Thought on Feedback

There were some good points made in the feedback that are pointing out errors we didn't pick up on. To begin with, we didn't realise that the credits were not displayed for long enough. Now our attention has been drawn to this we will address this problem. However, every feedback blog mentioned the lacking of non diagetic sound; We obviously know this is a problem and have the soundtrack ready to attach to the file, so therefore this is not a large issue to our production. One or two groups could not understand the storyline, and as we lack some footage, we understand this, and may have to replace some of our favored scenes with other clips so that the narrative is obvious to the viewer.

However, there were also some positive feedbrack on our opening sequence. A consistent positive throughout the groups was the way in which we presented our credits. They liked the way they were brough on sceen to match the 'Phsycilogical Thriller' theme, and borugh an edge to the clip. So once displayed for longer, will hopefully be very effective. Also, the idea of using fake blood was a large risk we took, as there was a big possibility it could look like a few college students with some rfake blood. However, the feedback suggests they liked it, anbd they way it was used, and it looked 'believable'.

Sound terminology

As at task in preparation for our final clip, we had to create a soundtrack to suit the opening scene of the thriller 'Identity'. We were not allowed to watch the clip with any sound and had to create an effective soundtrack whilst including Ambient sounds. As you can see in the above image, despite an emotion piano tune to fir the theme, thunder is included to make the soundtrack appear more realistic.

Ambient sound is things you can hear that make the setting and location appear realistic. This includes things such as wind and birds in the outdoors, rainfall if its raining, and thunder claps in syn with the flashing. Also things such as cars, background conversation and music is also ambient sound.

Diagetic sound is sound where the source can be seen on screen. This includes things such as cars, speakers, conversation etc. so the viewers can see what the source of sound is.

Non- Diagetic, in turn is sound where the source can not be seen on screen, and therefore include things such as soundtracks, atmospheric noise and sharp sounding additions to add to suspense etc.

There is then Tension building Sound which is generally included to build the tension within a scene. The soundtrack to do this normally consists of a low beat tune and classical instruments. The change in this pace can the again be used to increased tension and shot speed.

Our Idents Design

To create a profession and impressive look to our opening scene in our thriller clip, we want to create an 'Ident'. This is the distributive group who create the film, and show their ident at the begging of every movie. Example of this include 20th Century Fox, Paramount pictures and Pixar. we began by coming up with a name for our pre-film Ident. Looking at images on the internet, we like the fusion of the rwo words 'Eye' and 'Eclipse', as we saw them appropriate to the thriller genre, creating and fitting in with a tense atmosphere. Therefore we came up with the idea of 'I-Clipse'. it then made sense for us to fuse the center of a pure blue eye, into the darkness within an eclipse. This creates a good effect, as an eclipse creates an eeiry darkness whilst an eye gives the viewer and sense of being watched. Therefore this is very appropriate to open out thriller clip. There is a possibility we can then animate our clip. We want to be able to fade the title 'I-Clipse' into the eclipse, then the eyes fading in over that. If its a possibility, we will then also add an eeiry tune into the Ident, that will be the trademark soundtrack, and will create the atmosphere for the film. The music will have to be long the lines of a dark, piano tune, creating an on edge atmosphere for the audience. In some ways, the sountrack to go with the ident is the most important part, as despite the logo being recognised, the sycronised music seemes even more so. I belive we have an effective opening ident that will set a good tone and quality for out thriller clip to follow.

Analysis of 'The silence of the Lambs'

We chose to analyse the thriller, The Silence Of The Lambs. The clip we are looking at involves the first meeting between agent Clarice Starling and the infamous Dr. Hannibal Lecter.

Micro Elements:
Establishing Shot- The scene opens with an establishing shot looking down a corridor surrounded by withered prison cells, giving an eery sense to the location- as you cannot see in the cells, only past them. The shot also includes a lot of shadows this immediately makes it clear to the audience the genre and atmosphere of a thriller film.











Close Up Shots - The camera continually flicks between showing the location, and Clarice Starling. The close up allows you to see her nervous expression as she passes every cell. The audience then see inside the individual cells giving them an idea of what kind of character Dr. Hannibal will be, as we see other charaters in the prison cells before the audience meet him. This again creates an uncomfortable and nervous atmosphere- giving the audience a sense of Clarice's fear.


Over the Shoulder Shot- When both Dr. Hannibal and Clarice engage in conversation, a combination of over the shoulder and close up shots are used. At the beginning of the conversation we see over the shoulder of both characters. The use of seeing over both characters shoulders seems to be an attempt for the nervous Clarice to hold her stance of power against Dr. Hannibal. However after an intense close up on Hannibal Lectre, Clarice is then invited to sit down - losing her stance of power as a low angle shot of the Dr. and a high angle shot of Clarice is then used. It almost creates the sense of a stand off between the two characters.

Mise En Scene - Throughout the scene, you can clearly see its set within a prison, surrounded by creepy characters in other shadowed cells, an eery staircase at the bottom of the corridor and a cold, gloomy undecorated location. The deprived location creates an uncomfortable, on edge atmosphere for the audience as they know its not a relaxed atmosphere for the characters. The Dr. is also wearing a prison suit, again making the scene look more believeable that they are in a prison. Whilst the agent wears formal clothing and carries credentials, which is typical of someone in that career.

Camera movements- An effective use of camera movements is when we are introduced to Dr. Hannibal. A Point of View shot combined with a tracking shot is used, slowly edging round the corner of the cell wall to reveal the character standing with a serious glare. This creates a good effect for the audience, as it will create a great deal of suspension, making them almost want to look round the wall themselves. Throughout the rest of the scene there is very little camera movement as Clarice is seated and the Dr. stands. We see a medium shot of Clarice sitting down as she speaks, but a close up of Dr. Hannibal's face- suggesting to the audience he is in the position of power. The angle also creates shadows over his eyes creating an evil, masked emotion to his personality, whilst all of the female agent is revealed, making her look more vulnerable.

Sound- There isn't a great deal of non-diegetic sound within the clip, as a lot of silence is used. However before the meeting of the characters the diegetic sound is shadowed out by an eery, suspense-building piece of music. To the audience this builds up to the meeting of the characters. However when they meet, diegetic dialogue is used, with a great deal of silence adding to the suspense and uncomfort of the conversation.

Lighting- As already mentioned, non diegetic lighting is used to create a lot of shadows within the scene, again, adding to the eery atmosphere, giving the audience a sense that there is a lot of unknown. However the diegetic lighting that is present is very dull and dark- creating an almost green effect, lowering the mood of the meeting.