Presentation on advice from the year 13's

Demographic, Psychographics and our target audience

Demographic, Psychographic and our target audience

Definition:

Demographics are how a film company can ‘segment’ an audience by using personal profiling, this method of research defines the adult populace largerly by the work that they do. Breaking each proffesion into 6 different catagories, labelling these groupings with a letter coding to describe the income status of members of each group.
For example in figure 1:

A	Higher management, bankers, lawyers, doctors and other professionals.
B	Middle management, teachers, creative and media people e.g. graphic designers, editors and producers.
C1	Office supervisors, junior managers, nurses, specialist clerical staff- White collar.
C2	Skilled manual workers, plumbers, builders- Blue collar.
D	Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers.
E	Unemployed, students, pensioners, casual workers.

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Psychographics is a way to describe an audience by looking at their behaviour patterns and their personality traits. Psychographics labels a particular type of person and makes an assessment about their viewing and spending habits, the information gained from this type of profiling is important to thriller films and this is because by studying what ‘traits’ the audience has the director can get a greater understanding of what would appeal to their tastes and incite different emotions making the viewing experience more enjoyable. An example of this is ‘The Grudge’, by working with a professional psychologist the film gets into the psyche of the prospective audience, adding realism and making them paranoid for weeks after watching it.
Examples of psychographic persona's in figure 2:

Mainstreamers	Seeks security. Tend to be domestic, conformist, conventional, sentimental flavour value for money family brands. Nearly always the largest group.
Aspirers	Seeks status. Materialistic, acquisitive, orientated towards image and appearance, persona and fashion. Attractive packaging more important than content. Typically younger people, clerical and sales jobs.
Succeeders	Seeks control. Strong goals, confidence, work ethic and organisation. Supports stability. Brand choice based on self-reward, and quality. Typically higher management and professionals
Resigned	Seeks survival. Rigid and authoritarian values. Interested in the past and tradition, brand choice stresses safety, familiarity and economy. Typically older people.
Explorers	Seeks discovery. Energy, individualism and experience. Values difference and adventure. Brand choice highlights instant satisfaction. They’re the first to try new brands. Younger demographic students.
Strugglers	Seeks escape.  Alienated and disorganised. Few resources beyond physical skills. Brand choice involves impact and sensation. Buys alcohol, junk food, lottery tickets, D and E demographic
Reformers	Seeks enlightenment. Freedom of restrictions and personal growth. Social awareness and independent judgement. Anti-materialist but aware of good taste. Gas attended higher education and selects products for quality.

Our target audience:

Our intended target audience is teenagers this is because our film has a sci-fi undertone as well as thriller the overall thriller theme; believing that the use of technology would make it it more appealing to a contemporary audience. We’ve decided to aim for15 certificate because we will still have a large target market and more freedom to show violence and drug abuse, making it very flexible when writing the script and filming although not quite to the same degree as an 18 certificate which usually endorses this behaviour.
Although having said that BBFC must be compatible with that audience , and the most desirable certificate is a 12A because it means parents can take their children therefore making the film accessible to anyone.

Ctrl, Alt Delete Storyboard analysis

Why we made a storyboard:

decided to draw up quick sketches in order to organise our initial ideas into a simple more structured way and to also illustrate each scene in a chronological sequence for the purpose of ‘pre-visualizing’ our concepts. Moreover what’s notable about my sketches are their basicness this was to save time of which we could use on other blogs and preparation of our set ‘The Hackers Den’ with the mise en scene (the black wallpaper, the victim’s board and the logistics map). In retrospective after making our final product the storyboard also proved very helpful on deciding which shots we would use in each location to achieve the best angles and in the most visually impactful way.

Ctrl, Alt delete Storyboard

BBFC Research

BBFC Certificate rating post-production

In light of our final production we think our BBFC certificate would achieve a 12A, this is because there's no gratuitous sex or gore, only having moderate violence but no emphasis on injuries and blood along with a contextual justification, containing moderate physical and psychological threat including horror.

Focus group

Focus group questions

If you could build a thriller from scratch what innovative new ideas would you include? For instance a particular location or maybe a plot twist in your story?

This we found was too vague a question and thus not only were the results too general to chart effectively but also very sparse. this is why we developed new questions like the ones you see accompanied by their results in charts below.

Do you have any idea about the persona and appearance of the protagonist in a thriller?

And the antagonist?

Do you like the stereotype of a damsel in distress or would you prefer a fresh storyline?

What do you think of the idea of a maniacal hacker with his sight's set on world domination as a
film?

Our results were quite peculiar since all of the suggestions that were submitted seem to follow the stereotype of a typical thriller however when they were asked if they would prefer to see a different take on the genre or the normal route followed they chose to have a different take.
What we can learn from this is that we should attempt to be more unique and set ourselves apart from the crowd however we must also firmly base our roots of the film soundly within the thriller genre.

Initial Teaser Poster

Teaser poster for ‘Ctrl, Alt Delete.’

Dark Knight Bank robbery (opening- sequence)

 

 

 Dark Knight Bank robbery (opening- sequence)

As the opening credits start the colours are shown to be representative of the Batman franchise (blue and black), however the tone is noticeably darker, foreshadowing a more sinister nature in the narrative. The scene begins with an aerial shot establishing the cityscape and through the reflection of a glass panelled skyscraper, the audience is subtly shown the whole of Gotham; the pollution, the mass overcrowding and the overpowering mega-structures could further suggest the narrative is going to be darker. This is because in such a claustrophobic place criminals could  potentially prosper.

As the camera zooms in closer to the skyscraper the audience is shook by the unexpected breaking of a window, acting as a sound sting, it immediately grasps the audience’s attention .The glass is broken by a zip wire being propelled through it, this piece of iconography immediately suggest to the audience that these men aren’t opportunist thugs. Firstly they have mapped out the logistics of this heist by setting up the operation on the building directly adjacent and secondly having equipment only available to wealthy organised gangs. Although the breaking of the glass could also represent on metaphorical level the fragmented shards of Gotham city.

It then jump cuts to the back of the main antagonistic figure in the film ‘the Joker’; the non-diegetic soundtrack intensifies in pace and pitch as the camera approaches him from behind, this proposes  his focal point is his green hair which conveys he’s disjointed from society’s norms and values, his mental health is in a state of disrepute. Moreover costume designer Lindy Hemming described the Joker's look as reflecting his personality in that "he doesn't care about himself at all". Another key focal point in this shot is the clown mask in the Jokers left hand, all the criminals in this heist are wearing clown masks. This is because it makes them easily recognisable as assailants of the joker; it hides their identity so they can evade capture, it hides their feelings so the hostages won’t detect fear and at the same time gives the hostages fear because they are effectively de-humanised playing on a popular fear of the 21^st century audience, ‘Coulrophobia’ the fear of clowns.

Even though we know that the Joker is the clown in the first shot because we have seen the film and it is shown at the end of the clip, his identity remains concealed until the last part of the clip. This concealing of the joker's identity at the start of the film creates the sense of mystery which also surrounds the character of the joker. It shows that the people who work for him don't even know who he is or what he looks like. It makes the antagonist look like an enigma. He doesn't exist to people or even the people who are helping him. They jokingly talk about him without knowing he is in the back seat of the car. The Joker doesn't even care about them insulting him which backs up the point I made earlier about his personality which is that "he doesn't care about himself at all". It also shows that he doesn't want to become known to the public as what he really is. The criminals keep saying things such as "I've heard", "probably" etc. showing that no-one is sure. The fact that it is a topic of conversation also shows that it is on everyone's mind.

Then It cuts to an over the shoulder shot on the roof top where one of the robbers is disabling the security alarms, the other is waiting behind him, he then asks ‘if he has finished’ and once the job is done he slowly raises his arm (non-verbal communication) signalling to the viewer’s he’s going to shoot him in the back. This depicts to the audience these criminals have no remorse, once his usefulness to the operation is finished then they are no longer required and their main goal is a bigger cut of the heist’s money. The lighting is naturalistic because the robbery is happening in ‘broad day light’ showing the criminals aren’t afraid of the police or Batman, perhaps because they feel they’re above the law and the shift in power has made the authoritarians weak and vulnerable. The Joker also has a close call with one of his own men, if you could call them that, when the man almost shoots him. The robber doesn't know that he's the joker as he says "I bet the joker told you to kill me" showing his cluelessness. He then stereotypes by starting to the monologue instead of shooting him. You then hear the voice of the antagonist for the first time which is a strange sounding voice. " no, I kill the bus driver". Everyone watching immediatley then says " what bus driver", along with everyone else the bank robber says "what" and is killed by a bus. This gives the sense that the Joker has a plan about what he's doing as he has set up the robbery. It also gives the sense that the antagonist is making it up as he goes along. According to David .S Goyer he has no motive, no orders and no desires but to cause havoc and “watch the world burn”.

what is mise-en-scene?

The importance of title sequences

The importance of title sequences

The title sequence is an essential part of any film or even programme. To different films, a title sequence means different things. Some are there to only introduce the film/programme, others are there to create suspense for the person watching and some are to give background information for the viewer which may not be able to be portrayed in the actual film. There are many types of title sequence which exsist for different reasons, it depends on the type of film or what the director wanted to achieve. It is also so no spoilers are too obviously given away, if the title sequence is at the start and they  didnt want to give anything away then it may hinder their plans. They may however want to hint towards parts of the plot. Some films, most nowadays, have a sequence of events before the title sequence is even introduced. Having a sequence of events before the title sequence sets it up to have a more dramatic impact, and it sets the scene. James Bond (Sky fall) for instance does this to great effect.

It leaves everyone on a cliff-hanger and makes the audience want to find out what happens. The audience is wondering whether bond is dead as well as what’s going to happen now that the villain got away. It entices the audience to keep watching and keeps them on the edge of their seat. This is important for the film because it makes it appear more unique than most other Bond films. The audience begin to wonder “Can Bond actually die”, it leaves those watching with many questions un-answered. In comparison to most of the other Bond films it’s new and exciting. This shows the importance of the title sequence because without it there wouldn't be a pause between Bond being shot and finding out if he is alive or not. It’s that pause that is the cliff-hanger because if the audience found out straight away it’s not got the sense of mystery and Bond being shot is pointless. An argument could be made however that everyone knows that Bond isn’t dead because he is what the film is about. It still leaves doubt in the mind however.

The sequence itself is also a big part of the film because people who have never seen the Bond franchise before will find out what he does, and in extension, what the films about. The pint at which guns are falling down to the sea bed along with knives shows the intentions of the film and still links in with the opening scenes as it is under water.

The title sequence itself is also an intrigue for the people watching because it shows what the film is about but it also confuses. There are mermaids and things falling from the sky, completely out of the ordinary to the intrigued viewers.

All of this confusion, interest, suspense, tension had all come from the title sequence and partly from the opening scenes. It shows just how much the title sequence can affect us.

In The Cabin in the Woods it is different to Sky fall in the sense that it isn’t there to create a cliff-hanger or intrigue necessarily. The title sequence is there to create tension and to give background information on what the films about. This is how the sequence starts, with dark music and sacrificial

pictures. A complete contrast is then created when everything suddenly cuts, then it’s very bright with no music and a sign saying “enjoy a cup of fresh coffee”. It makes the audience confused and makes them wonder what the film’s about. It seemed like a normal horror film, which it still could be, it suddenly changed to two guys having a normal conversation however, so it leaves confusion and doubt in the minds of the viewers. This is a similar aspect of the film when compared to Sky Fall as that was also a feature of that title sequence. Sky Fall’s sequence fitted in with the scenes before it though which is completely different to The Cabin in the Woods. This outlines some of the ways that a title sequence can be made and their different purposes. The Cabin in the Woods title sequence then shows parts of comedy which is again a contrast to the initial impression.

At one part of the title sequence the title of the film is suddenly put in the middle of the screen with a stereotypical horror scream straight after a joke to imply that the film is a spoof of a horror which is a contrast in itself.

 This sequence also shows all the main characters of the film in both parts of it, in Sky Fall however, only James Bond is shown. This shows that there are many main characters in The Cabin in the Woods that are important for different things. It is also as if there are two stories going on at the same time which the title sequence points out to the audience.

Overall these sequences show the different types of openings that can be made. They show the different purposes that title sequences have and the way the directors carry them out with different intentions. The importance of a good start is essential for any film to create an interest from the viewer because without it, the film would be harder to understand or not as gripping.

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Mango Media Voki Mission Statement

An independent Film production company

Our mission statement:

Mango Media is an independent film production company striving to make innovative, thought-provoking films with an emphasis on developing strong, dynamic, multi-faceted characters. It is through our dedication, passion, and commitment that we hope to conceive original, compelling, films that not only excite and entertain, but also inspire, create change, as well as reveal the human condition and spirit.

 

Opening of a thriller: 28 days later

Analysis of 28 Days Later; deserted London sequence

The scene begins with an establishing shot of London’s city scape, the protagonist ‘Jim’ has just awoken, he takes a lonely walk through the usual iconic landmarks and tourist hotspots regularly featured in films; across Westminster bridge, passing the London Eye as the sunrises, through Whitehall to the Cenotaph, however it’s different to the generic movies set in London contrasting boldly due to the lack of civilisation on the usually hectic London streets. 

As he passes an over-turned archetypal red bus the implication is that the cities heart has died, moreover without it’s people it’s nothing. This echoes Sigmund Freud's theory of ‘the uncanny’,although the scenery is familiar to a global audience at the same time it’s foreign and uncomfortably strange, this is achieved through the segregation of a single character.

Another notable point in the sequence is there’s no diegetic sound, just as there are no corpses, 

Jim’s character mirrors the audience’s reaction he doesn't make a sound he just remains in an inset state of shock. However the non-diegetic soundtrack emulates Jim’s confusion acting as his ‘voice’ by getting louder and louder, more erratic and distorted as his journey continues. This makes Jim’s emotions almost tangible; he’s separated and extremely anxious.

The use of cinematography works hand in hand with the soundtrack, by moving further and further back, higher and higher into the sky. This heightens the isolation through making Jim smaller and smaller he’s almost lost within the landscape, reinforcing his sense of loneliness and the city’s abandonment.

In context to 28 Days Later the director plays on the fears of the audience at the time, although it was pre-9/11 it was based upon real world events Danny Boyle exclaimed, “The image was based on a photograph I’d seen from an earthquake in China, but clearly it’s based on a very human impulse’s- people trying to contact each other, trying to maintain links with other people when the normal channels have died or seem inadequate.”

The recent tragedy of an earthquake that had struck and shook China acted as inspiration for the Mise en scene in 28 Days Later for example, one way the Chinese civilians tried to find relatives during the mass hysteria was to post hand-written messages on boards, this inter-cuts with the 'Piccadilly sequence' in which Jim stubbles through Piccadilly and there’s thousands of messages pleading for information on lost loved ones. Danny Boyle orchestrated this film to bridge a connection from the fictitious desolation in 28 Days Later, over to the awful tragedies happening in reality, exploiting the global audiences inner most fears by playing upon themes such as terrorism for example, the overturned bus mirroring the 7/7 bombing, the Piccadilly sequence paralleling 9/11 and ground zero with the thousands of handwritten messages in search of information, and lastly the emptiness of London Imitating the mass evacuation of huge numbers of Chinese populace days before the earthquake hit.        

Directors that inspired our idea

Directors that inspired our idea

Alfred Hitchcock

We saw some of the films that Alfred Hitchcock had made for instance 'Psycho'. We noticed that he used a lot of low lighting in his films to show the perspective of the person in the film by only lighting the objects that would be available to be seen from the characters point of view. this helps to create tension through the enigma of the unknown growing in the minds of the viewers as its feed also by the eerie music. We took this idea and are going to implement it into our film to also create tension and the fear of the unknown.

We also saw that his titles for his films have a certain mystery around them. His film titles don’t reveal much of the movie. We are going to try and use this style for our thriller opening as well.

James Cameron

James Cameron also inspired us because he is a sci-fi director and our film has a running theme of sci-fi so he fits in with our category. our group also watched several of his films to evaluate his methods of creating a long lingering sansation of suspense. Aliens, for example, used a stark contrast of action to build the inevible feeling of suspenses. Because there were no aliens in the first incident, just traces of them and complete silence and wasteland. It made the audience think and become confused, creating tension and intrigue.

His Terminator films were also an inspiration for our film because it was also in a dark setting and was very futuristic which is what we are aiming for in our film.

George Lucas

George Lucas was also a big inspiration for our idea. This is because of all the Sci-Fi films he made which fits into our type of category; such as the Star Wars trilogies and Indiana Jones and the way he gave a fictional film a reality edge to it. His use of editing was also a good baseline for our own video editing. The special FX were also very good and didn’t seem out of place at any point in the films.

He also used a lot of suspense in his films which is what we want to create with the use of editing, music and lighting. Films such as the Star Wars trilogies also seem very futuristic even though they are set in the past. This is a feeling we want to create in our opening


Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese was a large influence on us and our ideas as well. He is known for having an abnormal style and particularly distinctive way of shooting. This helps keep the audence intrigued and also excentuaite important moments in the plot that may otherwise seem irrelevent or be too subtle to notice. He expertly crafts his shot together with fluid transitions and smooth editing, however he knews when to add a more jagged rough sense to the filming to create an emotional response of fear or danger.

All of these skills we hope to mimic or learn to keep our piece entertaining and engaging. Scorsese is also very skilled at hinting toward and elusive character throughout his films, despite our piece only being a brief opening we could still include some of the ideas created and developed by Scorsese.