Thursday, 15 October 2009

Deadline and tick lists

There are now only two weeks left to complete the research and preliminary task sections to your blog. Use the holidays to ensure that all the key areas are covered. The Deadline for the research and prelim task is Tuesday 10th November (first AS lesson after the holidays).You must find information from a range of sources (remembering to reference correctly) and use both Primary and Secondary research methods to gain a solid understanding of the Thriller genre, its audience and producers.Areas to cover for Thriller Research:

  • Defining the genre
  • Thriller Openings and textual analysis
  • Sub-genres
  • Locations, set design, costume and props
  • Target Audiences
  • Directors
  • Film reviews
  • Actors
  • Production companies
  • Music

You should also be blogging you’re developing technical skills and your experiences of filming and editing in the prelim task.

Areas to cover for the prelim task:

  • Which camera are you using?
  • Explain your knowledge of camera shot types and angles explaining how these communicate to audiences.
  • What is continuity editing?
  • Explain the 180 rule
  • Explain what a 'match on action' is. Remember you can use diagrams / drawing etc.
  • How did your filming go? Did it happen as planned? Did you have any technical difficulties?
  • What have you learnt from the pre-lim filming exercise? If you could do it again, what would you do differently?
  • Who did what in the pre-lim?
  • How do you feel you performed in your role?
  • What camera / editing skills did you have before you started? What skills have you now got?
  • Are there any more specific or identifiable skills that you will need for your thriller?

Well done to all those students who have already added multiple posts, many of which make really interesting reading. The ones that work best are those that have included personal responses to found material, i.e. a film reviews, responses to theory, film analysis. This approach demonstrates an engagement with the material and is evidence of your growing knowledge and understanding of Thriller films. Keep it up.

You’re a great class and we’re really looking forward to working with you on your thriller practical next term. Have a great holiday and remember that the deadline is the first Tuesday back.