The first soundtrack idea I had for our psychological thriller is a mellow unsigned artist from London called James Furlong. He is a solo artist contributing to the 90’s inspired alternative acoustic music scene, using inspirations from artists such as ‘Mogwai’ and ‘Radiohead’. His soft melodies are fit to create a disturbing, yet calm atmosphere in the opening scene. This will fit our villain’s characteristics as he is seen to be an alternative teenager with a slight dark side to his personality.
I am yet to decide which track I would most like to use and have messaged the artist asking for his permission to use tracks.
(www.myspace.com/jamesfurlongsolo)
By Harriet Bliss
Monday, 30 November 2009
Friday, 27 November 2009
Locations research
Locations
Location no.1: Earlham Park
As I researched the public and available places for shooting in Norwich, Earlham Park became an idea. The park is a broad space of grass with a river running through – this is a perfect location for the shooting of our thriller as it is secluded during the night and has an eerie atmosphere in the dark due to the river and stance of trees etc in the landscape. Park benches would be available for a certain shot we have, which includes our villain running under a bridge and cuts to him placing himself on a park bench, where you see his ‘other half’.
Location no.2: Mousehold Heath
Mousehold Heath is located in Thorpe, Norwich by a prison. The forest and hill surrounding the area will give a sense of isolation. Furthermore, the prison near the area will connote danger is near. This would be a good location for our shooting as there are many shots available due to the surroundings in the area. At night time this would be a very eerie and thrilling place.
Location no.3: Chapel field Gardens
The path that runs through chapelfield gardens is a perfect location for shooting a tracking shot for our villain running. Furthermore, the location at night has a very dark and edgy feeling at night and is not a very safe place. The swings in the park may create a terrifying atmosphere in the opening due to the isolation of the park.
Location no.4: Lowestoft Train Station
The train station in Lowestoft is a possible location for our thriller shooting. This is due to the grimy appearance of the location. Its appearance connotes danger and the isolation of the place at night may create a sense of fear.
By Harriet Bliss
Location no.1: Earlham Park
As I researched the public and available places for shooting in Norwich, Earlham Park became an idea. The park is a broad space of grass with a river running through – this is a perfect location for the shooting of our thriller as it is secluded during the night and has an eerie atmosphere in the dark due to the river and stance of trees etc in the landscape. Park benches would be available for a certain shot we have, which includes our villain running under a bridge and cuts to him placing himself on a park bench, where you see his ‘other half’.
Location no.2: Mousehold Heath
Mousehold Heath is located in Thorpe, Norwich by a prison. The forest and hill surrounding the area will give a sense of isolation. Furthermore, the prison near the area will connote danger is near. This would be a good location for our shooting as there are many shots available due to the surroundings in the area. At night time this would be a very eerie and thrilling place.
Location no.3: Chapel field Gardens
The path that runs through chapelfield gardens is a perfect location for shooting a tracking shot for our villain running. Furthermore, the location at night has a very dark and edgy feeling at night and is not a very safe place. The swings in the park may create a terrifying atmosphere in the opening due to the isolation of the park.
Location no.4: Lowestoft Train Station
The train station in Lowestoft is a possible location for our thriller shooting. This is due to the grimy appearance of the location. Its appearance connotes danger and the isolation of the place at night may create a sense of fear.
By Harriet Bliss
Monday, 16 November 2009
Character Outline for Thriller
Character analysis
Villain:
The victim for my thriller is going to be a young teenage boy aged 18 named Josh. I have chosen this description because the innocence of a teenage boy will connote naivety and will create sympathy and empathy towards the character from the audience. However, his age will imply that he is able to think for himself and has a strong emotional personality. Although, this age will also connote that the character is easily influenced. My character’s costume will include baggy jumpers; band t-shirts; big woollen hats; backwards caps and converse. I have chosen this costume because I wanted to create an old-school alternative look for the character, which will connote he is not a cliché and has quite a strong personality and therefore is able to look after himself. My influence for this character came from Gus Van Sant’s ‘Paranoid Park’, an alternative thriller about a skateboarder who is involved in the accidental death of a security guard. However, the main character from this film is the killer; he is seen to be a victim due to the death being accidental. This film has greatly influenced my character as the director has chosen all the same conventions as I wish to portray in my film. The characters in both films share the same interests and influences. Josh, of my thriller, is a huge music fan who listens to alternative artists such as ‘Elliott Smith’ and ‘The Get Up Kids’. This adds to the emotional build up of my character and shows he is strong through his music taste. Furthermore, it connotes that his emotions may get the better of him after the tragedy that occurs. The music he listens to may connote that he has been through bad experiences in the past, which implies he is a strong character.
My character will mainly have an indirect mode of address, this is due to the fact that I do not want him making eye contact with the camera because he is supposed to feel alone and his character would not associate with anyone else in the real world. However, I may include some direct mode of address moments where the character is narrating previous events, using an over-voice.
Furthermore, this character is going to have the mental disability of skitzofrenia, which will add to his motive for killings. Also, this will add to the mysterious build up of the character and will emphasise the thrill of the film.
Villain 2:
The real villain of my thriller is going to be the “other half” of Josh, who convinces him to take part in unruly and bad events. His control over Josh shows the audience he is the real villain and Josh is the victim of him and not a true villain. An example of this concept is in film ‘Murder by Numbers’, whereby two teenage boys take part in the murder of a random victim. However, one boy does not kill the woman, he convinces the other boy to do it – thus making him the real villain. This villain is Josh’s multiple personality or skitzofrenia taking control of him. Therefore, the audience feel as though it is no fault of Josh’s, but it is his disorder.
Victim:
The victim for my thriller is a young girl aged 20 – this is due to the concept that women are more vulnerable than men and are more likely to be a victim in this situation. Furthermore, the promiscuous characteristic of the victim creates a motive for the killers and a negative point of view for the audience. The young woman’s career path led to a life of prostitution due to her abusive parents, forcing her to flee from home and live a life on the streets. However, she still holds on to the concept of her parents still loving her and carries their photo everywhere she goes.
By Harriet Bliss
Villain:
The victim for my thriller is going to be a young teenage boy aged 18 named Josh. I have chosen this description because the innocence of a teenage boy will connote naivety and will create sympathy and empathy towards the character from the audience. However, his age will imply that he is able to think for himself and has a strong emotional personality. Although, this age will also connote that the character is easily influenced. My character’s costume will include baggy jumpers; band t-shirts; big woollen hats; backwards caps and converse. I have chosen this costume because I wanted to create an old-school alternative look for the character, which will connote he is not a cliché and has quite a strong personality and therefore is able to look after himself. My influence for this character came from Gus Van Sant’s ‘Paranoid Park’, an alternative thriller about a skateboarder who is involved in the accidental death of a security guard. However, the main character from this film is the killer; he is seen to be a victim due to the death being accidental. This film has greatly influenced my character as the director has chosen all the same conventions as I wish to portray in my film. The characters in both films share the same interests and influences. Josh, of my thriller, is a huge music fan who listens to alternative artists such as ‘Elliott Smith’ and ‘The Get Up Kids’. This adds to the emotional build up of my character and shows he is strong through his music taste. Furthermore, it connotes that his emotions may get the better of him after the tragedy that occurs. The music he listens to may connote that he has been through bad experiences in the past, which implies he is a strong character.
My character will mainly have an indirect mode of address, this is due to the fact that I do not want him making eye contact with the camera because he is supposed to feel alone and his character would not associate with anyone else in the real world. However, I may include some direct mode of address moments where the character is narrating previous events, using an over-voice.
Furthermore, this character is going to have the mental disability of skitzofrenia, which will add to his motive for killings. Also, this will add to the mysterious build up of the character and will emphasise the thrill of the film.
Villain 2:
The real villain of my thriller is going to be the “other half” of Josh, who convinces him to take part in unruly and bad events. His control over Josh shows the audience he is the real villain and Josh is the victim of him and not a true villain. An example of this concept is in film ‘Murder by Numbers’, whereby two teenage boys take part in the murder of a random victim. However, one boy does not kill the woman, he convinces the other boy to do it – thus making him the real villain. This villain is Josh’s multiple personality or skitzofrenia taking control of him. Therefore, the audience feel as though it is no fault of Josh’s, but it is his disorder.
Victim:
The victim for my thriller is a young girl aged 20 – this is due to the concept that women are more vulnerable than men and are more likely to be a victim in this situation. Furthermore, the promiscuous characteristic of the victim creates a motive for the killers and a negative point of view for the audience. The young woman’s career path led to a life of prostitution due to her abusive parents, forcing her to flee from home and live a life on the streets. However, she still holds on to the concept of her parents still loving her and carries their photo everywhere she goes.
By Harriet Bliss
Preliminary Task Shot List
1 - Low angle tracking of feet through double doors
2 - Extreme close up/low angle shot of door handle turning
3 - Over the shoulder shot of moustached character
4 - Low to high panning of character with no moustache
5 - Tracking shot of character with no moustache walking to computer
6 - Character with no moustache realises what is noticeable about moustached character. We use an over the shoulder shot of the character with no moustache suprised
7 - Over the shoulder of man with moustache suprised
8 - Along the computer table. Still camera, shows both chars
9 - Extreme close of Normal man
10 - Extreme close of "Moustache Man"
11 - Close of Normal ripping off the fake moustache
12 - Close of Normal, shocked
13 - Close of Moustache Man, worried
14 - Cut and Blackout
2 - Extreme close up/low angle shot of door handle turning
3 - Over the shoulder shot of moustached character
4 - Low to high panning of character with no moustache
5 - Tracking shot of character with no moustache walking to computer
6 - Character with no moustache realises what is noticeable about moustached character. We use an over the shoulder shot of the character with no moustache suprised
7 - Over the shoulder of man with moustache suprised
8 - Along the computer table. Still camera, shows both chars
9 - Extreme close of Normal man
10 - Extreme close of "Moustache Man"
11 - Close of Normal ripping off the fake moustache
12 - Close of Normal, shocked
13 - Close of Moustache Man, worried
14 - Cut and Blackout
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)