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Researching Thriller
To begin this project I researched the genre Thriller. I looked at its typical narratives, characters, mise-en-scene, sounds and editing processes. I did this research through watching Thriller films, focusing especially on their opening title sequences. Through this research I learnt the tyoical conventions of Thriller and how to apply them effectively. -
Preliminary Excercise
I was then put into a group with 2 others. We worked together to come up with a simple storyboard, showing a boy walking down through the school into a room and sharing a short conversation. This excercise helped me to get used to using the camera and editing processes. It also introduced me to the concepts and rules of filming, which would then enable a smooth and continuous finish. I learnt certain rules, such as the 180o rule and other concepts like match on action and shot reverse shot. -
Prelim Evaluation
I think it was a very useful excercise, as before I had no experience of using either a video camera or the editing program. As well as technical abitlitys, I also built up my skills to work well with the people in my group. We found which tasks suited each of us best, which would then help when it came to making our own OTS. -
Research For OTS
To begin the task of planning my film I spent some time researching and watching Thriller films, taking notes on their narratives, characters and mise-en-scene. After this research I individually came up with some basic ideas for narrative and characters for my own project. This excersise helped me to become more creative in my ideas for narrative, as I took inspiration from successful current films to help form my ideas. -
Forming OTS Groups
I was then put into a group with 3 others. We shared our ideas based on our individual Thriller research, taking the best ideas from each person and collectively decided a running narrative, characters and mise-en-scene of which we would use. I found this was an effective and reasonably quick and easy way of working, as we soon decided on one idea which the whole group agreed on. Hearing the others ideas also inspired me for my own ideas of narrative and mise-en-scene for our film. -
Planning OTS
Because of our prelim excercise experience we were now planning and creating our storyboard and shot list, keeping in mind the 180o rule and how we should film the shots to make sure continuity editing would work successfully.
With help from feedback from the class and teachers we also narrowed down and defined our narrative and characters and started focusing on the mise-en-scene we would use. Such as costume and props. This planning ensured we were ready for the day of filming. -
Filming Day
With the knowledge on using the video camera we were able to be more ambitious with our ideas. This meant we could film more interesting shots, using different angles and taking the camera off the tripod. From this day I learnt more about how to use the camera, and certain tricks to remember such as making sure the white balance and contrast are adjusted for each shot. -
Filming Evaluation
I think our best shot is of the parents and Niamh walking away from the character. Although it is a handheld moving shot it is quite steady, but appropriately wobbly to make the shot feel uncomfertable and as though Niamh is being followed.
In our final piece we have used match on action shots, these work well to link together the past and present shots. Filming lots of different shots helped me to practice on the harder shots to shoot effectively. -
Editing OTS
Due to the prelim excercise, this allowed us again to be more ambitious and to work faster in the edit of our OTS.As we had filmed our footage with continuity in mind, this meant the shots were easy to cut together to form a smooth running finish. The effects we used were quite simple but effective. Especially the white flashes as they helped build up tension and showed the transition between the past and present frames. The edit also allowed us to intensify the contrast and certain colours. -
Overall Evalutation
I think overall as a group we have worked well and produced an exciting and intense piece. We worked around the problems we encountered and havent found them to impact the final piece negatively. My camera skills have improved a lot over the time period, I feel much more confident than I did when filming the prelim. And I think having the knowledge I do about the editing program, with a little help I would be successful in editing a project effectively.
