Target Audience Feedback

The finished opening sequence of the thriller 'Obsession' was screened to a selection of students that reflect the target audience. This allowed the production group to examine if the film appeals to viewers aged 15 and above. The audience watched the sequence and provided feedback concerning what they found effective. This enabled us to see what was most noticeable to the viewer who is unaware of the combinations of different elements yet sees the footage as a whole. From this, we were able to see if the conventions used in the thriller had an impact on the viewing; providing a desired emotion. 

As well as positive comments, criticisms were also received. These may be seen as negatives however it allowed us to see what the audience think and how the thriller could be improved. All comments were evaluated allowing critical comments to be justified. This is as a viewer's opinion may not be representative of the whole audience.Nevertheless, audience feedback is crucial as it determines the popularity of the film. This is because an effective film would gain recommendations i.e. viewers sharing their opinions regarding the viewing. This would lead to awareness of the film which would then increase popularity and revenue.

The feedback received has been stated below:

“The typing effect of the production company title effectively links to the opening scene” - Sara Rowlin

This feedback shows the credits to be successfully interwoven with the action as planned. There is a connection between the  editing of this particular credit and the character’s action which improves the flow of the opening sequence. This was planned when creating the storyboard and has been successfully executed in the final production. 

“The shadow of someone’s hand reaching towards the main character adequately reflects the thriller theme” - Jake Everton

This comment shows that using obvious conventions is a way of conveying the theme to the audience. The shadow is able to create an enigma due to the lack of certainty of who the ‘someone’ is. This generates mystery and suspense which is a successful thriller convention. Therefore this is a prominent feature of the opening  as this had been planned thoroughly beforehand and achieves what it intended on achieving i.e. the theme, sense of enigma and mystery. 

“The font and movement of the credits seems rather basic and could be improved upon”- Andrew Gilding

The credits are simple due to them overlaying the action which means they cannot take away focus. If they had been more vivid, the viewer would be paying more attention to the credits therefore would not be as concentrated on the actual events of the scene which infer the narrative. The colour of the credits is white. This may seem basic however white has a connotation of the victim's innocence therefore they are conventional to the thriller genre. 

“The camera is slightly out of focus at one point during the opening sequence” - Lindsay Gold

This was a technical issue which wasn’t noticed until the editing stage. Taking this scene out would have disrupted the continuity of the sequence and so it was not changed. Although it is a slight visual issue, it does not affect the thriller atmosphere set by the action. The blurriness may also be seen as an effect which could potentially signify the victim's confusion i.e blurriness of her thoughts. 

The comments received are equally positive as well as constructive. Overall, I’m pleased with the comments as it has been said that the conventions reflect the thriller theme which was a vital objective. The critical comments are negative however they are validated and their impact is not so significant when viewing the thriller. 

If I had the chance to do the production again, I would spend more time editing the opening sequence. More effects could have made the overall product more effective. Therefore with the chance of redoing the production, the editing stage could have been prolonged.

Meetings

Date	Action	To be done by	By whom	Discussions
05.11.2012	Review individual storyboards	05.11.2012	Whole group	Discuss ideas and concepts that group members have, reflect on the ideas and then create a group storyboard
08.11.2012	Group Narrative	15.11.2012	Whole Group	To establish a narrative for the opening sequence of our thriller
17.11.2012	Production Roles	17.11.2012	Whole Group	To allocate a production role to each member of the group; looking at personal strengths
20.11.2012	Narrative theory	20.11.2012	Whole Group	To decide which theory would be best suited to our narrative
22.11.2012	Planning mise-en-scene	25.11.2012	Whole Group	To plan the mise-en-sene (setting, costume, iconography, lighting, positioning, facial expressions and body language) of our thriller opening
27.11.2012	Planning opening credits	29.11.2012	Whole Group	To plan the font, positioning and colour of the credits
30.11.2012	Character Representation	30.11.2012	Whole Group	To decide on the qualities of our main characters in order for the audience to build a relationship with them
1.12.2012	Group Storyboard	3.12.2012	Whole Group	To create a storyboard outlining the aspects of each scene
5.12.2012	Planning sound and editing	8.12.2012	Whole Group	To plan the sound, transitions and effects of each scene
9.12.2012	Filming schedule	9.12.2012	Jagoda Jasionowski	To prepare a schedule consisting of times and dates of filming
9.12.2012	Risk Assessment	9.12.2012	Ella Sutherland	To analyse potential risks that could happen during filming and how to prevent them
11.12.2012	Filming of opening	11.12.2012	Whole Group	To film a two-minute opening sequence
12.12.2012	Editing and sound	19.12.2012	Jagoda Jasionowski & Ella Sutherland	To edit the footage on ‘Final Cut Express’ and insert sound
20.12.2012	Audience feedback	20.12.2012	Jagoda Jasionowski & Ella Sutherland	To screen our thriller and receive feedback; positive and negative

    

        1)Why are meetings important to a production?

Meeting are important to a production as they enhance efficiency. All members of the group were able to communicate regarding all decision making and potential issues that could have occurred. This enabled us to make progress and constant improvements in order to meet the requirements of the thriller opening. Communication also allowed us to work better as a team. 

 2)Overall do you think your group worked well together?

As a result of meeting on a regular basis, decisions were made effectively as all viewpoints were taken into consideration. This allowed us to maintain a positive working relationship with one another. Tasks were distributed evenly to the suited  person according to the task so each member had responsibility within the overall task. In conclusion, the team worked well as decisions were made based on compromise. Although we all had delegated tasks, we worked as a production team and performed many tasks as a whole group; outlined above. 

Preliminary Task

This task was carried out prior to the filming of the two minute thriller opening.It was focused purely on the filming a one minute sequence showing a simple conversation.To achieve this, a variety of camera shots had to be used.Once completed, the footage had to be edited to form one continuous sequence.

By carrying out this task, experience using a camera, tripod and tape was gained. It enabled all members of the group to try a variety of camera angles and positions. Some problems occurred such as unwanted background noise or people walking past which interfered with the characters talking. The recognition of these potential problems allowed us to be prepared for when filming the actual two-minute opening.

 Looking back on my preliminary task, I have learnt various new technical skills as well as how to create an effective sequence. The preliminary task was of a low standard due to lack of experience and knowledge regarding continuity. Another potential reason for this was lack of audience feedback which was only collected when filming the actual task. This task was given stricter guidelines whereas the preliminary task was more vague therefore more errors were made.

When compared to the finished task, a significant improvement of filming is visible. Therefore, it is clear that I have progresses since carrying out the initial task. The preliminary task did however enable this to happen as it acted as a starting point to improve upon.

Sound analysis of 'What lies beneath' opening

The sound employed in the opening of this thriller has a significant impact on the viewing of the film by  providing the audience with a greater understanding of the narrative. The sounds used evokes a response from the audience by reflecting the characters' emotions as well as emphasising certain occurrences in the scene. Their effectiveness can be recognised by the tension and suspense they are able to build. Within the scene, techniques such as diagetic, non-diagetic, parallel sounds, on and off screen sounds have been employed. 

As the protagonist walks towards the bathroom, non diegetic sound can be identified through the form of a background sound track. It is a calm and subtle yet eerie sound that infers the intensity of the atmosphere. The tension causes the audience to be more aware of potential occurrences. It is also used to convey the character's emotions which in this case involves fear and nervousness. The music then intensifies in volume as the character is seen reaching towards the door which signifies danger to the audience. It creates expectations for the audience who would assume of someone's presence. The sense of mystery created by the music can be associated with the antagonist.

Non diegetic off screen sound can also be noticed when the sound of wind is heard. It creates a cold intense feeling that heightens the helplessness and fear of the protagonist. This is a generic convention of a thriller film as it creates an enigma for the audience which may also associate the sound with the antagonist's presence without him being revealed. A hidden villain is stereotypical of the thriller genre as it creates an enigma as well as providing anticipation.

Diegetic sound can also be identified in the opening scene when the light switch is pressed on. This adds further impact to the soundtrack which has a purpose of building up tension. The sound of the light switch adds an essence of realism that the audience is able to relate to. This compliments the flickering of the light which creates further tension and suspense. Diegetic sound is used throughout the scene such as when the character portrayed as the victim enters the bathroom. This makes the scene more real to the audience allowing them to relate to the events as well as conjuring up a fear of it happening to them. This sound can also be classed as parallel as it works in unison with the movement of the character. 

As the opening sequence progresses, further diegetic sound is used in the form of the protagonist's heavy breathing. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it infers the protagonist's panic and fear. This allows the audience to experience the emotions felt by the woman; almost making them feel like they're placed in her situation. This evokes anticipation as the viewers are put on edge. 

This research has provided me with knowledge regarding the conventional sounds used in thrillers. It has also developed my understanding of the different types of sound and the effect they have on the scene. This has provided me with ideas in regards to choosing a suitable soundtrack and sounds that will create tension and build up suspense to give the viewing of the film a greater impact. 

Planning of sound

Sound is a vital element of thrillers used to evoke the needed emotions in every scene. Infusing the sound in accordance to the visuals shown on the screen creates the needed thrilling atmosphere. The most conventional uses of sound involve loud noises followed by a long established silence and the sound of footsteps which builds anxiety and tension. The overlaying track is also a vital contribution that provides a tone to the scene and so has an emotional impact on the viewing of the film for the audience. It is able to cause the desired audience response, provide the audience with a further understanding and potentially foreshadow the events.

Diegetic sound is the sound whose source is visible on the screen or whose source is implied to be present by the action of the film such as the voices of characters and sounds made by objects in the narrative. It's most significant use is to enhance the realistic pleasures of the thriller. It prevents the
scene to seen unrealistic as the image is reflective in the sound. 

The opening sequence will feature diegetic sounds such as;

- the phone disconnecting (illustrating the victim being failed by communication which leaves her in a vulnerable and helpless position where she is isolated from the outside world which would potentially help her in a life threatening situation)

- heartbeat (illustrating the anxiety felt by the victim which is associated with a quickened heart beat due to a rush of emotions)

- footsteps (a subtle sound of footsteps will be heard when the protagonist walks from room to room)

- rushed breathing (this illustrates the victim inhaling drastically due to panic and anxiety)

Off-screen sound is sound that is heard yet it's source is unknown. The audience will not be aware of when the sound will be made and so this will generate an instant unpredicted element of fear.
This type of sound will be used when a loud noise coming outside the victim's bedroom will be heard. Its source will not be seen or known which will create an enigma for the audience who may associate the sound with the antagonist's presence.

Non diegetic sound is the sound whose source is not visible on the screen and has not been implied to be present in the narrative such as the background track playing over scenes. It is used to enchance the tension in the scene and therefore create a suspenseful atmosphere. It is a conventional sound technique as it conveys a theme or a feeling to the audience; the sound used in the thriller genre mostly conveying fear and tension.

The opening sequence will feature a significant non diegetic sound which will be background music. It will be obtained from the website http://freesound.org which gives access to soundtracks that are copyright free. The desired track will be slow and steady while building up tension and increasing in pace in order a dark, unsettling mood which makes the sequence thrilling and full of suspense. The background sound will be parallel meaning the music tone and mood will be suited to the action seen on screen i.e. complimenting the sequence. It will therefore emphazise the mise-en-scene as well as providing tension and suspense.

Sound analysis

Sound is a very important generic convention that enhances how the audience interpret certain events by giving a different meaning to a scene as well as potentially foreshadowing the events. The music used within an opening would have an impact on the mood and tone of the sequence as well as the emotions felt by the audience.

Sound Bridge is sound used to link two scenes, by having the picture and the diegetic sound change at different points. Usually the sound from the second scene is heard before we start to see the picture from that scene. This gives the film a sense of coherency that affirms a film's continuity therefore this is a technique used in all thriller productions.

High pitch sound is slightly eerie, yet calm to build suspense for future scenes. This can be a sudden screeching noise that arises suddenly; symbolising potential danger or death.
e.g. This is implemented in the 'Psycho' shower scene where the screeching sound arises suddenly and instantly indicates danger to the audience. The high pitch of the sound makes the audience feel uncomfortable and weary of the action of the stabbing. 


Diegetic Sound is sound that belongs with the frame and what you would expect to hear following the narration or action in that scene. For example a door being opened may consist of the door creaking.
e.g. although this is used in all films, the thriller 'Black Swan' can be used as an example with the  sound of doors, rustling of people's coats, sound of the train on the tracks, people talking in the background are all heard on the train scene. 

Non Diegetic Sound is sound that has been edited into the frame after the scene has been created.Usually to emphasize, exaggerate or increase the sound of what would have been a diegetic sound.
e.g. This can be seen in 'Prom Night' through the opening of the envelope which consists of desperately wanted results. The sound is prolonged and exaggerated to intensify the scene by building up tension. 

Silence is when a scene is edited and no sound is displayed. Silence is able to create tension and suspense or even dramatic effect. 

e.g. This can be seen in 'Crash' where a little girl gets shot and her scream is muted which is extremely dramatic as the audience is able to focus on the expression on her face rather then the noise she makes. 

Parallel sound is when the sound and the image complement each other so the action and sound display similar aspects.
e.g.This can be seen in 'Scream' with one scene in particular where fast pace music starts to play as soon as the victim escapes from the back of the van and starts running. This makes the audience alert of the chase scene which is complimented by the sound. 

Contrapuntal Sound is when sound and image do not complement each other, for example happy music playing over a sad scene.
e.g. An example of this is in the film ‘Orphan’ before the sting where the sound contradicts the action taking place on screen.

Planning editing styles

Why is editing important?
Film editing is a post-production process of film making that combines separate footage into a continuous sequence. This is a fundamental process that achieves continuity. Continuity editing is simply a style of editing that prevents inherent discontinuity of shots and establishes a logical coherence between shots to make one sequence. The editing guides the telling and pace of the narrative. It can be used to create illusions of danger through the use of fast paced editing styles as well as emphasising certain elements that may not have been necessarily noted.

Editing Terminology

Jump cut

A cut in film editing in which two shots of the same subject are taken from camera positions that vary only slightly

Fade

When an edit fades from a scene into a black background or a black background fades into a scene.

Straight cut

An abrupt cut from one edit to another which may have no significance in the following of the narrative.

Kulvestov effect

This a film editing effect which can be used to hint at emotions without actually showing any.

Dissolve

When an image is blended into another, the other disappears as the other one comes in.

Montage

This is the reverse of slow editing in which shots are quickly joined together in order to create fast paced motion that provides the audience with excitement.

How will your editing styles help to make your thriller conventional?

The thriller opening being limited to lasting two minutes means it cannot involve too many editing effects. However, various editing techniques must be used in order to satisfy the thriller genre conventions. The purpose of those chosen will be to build up tension, intensifying the atmosphere and so providing the audience with anxiety and excitement. To achieve this, a fade effect will be used on the credits as they will prolong the scenes which will give the illusion of scenes drifting in and out as the tension rises. When the events become more thrilling, jump cut editing will be used to fasten the pace of the thriller. For example, a close up shot of the victim on the phone will cut to her turning around to emphasize her sudden movement caused by a loud sound.The credits of the production company will dissolve into the first scene as slow editing must be achieved.