After Eight (Finished Thriller)

Enjoy our After Eight Thriller... Your initial thought of the term "After Eight," will never be the same again.

Preliminary Task & Evaluation

The storyline involves two girls who are willing to fight over money. This leaves both of them furious, over the unresolved issue causing one of the girls to give the other an unwelcoming, dirty look.

When a character is viewing something off screen, what they are viewing is seen by the other character in the following shot; this called an eye-line match shot. 

Also, shot, reverse shot is used in this clip. As the two characters argue, the camera angle is transitioned to focus on the talking character, as well as the other character's response. This is used frequently throughout out short clip, especially when the characters are speaking to one another. 

In addition, a match-on-action shot is used at the beginning of the short clip. When a character starts an action, you see them continue to pursue their action in the next shot; this is called an match-on-action shot. An example of this is when the character is seen arriving at the door, and then opening it; then the following shot is her walking through and closing the door.

Furthermore, as we were filming we had to be award of the 180 degree rule; it is a basic guideline that says that two characters in the same shot or scene should maintain the same left or right side of one another. 

Despite uploading this particular video, we had an incident where our first initial footage sound was not working perfectly. This is the fault of the equipment and not our own, we were able to resolve the problem by simply starting over. It allowed us to have even more experience with the camera and it's elements. 

The shots that were done particularly well and were relatively successful. The hair, costume, make up, props and mise-en-scene was kept the same throughout. On the other hand to improve it we could haves pursued a graphic match shot to make an even better short clip. A graphic match shot is when e.g. a bone is thrown in the air by an ape and then turns into a space station (Space Odyssey, 2001). We could film a hand sliding papers on the table, which turns into money as it slides into another hand. Following that, making sure that the camera is completely leveled and avoiding any irrelevant sounds interfering with out film and making sure the edit is neat. 

Evaluation Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task; what do you feel you have learned in the progression from it to the product?

Evaluation Question 6: What have you learned about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Evaluation Question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?

Evaluation Question 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

Evaluation Question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Evaluation Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Evaluation Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

"In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?"

At the beginning of our thriller, our logo is introduced with rain sound effects; similarly Disney introduces their logo with magical sound effects. This is not necessarily a thriller convention, but a convention of any production logos that occur at the beginning of films. Some are silent, but I chose to add sound for a further eerie, ironic atmosphere.

The thriller contains a Maguffin, which is rather subtle but effective. The black bag is the Maguffin. The audience does not know exactly what is in the bag, but witnesses the male character place it in the freezer. Furthermore, the thriller maintains the convention of appropriate pace. At the beginning of some thrillers, such as in the “Manchurian candidate,” the pace is not immediately fast, but an appropriate pace to be considered a thriller, in the same way to our thriller.It is paced in a way that suspense is allowed to created a tense atmosphere among the audience.

The thriller challenges male dominated thrillers such as North by Northwest. It reveals the question whether the woman’s role dominates over men’s as she cooks the human body parts. Our subtle inspiration for our thriller comes from the famous Alfred Hitchcock film, “North by Northwest.” In the film, the woman appears to be mischievous, however we do not expect it. The audience may have assumed, but her association with the enemy was not entirely clear. In the same way, the female in our thriller is revealed to be malicious towards the end. The male’s evil nature is much more clearly suspected throughout, like many thrillers. The female challenges the stereotypical male dominated films; in our thriller is working with the malevolent one, also described as the enemy.

In addition, our thriller challenges ethnic stereotypes. The actress is white, whereas the actor is from an ethnic minority. At the beginning, it appears as if the male actor is the perpetrator, which corresponds to the racial stereotype that ethnic minorities cause mischief. Nevertheless, this is challenged after the audience realises that the white actress is also involved in the mischief. Jamie Foxx from Collateral conforms to the stereotype as he is the “good guy,” and Tom Cruize, the white actor is the “bad guy.” This challenges the typical viewpoints as both our characters are guilty, in addition there is a sense of racial equality.

The main male character develops an obscure behaviour from guilty characters in thrillers. He immediately looks suspicious by his obscure behaviour, which alerts the audience to be aware of his actions. Similarly, in Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” the male character that assists the woman at the hotel also causes the audience to be aware of his actions because of his awkward behaviour. The behaviours between the two charcters are not the same, but they both raise audience awareness. The male character’s behaviour illustrates suspicion that occurs in all thrillers because we do not know what to expect.

Moreover, the cannibalism in “Sweeny Todd,” is developed into our thriller. The Sweeny Todd murders his clients, for Mrs Loveitt meat pies. Likewise, in our thriller, the female character cooks human body parts for her husband. This makes it more gruesome as he is aware of what he is eating. On the other hand, the town does not know they are eating humans “Sweeny Todd.” He does it out of bad intentions, but in our thriller the characters’ intentions are not revealed, which advance the mysterious elements in the thriller.

Audience Feedback 15+

Critism

Sound Analysis (In thriller)

At the beginning of the thriller, the company logo is introduced by the sound of rain and eerie earthly sounds, which illustrates a sense of irony in correspondence to the actual company name, "happy days." It is the opposite of happy, thus be rain symbolising sorrow, despair and there is also a sense of mystery by the earthly sounds. The thunder also exemplifies villain associated elements, as well as danger. The idea of nature can relate to the couple consuming natural, human bodies.

Furthermore, the non-diegetic sound played throughout is a low sound, immediately alerting the audience that there is something not right, and suspicious happening. The tone rises to an uncomfortable high pitched sound, thus increasing tension ad apprehension. There is also a piano sound, that is continuously playing like a fast clock. It suggests that time may be running out, or catching up to them. The sound of occasional notes intensifies anxiety amongst the audience. Additionally, the sound of the dog in the background draws the audience to be aware of the character'a actions. When the woman puts the contents in the pot, the music creates a dark, dull and low tone; the opposite of high pitched angelic tones, is used to warn the audience that the female may not be as innocent as you think. The sound of the chopping board raises the tension, as it gets increasingly loud. Moreover, when the chopping board is revealed the piano note is high, thus causing tension to reach it's zenith; and when the chopping board is revealed again, the low sound returns, emphasising the intensity of the scene. Finally, at the end of the thriller the sound of an evil choir close the end of the thriller, leaving a tension filled cliffhanger.

 

Behind The Scenes!

Audience research questionnaire

Mise-en Scene - James Bond

The Birds (1963)

Watch out for The Birds!

 

The trailer is introduced by a dark voicing informing the audience, "there is no need to be afraid," but as the audience we already know that this thriller contains material that of course we are going to be afraid. Thousands of birds are seen together as if they are in a gang, awaiting their prey. They don't appear welcoming, especially because all the birds are black; he black could potentially suggest danger, death and destruction. Next, they swam like hungry animals, attacking the children viciously. If they are able to attack children, then most defiantly they are able to attack anything, no matter what the humans have nothing against these cruel birds. "I hardly think a few birds are going to bring about the end of the world," is that so, lady? Her naivety caused her to doubt the capability of these menacing birds. More and more birds are seen, and a woman who seems her anxiety is eating her alive screams in panic and worry. The birds continue to flutter and screech while they attack.

The film stars Tippo Hedren, Jessica Tandy, Rod Taylor.

The Plot

The young socialite, Melanie Daniels agenda is to fool her love interest Mitch Brenner by playing a joke on him. She gives him the gift of lovebirds which is for his younger sibling’s birthday. This encourages the unexplainable attack of birds.  As time continues, the numbers of birds increase.

In what ways is this an archetypal thriller?

Threat? Nature.

There is nowhere to escape commonly in Hitchcock films, in this case you cannot run away from “The Birds.”

Here is a teeth grinding scene from The Birds

In this clip, the woman shouts for Danny but he’s not home. There is silence, which introduces suspense. She looks around in anxiety making the audience also feel her anxiety, wondering what might occur next. There is a suspicious, eerie atmosphere present; she enters a room full of destruction and mishap. He face increases in worry as she looks around the room and spots bloody legs, then the whole body. It terrifies her, leaving her in absolute shock that she’s not able to even scream. The woman runs to another man, unable to speak; traumatised.

“Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action.”

Children running away frantically away from the birds

The birds smashing into the windows

A swam of birds attack Melanie Daniels

Is there an actual hero in the thriller?

The external threat comes from nature, and there no actual mugiffin in the film. On the other hand, you could assume that the birds have a reason for attack. Perhaps nature treated badly, or humans themselves. Hitchcock commonly uses a macguffin in his thriller to make them more exciting.

Therefore, who is the real enemy here?

“Devices such as suspense, red herrings and cliff hangers are used extensively.”

Suspense

Expecting a friend, Mitch’s mother enters the house but she was not expecting what she saw. She inspected the house anxiously and found it in ruins, which created tension and suspense. Suspense is at it’s zenith when she sees the dead body.

Even more suspense…

Melanie wants to pick up Mitch’s sister to make sure she is safe from the birds. Suspense rises as more and more birds gather the school playground, illustrating entrapment. The birds show their dominance by being appearing superior to the humans.

The end of the thriller, there is no conclusion, which can be regarded as a cliffhanger. He wanted to leave terror in the audience.

Lighting Exercise

About Lighting


 

Shot 1 = Key Light

One of the most important, and commonly the first light that a photographer, or a cinematographer will use. The key light is used to highlight the shape (dimension and form) of an object, and can cause the effect of silhouettes. It is clear from this shot, the dimension and form.

Shot 2 = Back light

The use of the back light enables counteract causing a silhouette when there is a 3 part set up. Alone, the back light can create a silhouette, but the face is usually blacked out. It isn’t entirely effective in this particular shot.

Shot 3 = Filler Light

The filler light softens the harsh shadows that key, and back lights cause. The three part lighting structure is used, and prevents a contrast effect. The shot here is rather effective as there is not much shadow.

Shot 4 = under lighting

This shot is where the source of light is put under an object/subject. This creates an eerie atmosphere, and is used rather thoroughly in thrillers. The shot is makes the character appear sinister.

Shot 5 = Top lighting

The light is placed above the subject, which is a rather flattering light to make a glamorised effect. One of the most famous shots, is “Shanki Express,” in which the woman appears beautiful, many models use this type of lighting to create a flattering effect, and a famous celebrity example is Madonna. The shot is quite successful.

Shot 6 = Low Key Lighting

The key and back lights are used to create the low key lighting effect, which produces a sharp light and dark contrast. Shadows are seen, which is called a chiaroscuro effect. It helps to create an eerie look in thrillers, and the character in the shot looks quite intimidating. 

Shot 7 = High Key Lighting

The fillers are used (key and back lighting) in a 3 camera set up. This is a known form of lighting to create a realistic look, which prevents forms of shadows.