Evaluation For Flashback Thriller Opening - Elliot Beard

Q1

Q2

In the sequence there is a representation of Status as it shows that the interrogator is clearly higher in status then Rick. The doctor that is in the interrogation is also higher then Rick in status but lower then the integrator as he has the most control.

This is shown through the use of camera and mise en scene. As the establishing shot shows rick looking up at  the investigator whilst he and the doctor are looking down at Rick. This along with the scruffy clothes and the scar that is on Rick's face show what has happened. As rick is sitting and the investigator is standing up this meant to also show the status as it shows that the investigator is meant to be the center of attention.

I would say that this is a traditional way of representing Status as it has been common through most films that the person with the higher status usefully has the most power and that anyone that is at the bottom would feel defenseless against them.

When making the film we wanted to make it so that people would feel sympathy for Rick as he is stuck in a room being shocked and be told to give information even though he can't remember and is trying to. We also 






Q6
 The things that i have learnt about the technologies from making the opening is that lighting is always required when filming. This would also then include if there is natural daylight or if there is darkness. However is some shots a light was seen because the tripod was to big for where it was positioned so that this then meant that we had to zoom in slightly in editing. I also learnt how to set up this equipment as well as positioning them correctly. I also learnt the importance of white balance to ensure that not only the white colour looks correct but all the others do as well.

Furthermore another technology that i had learnt to use is the Mac OS and Final Cut Pro. I had never fully used a mac until this project and although i have used many other editing software in the past such as Sony Vegas. Final Cut was completely different so that this then meant i had to learn things all over again.


 

Q7

When looking back on the preliminary task I feel that a lot has been learned from the progression to the main task of creating a opening.

Firstly the way in which we used mise en scene was improved as compared to the Prelim where we were simply in a Classroom and it showed the two characters appearing to do some kind of transaction the background did not fit the theme of what was happening in the sequence. However, this was then later improved as when filming the Thriller opening, the set that was used was changed and modified to look like an interrogation room. We also then put more emphasis on the characters' appearance as the doctor was wearing a lab coat, the interrogator wearing a suit and Rick had casual smart clothes.

From this I learnt that it is important to make sure that the actors are dressed to suit the role that they are playing so that it would make sense. We also learnt that the surroundings are just as important.

Comparing The Prelim to The Opening

The Prelim

In the prelim the setting was an office building that was the meeting place for a business man and a hacker to discuss a deal on some software. The aim of this piece was to create tension and make the audience jump forward to want to know what happens next. This is creating enigma, which is crucial for Thriller. This also then provided us with the base idea for the main task as we wanted to create more enigma. 

The props that were also used in the prelim was a program that was coded before the recording by myself, a memory stick and PC. This is a small amount compared to the amount of props that was used in the main task.

In the prelim there was also a lack of any titling compared to the main task, although we were taught how to implement the feature into our work; at this point we were unaware of just how this could be implemented into the work; we were also unaware of how institutions use titling on their productions.

The way that sound was recorded in the prelim was that it was all directly captured from the camera and no sound was used by any external sound recorders.

The Main Task

In the main task there was more settings than the prelim as there was an integration room, a pub, and a field. The pub and field were two locations that happened to Rick in the past as he was having a flashback to them as he tries to remember what happened. The intention of this was to also create enigma as well as making more questions being asked. The Doctor character also, just like the audience, does not know anything about what is happening.

There was also a larger variety of props that was used in this sequence, some include computer cables that are dangling from the ceiling and attached to tape which was then worn on my head to represent how Rick was being shocked. We also used a clipboard for The Doctor, a drink in the pub and then a shovel in the field.

The opening also contained some titling which included the name of the film as well as the institution that made the film (CESM Productions)

Sound was also recorded separately in the opening and was then synced and added onto the video, this then allowed us to have greater control of the audio as well as merge it with other sound effects that was included including diagetic sound of people talking in the pub, even though that this was added during the editing and not actually recorded. We also recorded sounds of the fans in the interrogation room to be used as ambient as well as the ticking sound from the clock.