Composition

There are a few different techniques that are important when filming and these are lead room, rule of thirds and depth of field.

Lead Room/ Looking
Lead room or looking room is where there is a picture where a subject is in movement and this is shown by the direction in which the subject is moving. When this happens, there is room on one side of the image for the subject to as suggested keep moving.

This picture shows you the direction of the subject is moving:



If the lead room is on the wrong side of where the subject is, then the image would be out of proportion as you can see from the image below:



The Rule of Thirds

Rule of thirds is about composition of filming. When trying to make a shot look good, you should always follow this rule. This rule splits the screen up into 9 equal sections which all go in thirds vertically and horizontally. You need to ensure that the main subject in the shots is on one of the lines which cross, this is shown in the picture above.

Depth of Field
Depth of field is when there is one main focus within the photo. This is where the camera focuses on one object while blurring out any background features. This is used to show importance of major significance to a story or a character.
Here is an example of depth of field:

Self Evaluation (module 1)

I have done a self evaluation of my own blog. 

Tasks Completed: No, i still have a few tasks to complete as well as put my tasks that are for the group blog onto it.

Detail: The research was Ok. I did read into the iconic directors finding background info, watch a few opening titles of some thrillers and watched thrillers. 

Presentation: The presentation is also just Ok. There's nothing really standing out, no creative way that i have presented some of my work. There are pictures here and there but not many creative ways like vlogs, film posters. 

Time: I have not put as much time as i should have. After the last week i have seen that what i have been working at timing wise is not good enough to get the work completed. 

I have given my blog a Level 2 = 8/20 as i feel i have not used my time management as well as i could have been. I also give myself this score as the work is partially complete but there is still bits missing from my blog which may have been completed but are not there, therefore it shows that i have not done this work. I have done basic research which i didn't copy of wikipedia or of another site, however, i could put more detail into the research as well as created it in a creative way. 

Improvements: I need to use my time management more well. I've got to really got to put myself into the tasks. 

What have i done well?: I am proud of how well i can use professional editing tools on the computers. I am really proud of our preliminary final piece. I am also proud of how i've always watched thrillers and in this class i feel i can express my knowledge in the class discussions. I'm also proud when i know i have completed another part of my media coursework and it's to a standard i am happy with. :D 

Camera Angles and Shots

In our 2nd Week, we learnt about different shots and angles and what they mean. Here are the different types of shots and angles.

Different Angles

• Birds-eye view - This is taken directly overhead the subject that is being looked upon. This angle would be used to give the audience a powerful position with the audience feel as though they are looking down on the action.
• Eye Level - This shot is taken from eye level. This therefore allows us to see whatever the character is seeing as well as what they are doing. This type of angle is used in most films as this type of angle does not make the character more powerful nor does it make the character less powerful, it is neutral. 
• High-angle shot - This shot is taken from above, from a high angle looking down at a subject. This angle makes a subject seem vulnerable, small, powerless e.c.t
• Low-angle shot - This shot is taken from below from a lower angle then the subject/object, looking upwards at it. This angle can make a object seem important or heroic. This can also make, if the camera is from a persons perspective, a person seem inferior.
• Worm-shot view - This is a very low angle as if the camera was the 'worm'. This is shot from ground level so this could be used when someone is talking and the camera is on the ground looking up at them. This angle therefore could create suspense and mystery as you wouldn't be able to see the persons facial features and therefore the character would be unknown. 
• Canted - When the camera or frame is tilted to the side, this is called canted. It creates some distortion to the view for the audience.

Different Shots

•  Close up (CU) - A close up shows a person or object within the frame. This shows the part of a person/object in detail, for example this would be a frame which would contain a persons face or a frame containing writing within a book. Close up views are made so that you can see small details like things you would not see from a long shot or a persons faction expressions.  

• Extreme close up (ECU) - An extreme close up shows all the small details within a scene. In a thriller this might be used to reveal small details of a character or of an object like a person reaching in their pocket for a gun. Using this shot, you would not be able to see the persons name so therefore the mystery is created. 

• Mid Shot (MS) - A mid shot view is from just above the head to just below the waist. This shot allows you to see a characters expression clearly as well as any actions/pose they are doing. A mid shot could be used in a thriller to show a victim escaping from a mysterious figure.

• Long Shot (LS) - A long shot frame is where you can see a persons entire body. This would be used in a thriller for someone walking/moving. 

• Extreme Long Shot (ELS) - This shot involves having the characters body within the shot but also a bit of the environment/scenery/surroundings. This is an important shot if the character is changing locations. This allows the audience to distinguish where the character is or going to. It also lets the audience take in the environment. 

• Over the Shoulder Shot (OS/OTS) - An over the shoulder shot in any film, is taken from behind the character focusing on whatever is in front of them may it be another character or an important object. 

Other shots include:

• MLS - Medium Long Shot, this shot is between a long shot and a mid shot. This is from the top of a persons thighs to the top of the their head.
• MCU - Medium Close Up, this shot is a cross between a mid shot and close up, this is from a persons upper torso, shoulders and head.
• 2 Shot - this is a shot with two people in it and this is a good way to introduced a convocation. 

 Camera Movement 

Pan - movement which scans horizontally and this is often used to pivot a direction, this is also used to follow a persons direction when walking. 

Zoom lenses - this is when the camera magnifies on the image while recording. This can emphasize a feature of the frame. 

Tilts - a tilt movement tilts vertically, this also could be a way to introduce a new character.

Dolly shots - this is also known as Tracking/Trucking. This is when the camera moves alongside with the action within the scene. A example of this is a camera attached to a person, plane or car.

Hand held shot/Point of view (POV) - this can be a very 'julty' movement and inconsistent. This is where the camera is held by a character or someone within the action. This can give the effect as if you are within or taking part in the action itself.

Crane shots - this is a dolly shot in the air.

Ariel shot - this shot is taken usually looking down from a helicopter. From this shot you can zoom in or out of the scene to add a different effect. 

Group Work

In my group there is, Me, Max and Nicole. We had to devise a script for our preliminary idea for a thriller. Here is the groups script we used.

Script

6 ways to kill your husband (or wife)

(screen begins with MARK coming through the front door)

MARK

(concealing gun in suit jacket pocket)

Hello dear how was work?

PATRICIA

It's...it's so hard now moms gone. Bless her for leaving us a little something behind.

MARK

(sitting down on the dinner table with pistol now in hand)

Yes dear there's a lot we can do together now my dear try not to let your mom's death affect you after all anyone could die at any moment.

PATRICIA

(joining Mark on the table with two cups of tea for both of them)

I'll try to for you, i hope you enjoy you enjoy your!

MARK

(placing gun in lap and takes a sip of tea)

It is delicious thank you, however, i have some bad news that you should know.

Patricia

(Smug look on face)  Oh, what's that? that fact i know you killed my mother and that you have a gun on your lap ready to kill me too just like your other 5 dead wives!!!

MARK

Wha- How did you know?!

PATRICIA

And hopefully the poison from your tea will kick in very soon!

MARK

(falling to knees and clenching throat in pain)

y-y-y-y-you bitch! (falls dead)

(screen blacks out)

PATRICIA'S voice

You have to ask yourself wondering sometimes...is there really a perfect man or woman out there for you?

Se7en Opening Sequence

We looked at the opening sequence of Se7en and made our own opening sequences similar to Se7en. We used a selection of pictures, video clips and the Se7en opening sequence theme song to make our own opening sequence. We used the program Final Cut. By using Final Cut, we could manipulate the footage we had and add special effects to the images/videos to try and replicate a similar style to the Se7en film.

(insert footage here)

My partner for this was Max and me and him worked on this piece.
Heres the original Se7en sequence:

(insert video here from YouTube).

Thrillers - Audience Expections

When you think of thrillers, you would expect certain aspects to be portrayed within the film, i.e you would not expect to find really romantic, girly scenes as this would be labelled a "chick flick" and you would next expect aliens and UFO's as this would be labelled as a "science fiction" film. 

So, what makes up a thriller? What are the audience expectations of a thriller? 

I did some research on this topic using the internet, and from this research i found a list of things that the audience would expect to see in a thriller:

• Shadows
• Dark rooms/areas
• Night time scenes
• Light bulbs 
• Tense music
• A bad guy/A hero
• A deeper meaning to the plot
• Confusion
• Death = murder or accident
• Guns, Knives, Sharp objects
• Adrenalin/Thrills
• Twists within the story
• Sound effects/Visual effects
• Gripping parts
• A build up to an unexpected scene/plot

There are two main things that make up a thriller overall. These are suspense and mystery. Without these key components, the film would not be a thriller.