Production Meeting 3

During our third meeting, we came together and simply analysed the work of Hitchcock's work. We decided that we were going to use some of the ideas and feature of his work and incorporate it into our Thriller. We also made altered a variety of our initial ideas and put the together to make put final idea.

Final Ideas
Storyline
The victim has been captured by the villain due to significant events that have occurred between the two in the past. Unaware of why they have been captured, the victim attempts to run away from the villain. However, there are a range of obstacles in the way. A range of text messages, e-mails, letters and code have been set for the victim that needs to be revealed in order for them break free.

Setting(s)
Forest
Cemetery

Prop(s)
Weapons

Character(s)
Aicha Ouattara
Christopher Morrison
Pui-San Wong
Felista Kubuka

Sound(s)
Church choir
Creaking doors
Footsteps
Soundtracks

In addition to our final idea we also decided to use Todrov Theory of (Equilibrium, Destruction, New Equilibrium and Resolution) in the making our Thriller.
Changes could be made in due course.
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Changes could be made in due course.

Hitchcocks Trailers

I have watched a variety of Hitchcock’s Trailers in order to gain a clear understanding to what his films are about. In doing so we see a short montage of clips and the stars/characters within the film.

The Psycho Trailer inspired me most of all because Hitchcock describes the synopsis/plot to his own film; therefore allowing the audience to form visual images or their own. Unless you watch the film, you will not know if your assumptions were correct.

Alfred Hitchcock and Film Language

After watching a range of Hitchcocks Trailers I have decided to watch the entire movie of both Psycho and Family Plot. In doing so I was able to establish Hitchcocks use of Film Language in specific scenes.

Elements Of Film Language:

• Lighting and Colour
• Sound
• Use Of Camera (Camera Framing/Movement)
• Mise-en-Scene (Setting and Props, Costume, Hair and Make up, Facial Expressions and Body Language, Lighting and Colour and Positioning of Characters and objects within the frame).
• Editing

Lighting and Colour
Lighting is used to give a particular scene a very realistic approach/look or to bring out the dramatic nature of it. In addition lighting is used in order to achieve a variety of effects. We tend to associate these different lighting styles with different genres.
For example in Family Plot, his use of white on black made the light stand out and allowed the audience to remember this as an significant part of the film. In addition to this scene, near the end of the movie, the fire coming from the burning car, once it went over the cliff, was highlighted by the use of colour in the film. Without colour, the fire would not be as brilliant as it appeared and only would look like varying shades of grey. In Family Plot, Hitchcock uses colour to highlight certain aspects of the movie and to set the mood throughout the movie.

Sound
Sound is a broad element within Film Language as it involves diegetic and non-diegetic sounds, parallel and contrapuntal sounds and sound bridges.
In Hitchcocks Psycho a range of similar sounds are being played throughout the film. In the opening sequence of the film the non-diegetic sounds being played are decribed as being rapid and quick; creating as sense of rushing or running, possible hurrying up as time is running out. As the film continues the sounds played are still non-diegetic however, it is only played to move the narrative along or to show the audience that something has happened or is going to happen.

Use Of Camera
The use of the camera is a combination of camera framing and camera movements.
Camera Movements consider the ways in which the visual image or action on the screen is being followed in order to gain the audiences attention. Furthermore, the camera movement simply directs our attention to a particular viewpoint.
For example; The opening scene of Psycho shows the camera moving slowly from a distant view of the cityscape of Phoenix into a close-up of the hotel room window.
On the other hand, camera framing relates to the visual images we see on the screen and the frame that they are within on the screen. It tends to concentrate more on how far the camera is from the subject and from the angle the shot is taken in.

Mise-en-Scene
Mise-en-Scene is an element of film language that is used establish a genre of a film. The french term meaning 'What Is In The Frame' is a combination of the following:

• Setting and Props
• Costume, Hair and Make Up
• Facial Expressions and Body Language
• Lighting and Colour
• Positioning of Characters and Objects within A Frame

After watching 'The Hotel Scene' in 'Psycho', I noticed that Hitchcock created an atmosphere whereby the small room holds, two chairs, the lamp table, coffee table, and chest. On the lamp table is a lamp, the only source of light in the room and which creates the key light within the scene. The characters' positions within the room and how they are lit by this single source create different assumptions for the audience.

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Hitchcock was a British born Film Director and Producer born in1899 in Leightonstone. He became Britons most famous filmmaker (1920's) of Thriller Films which were associated with suspense and psychological genres. In the 1930's Hitchcock was established as an Thriller Filmmaker. Before leaving us in 1980, Hitchcock was able to direct more than 50 films in his career which went over 60 years of his life. These films included:

• Rear Window (1954)
• Psycho (1960)
• The Birds (1963)
• Rebecca (which he won an Oscar for 'Best Film' in 1940)
• Family Plot (1976 last film)

Thriller Conventions

In order to under-go the making of our film we had to establish the conventions of a Thriller. Thriller conventions are simply the common elements or factors that create or allow a Thriller to be what it is.

1. Crime at the core of the narrative (often a murder).
2. Complex narrative structure, false paths, clues and resolutions.
3. Narrative pattern of establishing enigmas which the viewer expects to be resolved.
4. A protagonist (main character in a film or story) who is systematically dis-empowered and drawn into a complex web of intrigue by the antagonist (a character that is against the protagonist).
5. Extraordinary events happening in ordinary situations.
6. Themes of identity.
7. Themes of mirroring.
8. Themes of voyeurism (looking).
9. Protagonist with a 'flaw' which is exploited by the antagonist.
10. Titles often reflect an aspect of the pro/antagonist psychological state.
11. There is often a scene near the end of the film in which the protagonist is in peril.
12. Mise-en-Scene which echoes/mirrors the protagonists plight.

Thillers

What Is A Thriller
A Thriller is a genre of story or film that is based upon protagonists who's main aim or achievement by the end of the narrative/storyline is to be seen as more-powerful than the antagonist. In order to achieve this obstacles such as suspense, cliff-hangers, fear and action are placed into the narrative/storyline so that the genre could be achieved.

Types Of Thriller
The Thriller types are also knows an Thriller Sub-Genres'. Apart from/ instead of having the one genre, there are an additional 15 sub-genres that Thrillers can be accounted for/that can be included.

Action Thriller: Films associated with this genre use elements of mystery and crime which occurs behind/after the action. Furthermore, the genre allows the audience to recognise the race against time, as well as clearly identifying who the antagonist is. The use of violence in these films are emphasised with the use of elements of film language (guns, explosions and large set pieces). Examples of Action Thrillers include James Bond Films and The Transporter.
Crime Thriller: This particular genre involves films that focus on criminals rather than the law(police officer). Crime thrillers are a mixture of crime films and thrillers that present suspense which may lead to a crime(s) that have been a success or failure. Crime thrillers usually emphases action over psychological aspects. Typical storylines are based upon murders, robberies, chases and shootouts. Some examples include Seven and The Godfather
Drama Thriller: Storylines of Drama Thrillers tend to be slower and involve a range of characters with twist and turns to the plot. Examples include
Horror Thrillers: The characters of this genre tend to be in conflict that are seen by the audience as being mental, emotional and physical. The main aspect of a Horror Thriller is the continuous use of fear throughout the film. As the storyline progresses the main character(s) become a victim of 'what is being feared' (monster). Well known examples of Horror Thriller include the Saw Franchise, Danny Boyle's 28 Days Later, Psycho by Hitchcock’s and Silence of the Lambs.
Psychological Thriller: Well known examples include Hitchcock’s Suspicion, Shadow Of A Doubt and Strangers on a Train, The Sixth Sense starring Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment and The Talented Mr. Ripley Jude Law, Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett.
Other Thriller genres include Conspiracy, Disaster, Eco, Erotic, Legal, Medical, Political, Spy, Supernatural and Techno-Thriller

Production Meeting 2

Each individual within our group were assigned a different convention of the initial ideas/of the initial ideas to study/look at/analyse. After studying/ looking at/ analysing the specific conventions we came together and came to these conclusions. We also made sure that conclusions/ideas reflected Thriller films/movies.

Storyline(s)
Storyline 1: Both the victim and the villain have a secret past. The villain has captured the victim and will only set them free after conquering a chain of events.
Storyline 2: The victim discovers a crime scene and is unaware that they are the next target.

Setting(s)
Forest
Graveyard
Cemetery
Abandoned buildings e.g. house or church

Prop(s)
Weapons

Title(s)
Death Trap
Disturbia
Distorted
Flashback
Hidden Agenda

Character(s)
Aicha Ouattara
Christopher Morrison
Pui-San Wong
Felista Kubuka

Sound(s)
Church choir
Creaking doors
Footsteps
Soundtracks