Evaluation

Question: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
 

Enigmas – Enigmas are questions that are set up by leaving information unclear. They commonly used in Thrillers to make the audience feel confused and uneasy, possibly to help the viewer identify and empathise with the character on screen. They are also used as a device to keep the viewer thinking so as not to lose their attention. As you see in our opening sequence, we never fully show our characters full face; it is always obscured.

Title screen – Thrillers usually have very plain title sequences, more often than not just simple white text over a black background. We decided that this was very effective as it doesn’t distract from the actual footage, as well as being suitable to the sombre genre – bright colours and cartoon-y graphics would be completely out of place here. We also decided it was suitable as it looks quite sophisticated and professional. Another type/colour of text could easily have looked amateur and tacky.

 Extreme Close Ups – These shots focus very closely on one part of an object. Often it will be used to obscure what the object is. Similar to enigmas, these shots are used to make the viewer feel uneasy – it is unusual for a person to see an object from that perspective. When preparing to create our Thriller, we watched the opening credits to Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’, which solely uses extreme close ups of a woman’s face. We thought that in conjunction with the music used, this created an incredibly eerie effect, which we wanted to recreate. 

The very beginning of our opening scene starts with extreme close up shots of a young woman putting on make up. We liked the effect this gave as it helped to create the enigma of the girl’s identity. We found that it also helped to form confusing, contradictive shots; the girl is doing something incredibly everyday and normal, yet we have used these uncomfortable close ups to show it.

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Question: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Although not technically a social group, we have tried to represent the mentally ill. We wish to put audience in our character’s shoes we want them not just to understand, but to feel, how lost and confused she is. We wanted to show that she has no control over what is happening to her; it is involuntary.

In films, the mentally ill are almost always presented as the antagonist. We wanted to make an impact and to change people’s opinions – they are not ‘freaks’ or ‘psychos’, but people who are ill. Just because a person is ill does not mean that they deserve less respect than anyone else.

An example of a film that has a main character with a mental illness is ‘Black Swan’. She is not presented as a bad person, but she is still presented as violent and crazy. What we wished to do was go deeper and educate our audience. We wanted to represent our character with honesty, not with the usual image of a crazed psychopath but not a romanticised idea of a girl who is completely frail and helpless either.

The other group we represent in our Thriller is the ‘lost youth’, badly behaved and misunderstood teenagers. All over the media teenagers are presented as villainous, truth being the majority are not. They are not violent, they do not take drugs and they don’t run around having unprotected sex. However a number of teenagers are like this and we wanted to show why. We wanted to explain why and show the reasons behind crime/ drink/drug abuse – these are the result of other social and political problems.

Thriller Evaluation by Sarah Gilchrist

1. Thriller Conventions

Our film consists of the thriller conventions using enigmas and building up suspense.

Throughout the opening scene the character is never fully revealed which we used to engage the spectator as it builds up their curiosity.

The suspense is built up through using unusual clips and using music, random sounds and script to create an eerie atmosphere which then gets more intense and dangerous as the sounds get louder and the clips get shorter and faster.

There’s also a shot of a lock, which as an audience we expect to be significant to the rest of the story, leaving another mystery.

THRILLER CONVENTIONS

I chose to use a this shot at the start because the colouring is quite dark and sets the mood and also it only reveals a silhouette of the side of her face so the main character is not revealed leaving an enigma and adding suspense because the audience want to know who this character is.

This strange unexplained shot also leaves an enigma as the audience wonder why the girl is crying and if it explains this later on in the story. 

Thrillers are often dark and eerie and I think this shot really creates an eerie feel to the opening as her reflection is very ghost like as reflections are translucent like ghosts. And also the dark blue colouring of this shot also makes the film seem very creepy and dark.

In this clip her eyes jolt from side to side which suggests she’s afraid which adds mystery as too why. And also in this shot is faded into another clip of someone purposely pricking their fingertip which shows that the character is very strange and the blood links with death and builds tension as the spectator suspects that this girl thinks about death which is reinforced by the voice over when she says that she doesn't love herself.

2. Social Groups

The character in our group has schizophrenia which puts her in the social group of people with ‘Mental Disorders’.

 We portrayed this social group through sound, by using mixed up voices and noises (for example violins, traffic, voices and barking) to show the illusions and hallucinations that people with schizophrenia experience because she hears things that aren’t there, it shows how her disorder makes her imagination take over reality. 

We also showed this through clips of unusual behavior for example when she is fidgeting with her hands repeatedly or when she’s crying looking blankly straight ahead of her and where her eyes jolt from side to side almost twitching. 

And also she is always alone which shows she isolates herself from other people or they isolate her.

Schizophrenia symtoms include:

-Delusions & Hallucinations Are Common in Schizophrenia

-Social isolation and withdrawal

-Irrational, bizarre or odd statements or beliefs

-Increased paranoia or questioning others' motivations

-Becoming more emotionless

-Hostility or suspiciousness

-Increasing reliance on drugs or alcohol (in an attempt to self-medicate)

-Lack of motivation

-Speaking in a strange manner unlike themselves

-Inappropriate laughter

-Insomnia or oversleeping

-Deterioration in their personal appearance and hygiene

Nina from the ‘Black Swan’

She has Schizophrenia and her hallucinations and anxiety attacks spiral out of control similarly too our character. 

Characters with mental disorders are usually portrayed as very strange and confused for example character ‘Ayers’ in ‘the solo artist’ he is extremely talented but he cant handle the noises he hears and this holds him back in life. 

3. MEDIA INSTITUTION 

We filmed our Thriller in locations we owned and used our own possessions as props because we had no budget so I think a suitable media institution would be a small British distributor that focus on young and upcoming film makers such as our group. 

Distributors such as Film four or the Metrodome group would be the most suitable for our film as they produce the type of films that aren’t mainstream or Hollywood and our film would fit in nicely with their category and also these companies have the resources and contacts to get films in cinemas and get them distributed well. These companies also have the idea that they’re promoting a new talented film maker at interest rather than making big gross revenue like the large film companies concentrate on. 

This is a preview of what my Film would look like on the internet.

4. Audience

Our target audience would be 25 to 45 year olds or Artistic University Students. 

People who enjoy going to film festivals or somewhere like the arts picture house. Also people with a little intellect and understanding of films who like to interpret films and enjoy films that make you think. As the film isn’t very Hollywood like the big blockbusters you watch in big cinemas. 

I’ve put the certificate as a 15 though because some scenes will be very disturbing as the character does things she unaware of because of her condition. 

The empire focuses on the genres Thriller and Horror which fits in with our thriller opening. The magazine also has a variety of smaller budget films, which our film would fit under. Also Empire is a world known magazine and this would give our film very good publicity and they cover such a wide range of films and attract such a diverse audience that our film would be likely to attract the attention of at least quite a few people. 

Also our film is turmoil and creates a lot of opportunities where questions are created and the intellectual journalists that write for empire have a deep knowledge of film and would have the kind of skills needed to interpret the meanings behind the unclear shots we’ve used to portray messages without clear flowing scenes.  

Review

Plot

Silent Minds is a film about a fragile low self esteemed girl, who suffers from depression, and severe isolation and deals daily with her mental disorder, schizophrenia. She is confused and easily influenced by the problems in modern society! The teenager’s problems are making life extremely hard for her. She gets into the wrong crowd at college and starts drinking and abusing drugs, which creates distraught situations for this confused teenager. Strange things begin happening in her neighborhood without explanations, the church is burnt to the ground, undecipherable messages written everywhere. Rumors spread and Accusations are made. 

She tries to run away from her problems and stays at a hostel in the city, where she befriends a homeless boy who understands her and saves her from herself. 

As the film progresses we uncover the truth of her lonely life and why she is the way she is. 

Review

The opening is carefully structured with clips that appear to be in a random order but if you look deeper the clips connected shows a story. It takes you on the emotional journey of an Isolated Schizophrenic girl as we uncover the reality of the world through her eyes, distorted and messed up.

We sympathise with the girl as she struggles with depression and isolation whilst battling with her disorder. The director takes you on a journey through different ages slowly uncovering the becoming of her schizophrenia – Her memories haunt her years after her childhood and affect her later on in life. 

Actress Charlie Hall plays this distressed character with conviction as she really gets into her dark characteristics to the point where you get a shiver down your spine. 

Similarly Darren Aronofsky creates this two dimensional schizophrenic character in ‘The Black Swan’ who similarly deals with Mental illness and has her hallucinations and anxiety attacks escalate. The Character from black swan also deals with a dangerous love of perfection which causes her to change for the worse, which also effects the character from Silent Minds as she has developed a hatred towards herself because she doesn’t satisfy her need for perfection. 

5. Attracting/ engaging the audience

We used a variety of camera angles and shots to keep the film engaging and diverse. 

To grab the spectator’s attention we created enigmas and questions to be asked so they would like to keep watching and reveal some answers. 

The film try’s to make viewers think. At the beginning she whispers the phrase ‘society demands us to love each other. But how could I possibly love another when I don’t even love myself.’ Which shows you an element of the character, that has no self esteem and leaves you with the question as to why she thinks like this, what have others have done to make her feel like this or has she always been this cold hearted. In the clips she is slowly revealed part by part and the spectator must interpret what she looks like and slowly build up who she is and what she’s like through the clips in the film.

 For example in the shot where she stands isolated in a field, it gives the impression that she’s often alone and you wonder if she chooses this or if others have isolated her. Also in this shot we have chosen to blend a layer of a clip of an angel statue on top which contradicts this dark persona the character is given through the dark music and the dark eerie mise en scene. An angel could also be a metaphor for her death wish as it’s portrayed that she is miserable and the angel shows that she might wish to go to heaven and also she is also looking up at the sky which suggests she’s looking up at heaven. Another thing that suggests she doesn’t love herself is when there is a clip of her looking at herself in her reflection which is followed by a clip of her crying despite her trying to make herself look more pretty with makeup. It shows a girl with insecurity, which viewers can relate to but this girl has a more extreme case of insecurity and this opening portrays this depression. 

6. WHAT YOU’VE LEARNT

 I’ve learnt a lot about using Final Cut for example I’ve learnt how to link the clips to there sound which saved a lot of time moving clips around and I learnt how to layer to clips and blend them together and I learnt how to many instruments can overpower the visuals to much and that keeping it subtle simple but eerie can be much more effective. 

With garage band we used two pieces of music made with garage and and layered them to create a very unsettling ambience. 

TASK SIX –

FINAL CUT EXPRESS 

Final Cut Express is video editing software and its actually just a slightly lower grade version of the software that professional film editors use.

I learnt how to group the clips together with their sounds and was able to move them together rather than separately which saved a lot of time.

 I’d already used final cut lots in the past so I know all about you cut clips, add text, use transitions etc.

 Garage Band –

I had learnt a lot from using this software in our previous project ‘the children’s film project’. I found it really easy to use and as all the instruments are categorized into type of instruments and also in the mood they express. 

I kept it simple as I remembered that in the previous situations I made the sound to complicated and overpowering and it didn’t suit the videos. So I used a mix of violins and added a beat so when the clips came onto the screen with a beat it would be more powerful. 

7. FROM THE PLELIMANARY TASK TO THE FINAL PEICE

 I've definitely learnt a lot from the preliminary task as it helps you see what you did wrong so you make the right choices the next time around and don’t make those same mistakes. In our preliminary task we didn’t do enough takes of the scenes and so we didn’t have enough material to edit whereas this time around we had plenty of clips and various shots so we could make a decision on what clip was best to use. 

And also in the preliminary task the music was too dramatic and over powering so this time I made sure the music was subtle but still had the right emotion. 

Ive also done a presentation on prezi which you can veiw at :

http://prezi.com/kng7-wbrxsnq/media-task-seven/

Evaluation Task

1.  Question: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

We tried showing that are film could be suitable for the big screen by using typical convention from the genre we were given, which was THRILLER. We demonstrated these fixed conventions throughout our film because not all of them would be relevant. 

At the start of our opening we have introduced the main character straight away, but we have not shown her face because we wont to create enigmas within the audience. This was to create tension and to engage the audience! Enigmas are a typical convention in a thriller film. 

Another one we included was 'The protagonist will be in peril inane or more scenes before the resolution.' This was straightforward to do in opening sequence as we could use this when introducing the audience to character and this would be easily perceived not to be giving a decision as it would leave the audience not really bothered about watching Silent minds. This would also be easily shown through cinematography and other micro elements, which could help create tension!!!!

This is the main character Lucy, but the audience might not work it out, which create enigmas. This is an other shoulder shot, which capture a figure in the window! The aims for this shot was to show lucy in peril and to make the audience question them selfs about the refection, is it lucy in the reflection??! 

This shot makes lucy look vulnerable, which builds tension and engages the audience!

This is two shot over layering each other, it show Lucy self harming and it also shows Lucys eyes. Lucy eyes show shes scared and its showing that something is bothering her. This makes the audience feel sorry for the character, which builds a connection with the audience! The shot is a close up which still doesn't reveal her whole face!! 

2. Question: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

We have combined two social groups and represented both of them in depth! We have represented youth and mental health and explore both of them in one character 'Lucy'. Lucy has schizophrenia, so we have link them to micro elements to try and show our two represented social groups, but the same time using the right conventions to keep the genre as a thriller film!! 

We have research the mental illness 'schizophrenia': 

"Throughout recorded history, the disorder we now know as schizophrenia has been a source of bewilderment. Those suffering from the illness once were thought to be possessed by demons and were feared, tormented, exiled or locked up forever.

In spite of advances in the understanding of its causes, course and treatment, schizophrenia continues to confound both health professionals and the public. It is easier for the average person to cope with the idea of cancer than it is to understand the odd behavior, hallucinations or strange ideas of the person with schizophrenia.

As with many mental disorders, the causes of schizophrenia are poorly understood. Friends and family commonly are shocked, afraid or angry when they learn of the diagnosis. People often imagine a person with schizophrenia as being more violent or out-of-control than a person who has another kind of serious mental illness. But these kinds of prejudices and misperceptions can be readily corrected.

Expectations become more realistic as schizophrenia is better understood as a disorder that requires ongoing -- often lifetime -- treatment. Demystification of the illness, along with recent insights from neuroscience and neuropsychology, gives new hope for finding more effective treatments for an illness that previously carried a grave prognosis.

Schizophrenia is characterized by a broad range of unusual behaviors that cause profound disruption in the lives of people suffering from the condition, as well as in the lives of the people around them. Schizophrenia strikes without regard to gender, race, social class or culture." 

-Delusions & Hallucinations Are Common in Schizophrenia

-Social isolation and withdrawal

-Irrational, bizarre or odd statements or beliefs

-Increased paranoia or questioning others' motivations

-Becoming more emotionless

-Hostility or suspiciousness

-Increasing reliance on drugs or alcohol (in an attempt to self-medicate)

-Lack of motivation

-Speaking in a strange manner unlike themselves

-Inappropriate laughter

-Insomnia or oversleeping

-Deterioration in their personal appearance and hygiene

Black Swan shows throughout the film the fight 'Nina Sayers' to keep the black swan within her. In the movie the director has also investigate how modern day elements contribute to her fight and how the coercion of day to day life for a high end dances soon builds up leading to an outbreak she is no longer able to contain which soon leads to her taking her own life!!!!! 

3. What kind of media institution might distribute 

your media product and why?

4. Who would be your audience for your media product?

Our target audience would be between the ages of 15 - 30, It has to be above the age of 15 because of our chosen classification age of 15. This is an bigger enough audience to engage and show them in depth what living with a mental illness is like! 

To get people to more about our thriller, I decided to write a review, but before i could write one, i need to do a bit of research before hand!!

Here is an online review :

Here is a magazine review: 

Here is a few magazine/web pages my review could feature on:

Here is my review: 

5.How did you attract/address your audience?

We made a voice over our opening talking about micro elements and how they attracted our audience. I was the spokes person for Camerawork and Sound.

Here was my speech:

 The camera work for our thriller opening sequence mostly were close up of objects and part of Lucy's face, this was used to create enigmas within our audience. Also this helps create a surreal environment and to create tension in the atmosphere. In the opening sequence we have used a montage (made mostly of close ups), this was used to show how mentally unstable the main character Lucy is and what weird thing happen in side her head.

The sound for our opening thriller sequence we decided to layer ambiences and distorted sound effects, this was to create enigmas and to create a unnerve environment. The sounds were random and not in a order, which created enigmas within the audience!!

6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?

- The HD video camera and tripod that were provided for us were very easy to handle and use. The quality is also a big plus. One problem with it maybe is that the tripod wouldn't be very useful in small spaces and areas.

-Final Cut Express helped me learn about how to create dynamic scenes using transitions such as fade to black and to use quick cuts during the editing process. It was also very useful when layering two clips over one another, this was very effective in our opening sequences! One of its drawbacks that we had to solve was its incompatibility with other cameras other than what we have been provided with.

-GarageBand was very useful for using loops that were provided that were suitable for our film. GarageBand was also very helpful when adding ambiences and over sound effect to our opening. 

LMDB

Evaluation Task

Question1: In what does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Answer:
To try and show our final media sequence as an opening that could fit into the professional industry of film making we used typical conventions of the genre we had been given (thriller)
We showed these specific conventions throughout our film as not all of them would be applicable to us. the first one we used was 'The protagonist will be in peril inane or more scenes before the resolution.' This was simple to do in opening as we could in twine this when introducing the audience to character and we would obviously not be giving a resolution as it would leave no reason for the audience to continue watching. This would also be easily shown through camera work however to add that crucial tension we would combine the micro elements.
The second was 'Themes of identity are common.' By exploring this concept we decided on a double/split personality. This is portrayed in by the mixture of the shot lighting as throughout the sequence it goes from very dark enclosed places, to wide open spaced with free, natural lighting (and atmosphere) Due to the combination of the micro elements this builds enigmas within the audience and evidently tension as the audience in unaware of what may or may not be coming next (which in itself is another convention of a typical thriller)
The third conventions which was prominent within our opening sequence is 'The antagonist ensnares the protagonist in a complex web until the protagonist feels isolated and hopeless' Although we included this in convention in our thriller we decided to challenge it and develop it into a 'complex web' itself. This was because that we thought it would mentally stimulating for the audience to engage with the idea that the protagonist is the antagonist themselves. So to initiate this idea we gave small hints allowing it to have the 'snow ball' effect through the film.
To show you what I have been talking about I have taken some stills from our opening and written by them about how exactly they show the conventions in which we have chosen to put in the thriller.

This extreme close up immediately shows the audience that our character is very stressed and upset about something leading the audience to wonder what. This shot is also intense as the eyes really draw the viewer in and engage them with the distress that the is quite obviously feeling.

This over the shoulder shot also shows the character in peril and by not showing the face it creates enigmas within the audiences mind as although they have hunches that it is the same person they are not 100% sure.

This shot is more complex than the others as the extreme close up simply shows the character putting on eyeliner which is a standard day to day event for many teenagers but due to dark and intense lighting this creates an unnerving atmosphere. Also this shot does not run alone, soon after an unsettling shot runs (like the ones above) showing a clear personality switch.

This we felt was a far more subtle and abstract way of showing how the two minds are locked and forced together to create this complex story line that will engage the audiences mind.

Within this shot we layered to shots onto one another this is fairly contemporary editing style and we felt gave our thriller a new fresh development on the convention. We chose to do these two specific clips as the thorn spiking shows the girl self harming (even despite the severity being very minimal) Also the eyes show someone looking very uneasy and nevus about something therefore creating ambiguity.

This final shot which is also the final shot of the opening sequence shows just how isolated and alone the character becomes due to the constant conflict her two polar opposite personalities have. Also by having her in the dark it emphasises how she feels completely push out and how she is now living on the absolute periphery of society. In addition we used the candles in the back ground as this echoes enlightenment giving the viewer hope that our character will make it out of this rut and thus they will want to go on the journey with her.


Question2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Answer
Within our thriller the social group that we decided to explore was evident from the outset, schizophrenia. We decided to explore this particular social group and this mental health issue as it links to many of the conventions we wanted to develop and give our fresh take on them creating a new thriller that doesn't run parallel with all the other generic thrillers that have been out on the screen for the last five years.
However there are some break that mould and this is one of those that inspired our piece;

I chose Black Swan as this shows throughout the film the battle Nina Sayers (Natalie Portman) has to keep the black inside her. In the film the director has also explored how modern day elements contribute to her on going struggle and how the pressures of day to day life for a high end dances soon mount up leading to an outbreak she is no longer able to contain which soon leads to her suicide.
I got a video 'mash-up' off of youtube which I felt showed what I just stated.

As well as looking at fabricated stories I also looked at real life stories that made news and was surprised at how far all these suffers would go when they hear these voices. One that really caught my eye was the case of David Berkowitz A.K.A 'Son of Sam' in 1978. In 1977 Berkowitz went on a killing spree murdering a total of 7 people, when it came to his trial Berkowitz pled guilty for all 7 counts of murder giving very vivid descriptions of how he killed each and every one of them. At his trial when asked why he said it was demanded to do it by his neighbour and these very strong orders were sent via the barking of his neighbours dog giving him a total of 365 years in jail and still to this day lawyers are deciding whether or not he is 'legally insane.' This story amazed me how eccentric it was and just how over powering these voices are to the sufferers.

I feel this still best shows our characters unstable mind as the mixture of the smoking, which is often done when a person is anxious or feeling anxiety, and the twitching of the rings which we have sped up to again highlight the anxiety building up in the scene. This in turn is creating enigmas and ambiguity within audience leaving them to wonder what our character is spiralling into and how/if she will be able to get out of it.

Question3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Answer
The type of institute that would distribute our thriller would most likely be one of the smaller cinema companies as this would allow for the right type of audience to watch our thriller. We decided this as many of the people that go into the major companies to watch a thriller are simply going for the gore and guts and for the cheap and simplistic thrills, however as we feel our film is more sophisticated we didn't want this sort of viewing.
We also decided to go into the smaller screening companies as our thriller production company is very small and would therefore be hidden and living in the shadows of the big and well established companies that are all over the market.

Question4: Who would be your audience for your media product?
Answer
As we decided that the rating for our film would be 15 our target market would be anything between 15 and 30, this would allow enough of a market that there is enough of a viewing however still being able to focus and channel our ideas so we can truly engage them and give them a thrilling over all experience as any good thriller should.
So I could engage them in the first place I decide that I would write a review as this is what many people rely on to tell whether the film they are planning on going to see will be what they are looking for, so...
So I could get a better idea of how a film review should sound I looked at a review by Empire Film Magazine of the new film out in a couple days, Contraband.

From this I was shown that as well as your personal opinion that you should also include a short plot description however it is crucial you do not give the story line away as this will ruin the film for the viewer.
My Review of Silent Minds
Plot
This is the story of a young girl going through her last year of college. The stresses of an average teenager are always there, but on top of all this an overpowering mother and abandoning father, Lucy Write is forced on the periphery of society. Easily swayed Lucy soon falls into the wrong crowd and when they turn on her she is forced to be alone. Festering in her own disturbing thoughts it is abundantly clear there is something seriously wrong. 
Verdict
This unconventional thriller really feeds the mind both creatively and factually. Engaging the audience from the very first sequence the film shows many teens out there how important it is to have that network of truly caring people. Chaos from the outset and throughout and a taunting tone that shows the audience just how soul crushing a disease like schizophrenia can be to a person.
The mixture of micro elements highlights the tension that is constantly breeding through the film and due to the contemporary editing techniques it gives the film as a whole a fresh and open minded look on the youths of today and what they are really having to deal with and face in modern society on a day to day basis.
Unlike many of the films out on the big screen a the minute the opening to this thriller is crucial to the plot. This is the first time we are introduced to Lucy and immediately we are drawn to her and intrigued by this issue that is engulfing her. The mish-mash of clips engage and involve the audience with the disease making us feel her crippling pain and there for dragging us through the ordeal with her.
In all the thriller, although is very much thought provocative is in a twisted way refreshing as we are able to see today's youth in a way he haven't seen before and I would advise anyone who wants a ride that will not be forgotten to go and see this film. 


Question5: How did you attract/address your audience?
Answer
To show how we engaged the audience in specific parts of our opening we decided to do a running commentary telling how we used the mixture of micro elements to engage the audience and leave them wanting answers.
The script for my part of the commentary.
Thriller Conventions
In our opening to ensure we made the appropriate genre we made a conscious decision to follow three of the typical thriller conventions.
The first was showing the protagonist in peril. Although this was not apparent straight away the audience is soon made aware of the  immediate personality change creating enigmas for the audience to engage with.
The next is the antagonist ensnaring the protagonist in a complex web. This idea in its self is very complex as in our thriller both the antagonist and the protagonist are in fact the same person.
 We hoped this would confuse the audience enough that they would be intreged with the storyline but not too much that they would give up with the plot. this idea was first introduced to the audience in the monologue.
the third conventions we tried to involve in our sequence was combine micro elements to build a paramour amount of tension. I felt, despite this sounding the easiest, was probably going to be the hardest. Thankfully this was no the case and and at certain points I feel we were able to really force the audience into feeling insecure and unsettled in the same the character does.
Characterisation
Unlike many other thrillers on the big screen at the moment within Silent Minds we have explored the idea of our character having schizophrenia and therefore having two completely split personalities.
By doing this we hope to make the audience feel complete polar opposite emotions, fear and empathy.


Question6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
Answer
During the process of making our opening sequence I learnt a lot about the technical elements that go into making a professional and engaging thriller for the audience. Although I did not have much input when it came to the filming as I was not actually present when it took place I already had previous knowledge on how the cameras worked due to the making of the preliminary tasks. 
Despite this I feel that my editing and music producing skills have come on in leaps and bounds from those very first tasks we did. I have also learnt how rot use photo shop in an a lot more efficient way therefore allowing me to get it done quicker and more professional looking.
I feel through this process that it has been my editing skills that have bee improved the most, this is because (as I didn't do any of the filming) I did a majority of it for our opening sequence. 
Heres how and why:

Final Cut Express is an editing software on Apple Macs. It is a lower grade of the software that many of the big name film companies use when it comes to editing there blockbusters.
At first when it came to editing the process was very slow as I was unfamiliar of where specific techniques so was constantly asking for help. However once I really began organising, cutting the clips down and changing the speed I started to get much quicker and became far more efficient. Once I had really got the hang of the simple techniques I started exploring different effects and transitions to give our sequence fresh, different and more contemporary look to it.

One technique that I learnt to do was over lap two clips. This was show the very busy and confused mind that our character had therefore engaging the audience with her problem.

Garageband is also a piece of software on the Apple Macs which allows you to take beats and symphonies and layer them allowing you to make your own piece of music.
Within our thriller we actually used two pieces of music and layered them onto one another to create this very unsettling ambience that ran through out the whole of our opening. 
I already had previous knowledge of how to use garage band as I have it one my personal laptop at home however due to making another and more advanced I have been able to enhance this knowledge further. 


Question7: Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Answer
After looking back at the preliminary task we did at the very beginning of the project I think it is safe to say that all the skills and knowledge we had to start with have been trebled and more. 
The preliminary task looked extremely jovial and in way shape or form this was mainly because it was carried out in a very short time period and therefore couldn't really plan different angles, mise en scene or even enhance the small amount we did have with skilful knowledge (mainly because that was still very limited) 
However this all changed when it came to doing our main project. The planning for our opening sequence was extensive from analysing mainstream thrillers to those made by previous students. We then began looking at ideas for our own, this was very initial ideas so they were not developed and were very raw as they had not been thought throw on a practical level for example we had the idea of having an extreme close up of blood shot eyes and without making this looking tacky or fake. We then began to channel these thoughts and decided that we would go with the mentally unstable idea as this would give our thriller the unpredictable nature that a thriller needs to engage the audience and really engage and anticipate what will or will not happen next.
We then started looking beyond the actual film itself and started looking at fabricating our own production company, this started with the logo.