Week 8 Update (Thibaut Nyemba)

In this week we began to film the opening sequence. We succeeded in getting supporting actors to act as criminal henchmen. The college corridors was used to film the chase scene and the set of stairs which leaded up to them. Filming in college was much more easier to work in as we did not have to fill out a call sheet which you needed if you were using the camera off premises. We took the whole day filming and at the end we began to upload the footage on Final Cut Pro.

I began to place the footage in order on the timeline, but we realized that we needed more footage so we planned to film more on another day.

Filming Journal [Mysara Saeed]

The process of the filming took place mostly during Media lesson (Monday Night Classes) with the college being the main location area. We have been filming over the course of 2 weeks within the college, usually during Media lessons and if not, in our spare time whenever all members can meet up. The filming begun during the holidays of which the college was open and therefore a good opportunity to film. The location was always available and access to it wasn’t a hassle either as the times we usually filmed there was hardly anyone about. 

Sub Genre of our Thriller [Mysara Saeed]

The sub genre of our thriller is a cross between crime, action and gangster crime.

Crime & Gangster Crime:
This genre is a cross between both crime films and thrillers type that provide a suspense for the viewers. The Sub Genre ‘Crime’ focuses mainly on the character(s) playing the criminal(s) as well as those stopping them, having a clear antagonist and protagonist. Crime thrillers tend to emphasize action over psychological aspects. The main events of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central ingredients.

Gangster crime is also the same however using the stereotypes of certain cultures, including known characteristics and behaviours.

Action:
Action thrillers usually base their features on racing against time. Elements of violence are used, and there is always an obvious antagonist. They contain large amounts of weapons such as guns, with explosions, and large elaborate set pieces for the action to take place. Elements of mystery films and crime films associate with Action Thrillers.

Facebook Group [Thibaut Nyemba]

We have designed a Facebook group for our Film Production. This allows us to have followers/supporters. Its also an effective way of Advertisement and would be part of spreading the word of our Opening Sequence of a Thriller. Facebook is also one of the worlds most used and popular social networking sites and therefore the circulation of this group will increase as well as reach the places we need them to do.

Production Schedule (Thibaut Nyemba)

Production Schedule

Call Sheet (Thibaut Nyemba)

This is the call sheet which we have to fill if you intend to take camera equipment off campus. The person filling it out must include contact details such as phone number and address.  Also emergency contacts and nearest hospital or police station in case if an incident.  Fortunately my group does not have to fill one out as we intend to film on campus. 

Week 7 Update (Thibaut Nyemba)

In this week we began to look for potential actors to feature in our opening sequence. We did not have a particular type of actor but just a teenage boy that would be credible to the audience. We also needed supporting actors which would play a major part in the opening as they would be chasing our main character. In the end we decided that it would be more convenient for myself (Thibaut) to feature in the film. All we needed now was to recruit supporting actors which looked the part, which was tough.

Alterations Made to Film[Hayley Male]

Although we liked our idea, we did find a few difficulties especially when in came to the planning of filming, and pictures for the storyboard. Our original film “Rich Bait” was set mostly in a park, the park is a very public place filled with young children especially. When it came to pictures we found that many mothers were worried about their children being caught on camera, as we did not have the right documents it would have been difficult for legal reasons. We felt that if it was difficult for pictures alone, then we may have a few problems when it came to filming, as most parents were abrupt about leaving the area for a short amount of time. It came to our attention that we would have to change our idea to make it a lot easier for us. The group had decided that the park would be too awkward to get to with all the equipment as it was not close to the college and required a lot of use of public transport. The idea changed to a “chase” of a young boy mixed in with the wrong crowd. We managed to find places in the college grounds that were suitable and could create a realistic setting for our story.

Week 6 Update (Thibaut Nyemba)

After coming up with our new opening sequence idea we began to prepare to film. I conducted some opening sequnce research and also Mysara started to design the production logo.

Treatment [Mysara Saeed]

Treatment

Our opening sequence of a thriller ‘NAME’ is our product, which is Thriller based with the sub genre of crime. The crimes are drug and youth related giving an insight to the reality of certain life styles within the urban streets of London. It’s full of violence, action and has an upbeat pace hence it being a thriller.
The way in which we will market our campaign would work in several ways. We would need to promote the release of our film by advertising it on all platforms such as TV, Radio, Newspapers and the Internet. A poster and trailer will be designed in order to distribute them to all mediums. Trailers would be played on various appropriate channels appealing to our film specific audience 15+ as well as popular Radio stations which ensure high circulation of our new film. Newspapers will also be targeted, popular and frequent ones such as the Metro which is free and people are more likely to view which boosts the advertisement of our film. Therefore distribution is vital in marketing our campaign to all mediums for sufficient circulation of the promotion of our film.

The majority of our target audience is aimed at teenagers and adults. The reason for this decision is that the story is based on the ups and downs of drug related scenarios carried out by teenagers working for adults. This enables our target audience to relate to our film as the ages are compatible with the viewers as well as the lifestyle presented within the film is also associated with the ages of nowadays. The specific age group is 15+ whereby the socio-economic group is targeted at A – E as it evolves characters from all classes, all of which will relate well to the film resulting in them enjoying it. As for gender the role of a drugs lifestyle is usually adapted by males and therefore this is our dominant gender for our film. However there are female characters who play important roles within our film which can also be related to by the viewers. Some of the female characters are also associated with drugs and crime and therefore balances the differences of gender within our film.

The lifestyle of our film is based on those who live for money and need money to live and the clash between the upper and lower class and the fight for survival on the streets. How youths in the lower class are getting involved in drug and crimes associated with the upper class that provide the expenses and usually the lower class youths work for or try earn from. Also the extent people under pressure of proving to others around them that their superior and have money.

The interests of the characters within our thriller are as follows:

Lower Class Youths	Upper Class Youths/Adults
Survival	Status
Money	Money & Business
Pride and Acknowledgment on the streets by peers and elders	Being at the top of the hierarchy and being in control of those below their class
Being able to afford the riches of entertainment to fulfill the likes of a good life and affording materials (Clothes etc)	Living a carefree life and the indulgent of drugs, expensive materials (cars, clothes etc) Sexual Affairs.
Gaining Respect, Popularity and Reputation	Gaining respect as well as abusing the respect of others.

Attitudes of the characters within our film usually are negative or innocent and desperate.
Language is vulgar and some actions made by certain characteristics shows how people can abuse power and become aggressive and cold hearted. There is a big separation between class which affects the way in which they communicate with one another which can be rude or caring. However the majority of the attitudes based in this film is positive as everyone’s aim is to make many and enjoy life with the use of money.
The beliefs that circulate this film are the gaining of respect from superiors and the respect and control of the inferiors. As well as gaining money fast and easy (illegally /legally) to be able to enjoy what life offers.
We would like the audience to see our film and understand it’s moral on the view of reality nowadays for them to be aware of the lives surrounding them. We would like them to also relate to the film and be able to learn right from wrong watching it. It may also act as a warning for them as the story line serves many situations currently occurring in London these days. We would also of liked them to have enjoyed the film and find it entertaining enough to recommend it to their friends and families as our Film isn’t just a film with a moral however a thriller providing a source of entertainment for the viewers.
The way in which we will make the film appeal to the viewers is by keeping it realistic and modern so that everyone can associate with the film as they would be able to make links to reality.

Our product will be viewed on all popular platforms of all Medias.
This includes TV channels that are highly viewed such as: Sky Movies, BBC 1/2/3, Channel 4/E4, Film4, ITV1/1, etc. These ensure there is a wide range of viewers all ages, genders and class, which allows our product to spread creating higher circulation. Radio stations such as Kiss 100, Capital FM, Choice, Kerrang etc will also be promoting an audio trailer, same goes for the newspapers. The most viewed will be the ones in which we advertise in to ensure even circulation. The design must then be suitable as well as appealing to for the majority of the population except for minors. Therefore the design will associate with class, race as well as drugs and sources of violence so that the viewers can understand what to expect.

The style of our product will be based on a thriller in the city where we strive to have a captivating story line to boost the effect of our moral, as well as arouse the viewers as it is a thriller and must have the right elements to cause this particular effect. To establish the vital features of which will be needed we have followed certain aspects of codes and conventions associating with thrillers. Also the style of filming and shots will also vary to establish high cover of a thriller as well as the lighting which is important as it creates a high effect to the aura the film gives off. Minimal lighting will have a dark effect on the film as well as mysterious. However this can be edited as everything must be captured in light for it to be visible as the camera cannot capture dark images well. All aspects will be used in a way to keep the audience captivated by feeding them with gradual excitement of a thriller. Various medium close ups and a fast pace on the juxtaposition of shots will be used to create suspense. The use of establishing shots to show the environment this is important so that the viewers will be able to understand the characters more by their surroundings as location plays an important part as do the conventions within them. Low angles will be used to show direction of characters movement as well as the state there’re in for e.g. if they’re in trouble a low angel will show that they are helpless. Conventions will be made by costumes and locations as well as props. Props will play a vital part within our film because they will become objects of subject within our thriller. Connotations of the stereotyped version of reality will be evolving crime and drugs. As for the sound we will use silence every now and again which will be disrupted by action with score music in the background. The sudden use of music will also have a sudden effect on the viewers bringing random and instant excitement. The majority of the sound will be digetic.

As mentioned further above the characters will be based on reality and therefore will represent various stereotypes known these days. Our decision was never based on stereotypes but on the reality however stereotypes are based from reality and therefore some characters will be perceived in different ways. In a way our film is like the British version of ‘Alpha Dog however with a twist of thriller.

We will remain with the genre Thriller as this was our joint decision as well as everything we have done is based on this genre. We will be using typical conventions as these are the ones noticed and understood by the viewers, where all elements used within the frame (Mise en scene) will surely contain the right connotations known within the media.

Production Brief (Thibaut Nyemba)

Production Brief

Opening Title Sequence Research [Thibaut Nyemba]

I have researched the prologue of ‘Transporter 1’, as action thrillers are my favourite genres. The idea of an opening title sequence is to present to the audience the:
Details of cast and crew, The film's title, An introduction to character or character type, Indication of place, Indication of historical period, Information regarding mood and tone, Introduction to signature theme tune, Information about genre, Questions that the viewer finds intriguing (sets up enigmas), Patterns and types of editing that will be echoed in the remainder of the film, Mise en scene and cinematography that will be echoed or elaborated upon later in the film.

The scene begins within an isolated car park of which there is only one car. The empty car park signifies that there is secrecy regarding the car being in an empty place as well as it having a dark and expensive appearance. There is a lot of the camera’s attention is based on this car in the opening sequence, the fact that it is the only car within the car park shows that there is an importance regarding this car or its driver. The character is then introduced through a medium close up of him within the car, showing the significance of his role as he is the first character previewed and therefore shows the audience an idea that the film will revolve around him, making him the main character. The way in which he is dressed shows that he has some sort of power and status which is symbolised with the suit as well as the car being advanced in technology. This gives an idea of his character type which is conveyed as superior, guarded, cautious, and strong in some sense allowing the viewer to have an idea of the type of character he will have within the film.
His alarm on his watch goes off and he drives out of the car park showing the audience that there is something to be done at that certain time. The film’s title is previewed during this opening as well as the subtitles in a printing style font in aluminous green, the type you get on action/government style films. The historical period is very clear within this prologue as the Mise-en- scene such as costume and props (car) are all very modern and are seen with lots of closes ups of things such as the characters, watch, gloves, face and aspects of the car. The mood is mixed as it seems content yet the one man and one car in an empty car park show that there is much to come and therefore create many enigmas to who is this man, why does he have such an advanced car, why is he dressed the way he is? , all of which is answered further into the film. This means that the opening sequence is effective in captivating the audience by providing enigmas. However the mood is also toned by the score music within the background which has a very mysterious vibe to it. The background music becomes slightly more upbeat as it jump cuts to him leaving the car park and on to the motorway showing that he is in an urban hot area by the beach. This is seen clearly with a following master shot of the area allowing the audience to see the location of which the film is starting at. His car then halts at the traffic lights right beside a police car of which he turns to look at very slowly and lets his glance linger a bit, creating another enigma to why is he so comfortable at starring at the police? This shows that there will be a sense of crime within the film to come. Patterns of editing that would be echoed throughout the film will be close ups one after the other to show emphasise of something as well as the mid tone of lighting on mysterious / secretive scenes as well as tracking movements, low and high angels seen when showing the car too show the importance of it. The prologue is vital as it presents the main ideas of the film and therefore the opening sequence of Transporter is effective in presenting the above factors. It had introduced the title, the main character as well as an indication of location and historical period an all the vital element needed to provide the concept of the film within the prologue.

Production Logo [Mysara Saeed]

This is the logo of which I have designed for our coursework group.
As we have chosen the genre thriller, the characters are usually making the decision of fight or flight when trouble arises which then stimulates the hormone ‘adrenaline’ which acts as a saviour. Thrillers also have a great effect on the audience whereby the arousal of excitement or fear releases adrenaline and so we thought that it would be appropriate to have the word ‘Adrenaline’ as the main face of our logo.

I created the logo with the programme ‘Adobe Photoshop CS3’ where i was able to create a mask with the writing and image. By combining the image and word together I have saved unnecessary use of extra images and text. Having both together is a much effective and creative idea. The used Photoshop as it allows me to use certain features that enable me to incorporate my ideas too and be able to actually create them.

The word adrenaline is simply in the font ‘impact’ and its fill is an image of frightened eyes of which I obtained from 'google images'. The image associates well with the genre thriller and the reactions that can be caused from watching such genres. The logo is creative in its self yet simple which preserves the professional idea of what a logo should be. In our case promoting the group as well as an image association to what the fundamental bases is which is the making of ‘Thriller Films’.