"Thriller Practical"

3rd-Dec-08
This is the first lesson as a whole class where we started talking about our coursework; the coursework title is "thriller". In this lesson we had a tutorial on how to edit a short sequences in the editing suite; teaching us how to cut and edit things; giving us a short taste of what we will be doing after filming our real thriller.
We then got split into groups by our teacher Dan Lowe; my fellow group mates are Rifath and Sumah.

5th-dec-08
In Gez's lesson we had a tutorial on how to use the camera and its equipment in a safe and sensible ways. This took around 20mins of the lesson.
We then got given a short task to do; the task was to film a short thriller sequence based on the topic we were given in class. To be able to film this short sequence we had to plan out our narrative, draw a story board and deciding what camera shot we will be using for certain shot. When we completed planning we went out to film the story that my fellow group mates and I plan.

10th-Dec-08
In our third lesson we used the editing suite to edit and cut our practical work. I found it quite difficult as I have never done this before; it was quite hard to figure out where to cut into the right moment. However, as a group we help each other and completed the task.

12th-Dec-08
Fourth lesson; in this lesson we watched a thriller film called "flight plan". W e was asked to watch this because it helps as it gives us some ideas of how our thriller should be. After finished watching the film, as a whole class we talked about each different sequence within the film; 'how the sound effect could create suspense' and the different camera techniques used.

PRACTICE THRILLER

For my practice thriller, my group and I were given a prop which had to be included in our film. Our prop was a newspaper; we had to use this prop so that it plays a pivotal role in the thriller. Our thriller was about an ordinary young teenage girl (played by Samah) who comes into college reading the newspaper. She then turns to the page and sees an article about a missing girl, suddenly her attention is diverted outside and she sees the missing girl (played by Mylinh) from the newspaper. The girl then disappears, this leaves the audience to think if it was her imagination or not.

We used many different camera shots to create an ominous mood and add to the atmosphere that a real thriller will have. We used a various range of shots to add to this effect. I think that the close up shots and the over the shoulder shots worked the best to create this atmosphere. My favourite shot is the one of Samah (who is reading the paper) is filmed from over the shoulder to show Mylinh (the missing girl) who then suddenly vanishes from the bus stop. This creates a surreal feeling and provides an impression that something is not right. I think that most of our shots managed to work successfully, however I do think the extreme close up shots could have been filmed better.

We haven’t completed the editing but so far it is going well and we seem to be able to put the shots together successfully. I have learnt a lot about mise en scene from this camera work. I have learnt that costumes and props play a pivotal role when making a film; this is one of the mistakes that we made. We hadn’t completed filming and the next day of the filming Samah had a change in costume. However because the costume was still of dark colours the change didn’t look that drastic, however this is one point we will keep in mind for our actual thriller. I also learnt that different camera shots have a different effect on the audience and also the way in which the narrative is built.

I think that we have managed to create an element of suspense; we have managed to do this by having a thrilling plot and also the camera work that was included. Samah was also very good at acting, her facial expression added to the element of suspense. We managed to remember the rule of filming 5 seconds before and we managed to do this successfully, however I do believe that we didn’t do the 5 seconds after rule properly; this is one thing that we will keep in mind for our actual thriller. We haven’t received any feedback from our teacher as we haven’t finished editing.

Overall I am very pleased with my team and think that this practice was very successful and I am looking forward to making the real thriller.

Thriller Draft: newspaper

For today's lesson, we were given the task to create a 1 min thriller with the use of newspaper. My group, Me, Rifath and Mylinh decided to have me and Mylinh play the characters. The story line was that I would enter the college, reading a newspaper, sitting beside the window. I see an article of a missing girl (played by Mylinh) and I see the girl standing outside the bus stop looking straight at me. I then hear sudden noise and turn my head for a second but when I turn back, the girl is gone.

The camera work used was effective, the most successful shot was Over-the-shoulder shot of seeing the missing girl at the bus stop outside. There wasn't a shot that didn't work.

I learnt that the Mise-en-scene was really important as we needed to have the newspaper, myself and Mylinh in the same shot. Which was difficult.

We managed to create an element of surprise by having a over-the-shoulder shot of me looking at the newspaper but then noticing Mylinh at the bus stop all at the same time.

No, we managed to remember everything.

We used suspense as to when Mylinh 'disappeared'.

I enjoyed this piece but however I feel I could've done better with the costume and props etc