Lost Highway Opening Credits

In the opening credits, the dark, shallow sky ahead of character suggests

that he character is unable to see far ahead of him in his life, he
cant see where his life is heading and has no idea where the road/life
is taking him. Also, the viewer is unable to se what is ahead, this
suggests that the plot of the film is a mystery, and it's hard to
predict as the road is a long, dark and unpredictable road.


Opening Titles:

Bill Pullman - Actor
Patricia Arguette - Actress
Balthazar Getty - Actor
Lost Highway - Movie Title
Robert Blake - Actor
Natasha Gregson Wagner - Actress
Richard Pryor - Actor
Lucy Butler - Actress
Michael Massee - Actor
Jack Nance -Actor
Jack Kehler - Actor
Henry Rollins - Actor
Giovanni Ribisi - Actor
Scott Coffey - Actor
With: Gary Busey -Actor
And: Robert Loggia - Actor
Casting by: Johanna Ray, C.S.A, And: Elaine J. Huzzar
Music condcuted and composed by: Angelo Badalamenti
Editor: Mary Sweeney
Production Designer/Costume Designer: Patricia Norris
Director of Photography: Peter Deming
Produced by: Deepak Nayar, Tom Sternberg and Mary Sweeney
Written by: David Lynch and Barry Gifford

Jaws Opening Scene

In the opening of the clip, the colour an brightness of the location is that of a dark and sinister vibe. The location is a juxtaposition to the feeling and situation that the people on the beach are having, as they are enjoying themselves. However the location and its environment suggest otherwise as it has a more sinister and gloomy look to it.
From 1:25 to 1:35, a POV is used from the from the sharks perspective to build up curiosity and tension within the scene, as looking form the sharks point of view, with the viewer not aware that they are looking from the sharks POV, so the scene is building up to a climactic encounter as the music which also coincides with the shot, builds up the dramatic effect in the scene as the music has low pitched sounds which gradually grow in pitch and pace as the clip goes on to increase the tension in the shot.
Furthermore, the shot at 2:35 shows the baron view of the sea, and that the viewer nor the man laying on the beach, no longer know where the girl has been taken into the see, creating a errie and uneasy atmosphere as both the man in the clip nor the audience are aware of where she is.
At 1:50 in the clip, high pitched noises are made by a string instrument like a violin. This is done to create panic withing the scene as the girl is being pulled by an unknown creature (Shark). A tense and uncomfortable feeling is created as the high pitched sounds are unpleasant on the viewers ears, making the whole scene an uncomfortable viewing as no one knows what is really happening in the scene apart from the girl fighting for her life

Questionnaire

The images that are on the blog show four questions that I asked five random people about thrillers in general in order to gain a good understanding of the public's view and opinions on thrillers. I asked how old the 5 people are that I questioned and from the ages that are given, I got a good variety of ages with different opinions on thrillers, so there was no age bias involved. 
The green filled blocks indicate which option the person answering the question answered.

What is your preferred title out of the ones shown below?
Oink	Oink Oink	Piggie	Raging Pig

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The first table above shows that we asked 5 randomly selected people which title was their favorite, and results show that 'Oink' was the preferred title out of the 5 to choose from. So because of these results, we choose to go with 'Oink' as our film title.

What is your favorite movie genre?
Thriller	Sci-Fi	Horror	Action

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We asked people what their favorite movie genres were as we wanted to gauge how we should base our film around. When the results shown that thriller and horror were both tied, we came up with the idea as a a group to try and incorporate them both and make a horror thriller, and that is what we have tried to do in our final film, as that seems to be what the majority might be interested.

What is your age?
<16	17-29	30-39	40+

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We choose to ask what our samplers ages were in order to gain a good, broad range of people to answer the questions, as asking people around the same age of each other gives slightly bias results.

What is the main aspect of thrillers that you like?
Suspense	Action	Story/Setting/Plot	Other

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The final question we asked our samplers was what they like the most about thrillers, whether or not they choose it as they're favorite genre in the previous question. It concluded that plot/story was the preferred aspect of thrillers, however we aren't able to put in a detailed story as we only have 2 minutes for our film. So what we aimed to do was to try and get across within those first minutes, was what the rest of the film is based around (Which is piggie and his actions) and that the viewers would be able to have a basic understanding of that.

The Dark Knight Bank Robbery Scene

The opening titles of the clip are in a dark blue/black colour, which match the vibe and look of batman the character, as he is seen as  being a dark and gloomy character in the films. This suggests that the film will also have a dark and mature undertone within the movie which works with the batman films, and batman as a character. As the opening titles end, the clip begins to show the build up towards the bank robbery which is about to incur. A slow, string instrument is being played, which gradually gets quicker and louder as the clip continues.  In collaboration with the slow paced music, drums and bass start to play once the robbers go down the zip line, and also go into the car. The music shows the gradual build up in suspense, as the viewer waits in anticipation as to what is happening.

Once the banker gets his shotgun and approaches the two robbers, drums are being played which quicken in pace up to when he fires his last shell, this creates build up to when the banker confronts the robbers up to when he gets shot.

The use of drums, string etc. help create dramatic tension, which gives the scene become a more suspenseful and anxious tone as the music that is used is able to keep the viewer intrigued and curious.

Mise on scene is used in the clip to show to the viewer that the robbers in the clip are not friendly or sociable individuals. Instead, the masks that are used give the impression that they are a more intimidating and unfriendly group, as the masks faces give a negative vibe, as they are clown masks, which even though used to be related to positivity, are now related to horror or nightmares. So this suggests that the robbers are using the masks in a way to both hide their identity, but to also intimidate their opposition. 

At 1:40 in the clip, the high angle/established shot that is used, produces a tense viewing as the camera shows the extent of what the two robbers is doing, and how dangerous and risky it is to be going on a zip wire where there is a 200+ foot drop which lays below them.

From 3:30 to 3:40 fast paced jump cuts are used to emphasis the situation that is happening, where the two robbers are being pursued by the banker. The fast jump cuts show the banker shooting, then to the robber as he is the target, trying to maneuver out of the way of his fire. This continues for about 7 cuts bouncing between the two, which shows the tension in the scene as once the banker shots, its cuts to the robber to show if he has/has not been shot, creating a sense of curiosity and anxiousness.

Production Company - Legendary Pictures 

Distrubution Company - Warner Bros. Pictures 

 

Se7en Summary

Se7en Summary

Taking place in a city with no name, Se7en is a crime/thriller which follows two homicide detectives, Detective David Mills (Brad Pitt) as he gets transferred from a small town into the city in attempt to reach bigger things, and Detective William Somerset (Morgan Freeman), a hardened and experienced cop who is a week from retiring but for his last case, gets partnered up with Mills. 

The two are put on a gruesome yet curious case where a killer is committing numerous murders who's victims replicate that of the seven deadly sins. The pair must trace all of the killers fine details that they have planned for the pair, witnessing every gruesome and horrific murder the killer has committed, all in rapid succession in that of a week. The pairs discoveries bring them ever close to a unexpected and spine tingling fate that neither of the pair would have expected.

How is Se7en a thriller?

What makes Se7en a thriller?

A thriller is identidied in many different variants as there are many didferent genres of thriller which seperates the genres from each other. Jaws for example, is an action/horror thriller as it uses tension in it's scenes in prder to build up the suspense and then hit a climax of when the shark (Jaws) is revealed. This makes Jaws an action/horror thriller as the use of such techniques like suspense, and not knowing what Jaws looks like, brings in curiosity and a slight hint of caution as the audience don't want to see Jaws as they've seen what it's done.

As Se7en is a crime/psychological thriller, techinques such as suspense, action, lighting is used to create dark tones within the film following the dark manner of the film. Suspense is used to give a dramatic tension once the scene is building up to who the killer is, and when the audience see who the killer is. The fight/chase scenes give the film an action vibe as the use of fast paced music and and fighting shows the action withing the film.

Se7en also follows the plot of two detectives who are trying to slove a crime. This also means that Se7en is also a crime thriller. The film follows certain instructions that make it a crime thriller: 

•  A compelling and interseting story, that keep the viewers inrigued with the plot and keeps the viewers attention.
• A lot of action. The films needs to have intense and fast paced action. This is used to give the name of thriller for the films genre as its a tense and interesting film.
•  The film has a plot twist at the very end to shock and surprise the audience
• The lighting and tone of the film has to be dark and  have low key lighting. This is to darken the film and make in more of a tense 'thriller' and keep the audience intrigued.

Websites used for concepts of a thriller and what makes a thriller:
http://www.writersdigest.com/qp7-migration-conferencesevents/qp7-migration-maui/10-basic-ingredients-of-a-successful-thriller
http://flavorwire.com/75289/how-to-make-a-su ccessful-crime-thriller-film 
http://www.thrillerpress.com/whatmakesathriller.html

Se7en Opening Credits

Se7en Opening Credits

In the opening credits of Se7en shows John Doe (Kevin Spacey) preparing for his murders and setting himself for them. Doe is shown doing such things as removing his skin off of his finger tips, which foreshadow what later on in the film and why that has some relevance to the film. Doe is shot writing down onto a notepad, which is later discovered in the film to be about  his fellings and that he believes these murders are cleaning the world of sin and evil people. The fact that Doe's face is never shown in the opening credits, suggests that his identity is to be kept a secret, which adds to the suspense and emphasises the eerie atmosphere of the opening credits.

The scene is also partnered by distorted, non-diagetic background music which is used  to create suspense  amongst the audience. Everytime the visual credits stutter, the music stutters in correlation with the music as they both start to 'glitch out', creating a more dark and sinister tone for the rest of the film.

Opening Titles
New Line Cinema Presents:
An Arnold Kopesoln Production
A film by David Fincher
Brad Pitt - Actor
Morgan Freeman - Actor
Se7en - Movie Title
Gwyneth Paltrow - Actress
Richard Roundtree - Actor
R. Lee Ermey - Actor
John C. Mcginley - Actor
Julie Araskog - Actress
Mark Boone Junior - Actor
John Cassini - Actor
Reginald E.Cathey -Actor
Peter Crombie - Actor
Hawthorne James -Actor
Michael James - Actor
Leland Orser -Actor
Richard Portnow - Actor
Richard Schiff - Actor
Pamala Tyson - Actress
Casting by -Billy Hopkins, Suzanne Smith and Kerry Borden
Music by - Howard Shore
Costumes Designed by Michael Kaplan
Edited by - Richard Francis-Bruce
Prodcution designed by - Arthur Max
Director of Photography - Darius Khondji
Co-Producers; Stephen Brown, Nana GreenWald and Sanford Panitch
Co-Executive Producers - Lynn Harris and Richard Saperstein
Executive Producers - Gianni Nunnari, Dan Kolsrud and Anne Kopelsun
Produced by - Arnold Kopelson and Phyllis Carlyle
Directed by - David Fincher

Analysis of Pleminanary Task

Analysis of Preliminary Task

Looking back at my groups preliminary task, I am overall quite pleased with the outcome of the clip that we produced, as when looking back at the clip, it flows well, the cuts are smooth the dialogue is acted well and the camera work was well done. The editing of our clip went well as we all contributed to editing some parts of the clip, resulting in us working as a team in order to make the clip look as good as it possilby could look. We included a security camera like shot at the start of the clip to produce the image to look like as if Fred was being monitored on his way to Bossman's room. We achieved this by including a noir tint on the two shots that we wanted to try and replicate a security camera as. We also included text and an image on the two shots that had 'REC' and a full red circle, as this would further replicate the realism of a legit security camera.

Despite the positives in the filming of the clip, there were some slight negatives. While we were filimg the security camera shots, we had to have the camera high up in the corners of a hallway, this resulted in the camera becoming unsteady and moving, as there was no available option for use to make the camera steady at such a high angle, deeming the shot as as not so true looking security camera.

Also while filming the scene that Fred gets shot and falls, the coats that we had put in place for him so that he wouldnt be hurt in anyway, were visible. Even though the coats aren't highly visible, the fact that they are visible in some way is a con as it reduces the realism and and legitmacy of the clip ans scene itself.

For improvemnts we could make for our final thriller clip, we could use more realistic shots or easier shots so that we get more steady and better shots  that aren't shaky look better to view. We also could have mounted the camera onto something so that it will have a more steady shot.
Also, to prevent from having props that aren't meant to be in shot, we would have to move everything in the surronding area whic is meant to help protect one of the actors/actresses, which is what the coats were used for.

The Package - Media Preliminary Task

              

  The clip that my group has done shows the plot of 'Fred', the dealer
who is coming to deliver a package for 'bossman', the package never gets
stated of what it contains. Fred turns out to try and get away from bossman
as he doesnt have the package, so Fred tries to leave as soon as he can.
Bossman then proceeds to shoot Fred for being unable to carry out
specific instructions.

In the start of the clip we used a black and white tint with a high
angle to try and replicate that of a security camera, so that the camera
is tracking Fred as he comes up to bossman's room.

The camera then cuts to an over the shoulder shot while tracking Fred.
This camera shot gradually builds up tension and curiosity as they await
for the unveiling of bossman. Bouncer is deliberately placed on the
right side of the door to ensure that boss man is being shown yet.

An established shot is used behind boss man to further hide bossman's
face, but to also show Fred enter the room but also show bouncer leave
the scene. The camera then cuts to a midshot of boss man talking to Fred
which unveils the identity of boss man.

Later in the clip, an established shot is used again to show both Fred
and bossman as bossman pulls out the gun out of the drawer and then guns
him down. This shot is used so that the viewer sees bossman go to pull
out the gun, whereas Fred doesn't and is unaware.

The final shot is a low angle point of view shot as it is taken from the
view of Fred as bossman proceeds to shot Fred. The camera then focuses
on the gun as it is pointed at Fred and then the camera cuts, fades to
black and the sound of a gunshot is heard, which produces the titles of;
'The Package'.

Planning of Preliminary Task

        Planning of Preliminary Task

My group was asked to brainstorm ideas on our movie clip that we were doing. We as a group came together and gave suggestions on the concept of the film so we ended up with the title: 'The Package', the plot is based around a package that is expected to be delivered to 'bossman'. We also set characters for each other in the scene. We made 3 characters for 3 of the group, 'Un-named lad' played by Freddie, 'Bouncer' played by Chris and 'Bossman' played by Megan. We used a prop in our movie, which was a toy gun to play as our gun in the clip. We also discussed the lines that we will be having for each character to ensure that we knew what we were going to be saying.  I had the role of playing the camera man when Chris wasn't the camera man when he was acting. I was initially playing 'Bossman', however Megan took the role she is a more complete actor. This picture that is included on this blog shows my groups planning in coming up with the final idea and what the dialogue would be as we created a draft concept of the dialogue.