Pre Production: Casting

My group and I have been trying to figure out who were are going to cast to act in our opening film sequence...

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Characters in our film

"Dad"

Kid #1

Kid #2

Casting Ideas

"Dad"- So for this part, we need someone who resembles a father-like figure, so we figured that one of our Dads would play this role.

Kid #1 and #2: We also thought that the man would kidnap one boy and one girl. So we can have one of our siblings play these roles.

Research: Glitches

So after my group and I had finished discussing a basic outline to our final film project we decided to get down to specifics in how we could construct our film. So, to recap, the theme we came up with was a psychological thriller. The overall plot is of a man who has kidnapped a bunch of kids and mentally believes that they are his children. We thought that we really capture that essence of a psychological thriller by incorporating glitches throughout our film, especially in the final scene where the man's fantasy of the kids actually being his family 'glitches' to reality where they are actually kidnapped. In order to do this I researched ways about how to make glitches in IMovie.

Pre Production: Location Ideas

After coming up with an overall idea for our film, my group and I decided to come up with some location ideas for it.


So throughout our whole film, the main setting is really going to be at a house, showing clips in the kitchen and the dining room. So we've realized that we are going to have to shoot those scenes at one of our houses.










Other scenes in the film consists of missing posters or a bulletin board, so those scenes can also be shot at one of our houses.












We can also shoot some scenes at a park to show the past/his process of how he kidnapped the kids.

Pre Production: Storyboard

After struggling to come up with an idea that incorporated all of my partner's ideas, we were finally able to come up with a pretty good idea for our final film project.

So the theme we came up with was a psychological thriller. The overall plot is of a man who has kidnapped a bunch of kids and mentally believes that they are his children.

Some ideas that we have come up with to make our idea come into reality is by alternating scenes from him making dinner to feed his "kids" and scenes of what happened with the kidnapping (ex: showing missing posters/a bulletin board consisting of pictures of the kids, etc) which shows the difference from fantasy and reality.

We were also thinking about using glitches to also  show the difference between the kidnapper's fantasy with reality. So, for example, at the end where the "family" is happy and sitting around the dinner table, a glitch will change the scene to the kids being in handcuffs and the man is the only one eating, showing the reality.

The Secret Life of Mrs.Cowden: Editing Project

After learning about different types of edits, I had the opportunity to use this new knowledge by creating a short film out of my teacher's previously filmed clips.

For example, we utilized transitions such as dissolve, fade in/out, wipe, jump cut, iris open, etc.










And edits such as reverse on-screen motion and time lapse.







When figuring out where to put these simple edits, it was easy. After learning what the edits were for and how to utilize them, we made sure that transitions (ex; Fade in/out and Iris open) were put in places that made sense (ex; fade in in the beginning, and fade out at the end).

The project, overall, helps me when thinking about my film, because it showed me that putting certain edits in without a specific reason makes the film look sloppy, but when it is utilized in a beneficial manner, it can bring out a certain emotion/feeling which can improve the film.

Obstacle #1: Conflicting Genre Ideas (with partners)

     

                

     

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So recently I have paired up with my partners for my film opening and when discussing what genres we want to portray we all have different ideas. 

As I have said before I have been wanting to do a suspense/thriller genre much like movies Se7en or maybe Split (I have been drifting more to psychological thrillers rather than horror)




Meanwhile my partners have wanted to take a different approach of Teen Comedies such as The Breakfast Club and Princess Diaries.

As of right now we have not really come up with a great combination of ideas but as you can see this has become one of our obstacles so far for the opening film sequence.

Research: Psychological Thrillers

I've realized that my genre idea of horror/thriller/suspense for my opening film sequence is too broad, and after researching three sequences from various films, I have noticed that I really enjoy psychological thrillers and that I could possibly be able to portray it in my film. I have also taken the time to research a bit on this particular genre as well.
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Psychological Thrillers: a thriller narrative which emphasizes the unstable or delusional psychological states of its characters.

Movie Examples: 

         


What makes a Psychological Thriller?

-To make the thriller 'psychological" the threat/suspense has to come from the mind rather than being a physical element, and the protagonist has to use her/his mind to solve the trouble or mystery she is in.

-  A thriller's (specifically)  main aim is to keep the audience alert and stressed where the protagonist faces with series of problems that she/he needs to solve (ex: a mission, an escape or to solve a mystery).

-Psychological thrillers generally emphasize the unstable or delusional mental and emotional conditions of the characters, and focus on the devious depths of the human mind.

- Popular themes portrayed in these films: Death;Mind;Perception;Identity;Existence.

Research: Intro to Editing

Recently I have learned about various editing techniques that I will be able to use in my future opening film sequence.

Terminology

Cutting: When one shot instantly replaces another.

Shot/Reverse Shot: Multiple shots edited together to alternate characters (used for dialogue).

Eyeline Match: Shot of character looking at something cuts to shot of what they see.

Graphic Match: Two shots are joined to give off a certain feeling using similar elements.

Action Match: a cut that connects two different views of the same action at the same moment in the movement.

Jump Cut: abrupt transition from one scene to another.

Cross Cutting/Parallel Editing: Alternating two/more scenes that happen simultaneously in different locations.

Dissolve: overlapping; one shot is gradually replaced by the next

Fade-In/Fade Out: when a solid color gradually gives way/ is replaced to/by a picture.

Wipe: Shot replaces another by travelling from one side of the frame to another.

Iris: a black circle closes/opens to the end/beginning of a scene.

Superimposition: The exposure of more than one image on the same film strip.

Long Take: Shot that continues for an unusually long time before the next transition.

Ellipsis: the shortening of sections of the narrative story of a film to create suspense/mystery.

Expansion of time: making the duration of a video sequence longer than real time.

Montage: Shots are put together in a fast-pace that gives a lot of info in a short period of time.

Kuleshov Effect: Kuleshov discovered that depending on how shots are assembled the audience will attach a specific meaning to it.

Cutaway: Interruption of a continuously filmed action by inserting a view of something else.

Insert: shot of part of a sense as filmed from a different angle and/or focal length from master shot.

Short Take: A small portion of recording.

Slow Motion: Showing a film slower than it actually was recorded.

Analysis: Three Opening Clips

Since I have came up with the idea of making the genre of my short clip Horror/Suspense (or something in that wheelhouse), I have researched the openings to various films under the same genre(s).  (As of right now, I don't have a concrete idea/storyline for my opening film sequence but I took these openings that are really different in comparison in an attempt to figure out something that I would love to have in my project.)

Se7en

Analysis: The movie "Se7en" is a psychological thriller and the opening truly represents it. The distorted sounds/music along with the glitching and fast paced camera movements make the audience feel uncomfortable and gives off a creepy vibe.

Panic Room

Analysis:  The movie "Panic Room" is a crime/thriller but the opening didn't really show it. It's very plain as it repeats the same sort of skyscraper images but with different names/credits being displayed. The music kind of gives of a suspenseful feel and the many camera movements/angles are intriguing, but overall the opening is pretty basic and doesn't give off any sense of what the movie is going to be about.

Insidious

Analysis:  The movie "Insidious" is a horror/thriller and the opening shows it. The mise en scene of the film including the colors (black and white = creepy) and the lighting (low key) displays a sinister picture. The fact that one object moves within each frame and the high/low violin music that varies in pace also allows for a frightening feel.

Verdict: If I was to choose to mimic one of these openings in my final film I would have to go with the "Se7en" opening. I believe that it truly represents its genre and if I was to specifically go with the psychological thriller genre this opening would be one of the best to embody in my film.

Research: Mise en Scene

When thinking about which genre I might base my film opening on,  I have been thinking of doing a horror/thriller approach to it. As I have been learning about Mise en Scene and the eight elements, (including Setting, Decor, Properties, Costume/Hair/Makeup, Body Language/Facial Expression, Lighting, Color and Framing/Composition), I have been trying to see how I can incorporate those elements into my film opening by seeing it displayed in other horror/thriller films.
But first…
What I've Learned:
Mise en Scene
- The arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a film.
Setting
- geographical background
- can provide an atmosphere//tone to a scene,
- describes the emotional/psychological state of the characters,
- manipulates an audience.
Decor
- the creation of meaning through the way a room is decorated/furnishes
- gives info on the characters/genre/atmosphere
Properties
- adds info on the film's narrative
- Specific towards genre of film
- gives info on character
- can be secret in/the goal of the narrative
Costume/Hair/Makeup
- used as an indicator of a character's status/personality/job
- create meaning for audience
- costumes can signify individuals
- costume changes can show a character's state of mind/change in their situation
Body Language/Facial Expression
-  shows how a character feels -> understanding of relationships between characters/events
- can become an actor's signature/trademark
Lighting
- creates mood/atmosphere
- different lighting -> different effects on characters/objects/setting
- can highlight characters/objects in a frame
-  shading of face/body ->  make characters look mysterious
- reflects a character's mental state/hidden emotions
- has low key/high key lighting with key/back/filler lights
Color
- specific colors have certain connotations that -> particular mood/look/feel to a scene
Framing/Composition
- the positioning of characters/objects within a frame
- can draw our attention to certain aspects within a frame
- can establish relationships between characters
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                                 La Llorona                   
                                          
                                                                                  It 2

As shown in the pictures above, thriller/horror movies use mise en scene to give off a creepy vibe within the film. With the La Llorona scene, it consists of low key lighting with the key lights being the one behind the creepy woman looking figure with rule of thirds composition and a creepy attic setting which all gives off a horrific/scary vibe. Also with the It 2 scene it is comprised of low key lighting as well with the key lighting being the light within the clown's hands. It also shows aspects of costume/hair/makeup where the clown has the normal white face paint and crazy hair but red streaks on his eyes which shows that he's not a normal clown. Facial expressions of the clown with it's weirds looking smile also gives off a creepy/scary feel like it should in a horror/thriller movie.

This will allow me more structure when creating my opening sequence because now I know that mise en scene differentiates from genre to genre. This will help me since now I know that when trying to create a disturbing/sinister/evil type feel in my possibly horror/thriller opening sequence,  it all comes down to certain lighting, colors, setting, decor etc. in order to create a perfect and thrilling movie opening sequence for my genre.

Research: Use of Sound

So recently I have been learning about the importance of sound within film. Sound is composed of many different things such as sound effects (both real and edited sounds), the human voice and music. Sound effects draw attention to important things, depict a character and emphasize/express an action, feeling or mood. Music in particular is used to show where and when a film is taking place, create an atmosphere/set the mood according to the film's genre and warn the audience that something is about to happen. I've also learned how sound creates meaning by using certain effects, music and narration to give off a specific emotion towards the audience and add to the film's purpose.