Evaluation 1:What we have learnt in the progression from a the preliminary to a film opening

Evaluation 2: Who would distribute our media product and why we chose them.

Evaluation 3: How we attract our audience

Evaluation 4: What we have learned about new technologies.

Evaluation 5: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Our opening sequence presents two character roles, each having different links to social groups. The main social group shown in our film opening called 'Alter EGO' is the vulnerable teenage girl who is being followed by psycho stalker. All of the pictures of the girl in everyday life situations make her look vulnerable and the fact that all of them have been taken from stalker's point of view makes it all look more dangerous and serious. The shots of obsessed man ringing her from unknown number, him observing her every day and finally braking into her house are suggesting and showing how vulnerable this girl is. She's only teenage girl who most probably couldn't defend herself in case of the confrontation with strong man and Her not knowing that she is being followed by obsessed guy gives it all more drama. Also, her being on her own in the house while stalker gets inside and then finally into her room clearly makes her look much more defenceless as she is not expecting anything bad happening.

The villain who is obsessed with a girl who is his alter ego is shown as dangerous, strange and - as we can't see his face at any point- very mysterious man who will do anything it takes to own the girl. Man obsessed with vulnerable girl is quite  typical and effective of many thriller genre and horror films and we have decided to continue this popular stereotype.

Propps's Character's Theory was applied to our product but only for two characters the villain and the victim. But the victim  represents more than one character. The victim would resembles the  princess and at the same time the hero. The princess because she is typically the character that is the main victim. The hero because she is the main protagonist and the whole story would be about her.

Age Ratings

The age ratings of movies, DVDs and any fideo games are rated and classified by the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification). They classify the films, video games and DVDs considering issues such as violence, language, sex, driscimination and drug abuse.

 

Possible categories of Age ratings in United Kingdom:

'U' means the film is very universal and might be watched by audience aged four years and over.  'U' films should be set within a positive moral framedwork and should not have scary sequences, drugs can be mentioned only if there is a clear educational purpose or anti-drug message suitable for young children. Sex contents are not allowed if film is labeled as 'U'.

 

'PG' basically means Parental Guidance. A 'PG' film should not disturb or scare children aged  around eight or older.  General viewing, however some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. Any references to illegal substances must be innocuous or carry a suitable anti-drug message, sex or nudity, violence,discrimination and any kind of unappropriate or dangerous behaviour can not be shown. However, it is strongly reccomended for parents to consider whether the content of the film may upset their younger or more sensitive children.

'12A'/'12' 


films suitable for 12 years and over, exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable. Films, DVDs or video games labeled as '12'  may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them. The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work. Unappropriate behaviour, aggressive discriminatory language, dangerous behaviour such as hanging is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned.Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed however should not go  beyond what is suitable for young teenagers.

'15'  No one younger than 15 can see '15' film in a cinema, rent or buy a '15' rated work. The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language, aggressive or repeated use of the strong language, can't promote any drugs and dangerous behaviour.  Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised. Strong language may be frequent but the strongest terms may be only acceptable if justified by the context.  There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is not acceptable.

'18' films are suitable only for adults, no one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video. Sex works are works whose primary purpose is sexual arousal or stimulation. Sex works containing only material which may be simulated are generally passed ‘18’. Sex works containing clear images of real sex or other very strong sexual images will be confined to the ‘R18’ category. Material which is unacceptable in a sex work at ‘R18’ is also unacceptable in a sex work at ‘18’.

'R18' films to be shown only in specially licensed cinemas or supplied only in licensed sex shops and to adults of not less than 18 years old. The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults.  ‘R18’ video works may not be supplied by mail order. These Guidelines will be applied to the same standard regardless of their sexual orientation.

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Our film would probably be rated as a 15 age certificate. It means that nobody under the age of 15 could buy or rent our thriller film. Our film won't promote any kind of drugs, there won't be discriminatory language or aggressive and repeated use of the strong language. Because of the villain who believes that he has found his Alter EGO and his strange behaviour, we think that out thriller would not be suitable for younger kids who may not understand the content of our film.

Shot List

Shot 1

The first shot we had in our film was a close up of a lamp. We also ended with this shot this is a little trick we learned from our director inspiration which is Christoper Nolan. Christopher Nolan is known for ending the film where the narrative starts he usually do this by using a flashback or a scene from the end of the movie. The light opening the first time suggest that the narrative is starting in a new setting.

Shot 2

The second shot was a high angle shot of a montage of pictures of the victim. This shows that the victim is vulnerable by showing her photos on high angle. This creates that the villain is more dominant because this shows an image that the villain is looking down on the victim. This also highlights the idea that the villain is capable of doing this suggest that he is more dominant.The girl unaware of the situation would highlight that she is inferior because the villain could strike at any moment. This idea is seen in our opening as the victim is arrogantly unaware who is calling her and who just entered her house.

Shot 3

Our next shot was a medium shot showing the villain looking through the window, trying to figure out if the girl is at home. As we can't see his face it builds up tension and creates a better narrative for a longer film as this would be one of the key to keep the the audience interested in the plot.

Shot 4

Shot of the villain trying to get into the house is a medium shot. We used medium shot instead of a long-shot or a close up because we wnted to focus on the villain's action.

Shot 5

High angle shot of a montage of pictures of the victim. This shows us -again- that the victim is vulnerable by showing all of the  photos on high angle.

Shot 6

Second part of shot number 4, the villain is finally getting into  the house and it's medium shot. This is when the tension really builds up.

Shot 7

High angle shot of pictures of the girl, filmed from stalkers point of view.

Shot 8

Over the shoulder shot -this shot is framed from behind the villain who is writing stuff over the pictures. This shot helps to establish the position of the villain and get the feeling of looking at one person from the other's point of view. The villain would just e seen to be drawing some ritual. The use of a tint red in the background helps the audience establish that the character is the villain.

Shot 9

Long shot of stalker, showing his entire body with the head near the top of the frame and the feet near the bottom. He was filmed from the back to make him look more mysterious and dangerous.

Shot 10

Close up of mobile telephone ringing the girl. This shot shows very little background in order to make audience focus on the main  object - telephone. This shows the importance of him ringing her and shows how obsessed and mad he is.

Shot 11

Close up of the girl's mobile phone, we can clearly see that someone is ringing her from unknown number. We have used this shot to create dramatic atmosphere.

Shot 12

Our next shot is a shoulder shot framed from a behind a girl in everyday life situation - using her laptop and the answering the phone call from unknown number. We can't see her face and she doesn't expect anything bad happening and in fact it build s up more tension. 

Shot 13

Extreme close up shot of stalker walking up the stairs to the girls room. We have decided to film it this way in order to create a dramatic effect.

Shot 14
This shows a man walking up the stairs from below, giving audience the impression of him being much more powerful and dominant. It also shows how vulnerable and defenseless the girl is.

Shot 15
Medium shot of the girl in her bedroom, this shot shows some more detail of the action and shows very clearly girls reaction to stalker coming into her room. She looks very shocked, surprised (as she wasn't expecting anything bad happening) and scared. Dropping the phone on the floor tells us that she doesn't have a clue what to do and what is going to happen to her.

Shot 16
An over the shoulder shot of the villain stabbing the knife into the pictures of the girl. Last scene of our opening sequence shows us how crazy and dangerous the stalker is, it suggests that he might want to kill the girl. It leaves the audience unsure and makes them wonder what is going to happen to the girl. This keeps the narrative more interesting.

Shot 17
Our thriller logo closes our opening sequence. As the screen turned black; this suggest that this part of the film is over and as the light turned on again to show our title highlights that the main story is just about to start.