Hollywood '08!

Personal Evaluation

Personal Evaluation

My personal aims were to produce an opening sequence which expresses my creativity, develop my editing skills, and provide enough plot development for the audience to build generic expectations upon, without revealing too much of the plot. I think we managed this successfully by using Propp’s character role of a false heroine, and executing unique camera work and editing. For example we didn’t have a track or a crane, and so we used available resources to the best of our ability.

With regards to editing, I also expanded my capability on Abode After Effects which I feel makes me a more valuable team member in the future. I learnt how to animate credits on Adobe After Effects, other methods of colour correcting (tri colour), and my overall knowledge of how to use Adobe Premiere Pro has improved.

I feel that I was a valuable team member as my creativity was brought to the forefront during the planning and a pre-production process (such as test shoots). Also, I feel my leadership skills helped us to meet all group deadlines. Although there was much constructive criticism within the group, I felt our indecisiveness hindered the quality and pace of our production.

I also feel I have learnt to put more trust in my group. In previous projects completed for GCSE I feel I was more in command and had to complete a large proportion of group work on my own. In this project however my great team members allowed me to relax as I knew they would all complete their work by deadlines we had set and I hope this feeling is reciprocated through the group.

'The Anaesthetist'

Here it is-what you've all been waiting for...my group's finished production...enjoy!

'The Anaesthetist'

Comments welcome.

Overall think our opening was successful! I really like the range of shot types within the opening and i think the acting and diegetic sound works fantastically. Also the variety of transitions such as straight cuts and fades to and from the titles works really well at either maintaining the action or creating further agitation on the audience's behalf.-These aspects are exactly how i, along with the group, intended them to be. The only thing i dislike is the non-diegetic music. I think it could have been improved however the group as a whole did not realise the sheer time and effort that needed to go into this researching. If i had more time to research music which linked well with the opening i would have really felt more satisfied with the production. The police siren in the background is pretty irrelevent however the lack of lyrics was successful as the audience is still kept firmly in the action without thinking about the song.-It enhances rather than takes over.

As a group we also realised that when watching the final opening sequence back, Amy the victim in the opening is not given a clear link to the next victim. I personally feel that linking them more explicitly in some way, e.g. friends or from the same university/work, would have made the narrative clearer to teh viewer.

Also i think that not enough impact is created at the end of the opening. Although there is a pan across te polaroids of the killers' victims, i feel that to make it more dramatic and emphaise his next victim, we should have zoomed in really close or had a jump cut or had a flash to negative/white screen. This would really have helped anchor the fact that this next victim is going to be the main character of teh rest of teh film.

In order to make the action continual in our film, i.e. realistic and plausible, we decided to follow all continuity rules. These included; never crossing the 180degrees line so the audience are always aware of the characters sense of direction , using shots more than 30 degrees from the last to avoid the effect of ‘jump cuts’, using eye-line matches, matches on action, and shot reverse shots. Also the distancing increases and decreases gradually which helps move the audience smoothly across physical space. As a result, i feel using these techniques really aided the success of our opening sequence.

My finished DVD cover

Here is my DVD cover which the group and I created after finishing the editing process of our opening sequence.

Blurb:

With Strikeout Pictures' most recent production, once more, we are not disappointed. Nominated for 'Best Film', 'The Anaesthetist' follows a story of voyeurism, obsession and kidnap. Unbeknown to Naomi Lawson (Sian Williams), she is the latest fixation of Nathan Jones (Nicholas Green)- the systematic serial killer with a fetish for white silk, a scientist's knowledge of euthanasia techniques and a passion for autopsy.

His methods were flawless, until now...

‘The Anaesthetist’: Narrative image through our DVD cover

When the group designed the cover for our DVD we had in mind that it is important to set up expectations of the film on the cover, by generic signifiers and connotations of the underlying themes of the film, however it is also important not to give too much information to the audience.

On our DVD cover I feel we managed to confidently achieve this. Our tagline ‘an overdose of desire’ brings about connotations of obsession and further anchorage from the Polaroid’s help to suggest a theme of voyeurism. The main image is a Polaroid which helps to imply there are themes of obsession, foregrounding the camera almost like a potential weapon of choice, -which in some ways it is. The main image is shot at a slight low angle close up which makes him more intimidating, striking and implies he is going to be a focal and assertive character. Also the lighting highlighting the villain in the Polaroid produces shadowing of half of his face which implies he has a split personality. The slight smile of this character implies that he in fact takes pleasure from his behaviour, showing just how twisted a character he is. His direct address helps grab attention whilst also makes the experience more intimate and personal for the viewer.

The title gives away the villain’s nickname and has connotations that he is going to sedate his victims in some way. However the victim’s location is not revealed which is an important aspect of the film itself, producing enigma. The title suggests some sort of medical knowledge on the villain’s part which is expected to be an advantage of his, whilst binary opposites of control vs. Lack of control are also signified. As the title provides the nickname of the serial killer this also suggests the film is also going to be based around this character.

I feel the lack of writing on the front cover is really effective in focussing the audience’s attention on the image itself which entails many generic signifiers and themes. The colour of the DVD cover is black, white and red. This highlights themes of good vs. Evil and the sense of danger, and possibly blood.

Applying narrative theories to my opening sequence:

I am going to apply the narrative theories I have researched, to ‘The Anaesthetist’.

Levi-Strauss: Binary Opposites:
· disorientation v full consciousness
· good v evil,
· male v female
· innocence v experienced
· victim v villain
· fear v happiness
· life v death
· control v lack of control

Roland Barthes - action/enigma codes:

In this sequence there are many action and enigma codes which I feel heighten suspense throughout.

Examples of action codes (we see an action and want to know what's next):
Whose shoe is that?
Will Amy get up off the floor before she is caught?
Amy fell over- is she going to be caught now?
Is her disorientated state and consequent hallucination going to lead her to be captured?
Is he going to kill her now that he has caught her?

Examples of enigma codes (raises questions in the audience's minds):
Why is Amy in this state?
Why is she dressed in a white silk dress?
What is the relationship between these characters?
Why does this man want to catch her?
Why is Amy in this woodland?
What is his motivation to kill?

Tzvetan Todorov’s- narrative structure: (main examples of the narrative structure)

As the film gives an insight to the Villain’s life and is mainly from his point of view I have displayed this narrative structure for the Villain as well as the victim.

• A state of equilibrium (the normal) – the opening sequence begins at a state of disequilibrium. However the audience can presume the equilibrium is the victim in her normal life before this villain disrupted it.
Villain- Successfully capturing and killing his victims without being caught.

• A disruption by an event – the opening sequence begins after the victim’s disruption. This is that the villain has caught her and takes advantage of her. The villain- she has escaped from his lair and is making a run for it.

• recognition of the disorder – Victim- she is dressed in this white silk dress and is heavily drugged and disorientated and from the news report we are informed that the police are looking for her.
Villain- he is publically chasing her through the woodland.

· An attempt to repair the disruption –Victim-she is running from him trying to escape and find help. Villain- Once he has caught her he re-anesthetises her.

• A new state of equilibrium – Victim- she does not have a new equilibrium- put out of her misery? Villain-he has successfully recaptured and eventually killed her.

Vladimir Propp - Character types present in the opening sequence:
· The villain –Nathan Jones
· The false heroine- Amy Miller

Compare and contrast between ‘Scream’ opening and ‘The Anaesthetist’ opening sequence.

Narrative

Similarities:

• Both openings use Propp’s character notion of a false heroine, to build up a false expectation of characters in the film. More than this, both are killed in the sequence.
• Both involve a chase sequence whereby the villain is in control and eventually disappears before pouncing on the victim.
• The villain has obviously been obsessing over his victim and knows about their background. E.g. photographs in my thriller, and knowledge of her lifestyle in Scream.
  
  

Differences:

• Our narrative is greater driven towards the Villainous character whereas Scream’s focus is on the victim. This aids our success of setting the audience expectation of a villain driven narrative and POV.
• The Scream chase is mainly around the domestic setting unlike my opening which is in a public area. Arguably ‘Scream’ personalises the viewer’s experience.
• Narrative is anchored by a news report in our opening whereas Scream uses the dialogue of the villain.
• In Scream the villain keeps failing to grab the victim, whereas our villain catches the victim on the first attempt.
• Scream- the killing of the victim is graphically witnessed whereas our thriller just provides information that the victim has been killed.
• Our thriller is more action orientated whereas Scream involves long episodes of dialogue.
• Scream-much more character development of the victim provides a stronger attachment between the audience and herself (and situation). As a result of this the audiences expectation that she will be a main character in the rest of the film is flawed when she is killed-giving implications of specific themes that will be included in the film, -not defining the films narrative.
  

Characters:

Similarities:

• False heroines-white petit females, blonde hair (the stereotypical blonde hair blue eyes), and white clothing.
• Weak, innocent, attractive victims
• False heroines show determination in their attempted escape.
• The male villains show connotations of control, power, calmness, and kill for pleasure.
• Victim does not know her killer.
• Gender roles are conventional in both thrillers to provide a strong generic signifier.

Differences:

• Scream-the villain signifies calmness and control through dialogue, making it almost personal for the viewer as this is also all the victims knowledge of the villain.-We are interpreting from her point of view.
• Our villain’s calmness and confidence is shown through the action code of striding slowly and his tall stance and bold posture.
• Scream shows a verbal interaction between the victim and villain unlike our opening.
• Scream gives deeper insight into this victim’s lifestyle whereas our victim is not given much backgrounding. –our opening had to be two minutes and also this implies the focus is going to be on the villain throughout the film, rather than his victims.
• Our villain’s control is shown through his anesthetising of her, unlike in scream where it is his personal knowledge of the victim. (I think Scream is more suspenseful in this sense)
• Scream has a potential hero that is easily killed off to further suggest the villain’s complete control in his situation.
  

Themes

Similarities:

· Isolation/loneliness
· Innocence/vulnerability
· Spying
· chase
· murder
· power/control
· mockery of victims chances

Differences:

· Scream- rigid hidden identity, violent death,
· My opening- systematic killings, serial killing, police involvement,

Breakdown of iconography and other techniques

Camera work:

Similarities:

· Range of distances and types of movement throughout chase. E.g. whip pans to show immediacy and add disorientation, long shots to show the surroundings and spacing between characters.
· Steady camera work when onlooker so we understand the action codes.
· Many close ups to show detailed and intensity of emotions
· Shot mostly at eye level, and there are eye-line matches in the sequence for continuity
· Some shots use a stationary camera to restrict the audiences flow in their involvement, making it more enigmatic as they want to be there to help the victim escape.
· Both sequences apply the 180degree rule successfully between two characters which maintains the audience’s sense of direction through the chase.

Differences:

· Our thriller involves much more shaky, point of view shots.
· There are tilted angles during POV shots in Scream which add to the sense of disorientation.

Mise-en-scene:

Similarities:

• Villain wears dark clothes to hide identity and is a signifier of evil
• The victims wear light clothing as connotations of innocence.
• Rural location implies a sense of isolation, i.e. victim is more on her own. ‘Out in the middle of nowhere’
• Both victims run outdoors where help may be possible yet both remain alone with the villain.
• Both foot chase sequences
  

Differences:

• Scream- Mask hides the identity of the villain and makes him seem supernatural and excluded from society.
• Scream- A main a domestic setting allows the audience to relate to the situation which adds greater suspense.
• Scream- victim is injured, our victim is drugged.
• Scream- Night time and low level lighting adds creepiness and plays on the fear of the unknown. Also this is typical of thrillers.
• Our thriller- the villain has a cloth with chloroform on it unlike Scream’s villain who uses a knife.

Editing:

Similarities:

• Fast and slow pace editing and fast and longer shots are used in places to show realistic speed of the chase (and build up) yet also this technique creates heightened suspense by lingering on shots.
• Straight cuts maintain pace of the chase
• Following on shots are more than 30 degrees from the last to avoid the effect of ‘jump cuts’. Maintains fluidity of experience.
• Matches on action to maintain realism
• Shot/ reverse/shots, to give more information to the audience and show reactions to actions.
• The shot of the victims capture is slowed down (slow motion) to extend this moment of heightened suspense.
  

Differences:

· Because our chase is the opening sequence to our thriller, there are credits included.
· Our chase has fades to and from black in the sequence adding suspense but more importantly they are purposeful for the opening credits to be shown.
· Scream-Overall a slower paced opening sequence. This lingering on every shot heightens suspense.

Sound:

Similarities:

• The use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound to add realism whilst creating more enigma and suspense.
• At points of heightened suspense the non-diegetic sound extenuates this by increasing in pace or volume.
• When the victim is being chased there is a fast non diegetic drum beat.
  

Differences:

• We use diegetic sound such as screaming, water trickling, rustling of leaves, falling, panting, ‘Scream’ uses door bell ringing, popcorn crackling, telephone rings, smashing of glass, locking doors, sinister villainous laughs, gabbing, panting, sound of being stabbed, and silence which is effective to add suspense purely through action codes. Also Scream uses outdoor atmospheric sounds to suggest the calm and stillness of this location.

Our thriller uses a news report for further generic anchorage and to set up expectations of the film narrative whereas Scream sets these expectations up through the dialogue.

Our non-diegetic sound is a drum beat, siren and synthesised sounds, which are very loud and clear. In Scream the non-diegetic sounds are very eerie such as slow piano keys and high violin notes/screeches. Also an increasingly louder violin is cut short by a drum beat at a point of heightened suspense before the villain gives an ultimatum. “Put the phone down again, and I’ll cut you like a fish!”

Scream- during longer takes and dialogue orientated shots there is a slow drum beat-almost like interjections of sound at key moments-e.g. “[her boyfriend’s] his name wouldn’t be...Steve...would it?....DRUM BEAT”

Compare and contrast between Halloween (2007) chase sequence (6:12-8:25 as seen on group blog) and my opening thriller sequence.

Narrative

Similarities
· Both are suspenseful foot chase sequences and include the main villain and main victim in the film. Action and suspense driven narratives.
· The villain has been obsessing over the capture of this victim for some time.

Differences
· In ‘Halloween’ more characters are brought into the event/chase such as the little children in fancy dress, however in my sequence it is purely a victim v. the villain.
· Our opening’s victim is one of many main victims’ in the villain’s plans. She is a false heroine unlike in the ‘Halloween’ sequence.
· Narrative is anchored by a news report in our opening.

Character

Similarities
· Determined yet weak female victims
· Innocent victims
· Confident, calm, strong male villains
· Male villain’s more than likely to have abusive and unusual upbringings
(The villains have no Dialogue- except the name call at the start of our opening)

Differences
· Our victim is under the influence of drugs, whereas in ‘Halloween’ she is injured.
· The victim is successful in her attempt during the sequence of Halloween unlike the victim in our opening.
· Villain is killing for revenge for his family upbringing whereas our villain is killing for pleasure and to fulfil his desires.
· Victim knows the villain in Halloween unlike our victim.

Themes

Similarities:
· Innocence
· Isolation
· Vulnerability
· Power
· Danger

Differences:
· My opening- stalking, murder, seduction
· Halloween chase- revenge, torture, complex relationship,

Breakdown of iconography and other techniques

Camera work:

Similarities:
· Range of distances and types of movement throughout chase. E.g. Whip pans to show immediacy and add disorientation
· Shaky movement when more involved as if audience is experiencing the event.
· Steady camera work when onlooker so we can take the action codes.
· A range of big close ups to very long shots, show from close emotions to the surrounding environment, making sure distancing increases and decreases gradually, moving the audience smoothly across physical space.
· Shot mostly at eye level, and there are eye-line matches in the sequence for continuity
· Some shots use a stationary camera to restrict the audiences flow in their involvement, making it more enigmatic as they want to be there to help the victim escape.
· High angle shots express loneliness and vulnerability whilst slight low angles give connotations of dominance and authority.

Differences:
· My sequence never crosses the 180degrees line so the audience are always aware of the characters sense of direction. -Continuity purposes. The chase in ‘Halloween’ breaks this rule but the surroundings help maintain the audience’s spacial awareness.

Mise-en-scene:

Similarities:

• Villain wears dark clothes to hide identity and is a signifier of evil
• Rural location implies a sense of isolation, i.e. victim is more on her own.
• Both victims run to open public places where help may be possible yet both remain alone with the villain.
• Both foot chase sequences
• Both victims have long flowing hair
  

Differences:

• Mask hides the identity of the villain and makes him seem supernatural and excluded from society
• Our thriller- the victim wears a white dress to make strong connotations of innocence and ‘good’ compared to the villain’s evil.
• Initial domestic setting in Halloween involves the audience when expressing fears on society so is more suspenseful and plausible
• A ‘Halloween’ struggle is through doors and windows connoting entrapment, unlike our loss of a shoe.
• ‘Halloween’ victim is injured, our victim is drugged.
• Halloween- Night time and low level lighting gives a sense of creepiness, and is typical of thriller chases
• Our thriller- the villain has a cloth with chloroform on it unlike ‘Halloween’s’ villain who carries a knife.

Editing:

Similarities:

• Fast pace editing and fast shots are used in places to show that this is actually a chase- it maintains realism and audience’s pace
• Slow paced editing and longer shots are purposefully used to hold the audience in suspense and this lingering puts the audience on the edge of their seats.
• Straight cuts maintain pace of the chase
• Following on shots are more than 30 degrees from the last to avoid the effect of ‘jump cuts’. Maintains fluidity of experience.
• Matches on action to maintain realism
• Shot/ reverse/shots, to give more information to the audience and show reactions to actions.
  

Differences:
· Because our chase is the opening sequence to our thriller, there are credits included.
· Our chase has fades to and from black in the sequence adding suspense but more importantly they are purposeful for the opening credits to be shown.

Sound:

Similarities:
· The use of diegetic and non-diegetic sound to add realism whilst creating more enigma and suspense.

Differences:

• We use diegetic sound such as screaming, rustling of leaves, falling, panting, ‘Halloween’ uses crying, grabbing, smashing of objects, smashing glass, banging on the door, locking the door, smashing the door down. Also in our thriller we use a news report which gives further anchorage of the genre and narrative.
  
• Non-diegetic sounds such as a piano drone, heightens suspense and enigma in ‘Halloween’. Our non-diegetic sound is a drum beat, siren and synthesised sounds.