Classification

For my film my group and I have decided that the classification will be rated 12A. We have decided to use this rating because it is the correct age for our audience and the content that we will include in our film. Our target audience range includes people of the age of around 12/13 which means that our target audience will be able to go and watch our film without being too young. Another reason why we chose to have the age rating at 12A is because we don't have any violent or gory scene. If we did the British Board of Film Classification states that in a rated 15 film it is allowed to include some gory elements. After doing my research on the BBFC website I now know what elements and features not to include in my film. In our film we will not include any crude sexual references or any sexual content that is detailed. Although our film is quite gory and violent we will not include any sadistic or sexual threat in the movie. One of the themes in our film is danger however we will not cross the line of including any suicidal, hanging or self harm in our film as these elements would be sending the wrong message to our target audience and would not be appropriate to watch.

Script

(phone rings)

Secondary Protagonist: Hello

Antagonist: Hello (insert name here) I've been trying to get ahold of you a couple times, why haven't you been answering?

SP: Um excuse me? I think you have the wrong number, bye

A: No don't go, I want to talk, don't hang up

SP: Like I said you have the wrong number, goodbye. (hangs up phone)

(phone rings)

SC: Hello

A: Don't hang up this time please,  I just want to talk.

SC: Your going to have to find someone else to bother, leave me alone!

A: I wouldn't do that if I wer- (phone hangs up) 

(Phone rings again)

SC: WHAT NOW?!

A: What a pretty dress you're wearing, is it your sisters?

(SC looks out the window through the curtains)

SC: LISTEN CREEP I DONT KNOW IF YOU'RE SCREWED UP IN THE HEAD OR JUST STUPID BUT LEAVE ME ALONE!

A: Now now theres no need to be like that, manners cost nothing you know?

SC: I'll call the police, you'll regret this, for the last time LEAVE ME ALONE!
(sc hangs up the phone and recieves a text from antagonist)

We put this script onto the program Adobe Story as this gives a more professional look.

Final pitch of ideas.

This pitch exhibits my final ideas that we will include in our trailer. This trailer shows our target audience, mise en scene and some shots we will use.

100 word summary of trailer.

The genre for our film is Thriller. We decided to choose this genre as we thought it would be easy and achievable to follow the conventions that are typically seen in Thrillers. Thriller films are very popular in the film industry therefore there are many films we can watch and use techniques from. These films are good foundations to help plan our narrative.

Our target audience is aged from 15 to 25 as we think that this is the right age for thriller films. Typically people under the age of 15 aren't as into thriller films, some of the content may not be appropriate. 

The narrative idea that my partner and myself have decided on is a kidnapped themed narrative. We have taken inspiration from films such as Taken. We think doing a kidnapping orientated film strongly follows the conventions of a Thriller. We wanted a strong opening scene that immediately caught the audiences attention and entrances them. We took inspiration from Scream as we liked the high tension that was created through the opening. The opening in Scream was very eerie and we felt this was a good way to start our trailer and introduce our narrative. From looking at the film Pyscho we have been thinking about filming our trailer in black and white as this would be conventional for thrillers. We will do tester shots to see if this works.

From this opening we will develop our narrative further and introduce the murder mystery element to the film and the process of trying to find the answers.

We will include the editing techniques such as montage editing (these will be done at various speeds), and we will use the basic cutting techniques.

In order to create a realistic atmosphere we will be using diegetic and ambient sound. The use of a sound bridge will create an eerie atmosphere, this will further be supported by an incidental music.

We will have 3 main characters in our trailer, the male antagonist, the female protagonist and a secondary female protagonist.

Pre-Production planning

In order to prepare ourselves for the filming of our trailer we need to plan thoroughly about what needs to be done for preparation.

Before filming my partner and myself will plan and research a good location where filming can commence. Typically in thrillers the location can vary from housing or distant locations like forests. When we decide upon the location that we will chose we will need to do further research in order to find out if the land is owned by anyone and if we need to have permission to film. We are considering multiple locations for the trailer, therefore we need several options for the trailer. The use of different locations will make the narrative seem more realistic and will show the narrative developing as the trailer progresses.

In our trailer we intend to have at least three main characters that the audience will focus their attention on- they will be the antagonist and the two protagonists. Therefore we will need to have auditions so we can find the perfect fit for our actors. We will look at people who have experience in acting for example people who are in the school play or act outside of school. After we have decided the location we will also need to see how easily they can get there and back. Another important factor will be knowing how available they are and if they have other commitments for example part time jobs or open days. If that is the case we will need to organise filming around that.

As this is a trailer dialogue will be predominantly used therefore we need create and write our own script. We will use programs like Adobe Story or final draft. These programs will make the script look professional and as if it came from the industry. The script will not only include the dialogue but also the stage directions and the camera shot and movement we will use.

Edting ideas for our trailer

As my partner and myself are doing a trailer the majority of the editing that we will be using will be montage editing. We will vary the pace of the montage and as the trailer progresses this will reflect on the speed at which the clips are put together. The use of a montage edit will create a sequence that wouldn't fit together alone but does in a trailer like scenario. Using montage editing also follows the conventions of techniques used to create trailers.

We will use continuity editing at the beginning of our trailer sequence. The use of this editing will create a sense of normality and how time is moving forward. It will help to make the sequence that we have created look more realistic. This editing process will also help the sequence look more fluent as it is a technique that does not draw much attention- its subtle.

As in trailers different locations are used therefore my partner and myself will use cross cutting and jump cutting. This will allow a dual narrative and different locations to be interweaved with one another. This process will create suspense and tension for the audience.

In order to piece together our clips for trailer we will be using Premiere Pro as our editing program. This program is easy to use and gives a good professional look to our trailer.

Editing terminology

Editing is the stage in film making progress in which sound and images and are organised into an overall narrative. Now a days editing is done on a computer using a programs like Final Cut Express or Premiere Pro. These programs are being used more frequently used in the industry to edit together big time movies, even one of the Hobbit instalments was edited using Premiere Pro. Years ago before these programs were used for editing, clips would have to be edited together using a Moviola machine in which you would physically have to cut and paste the film clips together in order to create a sequence.

Continuity Editing: This is the most common type of editing, which aims to create a sense of reality and time moving forward. It is also called invisible editing referring how the technique does not draw attention to the editing process.

Jump Cut: This is an abrupt, disorientating transitional device in the middle of a continuous shot in which the action is noticeably advanced in time and can cut between two similar shots. This kind of editing is used a lot in a dual narrative.

Credits:The important information about the cast and crew etc. Usually shown at the beginning or end of the film.

Cross Cutting: The editing technique of alternating, interweaving or interspersing one narrative with another- usually in different locations, thus combining the two. This editing suggests Parallel action- that takes place simultaneously. This is often used to create tension and suspense in places like chase scenes. This is also known as parallel editing or inter-cutting.

Freeze Frames: The effect of seemingly stopping a film in order to focus in on one event or element.

Cutaways: A brief shot that momentarily interrupts continuous action by briefly inserting another related action, object or person. This follows by a cutback to the original shots.

Eye Line Match: A type of edit which cuts from one character to what the other character is looking at.

Flashback: A scene or moment in a film in which the audience is shown an event that happened earlier in the film's narrative.

Shot Reverse Shot: Edits which switch back and forth between two characters interacting with each other.

Montage Editing: the juxtaposition of seemingly unconnected images in order to create meaning- typically used in trailer production.

Linear Narrative: A style of storytelling in which events happen chronologically.

Graphic Match: An edit in which two different objects of the same shape are dissolved from one into the other.

Match on Action: A shot that emphasises continuity of space and time by matching the action of the preceding shot with the continuation of the action.