My personal targets when filming

I think the real challenges for me during the production are going to be

-Organisation: turning up on time, equipment, paperwork, logging whats been done.
-Timing: links to organisation, i have quite a journey so i need to make sure i leave on time.
-Communication: make sure i tell people if there is going to be a problem (including miss)
-Generally be good.

Inspirational Opening Sequences

This is the opening sequence from one of my favourite films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. I think this scene is so effective because it uses wit and action to introduce two of the central characters to the audience.

The way the titles are on their own black screen works well for me because when done well it doesn't disturb the flow of the clip but it makes sure they are noticeable. I also think that by making the music louder and louder through the clip and only bringing it to climax when the action starts it builds enjoyable tension but doesnt distract from the dialogue.

The narration anchors the London setting with the accent and directly addresses the audience which perhaps makes them feel important and makes them want to continue watching the film.

By telling the audience that one is a master of cards the direction of the film is perhaps suggested and Jason Statham's jokes suggest it will be a comedy.

i think the reason this is such a good opening sequence because it is funny, exciting and makes the viewer want to watch the rest of the film.

Past Student Thrillers

I thought this opening sequence was very impressive because it used dialogue to build tension rather than action. i thought the male character was creepy by being mock-friendly and the female was strong and, rather like the woman from Alien, more of a hero type than a victim.

i think some of the shots were very nice such as when the whiskey was poured. The lighting was also right because it gave a creepy feel with the use of shadows.

The male characters smoking and drinking made him look sinister and built up an atmosphere of suspense. Although the music was not particularly suspenseful Frank Sinatra holds mafia/gangster connotations so i think it worked well.

I think with my opening sequence i will try to use a blend of dialogue and action to create suspense. A lot of the previous years seemed to have chosen one or the other.

Past Student Thrillers

I thought this opening sequence was very impressive because it used dialogue to build tension rather than action. i thought the male character was creepy by being mock-friendly and the female was strong and, rather like the woman from Alien, more of a hero type than a victim.

i think some of the shots were very nice such as when the whiskey was poured. The lighting was also right because it gave a creepy feel with the use of shadows.

The male characters smoking and drinking made him look sinister and built up an atmosphere of suspense. Although the music was not particularly suspenseful Frank Sinatra holds mafia/gangster connotations so i think it worked well.

I think with my opening sequence i will try to use a blend of dialogue and action to create suspense. A lot of the previous years seemed to have chosen one or the other.

Experimenting with Character, Prop and Location

I used my sister in a series of photos to look at what effect expression codes, props (a gun) and the use of location had on the interpretation of a character.

In this picture Constance is running from the camera and looking behind her as if she is being chased. I think she looks vulnerable, she is very much the victim in this shot.

She has no weapon which I think makes her look unprepared and adds to the fright.

The dark location also adds to this feeling. all though it is not particularly clear she is running down an empty road.











She is in the same environment here but i have armed her with a gun. She is also standing in a much more confident way and facing the camera head on implying she is not scared.

This photo gives her a much more heroic (or perhaps villainous) look. She is definitely not the victim in this shot.

I think it is interesting by giving her a gun and changing the way she stands her character is completely transformed.










In this shot my sister is hiding behind a wall and peeking out as if looking for some sort of predator. It's quite a conventional victim shot.

She again has no weapon in this shot and this exaggerates that she is the victim and not the hero or the villain.

the picture was taken in a small estate and has quite and urban feel.











Again i have given her a gun in this photo and she has changed her stance.

she is now leaving the shelter of the wall which suggests she is now a hero or protagonist.

she has a confident expression which probably means she knows what she is doing and is not fearful.

because she is leaning out from behind the wall rather than trying to shelter i would say she has transformed from victim to hero.

Locations Used in Crime Thriller / Black Comedy Hybrids

These are locations from the brilliant film 'lock stock and two smoking barrels' which is a fantastic crime thriller/black comedy. it is set in urban east London and these quite run down looking buildings show this.


This is a location from the film Goodfellas which is another crime thriller/Black comedy. it is set in New York, Manhattan which is a typical gangster location.

The urban run down look again gives a shifty, shady look which goes perfectly with the crime theme of the film.







This is the famous Diner from pulp fiction. it has the classic 50s look despite the film being set in the 90s.

I think it is a clever setting because it gives gangster connotations and allows the film to make references to other film stars like Marilyn Monroe.

Film still from Firewall

In this still from a film called Firewall, Ford's character is apparently driving under instruction by Paul Bettany's character. From the look on Ford's face he is being taken hostage. Bettany may also be holding a gun.

In the film Ford plays a bank worker who specialises in making impenetrable computer software for security in the bank. His characters family (including his young, typically innocent-yet-streetwise, children) is taken hostage in order to get him to steal millions from the bank.

I think this shot is brilliant for narrative reasons because it portrays bettany's character in a typical thriller style of being icy cool and calm.

although this film perhaps has elements of an action/thriller hybrid, it still follows thriller conventions and i thought it was very exiting.