Technical audit of Bait tutorial

In class we had a basic tutorial of final cut pro in order to learn the required skills in editing to be able to edit our title sequence. During the tutorial I learnt new skills such as the importance of the two screens; how to add effects, credits and sound; how to overwrite; insert transitions; how to slit footage and how to create different editing techniques such as a match cut. There are some key features which only final cut pro contains, such as the first screen on the left is called the canvas, the main job of the canvas is to contain the original footage. Also the screen on the right is there to show the sequence you have been creating. The time liner which is at the bottom of the two screens also plays a major role within final cut pro as it allows you to see and rearrange the footage. There is a small toolbar on the right of the time liner, which allows you to us tools such as razor blade. On the left hand side of the time liner there is a music bar which allows us to change the volume of the footage or even to block out unwanted sound within the sequence.

In order to get hold of a valid footage, you will have to mark points in and out precisely by pressing 'I' on the keyboard for in and 'O' for out. Another way of cutting out unwanted or wanted footage is by using the razor blade tool. You will then need to drag you selected footage on the time liner to make a record of the footage you want to use, this will then allow you to play around with the volume of the footage etc.

One of the advantages of using final cut pro is that it gives you a wide range of transitions and effects to choose from. On the other hand the most popular transition used within final cut pro is the dissolve effect as it is an effective transition that links two scene together, making it a smooth looking scene. It is important to add transitions and effects before adding any music onto the footage as it is alot quicker.

The main key point of editing is making sure that it rus smoothly and each shot is placed accurately. The program used for the editing doesn't really matter as the editing and footage will then allow you to create techniques such as match cuts, as the timing and accuracy is very important. In order to make your clip look professional you will need to make sure your timming is accurate.

News and Current affairs event

The Earthquake in Haiti is the current news that has hit globally. I believe that this natural disaster can create a very good thriller as it contains real life scenarios. The fact that it is a current global issue would freak more people out as there are is huge number of deaths.

list of the Thriller sub-genres which inspired me at the moment

Analysis of 9 shots form Art of the Title Sequence

Halloween

The title sequence we have chosen to write about is John Carpenter's Halloween, The title sequence slowly begins on a pitch black screen, this
gets the audience in suspense and in anxiety,the details of the film are then made bold with the production company (Compass International Pictures) and presenter (Moustapha Akkad) are made evident. The diegetic sound in the start of the scene is high pitched and can be trans-sent to the audience as creepy as the piano sound adds to tension. The soundtrack is very stereotypical to horror films, the fast creepy piano sound is usual and again used to create tension yet as always it does well to keep the audience in suspense. Suddenly a lower pitched key on the piano is introduced where immediately we are slowly brought to focus to a Halloween pumpkin flickering in the darkness, the pumpkin is very orthodox as it is a connotation of Halloween.

As the pumpkin continues to be the focal point the camera zooms in slowly towards it. Finally as we get to the end of the opening sequence we hear the sound of children then with the caption 'Halloween Night 1963' we end the scene in suspense.

List of the Thriller sub-genres which inspired me the most.

Halloween

The tittle sequence for Halloween starts of with a pitch black screen. This helps to build up tension and suspense. We then see the first image of the tittle which is orange/red on a black background. This is used in order create tension as it is clearly shouting out danger. The only image used within the tittle sequence is a glowing pumpkin which clearly defines that the film is about halloween. The pumpkin also builds up tension within the sequence as gets bigger (closer to the audience).

The titles play a massive role within this tittle sequence due to the background colour being black all the attention is then put onto the titles. The font size varries depending on what is said within the title. For example the names of the Stars are in a larger font compared to what is being said an great example of this is 'Introducing JAMIE LEE COURTIS as Laurie'. This is used effectively as it builds up the tension within the sequence.

Over all i think that the title sequence is very successful as it manages to build up tension throughout the sequence.

Analysis of 'Halloween' title sequence

The first image (And establishing shot) is of a black screen. This helps build tension as, Black has connotations of mystery and suspense. We are then shown the first image it is

of a pumpkin. This connotes of Halloween.

Also the color scheme is red, black and orange.

These hold the same connotations. The Black

background helps to bring the attention to the title. This makes it seem

more dramatic.

The font of the title is 'blocky' and modern.

Similar to that of a

newspaper headline. This holds connotations of authority.

Newspaper headlines are usually shocking and surprising.

This is expressive of the film.

The text transitions make the text appear to 'jump out' at the

audience.

We then looked at another title sequence and realized that it uses most of the same techniques

aspects.

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h3d79NgPVo)

Sub - genres

Sub-genres

The thriller genre can include the following sub-genres, which may include elements of other genres: these are called 'Hybrids'.

• Action thriller: In which the work often features a race against the clock, contains lots of violence, and an obvious antagonist. These films usually contain large amounts of guns, explosions, and large elaborate set pieces for the action to take place. Examples are the James Bond films, The Transporter, and the Jason Bourne novels and films.

• Crime thriller: This particular genre is a hybrid type of both crime films and thrillers that offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime or crimes. These films often focus on the criminal(s) rather than a policeman. Central topics of these films include murders, robberies, chases, shootouts, and double-crosses are central ingredients. Some examples include The Killing, Seven, Reservoir Dogs, Inside Man, and The Asphalt Jungle.

• Drama thriller: In which the story consists of the elements of a thriller and drama film. These films are usually slower paced and involves a great deal of character development along with plot twists. Examples include The Illusionist, The Interpreter and The Prestige.

• Medical thriller: In which the hero/heroine are medical doctors/personnel working to solve an expanding medical problem. Robin Cook, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Crichton, and Gary Braver are well-known authors of this subgenre. Nonfiction medical thrillers are also a subcategory, comprising works like The Hot Zone by Richard Preston. Films such as Awake are other examples of medical thrillers.

• Psychological thriller: In which (until the often violent resolution) the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. The Alfred Hitchcock films Suspicion, Shadow of a Doubt, and Strangers on a Train and David Lynch's bizarre and influential Blue Velvet are notable examples of the type, as is The Talented Mr. Ripley byPatricia Highsmith (who also wrote Strangers) and The Good Son starring Elijah Wood and Macaulay Culkin.

• Religious thriller: In which the plot is closely connected to religious objects, institutions and questions. While suspense stories have always shown a significant affinity for religion and philosophical issues (G.K. Chesterton's novel The Man Who Was Thursday has been called a "metaphysical thriller"; and Umberto Eco's novels The Name of the Rose andFoucault's Pendulum both display thriller characteristics), Dan Brown's 2003 best-seller The Da Vinci Code has led to a current boom in religiously oriented thrillers.

How is Suspense created in the thriller clip analysed in class?

The director adds an element of suspense as Collateral begins. There is a lot of confusion as to what is going on in the opening seen which creates anxiety and tension as we are unsure of what will happen next.

The opening begins and immediately we realise the non diegetic sound is altered, we are given a higher sense of the surroundings in the airport yet we are unable to focus sound wise with Tom Cruise as we are distant from him only able to hear his footsteps, this poses as a catalyst into getting the audience curious therefore in suspense as to what comes next. Tom Cruises shades make him an unidentifiable character, the edit is significant as we are drawn to a prominent Tom Cruise as he strides towards us as the camera focuses on him highlighting him almost as passers by are off camera lens focus, this brings significance to him and the audience realises something may happen soon.

The camera shot is in long shot as Tom Cruise is in the distance, we then get a cross cut to Jason Statham connecting the two, here the audience further becomes mystified mounting more suspense. As the Scene continues we realise Tom Cruise is in slow motion, as we are eager to discover what happens next, there is a collision at the climax of the anticipation. Rapidly there is an interchange of words and the bags are swapped, the camera shot catches Tom Cruise as he rises showing he is a figure of power, the camera then changes almost to a POV yet we can still see Tom Cruise, we are able to experience what he is viewing as he continues his journey, which is much to the audiences interest.

Suspense within Marathon Man

Marathon Man

Marathon Man (1976) produced by Paramount and directed by John Schlesinger is a very great example of a thriller as it contains a lot of suspenseful scenes which builds up tension within the audience.

The first suspenseful scene we see in Marathon Man (1976) is when we first see the main character Babe running. The main suspense created is by the use of the match cut as we first see his feet while he is running then his shadow. The non-diegetic music played within the background also creates tension.

The next suspenseful scene we see is when the two old men start racing in the car. The scene starts of with them arguing while driving which leads them to race each other. However the suspense is introduced later in the scene by the use of cross cut. While the two men race down the streets of New York, the camera also show a man trying to reverse a truck full of fuel. The fact that the camera cross cuts between the two men racing and the truck back and forward we know that the two scenes are linked with each other which then creates suspense. The non diegetic within the background also creates tension.


Another suspenseful moment within the Marathon Man is when we see Babe’s brother followed by a man with a buggy. The suspense is created by just showing the feet of the guy and the buggy. This use of suspense is then continued as the man leaves the buggy and walks off. We then hear a diegetic noise of a clock ticking which clearly expresses us the idea of their being an explosion within the scene. However the non-diegetic music played within the background tends to calm the clock ticking but creates even more suspense. This gives a funny feeling to the audience as it makes them not aware of what is to happen next although an explosion is expected. The fact that the camera then zooms into the buggy showing the plastic doll inside creates more tension and suspense while the ticking clock gets louder. There is a moment of silence before the explosion which is unusual within the scene which clearly defines to the audience that something is going to happen next. The scene then finishes of with an explosion.



Overall I believe that the use of suspense within the Film Marathon Man is used in an very effective way as it manages to build tension and create suspense within the audience and in the film itself.

How is suspense created in the film you watched in class?

Marathon Man

Marathon Man (1976) was a successful film, made in America by one of the 'Big Six' production companies in Paramount Pictures. Director William Goldman dictates film proceedings whereas Actor Dustin Hoffman takes lead role portraying his character Thomas 'Babe' Levy. There are many scenes in Marathon man with heightened stages of suspense, the director uses all methods and techniques to get the audience imminently in suspense. When using mise-en-scene, camera, sound and editing the suspense scenes bring anxiety and tension. I have chosen three prominent and significant scenes in Marathon Man in which the director uses a plethora of techniques ending in immense anxiety making it a classic thriller to be remembered.

Although there are many scenes that involve suspence the first scene which truly brings suspense to the audience would be the bathroom scene. After having had his brother murdered, the scene begins and we find the main character Babe laying in his bath tub, we are able to see he is in a very vulnerable position, it then becomes evident to us that he gets to a stage of fear when the camera goes into a close up which establishes his facial expression of despair. The camera is at Babes height as he stares at the door, this brings the effect of putting us right in his situation, the director then uses diegetic sound only that of what we see in the scene. As we can only hear the sounds in the scene in diegetic sound we are brought to focus on what is happening, for exampple as Babe breathes heavily we understand his stage of anxt, also as the door is being cracked open the sound almost looms in the audiences ears as we become tense as to what is going to happen.

Another significant scene is the attempted assassination of the agent with the use of a dolly in a pram, the scene is entirely focused on portraying negativity, the simple use of making the pram black means that it depicts death. The sound in this scenes lingers, the wheels from the pram forces the audience into full concentration with an escalating sense of foreboding tension. The usual image of a doll has been eliminated, by selecting a sinister image for the doll the image portrays a bad message, when reaching the top of the climax in suspense the buggy then explodes.

The next scene involving suspense is the scene in the room where Babe is clearly in masses of pain, slowly as we see the guard looking towards babe the camera is on focus only on him, we then realise a figure behind him getting closer, this brings curiosoty later helping towards suspense. The director this time uses non diegetic sound, as the detective approaches slowly the audience knowing the minimalist sounds could blow his cover the director uses pulses of sound acting almost as a heartbeat creating tension. When the detective enters the room there is a track of computerised piano sound which sounds strange and creepy.

Overall the director uses a plethora of techniques to keep the audience in suspense throughout the whole film, in different scenes we see different types of effects used to keep the audience tense.

Definition of Supense

A heightened stage of anticipation where one is uncertain of what may happen next.

Claustrophobic

Photo 'Words' Activity

Photo 'words' activity

This photo clearly defines the word 'City' as this image has been taken showing a clear path looking down at people walking. The idea of the image taken from a high angle and the people walking without looking at the camera clearly states out that the people where busy with their daily life. The idea of the modern buildings being caught at the sides give us an impression of the image taken in an busy city area.

This image emphasizes the word'Claustrophobic' as the poor rabbit is placed in a small cramped cage. The fact that it is locked up behind fenced bars also express this in more depth as the poor rabbit is locked up to the world.

This image gives us a negative atmostphere as there is a lot of darkness within the image. The effect that is created by the light shown in the distance creates a powerful contrast within the picture. The best word that describes this image is 'Anguish' as both the darkness and the lightness used within the image expresses mixed emotions.

This image is quite straightforward, as it is clear the it defines 'Happiness'. The character in the image is shown jumping in joy by her facial expressions. The background also backs up the impression as it is bright and light. The long establishing shot of the park behind brings a positive atmosphere into the picture as it shows the beauty of the nature.

Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety about the outcome of certain actions, most often referring to an audience's perceptions in a dramatic work. Suspense is not exclusive to fiction, though. Suspense may operate in any situation where there is a lead up to a big event or dramatic moment, withtension being a primary emotion felt as part of the situation.

Definition of suspense

Suspense is a feeling of uncertainty and anxiety about the outcome of certain actions, most often referring to an audience's perceptions in a dramatic work.