Mind-Map of Sound Terminologies

This is my mind-map of sound terminologies and what each individual sound means. I found this task extremely useful as i was able to depict watching a movie clip what sounds were and where they came form, this knowledge was useful to me when creating my Foley which will be posted next on my blog. I learnt a lot doing this task as we did an in depth analysis of each word and its meaning and how it features in a movie.

Thriller Film Location Shots

 These photos were taken from London Bridge Station on route to near Aldgate Station, I chose these locations for my possible Thriller film location shots because they represent a part of London that is extremely adult orientated. Although the rest of London is predominantly 18+, this part of London is where, Solicitors, Insurance and Banking companies are stationed. The tall building are perfect for a Thriller films as someone could be watching you from high up without you knowing, they would have the perfect vantage point. Also between the narrow streets the lighting is quite dark,which again is perfect for re-creating the dark mystery viewers get form watching a thriller film.

SE7EN SPOILER

SE7EN- SPOILER



Somerset in the library

The film is set in a New-York style location, this is typical of a thriller film as they usually are set in the 'adult' world. The film features Detective William Somerset, a homicide specialist a week from retirement (how convienient?) But Detective Williams’ retirement will have to be post-poned for one final case, where he is partnered with young David Mills, the ardent detective replacing him at the end of the week. Mills has talked his un-willing wife, Tracy, into moving to the city so that he can engage in more important cases, but his first and Somerset's last are more than either man expected.



Victim of Gluttony evidence photo

A serial killer is staging horrific murders, choosing victims relating to the seven deadly sins. First, a fat man is forced to eat until his stomach ruptures to resemble gluttony, then a wealthy lawyer is made to slice a pound of his own body as reparation for greed. Somerset firstly refuses to take the case, coming to the conclusion there will be five more murders, Each victim is forced to suffer whatever sin they chose in life, lust, sloth, pride, wrath, and envy, We don't see any on-screen violence, but it is presented cleverly in order for the audience to imagine the horrific details, Personally I think this is what makes this film so effective it separates it form he genre of horror as we only see the aftermath where in a James Wan film we would get the ‘pleasure’ of seeing the victims gut splattering across the walls.



Mills arriving to sloth scene



As each victim is discovered, the killer leaves more clues, daring the detectives to find him. Detective Somerset uses the library system to view who has been reading books on the seven deadly sins and discovers a list of potential suspects, the first named John Doe. When the two detectives find John Does location and go to ask him a few questions, guns fire and both detectives realize they have found the killer, although John Doe escapes and strangely his apartment hold no finger prints.



Victim of Sloth



As the detectives try to unravel the mystery, the sins reach number 5 out of 7, when John Doe turns up to the police station ready to turn himself in the audience get to know his real name, Kevin Spacey, who doesn’t seem the serial killer type apart form the sliced fingertips and blood on his fingers and shirt, someone else’s blood.



After questioning about the two remaining victims, envy and wrath, Spacey tells the detective to go to a deserted field, the only scene which is shot in bright, sunny daylight, an obvious contrast to the rest of the film, possible to create and shot the optimism of the two detectives that this horrific case might be coming to a close, when the detectives and Spacey arrives they are the only ones in this deserted place when a FEDEX van pulls up carrying a packing for the detectives.





The box containing Mills' wife's decapitated head.



Somerset opens the package away form the view of the audience, How convenient, when spacey tells the detective that inside the package is the head of Mills beloved wife Tracy, Spacey reveals the sixth victim, that in fact Spacey was envious of Mills life, his career and his family that he then made himself to be the victim of envy.

Spacey then tells Mills that the sin of anger will destroy his own life, therefore ending the cycle. Mills shoots Spacey and in the end we see a police car taking Detective Mills away and inevitably the last victim, the victim of wrath.

Se7en trailer



PERSONAL CONCLUSION...

This film is shot cleverly and has underlining meanings, the film is dark throughout to resemble the dark lives and all the misery that the two detectives face in their everyday life, then the bright sunny outdoors final scene which resembles the optimistic view that this case is finally over, for it to be stripped and taken away from them in a devastating scene. Personally i really enjoyed watching this film, it was easy to follow and crafted perfectly, i liked the way that David Fincher (Director), didnt let the audience see the masacres but only what become of the victims after, as previously said this is what separates this film from horror genres.There also wasnt a big Enigma Code apart from the obvious who was killing these people and why?. Really, i thought the ending was a bit dull, there wasnt really a twist, more of a shocking revalation, yeah, okay Mills' wife was murdered and the last two remaining victims was Mills himself and Spacey, but there wasnt that moment where i thought "Woah! i didnt see that coming", this doesnt take away that the rest of the film was brilliantly shot and was executed perfectly as a thriller.

FILM RATING: 4/5 STARS

Thriller Expectations Mind-Map

This is my Thriller Film Expectations mind map, I told a friend all the aspects of a thriller film and what should be in the title sequence. I showed her three title sequences, one form psychological thriller, one from a political thriller and one from a crime thriller. After she had watched the three thriller film title sequences i asked her what her expectations where, plot, characters, setting etc. This is what she came up with.

From completing this task i have learnt exactly how directors and producers give away themes and aspects of the film without revealing the story-line and exactly how easily people can recognise these themes and aspects.

Genre Iconography Moodboard

Above is my Genre Iconography Mood board for a thriller film. You will be able to see the variety of images i have placed for what i think sums up a thriller film. Above there are scenes, characters, settings, and colours, typical scenes and props, that i think are in a thriller film. In the bottom right-and corner you will be able to see the image if a lady in a straight jacket, i used this image to create the theme of a physcological thriller, next to this image is a photograph of police using force against rioters, i used this image to show that in every thriller film, the law in someway is always connected, above these images is the Houses of Parliament and the Department of Justice in America badge, these both link into the law side of thriller films but also can go into the character box as in some political thrillers you will find, government officials, usually committing the crime themselves, or they will feature in one way or another. In the bottom left-hand corner, you will see Liam Neeson raising his gun from a still from the film Taken, Neeson is a prime actor for this mood board as he is in some of the best thrillers out there and plays his part excellently. Above these photos, at the top, is a photo of Hitler, i used this photo to resemble the dictatorship featured in many political thriller films, next to Hitler is a lady from the thriller, Shutter Island, she resembles the physcological thriller films. Further along the mood board is letter from John. F. Kennedy which is clearly blacked out hiding top secret information, i used this image to resemble the mystery and suspense that a thriller film creates.Thriller films are usually set in big cities this is to introduce to us that these films are in an 'Adult World', also costume plays a big part in any genre of film, but with a thriller if the directors doesn't hit the nail on the head, it could be fatal, directors need to distinguish between horror and thriller, so really there shouldn't be any clown suits or 'SCREAM' masks, instead we should expect to see business suits, police uniforms, general clothes but nothing with an obvious label. Overall i feel i have used relevent images to produce a thriller genre inspired moodboard.

Below is another mood board of four thriller film title sequence slates featuring slates from, SE7EN, Panic Room, The girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Insomnia. I chose these four as they give a wide variety to the type of thriller, whether its physcological, political or crime. Below these slates are some very good thriller films that also from the wide variety of the type of thriller film.

What makes a good thriller film- mindmap

This is the class mind-map on what is a thriller film. From doing this task i learnt to categorize all the aspects of what makes a thriller film. I also had a broader mind on thriller plots, characters, costumes and settings.

Panic Room- Title Sequence Time Line

Panic Room- Title Sequence Time Line

00:22

00:27

00:30

00:34

00:40

00:42

00:46

00:50

00:57

1:00

1:04

1:08

1:14

1:17

1:21

1:25

1:29

1:33

1:38

1:42

 Above is my Timeline Map of this thriller film, Panic Room (2002)


From doing this activity i have learn t the significance of the order that the names appear and also the amount of slates i will need to include when creating my own title sequence.  I heave learn t the significance of the professional qualification presented after some of the names in the slates and also what each qualification means e.g. .A.C.E, .A.S.C, .A.F.C. I have also learn t the average amount of time during a title sequence that each slate is shown and averagely how long each slate appears for. This project has taught me the reasons behind title sequences, and that they do not appear simply to advertise who was involved in the creation of the film but also for copyright reasons, i have also learnt the importance of the production company being first, this is sso the world know that production company 'owns' that film, also as they put a large sums of money into the film, this is a great way to show the importance of that production company.