17/12/2014

Today I have prepared for the christmas break and listed all that needs to be completed. As well as this I have looked into other research oppurtunities.

Movie Research 'Funny Games' Commentary

Feedback of Counterblow Draft

Mrs Dughan-

Great start Ciaran, but too long - the brief says a max of two minutes.

I don’t like the mask - I think you have enough footage without it

Try intercutting the car shots (which are great) with the bed shots (also great - lovely variety and framing)

Key shot is too long and should be intercut with the bed shots

Think about including other shots in the bedroom and perhaps a few more car shots without the mask.
Tom Gent- 
"Yeah you need to contrast the music some more, and yeah I think taking the mask out would be better."
Emily-
"The font was nice but when it said executive producer you cannot read it. The film felt really slow. Film was confusing but good."

Prop Choice

The main prop for the film is the mask worn by the mystery character, this is because the prop is original, mysterious and memorable. Other props we used we're the keys, the phone and the alarm clock we're used to create verisimilitude.

Music Choice

The reason I chose this music is because it was simple, effective and gradually builds.

Costume Choices

Elena Bed Outfit-
This outfit is very simplistic only featuring a white top and black leggings, the reason for this is to create verisimilitude in the audience.

Masked Person-
Obviously the key to this was the white mask itself creating fear and making the audience feel uncomfortable. As well as the mask the masked person wore mainly plain clothing to emphasize the white mask when in darkness and make sure that is the only thing that could be seen.

The Masked Person was played by Brittany Reddish as well to reduce the chance of being let down.

Actor/Actress Choice

My choice for lead actress is Brittany Reddish, someone I knew I could count on and could give me a lot of her time. That's not the only reason Brittany also played Sandy in a performance of Grease last year, this is great evidence to show she has acting experience.

Story Boards for Counterblow

The Plot line has since been changed, as the fire itself was unsafe and I simply ran out of time. The plot became a lot simpler, my lead actress would be lying in a bed having a bad dream. The camera would include several inserts to create atmosphere e.g. an alarm clock shot. I would then edit in images of a masked person which would be what the heroine would be dreaming of.

Draft 1 Counterblow

Counterblow Draft 1

Brain Storming Session

Internet Audience Research

Modern thrillers usually contain adult themes like murder, drugs, gambling, etc. Thrillers now a days are aimed at 18-30 year olds, thrillers aim to entertain us but do it by creating an almighty suspense and leaving us on the edge of our seats throughout. The reason a lot of thrillers in the modern era are 18 rated is because audiences want to be disgusted and distressed as well as thrilled. Examples of 18 rated thrillers are:

• The Usual Suspects
• Pulp Fiction
• The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
• Se7en

There are exceptions for thrillers in the modern era for example the latest installment of the Bond series, Skyfall is a rated 12 film because of it's moderate violence and occasional foul language. Another example if a rated 12 thriller is the Bourne franchise because of it's violence. Looking at the evidence it becomes apparent that spy thrillers are rated 12 and everything else described as a thriller will be a 15 rating or higher. 

Classic thrillers are a completely different story the era was much more mellow as the world 50 years ago was much more PG for example Rear Window an iconic thriller from the 1960's directed by Alfred Hitchcock. The reason for Rear Window being a PG film is because of the mild violence in the film through out. Other thrillers fit into the PG rating list another example is 39 steps another classic thriller. As above there are exceptions funnily enough the exception is directed by a man who made his name in thrillers and has already been mentioned, Alfred Hitchcock in 1960 directed a film which still today scares viewers and keeps them on the edge of there seats. The film I am referring to is of course Psycho rated 15 because of the violence shown.

Skyfall Rated 12 Example

Psycho Rated 15 Example

Pulp Fiction Rated 18 Example

Bibliography - http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

Thriller Questionnaire

The questionnaire was created in a certain way and asks questions which will help me decide which idea I'm going to use. The picture below is the original questionnaire and below that is the results I got.

Using the responses I would decide what character and the type of film I'll base my ideas on.

Why are thrillers still so popular?

Thrillers started with the godfather of the thriller Alfred Hitchcock, his films we're insanely popular in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. this is because they had the power to grip the viewer to the point that they become enthralled in the character and there story. Sadly as the movie industry developed Hitchcock's films we're left behind. That leaves the question as to why Thriller is still so big? The thriller genre upped it's game using the new technology to keep audiences on the back of there seats with more action, for example The Bourne saga and the recent James Bond film Skyfall. More action isn't the only way the thriller genre has stayed fresh, psychological thrillers have become a huge part of cinema scaring, distressing and at times disgusting the audiences who shoe up to watch films such as 'fight club', 'blood diamond' and the 'girl with the dragon tatoo'.

Production company research

Agile Profile-
Agile is a Shoreditch based production company with experience across commercials, music videos, live music and feature films. We pride ourselves on our creativity and our determination to deliver outstanding work to any brief. Our roster of directors covers a wide range of styles and we are committed to working with and developing young directing talent.
One of Agile's most recent projects is a thriller called Beast, the film is based in Jersey which is being terrorized by a serial killer. The lead character Moll is struggling with her simple life and begins to have erotic dreams about the murders, this is what scares her the most.
Agile targets films with a good story and a talented, young director, for my film to possibly be picked up by Agile the story itself would have to grab them and my director style would have to be fresh and interesting for them to see a future.

http://www.agilefilms.com/

Research Task - Lord Of War (2005)

Synopsis - 
An arms dealer confronts the morality of his work as he is being chased by an Interpol agent.
Camera -

• A tilt is used to move the cameras view from dead bullets on the floor to a man standing center of shot holding a briefcase. The camera then zooms in on the lead holding the briefcase, the shot then becomes a mid shot. This shot is used in this way to build tension going from evidence of destruction to a stranger holding a briefcase, also builds suspense. (1 & 1.1)
• Camera tilts and lowers towards factory floor showing the factory workers and a machine, increasing the audiences curiosity as to what will happen next. (2 & 2.1)
• Camera zooms in on machine once again increasing intrigue and tension. (3)
• The camera then follows the beginning of the creation of a bullet through a machine going across a conveyor and several other aspects of the machine. (4 & 5)
• Then the camera following the bullet continues along the conveyor but camera tilts upwards giving a low angle shot to the bullet making the bullet look bigger and more powerful than before. (6)
• The camera shakes giving the illusion the audience is shooting down a tube, increasing tension. (7)
• The camera is then cleverly raised following the bullet being picked up and showing this perfectly. (8)
• Camera then again follows bullet through another tube using same technique of a sudden fast movement down. (9)
• After the bullet has been put in a crate the camera get's a low angle close up creating the idea that the Russian soldier was greater than the bullet. (10)
• The bullet then falls on the floor and then camera follows the bullet using a rolling motion in the camera. (11)
• Another clever camera technique is that which was used to create the illusion of the camera being thrown, the camera tilts up and then down very fast while tracking across.
• A super close up of the bullets then makes them look greater to the audience. (12)
• Rocky unstable tracking is then used to show the bullet being carried, then again shows the bullet as almost insignificant. (13)
• Another close up of the fingers lifting the bullet and a tilt and a track shows the bullet being put in the gun. (14)
• A close up of the inside of the gun makes the bullet look huge creating an illusion of mss amounts of power. (15)
• Then see a long shot down the barrel of a gun which actually creates an ominous feeling of tension as men firing guns are shown down the barrel of the gun. (16)
• Finally the extremely fast zoom finally follows the bullet hurtle towards the target. (17)

1

1.1

2

2.1

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12.1

12.2

13

14

15

16.1

16.2

16.3

16.4

Sound - 

• 'For what it's worth' by Buffalo Springfield is being played throughout the rest of the video, which is a calm western song featuring guitar and calm male vocals this makes the creation of the bullet seem like a calm and peaceful event. Which is the desired effect as the audience will get comfortable listening to the music of Buffalo Springfield and just as the bullet reaches the end of it's cycle and is fired the music stops and all that can be heard is the bullet flying through the air, all that is seen is the child being shot dropping the audience into a state of shock. The music also acts as a tension builder giving the audience a false sense of security.
• Nicolas Cage speaks before the creation of a bullet is shown accompanied by Buffalo Springfield, Cage speaks with received pronunciation showing he has a high class. Cage also breathes out heavily not in a panicked manner but in such a way to show he is relaxed this suggests he has high status as well.
• Various non-diegetic music is heard reinforcing the idea that the shot is in a factory, for example trolleys rattling and factory workers can be heard.
• When the shot is showing the African soldiers with the bullets the non-diegetic sound of the gun cocking and bullets being thrown on the floor can be heard creating verisimilitude.

Editing -

• Jump after lead character Yuri opens with a quip.
• The shot cuts to what seems like a fairly continuous shot but includes plenty of CGI added in the editing stage to show the audience the life of a bullet, this includes machines stamping out metal and putting lids on bullets, etc.
• Following the CGI look at a bullet assembly line an editing technique is used to show a factory worker lift the bullet and view it, the effect makes the audience feel like they are the bullet and being lifted themselves. The effect is successfully done by showing the mans finger and thumb holding the bullet in front of his face.
• The camera then follows the CGI bullet down a chute into a crate full of other CGI bullets.
• An extremely clever editing technique is used next where they show the crate of bullets being sealed and still leave cracks of light showing even though it is then a jump cut to a Russian Sergeant opening the box.
• The effect is used again but this time the crate is opened by African soldiers near a dock.
• The CGI bullets are then knocked out of the crate and roll across the ground the camera only follows one which is then picked up by computer generated finger and thumb.
• The computer generated bullets are put back in the crate and rock gently as the crate is moved keeping the illusion that they are real going.
• As before the editors have been clever when cutting, this time instead of a lid covering the view the bullet falls down showing a view of other bullets in the crate when it sees light again the shot is in a different part of Africa.
• The bullet is then CGI picked up for the final time and put into a gun which is also computer generated. Following this the bullet is fired and as it hits the child in the fore head a jump cut to a CGI red blood stain fills the shot.

Mise-en-scene - 

• A bullet ridden field of war is the first thing to be seen giving the audience a sense of threat straight away.
• The setting seems to be a foreign country with palm trees and building with smoke puring from them this also reinforces threat and keeps the audience alert.
• The lead character Yuri Orlov is then seen standing dressed in a sharp suit with a brief case in one hand and a cigar in the other, this shows he is wealthy.
• Another reason to suspect the shot is in a foreign country is because of the high key lighting.
• Yuri is stood center of shot facing away increasing the audiences curiosity.
• The following shot is in a factory with a lower key of light but not in anyway dark.
• Several factory workers are seen in overalls and hats.
• The setting changes slightly as the camera takes you on a journey through several machines with varied lighting keeping up the illusion and making it feel real.
• The finger and thumb of a factory worker is seen next they are extremely grubby showing a lower status than Yuri beforehand.
• The next character to be seen is that of a military officer which is obvious from the fact he is in military uniform. This character is still out in the open but in a different country obvious from the change in light, the boat behind the character is that of a very wealthy military vessel.
• The shot turns to African soldiers at a dock apparent from the boat in the background but the boat is in a worse condition than the one before suggesting a lower class and status. The African soldiers them selves show a lower class by what they are wearing but suggest high status by the gun in there hands.
• More African soldiers are shown but then an African child is shown wearing simple clothing and holding no gun suggesting a lower status and class than that of the soldiers.

Title list (in appearance order) -

1. Nicolas Cage
2. Lord of war (Title)
3. Jared Leto
4. Bridget Moynahan
5. Ian Holm
6. Eamonn Walker
7. Sammi Rotibi, Eugene Lazarev
8. Jean-Pierre Nshanian
9. Shake Toukhmanian
10. and Ethan Hawke
11. Casting b Mindy Marin, C.S.A
12. Music by Antonio Pinto
13. Costume designer Elisabetta Beraldo
14. Edited by Zack Staenberg, A.C.E
15. Production Designer Jean Vincent Puzoz
16. Director of photography Amir Mokri
17. Executive Line Producer Ronaldo Vasconcellos
18. Douglas E. Hansen co-producer
19. Executive producers Fabrice Gianfermi, Bradley Cramp, Gary Hamilton
20. Executive producers Christopher Eberts, Andreas Schmid, Michael Mendelsohn, James D. Stern.
21. Producers Nicolas Cage, Norm Golightly
22. Producers Andy Grosch, Chris Roberts
23. Produced by Philippe Rousselet and Andrew Niccol
24. Written and directed by Andrew Niccol

Credit Analysis -
An example of the font used in the opening credits are below. The reason this font was chosen was to add to the idea of war in the audience created by the talk of weapons and of bullets. The different names are faded in and out to create a smooth effect and not take away the smoothness from the images there being shown over. 

 Finally here is the opening to Lord of war (2005).

Research Task - Drive (2011)

Synopsis-

A mysterious Hollywood stuntman, mechanic and getaway driver lands himself in trouble when he helps out his neighbor.

Camera-

• Establishing shot of a busy city which pans across the skyline. Evidence of this camera shot is shown below.

• Following the establishing shot the lead character played by Ryan Gosling is shown in a low angle shot creating the idea that he is a high status character, evidence is below.

• Over the shoulder shot of lead character driving the car creates the idea in the audience that he is in control, shown below.

• The next shot is a point of view shot from Gosling's position and a clever camera technique shows the driver in the mirror, evidence of this is above.
• Aerial shot zooms out and then tracks across the skyline seeing more of the road. Evidence of this is below.

• Mid-shot of the character driving into a parking space, keeps the wonder and intrigue of the audience as to what will happen next, an example of this is above.
• The next show is in shallow focus of everything but the lead character's shoulder. As he walks towards the elevator the image becomes clearer, Both examples are to the right and below.

• Following this the shot cuts to a point of view shot of the lead character looking at the elevator door closing, still giving away nothing to the audience about what will happen next. Evidence of this is in the screen shot above.
• The next shot is a long shot of the lead character opening a door to a dark room, this enhances the mystery and status of the character.

• The next shot is a tracking mid shot as Gosling's character walks across the dark room. Creates a gloomy urban feel in the viewer. Evidence of this is below.

• The shot cuts to a low angle mid shot of the lead character in the dark room still keeping the audience guessing what will happen next. The low angle and light on Gosling's face suggests the character has a higher status. An example of this is below.

• The penultimate shot to the opening of Drive is an aerial tracking shot of the leads car driving on an empty road in the city. The shot tracking the skyline slowly zooms in and out as it tracks. The evidence for this shot is below.
• The final shot in the opening is an over the shoulder shot of Gosling's character driving as he was before. Showing that the character still has a high status and still giving away nothing to the audience.

Sound-

• The song by Kavinsky called 'Nightcall' is played throughout, the song is below. The music is techno and includes music from a keyboard and drums. The song is sung by a male singer with a gruffly low voice and a female singer with a low voice. The song gives the film an urban retro feel.
• The music drops and becomes muffled when Gosling's character enters the empty room emphasizing the event.
• There is no diegetic music.

Editing-

• Fade in used to show lead character for the time emphasizes the event, suggesting the character has a high status and reinforces the retro feel given by other aspects of the film.
• Following this there are several jump cuts showing different angles of Gosling's character driving the car, this creates tension in the audience and keeps them interested. The many different angles of this one character does suggest he has a high status.
• Cleverly at one point in the opening the busy high way road in a bustling city very slowly fades out to show Gosling in the car again, at one point before the fade out it stops and gives you a few seconds of both on top of each other. This perhaps suggests the road or the car will be a huge factor of the film, with the name of the film being drive you would guess that to be true.

Mise-en-scene-

• The opening is set in a busy city at the dead of night with the only light on screen coming from the city's many windows and street lights, very low key lighting creating a mysterious and dangerous feeling, also helps build tension.
• The leads attire sums the word retro up and contributes to the many other retro items. The white driving jacket, with jeans and driving gloves suggests he is not a very high class character but the camera angles and street lights only illuminating his face would suggest he is of high status.
• The white driving jacket is decorated with a black scorpion on the back suggesting this character is dangerous.
• Setting change to a car park which stereo typically is a place where action usually happens, so this would build tension for the audience and keep them on the edge of there seats.
• The lead character walks past a check out girl wearing a sweater vest with a badge and a pair of beige trousers, her clothing suggests she has a lower class than that of the lead character.
• Lead walks into dark room and the only light is coming from behind the character suggesting he has a high status.
• Finally the leads car suggests he is of a high class which is ironic as the clothing he wears suggests the opposite, the car is a 1973 Chevy Malibu which is worth $36K.

Title list (In appearance order)-

1. Ryan Gosling
2. Drive (title)
3. Carey Mulligan
4. Bryan Cranston
5. Christina Hendricks
6. Ron Perman
7. With Oscar Isaac
8. and Albert Brooks
9. casting by Mindy Masin, C.S.A
10. costume designer Erin Benach
11. music by Cliff Mastineg
12. production designer Beth Mickle
13. edited by Mat Newman
14. director of photography Newton Thomas Sigel, A.S.C
15. executive producers Bill Lischak, Linda McDonough, Peter Schlessel
16. executive producers David Lanchester, Gary Michael Walkers, Jeffrey Stott
17. produced by Marc Platt, Adam Siegel, John Palermo
18. produced by Gigi Pritgker, Michel Litvak
19. based on the book by James Sallis
20. screenplay by Hossein Amimi
21. directed by Nicolas Winding Refn

Credit Analysis -
Above is an  example of the font used in the opening credits, the font itself is very retro as are a lot of things I've already mentioned. The colour choice may have been chosen to attract the viewers eye or to appeal to female viewers as maybe the rest of the film may not appeal to them very much. 

Finally here is the opening scene and credits in all there glory.