Pitch to Matt

Yesterday we pitched our idea to Matt and got some feedback from him. He told us that we should rethink using drugs such as cocaine because that might make the extract less realistic. Bearing this in mind we've had to reconsider all the props we're using and try cut out anything that might push the boundary between realistic and extreme.
Aspects such as the stripper were to be removed as well as the audience might find it funny and not take our opening sequence seriously. Overall Matt liked the idea, he just thought that there are some aspects of it that should be reconsidered as they might make the opening sequence less professional and effective in terms of the reaction we want from the audience.

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Updated Brainstorm!

Here is our updated brainstorm!

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Moodboard for our Thriller!

 

This moodboard represents all the themes that we want to encapture; drugs, sex, corruption, money and most importantly..wealth!

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Genre- Audiences and institutions

Why is genre a relevant concept for audiences?

When genre is applied to a film, it implies that the film will follow specific set conventions. This is important for the audience, as every person differs in their preferences and if it is clear what genre a film is then it is easier for the audience member to make a choice whether they'll enjoy the film or not. This is because audiences have a set of expectations based on their familiarity with the genre.

How does genre effect film production companies?

The genre of the film has an effect on the film production company as, when they choose a genre they are generally expected to deliver on the expectations that the audience will have on that genre. This means that the production company would have to follow the conventions that make up the genre's structure. 

Why is genre useful for film distribution companies?

It is important for film distribution companies to know what genre the movie as they are in charge of the advertisement and are responsible for enticing audience members. They need to represent the genre accurately so as not to deceive people, or else the audience members will have expectations that can't be reached.

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Subgenre- Focusing on Thrillers

What are some of the thriller subgenres?

Action Thriller

Conspiracy Thriller

Crime Thriller

Disaster Thriller

Erotic Thriller

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Psychological Thriller

Political Thriller

Religious Thriller

Spy Thriller

Supernatural Thriller

What is my favourite type of subgenre? Give examples of films

I would say that my favourite subgenre of thrillers would be religious thrillers such as 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angles and Demons'. I would say that they fall under a hybrid-gene category as they have elements of mystery and action aswell. I personally find that these films make you think, and you have to solve the problem along with the protagonist; which as a viewer makes you feel very involved. 

Compare three film posters from the same thriller subgenre

There are many similarities in these three film posters which fall under the subgenre of psychological thrillers. They all consist of people starting off into the distance with serious and sullen expression. The colour templates used are all dark and dull, two of which consist of red and orange hues which connote danger. All three use black quite heavily, as black is a colour which signifies death. 

The font on the film poster 'seven' and 'the sixth sense' are both very similiar as they look like child's handwriting, which creates a very sinister effect.

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Genre- focusing on Thrillers

Task- Find two thrillers that are very different from each other and identify the key differences and also similarities.

 'The Dark Knight' and 'Bourne Ultimatum' are the two thriller films I will be comparing. 

In terms of the differences between the two films it's important to consider the actual storyline. In 'Bourne Ultimatum', Jason Bourne, played by Matt Damon, is trying to uncover his true identity whilst avoiding death by enemies from all over the world who want to kill him before he finds out the truth.

On the other hand, 'The Dark Knight' follows a completely different story line as Bruce Wayne (also Batman), played by Christian Bale, is to fight the injustice caused by the Joker.

But in some ways they are both similar as both protagonists have aliases, and are pretending to be somebody else. Also in terms of location, both are predominately based in big cities, leading to many aspects of the sound and mise-en-scene to be similiar as the atmospheres in big cities are generally alike.  

It can be said that both genres are hybrid-genres, as they have a blend of different genres mixed in them.

'The Bourne Ultimatum' includes:               

-Mystery

-Action

Similarly the 'Dark Knight' includes:

-Mystery 

-Action

-Fantasy

-Superhero Drama

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Introduction to Genre

There are many different genres in film, which refers to the narrative elements from which the film is constructed. Generally a film will follow a set of conventions that govern the genre's structure.

Source: Google Images

What is a genre convention? 

A genre convention is a typical or standard plot, character, setting, icon, theme or effect in a genre story. 

Give some examples of genres and examples of their conventions? 

• Horror; the protagonist is usually the victim, and the conflict faced is often between good and evil with religion playing a significant role. 

• Western; will usually feature a lone figure, an outsider, who will be skilled in fighting and have a specific moral code. They will generally effect the lives of people in the town/village, and after battling will leave alone.

• Rom-Com; they generally include two people who have to overcome situations to be together. The protagonist usually has a flaw which comes in the way of them finding true love.

What about sub-genres and hybrid genres?

Sub-genre is a subcategory within a particular genre, such as in the genre thriller there are sub-genres such as action thrillers, or crime thrillers. 

Hybrid genres are genres which mixes themes and element from two or more genres. An example of a hybrid genre is the film 'Cowboys VS Aliens' is blend of elements from the following genres; western, sci-fi, thriller, action. 

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Research - Eton College

ABOUT

Eton College is often informally referred to as Eton. It is an English independent boarding school located in Eton, Berkshire, near Windsor. It educates just over 1,300 males aged 13 to 18 years. Fee's, depending on scholarships ofcourse, reach up to £11,478 per term, which gives us an idea that the pupils attending this school have a background of wealth.

UNIFORM

Etonians wear a white tie that is effectively a strip of cloth folded over into the collar, apart from those appointed to positions of responsibility, who wear a white bow-tie.

Their status is indicated by different colours of waistcoat, trousers or buttons.

ETON SOCIETY

Commonly known as Pop. Over the years its power and privileges have grown. Pop is the oldest self-electing society at Eton. The rules were altered in 1987 and again in 2005 so that the new intake are not elected solely by the existing year and a committee of masters. Members of Pop are entitled to wear checked spongebag trousers, and a waistcoat designed as they wish. Historically, only members of Pop were entitled to furl their umbrellas or sit on the wall on the Long Walk, in front of the main building. However, this tradition has died out. They perform roles at many of the routine events of the school year, including School Plays, parents' evenings and other official events. Notable ex-members of Pop include Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Eddie Redmayne and Boris Johnson.

Resources-

Wikipedia, BBC News

Cohesive Group Brainstorm!

There are three of us in the group, and we decided to go with my idea of 'Rich Kids'. Romany, Christina and I took advantage of the lesson to make a cohesive brainstorm on all aspects of our opening sequence covering possible actors, to props and settings.

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Brainstorming a thriller idea

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Prelim Task - Final Version

Here is the end result of our Prelim Task...

How successful were we?

I'm quite pleased with the end results. Obviously there is still lots of room for improvement but in terms of experience I can say that I definitely feel more confident filming with the Sony NX5 and using Adobe Premier.

In terms of filming I have learnt that continuity is key, and that it's important to work cohesively and communicate clearly with your group. When it comes to editing I have learnt that cutting on action makes the cuts cleaner and allows the sequence to flow.


Feedback?

I will be producing a feedback questionnaire which I will hand out to my peers in order to gain helpful, critical feedback. I will post this in another blogpost in the next week.

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