Todays plan:

We are sticking to our plan of production today, as previously said. After college, we are taking photos for our larger storyboard, in the following places in this order:

• Blaby park, showing girl within the trees
• Blaby tunnel - girl standing
• Skate ramp on Whetstone park, featuring the necklace scenes
• Path in Whetstone near my house, featuring establishing shot then jump cut of girl standing
• Bridge in Whetstone - both from a high angle and a low angle
• Bridge between Cosby and whetstone, showing girl walking past
• Field in Cosby - girl standing
• Tree opposite chip shop - girl standing under it
• Jess' room - montage scenes, as well as both girl characters within their shots

We are doing this in order to see if our video looks visually presentable as well as seeing if it is doable. We will eventually print these images off and produce an A2 piece featuring each storyboard shot, which will be much neater and presentable compared to our previous rough version. We are going to complete this together.

On top of this, tonight we will record our voices reading our camera descriptions as well as timing/type of shot/timing. We can carry this out after writing the speech of our dreamers narrative, as we are unsure upon how long this will take. Afterwards, however, we will record us speaking these parts and choose whose voice is more appropriate for the video. Once this is completed, we can analyse the approximate timing options for our overall video, as well as then continue to record our storyboard dialogue.

From this, we will save these sounds, in order for us to progress through our production. For example, within school hours we will produce our A2 storyboard within our Media Studies classroom, with taking pictures of this to produce on our blog, to show proof of our working hours. Once completed, pictures will be taken of each board with our saved dialogue to feature proof of our skills.

Afterwards, after the rest of our initial ideas/influential research has been completed, we can then track a shooting schedule to film our video. We plan to book a camera and film a week on Saturday, on the 15Th of March. From here, we will edit in school hours.

If we complete our work within time tonight, we also plan to research sounds upon http://www.freesound.org/, both for our video thriller, sharp, screechy sounds, as well as for a score to go alongside our production logo.

On top of this, yesterday I completed my rough storyboards and drew a costume design, which I plan to scan and upload upon my blog tonight

Typical title order

I studied three psychological thriller openings ('Misery', 'Hard Candy' and 'The Moth Prophecies') and notice similarities in relation to the title order within the opening credits. Many of the norms seem related, although - however - there are some slight differences within the title orders. Here are the list for these films:

'Misery':

• Title, leading role and other actors, music by..., costume design, casting, co-producers, production design, film editors, director of photography, based on book, screenplay, produced, written, directed

'Hard Candy':

• Distributor Presents, production converges and associations, leading roles on by one, title, more roles, casting, original score, digital colorist, editor, production designer, director of photography, co-producer, executive producers, more producers, written, director

'Mothman Prophecies':

• If it's a true story, distributors present, production, a 'production' film, leading roles follow each other, title, more actors, casting, co-producers, sound designer, music supervisor, music, music, costume designer, edited by, production designer, director of photography, executive producer, produced by..., based upon the book, screenplay by, directed by

These three psychological thrillers have helped influence me upon how the titles of a film are presented. There are several typical conventions - such as the director being presented last. From here, we have pulled as series of these conventions from the opening titles, and decided to form a title order for our particular film. This is of follows:

• Distributor/production "presents"... (soon to be made)
• Leading roles - both after one another (Jessica Turner and Emma Swinfield)
• The title of our film (unknown)
• Music by (http://www.freesound.org/)
• Edited by (Jessica Turner and Emma Swinfield)
• Produced by (Jessica Turner and Emma Swinfield)
• Written by (Jessica Turner and Emma Swinfield)
• Directed by (Jessica Turner and Emma Swinfield)

We need to make some improvements upon this, such as choosing a film title, making a production logo alongside choosing a sound from http://www.freesound.org/ converged with the production. We have also decided to open our video with a blank screen with no sound, showing the first three titles above, to then fading into the film. The rest of the titles continue throughout the opening pan within the bedroom, finishing when the camera rests next to the bedside table. The titles will be white, as they will clash with the surroundings due to them being dark, as well as the plain titles showing focus upon the scenes.

We have also noted that various other conventions featured within titles could note be included - such as costume design, co-producers, director of photography, etc... due to having a time limit. On top of this, our names would be frequent and may bore the viewer, as our group only features two individuals and we did not want to post fake names upon our video. Moreover, we are pleased with the credits of above, and are aiming to stick with these.

List of psychological thrillers

Films have influenced me within my production, as I already enjoy both thrillers and psychological thrillers. Here is a list of various films - some I have seen and others have not - which are highlighted as memorable motion-pictures within the psychological thriller genre:

http://listverse.com/2008/06/23/top-15-psychological-thrillers/ states that the following films are the top fifteen psychological thrillers of all time:

• 'The Talented Mr Ripley' (Anthony Minghella, 1999)


• 'Fatal Attraction' - (Adrian Lyne, 1987) - this is one of my more favourable films, with happily married Dan Callagher having an affair with his colleague Alex. However, once he decides to end it, she cannot accept this and things turn nasty


• 'The Game' (David Fincher, 1997)


• 'Cape Fear' (Martin Scorsese, 1991) - another one of my favourites, this remake follows family man attorney Sam Bowden and psychotic rapist Max Cady (Robert De Niro). Bowden lost a case against Cady years before as he personally knew it wrong to save him by hiding a document, but once De Niro is released he makes sure Bowden pays back for all the pain and suffering he has achieved - by emphasizing psychotic sickness and loss


• 'American Psycho' (Mary Hannon, 2000) - a gripping, gory and sometimes intelligent thriller, which is full of cringey and gut-churning moments


• 'Les Diaboliques' (Henri-Georges Clouzot, 1955)


• 'Straw Dogs' (Sam Peckinpah, 1971)


• 'Play Misty For Me' - (Clint Eastwood, 1971)


• 'The Usual Suspects' - (Bryan Singer, 1995) - as studied in class, although confusing and perplexed at times, I overall enjoyed this slow-paced thriller as the tension was built throughout and the ending was superb and one of the most intelligent I have ever watched. I would like to view this film again, in order to add up the clues of the eventual criminal in the finale


• 'Memento' - (Christopher Nolan, 2000) - a favourite of mine, the flashbacks and use of narration makes this film's plot clever and unique. The wish for an happy ending is unsolved, which you subconsciously know all along.


• 'Se7en' - (David Fincher, 1995) - also studied the opening in class, this film intrigues me. It is based upon a psychotic serial killer, who murders people based around the Seven Deadly Sins


• 'Taxi Driver' - (Martin Scorsese 1976) - also studied the opening in class. This is one of my favourite films, based around an individual suffering from insomnia. We follow De Niro through New York, as he battles his way through this condition.


• 'The Manchurian Candidate' (John Frankenheimer, 1962)


• 'Rear Window' (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954)


• 'Silence of the Lambs' - (Jonathan Demme, 1991) - A young FBI trainee is sent to interview a inn mate called Doctor Hannibal, as well as search for cannibal 'Buffalo Bill' - presenting both one of Jodie Foster's most infamous performances, as well as one of the most 'vile, crazed killers shown in movie history'

Above: an image of Dr. Hannibal, from Silence of The Lambs - noted on of the most famous psychological thrillers of all time.

Initial ideas continued

We have completed our storyboards, although these are in rough form as we are undecided upon what locations will be featured within our blog. On top of this, our two minute time limit may be conflicted, therefore we are aiming to video most of our initial ideas, followed by editing our clips onto the Mac computer, deciding which ones appear more visually successful, followed by cutting down our video in order to reach the time limit.
Within the last few lessons, me and Jess have completed our rough versions of our storyboards. We completed approximately the first 10-11 shots within our final decision, although once the dream montage of images follow, we are undecided over which ones will be selected. Therefore, to overcome this, we completed our finished sections of the storyboard with pencil, and followed with the possible ideas with sticky notes - both the image and the description. Therefore, once our decisions change or we make a final input, we can then simply move these notes around, therefore over coming time-limited faults. We will scan these pieces and upload them upon our blogs on Monday to show our rough ideas.
On top of this, on Monday we are taking photographs that will reflect our rough ideas, both with some parts of the costume - e.g. the iconic red cape - as well as aim to emphasize the locations of our video. This will be more visual, as well as being neater, therefore elaborating upon our ideas. From this, we may also decide upon our final ideas upon locations, narrowing our many inspirations down, as the visually will be more effective than our simple first ideas. We aim to complete the entire rough storyboard to reality on Monday.
Alongside this, Monday will be followed with analysing sounds from http://www.freesound.org/ which will provide us with a selection of eerie scores and screeches to which we are aiming to converge within specific sections of our shootings.
We will also write the narrator speech that the dreamer speaks of, as well both recording it to listen and inspect which sounds more appropriate for our video. We are considering producing a poll upon either http://www.facebook.com/ or http://www.blogspot.com/ which will allow individuals to select which voice over sounds more appropriate, although this is in the making and we are unsure upon - if any - feedback we will receive. Therefore, we are aiming to experiment on Monday as much as possible with our voices, tone, length etc... of the speech, in order to achieve the perfect narration. From this, we can then time the approximate length for the rest of the video, as at the moment this is impossible without knowing the length of the narration. However, we have judged how long we assume the opening of this video will be: the section that we are defiantly keeping.
Note: our piece is a non-linear sequence

Progress for my initial ideas

Here is some further ideas to which I have elaborated from my initial ideas, on top of choosing destinations and making decisions upon what to do within and for my video.
This is also a list for further things to do, not necessarily in this order:

• Establish different settings
• Make a production logo
• Take pictures and make storyboards
• Audience/cert research
• Typical titles order
• Costume design
• Analysis of 'Don't Look Now' and 'The Ring', as both films have influenced our opening piece
• Our video profile (include our demographics - 16-24 year old -, shooting schedule, etc...)

We will gradually pace ourselves as a group through these separate sections in order to help progress our intelligence, as well as upload these upon our blogs. The order will relate to further research, gradually forming into our video profile, as this will then be chronological towards our video.

Locations to be featured in our video:

• A bedroom - most likely Jess' - will open the video, revealing the individual asleep

Within the dream, various locations that are not too distant from mine and my partner's villages. We are considering:

• A tunnel leading from Blaby to Whetstone
• Fields in Cosby
• Benches and trees situated near the Chip shop in Cosby
• An establishing shot from a bridge of a park in Whetstone
• A low angle shot from the park, filming the red-hooded figure on the bridge in Whetstone
• A long, lingering path in Whetstone
• Under a large, dark bridge between Cosby and Whetstone
• Trees within a public park in Blaby

A scene features the red hooded girl holding an object, which we are considering to be a heart necklace as this appears gold and may be money worthy. However, it may also have deeper meaning and have sentimental value, adding a thoughtful almost psychological twist into this opening. This necklace belongs to Jess, therefore being of an easy, none-costly prop to use

We are considering shooting this scene where the character holds and then drops this object in front of a blank background, as this would lure attention to this character. Rather than spending money on a canvas, we may use a white, blank wall from the bridge between Blaby and Whetstone, or a black background from a skateboard ramp in Whetstone. Both would lure the eye towards the character, rather than the setting.

As we are using a range of significant montages, we have compelled a series of ideas to which may relate to the rest of the plot of the film. Our first ideas for the Significant Montage of are follows:

• Extreme up close of a woman's chin, showing her applying lip sticks onto her lip. We may shot reverse shot this with a shot in between breaking this, with her lipstick smudged. This shows women - in particular the sleeping dreamer - being affected
• Blood dripping, shown tilted from the side for a distorted effect
• An upclose to a handle going down, revealing opening cases.
• Taps with water, that then morph into blood liquid pouring out. This is gruesome.
• An upclose of a book from the side, to a page turning. This is influence from 'Se7en', as the opening scene features many similar images to this. This could represent information trying to be gathered within this film
• Shadow of the red hooded figure scurrying past - shows she lurks throughout film
• Poster being ripped - shows distress
• A videocamera - old vintage one Jess owns - this shows more primary research from the character, as she may research who this individual within her dream is
• Nail varnish firstly there, then a shot reverse shot then showing it being chipped. This shows a womanly, feminine feature again being fractured.

To do:

Study certs/audiences
Study influential films
Design a production logo
Study scenes within 'The Ring' - the montage scenes will influence the opening sequence of my film

Psychological Thrillers

My media piece is going to be based upon the genre of psychological thriller films. These are sub-genres of the wide thriller theme, to which incorporates elements of mystery and drama; typical wide-ranges of horror, in addition to the typical conventions of the previous thriller. Whilst thrillers tend to focus upon the plot over the character, emphasizing physical tension and action, these psychological twists tend to formulate upon the characters, by focusing upon them. The term 'psychological' refers to the individuals mind, therefore emphasizing one or more characters preying upon their own or each others minds. Their mental state may be demolished within the plot, as well as deceptive games being entwined within the storyline, for example.
Whilst thrillers focus on suspense throughout the entire plot - whether it being through action or the bizarre images, such as sickening shots displayed within "Hard Candy", the suspense within these narratives comes directly from one solitary character. They usually aim to resolve conflicts within their own minds, which are expressed well through the camera to the audience through effective physical expressions, physical manifestations, or physical torsions at play.
Sometimes the suspense comes from within one solitary character where characters must resolve conflicts with their own minds. Usually, this conflict is an effort to understand something that has happened to them. These conflicts are made more vivid with physical expressions of the conflict in the means of either physical manifestations, or physical torsions of the characters at play. These are all mentally torturing for the character.
Whilst thrillers aims to 'thrill' and psychological relate to the process of the mind, the two processed together equals a dangerous mental level for the individuals, to which they battle through with mental strength.
Psychological thrillers follow a series of literacy devices and techniques. These are as follows:

• 'Stream of consciousness' - this is a technique used to describe an individuals point of view, which is written for the character's thought processes. This is usually described through the character's psyche - in description or visual imagery.
• First-person narrative - this is when the plot is told by one of more of the characters, when the individual refers to them self as first person - "I". This is direct, automatically allowing us to know that the character it as one with the story, as well as the audience acknowledging the mechanics of the characters' mind
• Back-story - this is when the history behind the story is told at the start, introducing the main plot deepening both the psychological aspects as well as allowing the viewer to know what the character's motivations are and and their past is shaped.

Various different themes have been explored throughout history from psychological thrillers, too. These include:

1. Reality
2. Perception
3. Mind
4. Existence/Purpose
5. Identity
6. Death

Moreover, after studying this sub-genre, it is recognisable to converge within my plot of my opening film. Due to it being quite mysterious with a drama element, instantly it is recognizable. I am aiming to 'thrill' my audience likewise to the typical Thriller genre, although my opening will also have a hint of a horror element within it, too, adding to the psychological twist. Therefore, I believe the psychological label is better suited.

On top of this, my character opens up the piece, as she will be situated within the quiet setting of the bedroom, hinting she may be the typical 'final girl'. However, more characters are introduced, with the mysterious red-hooded female who she dreams of, therefore toying with her mentality - dealing with both her mental state, nightmare torture - possibly leading to insomnia, a realistic moral issue - as well as appearing to battle with her opponent, as this character appears negative. Also, related to the conventions, her mind is toyed with, dealing with her emotions; we view the world through her perception due to the first-person narrative; the theme of purpose is toyed with, as she deals with the recurrent dreams, pondering their meaning and almost death and identity, as she ponders who this sickening individual is, as well as wondering why they are troubling her. We also witness the film through her consciousness, as we delve into her dreams, as well as begin with the backstory, due to her opening the film with how the dreams started in the past. Therefore, this genre is ideal for my opening story.