Evaluation of Music For Thriller Opening

After viewing the film with the finished piece of music on it, we found that for most of the scene the music fitted well. However, we did need to go back and adjust some small parts, where the timings were a bit out. When we went back to 'Garage Band' we soon sorted this out and it now works really well.

Thursday 10th March- Editing Lesson

Today we finished all the sound for our opening sequence, but after feedback from Cigdem, we need to change the video a bit by putting in extra clips from a different scene to make the sub-genre more obvious. To do this, we will have to speed up the credits, then cut some of this bit to insert clips from the forest scene using quick cuts. By doing this, we will not effect the length of the sequence, as well as getting more depth into the film through the opening sequence. We will have to carry on this editing next lesson.

9th March- Editing Lesson

We felt that we could get our editing finished today, but we spent more time than we thought we needed on the sound, and making sure that it fits in well with the video. We will hopefully get this finished by next lesson and will be able to upload it before the end of the week!

Music

The Music For Our Thriller Opening:


For the thriller opening sequence, we thought that we should have slow but intense piece of music to set a tone of mystery and create an uneasy atmosphere. We used the software 'Garage Band' to create this piece of music.


We decided to make the music mysterious and slow paced which matched what was happening on screen, which doesn't make it contrapuntal, this makes the connection between the visual film and the music easy to understand for the viewer. This was instead of choosing to make the music fast paced and sound more upbeat which would confuse the audience.


Initially we looked through the available sounds to find ones that were slow paced, intense and dark. We narrowed down the search by choosing certain instruments we notice in other similar thriller openings, so first we looked into strings especially violins. We found a lot of pieces that worked, so before we discarded all but one, we found a collection of pieces from piano to see which ones matched well.


Soon we realised that we wanted the music to build up, much like the scene does on screen, to build the tension with the visuals. We did this by adding extra samples over a period of time, so at the climax of the film the music is equally as aggressive for the audience. Also, we used the volume fader to increase and decrease the volumes of individual tracks when we wanted them to be louder and softer.


Finally, we took the finally edited piece of film and adjusted the timing for most of the instruments and volume levels, to make the music match the film perfectly.

Shot List

We had already done this and followed it when filming our project but seem to have misplaced it after! From our first ideas, our final product was very different, though.

Title Sequence Fonts & Colours

Se7en
As we took inspiration for our thriller from Se7en we decided that we would also take inspiration for the fonts and colours of our titles. Se7en uses a white coloured font to distinguish the text from the background which is dark, so in contrast, since our thriller has a light background we decided to use a darker font colour. This will allow the font colour to be seen on the lighter background. Se7en also uses a font that looks like a childs handwriting this gives the feeling of vulnerability. We will use a typewriter font to give the same effect but in our own way, which is necessary as our project is based on mature detectives (typical to use typewriters and computers).

Risk Assessment

What A Thriller Film Is Trying To Achieve; And How It Helps An Audience To Relate To The Film

When a thriller film is first being created the creators must think about trying to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. They try to confuse the audience or keep them guessing throughout the film as to what is going on by creating enigmas. Most thrillers have a question which is usually introduced at the very start of the film. This is to help keep the audience guessing and keep them intrigued throughout the film. A question does not have to be asked directly it could be caused through an action for example: At the beginning of Memento the main character kills another character. This causes the audience to ask why he killed the character and who he was. It also introduces many other questions for example: the main character has a memory problem and so keeps pictures of people and events to help him remember certain things. When we get to see the pictures we see a characters face who then a couple of seconds later, tells the main character that he doesn't know him. This causes the audience to question why the other character lied to him. It is these kinds of questions that will help a movie to become successful by keeping the audience intrigued.


It is important for the story of a thriller film to be written well. This is because, especially in films with a fragmented narrative, they could; lose continuity, make vital errors or create plot holes which cause the film to stop being understandable and/or enjoyable. A good story is also what the audience will most likely remember. So if you have a good story then the film is more likely to be remembered causing the audience to spread news about the film via word of mouth. This will help with sales of the film and so will help the company or person(s) that created it make more money.


It is important for the film to make the audience feel as if they are a part of the experience for them to fully enjoy it. For a thriller film to achieve this they need to spend some time introducing a character. Perhaps with a back story or simply spending a long time with a certain character throughout the film. This way the audience could see a relation between themselves and the character and this will help them to relate with the movie causing them to enjoy it more.

Typical Thriller Opening Sequence Conventions

DEXTER

This opening sequence is not a usual opening sequence; it is not taken over by just tons of writing being identified on various objects, or plain backgrounds as some others, but instead uses everyday images/actions to help 'set the scene' of the film. It shows a man (most likely to be a main character), starting his day, which is perfect for the beginning of the film, as the audience are easily able to identify the events and time of the film. However, to include the 'thriller' aspect, blood is involved in various shots to add the 'twist' to the normal situation which is shown.


QUANTUM OF SOLACE

Within this opening sequence the sound is very good this is because the pace follows the visuals. Also there is  good use of computer generated imagery.  The visuals of this clip are all computer generated images which portrays an unrealistic image as the film is all live action. The soundtrack isn't only instrumental as there is a woman singing which accompanies the instrumental, this makes the film fit into the rest of the James Bond films.


CASINO ROYALE

This opening sequence makes the audience well aware of what the producers are trying to make them focus on; the man who is showed in black and white. They do this by showing this main figure against a coloured, cartooned background. The music is also attracts the audiences attention with a drum-based soundtrack


BLOW OUT

DO THIS!


FACE OFF

This thriller opening sequence is very good. The sound is a high pitch and includes the sound of children laughing to fit the visuals. The high sound fits a children's music box which is a good way to create tension. The visuals show a carousel in a park with a man aiming a gun at one of the parents. This is a good contrast and is very fitting for a thriller opening sequence.


PANIC ROOM

This opening sequence has a really good soundtrack that fits with the genre as it builds suspense however I don't feel that it fits the visuals on screen. The visuals show lots of pans and tracking shots of buildings and traffic with floating text depicting the casts name's. The visuals do not suit a conventional thriller film because they are too positive which would fit more to a film in the comedy genre. This film should have had a lower toned soundtrack and maybe some more depressing visuals to fit the theme..


SE7EN

In this opening sequence the sound is very consistant with the visuals this is becuase it builds suspense and creates a negative atmosphere. The font that has been used for the credits is also very good is really fitting with the thriller genre. The visuals are very fitting with a thriller this is because they are very jumpy this could be to show the psychological state of the killer who is shown on screen. The visuals seem to jump between unrelated scenes this could also be to show the killers mind set.

Comparing Two Thriller Opening Sequences - Inception, Memento!!!

Conventions used in Memento opening -
The opening has a crime being that, the main character of the film has just commited a murder but then forgotten that he has. This gives the audience an idea of what the film will be about. (his memory problems) This opening makes the audience question why the main character murdered the person and also why one of the supporting characters lied to him. (they said that they didn't know them when they did.) The protagonist is dis-empowered being that he has a memory problem and so other characters can take advantage of him. This also means that the antagonist can exploit this.


Conventions used in Inception opening -
There is a crime at the core of the narrative being that the protagonist and his friend are trying to steal (exract) information from another character. The opening makes the audience ask questions such as, 'how are they in a dream?' or 'how are they going to steal information from a person whilst in a dream?' There are extaordinary events happening in an ordinary situation. I.e. having a dream is normal but being able to go into and control a dream is extraordinary. The protagonist has a flaw, which dis-empowers him, of not being able to control his own sub-conscience from entering the dream and so it sabotages the situation when the protagonist is trying to steal the information.


Comparing the two sequences similarities and differences -
Both of the films start with a crime being commited. This is ery common in thriller films. But both of the crimes are different. in Inception the character is only stealing something, which helps to set up the plot of why he needs to be able to and can enter dreams. Ane in Memento the protagonist commits murder, which makes the audience question why he has done it. So the crimes at the beggining of both of the films make the audience ask questions, which will help to maintain the audiences attention on the film. Both of the protagonists have a flaw which dis-empowers them. In Inception the protagonist can't stop his own mind from sabotaging him. and in Memento the protagonist can't keep his memories and forgets things very easily. This is a similarity between the two films because both of the protagonists are fighting with their minds to try and finish their jobs. Both of the protagonists have a flaw which the antagonist can exploit. In Memento there is a complex narrative structure but in Inception there isn't. The introduction to Memento uses effects such as black and white in the introduction to show this.