Thriller Planning - Soundscape - Updated

In the thriller I intend on using sound to create tension and suspense. I will achieve this through various methods, for example non diegetic, contrapuntal and crescendo. By using a range of different sound I will be able to produce a more effective and stunning piece.

For example, by using a crescendo I will be able to slowly build up tension and as the sound gets progressively louder an anxious and nervous atmosphere shall be created. This specific method of sound type perfectly conforms with the thriller conventions.

Another example of this is in our thriller when we use diminuendo whilst the main character is walking down a flight of stairs. The music in the scene suddenly dies down creating the false sense of security that the threat is over, this is not the case.

I intend on using a lot of non diegetic sound too keep the clip realistic. This adds to the constant question our thriller is asking which is 'Is it a dream?'.

In our opening sequence we will be using diegetic sound in the form of heavy breathing, this will be used to create tension and suspense. This is a very common feature in many thriller films. Furthermore, the use of this will create a relationship between the character and audience as the viewer will feel concerned for the character.

We are contemplating on using additional dialogue recording in our thrillers there is a large amount of background noise in our clips. This would be hugely beneficial as it would make our dialogue clearer and more understandable. However, due too our thriller not having very much dialogue this may not need to be used, but it it none the less an option.

In addition to these methods we shall be using an underscore in the majority of our thriller, this is because it adds to the eerie feel we want to portray. Furthermore, we are likely to use a low drone sound as this makes the audience feel uneasy,which is perfect for the atmosphere we are trying to create.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XyW7791kCQ

This YouTube clip is an example of a type of score we may use.

Finally, silence is used for effect within our thriller as it creates an uneasy, tense and eerie atmosphere, especially when used alongside a low droning underscore. Furthermore, the use of silence allows the audience to focus on Mise en Scene and the camerawork in the sequence.

Written by Thor Forster

Thriller Planning - Title Explanation - Updated

The film will be called 'Torpidity'

The meaning of the title perectly represents our film in the sense that it is all about being in a dream state. A relativly uncommon word, Torpidity presents ideas of being in a restless, inactive state. Much like the film this title raises alot of questions as to whether the character is in a dream state or is actually awake and in reality.

The word 'Torpidity' derives from the latin word 'Torpidus' meaning numbed or paralyzed, this is coincides with the feeling that the character is helpless in the film unable to escape in reality and in dream. In addition to this idea, this word also presents ideas of feeling trapped, whether it be mentally or physically.

Our aim in choosing this title is that it will relate to the audience as I'm sure a majority of people have felt the feeling of being in a dream state or as the film displays feeling trapped. This feeling of torpidity is something that can happen to any individual and this is something that we really conveyed in the films opening sequence.

Another reason we chose 'Torpidity' to be the title of our film is because this is a feeling that anyone can have at any moment, creating a relatable feeling which we feel we have utilized throughout our opening sequence through the characters and soundscape.

This is an individual task written by Thor Forster

Thriller Planning - Costumes - Updated

Costumes

In terms of costume, we have placed a great quantity of thought into what is being worn by our characters and the characterization in which costume allows, and how it influences the piece in its entirety.

Josh Masterson-  Wears a hooded coat along with grey jeans and grey shoes. The thought process behind the hooded coat is to reveal the identity of his character slowly, and present him as a character of mystery and shadiness. Despite the audience feeling sympathy for Joshua, there is also an air of wondering what is happening etc.

Xavier Martinelli- Wears a tracksuit supported with a green coat with a large hood as we don't want his face to be seen throughout the opening as faces aren't ever seen in dreams. It is used to make him seem a tough and hardened character. This is represented through his stereotypical characterization. 

Thriller Planning - Shooting Schedule

Production Company Name: Ronnor Productions	Directors: Robert Groom
Shooting Schedule

Shoot number: 01	Location: Ketts Hill/ Heights	Actors required: Connor Southwell Thor Forster	Costume, Props, Set dressing: Thor Forster (Second Main Character) – A dark coloured hoodie, old and dirty jeans and rough shoes. Connor Southwell (Main Character) – Regular hoodie/jumper and trousers (Jeans or tracksuit bottoms)
	Date: Tuesday 10th January 2017
		Crew required: Thor Forster Connor Southwell Robert Groom
	Start/ End Times:
			Shot numbers (from storyboards): 10 types of shots
	Transport: Car
		Equipment needed: Sound Recorder extended cable DSLR Rode Video Mic Boom pole Camera Stabilizer Tripod
	Additional notes: Need to double check shots after we have filmed them to make sure that they, test the equipment like tripods, boom mics and cameras to make sure all is working when we arrive at location. If we find anything wrong with the equipment at this point it means, we can replace it and go ahead with our film as smoothly as possible.

Thriller Planning - Pitch - Updated

This film displays a psychological battle where a teenager is trapped between dream and reality, which is which?

Thriller Planning - Plot Synopsis - Updated

Plot Synopsis

The plot of our film is aimed to raise a simple question; what in our lives is dream and what is reality. This is the story of Josh Masterson, who is subject of this intensive reality. Josh struggles to differentiate between the two. Stuck in between two worlds, Josh encounters Javier Martinelli, who plays the villain of the film, and as Josh gets in trouble financially, Javier is there assigned with catching a struggling Josh, is this real? Or is Josh stuck in a dream? 

One possible way we shall try to give the idea that he's in a dream is because you don't actually see Javier Martinelli's face. This is done on purpose as it is commonly known that you cannot actually see peoples faces clearly in dreams. However, we do not want to make it completely seem like he is in a dream as the whole concept behind our thriller is for the audience to figure out whether or not he is in a dream.

Also, throughout the thriller we see Josh being followed or chased by Javier, however we never actually fully understand why. But we immediately feel sympathetic towards Josh and side with him and we automatically see Javier as the antagonist. Our thriller aims to make the audience think and use their own imagination to give an explanation to all the unanswered questions in our film.

Written by Thor Forster 

Fonts

Fonts

Fonts say a lot more than you would first perceive about a film, it sets the tone and general conventions of the film without you seeing any actual footage.
 

 SE7EN

In the film 'Se7en' the opening credits display what seems to be a handwritten, sans serif typeface which immediately creates an eerie feel to the film as it is evocative.In addition the words are slanted up which adds to the handwritten concept. This typography connotes mystery and uncertainty. The audience instantly know that its going to be some sort of mystery film as its very unlikely to be a romance or an action film due to point size and kerning of the font. Furthermore, the opening sequence uses a reverse type to grab the readers attention and immerse them into a normally boring part of the film. The proportional spacing of the typeface plays along with this idea that it is handwritten. Also, the colour of the text is white which connotes simplicity and purity.

Later on in the opening sequence the audience is presented with the title of the film, once again we see a reverse type and it is in uppercase block capitals. Secondly, we see someones hand with bandages over their fingertips and prior to this screenshot we saw someone, presumably the same person cutting their fingers off with a razor blade. With the idea of the typeface being handwritten and the person removing his fingerprints we can interpret that this film is going to be a crime thriller or possibly a horror. Supporting this is the font of the title 'Se7en' as it seems to be smudged and slightly static creating a sense unnerve. On both the screenshots of the opening sequence the typeface seems to be placed on a black background out of the way of whats going on in the scene.

 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 4

The opening sequence to the film 'Mission Impossible' displays sans serif typeface much like 'Se7en' however it is extremely different. The font shown here is much smoother and easy to read, it is also all in uppercase which is used to grab the audiences attention. The typography makes it very easy to identify that this is in fact an action movie, this is evident due to the fixed pitch and point size. The font in this sequence is reverse type and white in colour, rather than done to connote emotions it is done to emphasis and make the writing bold. The way the typeface fades in and out of the sequence in a fast paced manor associates it with an action film. If it was to be a romance film the writing would be much slower and calming. The movement of the text instantly introduces us to the fast paced nature of the film and the 'Mission Impossible' franchise.

In this screenshot the title of the film is being presented through flashing sparks which we associate with the action genre. Furthermore, throughout the opening sequence of the film we see action packed freeze frames which reinforce the action feel.The opening sequence has all of the basic conventions of an action film such as guns, skyscrapers, an attractive women and danger. The typeface follows the fuse along and the pitch stays fixed throughout.

Sound in Thrillers

In Thriller films, music is used to create tension and suspense within the audience and make them feel scared and frightened. The music helps to build up a climax when approaching a scary bit of the film. Within Thriller movies the general sounds used are dark,eerie and mysterious. This is because they help coincide with whats going on in the scene and reinforce the mood that is being presented. The music usually begins slow paced whilst gradually speeding up helping create tension and lead to a climax. When music is played beneath a scene and used to help create mood, this is called underscoring.

In certain films sound is used to create tension and intrigue the audience. Of all the renowned directors and filmmakers who use sound in their films to create suspense, Alfred Hitchcock is at the top of the pile. One film of his that is particularly good at creating a gripping scene through the use of sound is in the famous 'Psycho'. At the beginning of the clip there is no music and we can just hear diegetic sounds, such as the door and shower. The lack of sound is on purpose, it is done to create a false sense of security as it just seems like an ordinary scene there is no quiet crescendo music, instead just the basic noises we see in the scene. Also, this lack of sound is also incorporated into the scene to catch us off guard as the audience are not expecting to witness a murder scene.


Later on in the scene we are given a high angle shot where the audience can see the shower curtain, at first it's just normal but slowly we see a shadow appear on the other side of the curtain. As the figures shadow becomes more prominent the camera zooms in on the curtain. Then suddenly the curtain is drawn back and we are faced with a figure holding a knife, however the sense of mystery is still maintained as we cannot see his face. Simultaneous to this a non diegetic violin screech is heard deafening the audience creating shock and nervousness to the viewer. In addition, as the violin is being played the lead role played by actress Vera Miles turns around violently as a piercing scream is heard. This combination of a non diegetic screech and a diegetic scream are used to create a fierce and panicking scene in which we experience the character being brutally stabbed to death. This sound conforms perfectly with the crime/psychological thriller genre conventions as it uses loud and high pitch sounds to create an intense sequence. These sounds are both reinforced by the use of jump cuts to add to the frantic feel of the scene. There is no ambient sound in the sequence and the only dialogue heard is the scream of the scared women.

Another thriller movie in which sound is used to create tension is in Skyfall, a typical action thriller. In this James Bond installment female character Eve is plunged into an extremely dramatic and tense scene where she must shoot a criminal whose in a fist fight with Bond and she must not hit James. Immediately when we are thrown into the scene there is a fast paced, loud and intense underscore which emphasizes the severity of whats going on in the scene. The sound in the sequence can be described as synchronous sound as it matches what is going on in the scene. Furthermore, the fast jump cuts and quick dialogue adds to the frantic atmosphere in the sequence. As the clip goes on the fight scene continues, the music speeds up and the dialogue intensifies building up tension and putting the audience on the edge of their seat eager to know the outcome. In addition, a new diegetic sound is introduced, the train's horn. This accompanied by the shot of the tunnel creates a sense of urgency as Eve must take the shot. As there are lots of different types of sound playing in this clip at the same time with the dialogue, the train, the fighting and the music the audience becomes captivated and the tension rises.

Later on in the scene when Eve takes the shot there is a moment of silence. The music stops and all we can hear is the echoing sound of a bullet, the camera turns and takes it's focus on the expression of Eve. The audience never actually see's the face of who is shot creating a sense of mystery, however the viewer makes an assumption that it was Bond due to the halt of the music and the silence of dialogue. The fast and loud crescendo underscore followed by the deafening silence and eeriness of a bullet being fired creates for an abrupt end to the scene.

Thriller Planning - Locations & Mise en Scene

LOCATIONS & MISE EN SCENE:

Throughout our thriller there will be several possible locations where we'll be filming, such as a bus stop, Ketts Hill and a dark, dead end street or alley.
The opening sequence of our thriller takes place in a location looking over Norwich with an establishing shot. The primary candidate
for where this scene will be filmed is Ketts hill, this is because you can see the whole of Norwich from here and in the winter it looks particularly dark,gloomy and isolated. The atmosphere created in this opening scene would be mysterious and chilling, these are both general conventions of a typical thriller.

The second potential location we have chosen to film in is a bus stop, this is because it gives general conventions of city life and an every day setting. Furthermore, we have a scene in our thriller in which a character is sleeping at a bus stop and the bus stop could be interpreted as the entrapment of his mind. This bus stop could essentially be anywhere, however a preferred location for it would be on a quite desolate road to show he's isolated and alone. When filming in this area we would have to pay careful attention to the lighting as it could be an issue because it is outside and very open. But, to combat this as we are filming in winter and at night there is going to be very little to no diegetic light, except from possibly the moon, allowing us to create our own non diegetic lighting with equipment.

For the chase scene in our thriller we are looking to film down an alleyway. This alley needs to be empty,rough and relatively long. This alley must connote how trapped the character is feeling and how vulnerable he is. As our thriller is a psychological thriller all of our locations, especially for this scene must connote this constant sense of isolation and paranoia. Also, our thriller is about a teenager fighting the concept of reality within his own mind, so the settings are vital in depicting this plot.


Written by Thor Forster

Thriller Planning - Initial Ideas

Group Contribution