Title sequence analysis

Ex machina 
Ex machine's title sequence reflects upon the mechanical effect by using a violin as the main instrumental sound which creates sinister tone which reflects on the storyline of the movie. It uses tech like fonts which make the audience feel like they're being informed. Also the films title appears at the end of the sequence with an animation of the female robot that takes over which shows the audience, although they don't know what's going to happen, that she is the main character and holds a lot of power.

The girl with the dragon tattoo
This opening sequence follows the theme of the film which is clear by the metallic effects and objects that will be present in the film and gory music that plays along with this to achieve the tone of the film which is dark and sinister. The black tint highlights this. The music which sounds rock and roll like makes your heart race and kicks the adrenalin in you making you feel quite nervous and tense.

Teamwork!

Maya and I have been getting on very well as a due and have been discussing a lot about how we can work together to improve our work and also how we can start storyboarding our opening sequence. We have taken our work seriously by exchanging snapchats so we can work together outside of school.

Opening sequence analysis

                                              Gone Girl

 This opening sequence starts off with a dissolve from a black screen to a mid shot of a woman's head being stroked by a males hand which instantly reveal her as a possession and a minority to the male character who is her husband. We establish this in the first 15 seconds when the narrator says "Trying to get answers..the primary question of any marriage." The use of the narration highlights the domineering nature of the male character and blocks the connection we as the audience have with him as we also can't see his face. This sets an sinister, gloomy tone, and gives us an insight of what the movie's genre is going to be. 

American Psycho American Physco's opening sequence starts off with an establishing shot which tracks around the scene that shows us as the audience where the main character may spend a lot of time which helps us understand the characters manners/ characteristics. The use of the voice over once again brings us closer with the main character as we can also see him in the opening sequence.                        

I am legend 
I am legend's opening sequence begins with a helicopter shot giving us as the audience the tone and setting that the film will take place in. We are then taken on the journey that Will Smith goes on with his dog 'Sam' which gives us an opportunity to see what types of characters they are and what the main plot of the story is. In the opening sequence for I am legend, we get the whole film's context and draft incorporated within it. There is no music in this opening sequence because it adds more tension if all that is heard is the diegetic sounds. 

Production companies

BBC -  I have chosen the BBC as one of my production companies that i could see possibly distributing our film because they give opportunities and want to see new talent which is what we aim to achieve in our opening sequence, to develop and inspire off key conventions of the thriller genre. The BBC also distribute a lot of british films, such as 'Florence Foster Jenkins'

"BBC films is committed to finding and developing new talent, collaborating with some of the foremost writers and directors in the industry."

Warp Films- I believe that Warp films would be a suitable choice for us to use in out production because in 2009, Warp produced Exhibit A which was awarded the title of 'Best UK feature' at the rain dance film festival and was nominated for three british independent film awards. This shows the uniqueness they hold and aim to achieve in the UK where our film will be distributed. Also the fact that it won 'best feature film' at a film festival, highlights their efforts and succession with being independent.

Vertigo Films - Vertigo films is a UK film and distribution company. As a company, they aim to create and distribute commercially driven independent cinema. Since the release of inception, it has produced 28 films and distributed another 35. they aim their films at a younger audience which our film is aimed to achieve as thriller attracts a majority of young viewers.

Online distribution methods

Online distribution methods
SOCIAL MEDIA
social media is a key factor to online distribution as it can involve a high and wide range of people from young to old. In 2016, the global statistic of people who used social media was 3.42 billion and 1.97 billion users were active on social media using their mobiles which is the fastest most convenient way to explore the latest news and films that will be released. 74% of people ages 18-65+ are on social media, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and Pinterest. For film makers that want to release their film, social media is one of the most effective, especially ones who's target audience is aimed at the younger generations (99% of 16-24 year olds use social media in the UK each week)

TRAILERS

Trailers ensure that people understand what the film will include and what it will visually look like. In most trailers, clips of the movie are inserted to give the audience a taste of what the movie itself will include. YouTube is one of the biggest online video sharing platforms which allow users who have an account to add their 'honest' feedback, this way the film directors and producers can see how their target audiences react before the film is released.

WEBSITES

Most films but mainly more successful film companies like Disney, Warner bros, Universal, etc. will have a website which will include trailers, games if it is for children or a more interactive audience, tickets to access to see the film in cinemas, red carpet premiers and much more based around the film and other films created by the film company.

Film festivals

Institutional  research

 The importance of film festivals 
Festivals help market low budget films at a reasonable rate. There are opportunities to network within the industry. As well as bringing forward your film to be seen by wider audiences and production companies, it is a way to achieve valuable feedback and criticism by judges and audiences.

Film festival examples:

• U.K film festival -  "The UK film festival aims to champion great films but also seek work from filmmakers who might not yet have had the chance for a prestigious public screening of their work. " http://ukfilmfestival.com

• Watersprite film festival- as well as being aimed at young people, they also aim to view short films from all over the globe.  http://www.watersprite.org.uk 

• Leeds film festival - "Founded in 1987 leeds International film festival is renowned as a dynamic event with a reputation for challenging and innovative programming"

http://www.leedsfilm.com

thriller conventions mind map

Audience profile

STORYBOARD 
 

Invasion of the fish & evaluation

Final product & evaluation

Invasion of the fish

Quality of summary	My honest evaluation – what was done well and what was not of good standard? Try to cite specific examples and moments from your video	Examples of strategies, good practices and skills that my group and I will put into place to ensure a main production of high quality.
Quality of holding a shot steady	The use of a steady shot went well for our group thanks to using a steady tripod and a well framed shot. Although, for our 2 tracking shots of the male character walking, it was a challenge to hold the camera steady and make it smooth.	Our example of this was when Maja was waiting for her companion to arrive. The steadyshot helped focus us on her and connect with her feelings and the tension.
Quality of the framing of shots	Our use of framing shots was well planned and developed, from using medium close ups, low angles, high angles, tracking shots and wide shots.	An example of this is when Maya is sitting alone in a shot framed by big open windows and is sitting in front of a tree which creates ambience.
Quality of shooting material appropriate to the task set, i.e. the content of your film pre and post editing was consistent with the exam directives	We used a few material shots which were successful to show the mise-en-scene...	… eg. The tracking shot of the staircase shot to show a journey, with making it clear to the audience.
Quality of selecting mise-en-scene including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting	Our choice of mise en scene was well chosen and thought of properly	Mise-en-scene was selected carefully, for example the classroom which had good lighting and was aesthetically pleasing to reflect and contrast with maja’s evil, duplicitousness nature.
Quality of editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer	The editing is used well to convey the horror aspect of our product	The idea of the green coloured eyes edited onto Maya created the genre of sci-fi of our film more than anything because of the way it was used (at the end and throughout shots) to make the audience feel threatened by that character and to create a cliffhanger.
Quality of using sound with images and editing appropriately for the task set	The use of sound matched the scenes perfectly to create the atmosphere of horror and to capture the tension of scenes. The editing we used as a group	The use of the piano strings and at the end when maya’s eyes light up for the last time, there’s a one not sound effect to finalise and close the scene to add to the drama which also matches alongside her eyes.
Quality of positioning and movements of actors	We thought well and discussed the positioning of actors and how the positioning of actors would help portray how they are reflected to the audience.	An example of this was when we were planning the tracking shot of Joe, we had thought about having a wide shot of furzedown house followed by a tracking shot from the outside of the building to inside it. But we just decided to start from the entrance door to Furzedown house and not show the building because we thought it was irrelevant.
Quality of group planning, meeting targets and organisation	Our planning wasn’t the most detailed and we didn’t really have time before planning to have a whole group discussion.	Our storyboards were knd of vaig andweren’t that detailed, so we could have made that better, but we still managed to create a well developed product which flowed.
Group dynamics i.e. how did your group work together?	Our group worked well and efficiently together, we discussed and rearranged shots to make them fit.	Joe assisted Maya to change her tone of voice when saying “I wondered when you might get here, sit down.” so she seemed more assertive.
Other points of evaluation (e.g. equipment related, etc)	The tripod helped capture a more flowing tracking shot which made our product better.	We used the tripod on its side which was attached to the camera, which made the camera more steady, making it easier for me to achieve a more free flowing, natural tracking shot.

Preliminary Task Evaluation Sheet