Thriller - Editing

I have begun editing my thriller. Working with the software, Adobe Premier Pro, I am finding it difficult as it is software that I am not familiar with and the only software I am used to working with is very basic, such as Windows Movie Maker. It is difficult adjusting to such complex software but I am beginning to understand it better the more I use it.

I have put all my shots onto the computer and I have started editing and have completed only a very small fragment of the introduction, because getting to grips with the new and complex software, but I think by next lesson I will be able to make some really good progress with it.

Thriller - Filming

I started filming in the Lake District and I have yet to film with my actors because of scheduling difficulties. This is a small problem but the scene involving the actors isn't very long, so the only issue is arranging a time when we can all meet up. The filming I did in whilst there, because of the recent snow, I managed to get good shots of the snow covered mountains whilst there.

The footage I shot there is mainly for the titles and it is staging as Scotland as that is where the introduction to the thriller is set. I wanted the mountains to give the effect that it was far from help if help was needed and that it would be isolated.

All that needs to be filmed next is the scene with the actors and perhaps more footage for the introduction that doesn't require any actors.

Thriller - Lighting

Lighting

 

 Whilst filming small shots, to make sure that my camera would be compatible with the systems at school so I can edit properly, which they are, I realised that the lighting was not brilliant and the shot had quite a fuzzy effect upon the final result. This is something I need to take into consideration when filming. I need to make sure that the lighting is good so that the final result of the film will be good and not look unprofessional and mediocre.

The lighting within my thriller will be natural lighting as all of it takes place outdoors and none of it is inside. What I need to be careful of it various weather. It will look quite odd within my thriller if in one shot it is an overcast day and then on the next it appears as a clear, sunny day.

Thriller - Film Schedule

Half Term

 

During the half term, I will be staying in the Lake District, Ambleside, for a holiday. This gives me an opportunity to film mountainous and scenic shots for the thriller. However, this does pose a problem for the main scene as I will not be able to meet with my actors and film. We will have to re-arrange this at a later date, after half term. The important thing is for half term whilst within the Lake District, is that I get the shots I need completing done and finished to the highest quality as I will not be able to return for a re-shoot.

 

After Half Term



 

After half term I will be meeting with my actors. I know that my lead male actor will not be available on Fridays and Sundays as that is when he is working, so I will have to co-ordinate my filming time around this, perhaps filming on a school night. I will have to check our timetables as to when we each finish and if anyone has a twilight period, which may conflict with the filming, as it still does tend to get dark very quickly once the school say is over. Weekends may be the best solution, but avoiding Sundays and Fridays. Saturday is likely option.



Thriller - Camera Notes

Today, within the lesson we began to talk about using the camera and things to consider whilst filming our thriller to get the best results.

• Pre-role and post-role - spend five seconds before any action happens within the shot.
• If panning, make the pan wider than usual for any errors at the start or the end.
• The rule of thirds.
• Avoid the centre square.
• When filming go diagonally for shots of the horizon, rather than straight.
• Be careful of white balance.
• Depth of field - consider it when filming to get good shots.
• Record ambient sounds in all of the locations.

I found it helpful, as some of the terms I had not come across before and I will definitely consider all of these when filming myself.

Thriller - Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment

In terms of locations, there is very little or no risk to the actors or the camera. The most probably risk to the camera is the weather. If there is bad weather such as snow or rain, we will have to take an umbrella with us and prepare for it, such as checking the weather forecast that day and seeing if we are okay for the shoot, as there is also make-up involved, and it spoiling or running would ruin continuity.

All three of us, the two actors and myself, are filming in woodland areas within the local area, so if rain has been heavy that day then it may pose a problem. The location I am going on without the actors as it is only shots of scenery, Ambleside in the Lake District. That may pose a problem with rain and wind and other heavy weather.

I will have to prepare before hand and make sure that the camera is safe and covered completely. Apart from the weather, there is little risk and little concern about safety as the locations are safe.

Thriller - Actors

Actors

The actors I have chosen are Phoenix Cooper-Morriss, who also appeared in my Preliminary Task as the Lab Worker. I chose her because I know her to be a good and reliable actress, and as we both are taking A-level Drama, along with my other lead actor, I know that they are able to perform to the highest ability in the thriller. They are both great actors and would be perfect in the roles of the thriller. Phoenix, will be casted as the antagonist of the thriller, who is named only as 'The Widow'.

My other lead actor is Sam Allison. I know that he is a great actor and is also taking A-level Drama. He would be perfect in playing the role of Sebastian Delorio, a hitman for The Widow who has failed him. Within the opening sequence we never find out what he has done, only that he is in a critically injured state and then later killed by The Widow.

I think that these actors are perfect to use for the thriller. Within my questionnaire, the results that I got back is that most people wanted a female villain. However, I did not want to show her face to add mystery and a sinister nature to the character. However, the character, Sebastian Delorio, will have to do a lot of shots where it is just the face only, making expressions.

Costume

For costume, there will be fake blood involved so my actors must aware of this. The only props, the lily and the pistol, I will handle those arrangements myself so the actors do not have to worry about anything but acting.

For Sebastian Delorio's costume, some combats and some militaristic boots as he is supposed to be a hitman working for a criminal. He would need something that would make it easier to do his job. And a black polo neck jumper. Or a black coat.

For The Widow's costume, something formal, as The Widow is a leader of a large and daunting criminal organisation. But, being in a woodland area, and in deep woodland, she would not be wearing anything too formal. However, being in a country that is not warm, she would be wearing perhaps a long coat.

She would be wearing boots and trousers similar to Sebastian, as she is a criminal antagonist carrying out a murder herself, so she would need to have something that would be easy to get across terrain, especially in a thick forest.



Thriller - Charaters & Narrative

Characters and Narrative

The Narrative

For the narrative of the opening sequence of the thriller, Sebastian Delorio, a young hitman in the employment of the antagonist, is critically injured and near death, but the extent of his wounds are not shown. As the antagonist approaches, later found out through the narration to be called The Widow. Delorio tries to grab the pistol that is beside him, but cannot due to his weak state. The Widow picks up the weapon herself. The Widow tells Delorio that she is unhappy with his efforts. He weakly responds, telling her that she knew what he was like. She says that she does know him well, hinting at relationship between the two of them. Her tone is serious, saying that she doesn't want failures in her organisation. He tells her he is sorry and tries to move but the movement causes him to wince and convulse with pain. The Widow then aims the gun at him. Sebastian Delorio then calls her The Widow, indicating at a relationship again. Before he can complete his sentence, he is shot (Much like in Kill Bill Vol 1), but we do not see Delorio die. A narrator, who is unnamed, then speaks about that was why she was so notorious, and he couldn't understand why she was coming after now coming after them (the narrator).

Characters

For the opening sequence, I wanted the villain or the antagonist to be like Keyser Soze in The Usual Suspects and Bill in Kill Bill Vol 1. Because of this, the faces are not shown but they do have a small bit of dialogue. There would be an encounter between the antagonist and a another character, which would result in their death, along with a narrator explaining some elements.

Sebastian Delorio

Sebastian Delorio, or simply called as either Sebastian or Mr. Delorio, is a hitman for the main antagonist. He has recently failed the villain, resulting in critical injury and later, death. He is young and it is implied in the dialogue that the two have had a relationship of sorts.

The Widow

The Widow, is the main antagonist and a criminal mastermind. With no other name given, other than the Widow, she has a constant air of mystery and fear around her. No-one knows what she looks like, but she can always get what she wants. She kills Sebastian Delorio, her hitman, for failing her. She does it without remorse.

The Narrator

He explains that The Widow cannot be gone against and he wonders why that The Widow is now suddenly going after him. This triggers questions in the audience such as why did she start hunting him, what for, who the narrator is, how he got into this situation and when.

Thriller - Dialogue

Thriller Dialogue

 

(Dialogue between The Widow and Sebastian Delorio)

 

(serious)  "I am unhappy with your efforts, Mr Delorio." - The Widow

(weakly) "You know me, boss." - Sebastian Delorio

"Yes, I do, Sebstian. I know you. But I don't want failures in my

organisation." - The Widow

(begging) "Widow, please." - Sebastian Delorio

"Not good enough, Delorio." - The Widow

(Narration introducing The Widow more)

 

"That was it. That was her talent. You never know where she is or when she coming for you. But, The Widow always gets you in the end. A fairytale you've heard somewhere. A dark legend. What I wanted to know, is why was she coming after me?" - The Narrator

Thriller - Storyboard

Thriller Storyboard

The scene would open with a mountainous scene, the titles fading in. It would show the main actors starring within the thriller. After the titles, at the bottom there would appear the title 'SCOTLAND. LOCAL TIME: 12:45PM', showing the local time and the place of the thriller, giving the audience some indication as to where it is set.

This is mid-shot of one of the characters, Sebastian Delorio, who is majorly injured. There is a weapon beside him, which is a small handgun. The location is within a forest.

This is an extreme close-up. It shows one of the characters, Sebastian Delorio, in pain, with heavy injuries.

 Another close-up of someone walking towards Sebastian.

Another close-up of Sebastian reaching for the weapon beside him. The hand weakly reaches out, showing him to be badly injured.

Sebastian then winces, showing the effort in trying to move the his body. This is a close-up.

It then cuts back to a close-up of Sebastian's hand, which is too weak to move. Another hand, but is obviously female picks up the weapon that he was about to pick up.

Another close-up of Sebastian who begins to talk to the unknown person, later through dialogue revealed to be The Widow. The Widow explains that Sebastian has failed her and that there are no room for failures.

The gun is pointed at Sebastian. This is a close-up.

Sebastian begs The Widow, but he is unable to finish his sentence. This is also a close-up of the character.

There is a gunshot sound but the screen cuts to black and we do not actually see Sebastian die or shot. This is used to add effect and for the titles.

The rest of the titles come onto the screen with the title of the film showing. It shows in the background, a slow-motion, mid-shot of a falling lily, covered in blood which we assume to be Sebastian's. The title comes up 'The Thieving Magpie'.



Thriller - Planning

I have been planning my thriller and have decided to complete the my thriller on my own. I have been inspired by many of the thrillers I have done for research, and some elements of it have been passed into my own work. Particularly, The Usual Suspects and Kill Bill Vol 1. During these, we never see the faces of the villains at the start and I wanted to keep this running theme within mine. This would also add to the mystery of the opening sequence.

From inspiration from other sources, I have decided on my title for the film to be called 'The Thieving Magpie'. This is a play on the classical work also called ' The Thieving Magpie' or 'La Gazza Ladra' by Rossini. It is called this because someone has been a thief to the antagonist, like a magpie.

This was also inspired by a TV villain in the BBC programme Sherlock as the song is used whilst one of the villains is stealing the crown jewels. Jim Moriarty, reminded me much of the villains that I saw in thrillers such as Bill in Kill Bil Vol 1 and Keyser Soze in The Usual Suspects. They are villains where the characters are never sure where they are and if they'll come after them, but if they do then they are in serious danger and most likely, death. I want to have a dangerous, inescapable villain within my thriller, like the successful ones in the thrillers.

Keyser Soze, Moriarty and Bill all have this factor in common. They are villains who are very dangerous and almost impossible to defeat or catch, as well as not really, truly knowing who they were. Inspired by these sources, the villain in my thriller will be faceless, or rather, their face will not be seen on camera through out the opening sequence to add mystery about the villain.

Brainstorm

I started planning, doing a brainstorm. I started thinking of the narrative. keeping in consideration my questionnaire results. I started to think of possible dialogue from that and locations I could use. I knew that during half-term, I would be visiting the Lake District, so I have an opportunity to film several scenic locations. I also knew of some more local areas that would be suitable to film in once that the trip is over.

Thriller Questionnaire Results

Thriller Questionnaire Results

From the results, I need to focus on them and produce in my thriller what my audience want and what they expect. I shall have to pay attention to this when I am planning and coming up with ideas as I have to plan it around what my audience wants and expects from the questions they have answered. I must focus on the location as several people have asked for urban areas and I now need to start looking for good locations for me to film and it is best if I start thinking now and get mutiple options so I can choose which is the best location and if I should use it or not. Now that the planning stage is over, I can begin planning which we will start in the lesson tomorrow.

Thriller - Questionnaire - Thriller Themes

Most people watch Suspense/Mystery thrillers and they have also said that they watch Crime, Science-Fictions, Fantasy and Supernatural thrillers. I need to think about this whilst I am planning for my thriller as I need to show what people expect from a thriller.

Thriller - Questionnaire - Thrillers

People often watch thrillers once or twice a month. Because of this I need to make my thriller exciting and as good quality as the ones in the cinema.

Thriller - Questionnaire - Violence

Most said that violence can be used but it is not vital for an opening sequence. In this case, I shall try not to use violence within it unless I have a good idea which I would like to show. If not, then the violence can be skipped and there can be more mystery and suspense.

Thriller - Questionnaire - Music

Most people want the music to be suspenseful, so I think that I should do something a bit like the music in the opening sequence of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire that I researched or The Usual Suspects because both were very suspenseful and had a large impact on the opening sequence. It is important to get the right music for the opening sequence of the thriller becuase it generates a first impression of the film.

Thriller - Questionnaire - Supernatural

People would like to see supernatural elements within the thriller so how I would present this leaves a problem as what to choose as well as an issue whether what I choose is feesable enough to do within it. However, several effects are possible to create.

Thriller - Questionnaire - Themes

From these results, many people want to see suspense and mystery within the thriller, with horror and crime coming second. From this I should plan and produce my thriller around suspense and mystery but I should also include the themes of crime and horror within, perhaps incorperating the two to create a horrific crime scene?

Thriller - Questionnaire - Character Age

From this, both teenagers and adults are the same level, with no one wanting children in thrillers. Because of these results I should incorporate these findings within my thriller. When casting I should think about these results when thinking about actors/actresses.

Thriller - Questionnaire - Villains

From the results I can see that a female villain is more popular than a male villain within a thriller. However, many people did respond with that the choice doesn't matter. I will take this into account but the fact that many people do want a female villain rather than a male shows that this is the option I should go for and I should think about this when casting people for the thriller, as well as how good they fit the role.