This slide-share looks at the research I took towards making my thriller opening film, looking particularly at the technical aspects I chose to use and media features such as mise-en-scene and cinematography.

2. Context
Choosing Thriller
Similarities
- Decades
- Inception
- Mise-en-scene
Mise-en-scene
- Location
- Time of Era
- Costume & Props
- Colouring
Cinematography
- Shots
Music
- Soundtrack
- Sound Effects

3. As I decided to produce a film with genre conventions that revolved around
thriller and mystery, I looked towards films that had that same sense of feeling.
Avoiding any set-backs, I thought the best idea was to work alone, alongside
with colleagues from in the school premises for acting. This would increase the
work efficiently because of no need to rely on anyone who may or may not be
organised with their set piece of work in the group. On the other hand, I knew
this would mean for more effort as I was tasked to be doing the whole set
coursework independently, with occasional help with the media teachers.
Choosing these genre categories allowed me to challenge myself as the whole
concept of thriller has branches of varies themes that link into others, such as
action, film-noir, comedy, crime, horror and so on.
Whilst researching films with aspects of thriller, I chose to look at 3 different
types of thriller films, classic, old and contemporary.
These films helped me to introduce similarities cinematographic bonds into my
opening sequence.

4. Each of the films shown below our the films I researched from the millions to look at.
These were selected from amongst the others because of they were/ are well known
within the years they were produced.
This intrigued me to find out why these films stood out through others of their years
and are still capable to have directors reflect and copy the themes of cinematography.
Furthermore, each film holds a decade with constructs that engage the audience of
that time:
• Old – known for the questionable disappearances on a small area train
• Contemporary – divulging into dreams that are said to be impossible
• Classic – Similar to the first one, accept that the setting is on a inhabited island

5. The theme of dreams is also dealt with at this part of the sequence has a depth of field
shot, looking towards the time. By having a age rating of 15 over, teens and adults,
dealing with the everyday life pattern of school or work tend to have a responsibility of
organisation.
The clock brings this idea as a symbol, not only as a sense of urgency due to the sigh
from Echo but the stress of being lost in a dream.

6. Looking particularly at the film that stood at for me, Inception, I wanted to look at
the contextual factors that were made, based on the thoughts of breaching dreams.
This specific feature contributes to my whole opening sequence.
I prepared this idea by having looked at the abnormal opening.
I wanted to develop this same idea in my draft by having establishing shots in the
dark to construct a theme of mysterious nightmare. This, however, is subverted
when the subject, being Echo (played by Ijah Harrison), wakes up at a sun-lit
coloured room, creating juxtaposition between the two events.
This was part of my own idea as to a thought-provoking to the audience because of
the whole lighting in the scene, changing dramatically as well as changing theme of
importance.

7. Furthering my chosen arrangement of mise-en-scene, I direct the audience
attention to conventions:-
• Location
• Time of Era
• Costume and Props
• Colouring
These represent the key sub-topics inside are what I saw as one of the most
important focuses to get my view across.
By handling these 4 themes, I was hoping to portray a landscape of dreams as
well as the mind of those who find life difficulty due to the differences in life
they face. Rather than simply introducing this plot, I wanted to consider the
interests of those of a student setting as the main target.
All this being said, these sub-topics could have improvements that could have
been made for the whole process.

8. Factors of the films setting ranged from establishing shots that concentrated on the dull
colours of streetlights, being white or orange as well as having those of being set in a park,
with lighting of the streetlights being in the foreground to decrease focus on lighting but
increase the foregrounds appeal, being the child's park area on the left and the free roam
park on the right, whilst having the path way down the middle.
Connotations of this shot in particular was to create a sense of childhood memories (this
being the left side – park) and the independency of life (which is related to the left hand
side of the shot).

9. I felt this shot was appropriate because the symbolism of the two, being
interfered with due to the grew pathway that Echo is seen running in-
between. This demonstrates the brains lack of real choice between the two
sides and this can relate to an audience that are around ages of 15-19, where
going from being seen as a child to an adult is apparent.
However, this whole shot isn't done during the day time, which could
conform to the positivity that may come with being an adult, such as being
independent, being rid of school and having gained a career job but is
instead, shown at the time of darkness. This blackening lighting subverts all
thoughts of the joy of being an adult but also for being a child. Why?
By having the two symbolic parts of landscape to the side and the
protagonist, Echo being set in the centre, ideas for pushing away these
thoughts are somewhat pushed to the side, just like it is set in the shot.

10. I chose a the time if which the film is set in to be around the present day.
This is because of the theme I was trying to indicate, by having an audience
that aren’t too young to not have a full understanding of what the film
expresses as well as not too older to have not reason with the film as much.
This meant that teens of this time were to be the centre of attention,
following the whole outlook of the film would link to location, making it to
be structured around urban an set-up.
All of the time if era meant that setting the while era too far back would
conclude in forwarding the age group to of that set decade, which could also
bring adjustments to the entire plot.

11. Props were organised similar to the set-up of one of my chosen star model genres I
researched, The Adjustment Bureau. The protagonist of the film, David Norris (played
by Matt Damon), goes from being dressed in a black suit, to having the jacket suit off,
dressed up in smart-casual wear, creating himself to being a normal, everyday person,
based on what is seen as average clothing in a urban city environment of Brooklyn.
This type of location is very similar to the regional identity of where I chose to set my
film, East London, England. However, a shirt and trousers is looked at as being for the
working class, who tend to be adults. I thought to create an appropriate dressing and
instead, moved the clothing be casual, jeans, trainers and a jumper. This conforms to
the stereotypical opinion of teen, which the audience can connect with as part of a
demographic approach, not only in London but in developed countries.

12. Looking into the cinematic aspects of my film, Echo, I decided to focus on
the 4 main technical aspects within cinematography:
 Shots
 Movement
 Positions
 Angles
In the next 3 slides, I will be discussing the camera shots how this individual
component helped to define the look of film and the effects

13. The shot below, on the left is an example of an establishing shot I took. I wanted to have this to refer to the
setting of the scenery, being a night time scene. Also, due to only having artificial light as the main light source
in the shot, the audience already begin to wonder what might be hidden in the shadows and out of
perspective.
This connotation links with the asynchronous vocals, heard in the previous shot, shown on the right, being a
the full-body, handheld tracking shot, behind the protagonist, Echo. This shot was to the focus on the
protagonists body movement, which is running and looking back when his name is called out. The chaotic
framing of the camera helps to develop the idea of Echo running from someone, without showing who he is
running from, causing questions to rise up, such as ‘who is that talking’. Also, the audience are already
introduced to the name or the subject, without any dreary introduction from the subject, himself.
On the next two slides, shots such as the one on the right side are referred to.

14. The numbering in this slide refers to the shots that are
numbered on the latter slide. (3 slides afterwards)
1 – This shot reveals a simple look towards a brick
wall. At first, there is nothing meaningful towards this
shot, however, this goes from a common normality in
viewing a wall to a up-beat, adrenaline rush as Echo
comes into the frame, from the left hand side.
2 – This shot begins to show the camera tracking Echo
as he runs. By having this sudden burst in excitement,
the audience want to know “what’s going on”. Thus,
the viewers become part of the chase.

15. The numbering in this slide refers to the shots that are
numbered on the latter slide. (3 slides afterwards)
3 – This full body shot shows the protagonist, looking
back, whilst still running away. This shows his anxiety
as his name is being called out. Furthermore, the
audience also see the background, which shows little
due to the limited light coming from the lamp posts.
This connotes mystery and uncertainty, similar to how
Echo feels at this time.
4 – After looking backwards to see who might be calling him
(expressed in part 3), he continues to run, not taking any
chances on whoever might be there. It also shows the
background, not having allot of lighting to shed any detail on
who or what might be lurking there.
Another feature is the fact that the protagonist is running in a
choatic manner, showing that he doesn’t know where he is or
where to go to get away from the person who is calling out his
name.

16. The numbering in this slide refers to the shots that are numbered on the latter slide.
(next slide)
5 – The camera continues to track Echo, who takes a left turn. This could resemble
allot of thriller characters in chase scenes, showing them constantly moving and
changing direction to lose their chaser. The shot also has dark lighting where Echo
seems to be going, meaning that where he decided to go may not be the right chose,
and the audience may notice it. The background is also more noticeable, being slightly
shifted to the top middle of the frame. This part foreshadows the next seen to come
up, the mysterious establishing shot.

17. The next slide displays the shots in its in order
of it appearance , going from shot 1 to shot 5.

18. 1
5
43
2

19. The soundtrack I decided to input into my opening main theme song of
Inception, named as ‘Time’ by Hans Zimmer. The film has references to a
thriller genre and the theme demonstrates an ambient feeling, due to the
first notes heard on the grand piano having space to ‘ring’, in a sense of
filling up the atmospheric tension, alongside with the soft legato string
orchestra.

20. I wanted to have the realist sounding
orchestra, instead of creating a soundtrack
on a DAW (digital audio workstation) such as
Logic, Garageband or Pro tools.
Software instruments that has been altered
to fit music genres such as pop and hip-hop
would have taken away the tone I wanted to
invent. Instead of having composed a full
orchestral score, I decided to go for a simple,
yet effective approach and use Garageband’s
simple music software equipment.
I decided to emphasis the piano notes heard
in the Inception theme but with a
syncopated, dissonant counter-melody, to
build an atmosphere that was discomforting.

21. Sound effects were recorded through Garageband, off of the iPad. This was
because of the easy accessibility to a device that would allow for echo and
reverberation effects that would be added to the vocals heard, saying ‘Echo’.
This would enhance any ideas of being a dreamlike state, without having to
say that it and is only apparent towards when the subject wakes.
This use of airy-like vocals are like a whisper, suggesting a purpose of
secrets, the mysterious and without having to get the vocalist to so
meaning for a natural sounding voice.
Another effected I decided to have was a vocal Foley. This was made to be
like a sudden heartbeat; regarding to the feeling of being uneasy and alert
of surroundings.

22. Context
Camera Use
- Canon
- Handheld
- Memory Card
Editting
- Final Cut Pro
- Garage band
Research Tools - Youtube

23. Being able to use a canon camera was a advantage for
creating a high quality film. Its picture quality and professional
attributes, were great as the canon was a convergence piece of
equipment, taking photos and recordings, changing its
preference due to the lighting (dusk, in the afternoon, evening
or at late night) as well as being able to zoom in without
pixelating any object or person, allowing for the similar quality
to a professional movie and having an altering option in the
depth of concentrated of focus from the camera.
Furthermore, audiences arent paying attention to the
recording quality but instead, looking at the the
cinematography of the filming, which is what directors want.
The establishing shots were very effective for the genre
specicfations of my film due to the canon having the blurring
ability installed in it. This meant that some of my shots could
be distorted for the essense of secrecy and uncertainty.
Blurring some shots back into focus helped to engage the
audience as they want concentrate and look towards the
scenery, trying to look for any clues or/ and landmarks of
where the scenery might be.

24. I was also able to use a handheld camera. This was
beneficial as it was used for shots that required
spontaneous movement, which helped to create a chaotic
scene.
The picture quality was standard, meaning that any shots
taken were viewed to be similar to those that were taken
by the canon camera and not noticeable to lack picture
quality. Therefore, the audience are more interested on
what’s going on during the scene rather than why they cant
see anything or why the shots out of focus.
Another positive feature noticed was the lightness and
simplicity in the settings, which prevented wasting time
with adjusting colour or depth of field to fit the wanted
shot.
One aspect was that a problem, however, was the battery
power for the camera. Recording a 2-3 hours did drain the
camera significantly and this was only recognized at a later
on, due to the camera alerting with minutes to spare
One more noticed fault was the recording of shots actually
being saved. The camera would establish that the scene
would be recording with a red flash that blinked until the
stopping of the recording. At times, though, the scenes
wouldn’t be found when looking back at the cameras
memory, making it very unreliable at times.

25. When getting to the editing stages of filming, I chose to use final cut pro, amongst others such
as logic and Garageband. This felt like the right choice for me as the software specifically
specialised in the editing process of films whereas the other to are DAW’s (digital audio
workstations) , which can be used for editing but are prim primarily focused on composing
music. Furthermore, to gain the best result possible, in the end, I needed to use tools that
weren’t only sufficient in, cutting and splitting, clips but also adjust the lighting to fit the scene,
have credits that expressed the font I wanted, add in fading effects and and so on.
This all took longer than presumed, though, as I had to learn how to use them software so that
I could achieve the high standard edited film.

26. When doing the editing, a backing track from Inception was added, with
vocal effects being recorded from my iPad. Music is and has always been a
speciality of mine so when it came to finding a soundtrack that was suitable,
I had already gathered enough knowledge to have one of my star models as
the track, Inceptions main theme, produced by Hans Zimmer, an icon in the
producing of distinctive film soundtracks.
As a producer, I though about creating my own track for the song, however,
this would of meant that allot of time that could of being spent on finalising
the film would be going towards a sub-project, that would possibly divert
me off of any other format for my film.
In this case, I chose to crate a simple, eerie, atmospheric backing track after
nearing the ending of my film. By having chose to do this, it emphasised the
feeling I wanted to develop towards the audience and the use of
reverberation helped to create the airy-like instrumentation, meaning that
the main soundtrack wouldn’t be droned out.

27. One of the main tools to this film project was having a search engine that
provided me with films that referred to the thriller theme. This was a key
concept as I wanted to demonstrate the theme from the outset as I only
have the opening of the film to do this. This meant looking back towards
films such as Inception was an ongoing process, only looking at the first 2-4
minutes of the film so that I could have a template of what I could include
for the time I have, being around that time as well.
I also needed opinions on each film I just to base my film around, keeping in
mind that the feeling has to be appealing to watch from the start by an
audience, otherwise, doing the film would be pointless.
Considering all of this led me to use Youtube, an international video-sharing
website, with comments from anyone in the world with internet access. This
meant that an who I didn't may or may not know would be able to watch
my film. This decreased any biased data as not only friends would be able to
comment but also other members unknown to me.