Final Post!

The Group

We all really enjoyed this project

Favourite Shots

This was one of our favourite shots and it was inspired from the film shrooms which has a simliar aerial sho tin woods (except it is much higher). But unfortunately, we did not use this in our final opening sequence since there wasn't really any relevant place to put it.



We also loved this shot because it's just so striking, it also shows our villain as very powerful and our victim as very vulnerable - as well as making the woods seem very menacing.

Establishing Shot

Overall we probably spent much more time on this shot than any other and everyone was involved to try and make it smooth.
This was one of our first attempts:



It's obviously too fast, too shaky and we realised that the camera should linger on the shoe before Alix's hands came in to give the audience a chance to take it in.
In order to make it smoother Liam held the camera at the start and Matt stretched out his arms (so that he didnt have to walk) and Angelie stopped the camera as Matt's arms swung round so that the shoe would be properly in view.

This was the one we used in our sequence:



It's a lot smoother but in our final sequence we did slow it down and we cut off the shakey bit a the start where it lingers on the river because it's too wobbly.

Target Audience Profile

Primary Audience

• 18-24s
• Male + Female
• Have a particular interest in thriller/horror genre
• Could be shown in an Art house or Multiplex so they might have to know about independant films and cinemas

Secondary Audience
a.)

• Under 18s
• Male + Female
• Obviously need to care enough about film to try and sneak into an 18

b.)

• Over 30s
• Male + Female
• Parents - they woul dfind it scary at the thought of this happening to their children
• Real film/thriller lovers

Our film doesn't really have a target audience with specific interests, hobbies or lifestyles just who love films.

First Sequence

This is our orignial sequence with Lara in from our real shoots (not test shoots).



Alix
I find it quite shocking that this was some of our real footage from a 5 hour long shoot, we clearly didn't spend enough time planning this. It definitley confirms that changing our idea was the best option as it's obvious we didn't like this idea enough to put all the effort in to make it look as interesting and almost as weird as our final idea did. I do like the effect on the POV shots - they were only overlapped and cross dissolved - but they go on for too long and the whole sequence is quite boring.

Angelie
It's definitely a good thing that we re-worked our idea to make it better than the sequence above. The shots are too far out distance wise and I feel like the establishing shots at the beginning were way too long. Also, without the slow shutter speed setting on the camera, the POV shots aren't really as effective when trying to show how drugged the victim is. It's also good that we decided that the victim should cover less ground when running away from the killer, since it made things a bit easier for us continuity-wise.

Liam


Matt
Although I do like some of the actual shots in this short sequence I feel this does not set up expectations of a psychological thriller. Instead there is no evidence to suggest this isn't just an action thriller and so I feel we need to anchor our subgenre with either cutaway shots to the villains obsessions (some random ideas include cutaways of books which have strategic methods of killing or shots of the victim caressing a mannequin, etc.) The first panoramic shot is really successful at establishing the location of the chase however there is no intimacy shown between the audience and the actress, i.e. I think the establishing shot could be from her point of view or towards her.

Audience Feedback

Here is a selection of the feedback we have from screenings
M=Male
F=Female
....then followed by age.

1. What is the name of this film and can you tell us what happens in the sequence?
" 'The Anaesthetist' - man chasing young girl through park, kills her" - F 15
" 'The Anaesthetist' - person ran away from rapist while screaming. Runs through forest and eventually gets chloroformed. At the end there is a news report" M 17
"A drugged girl is chased through a forest" - F 18
" 'The Anaesthetist' - a man chloroforming a girl in the forest. He is an evil serial killer. Then cuts to news report about the incident and we see a new victim" M 18


2. What genre category would you put this film into and why?
"Thriller - fear factor and stalking" M 17
"Thriller/slasher - serial killer" M 17
"Thriller - because the clip is centred around suspense" - M46
"Thriller -lots of suspense from music and content, and not as graphic or bloody as horror' M 18

3. What do you think the rest of the film will be about?
"Next victims" F 16
"The killer going after someone else and eventually she kills him" M 17
"Him killing more girls and how he is caught"
"Seeing another murder through the murderer's eyes" - F 16
"How [the police] solve the murders" - M19
"Obsession with girl in the last photo and more future girls. A police investigation catches him.-All from the 'Anaesthetist's' point of view" M 18

4. And would you go and watch it?
"Maybe" - M 17
"If it was on TV definitely, cinema maybe" - M 17
"Definitely" - F 18
"Yes"- M 17
" yeah, def. M18"

5. What works well in the sequence and what do you think could be improved? "
"I like the shaky camera movement, but I don't find it that scary because the scenery looks too normal" - F 15
"Good setting. Music seems too epic and face of guy too exposed" - M 17
"The sound could be improved but the cinematography's really good" - M 17
"The impression of an isolated location" - M, 46
"The running through the woods as it made you want to watch more" - F 14
"The music is great and news report" - F 16
"Music, Titles, Acting, News report" - M 17
"The girl being dragged off at the end is great" - F 47
" Why not hide the villain's face throughout?" M 18

6. Do you think it is a British, American or European film?
"British" - F 47
"British" - M 18
"British" - F 17
"American" - M 16

7. What sort of cinema would you expect to see this film in? (e.g. Arthouse cinema, Multiplex etc)
"Multiplex" - F 13
"Multiplex" - M 46
"Mulitplex" - M 17
"Arthouse" - F 16
"Storyline is Multiplex in its accessibility, but low budget so Art house" M18


8. What would you give the opening sequence out of 10?

We had an overall average of 8

All

Survey

Group 1C Opening sequence Feedback

Age

Gender

What is the name of this film and can you tell us what happens in the sequence?





What genre category would you put this film into and why?




What do you think the rest of the film will be about?





And would you go and watch it?

What works well in the sequence and what do you think could be improved?


Do you think it’s a British American or European Film?
What sort of cinema would you expect to see this in? (Art house – the Phoenix, Multiplex – UGC etc)


What would you give the opening sequence out of 10?

All

Audience Feedback

On friday lunchtime we are going to invite people to the media block to watch our sequence and give us feedback, we are also going to put our sequence on to youtube and ask peopel to watch it and comment on it

During our screening we will give people a sheet with 4/5 questions on it.
Possible question ideas:

Alix

• If you were to put this film into genre what would it be, and why?
• If you saw a trailer for this film do you think you would watch it, why/why not?
• What do you think the target audience for this film is?

Matt

• What cinema would you expect to see this in? (Multiplex - UGC, Art house - Phoenix)
• What would you give this opening out of 10?
• Would you consider this a fear of current society?

Angelie

• What type of film do you think this opening sequence could have come from? (e.g. Hollywood, British, low budget etc)
• Based on the opening sequence, what do you think the rest of the film will be about?
• What works well in the sequence and what do you think could be improved?
  

Liam

• What section of the film do you think this is (i.e. opening, climax, middle section etc?) and why?
• Does the scene have enough impact for you?
• Who is the main character and what is his background?

Technical Breakdown

V = Villain F = Female

0:00 - 0:30 seconds

• [15 seconds] Fade up from black. Low-level crane shot to close up of shoe. Fade to black.
• [3 seconds] Fade up from black. Title: A Strikeout Film. Fade to black.
• [5 seconds] Fade up from black. Close up of shoe, victim’s hands come into shot and grabs shoe. Cut to
• [2 seconds] High angle, Medium, over the shoulder shot of victim trying to put her shoe on. Cut to
• [2 seconds] Eye-level, Medium close up, shot of victim’s facial expression when attempting to put on her shoe. Cut to
• [3 seconds] High angle, Medium, over the shoulder shot of victim managing to put shoe on. Fade to black.

0:30 - 1:00 seconds

• [3 seconds] Title: Starring Sian Willams. Fade to
• [1 second] MCU of female, starts turning around. Cut to
• [1 second] High angle MCU, female finishes turning around. Cut to
• [1 second] POV of female, very long shot, villain walking towards camera in middle of the frame. Fade to
• [1 second] POV of female, very long shot, villain walking towards camera on left side of the frame. Fade to
• [1 second] POV of female, very long shot, villain walking towards camera on right side of the frame
• [2 seconds] Long shot of female getting up. Cut to
• [2 seconds] Very long shot of girl getting up. Cut to
• [2 seconds] Blurry POV shot (female running). Fade to
• [3 seconds] Title: And Nicholas Green
• [4 seconds] Low level track of villain's feet, female in the background. Cut to
• [2 seconds] CU reverse track of female, panting diegetic. Cut to
• [3 seconds] MS track, camera moves behind tree. Fade to
• [3 seconds] Title: Casting, Angelie Stephens. Fade to
• [2 seconds] Low level side track of female's feet. Cut to
• [3 seconds] MLS reverse track of female, she looks around. Cut to

1:00 - 1:30 seconds

• [2 seconds] Still, floor level tilt. F runs out of shot. Fade to
• [3 seconds] Title: Exectutive Producer, Matthew Barnes. Fade to
• [2 seconds] Still, floor level tilt, V walks out. Cut to
• [2 seconds] CU reverse track, F runs out frame, V is behind MS. Cut to
• [2 seconds] Ms track of F. Cut to
• [2 seconds] High Angle, long shot, F runs in falls to floor. Cut to
• [1 second] Blurry POV from F of V. Cut to
• [3 seconds] High Angle, long shot, F gets up. Camera tilts as she stands up. Fade to
• [3 seconds] Title: Editor Liam Thompson
• [3 seconds] Blurry POV. Running, looks to the left: villain appears, looks to the right: villain appears, looks to the front: villain appears
• [1 second] Extreme close up of female's eyes (reaction shot)
• [1 second] Medium shot, from behind female, almost over the shoulder
• [3 seconds] Medium shot, pan as girl walks backwards into villain

1:30 - 2:30 seconds

• [3 seconds] BCU, still, victim being drugged, fade to black
• [5 seconds] HA track of victim's feet dragged out of frame, fade to black
• [3 seconds] Title: Director Alix Tumilty, fade to black
• [41 seconds] Pan L-R of poloroids, he crosses out one and strokes another
• [3 seconds] Title: The Anaesthetist fade to black
  

All

Finished DVD Cover

Tagline: An overdose of desire
Blurb:
With Strikeout Pictures’ most recent production, once more, we are not disappointed. Nominated for ‘Best Film', 'The Anaesthetist' follows a story of voyeurism, obsession and kidnap.
Unbeknown to Naomi Lawson (Sian Williams) she is the latest fixation of ‘The Anaesthetist’ (Nicholas Green) – the systematic serial killer with a fetish for white silk, a scientist’s knowledge of euthanasia techniques and passion for autopsy.

Finished Opening Sequence

Thursday + Friday 17/18 January

On these days we completed our opening and front cover.

We finished the contrast of the shots, although the 3 shots were the girl puts her shoe on were incredibly overexposed and we spent ages on them but unfortunately were unable to match them to the rest.

We also re-recorded our news broadcast for the end as it wasn't long enough and it needed to fit throughout the last pan. So although it detracts a little from the creepy-ness of his wall of girls it would be stranger if it suddenly faded up during the pan as if our villain had miraculously just tuned into the news report about himself.

We also took our cover shots:


We decided this shot looked a little strange because of his facial expression and also because of the fire bucket.

This photo is too blurry, but although we liked the composition all the others which were clear had a big red fire extinguisher in the background

W decided to use this image (put onto a Polaroid outline) because its very striking and it shows he sort of leads a double life and that there are lots of secrets.

We had 3 possible ideas for our title which were 'The Butcher', 'The Anaesthetist' and 'The Silencer' but in the end we went with 'The Anaesthetis't and a generally more medical and methodical killing style for our villain.

Alix

Wednesday 16th January

Today we completed the majority of the back cover and did a good rough draft of our blurb:

In Strikeout Pictures’ latest production, yet again, we are not disappointed. Nominated for ‘best picture’, it follows an epic story of voyeurism, obsession and kidnap. Unbeknown to Naomi Lawson (Sian Williams) she is about to be the latest fixation of ‘The Anaesthetist’ (Nicholas Green) – a serial killer from North London with an intoxication with white silk, a scientist’s knowledge of euthanasia techniques and passion for autopsy.

But will Naomi prove too much for him?


We also recorded our news report which was too short at first but this is the final script:

And the intensive search continues for the 17 year old girl who went missing late last Saturday night from Oakwood in North London. She is 5 ft 7 with blue eyes and dark blonde hair.
The police fear that Amy Williams is yet another victim of the killer whom the tabloids have named ‘the anaesthetist’ due to the substances found in his previous victims’ bodies.
They are strongly advising any young females in the area not to travel alone whenever possible. The police believe that he (trails off)





We also changed the idea for our front cover, we are going to have a photo similar to the one below (but obviously of our main actor) because we feel having girls tied up in white dresses is a little too repetitive.

Matt

Tuesday 15th December

We think that we have nearly completed finished our opening, minor adjustments such as fine tuning the contrast, and editing to the music more we will do if we have time.

Today we decided on a definite rough plan for our cover:


We also decided that our final pan needed some sort ofd sound, so we decided to have a news report playing in the background as if our villain is listening to the radio, here is a rough first draught of it:

'And the search continues for the young girl who went missing from north london last saturday. The police fear that Amy Willis (this is where he is crossing 'Amy' out) is the latest victim of [insert villain's nickname here]. (Then as we pan to the new girl it says) The police warn any females in the area to not travel alone. (Then it starts to fade out on:) They believe that...

We have decided that the villain is going to have a nickname - as in the sort the press would give him for example 'Jack the Ripper' - i think that it should be related to the drugs somehow for example 'the anesthetist', and his nickname will almost also be the title.

Alix

Meeting:14th January

Meeting 14th Jan 2008:

At this meeting, we as a group decided that a polaroid of the latest victim should be on the front cover. This not only anchors the storyline throughout the thriller but more importantly shows themes and characteristics of the villain- obsession, stalking, capturing, etc.

Significantly we decided not to put a red cross throught this polariod which suggests she has not already been killed prior to teh opening of teh film. Polariods of other victims with these crosses will be on teh back cover to show that they have been killed, which draws the attention back to the front cover whereby this victim is not yet dead. This is enigmatic as the audience may think, why is she not dead yet? why is she this killers victim? is she going to survive or quite literally be crossed out? ...

Matt

Ideas for the DVD cover

Ideas for the DVD cover

Another idea for the front cover would be to have a developing polariod on the cover. This would reveal a young female however her identity is not yet clear. This is highly enigmatic for the audience as they may ask, Who is she? Why has a picture of her been taken? etc. This polariod also connotes the villains obsession with stalking and taking pictures of his victims which is a key theme throughout the thriller.

Something like this:

On the back there would be polariods neatly displayed which are fully developed and have a red cross through them. This is a strong conntation that they have been killed and checked off of the villains list of victims. Therefore this draws attention back to the female on the developing polariod on the cover. The audience builds expectations that this is his next victim and she is somehow going to be different to the villains other victims -more than likely puts up more of a struggle and even possibly gets away which leads to the villains capture.

Film Title

We think this incorporates the cholorform/drugging, his obsession/compulsion to stalk these girls and his, almost, (scientific) expertise in the area. We also obvioulsy decided that our title would be 'the anaesthetist' - as it sounds creepy and almost surgical - a methodical killer.

Other ideas we had for the title of the film were -

• The Butcher
• The Silencer
• The London Butcher
• The Strangler
• Intoxication
• Numb
• Breathless

Matt

Ideas for the DVD cover.

Ideas for the DVD cover

I think a good idea would be to show the villains obsession and attention to detail on the front cover. Therefore i think it would be a great idea to anchor a crucial fanatasy of his that is to dress his victims up in a white silk nighty. We could show how twisted yet articulate his is about killing his victim and further show this obsession by using an old mannaquin. This would be displaying this silk nighty which all his victims are made to wear, in a dark obscure location with only a spotlight to highlight this prop. This suggests that the killer leaves this light on and always replaces the dress, forming an almost ritualistic approach to his killings.

On the back cover i think that polariods of his previous victims should be across the top to connote he is a serial killer who follows a trend in all his killings. I think the main background image should be teh main victim character looking back over her shoulder in a confused manner. This connotes that something out of the ordinary is happening to her i.e. the villain is stalking her, but this also shows that she is not afraid to confront her fears implying that the villain may not have it all his own way.

Matt

Friday 11th January

We re-shoot our final shot today as our first one was too fast, very bumpy, the 'x' was awful and the last photo wasnt clear enough that it was a new girl (as we used the one as she is walking down the road). So on wednesday night Alix took some more pictures of our final girl from above through a window (as if she is just a passer by) and then printed them off the next day.

Alix

Final Shot

We are shooting our last shot tomorrow (which is leaving a little late we know)
These are the photos of the new girl he is stalking:

We think this one is a little too close, not in a disturbing way, just in an unbelievable way

I really like this one because of the bush in the foreground it shows him hiding and i think it's a good distance

This one is also good as it's just simple, we will probably definitely use this one.

The shot will show one photo already up and he will put a new one up as well, but we haven't decided which ones yet

Alix