Taken poster analysis

The poster comprises of many significant elements used for a greater impact of promoting the film. A mid shot of Liam Neeson's character is seen; yet is not clearly shown due to the dark shadowing. It blends into the black background thus creating mystery as his facial expressions cannot be seen and therefore the emotion he is experiencing cannot be identified. The character being the central image allows the audience to establish Neeson's role as fundamental; the sombre atmosphere portraying him as the protagonist. Him being a man that is powerful is conventional to the thriller genre.

 The most dominant iconography used in the poster is the gun held by the character. This allows the audience to instantly associate Liam Neeson's character with danger which is also reinforced by his name written in dark red lettering which has the same connotations. The image is overlapped by the quote “I don’t know who you are but if you don’t let my daughter go, I will find you, I will kill you” which allows the audience to gain some insight into Neeson’s character.

Character representation

Character representation evolves an understanding of the choices made regarding character portrayal. Some aspects of the personality and character are emphasised so they appear very visible to the viewer. Sometimes exaggerated characteristics can be seen as stereotypical which allows the viewer to instantly  recognise the character type. It is vital for a character to have a recognisable representation so the viewer can relate and form an emotional connection with the on screen character. A distinct way in which the character is represented can also be seen as a form of foreshadowing as it enables the viewers to make assumptions as to how the character will react when in a certain situation.

The victim of the plot is Grace Davies (played by Daisy Morecroft) ; a seventeen year old girl of an English ethnicity. She will be portrayed as young and vulnerable which will be conveyed by her white clothing, light blonde hair and blue eyes which all connote innocence. Having suffered from the divorce of her parents, she's an emotionally fragile character yet manages to bury the memories of the past. The character is someone who the target audience can relate to and understand therefore the emotions felt by the character have a great impact on the audience. In the opening sequence, she is alone and therefore made more helpless. Being used to the constant presence of her mum, it is clear that Grace struggles to cope when faced with a series of disturbing events. The intensity of her paranoia is illustrated as she becomes a frightened and helpless young girl.

Andrew Davies as seen by his surname, is the father of Daisy. He's a mentally twisted character that seeks revenge and so is portrayed as the obsessor. It is through his actions that the thriller involves elements of crime and psychological impact. Having suffered from a break up with his wife, he is a lonely and disturbed man in his mid 40's. His jealousy towards his ex-wife is inflicted upon his daughter; the victim of his revenge. This however is unknown to the viewers until the end and so the reasoning for his revengeful actions is questionable throughout the thriller. This potentially makes him a less relatable character however he is still conventional due to being a suspenseful character that inflicts anxiety upon his victim.  In the opening sequence, his identity is unknown yet towards the end of the thriller,he is revealed to be heavily built with dark brown eyes and black hair. Although his identity isn't revealed instantly, his presence is suggested.

Opening credits plan

Colour: the colours used will be black and white. White font connoting the victim's purity against a black background connoting darkness and death to emphasise the theme of the narrative. As well as presenting the simplicity of good versus bad, these colours are conventional to the genre therefore they are effective.

Font&size: a type-writer font will be used to reflect typing therefore supporting the narrative. This is an example of a suiting font:

The font of the title 'Obsessed' will be seen as bold to convey power and strength  It will be slightly blurred to convey the irritation of the antagonist. The size will alternate within difference scenes to show disorientation. This is an example of the font that would be suitable:

 

Positioning: The credits seen in the opening sequence will be scattered around to symbolise the stalker's mental instability

Order of appearance:

1.credits - Hidden entertainment presents
2.dialogue:
Grace Davies:"What you doing tonight?"
Grace's boyfriend: "Nothing, do you want to come round?"
Grace Davies: "Oh no I can't, my mum's out on a date"
3.credits - (names of actors)

&dialogue: Grace's boyfriend: "But I never get to see you, there's always something going on with you"
4.dialogue:
Grace Davies: "yeah I know, I'll promise I'll see you-" *interrupted by loud noise*
5.credits - camera operator
&dialogue:
Grace's boyfriend: "Grace?"

6.dialogue:

Grace Davies: "Mum.. mum!?"
7.credits - narrative organiser
&dialogue: Grace's boyfriend: Grace, what's happening?

8.dialogue:
"Oh no it's nothing, I'm just being paranoid"
*light turns off*
9.dialogue: Grace Davies: "Aaron?"
- rest of opening scene -
credits - Directed by (name of director)
credits - OBSESSED

Planning the mise-en-scene

Settings and iconography

The thriller opening will take place in a bedroom; a real life situation allowing the viewer to relate to the events. The second part of the opening sequence will be filmed in the bathroom. This is conventional to the genre due to the involvement of mirrors. The space being confounded also conveys the character as being trapped and unable to escape from fear.

The most prominent iconography will be the phone and laptop,both a symbol of communication with the outside world. When the communication is disrupted the character will be seen as as helpless and vulnerable. Although the setting isn't isolated, it will seem like the character is isolated from the outside world due to the lack of communication devices and so more prone to danger.

A mirror will also be one of the main iconography used. It will allow a reflection which can present a sudden view of the antagonist without revealing identity as well as presenting two sides to a character. In order to emphasize the antagonist's presence without revealing his identity, a shadow of his hand will also be shown grabbing the character. This is conventional to the genre as it involves mystery and suspense as to who this character is.

Costumes, hair and make-up

The victim will be dressed in white , the colour white having a connotation of innocence and purity and therefore presenting the character's vulnerability. The calmness of this character will be disrupted by fear which will be shown by black mascara running down the character's face. This being a symbol of tears also connotes the pain of fear. The make-up worn by the victim will consist of pale nude colours to achieve the essence of purity. In general, the victim will be a 'normal' person wearing everyday clothing which is a convention of thriller films.

The purity of the character presented as a victim will be contrasted against the antagonist. Although this character is the antagonist, he posses interior mental problems that would not be necessarily be shown by the exterior front. However the character will be dressed in dark which has a connotation of death. Furthermore, throughout the opening sequence, the antagonist will be a hidden identity which connotes mystery and suspense. Not knowing being a commonly seen convention within the thriller genre.

Lighting and colour

Throughout the sequence, low key lighting will be used to create tension as the audience tends to fear of the unknown. This is due to darkness creating an eerie atmosphere; the night being conventional to the thriller genre. The darkness also enables shadows which is also a convention that promotes the unknown. A prominent use of lighting will be demonstrated by the laptop screen light coming suddenly turning off, suggesting the presence of the antagonist.

The credits used in the opening sequence will involve black and white colours. The lettering being black on a white screen will reflect the character typing on the keyboard.  This will interweave the credits with the narrative as well as being being a convention of thriller films by presenting the antagonist vs. the protagonist.

Facial expressions and body language

Facial expressions will be used to present fear felt by the victim. This will emphasize the emotions felt by the character which allows a connection between the character and audience to be formed. The character showing signs of panic and anxiety will heighten the impact of the opening sequence on the audience by being more intense and dramatized. The general and conventional facial expressions that will be captured will be fear and hesitance when the character moves rooms while checking for an unwanted presence.

Body language is the physical ability of human non-verbal communication which is interpreted subconsciously by the audience. This will enable to present the character in a certain way. The victim will be displayed as vulnerable and fragile by a weak posture and a less steady, almost clumsy movement.

Positioning

The most significant positioning that will be used will be the shot of the victim holding the phone which will illuminate her face as it will be the only source of light when everything else turns off. The lighting being white will emphasize the purity of the character which is associated with light colours. The scene where the shadow of both the victim and obsessor will be seen is another prominent example of positioning. This will involve the shadows being positioned in the centre of the frame emphasizing the events in that scene as the viewer cannot focus on anything else.

No country for old men analysis

Setting
'No country for old men' is set in an abandoned and isolated area; far from society. The place being rural and deserted is a commonly seen convention of thriller films as it puts the characters in a difficult situation. It seems very empty creating a sense of nowhere to hide when in need to escape from the killer. This conveys the idea of helplessness and vulnerability of the characters who risk death by either running away and struggling to survive due to heat and lack of water or staying and risking the killer's attempt to kill them.

Camera work

The setting is set through the use of an establishing shot which allows the audience to see the vast and open land. This presents the location of the scene which allows the viewer's realisation of where the scene is taking place and its disadvantages for the character in danger.A close up shot is also used;having a great impact on the shot. It shows the villain's face in detail allowing the audience to see his lack of sanity. This is a conventional element used in thrillers as it enables the audience to see facial expressions,almost creating a connection between them and the character.

Editing


A voice over is heard at the beginning, informing the audience of the events. This however is rarely used in thriller films as it is not seen as a convention. Editing which is seen as a convention and can be seen in the scene is the use of CGI. This emphasizes actions such as the man getting shot adding intensity to the scene and so delivering a shock to the viewer.


Character and costume


The officer being dressed in a uniform shows his power and authority. However his power is overthrown by the villain. The villain himself is unconventional to the thriller genre due to his lack of disguise . Unlike black clothing commonly seen, the villain is wearing normal clothing portraying him to be a typical being.His tone of voice furtherly emphasizes this idea as it is calm and polite.


Carrying out this research has enabled me to understand how important all of the elements mentioned above are. I will use the knowledge I have gained by analysing this particular opening when planning out my own thriller opening. 

'Scream' opening credits analysis

The opening credits of 'Scream' involve many conventions of thriller films; the first being the colours used. The opening is dominated by black and white which connote mystery. The colour red is then used having a very significant impact on the sequence; the colour being very vivid and intense. Having a connotation of danger and blood, it effectively conveys the genre of the film.

Instead of a plain blank screen, an effect is used throughout the sequence. It illustrates the movement of what seems to be smoke which connotes suffocation; instantly revealing the theme of the film to be violence. The smoke then forms the outline of a masked face; revealing the killer with a hidden identity. This is a convention commonly used as an element for the audience to question and fear.

The text appears and disappears very steadily by fading in and out, looking blurred and deformed. It acknowledges the most prominent actors as well as the producer and director. The title of the thriller can be seen at the end of the opening sequence. It is written in bold lettering, positioned in the centre of the screen. The letter 'R' drags across; it's sharpness imitating a knife. A knife having a convention of pain is also a convention of thriller films.

Thriller questionnaire analysis

This question was asked to identify the gender of the participants that answered the questionnaire. Different genders would require slightly different content within a thriller film therefore an equal amount of males and females were asked to eliminate bias.

This information was obtained to see the age that the thriller would suit. Although most of the people asked were between the ages og 16-18, the content of our thriller would be suitable for 15 year olds therefore we intented to aim at an audience of 15 and above to give the film a wider range of viewers.

This question provided information that the thriller genre is a common one amongst many people with the majority of the people asked watching a thriller film once every two weeks.This means the viewers would be familiar with the conventions and could be critical of a thriller which would not meet the general requirements.

This question was asked in order to establish the most popular sub-genre which the thriller film could be based on.The results show that the crime and psychological genre are the two most chosen therefore the film will involve a thriller involving psychological and crime aspects.

The results of this question provided information of the viewers being tense as well as scared during most thrillers. In order to create a conventional thriller, both of these 'feelings' would need to be achieved.

This information was used to determine the best location for the thriller film, according to the expectations of the audience.The results show that a real life situation is the one that was chosen most however it would have a greater impact if it was combined with the other ideas which also received a high rating.

This information was required to gain the most effective ideas for the thriller. The results show that mystery is the most wanted element therefore it would be involved within the thriller film. Danger and violence being the second most common element would also be included.

The information from this question allowed an idea of what the target audience is looking when regarding the character of the villain. These expectations can then be met when creating the character's representation.

The results of this question show that the audience is most interested by themes such as mentality which links back to the psychological genre as well as the aspect of jealousy.






This question displays the viewers' thoughts on an effective opening; the majority of people having chosen an everyday life situation. This is most likely due to a realistic opening being more relatable and therefore feared of.

Production Roles - finished

Camera operator - this role is accountable for the required action of the camera in order to capture the scene. It consists of decisions regarding the positioning of the camera and supporting equipment such as the tripod. The camera operator is also responsible for the preparation of equipment for all the required set-ups as well as any adaptations. This role requires awareness of each scene as well as technical knowledge. While the main task is to follow the orders of the narrative organiser which decides on the framing,the camera operator also helps to establish the appearance of each scene. Regulating the lighting of every scene is also a necessary action carried.out by the camera operator.

A camera operator is essential as what's filmed is what the audience sees; regardless of how effective the storyboard is, it's up to to the camera operator to bring the sequence to life. The audience tends to  base their opinion of the film on the visual experience which the camera operator has total control over.
*This role will belong to Ella Sutherland which has the experience of filming a variety of shots from the preliminary task. Due to her technical ability of operating a camera, this role is most suited to her and therefore she will be responsible for the filming. 

Actors - actors are the most visible to the audience, playing an essential role in the film. Behind every actor,a director guides the performance and a screenwriter provides the plot and dialogue.
Although the role of actors is to simply act out the roles of the characters in the film, it is vital to control factors such as body language and facial expressions which have a great impact on the overall effect.

Sound technician - this role consists of audio editing and adjusting of the soundtrack.It is a creative yet technical role that enables decision making when it comes to sound effects and background sound. The main task involved is to process audio using a mixing board which aids to adjust the volume level of the microphone against the background sound. This is a vital role as it is responsible for all that the audience hears.

Editor - when the shooting of the film is completed, the editor organises the footage by arranging individual shots into one continuous sequence. The editor chooses which shots to use and the order in which to place which has a significant impact on the appearance of the final film. Editing consists of many different processes; either to do with sound or visual aspects. The visualisation is simply how all scenes taken from different angles are put together to form one continuous sequence. The sound editing involves inputting sound at the correct time so that everything is in sync and there is no delay between the sound and action.

*This role will be carried out by every member of the group as this is  too much for one person to carry out and so the editing work load will be distributed evenly.

Film director - responsible for directing the actors and the aspects of the production ranging from creativity to technical issues. The Director helps decide on the locations and manages the shooting of the film while supervising the overall project. It is the director's job to interpret the storyboard and instruct the other members of the production team on how to create it.This is potentially the most crucial role within the film making as the director makes the most important decisions.

*This role will be carried out by Harrier Gold who has the skills required to supervise the filming and give direction to the other members due to a strong sense of leadership. 

Location manager - this role consist of finding and managing film locations. Although films are usually shot in a controllable environment such as a studio, outdoor sequences rely on a location. The location manager is responsible for the research, identifying and organising the access to the appropriate location. This involves assessing the storyboard, discussing ideas with the director,scheduling dates and dealing with any intruders on set.

Storyboard organiser - this role involves organisation of illustrations into a chronological sequence in order to pre-visualise the motion of the film. The storyboard organiser's main task is to sketch the different scenes to give a brief view of what the scene aims to look like. The lighting that will be used, where the scene is set,what actors will be present,the sound that'll be heard, the editing, iconography and narrative description must be included below all scene drawings.

*This role will be carried out by me personally as I have created the group story-board as well as the filming schedule so I'm most knowledgeable about the content of each scene. I am also most organised and have the ability to go into depth.

Thriller Questionnaire

A questionnaire was designed in order to gain an understanding of the thriller genre. The answers with the majority of votes would be enable decision-making regarding the opening sequence. By carrying out primary research, the information is recent and reliable and provides idea that can be used within the thriller opening to suit the requirements of the audience.

 



Analysis of the opening sequence of 'Scream'

Medium-Close Shot

At the beginning of the clip, the victim is seen talking on the phone; her emotions clearly presented by the use of a medium-close shot. This enables the viewer to notice the victim's frightened facial expression caused by the person on the other end of the phone call. The also allows the viewer to recognise who the victim is as the white clothing worn by the character has a connotation of innocence and purity.Her clothing also illustrates her to be the an ordinary person which is conventional of the thriller genre.

The audience can judge the level of fright the victim feels by the expression on the victim's face which is in focus when a close up shot is used. This puts the audience into the mindset of the character i.e.  feel the same emotions the character is feeling. This is a convention of a thriller film; used to emphasize particular elements for example when someone is stabbed,a close up of the cut allows the viewer to see what has happened. It heightens the audience's anxiety and creates suspense which is a key element to a thriller film.

Panning shot

A panning/hand-held movement is used when the victim runs into the kitchen. This allows the viewer to observe the victim's panic and fear.The chaotic movement of the camera reflects the victim's erratic state of mind and shaky state. This is a conventional element to a thriller film as it allows the audience to feel the heightened emotions; increasing the audience's adrenaline and anxiety.

Long Shot

A long shot is used when a car is seen driving towards the house which the victim tries to escape from. This shot allows the audience to see the setting; a large empty cornfield. It enables the viewer's realisation of the victim being in the middle of nowhere. This instantly creates a feeling of isolation emphasizing the fact that the character is alone and helpless.This shot makes the audience aware of the surroundings as well as providing extra information through the iconography seen whilst creating tension.

Canted angle
When the victim is stabbed, she is seen rolling over in a slow and almost awkward motion. During this, the camera is in a Point-Of-View shot at a canted angle to show the lack of control and unsteadiness of the victim. This is a common convention seen in thriller films which has a great impact on the audience by putting them in strange position to reflect the narrative of the sequence.

Aerial angle

To emphasize the victim has been stabbed, an aerial shot has been used which portrays the weakness of the character who has been defeated. This achieves empathy felt by the audience who see the victim as powerless shown by her being on the ground which portrays her helplessness. The gender of the victim is conventional to the thriller genre which commonly associates woman as the weaker sex.

Mid-shot

The antagonist is seen wearing all black which connotes death and danger. This makes the character representation conventional to the thriller genre as the antagonist evoked anxiety and fear. The mask
hides the killer's identity which creates an enigma for the audience. It also prevents the audience from forming a relationship with the character as facial expression is not revealed.