with the camera also allowed me to see different camera shots which may be effective for my groups thiller film and how different shots help slightly when potraying a characters emotions or importance.

Below is my groups preliminary task:

Evaluation

As a group we decided to carry out a questionnaire which asked 10 different questions 






Write an evaluation to show your findings from your research into your target audience and explain how you will use your research to inform your planning.

·      What is the purpose of a target audience?

·      What types of research did you carry out and why?

·      How many people did you survey and why? 40

·      Were the vox pops successful and how will you with planning your thriller film?

·      Pick 3 different questions and discuss the results that you received. Explain how your results will assist you and your group with planning your thriller film

·      Were there any answers that you had to reconsider and why? 

Pie charts

As a group we decided to convey our newly found primary data in pie chart form as it was the clearest visual way we could portray our answers. It was also easy in which we were able to compare the most popular answer. The results from are questionnaire are shown bellow:

 

The fact that myself and my group have chosen to represent our data as pie chats will help us with our own group narrative as we are able to clearly see what is expected to be shown in a thriller to make it most enjoyable to watch to include within ours.

Questionaires

Questionnaires are very important when considering a target audience in that they give you a clear and accurate idea of what different age groups want to watch and what they don't want to watch. By caring out a questionnaire should give myself and my group an idea in what we should include within our thriller once decided on a target audience. shown below is the questionnaire my group created:

 My groups questionnaire

1) What gender are you?

Male Female

2) How old are?

12-15 16-18 19+

3) Which age certificate for a thriller film do you prefer to watch?

12 12A 15 18

4) What made you want to watch a thriller film?

Tv advertisements Recommendation Posters Other

5) What do you expect to see in thriller films?

Weaponry Flash backs Gore Death Other

6) What type of sound would you expect to hear in a thriller?

Tension building Horror sounds sound effects other

7) What characters do you like to watch in a thriller film?

One main character Group of people Young girl/boy Vulnerable woman

8) What do you find shocking in a thriller film?

Types of characters Plot Iconography (props)

9) Do you know the common plot for a thriller?

Yes No

10) What colour of clothing do you expect the victim and villain to be wearing?

Black/Grey and white Blue and pink Orange and green Purple and black

My groups questionnaire consisted of 10 different questionnaires on what they would expect or like to see in a enjoyable thriller film. All of the questions which were surveyed had a multiple choice which meant  it was quick for the people that we surveyed that and at the same time easy for us to see what people liked as they were specific answers. I have surveyed 40 people in total as it gives me a wide variety of people to get different opinions and views from randomly aged individuals allowing me and my group to have an idea of what the majority of people expect to see in a thriller  allowing us to put these conventions  and opinions people enjoy into our thriller knowing that people will enjoy it. As there are 4 people within are group we decided that each of us would survey 10 people each to fairly share out the work load. The task was very beneficial due to the fact that we had undertaken primary research meant that we was able to get accurate results that is recent and valid giving us a good insight in what people want to see in thrillers this present time.

Narrative Theory

Todorov theory

Todorov proposed that for all films all have a basic structure. All narratives begin with a equilibrium, where everything is balanced, either good, bad, or neutral. this is followed by a disruption, either to do with the character or an action. the protagonist realizes that there's a problem and tries to restore it. later on this disruption is resolved with a resolution at the end which then sets a new equilibrium.

Vladimir propp's theory

Vladimir Propp's narrative theory was created in the early twentieth Century. He believes a narrative is not important within a film, and that the characters have a narrative function that provide structure for a text. After analysing 100 folk tales, he discovered that all of the evident characters could be categorised into 8 broad types of different characters:

 The Villain - Struggles against the hero.

he Dispatcher - Character who informs the hero on lack and sends him on his quest.

 The (magical) Helper - Helps hero during quest.

 The Princess/Prize - Hero deserves to marry her, but cannot throughout the film because of the villain, often the quest is ended with the Hero and the Princess getting married.

Her Father - Gives Hero task and identifies False Hero, Propp noted that the Princess and the Father cannot be clearly distinguished.

 The Donor - Prepares the Hero

The Hero or Victim/ Seeker Hero - Reacts to the donor and gets married to the Princess.

 False Hero - In order to marry the Princess, he takes credit for the Heroes actions to impress her.
Aristiotles theory

Aristotles veiw is that all that is needed withing a film is themes

Group Narrative

Group members:


Ruby de-Gallerie
Sam Pearl
Bonnie Sawyer
Jenna Van-Bergan



Bonnie's idea:

The idea that I am going to present to my group is that we should consider using the flashback technique for the opening scene. This way the opening scene doesn't have a slow start and we can go straight into a tense beginning.

The scenes will be set in a nearby field as this is an abandoned location which creates instant enigma. 

The story line will be a young vulnerable female being chased through the fields with a stalker male chasing her. I'd like the female to be wearing white clothing as it conveys and connotes her innocence however i'd like the stalker to be wearing dark clothing as this is a strong suggestion that he will be the villain.  

ADVANTAGES: Flash back idea, element of creating enigma.

DISADVANTAGES: Vague story line, needs more detail.

Sam's idea: 

The beginning may start with an obscured chase scene with the male chasing the female. She may hide and think the male has disappeared but he appears behind her and abducts her and takes her to a room that is abandoned/alone. The man goes downstairs to make a cup of tea. The girl is unconscious and wakes up in the room that has pictures of her all over the walls. She can then hear him walking back up the stairs and each footstep is more and more defined. Then then the door may fly open and it will end.

ADVANTAGES: Easy to obtain.

DISADVANTAGES: Too cliche.

My idea:

The beginning of my thriller will start with two girls walking there dog in a forest in a small town, however hours before a murderer has just escaped from prison and was last spotted by the forest the girls are walking their dogs. whilst on the walk the murderer comes up and takes the girls to a deserted house basement and torches the girls. The murderer leaves the basement and the girls are left. one of the girls has a key in her pocket which she uses to cut through the thin rope slightly to eventually pull it apart. Both girls struggle toward the front door where the murderer is close by. one girl manages to run out of the door but the other one is too weak. As the girl is running away she hears the gunshot of her friend being killed.

ADVANTAGES: Easy to carry out.

DISADVANTAGES: Unlikey features.

Jenna's idea:

Grandmother sitting her granddaughter down and telling the story of her mothers disappearance as she begins to wonder what happened to her when she was 8. A traumatic experience that was never understood as a child and her curiosity kicks in as she starts to question. A video of her mother happily playing with their pet at the crime scene as a young girl herself. Flashback of one mid-evening dog walk the grandmother and mother in their well known fields, a strange appearance of a farmers tractor parked randomly. To avoid they enter the woody section and noises from unknown locations causes confusion and the mother is taken from behind, as her mother tries desperately to get her back but it unable to. Police are called and she is never found.

ADVANTAGES: Detailed, expanded story line.

DISADVANTAGES: We wont be able to include all elements e.g tractor within her ideas.

Group Idea

Grandmother is talking to her granddaughter discussing the disappearance of her mother. It will then turn to a voice over over a flashback explaining the scene/almost narrating. The scene will show a child being chased through a field as this is a good setting to portray an abandoned location. However the mother is never found and it is a mystery to everyone.