Group Discussion on summarising research

This is the discussion that I had with my group which involved us summarising our own individual research and associating their relevance with the development of the potential concepts we have in regards to what style of thriller we may potentially wish to plan and execute. 

Within this discussion we each individually state our own thoughts upon how we wish to produce a concept which can have an interesting take on the thriller genre. We also elaborate on how our research has influenced our decisions whilst inspiring our creativity to reach out far beyond what is expected from a typical thriller by infusing various conventions from another genre in order to produce a hybrid genre.

This discussion helped us not only realise our own individual ideas but also will allow us to then progress and develop these concepts in order to ultimately produce an idea that we'll all be satisfied with; until we have done so, we can move on to the planning and  pre-production work and research on our title sequence. 

Group discussion on the development on research

Recently I got together with my group to discuss the current state in where each of us are in regards to our individual research whilst elaborating on what we have learnt from the data we have collected.

We also discuss the relevance of our individual pieces of research in relation to providing us with ideas regarding the ways in which we are going to plan our opening sequence ; within this discussion there are brief mentions on our potential ideas and concepts on what we tend on achieving with our very own opening sequence.

This discussion was definitely insightful in regards to realising the present state of our research and where we are moving on to whether it's finalising pieces of research and beginning to move on and begin the planning and pre-production stage of our opening sequence.

The Art of the Title sequence

Within the opening to any given film,the film-makers can choose to start their given project through various methods; many openings consist of an engaging scene to introduce the audience to the premise of the film whilst presenting the audience with the characters that drive the narrative of the story.

However some openings can commence with a "title sequence" which is a sequence that presents the film's tile whilst including the names of the cast and crew; title sequences utilises visuals and sound to convey the film's tone.

For my research, I've focused on the art of title sequences due to the remarkable amount of creativity that is envisioned when creating a captivating title sequence. When creating a engaging title sequence ,it not only must it effectively reflect the tone of the film but in addition to the style and emotional feel to both the direction of the story and the characters.

As apart of my research I took notice of the title sequences from films belonging to various genres ; which helped me depict the ways in which typography has helped those individual films capture their audiences's attention whilst establishing and reflecting the overall tone of their film merely through the style and execution of the film's title.

Take these films for examples, these are the titles presented within the opening sequence of their films. Typography is an importance aspect of this idea of titles reflecting the entire film. This is the concept that the factors associated with the visual presentation of the title such as:font,colour,size and placement all help the title to embody the fundamental aspect of the film such as tone and style. As I went further in my research of "typography" the colours and font are what the audience associate when presented with a film's title within either the opening sequence or even promotional material.

Typography is a way that the audience make inferences and link in order to depict the film's genre and tone simple merely by the execution and presentation of the title. Distinct alterations to the typography of a title ; will inevitably play a toll of the way you wish to allude the mentality of the audiences perception and expectation of the film associated with the title. Simply through the use of particular colours such as: pink, red or black well the audiences automatically make indexical links regarding the colours; allocating them to various genres for example romance,thriller or horror. The font on the title acts as further clarification to what genre the audience will infer the film to be ; this is alluded through many aspects of the font particularly the style and the ways the words are crafted reflects whether or not it would the ideal for  example the font for the title of 'Mrs Doubtfire' is neat and elegant reflecting a film of a light hearted nature typically associated with a family film. Where as the font and colour of 'The Girl with the dragon tattoo' it's dark and harsh nature of the title displays a much darker and thrilling depiction of a story waiting to be told much more suitable for a mature audience. The typographies help audiences recognise also produce an expectation of the film merely by a glimpse at the title's presents on screen; due to is profound execution, audiences can almost immediately depict the style and tone of a film simply through it's title.

This research has drawn my attention in regards to my development and planning of my groups execution of an opening to a thriller; we must delve thoroughly in the presentation and the typography of the presentation of our title in order to present a depiction of the teasing sequence to our opening simply through the engaging and attracting reveal of the title of our project.

Opening Sequence analysis to "The Winter Solider"

"The Winter Solider" is a recent example of take on the hybrid thriller genre that incorporates both action and thriller conventions order to effectively execute a thrilling story of espionage  surrounding a super soldier working for a classified government agency is being hunted for treason.

The opening sequence to the film occurs during a search & rescue mission aboard a ship occupied by french pirates.
Directors Antony & Joe Russo boldly presented the audience with an introduction to the protagonist of the film whilst teasing the direction of the story whilst keeping the audience engaged and entertained throughout the duration of the sequence; effectively conveying its hybrid tones of action and suspense.    

The ways in which the film-makers achieves their inclusions on not only the thriller genre but on action and suspense which they emulated through various techniques.

Within the opening sequence, the film-makers built suspense by playing with both digetic and non-digetic sounds within the scene.
By adjusting digetic sounds such as footsteps by lowering the volume this allows the protagonist to seem as if he is sly and anonymous; it creates suspense due to the fact that the audience are witnessing the acts committed in the scene through the protagonist's perspective.

There by increasing the level of audio of the digetic sounds at a moment for example when the protagonist is in a conflict between the pirates, the sudden and thrilling impact of the physical punches or kicks are then emphasised a great deal due to the built up of anticipation and tension building to such a moment then plays a toll on the way in which the audience responses which is by being entertained whilst being thrilled at the stealth combat presented on screen.

In my opinion whilst watching this sequence it's most effective use of this technique of playing with digetic sounds was in the brief moment where the protagonist throws blade through a pirate's hand.
The various sounds of the blade flying through the air and its moment on impact were detailed and empathised due to the great deal of silence delivered by the minimal use of non-digetic sounds which ultimately helped exaggerate the harshness and shock of the blade piercing through the pirate's hand.

The ways in which the film-makers presented the action within the sequence is by primarily using medium shots in order to provide the audience with a close view to the harsh and brutal actions being committed which is enforced through the use of quick cuts from shot to shot as a way of emphasising the fast pace of both the sequence and of the fast movements of the protagonist whilst establishing his slick and stealthy manner.

This opening sequence was ultimately effective in regards to providing the audience with teases towards the directions to where the story may be heading whilst driving the audience's attention through thrilling action sequences in order for them to remain engaged; which the directors achieved through clever techniques which I have in fact noticed and realised it's effect towards the representation of the scenes.
Overall this opening sequence was a creative take on the hybrid thriller genre infusing both thriller with action.

Opening Sequence analysis to "Seven"

As I have commenced my duty in regards to gathering research and for-filling my task ; I have explicitly chosen to analysis the opening title sequence to a film that practically defined the thriller genre to this generation of cinephiles "Seven" is my first piece of research.

A film that is directed by David Fincher; a film-maker who has truly mastered the craft of shaping a thriller that perfectly embodies conventions expected from the genre such as building suspense and tension through both visual imagery and sound that reflect the emotions and characteristics the story acquires in order to embody the form of thriller that the director intended which is in fact a "crime thriller".

The opening to the film has been stylised to be in the form of a title sequence that contains various frames displaying graphic and disturbing imagery ultimately making for an effective opening sequence to a film of the thriller genre.

The title sequence is remarkable in the way in which it captivates and engages the audience's attention through the effective visuals within the sequence with the inclusion of none-diegetic sounds that really help play as a benefactor in regards to teasing a dark and gritty yet thrilling story.

The non-digetic sound included within the sequence beautifully blends with the visuals casted besides the musical track due to the profound nature of the music bestowing this eerie and sinister vibe towards the sequence causing the audience to perceive from the tone emitting from the visuals but primarily supported with the soundtrack; this film will indeed be have very dark and unsettling story that will of course thrill you beyond your expectation. The music achieves this through the use of metallic sounds which are produced by the consistent sound of the high-hat of a bass drum in in addition to the digitally created sounds in order to create a feeling of distortion and insanity.

The way in which the director has chosen to shoot these images is effective due to the nature and meaning conveyed by the symbolism within the frame; primarily is due to the fact that most of the shots are framed with an "extreme close up" of a particular object which in addition the film-maker has enhanced the audience's focus on the images presented to them by playing with the depth of field of the shot. The effects of this technique is to draw the audience's attention away from anything within the sequence that my deprive them of their attention towards the shot but to focus their attention on a certain object such as the book in the shot within the sequence. This tests the audience's ability to depict meaning and symbolism from the object in order for them to retrieve information in regards to the story; ultimately testing and preparing the audience for the psychological and thrilling story awaiting to be told after the opening title sequence has introduced valued and insightful information in regards to how in fact the director may choose to tell his story. Another way in which the editor has contributed to the concept is through the editing and pacing of the sequence; due to the vast pace of the sequence causing the audience to witness brief but memorable glimpses of these disturbing contents allowing the audience to not only further test their ability to remember details that may be need within the story but to justify that the overall tone and feel of the film's story will rely the gritty and dark nature of the crime. 

The gritty and dark nature of the story is also teased in the opening of the film through the cinematography of the sequence.
Through the inclusion of few dark colours connotes the idea of discomfort and evil due to the murky look in which the film-makers has delivered to the audience. This was important to note due to the idea that audiences naturally infer indexical meanings associate with colours depicted from the shot. Therefore this was intriguing to me simply because it established that they're many aspect of within the frame must be planned thoroughly in order to ensure that the audience are not misinterpreting any aspects of the opening to our opening sequence.  

In regards to the way in which the director has chosen to consistently use "extreme close ups" for the entire sequence is remarkably compelling due to the ideas surrounding the use of this particular shot type and the impact it must have in relation to the audience's psychological response to this.

The way this shot type has been used throughout this opening sequence draws the allusion of a obscure form of intimacy due to the close proximity in which these shot are taken which may reflect the audience's feelings discomforted and uneasy about the detail they are able to witness from these disturbing images.

Ultimately this is an effective opening due to the fact that it achieves its purpose in regards to teasing the audience on what to expect from the story and convey the overall tone and ideas to later further elaborate throughout the duration of the film.

The analysis of the opening of this film was very helpful in regards to my research due to the fact that it has informed me on technical aspects associated with the film-making process such as camera movement,framing,editing and sound must all be executed in the specific way in order to achieve the type of thriller you wish to deliver; overall this provided me with a insightful look in the many ways in which an opening to a film of the thriller genre can be executed. 

I look forward to analysing opening sequences to other films and understanding the ways in which those directors have chosen to execute their take on the thriller genre.

An Introduction to the coursework

Within media, Mr Ford has allocated every single student to a group consisting of 4 students whom in fact have different and unique skill sets which will help every group achieve their full potential in regards to progress and success.
Within the group that I have been allocated to which in fact includes myself "Benoit Ganesan",Ashley Banger,Jamie Gerrish and Aayush Joshi.

Over the week leading up to the half term break, amongst our group we were tasked with the job to firstly assign particular tasks to members within the group. Tasks in relation to providing research towards the coursework. Our coursework revolves around ultimately  being able to produce a 2 minute opening to a new film belonging to the thriller genre; however in order to produce a clip of this genre, we as a group must gain extensive research and delve deep into our knowledge and understanding of the thriller genre.

What is a thriller?

In regards to cinema, the genre “thriller” is defined as film with an exciting plot that engages the audience through the experience the context offers. 

Throughout the history of cinema, the thriller genre not only has adapted into many hybrid genres but has also been classified differently to the eyes of the public due to their means of associating certain thriller conventions and applying them to films of a particular genre and classifying them as a form of thriller due to the inclusion of various conventions appearing within the visual presentation of the story.

What is the task I’ve been assigned with?

As apart of my research for my coursework in preparation for producing a two minute opening to a new thriller film; my task is to analyse openings of various films belonging to the thriller genre and to study the way in which the film-makers has used various techniques in order to thrill their audience and captivate them by having them remain engaged through the use of camera movements ,music and visual conventions expected from an opening to a thriller such as gritty imagery.

By studying the way in which many film-makers have executed the opening to their projects; I should then be have an understanding of what is expected from a thriller in addition to knowing the set of key principles set by cliché thrillers such as “Psycho” or “Seven” which will ultimately help me then emulate my very own opening with the correct technical aspects in order to execute the perfect thriller opening.