Pre-Production Research and Planning

We researched into specific examples of thrillers and watched different clips on YouTube which would lead to us planning what genre we would lean towards setting our narrative and script on. We also looked at the types of characters and which type of antagonist and protagonist and stereotypes and archetypes that were related to the type of character that we would decided upon having e.g. gender, ethnicity, language etc. From our research of different thrillers we found the film noir genre interesting and different and decided to go with it as it had specific thriller conventions such as a red herring which was an important aspect of our storyline. We researched and thought of a lot of idea to base the basis of our opening on. we did a lot of brainstorms on the type of genre, characters, storyline, setting etc. This lead us to choosing the idea of Psychological thriller which we thought. This lead us to creating an original and innovative idea of film noir to set our thriller around which create a new feel for the audience and not just going with stereotypically thriller characters e.g. victim and psycho.

Production
We made a lot of decisions with the miseen-scene which were very important for the filming of our thriller. We planned what kind of clothes, make up and props we would use and specifically were they would be placed around the room. We made a lot of decision on the lightning making sure it kept to the film noir style keeping it dark reflecting the mood of the characters and keeping to the narrative. In pre production we planned out camera angles in our shot list however we changed some on the day of filming and made last minute decision due to shots not working well equipment. We created on the spot ideas and changes to some aspects of our work such as adding on a flashback which would change the feel of the opening and make it more tense. This also added more thriller conventions and audience appeal as they would get drawn into the flashback showing the characters being happy together in comparison to other shots. We created different shots by placing the props in interesting places around the room and having the titles on each of the different props which the audience found creative and different rather than just having the credits appearing on screen. We changed some of our shots and camera angles as we had some problems with some of the equipment available to us .e.g. the wheels of the dolly weren't smooth enough making the shots jagged and uneven, We made decisions by changing were we would have a particular shots and how we would change them without making it drastically different. The technology was very important for this section as we relied upon the equipment for making the shits right as well as sticking to film noir style which we struggled with at times of production.

Post-Production
We planned to use slow paced editing and using long takes and cuts to continue the feel of film noir. We researched the kinds of camera angle that were used in typical film noir films by watching clips on YouTube. This helped our editing stage as we made decisions on the cuts, effects upon how relatable it was to our film noir style. The voice over was an important stage of our pre production. We researched into voice over looking at thriller and film noir films that a voice over was included and from that wrote our own voice over to fit into our narrative. This helps tie in all of the pre production and production work we did so the audience appeal was far greater. We were creative in decisions we made for the type of editing we would choose to use such as the saturated effect for the flashback section making it purposely bright and colourful to show a contrast between the shots in the bedroom which we made and edited to be dark and mysterious. The voice over was a clever way of engaging the audience and letting them know what is going on by incorporating it into the theme of film noir which worked to our advantage.

Creativity

Digital Technology

We made decisions into what kind of technology we would be using. we had access to different internet recourses such as YouTube, blogger and scribd. This helped to make our pre production work good and clear to refer back to. We also decided what kind of camera and camera related equipment we would be using e.g. the dolly and tripod. This helped create the slow paced camera angles which would relate to our theme and conventions of film noir.

We used a lot of the technology for the editing process and evaluation. We used YouTube to upload our feedback videos, blog entries and extra work related to our opening. This helped us to reflect back on everything wed done and view this in an interesting way rather than just reading it. The editing software was vital in creating particular effects for the flashback a and making in darker to continue the theme of film noir.

Pre-Production

Production
We used similar camera techniques taken from film noir style using the slow paced, longer cuts. This was a basis of how all the shots could be throughout the opening except the flashback which was included to show a contrast and give the audience an incite into the characters and helping them to understand there relationship before that present time. This also helped to keep thriller conventions which we based on thriller we watched such as life of David Gayle which displays similar narrative and having flashbacks throughout giving the audience snippets of his life. we alerted some of the voice over that we created before as it didn¶t fit into the film noir style as good as it could be. This changed the opening for the better making it as close to film noir as we could with the lighting being dark and setting it in one location making it feel more tense and mysterious for the audience appeal. the decision for camera that were made in post production changed slightly due to us thinking of new shots to add in and improvising if shots didn¶t go well with others.

Post-Production
We looked at the way in which film noir films were cut and if there were any effects added to them. We found that the style of editing that was preferably used was slow paced and simple. We took the research from these films and made our editing similar in the way we cut and ordered it. The flashback would be the modern n editing we added to create a different era for the audience and make our work more creative.

Similar Texts

We focused on and used similar conventions and has ideas from film noir films such as double indemnity, and more modern ones as taxi driver and the life of David Gayle. These introduced us with ideas for our narrative and having a voice over adding a more interesting approach to the opening. This allowed us to take elements of particular thrillers and manipulate them for our own storyline e.g. film noir style .

Post Production

We decided to plan our narrative first so we could use this as a template for the kind of genre we would be focusing on what thriller conventions we would include and the kind of actors, props and locations we would need. This helped us to plan when and where we get these from e.g. were we would film when it would be valuable to use, when our actors were available. This helped us to stick to time and make sure everything was done so we could focus on the next steps of editing and making our own music.

There were may post production decisions and ideas that didn¶t remain the same as it did when we first started. We changed a few of the shots because of timing, equipment and recourses. We changed some ideas to do with the narrative and characters and we added on a flashback which was a positive idea which created more interest in the narrative. The editing, there were a lot more shots to choose from whereas at the beginning we didn¶t have as many to pick from. Overall we stuck to most of the plans we did in post production however altered them to make sure we were sticking to the film noir style, including enough thriller convention and it had enough to appeal to a wider audience.