Final Thriller

Below is my final thriller video 'Galicia' 

Evaluation Task 7 - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Above I made a prezi to complete my evaluation Task 7, it shows how my journey to my thriller developed and changed over time. 

Evaluation Task 6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Below is my thriller with annotations embedded about what software we used. Please make sure you have the annotations on when you watch it to enable you to read about the different technologies we used and how we used them. 

I think for me one of the technologies, which I learned the most about was using slow motion. This played a big role in our thriller; we used the smooth slow effect on the Sony NX5. We had to make sure we got the timing right as we only had three seconds for each shot, so it was crucial we pressed the button in good time so that it worked well with the timing of the action which we intended to film. We had to put the camera on a different filming setting, which was smooth slow setting. The smooth slow feature allows the recording of 1080 High definition or Standard definition clips at four times the normal rate, which when played back at normal speed allows the action to be slowed down up to four times. I learnt all this from using it on shoot day which I wouldn’t have known about otherwise and I think it will be a really useful tool to have the knowledge about later but it had particular good use in my thriller as it helped add tension and build a climax just before the start of the fast-paced action that followed.

The second technology that taught me a lot was the Adobe after effects. We imported the sound effects, gunshots and blood into Adobe after effects where we were able to edit and add it in. Firstly we learnt how to choose lighting effects for the guns to make it look more realistic, whilst doing this we had to make sure we positioned it correctly so that they flashed where ever the gun was pointing, we then highlighted the areas that the gun shot would have lighted up the body parts and face. We also had to use the moving effect to make sure the blood for instance remained on the character if they moved slightly so it looked like they had really been shot. Once we had done this we imported them from Adobe after effects into Adobe premier pro, this is also an extremely useful skill for me to now have as it means in the future I will gradually improve using these effects and developing my skills further.

Evaluation Task 5 - How did you attract/address your audience?

Evaluation Task 5:

This in an interview ‘script’ that I put together with all the information I about I attracted and addressed my audience?

The interviewer (Ben): “Hi Saskia I am here to get a bit of information from you about the recent thriller opening that you made. I will start by asking, what pleasures can your target audience take from your thriller?

Saskia (me): Well Ben since our target audience is men over the age of 40. Our thriller contained a lot of violence suspense and fast-paced action, we did this purposefully as stereotypically this age group and gender enjoy guns and violence and lots of action that will keep them engaged! We wanted to get their adrenaline going whilst watching our thriller therefore we made sure our audience are left waiting in anticipation for the drama to occur, the violence is also important as when we interviewed what are target audience would be they all stated “they like action and gun scenes” which is lucky as our thriller scene contains lots of that!

Ben: Wow, you sound like you really have your target audience soused.

Saskia: We also kept our audience attracted to our thriller by the tension that is built up; this means they are on the edge of their seats, eager to find out what happens next. The last thing our target audience thoroughly enjoyed was the death in the scene; this attracted our audience as its very unexpected and foreshadows what might happen next.

Ben: So from that I take it you have made a thriller?

Saskia: Yes we have created a dramatic thriller, which contains a lot of action on our opening scene.

Ben: Was there any reason you chose to do that?

Saskia: Well we purposefully did this because we thought it could engage a larger audience as many people enjoy this type of genre. Action is a universal like genre that appeals to a huge amount of people.

Ben: For those of us who aren’t so sure with the technical l terms could your thriller be a sub-genre?

Saskia: No because although it contains lots of action the media product is a thriller with conventions of a thriller for instance all the tension and guns involved, But it does have action influences. I can see that it is easy to get confused. Even if our thriller were categorized as an action thriller it would be a hybrid genre without being an action film, if that makes any sense?

Ben: Yes, I now understand the difference. So my next question would be have there been any other films that have influenced or given you inspiration for you’re thriller?

Saskia: Yes there have been a few such as The Dark knight, Terminator 2 and Special forces. All three of these films have a similar target audience to my thriller as they have the same action conventions that all appeal to middle aged men. I actually also got inspiration from video games such as Rainbow 6 siege and Call of duty as both these media products contain lots of fast paced action with guns and violence.

Ben: I see so where did you choose to set you’re thriller?

Saskia: We decided to set it in an old factory/warehouse type of place; we did this because it is a stereotypically creepy place where most everyday people wouldn’t choose to go.

Ben: So why did you choose this location?

Saskia: we thought this would help add extra uneasiness and create a very unsettling atmosphere for our viewers. The indoor also gives mystery as we don’t know where the location is and the audience then wants to find out what is going on!

Ben: Right, so you believe your audience will respond well to this?

Saskia? I do because we kept it dark and tense, so gradually as the thriller unfolds and becomes clearer to the audience they are keen to watch on and discover what will happen next.

Ben: So are they in the warehouse?

Saskia: Yes, they are in this warehouse, which intrigues the audience and sets the scene perfectly for lots of action to unfold. We used industrial mise-en-scene props that made it appear like an old and deserted warehouse. The setting was so important as we didn’t want to give too much away as this will encourage our target audience to want to watch on. They also stay engaged as they try and work out the pieces of the puzzle that our thriller is and therefore continue watching to discover the answers.

Ben: That sounds like a clever way in engaging you’re audience. For those of us who haven’t yet had a chance to watch you’re thriller, what is you’re plot line?

Saskia: There is a young man who is taken hostage by a foreign villain and there is the hero Special Forces man trying to save the young man, whilst trying not to set off the bomb that is wired around the room.  The audience are on edge as they are aware of what’s going on but they cannot do anything about it…As an audience they will be excited to watch on as they will not be excepting the ultimate failure of all three characters we don’t except them to all fail and die. Therefore the audience is left in shock, which is a good thing as it means they are emotionally committed to my thriller.

Ben: Wow, that sounds pretty tense! I know I am asking you many questions but I think we are all so keen to hear about all the little details of you’re thriller. How did you choose to create you’re title sequence?

Saskia: We used old blue prints for the background ad this gave little hints to the audience as to what is going to follow. We don’t reveal who is who or why and this results in our title sequence being quick, decisive and engaging. We then in the opening don’t explain much, which leaves the audience to work out things for themselves. The action and suspense straight away is key in engaging our audience.

Ben: Can you tell me a bit about the characters you used?

Saskia: We have used three very stereotypical characters that appear in thrillers. First of all we have the Foreign Villain, he keeps the audience on edge as he speaks a foreign language therefore they don’t understand him and there is something very terrorist like. The audience gets excited, as they know there will be some sort of backstory.

Ben: I must admit most thrillers I have watched have a villain who everyone dislikes!

Saskia: I agree with you, the second important character is our Victim! He is a young man, who leaves the audience asking lots of questions, as we don’t know why he has been put there. Lastly we have out ‘hero’ he is a Special Forces professional; the mise-en-scene of his costume suggests he is engaged and tactical. This is confirmed instantly as he shoots the villain straight away and appears to have no remorse for his actions.

Ben: I see, so what narrative devices did you use?

Saskia: We have used a lot of suspense with a cliffhanger at the end when our victim say’s “you’ve killed us all” This Attracts our audience as they don’t know what will happen next, why they were all killed or by who? These are ongoing and Continuous questions that our audience are asking meaning they are enjoying the mystery.

Ben: In terms of media representation, which social groups are you appealing to and how?

Saskia: We are appealing to our target audience but also other social groups such as other younger men because our victim if of that age. We also give the middle age men a hero like figure, which they can aspire to look up at.  We haven’t appealed to females or anyone under the age of 15 as given our violence we have concluded it would not be appropriate for younger kids, and due to the fact we have not involved any females it wouldn’t necessarily appeal to them.

Ben: Do you have any music in the thriller?

Saskia: We do use a non-diegetic soundtrack, which has eerie almost upbeat sounds during the credits at the beginning this builds up the atmosphere. It would attract our audience as it builds up tension from the beginning, as they are just waiting for what is going to happen next.

Ben: During the credits of you’re thriller, what information did you give and why?

Saskia: We used directors, star-names and the thriller title ‘Galicia’ as these all play a role in attracting our audience. Galicia it a region in Spain known for activities of organized crime to do with being the main European entry point for Colombian cocaine. This for us holds huge significance as it signifies hints at what our thriller will be about.

Ben: That is something I was not aware of but I am definitely interested to find out more

Saskia: We also gave the names of people, for instance Mike Niland, as he is the upcoming Tom hardy. Alehandro Calpsou, which is a Spanish foreign name this ads drama and these big names intrigue the audience.

Ben: In terms of editing what techniques did you choose to use?

Saskia: We used lots of special effects for the gunshots to make it a more atmospheric opening. Then we used short shots for the action parts as this makes it look more intense and keeps the audience on the edge and fully focused on what they are watching. We also switched between slow motion and fast, as this really helps add tension, which ultimately keeps the audience, intrigued.

Ben: So lastly I am going to ask you overall what conventions have you used to make it clear ‘Galicia’ is a thriller?

Saskia: We used classic and obvious signs such as non-diegetic sound-track, Diegetic sound of speaking and heavy breathing and the protagonist is in the mercy of the antagonist. All these things help make it clear to the audience that it is a thriller I am shooting.

Ben: Well thanks very much Saskia, I am really excited to watch the rest of the movie!

Saskia: Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy the film!

Below I have set up the interviewer conducting the questions. Then on the right we have the interviewee getting asked the various questions