Progression from Preliminary Task

Looking back at our preliminary task, what do we feel we have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

In terms of research and planning for filming, we planned a lot more as we knew we wanted it to look better as we were not happy with how our preliminary task turned out. This meant we researched thriller films that were effective within their genre and generated some ideas. We planned our shots with the genre in mind, however we were less reliant on the storyboard as when we started filming we changed some ideas as we felt we could make our media product better. This showed how we were much more considerate of the mise-en-scene and compositions. In our prelim task, we used similar shots which did not create as much suspense, so in our film opening we used a variety such as long shot, mid shot and close up as this created more tension. Our skills with the camera improved as well as we decided that it would be best for me to film as I have a steady hand, so it would look better overall and cleaner cut. I have also learnt the skills to use a camera in my photography course which has helped me to apply my knowledge when filming and achieving the right exposures in each shot which I did not know about earlier on in the year. Filming was also a much quicker process, as we knew what we wanted to achieve so did not have to do as many testers like we did in the prelim task.

In terms of post production, we learnt how to use more effects on Adobe Premiere, as in our prelim task we only used simple cuts between each shot. For our main task we took the thriller genre into consideration, and we wanted to build suspense, therefore we included many fade to black effects at the beginning to set a slower pace. As well as this, we learnt how to add text for the credits which were not used in our prelim task. This helped it look more professional. Music was also added to our film opening as this is a key factor in building suspense in thriller films. We did not use music in our prelim task, which made the overall piece not at its best as the sound of the camera recording could be heard.

Technologies

What have we learnt about the technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Here is a Pixton animation I created in response to this:

https://Pixton.com/ic:48vlewnx

Audience

Who would be the audience for our media product and how did we attract/address our audience?

I created a powerpoint in response to these questions:

Distribution

What kind of media institution might distribute our media product and why?

For our film opening, I researched companies that distribute thriller films and I noticed how Warner Bros has distributed multiple thriller films, including ‘Orphan’ which is one of the films I researched.

However, as our film is low budget, it would be unlikely that a mainstream company would distribute it. I then researched companies that distributed independent films, preferably thrillers as well. Kaleidoscope Film Distribution distributes independent films including thrillers, so this would be more realistic company that would distribute our film.

As our audience is 15+, Netflix has become more popular recently to watch movies on. Statistically, in the USA, 65% of people who watch Netflix are between the ages of 16-24. Overall, this shows us that the majority of people between these ages watch movies on this platform, therefore, as our targeted audience is 15+ this would be an ideal media institution to distribute our media product. 

Representing social groups

Gender
In our media product, we included both genders, however the man was not properly seen. We represented the girl as not too stereotypical of being overly 'girly' wearing lots of make-up, especially as she was on a run. The stereotype of girls being into their appearance is represented, as she is a teenage girl of the age 17, which is typically an age where girls are most self-conscious, therefore by her being on a run, it shows how she is conscious of her weight and appearance. Even though it is not needed, she is wearing a small amount of makeup which adds to how girls are constantly thinking about how they look. We also represented the female stereotype of women being weaker than men as she is the one being preyed on and when he kidnaps her she is unable to defend herself.
In terms of male representation, we showed him in the shadows spying on the girl after stalking her for a while. This reflects on the stereotype how men are more aggressive than women, and are usually the ones preying on women. This also adds to how men are stronger and more dominant compared to females especially as the girl makes no effort to run when she sees her stalker showing how he immediately had power over her.

Age
Our film also represents age, with the girl being a typical teenager who is conscious of her appearance. At the age of 17 she is still dependent on others which is shown through her phone call to her mum, and adds to the sense of vulnerability she has despite still being mature enough to be by herself. It is usually younger girls that are preyed on by older men who are paedophiles. This is represented in our film opening as she is alone in a forest, being unknowingly watched on by a man.

Class
Class is slightly represented in our film opening as the girl is shown to have higher class as she is well-spoken and polite. The man is of lower class which is made evident by him living in a small, messy and cramped room that is filled with the girl's pictures.

Using, Developing and Challenging Forms and Conventions

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

Conventions of real media products:

• Establishing setting
• Introduces character(s)
• Introduces plot

These are achieved through the use of mise-en-scene, lighting, music, font and editing etc.


Mise-en-scene

A high angle to low angle pan transitions into the establishing shot that depicts of multiple photos of the main protagonist and her belongings. It is also messy with paper and litter scattered around suggesting that someone lives there. This is the first clue to the main theme of stalking and kidnapping.

Lighting

In the first scene where the photos of the main protagonist are displayed, there is low-key lighting used. However it is bright enough to show everything clearly so the viewer understands that someone is plotting against her.

Low-key lighting is typically used in thriller films to build tension and anticipation, so the viewer is kept in suspense. In the film opening of 'Orphan', low-key lighting is a key convention and overall looks effective as a thriller.

Editing

In the film opening of Orphan I analysed, the shots were placed together using a 'fade to black' transition and I thought this matched the thriller genre well as it created more suspense. Therefore, in this scene we used 'fade to black' to make it flow so it does not look jumpy. It also sets a slow pace, to build even more tension.

When she is running in the forest, we used 'cuts' to set a quicker pace to build up to the highest point of tension. 

This convention is typically used in thriller films to add action to the scene to build tension, and was used in the film 'Shutter Island' which I analysed. The fast pace in the 'Shutter Island' opening was also matched with music that grew louder and faster, which when researching our background music, we wanted it to slowly grow more tense, as our end shots were the highest point of tension, therefore, we felt it did. 

Font 

For the opening credits we decided on a font that looked similar to handwriting as this links to the title of 'Dear Diary'. Credits are a typical convention used in films, included in all the films I researched.

For the title of the film we wanted to have a different font from the credits so we found this font that looked like it had cracks in it to show it is broken. This can symbolise the plot of how the girls life suddenly falls apart. We used a similar transition to the film opening of 'Orphan' as the text zooming-in was quite effective. However, we had the text move quickly in to match the fast pace of the rest of the film opening.

Sound

In all the thriller film openings I researched, they all included diegetic sound of music and no ambient sound to give the sense of being trapped and isolated. This was effective, especially in 'Orphan' and 'Shutter Island' as the music was very low and a fast beat which added to the tension.

We also included dialogue in our film opening which challenges conventions, as film openings are typically made up of diegetic sounds, such as in 'The Purge', calm orchestra music was used when showing brutal scenes.

Final Outcome

Editing Journal

Monday 23rd January
- As Chloe had already saved the clips onto her memory stick this saved time in the lesson so all we had to do was import them onto our computer. However the computer we were working on turned out to be slow so this ended up taking a whole lesson.

Wednesday 25th January
- After having them imported we went through each clip choosing the ones we wanted to include and deleting the unnecessary ones. We then cut down each clip in order and renamed them 'clip 1', 'clip 2' etc so that it would be easier for us to recognise them.

Friday 27th January
- We continued to cut clips down as it was a slower process than anticipated due to the computer being slower than expected. We also rendered them as we went along so that we could watch them back.

Monday 30th January
- After putting all the clips into order we realised it was already too long especially as we had more clips to add in when we filmed the first part, therefore we had to cut out even more parts that were not needed. We also researched music that would match our theme and chose a thriller piece which we imported from YouTube and cut down to have playing throughout the shots. We also added in a 'twig snap' effect so that it could be heard better.

Tuesday 31st January
- Edit check in with Ms Mallet - 'add in dip to black transitions, title screens and opening credits. Make the dialogue louder and music quieter, can't hear what she is saying. I like the music.'
- In response to our teacher's feedback we started to add fade to black transitions between shots after finding out how to do this.

Friday 3rd February
- After filming the rest of the shots which were to be placed at the beginning, we imported them onto the computer and cut them down and placing them in order at the beginning of the sequence.

Monday 6th February
- We then added in transitions such as fade to black as well as testing fade to white to see what would match the scene in the kidnapper's shots. We decided fade to black was more effective and set quite a slow pace. In the end shots we agreed on simple cuts to set a quicker pace.
- We also did more research on music looking at websites such as YouTube and Orange Sounds to find one that would fit better and eventually found a thriller piece which we both agreed on.

Wednesday 8th February
-  During this lesson we added in opening credits and decided where to put them to make it look professional, after learning how to achieve this. We also tested out different fonts and eventually agreed on a white text in a handwriting-type font.

Friday 10th February
- This was our final lesson where the final outcome was due so we used our time effectively to add in changes and parts we had not yet done. One of these included the title of 'Dear Diary' at the end, however as we had already learnt how to do this it was an easy process where we only had to decide on the font. Once achieving this, we watched it through multiple times checking it was how we wanted before exporting it.

Monday 27th February
- Final outcome uploaded to youtube

Filming Journal

Sunday 22nd January

We filmed the main part of our film opening which was the main protagonist running through
Ockwells Park. We started with filming Andy's part as his was shorter to do so he could leave when finished. With the input of the actors, we differed from our storyboard as they suggested more effective shots we could use which turned out to look better. We then filmed Charlotte's scenes which were also altered due to testing different camera angles and shots and finding one we both liked.

Obstacles we overcame:

• As we filmed in a public place there were many dog walkers about so we had to stop filming so they were able to walk past and be out of shot. This made the filming process longer.
• Another problem we had was the intensity of the ambient sound which was not a problem for most of our shots as we cut the sound, but in one scene she was on the phone and talking, it is quite hard to hear her as the wind, cars and planes in the background are more intense. 
• With the weather still being cold, it was quite frosty which made it harder to film and affected our actors motivation to be outside for longer as we wanted to test multiple ideas. This meant we had to film quickly but our shots turned out well as we would briefly watch them straight after filming and would decide whether to refilm it. One example is when she runs off into the distance, initially I ran behind her but the camera shake was not effective. I then stood in the same place and zoomed in after her but eventually we decided it would be best for her to run and become smaller in the frame.

Wednesday 1st February

We filmed the scene that depicts of the kidnappers room whereby many photos of the main protagonist are shown. Initially we were going to film in the main drama studio where we could use the professional lights and dark walls to create a tense atmosphere, however this was unavailable to use. We then had to choose somewhere else to film and decided on the other drama studio despite not having any lights to use for effect. Luckily there was a small part of the studio that has dark walls and pegs which we used to hang up the 'belongings' of the girl such as her hairbands. The small space turned out to work well as we filled it with papers to portray how messy the stalker's living style is and how cramped his room is.

Obstacles we overcame:

• The lights were quite bright and gave off a yellow tinge which contradicted with how we wanted a dark frame to portray the dark and creepy atmosphere.

Music Research for Film Opening

Background Music Research

• In the beginning of our film opening, when the photos of the main protagonist are shown, we are going to include music as there is no other sound in this scene. Ideally we want to use quite eerie music to create a tense atmosphere, reflecting on how this scene is meant to be dark and uncomfortable for the viewer.
• We would like the background music when portraying the girl running through the park to sound quite innocent, reflecting off her character and how she is innocent and unaware of what is to happen, as well as sounding intense, and increasing tension.
• We are going to have one long continuous piece of music throughout the opening so that it flows through each shot using a sound bridge.
  

Title Research for Film Opening

Typeface Research

• Originally when deciding a title for our film we browsed ideas based on the main themes such as 'Lost', 'Hidden' and 'Kidnapped' as we thought that one word titles were much more effective and catchy.
• After changing the start of our film opening to be based on diary entries, we agreed that the film should be called 'Dear Diary' as that is still effective but does not give away the plot of the film and is quite unique.
• When we finally decided on the title, we had to find a font that could represent a thriller but still can be interpreted as innocent, so it will catch the viewer off-guard.

Some of the ideas of fonts included:

1.   Dear Diary…
2. Dear Diary…
3. Dear Diary…

• In terms of design, we want to use a white font on a dark background so that it stands out, as well as the colour white typically connoting peace which would be juxtaposed with the theme of the film.
• We also want a clear font so it could be easily read, and perhaps in a handwriting-style font to represent that it is a handwritten diary.
  

Costume and Make-up List for Film Opening

Costume and Make-up Research:

• The costume and make up element to our movie is minor and doesn't require any expense.
• Due to there also being only one character through the most part of filming, they will be wearing workout clothing, such as sports leggings and a hoodie which would be sufficient as the situation they will be in is running outside.

• The make-up element will be minimal due to the main protagonist doing exercise so will not need excessive make-up, and we do not see the face of the stalker so make-up is not needed.

• The other character of the kidnapper, who appears momentarily in the final seconds of the clip, will be wearing dark clothing and will be ideally wearing a hood so the identity is concealed. They will also wear black gloves.

Casting Research for Film Opening

Casting Research

• For our film opening, our main protagonist is a female so we needed a female around the age of 17 for this role, luckily as we attend an all girls school this was an easy task.
• As we want it to look realistic, we thought it would be best to find someone who does A-level drama so that they are comfortable with acting in front of a camera and can look natural.

The person we have chosen does A-level drama as well as having performed in pantomimes and musicals, and wanting to pursue a career in acting. Therefore, we decided that she is the ideal candidate.

• Additionally, for the character of the kidnapper, we needed a quite broad male as he would need to be bigger than the girl therefore more menacing.

Location Research for Film Opening

Location Research

For our movie opening we needed a large open field that was surrounded or was near a woodland area. The Thicket was somewhere that first came to mind, but due to the time of day we wanted to film, we felt, for our own safety, that it wasn't the safest place to be filming. After searching and looking at a few more locations, we finally decided to opt for Ockwells Park. This was a safer option as it was nearer one of our houses and has houses surrounding it also, as well as having a field with a surrounding forest so we could film in one location, not several. Finally, the forest itself isn't too enclosed and is popular for dog walkers so we wouldn't be filming in  an area that could be cut off from people. However, due to this locations popularity, we would have to go at a time where it wouldn't be as busy. But because of the time of day we want to film, if we were to film Sunday late morning, there may likely be less interruptions.

Ockwells Park:

Shot List for Film Opening

Shot list:

• Tracking shot - when showing all the photos of the girl the kidnapper has accumulated.
• Extreme close up - when showing the photos at the beginning and wanting to show the details.
• Medium close up - when showing the photos to exaggerate to the audience how many photos the kidnapper has taken.
• Tracking shot - when following the girl.
• 180 degree shot - when she put in her headphones before running.
• Long shot - when the girl runs across the screen.
• Tracking shot - walking beside her when she goes towards the forest
• Over the shoulder shot - when she briefly stops to look out at the landscape.
• Long shot - when she starts running in the forest
• Long shot - when the girl hears the twig snap and turns around
• Point of view shot - from the perspective of the kidnapper when he is watching her.
• Over the shoulder shot - over the kidnappers shoulder when she sees him and he reaches out towards her.

Prop List for Film Opening

Props

• Photos of main protagonist
• Blue tack to stick photos on wall
• Belongings of main protagonist- hairbands etc.
• Table to display more photos
• Chair for where kidnapper sits
• Belongings of kidnapper scattered
• Twig to be snapped
• Water bottle for main protagonist as she is running
• Phone and headphones for main protagonist

Storyboard for Film Opening

Basic Treatment for Film Opening Task

Working Title

• Dear Diary

Genre

• Thriller

Central Themes

• Stalking, kidnapping and murder

Synopsis

• Lucy is a smart A-level student who aspires to be a writer and documents her life daily, her life gets turned around after she is met with her stalker who has been planning to kidnap her for months. The truth of the mysterious disappearance of her friends are soon revealed through their dead bodies of the kidnappers house. Her only sanity is the continuation of her diary entries which keep her hope alive and potentially save her life.

Pitch

• Our film will be different compared to other crime thrillers as the audience will see the movie from the perspective of the person who is kidnapped. You will see all the hardships and traumatic experiences she has to endure to create a hard hitting, emotional and at times, scary film.
• Our target audience will be certified a 15 due to more explicit content and violent themes.

Characters

• Lucy - A 17-year-old school girl who is focused on her studies and building a secure and bright future for herself. She will be played by someone who studies A level drama and has confidence to act to a camera.
• Frank - A 39-year-old who is smart, however, very psychologically unwell due to his upbringing. For the movie opening he will hardly be in it and you won't see his face so any boy can play this roll.

Film Opening Sequence

• The opening sequence which we will be focusing on will start with a flashback to before Lucy is kidnapped and shows Frank's room filled with photos of her at school, out with friends, at her house etc. this will be voice-overed by one of her diary entries.
• It will then switch to modern day where Lucy will be on a run, she will take a shortcut through the forest and start to hear twigs snapping and bushes rustling.
• In shock she will drop her phone and as she stands up and turns around, a man in a black coat will be standing behind her, the screen will go black and the title will be shown.

Film Techniques

• The opening will be filmed from the audience's perspective but will then switch to Frank's view when the tension changes.
• We will use a dark colour pallet and low-key lighting to create a more sinister feeling. Also we will use cut transitions to reflect the fast pace of the film and long shots to show who's perspective we are watching it from.

Production Considerations

• We will need a big field area that's surrounded by a forest of some description. The field opposite The Thicket is probably a good location or Ockwells Park.
• It would need to be a big space but also a forest, somewhere that is dark always creates a more tense atmosphere.

The Purge (2013) - Film Opening Deconstruction

Synopsis

The Purge is a 2013 American dystopian horror film written and directed by James DeMonaco and the first installment in DeMonaco's Purge film series. The film stars Ethan Hawke, Lena Headey, Adelaide Kane and Max Burkholder as a family held hostage during "The Purge," an event during which all crime is legalized for 12 hours.
Despite mixed reviews, the film was commercially successful, grossing $89.3 million, far surpassing its $3 million budget. It was the lowest budget film to hit the top of the box office charts since 1988.

The Purge (2013 film) n.d. in Wikipedia. Retrieved 15th November 2016 from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Purge

Producers: Platinum Dunes

Platinum Dunes is an American production company created in November 2001 by filmmakers Michael Bay, Brad Fuller, and Andrew Form. The company specializes in horror films, particularly remakes.
On October 7, 2009, Paramount Pictures announced a first-look deal with Platinum Dunes. They plan to branch out of the horror genre into action and thrillers with this new deal. On May 27, 2010, it was announced they will work on the reboot to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series of the same name. In 2014, Platinum Dunes was named The Hollywood Reporter's Producers of the Year. In 2015, the company was also named to The Hollywood Reporter's 30 Most Powerful Film Producers in Hollywood.

Platinum Dunes n.d. In Wikipedia. Retrieved 15th November 2016 from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platinum_Dunes

Productions of note include:

• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003) directed by Marcus Nispel. Budget: $9.5 million. Gross: $107.1 million.

• The Amityville Horror (2005) directed by Andrew Douglas. Budget: $19 million. Gross: $108 million.

• The Hitcher (2007) directed by Dave Meyers. Budget: $10 million. Gross: $25.4 million.

• Friday the 13th (2009) directed by Marcus Nispel. Budget: $19 million. Gross: $91.4 million.

• A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) directed by Samuel Bayer. Budget: $35 million. Gross: $115.7 million.

• The Purge (2013) directed by James DeMonaco. Budget: $3 million. Gross: $89.3 million.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) directed by Jonathon Liebsman. Budget: $125 million. Gross: $493.3 million

• Project Almanac (2015) directed by Dean Israelite. Budget: $12 million. Gross: $33.2 million.

• The Purge: Election Year (2016) directed by James DeMonaco. Budget: $10 million. Gross: $118.4 million.

Distributors: Universal Studios

Universal Studios is an American film studio owned by Comcast through the Universal Filmed Entertainment Group division of its wholly owned subsidiary NBCUniversal. The company was founded in 1912 by Carl Laemmle, Mark Dintenfass, Charles O. Baumann, Adam Kessel, Pat Powers, William Swanson, David Horsley, Robert H. Cochrane, and Jules Brulatour.

Universal is the oldest surviving film studio in the United States, as well the world's fourth oldest (after Gaumont, Pathé and Nordisk Film). Its studios are currently located in Universal City, California and its corporate offices are located in New York City. Universal Studios is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America and is one of Hollywood's "Big Six" studios.\

Universal Studios n.d. in Wikipedia. Retrieved 15th November 2016 from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Studios

Distributions of note include:

• E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) - Box office gross: $792,910,554

• Despicable Me 2 (2013) - Box office gross: $970,761,885

• Furious 7 (2015) - Box office gross - $1,516,045,911

• Jurassic World (2015) - Box office gross: $1,670,400,637

• The Secret Life of Pets (2016) - Box office gross: $676,658,314

Timeline

•  00:00 - 0:09: The video begins with a plain blue screen and starts playing calm orchestra music before the words 'UNIVERSAL PICTURES presents' fade into the middle of the screen in white clear text. It is shortly followed by the words 'A PLATINUM DUNES/ BLUMHOUSE/ WHY NOT production fading over the previous text. (2 shots)

• 00:09 - 0:11: A straight cut is used to transition into a scene that depicts a man with a gun running onto the scene and shooting an oblivious man. A sound bridge is used to carry the calming music throughout the scene. The music juxtaposes with what is happening in the scene as the music presents calm and happy connotations whereas the scene depicts brutal and negative actions of killing innocent people. In the top right corner the words 'PURGE FEED' are shown as well as the place of the happenings and the date. The same text is used for each scene highlighting the fact that it is the purge that is occurring. (1 shot)

• 00:11 - 0:25: A straight cut is used again to transition to more brutal scenes of murder. Two of the scenes present a group of people beating up one person illustrating the discrimination that can happen on the purge. All of the scenes are filmed through CCTV cameras at night demonstrating that at night is the most dangerous time as there is a visible reoccurrence when these brutal happenings occur. (4 shots)

• 00:25 - 0:31: A straight cute then transitions to a long shot of a man beating up a person with a baseball bat in a corner of the street that is hidden away from passer-byers. There is low-key lighting that is supplied from a lamppost that is off-screen. (1 shot)

• 00:31 - 0:34: A straight cut then transitions to a mid-shot of a woman crouched on the floor covered in bruises with her clothes in rags and barefoot. Lowkey-lighting is used but is brighter over her as if there was a spot light on her to further isolate her and make her stand out. She then slowly stands up whilst staring at something off-screen. (1 shot)

• 00:34 - 0:51: Straight cuts are then used to transition between each scene of brutal murder. There are some beating ups, shootings and fires with people screaming and running around. However there is no ambient sound heard because of the calm music placed on top. (7 shots)

• 00:51 - 0:59: A straight cut transitions into a scene of four people lying on the ground next to each other. Lowkey-lighting is used to present how it is night-time and the greyish colour of the setting gives negative and dark connotations. The music changes slightly and becomes higher-pitched as if becoming more tense when showing the dead bodies and how horrifying the 'purge' is. (1 shot)

• 00:59 - 1:21: Straight cuts are used to transition between several more brutal scenes of murder. One scene shows a man we saw earlier getting beaten up attempting to get up from the ground but it being too painful for him to do so. This creates a feeling of sympathy for him. (6 shots)

• 1:21 - 1:26: A straight cut transitions to the last scene which depicts people walking around shocked after what has happened, with small fires on the road to show the disasters affect everyone. The music then fades out in one long high note to end calmly. A voice then talks over the ending note with the text on the screen saying 'Mr Foch. Met James Sandin.' (1 shot)

Mise en scene

Setting

• In the film opening, we see all the different shots taken outside. The crimes shown take place at night which is typically the darkest and scariest point of the day. As the crimes committed are taken on CCTV cameras from a high angle, this adds to the tension as it shows how nobody else is around .

Lighting

• The majority of the shots in this film opening have low-key lighting to emphasise the shadows and darkness, creating a sense of fear. The only lighting provided is from a distant light, showing that as they are hidden away, it is not meant to be happening and this adds to the tension. The hidden light could be interpreted as a metaphor for how there is little positivity and the identity of everyone shown is hidden.

• As these crimes occur at night, some shots are in black and white adding to the tension as it is harder to see what is happening. The light provided is from gun shots and fires, showing that crime is a major theme and adds to the sense of fear.

Costume and Makeup

• As there are no other close up shots used we cannot tell what the others are wearing but the majority of the people are men. In this shot we can see a woman dressed in a vest top and shorts with no shoes on. She is covered in bruises and dirt, showing that as a woman, she was abused but not killed.

Key Shots, Camera Movements, and Edits

00:31 - 00:33

• This shot is a medium close up of a girl crouched on the floor and looking around her before slowly standing up. Her body language reflects that she is scared and aware of her surroundings as she is huddled together and she cautiously looks around her before slowly getting up. Her hair is messy and unwashed, and her clothes are ragged and dirty, giving us an idea that she has been there a while. We cannot see any facial features, hiding her identity.

00:35 - 00:38

• This shot depicts a long shot of a fire happening in the middle of the frame with people running frantically. The fire is the main thing seen in this shot due to being large and taking up most of the frame. We cannot see any features of the people as they are simply silhouettes in front of the fire briefly on the screen. As the fire is large and occurring behind a gate this could be seen for how danger is growing and people cannot control it anymore. The fire casts shadows which is where people are running from, creating a sense of fear. The catastrophe shown in this shot is juxtaposed with the music which is calm and peaceful orchestra music.

00:51 - 00:55

• This shot depicts of three men abusing another man who is on the floor unable to help himself. This occurs on the far right of the screen, highlighting the shadows taking up the majority of the screen. The large shadows create a sense of fear and dark connotations. The shot is also displayed in lowkey-lighting, representing the darkness of the event.

1:05 - 1:09

• This mid shot depicts of a man wearing a white shirt covered in blood attempting to get up after being abused and left on the streets to die. However this shot doesn't focus on him as he is quite blurry in the background of stumps. This should show how the people with sudden power are not focusing on the people but rather on hurting them. The light used in this shot is quite hazy and seemingly from a streetlamp, which also creates shadows with a sense of fear and tension. The music notes are high and closer together, highlighting the tension.

1:14 - 1:18

• This shot is a high angle displaying a victim attempting to get away but being pulled down by two aggressive and strong men. This happens in the left corner of the screen, highlighting that it is hidden away from other people to see. The lighting is low-key but bright enough to see what is happening. The music carries on high pitched and lots of notes before a lower note sounds through connoting peace.

1:21 - 1:26

• The last shot shown is a high angle, presenting the destruction that is caused after the crimes of 'the purge' happened. There are very few people walking in different directions, and there is a fire in the middle of the road that is just ignored by everyone walking past. The shot is all in green perhaps a metaphor for how it will turn out well in the end and the people walking around survived. The music extends from the scene before in a high note and fades out.

Overall, this movie opening is unlike the others I have deconstructed due to the juxtaposition of music and what is shown. I do not think it is as effective in building up tension as using low fast pace music is. However, the movie opening is shot using long shots which is effective as most of the frame is left in shadows, which creates a sense of fear. The more room around the protagonists mean there is more chance something will happen to them, therefore as this is our plot, we may consider using more long shots in our film opening.

Shutter Island (2010) - Film Opening Deconstruction

Synopsis

"Shutter Island is a 2010 American neo-noir psychological thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese, based on Dennis Lehane's 2003 novel of the same name. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as U.S. Marshal Edward "Teddy" Daniels, who is investigating a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island after one of the patients goes missing. Mark Ruffalo plays his partner officer; Ben Kingsley is the facility's lead psychiatrist; and Michelle Williams is Daniels' wife. Receiving generally favourable reviews from critics, the film grossed over $294 million at the box office."

Shutter Island (2010 film) n.d. In Wikipedia. Retrieved 23rd November 2016 from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutter_Island_(film)

Producers & distributors : Paramount Pictures

"Paramount Pictures Corporation is an American film studio, television production company and motion picture distributor, consistently ranked as one of the "Big Six" film studios of Hollywood. It is a subsidiary of U.S. media conglomerate Viacom. Paramount is a member of the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA).
In 2014, Paramount Pictures became the first major Hollywood studio to distribute all of its films in digital-form only.
Paramount is the fifth oldest surviving film studio in the world, the second oldest surviving film studio in the United States, and the sole member of the "Big Six" major film studios which is still located in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Hollywood."

Paramount Pictures n.d. In Wikipedia. Retrieved 23rd November 2016 from

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Pictures

Productions of note include:

• Ghost (1990), directed by Jerry Zuger. Budget: $22 million Box office gross: $505.7 million.

• Forrest Gump (1994), directed by Robert Zemeckis. Budget: $55 million. Box office gross: $677.9 million.

• Titanic (1997), directed by James Cameron. Budget: $200 million. Box office gross: $2.187 billion.

• Transformers (2007), directed by Michael Bay. Budget: $150 million. Box office gross: $709.7 million.

• Kung Fu Panda (2009), directed by John Stevenson and Mark Osborne. Budget: $130 million. Box office gross: $631.7 million.

• Shutter Island (2010), directed by Martin Scorsese. Budget: $80 million. Box office gross: $294.8 million.

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014), directed by Jonathan Liebesman. Budget: $125 million. Box office gross: $493.3 million.

Distributions of note include:

• Thinner (1996), Budget: $14 million, Box office gross: $15.3 million.

• Over the Hedge (2006), Budget: $80 million, Box office gross: $336 million. 

• Flushed Away (2006), Budget: $149 million, Box office gross: $178.1 million. 

• Shrek the Third (2007), Budget: 160 million, Box office gross: $799 million.

• Bee Movie (2007), Budget: $150 million, Box office gross: $287.6 million.

• Iron Man (2008), Budget: $140 million, Box office gross: $585.2 million.

• Megamind (2010), Budget: $130 million, Box office gross: $321.8 million.

• Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012), Budget: $145 million, Box office gross: 746.9 million

Timeline

• 00:00 - 0:04: The video begins with a black screen. It then fades to a shot of a darkly lit corridor. The music starts and is low and tense. The words 'A Film By Martin Scorsese' appear in red capitals, transitioning in as if it is representing a flickering lightbulb- typically used for dark themed settings. (1 shot)

• 00:04 - 0:09: It then fades into a sequence of a spinning shot of a spiral staircase. This adds an element of illusion and confusion. The words 'Produced by Micky Medavoy Arnold Messer' appear in red capitals using the same transition. A high note is added to the long low notes to add more tension. (1 shot)

• 00:09 - 0:12: The scene then fades to a sequence of a shot of a gate that is lit with lowkey-lighting. There is also visible rain happening in this scene which adds to the morbid mise-en-scene. The music is still eerie and briefly goes quiet adding to the tension before carrying on whilst the words 'Screenplay By Laeta Kalogriois' transition on the same way as the previous scenes. (1 shot)

• 00:12 - 0:16: The scene then fades to a close up of a hand that looks as if it is shaking and is pressed against the floor- adding to tension. The words 'Based On A Novel By Dennis Lehane' appear at the same time but this time in white text, not read suggesting a change in scene. (1 shot)

• 0:16 - 0:25: The music suddenly becomes a loud crash and goes dark as if someone is walking in front and covering the camera. It then quickly cuts to a long shot of an opening of a gate and the camera is moving forwards at a fast rate. As the camera nears the gates they are opened and the camera goes through whilst the music is a long quiet low note. (1 shot)

• 00:25 - 0:30: The music then becomes louder before reaching its loudest point and the screen suddenly goes black. It then cuts to a close up behind shot of someone before starting an 180 degree shot around them. There are flames that are clearly visible in the background adding suspense and danger. (1 shot)

• 00:30 - 0:36: The sequence then fades into a shot of a gun and a foot stepping on top of it and dragging it away. This adds a sense of crime or danger to the scene. (1 shot)

• 00:36 - 0:40: This then fades into a dark shot with snow falling down across the screen. The music becomes one long eerie note during this shot, creating a sense of tension and danger in the mise en scene. (1 shot)

• 00:40 - 0:45: The long note of music carries onto the next shot which depicts a dark room only lit by light coming through a barred door. There are handcuffs and chains in the room presenting a prison-like theme which links with the shot of the gates earlier. (1 shot)

• 00:45 - 0:52: The music suddenly takes a dramatic turn and becomes loud with many short beats playing. It fades into a black screen with the music still playing and then fades into one long note before playing a loud note at the same time a match is struck, adding more tension. (2 shots)

• 00:52 - 0:55: The screen goes black again before quickly cutting to a long shot of an island at the same time of the loud beat. The whole mise-en-scene is dark and looks isolated- linking to the prison theme. (2 shots)

• 00:55 - 1:01: The screen suddenly goes black and plays out the long note before playing the loud note and the words 'SHUTTER ISLAND' suddenly appear on the screen in big red capitals. As soon as the words appear they start to zoom in towards the 'audience', adding a visual tension. (2 shots)

Mise en scene

Setting

• The first aspect of setting we see is outside a building with gates with guards standing by them. This suggests that it is either an important place such as a royal castle or a prison. Even though it is daylight, the dark surroundings looming over the building suggest it is a dark negative place. The guards standing outside suggest the people inside are trapped and isolated, adding effect.

• This shot then depicts of a dark room with handcuffs and chains, only lit by the barred door and small window, giving the impression of a prison. The limited light emphasises the lack of freedom and positivity.

Lighting

• Low-key lighting is used throughout the film opening to create a dark and eerie atmosphere. It also represents how the themes of this film is dark and not bright and cheerful. The dark atmosphere creates shadows and a sense of fear. As well as little lighting, dark colours are also used in the mise en scene such as blacks, greys and browns which are bleak and link to the setting of a prison.

Key Shots, Camera Movements, and Edits

00:00 - 00:04

• The movie opening begins with a black screen before fading into a long shot of a corridor from a setting similar to a prison. The frame is lit by the dim lamps hanging from the ceiling, creating many shadows and the majority of the shot being dark, exaggerating the tense atmosphere. There are also drips coming down from the ceiling showing that, by there being a leak, it is not well looked after. The prison cells look empty suggesting that it is abandoned. The music is an elongated low note to highlight the tension.

00:08 - 00:12

• This shot is a long shot of a gate in the distance. The frame is dark as the low-key lighting is only provided by the light in the distance acting as a spotlight on the gate. The addition of rain adds to the morbid mise en scene. The music that had been playing throughout the rest of the shots goes silent, adding to the tension, making the audience anxious as to what is going to happen.

00:12 - 00:16

• This shot is an extreme close up of a male's hand, with the identity of the person being hidden as only the hand is shown. It is pressed against the concrete ground with some force suggesting that this person is putting some of their weight onto it. This is also shown by the hand shaking quite viciously as if they were supporting themselves on it, as well as showing a sort of physical struggle. The music gets louder throughout until the end of the shot when the hand moves suddenly and part of the ground moves by the force of their hand. A noise similar to thunder suddenly plays over the music before the screen goes blank.

00:16 - 00:26

• After the loud crash of music and blank screen, the camera then shows a long shot of the front of a building with a large gate, and moving towards it on a tracking shot. As the camera gets closer, the gates are opened by two guards adding more tension as there is suspense as to what is behind. As the camera moves through the gate the music plays an elongated low note before gradually getting louder before making a loud noise similar to before and the screen quickly cuts to a dark blank screen.

00:30 - 00:36

• This shot is a close up of a silver gun laying on the floor and a foot gently stepping on it and dragging it away. The sense of discreteness suggests that they shouldn't be with a gun and adds a sense of crime and danger to the thrilling theme. As the gun could be seen as hidden, this may be interpreted as a metaphor for the hidden identity of the person taking it. The music goes quiet and plays a low note that sounds like it is from a wind instrument, adding to the tension.

00:40 - 00:45

• The shot is faded into a dark lit room, with the only light provided from the door which looks like a cage door, linking to the idea of the prison setting. The room has dark tiled walls giving a cold feeling to the scene, as well as the empty room with no belongings as if anyone who had possibly been there before doesn't exist, or anyone who is put there is stripped of their identity. The handcuffs and chains also present a prison-like theme and adds to the idea of torture and discomfort. The limited lighting emphasises the lack of freedom and positivity, especially as both the door and the tiny window are barred. The music throughout this scene slowly becomes louder and higher-pitched, highlighting the growing tension.

00:45 - 00:51

• The music then takes a dramatic turn and the beats are closer together and loud. This implies that the tension is at its highest. The screen turns black whilst playing the loud sudden beats and on one of the beats, the darkness is suddenly interrupted with a strike of a single match, emphasising the tension, and makes the audience feel anxious. The hidden identity of this person, as only their hands holding the matchbox and match are shown in the close up shot, suggests that they are not meant to be there, adding to the thrilling theme.

00:51 - 00:56

• The screen goes black instantly and the music goes silent. Then the loud beat plays again whilst the screen presents an extreme long shot of an island. The frame is dark with the colours of blue and black being emphasised, giving a cold feel to the shot. The use of colours also gives an idea that this island is isolated as no sign of life or colour is shown. This leads onto the idea that this is where the prison is held, linking to earlier shots. As well as this, the idea of the isolated island may link to the title of the film of 'Shutter Island' perhaps meaning 'shut away island', foreshadowing the rest of the film.

From this film opening, low-key lighting and low beat music contribute to building up suspense to keep the viewer on edge. Unlike other thriller films, this opening sets a fast pace which I think is more effective. Therefore, in my film opening I will consider using these conventions to create a suspenseful thriller.