1. Script
Sound
The repetitive nature of the sound used builds tension and creates and eerie
atmosphere. It also makes the viewer uncomfortable. We amplified the Foley
sound effects which were recorded with the footage we had. The steady drum
beat throughout the piece suggests a heartbeat reflecting the fragility and the
vulnerability of her life.
Mise En Scene
Props
We kept prop use to a minimum ensure that the props we did use had a certain
poignancy. For example the knife is emphasised due to the fact that there are no
other props on screen. The collage on the wall reflects the obsessive nature of
the male character. Character specific photos of the female character were used
to show the planning and the intricacy the male character has done. The flashes
of blood on the screen add to the anomalous nature of the thriller genre.
Lighting
We kept lighting to basics just using one light source throughout to illuminate
specific props and characters. Our prominent use of shadow, which is typical of
Film Noir, allowed us to experiment more with character movement and
interaction with props.
Costume
The costumes worn by the characters simply reflect stereotypical images and
ideas we had of young serial killers. The male’s costume consisted of bland
colours such as black showing that on the outside, he is just a normal looking
man. The female’s costume in terms of colour was outgoing and vibrant
reflecting youth and her childish nature.
Camerawork
After watching several thrillers with shots from the antagonist’s point of view,
we decided that using hand held camerawork would give the sinister impression
that we wanted. By panning over the collage we could give the viewer a sense of
the obsessive nature of the antagonist.
Editing
We used grainy filters over the footage in order to suggest that this is a film
within itself, as though the antagonist is watching himself, replaying what he was
doing. In order to keep the viewer on edge we included short clips of the footage
of the word ‘Obsession’ being slowly written in blood at random intervals
throughout the opening. We used a black and white effect over the footage of the
female tied to the chair, suggesting that the event is not happening in real time.