The document discusses researching different thriller films like Enemy of the State and Panic Room to analyze camera techniques, color grading, and pacing that could be applied to the filmmaker's own short thriller film. It also provides analysis of surveys conducted to identify the target 18-35 male audience and appropriate content ratings. Key influences discussed are the slow buildup of tension and dark, cold color schemes common in David Fincher films.
2. Audience- who is your project for
My project is for people who are aged 18-35 because the
majority of that age group would like this type of film because
they are more likely to believe in something like this. This age
groups are interested into thrillers and the majority of the age
group would go to the cinema . Also my project is aimed for
males which for my project will be good because my project is
male orientated so my audience will like my film.
3. Enemy of the state
The film enemy of the stat is a film about the
Government tracking people using satellites
and will smiths character gets a USB without
him knowing with the government killing
someone who disagrees with them and the
whole film is about will smith trying to survive
the government capture. The movement bugs
his house and phone and everything from his
wallet to his shoe. The reason why I am
looking at this film is because the sense of
paranoia and the use of CCTV footage and
satellite footage of them stalking him. The
effects that they used in the film got me
thinking of what effects I could use in my film.
The effects that I might take from here is the
shots of the Comers and the color of the
footage the footage is quite grey so I want to
make mine look like that so what I will to is I
will just add a tint to my footage to make it
look black and white and grey and then add
some overlay like they did in this film. The
effects in this film where amazing and it will
be hard to recreate them but if I get
something along the lines of the effects in this
film then it would be mission accomplished
4. Panic room
The film panic room is about a family of 2 played by
Jodie foster and a young Kristen Stewart are
trapped on their new houses safe room as 3
robbers come in and try and get the fortune which
is in that room. They use a really small, which for
me is good because I can see that there is a film
just set in a house which has grossed 100 million
dollars. In the film the use CCTV cameras which I
want to use in my film. Overall this film is great to
watch because it has a lot in common in my film
where there is an intruder in the house and thy go
to the panic room to hide in an also the use of
CCTV cameras. What I might take from this film is
the use of the color grading. The color grading used
in this film and the majority of David flincher films
are quite blue and grey. The use of the colors in the
film are dark and cold which represents what they
are feeling the feeling that they are not alone in
there house and they want to get into the room
they are hiding in and the coldness of the
weather and of the one of the robbers. So I want to
try and put that into my film because o think that it
will work perfectly in my film and I want to try and
get as many techniques in my film as I can
especially from one of my favorite directors
5. Research analysis
Looking at these 2 films and many other films by David Fincher I have realized that
there are some f the same traces in each film especially the grading of the film and
also the pacing. The majority of David Fincher films are quite slow paced at the
beginning and just after halfway it gets faster paced with more action you can see it in
his films Zodiac, Panic Room and Se7en and you can also see this in Enemy of the State
the majority of thriller films are quite slow paced and then get faster the longer you
watch the films. Also I have noticed that the color in the 2 films I looked at and the
majority of David Fincher films are a mixture of dark blues and greys this is common in
thriller films because they want the audience to feel cold and uneasy this makes the
audience feel like they are in the film and that they feel uneasy makes them more
interested in what is happening in the film.
So from looking at these 2 films I know what I need to put into my film to make it a
really good thriller. I need to make my film slow paced at the beginning and then make
it faster and I also need to make the colure grade pf my film quite dark using blues and
greys.
6. Market- what is the competition
There is a lot of competition to my film.
There are already lots of great thrillers
such as se7en, zodiac and panic room.
These are really high profile thrillers which
will give my film a run for its
money. There is also a thriller which is
also to do with surveillance and that is
called enemy of the state which I am
going to get some of my ideas from. like I
said earlier I will get most of my ideas
from David Fincher especially the color of
the film because it is cold and dark and I
want to try and replicate that in my film
because I love the look of it. So I need to
make my film like them films or make
them better than them films. I just need
to keep reminding myself that they have
got a massive budget and I don’t so
whatever little hack I can do to make y
film like there I will try and do I will do.
7. 2015 Films
I wanted to have a look of what
my age groups like in terms of
films. I had a look at what films
the age group liked in 2015 and
the majority of them are action
films or are thriller films which is
good for me because I am
making a thriller film. For
example the film Taken 3 40% of
their audience where aged 15-24
and the film legend 32% of their
total audience where aged 15-24
and 23% of their total audience
was aged 25-34 that’s 55% of
their audience
8. 2016 Films
I wanted to have a look of what
my age groups like in terms of
films. I had a look at what films
the age group liked in 2016 and
the majority of them are action
films or are thriller/horror films
which is good for me because I
am making a thriller film. For
example the film the Conjuring 2
67% of their total audience
where aged 15-24 which is
amazing because it is a horror
thriller film and my film is a
horror thriller action style film
9. Surveys
In this section I found out that the majority of my audience are male which is good
because the film that I am making is a male focused film so from doing this survey I will
find out what they think of my film and will help me because it is a male focused film.
Also the age of the people who took my survey where 50/50 50% where under 18 and
50% where 18. this will help me because even though my age for my film is 18-25 it will
be good to see what people think of my film no matter the age because they might give
some valid points.
10. Surveys
Question 3 shows me there is a split between people who like TV shows and films. This
could be good because normally streaming networks like Netflix turns old films Into
shows or newer films into shows show theoretically I could make a mini series for the
film. Q4 shows me that people don’t watch movies religiously 50% said they sometimes
watch movies which suggest they watch one once a week. For me this means I should
make my film visually pleasing and have a good premise because if I don’t they will bat
an eye because people normally read the premise before so I need it to be good
11. Surveys
Q5 I asked if my idea for a short film is good and 100% of the people said yes it is. This is
giving me some confidence going into the script writing and filming. Q6 was also good for
me because I asked if I should change anything for the premise of my film and the majority
of the answers where saying that they would change anything. One of the answers said “to
be honest, the plot is well thought out. I don’t think there is anything I would change “
but some said they would add onto that, they did’t say I was a bad idea they where just
saying add different aspects in and it would make the story a lot better such as “explaining
main characters background”
12. Surveys
Q7 helps me to find out what tropes to use in my film/trailer. This helps to think how I
can use these tropes in my film and trailer using the most common ones that people
think you need in a thriller. Q8 gives me an idea of how other people where to make a
thriller what would they do. This helps me get ideas for my film so I could implement
them in my film so it will look really good.
13. Surveys
Q9 would help me where to put my film for people to watch. The majority of the people
who answered the survey watch the majority of their film on Netflix or different
streaming sights, lots of companies now are trying to get their films on Netflix or
streaming sights. Q10 would help e dedicate a length of a short film if I was to make one.
They where saying 6-7 mins would be ideal for a short film.
14. Story
I am going to look at story now. I am going to research short film stories and how I am
going to do it. First of all the basics of a story. I need to find a basic story I want, I will
look how I want to start my story for this I will use the dan har will use the Dan
Harmon's story circle to get the basics of the beginning of my film. At the beginning he
says have our character in a comfortable position in a comfort zone so I will start off
my story in our main characters house this will be a comfort zone for our character.
Next I will need to have a need or desire for my character such as buying something or
getting something or going somewhere, for me it will probably getting something or
buying something. Then they will be in an unfamiliar situation, maybe there is
someone chasing our character or in an unfamiliar position like a place or a feeling.
Then our character needs to adapt to it which could be fighting them or running away.
For me I want to subvert expectations so I will lean off this path. I am wanting it to go
bad, I want our character to disappear or something like that so they wont be able to
do the other steps because they don’t get what they want and they don’t pay the
price for it and they defiantly don’t return to comfort and they will have change we
wont know that because he has gone. But by following the storey circle you will have a
solid story and you wont go wrong by following it.
15. Identify target audience
Discrimination
No discrimination
Drugs
No drugs or references to drugs
Imitable behavior
no dangerous or anti-social behavior which young people will be able to copy
Language
Infrequent use only of very mild bad language.
Nudity
Occasional nudity, with no sexual context.
Sex
Only very mild sexual behavior (for example, kissing)
and references to such behavior.
Threat
Any threat keep mild and shirt
Violence
Violence be mild and has to be justified
16. Identify target audience
• .
Discrimination
Discrimination is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly
disapproved or educational.
Drugs
No references to drugs unless it carry's a suitable anti drug
message
Imitable behavior
no dangerous or anti-social behavior which young people
will be able to copy
Language
Mild bad language only. If it is aggressive or frequent it
would be a higher category
Nudity
There may be nudity with no sexual context
Sex
Sexual activity's may be implied but it has to be discreet or
innuendos
Threat
Fighting sequenced should’t be prolonged.
Violence
Violence be mild, there can be moderate violence and has to
be justified (history)
17. Identify target audience
• .
Drugs
Misuse of drugs should be infrequent and not glamorized
Imitable behavior
No promotion of potentially dangerous behavior which
people might copy.
Language
There may be moderate language. Strong language may be
permitted depending on the manner.
Nudity
There may be nudity but no sexual context.. It must be brief
and discreet
Sex
Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed.
Moderate sex references.
Threat
There may be moderate physical and psychological threat
and horror sequences. Although some scenes may be
disturbing.
Violence
Thee may be moderate violence but it should not dwell on
detail. there should be no emphasis on injuries or blood. But
you can have occasional gory moments.
18. Identify target audience
• .
Drugs
Drugs being taken may be shown but the work as a whole
must not be promoted or encourage drug use. The misuse or
easly accessible drugs is unlikely.
Imitable behavior
Dangerous behavior should not be dwelled on in detail.
(hanging, suicide, self harm)
Language
there may be strong language. very strong language may be
permitted depending on the matter.
Nudity
There are no constraints on nudity in a non-sexual or
education context
Sex
Sexual activity may be portrayed but usually without strong
detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual
behavior.
Threat
There may be strong threat and horror. A sustained focus on
sadistic or sexual threat is unlikely
Violence
Violence maybe strong but should’t be dwell on the
infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are
unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic violence is also
unlikely acceptable
19. Identify target audience
where material or treatment appears to us to risk
harm to individuals or through their behavior to
the society. For example, the detailed portrayal of
violent
or dangerous acts could cause harm to public
health or morals. This may include portrayals of
sadistic or sexual violence which make this
violence look appealing. where there are more
explicit images of sexual activity in the context of
a sex work or where the primary purpose of the
images in question is sexual arousal
20. Identify target audience
Sex works are works whose primary purpose is
sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing
only material which may be simulated are generally
passed 18. Sex works containing clear images of real
sex, strong fetish material, sexually explicit animated
images, or other very strong sexual images will be
confined to the R18 category. Material which is
unacceptable in a sex work at R18 is also
unacceptable in a sex work at 18.
penetration by any object linked with violence or to
cause physical harm
Sexual threats, humiliation or abuse which do not for
a part of a role play is unacceptable
21. Audience appropriate content
Looking at the ratings I reckon my film will be 12-12a because there are some
scenes which will be a bit disturbing for the younger people because some
scenes will be quite tense and a a sense of threat.
22. In your opinion what is the most important part of a thriller film and why?
What is the most important aspect of a short film and why?
What camera techniques are most important for a thriller film and why.
What is your favourite short film and why?
23. In my opinion, the most important part of the thriller films is the music and
sound effects. The reason why it is important is you can make scenes tense
my changing notes and using different sounds and music.
In my opinion, the most important aspect of a short film is making sure you
have a story that fits within the small timeframe you have. If you don't have
enough time to stretch out your story then you could miss important details out
which could leave the viewer feeling confused.
In terms of the most important camera techniques, I believe freehand shaky
cameras is an effective technique as it can sometimes make the video feel
amateurish in a good way almost as if the characters are catching footage of
something accidentally and it is really happening.
My favorite short film would probably be Lights Out 2013 as it is scary and
doesn't really have much of a plot, however, the concept is really good which
is likely why it was developed into a full-length feature film. Also, the jump
scare at the end was not unexpected but still frightening and ended the film on
a cliffhanger.
24. In your opinion what is the most important part of a thriller film and why?
What is the most important aspect of a short film and why?
What camera techniques are most important for a thriller film and why.
What is your favourite short film and why?
25. I believe that the most important part of any thriller would be to have that sense of mystery and unknown which is
the whole establishing background for a thriller. Also music can help with this to keep tension.
short films are great because they keep it short but keep the audience engaged massively. The most important
parts are just to keep it entertaining.
High angle- Thriller films give the effect that whatever is being looked down upon, looks more powerless and
vulnerable.
Hand Held-This camera angle is used to add a sense of reality. It makes the audience feel more involved and adds
to the horror of the scene as though you are there yourself.
Close ups- This camera angle is used to show what the characters reactions are to whatever is happening in the
film and how they are feeling at that moment. It is also used to capture detail closely in a scene that is
important in the film which is tension rising for thrillers with high music backing it. These are the most
important camera angles which should definitely be used.
I don't usually watch short films however I really do enjoy animation and one of my favourite well
known animation is Geri’s Game. The concept is an old man plays chess with himself in the park. Pixar tell this
story by having the man assume the multiple characters in the chess match. The combination of concept,
storytelling and performance, works to make this academy award-winning short film one of the best. It utilizes
great storytelling skills even though it has a short length time which is some of the many things that i love
about short films.
26. Production techniques
One technique I would like to use are bullet hole effects. I
would think they would look really good in the
film/trailer. I think it will look a lot better when someone
shoots a gun you get to see the impact of the shot on a
car or a door. I would use some presets for the bullet
hole. Doing these and practicing the bullet hole effects
like this will make the effect look so much better than
putting a green screen bullet hole effect on something it
will just look a little naff and not look realistic.
27. Production techniques
I would like to try an implement CCTV footage in my film. So I would like to
practice making some footage in after effects. This would look really effective
in my film because my antagonist will use CCTV cameras to spy on his prey
and torment them. I might make my own camera effects such as the different
cameras such as camera numbers and the dates. I want my CCTV effects to
look as good as I can so I will take my time on the effects making sure each
frame is perfect. I will use some of these ideas and I will look at the films I
researched and will look at scenes with stuff that is similar and I will try and
put some of that in my edits
28. Bibliography
1. N/A. (N/A). N/A. Available: https://bbfc.co.uk/education-resources/student-
guide/issues-introduction/imitable-behaviour. Last accessed 22/05/19.
2. N/A. (N/A). N/A. Available: https://seeklogo.com/vector-logo/17369/bbfc-
film-certificate-full-set. Last accessed 22/05/19.
3. Enemy Of The State. (1998). [DVD] Directed by T. Scott. Hollywood:
Touchstone Pictures.
4. Panic Room. (2002). [DVD] Directed by D. Fincher. Hollywood: Columbia
Pictures.
5. Zodiac. (2007). [DVD] Directed by D. Fincher. Hollywood: Phoenix Pictures.
6. Tech2Fun. (25 Oct 2016). Creating CCTV Effect In Adobe After Effects
(Part1/Free Template). Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1ERrdLMp24. Last accessed 07/06/19
7. Film Riot . (2 Dec 2016). Security Camera & X-Ray Effect. Available:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkF8BoVhBLE. Last accessed 07/06/19.