Planning - Mrs Quinlan: Micro-Elements

Micro Elements

Micro Elements are important within films since they tell what are you doing for the film.  Below are what we are planning to include what micro elements within the opening scene. All of these are important since these are the most important parts of the opening scene and what we will be including from the cinematography the shots that we many include, to the different type sound types that we may use within film and to the different types of editing that we are planning to use within the opening scene. 

(Shakil) Cinematography

The cinematography we intend on using in our thriller consists of the following;

1. As the opening begins, the cinematography that will be taken place is an establishing shot outside of the victims house in order to showcase the environment of the victims whereabouts and to identify that the theme set in which this thriller opening was set, which is Halloween.

1. The next camera angle that will be taken is a close up of the lit up pumpkins that are displayed outside the victim’s house to indicate that the victim is fairly excited about Halloween and celebrates it to an extent. This will reflect upon the audience as they would already get the idea of what the theme is like and the surroundings of the victim’s location, would be relatively isolated to the ‘busy’ streets and is fairly quiet and settled as well as it being set in Halloween.

1.  Thirdly, as the victim settles in, he prepares his snacks and food in the kitchen, from this point of view it will be a panning shot as to what the victim is preparing so that the audience could get the feeling that the victim is at comfort, as he is wearing home clothing such as white tracksuit bottoms and at shirt to signify that he is at his own comfort and to understand the fact that this is the victims home as we can clearly see that the victim lives on his own.

1. An over the shoulder shot would be taken once the victim is settled into the living room with his fresheners on the side, as well as this shot establishes the movie name of the horror/thriller movie that the victim is due to watch so that this can give the audience the impression that the victim is on the verge of watching a horrifying and tragic film due to this being set on Halloween.

1. A Tilt Shot will be used once the victim hears a knock on his door and suspects kids that are celebrating Halloween but to encounter an empty viewing outside his door, which will cause suspense to the audience as the sound of the knock was relatively loud and aggressive. Therefore the use of tilt shot would be used once the victim opens the door and the angle would be set so that we could see from behind the victims house and witnessing that there is nobody outside which causes tension to the audience and confusion

1. A close up shot will also be used of the written note that was sent to his door, in which it states ‘trick or treating?’ in a child’s handwriting with blood smudged across the letter, the close up would be of the note and the victim hands holding this paper, so that this allows the audience to get an impression of what the letter states and so that we could tell that this letter was sent by a kid.

1. Reaction shot of the victim when he first suspects this letter and to see his reaction which were still relaxed as he thought nothing of this and so that the audience could get the understanding of the emotions used in the victim as he opens the letter, but he was not too fooled easily as he laughs and tears the paper up and throws it in the bin.

1. As the victim locks himself in with the antagonist, a Panning shot will be used once the victim encounters a black, tall figured man wearing a familiar mask with blood dripping across its face, this will automatically allow the audience to understand the environment and setting of the scene in which is low key lighting and to make the audience feel frightened and alarmed because we could understand what the victims impressions and emotions would be like.    

(      (Baris) Sound

Sound is widely used within films in order to create understanding and simplify the scene for the audience so that they have a better knowledge of it. The use of sound allows the audience to create meaning towards the character and also their feelings & emotion.

The sound we intend on using in our thriller consists of the following;

1. On Screen Sound will be used when the victim is watching the film and the sound coming from the film. I have chosen to use this because I want the audience to understand and realise the fact that there is no one in the apartment except the victim. This is conventional to the thriller genre because when using the on screen sound coming from the TV, it will distract the audience so that when something else occurs like the knocks on the door then the audience will respond to.
2. Off Screen Sound will be used when the victim is watching the film and then hears the wind blowing in the background. I have chosen to use this because it’s unusual to hear a wind blowing whiles watching a film, only if there is a windows or door open. This is conventional to the thriller genre because the use of the wind blowing suggest there the victim has left the window open or possibly someone has entered the house.
3. On Screen Sound will be used when the victim approaches the door after the knock, and there is a little kid at the door and says “Trick or Treat” to the victim. I have chosen to use this because we as a group want to portray and imply the fact that the thriller opening is based in Halloween. This is convention to the thriller genre because therefore the use of the pumpkin in the start and also the use of the speech by the little kid supports that it’s Halloween, so as a result the audience understands and knows what to expect.
4.   Off Screen Sound will be used when the victim is watching the film and hears a glass shattering in the background. I have chosen to use this because first the glass shatters in the kitchen and since the victim is in the living room he is unable to visually see where it has occurred. This is conventional to the thriller genre because the audience wouldn’t be able to identify where it has come from since it’s a distinctive sound which suggests danger and perhaps that the victim is in danger.
5. Parallel Sound will be used while the victim is in the kitchen clearing up the shattered glass from the floor, the door for the apartment opens and the victim responds with suspense and fear causing his heart to beat. I have chosen to use this because I want to illustrate the effect which the opening of the door had on the victim whiles he was in apartment by himself. This is conventional to the thriller genre because since the audiences are able to understand and feel what the victim is feeling at that moment with the victim.

(Elliot) Editing

Editing is one of the most important micro-elements in the film. Editing allows you to create complicated scenarios and scenes. All films would use some type of editing, thrillers editing technique would usually consist off Jump cuts, fast pace editing, and straight cuts. These are the most conventional use of editing used in thrillers.

Here are some example of techniques that I will be using in the films.

1. One technique I will be using when I am editing is during one part is a series of jump cuts and Fast pace Editing of him closing windows and barricading himself in. The audience response would be apprehension since they don’t know what’s happening and since the way he close the windows. It creates tension and resonate to the audience because the images are not fluent and going at an fast pace.
2. I will also use fade to black at the end of the opening scene after the antagonist turns around. This leaves the audience guessing since they don’t know what’s going too happened next. This is used in some thrillers and this type of editing is conventional the reason.
3. At the beginning of the film there will be also a dissolve at to show some time has passed. The reason why I had to this was because I want the incident to happen after some time has passed the best way to show this Is by telling the audience that time has passed. If the incidents happened after he put on the TV it would seem unnatural. I wouldn’t expect a reaction from the audience since that occurs a lot in films.
4. Also at the beginning of the film there would be an establishing shot of the pumpkin which would go into a straight cut of the main character preparing snacks. The reason why I added this is because to show when the film is set. In this case it telling the audience that’s its Halloween and this is when the story is set.
5. Also they would be also the use of jump cuts during the door scenes. The reason why is because most of the action of the film will take place at the doorway this during with some scenes they maybe some deliberate scares to show how anxious the character is The audience response at first would be to shrug it off however towards the end the audience response will be more nervous since they don’t know what’s going to happen next.

Conclusion

As an group we need to make sure that we have include micro elements in the opening scene. As a group we chose micro elements that is common micro-elements in thrillers that we have seen.