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.