Evaluation Activity 7

Looking back at my preliminary task, what do I feel I have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

Preliminary Video

In the preliminary video the task at hand wasn't that familiar so we were experimenting with different techniques. In the opening credits I have super-imposed text onto the screen. In reflection on the preliminary video the text alignment could have been structured better as it masks half of the screen in contrast to 'Fool Me Twice' when the decision was made to make the text look more submerged.

Final Video 'Fool Me Twice'

                                                                                 Match on Action...In the preliminary video 'Finding Derick' we created a match-on-action shot where the protagonist strikes the antagonist hurling him to the floor. This type of editing is vital for continuity, it shows the method of one shot cutting to another, portraying the action that was intended in the first shot.

Evaluation Activity 6

What have I learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Evaluation Activity 5

How did I attract/address my audience?

Evaluation Activity 4

Who would be the ideal audience for my media product?

Generically the film would have to be 18+ due to the violence, gangs and drug references. It is vital to give a film with this type of content a high age certificate because it would affect minors mentally short term and long term. Teamed with tense chilling music and recent reviews such as 'Twisted', without a certificate this is self-explanatory that the film will be very tense and not for younger viewers. That film contains only male actors (if the full film was made only very few female actresses would be casted) evidently appealing more to males, however this also depends on preference on the female perhaps some enjoy films with a protruded  male to female ratio. 'Fool Me Twice' would also gain the interest of males because the main themes are violence and drugs (both which men have a tendency to enjoy) as well the male audience may be able to relate to the characters in the film with it being contemporary.

  The photo I have is a modern nineteen year old male. Varied taste in clothing attire would shop at favorable stores such as...
 http://www.asos.com/?r=2
http://www.zara.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/home/uk/en/
http://www.americanapparel.net/

Favorite T.V Programs would include...

Evaluation Activity 3

What kind of media institution might distribute my media product and why?

Evaluation Activity 2

How does my film represent different social groups?

On the left: Gordon Gray (actor in 'Fool Me Twice')
On the right: Gary Stretch (actor in 'Dead Mans Shoes')

Both films are contemporary thrillers.The story line and the role of both characters are similar in 'Fool Me Twice' and 'Dead Mans Shoes'. It's difficult to understand whether Gordon or Gary and his clan are protagonists or antagonists as they both have committed a crime in the past but then are punished for it by their adversaries. Both characters are wearing black, leather jackets teamed with a dark colored scheme attire. The dark colors represent loss and death, evidently this clothing is foregrounding of their pre-determined fate. The ethnicity of the characters is also a vital decision when choosing roles for a thriller film. Without being xenophobic it is the norm for a white Caucasian male to be casted as the victim in a thriller film. This focuses on the stereotypes of ethnicity in the media industry. 

Below are numerous thriller film's that include white, Caucasian's as the victims...

                                 Sleuth Jude Law                           Secret Window Johnny Depp

  
                                 Misery James Caan                                Phonebooth Colin Farrell


 

Evaluation 1 Continued

Camerawork and Editing

A variety of types of shots and angles were used in the process of completing our two minute opening film. The long establishing shots were important at the beginning of the film because it gives the audience a sense of the mise-en-scene and what to expect later in the film. After the opening credits both protagonists pursue into the wood. The start of the wood is masked by colossal tree's which adds to the mystique and the element of the unknown in the film. Films such as The Shining and Silence of the Lambs both start with establishing shots.







Title and Font

We pursued the same title font and style throughout the two minute film opening to reinforce the element of continuity evidently augmenting the sense of realism. Also including the superimposing technique as a lot of thriller films do (like above) for their opening credits.

 

 

Overall the opening credits of thriller films often seem to be superimposed on the screen in modern day however in the 20th century when technology wasn't as advanced or perhaps due to preference; an alternate title screen was made for the opening credits however I believe the contemporary method of superimposing enhances the 'cinematic experience'.

 

 

Story, Genre and How Characters are introduced

At the beginning of the opening the two protagonists naively walk into an isolated woodland area. The wood has numerous physical barriers such as the broken fences, derelict buildings and bad terrain that should initially make the two protagonist teens avoid the area however being the stereotypical Caucasian, vulnerable teenager, they are oblivious to all danger. Also due to the diegetic, ominous music, the audience will sense the negative energy portrayed by all the barriers and atmosphere evidently preparing themselves for a thriller/slasher.

The antagonist is not introduced into the clip until one minute into the film however his face is not shown until two minutes eighteen seconds. When the antagonist first appears he does so with a wrench in his right hand however there is a low angle close up on the hand with no wrench in it. The tracker releases the wrench from his sleeve and falls into his hand simultaneous to the ominous 'knife' music.

 

 

The Warriors

 

I gained inspiration from the scene from ''The Warriors'' where the 'Baseball Furies' face 'The Warriors' and the lead member drops a baseball bat from infront of his arm (out of the camera's view) however the camera catches the extreme close up of the release of the bat because there is an extreme close up of the hand region.

 

 

Effects Used

There were numerous effects used in the two minute film opening to enhance the aestethics of the clip and accentuate some necessary factors. We included a sepia filter to insinuate the trackers perception. Though exaggerated it was necessary as the colour connotes violence and it showed an insight to the deranged killers mind. Also altered the contrast and brightness of each clip to improve the quality.

 

 

 

Evaluation 1 Continued

Title of the Film

'Fool Me Twice' seemed very relevant to use for our thriller/slasher film opening. It plays on the idiom 'fool me once; shame on you, fool me twice; shame on me'. This type of title would seem quite generic of a thriller movie because it makes the audience question it. This technique is achieved by numerous pychological thrillers such as: Silence of the Lambs, Along Came a Spider and Se7en. The title itself represents victimisation before the film even begins and from an audience's perspective who are familiar with the thriller genre; bullying or victimisation generally leads to revenge.

Setting/Location

After viewing a number of locations and researching into different film openings, it seemed that most thriller/slasher films start in a desolate venue to connote isolation and solitarisim. We eventually found Hameldon wood which seemed fit for the film because it had a lot of vegetation which would be used as cover for the follower and a substantial amount of reckage and had a relic atmosphere.

Costumes and Props

For both protagonists we casted to white, teenage, caucasian males. Generally young caucasian characters tend to be extremley vulnerable in slasher movies. They don't seem to be aware of danger and totally oblivious to a troublesome situation. The stereotype of the white teenage behaviour in a slasher movie is; they seem to always leave the secure house, search islolated attics and bedrooms and quite often are quite lustful outside in plain sight of the killer.

Cabin in the woods

'Cabin in the Woods' is a satirical horror film that mocks and accentuates the generic features of a slasher movie. The picture on the left is where Chris Hemsworth leads his girlfriends in the woods to have sex. Shortly after they are intercepted by an undead red-neck and a bear trap.

Evaluation Activity 1

 

 

In what ways does my media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Opening Film Sequence Response's

Final Version 'Fool Me Twice'

                                              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiRusMkv3kU

Storyboard/Planning Process of 'Fool Me Twice'

Extended Character Persona

The previous picture of the antagonist Solomon shows the famous Stanley Kubrick 'Glare' shot. With the mouth slightly ajar, head tilted forward while the eyes press against the eyebrows giving a deranged look. This shot is to imply the character is not mentally stable or some supernatural force has taken over him.

Full Metal Jacket

Clockwork Orange

Here are a few films Kubrick has included the famous 'Glare' shot in.

Character Persona

Being exiled and isolated for a long period of time we tried to give the antagonist Solomon a relic'd look. A khaki trench coat and a white bob hat was to imply the clothes didn't match and were stolen. The inspiration that led us to deciding on Solomon's persona was a mix between the eccentric ukulele performer 'Tiny Tim' and also the american sing/song writer 'Tom Wait's' whom Heath Ledger analysed before starring as The Joker.

Tiny Tim

Tom Waits

Antagonist
Solomon

Film Opening Analysis

Editorial Decisions... During filming 'Fool Me Twice' we included a sepia mask effect on the camera. The purpose of this was to highlight the deranged follower's (antagonist) perspective. I thought this worked well because although exaggerating the sepia effect helped the audience truly empathize with the antagonist's damaged past and also the sepia is generally red which symbolizes blood and connotes violence. The handheld camerawork and the tracking editing through the tree's also augmented this affect.

Sepia Edit

Location Hunting

The Setting

While in the process of location hunting we came across a secluded woodland area that seemed fit for the film opening. Over flowing with withered tree bark and derelict buildings  this location stood out and appeared more relevant than the rest. The opening of 'Silence of the Lambs' is also shot in an empty park/wood. Any isolated or desolate ground is perfect for the opening of a thriller.

Hameldon Wood
(Our Location)

'Misty Wood'
Clay County, West Virginia.
(Silence of the Lambs)

Plot

Fool Me Twice

The Plot

The Film opens with two, young, Caucasian males walking through a woodland area. As the film progresses and the type of shots differ, it suggests they are being followed. The deranged tracker is eventually made visible wielding a combination spanner to reinforce the sense of realism in the clip, also teamed with a shot-reverse-shot sepia screen to highlight his point of view. Nevertheless the follower tracks one of the protagonists and an extreme close up shot show's the antagonist striking him. The story follows that of a generic thriller film opening with the tracker in pursuit of the only surviving protagonist. This scene is then interrupted with the end credits of the short film clip. Given a big budget and a longer time period, the film would have followed on as so... Anaphora would be a predominant theme throughout the film 'Fool Me Twice'. After the short two minute opening, the movie would flash back three years earlier where both the antagonist and protagonists where childhood friends. As the story unfolds it becomes clear that Gordon (the smaller protagonist with the black leather jacket) had taken a turn for the worse. With his father suddenly coming into a large sum of money  a vicious greed over took his once innocent mind. Unknowingly to Gordon his father was a wanted drug lord. Gordon began stealing small amounts of his fathers money day by day assuming he wouldn't notice. Nine months swiftly passed and the stolen blood money soon accumulated. It came to Gordon's father's attention of the missing money and he was outraged. Threatening him with his own life Gordon panicked and threw the blame onto the innocent orphan Solomon (the antagonist). Jamie by-standing this evil was as much to blame as Gordon. His father and his clan tracked down Solomon and took the law in to their own hands banishing him to a deserted prison in Mozambique where he was given scarce food and water and also tortured. After two years of this punishment Solomon became immune to the pain and was able to survive off the little supplements that he was given. One of night guards fell asleep and Solomon saw this as an opportunity to gain vengeance. Stripping him of his uniform and weapons, Solomon's disguise was sufficient enough for him to pass off as a guard and aboard ship back to the United Kingdom. Arriving back in his hometown Burnley, he gains background knowledge on his once best freinds and pursues them through their daily routine making them live in fear. The story then reverts back to the original two minute clip and follows on from there.

Film Opening Draft

The Lesser Key of Solomon

 This was our initial idea for the film opening. The film was based in the 1950's hence the attire and haircuts. We tried to include connotations of this era such as the vinyl player, a tobacco pipe and the old fashioned banister and stairway. Due to the time period of the opening we added an old film grain effect to the camera to solidify the vintage look. In reflection we understood there would be a few anomalies and errors in the full filming process so decided to progress with the present idea 'Fool Me Twice'.

Me with a camera filming actors Jamie Glasgow and Samuel Hartley
in the 'Lesser Key of Solomon'.

Film Opening Analysis Continued

This is where the old house first comes into shot. It's important because as one of the protagonist opens the door there is an establishing shot showing a full view of the door opened. The only light present is the natural light which is dispersing into the house. Regardless of the natural light the decrepit house remains dark as the the shadow dominates the light. The point of view of the camera is opposite adjacent the protagonist as if to suggest it is the view point who we know is 'Leatherface'.

Film Opening Analysis Continued

Two of the girls leave the van and go to buy a can of Coca Cola from the vending machine outside the dreary, isolated gas station. A two shot is then teamed with a panning technique with the camera. Again at eye level the panning insinuates there are being watched and the normal order of things is starting to look aberrant.

Before the above shot, a low-angle two shot is conformed to highlight the girls' vulnerability and also suggests a libidinous element which would make the audience slightly uncomfortable nevertheless adding to the chilling apprehension.