Adapted from P. Fraser’s original making film openings Adapted from P. Fraser’s original

Step 1: take stock what’s the task? what’s the assessment? what’s the timeframe? what’s the equipment? Write a blog about this. Title it: Taking Stock

task and assessment Titles and opening of a new fiction film up to 2 minutes 20 marks Research and Planning 60 marks Construction 20 marks Evaluation You could comment on these. See previous slide.

timeframe and equipment build your skills build up your research build up your planning give yourselves time to shoot and edit keep evidence throughout the whole process The above are tips/suggestions/things you should do/things you have done.

step 2: set up a blog and keep evidence of everything you do! Look at the next slide. There is a top mark blog there. Notice how it is visually appealing, uses a range of different media, shows progression and is well managed. Time management is key.

good blog examples http://scasmediagwpahs.blogspot.com/?zx=fd277084e4b7cc3b http://cmdiplomayasmin.blogspot.com/

Step 3: investigate what do film openings actually look like? what does other student work look like? what do you need to know about titles? how are you going to do something that stands out? You have started this. Develop it by making graphs, doing focus groups, researching real thriller openings, conducting surveys. Title your blog: Thriller Research and Investigation

search for student films on youtube

It’s a worthwhile idea to do the next task. Go to the art of the Titles exercise It’s a worthwhile idea to do the next task. Go to the art of the title.com and do a titles exercise. Reflect on what you did/ learned.; how will it impact your idea??? Title Blog: Titles Research

titles analysis

Step 4: brainstorm ideas possible scenarios for pitches/treatments 25 word pitch moodboard treatment peer and teacher feedback realistic expectations- keep it simple know the film but make the opening Do the above. Title the blog: Our Thriller Idea

Avoid these Cliche Openings: Six most common student film openings Saw: victim tied up in shed Scream: hooded stalker follows female victim Waking up: clean teeth, brush hair, leave house Se7en: killer sticks knife in polaroid photos Lock, Stock: gangsters play cards Flashback or Flash forward

possible pitch scenarios low budget UK film with young teen protagonist, set on housing estate supernatural thriller aimed at a female audience; co-production with europe a character returns to town after years away

Example of Mood Board

Step 5: Planning experimenting with camera and editing recce shots of locations examples of shots, costumes, props, etc onto blog post-it storyboard, animatic, moodboard logistics planning- including risk assessment Do the above. Title this blog: Planning

step 6: the shoot people, places, props, costumes rehearsing equipment, jobs on the day keeping a record of the process Title this blog: Shooting Experience

Step 7: edit all having a voice/hand in it screengrabs of process importance of audio and titles foley - not just music rough cut deadline and peer feedback Post your rough cut on your blog Do the above. Leave plenty of time to edit and refine your coursework. Look at the marking scheme--the examiner will. Title Blog: Editing and Rough Cut.

big picture before fine detail titles could be laid down first

step 8: final cut post teacher and peer feedback on blog reshoot if needed post editing process on blog submit on burned disc and post on blog

most common problems--review your thriller to make sure you don’t have any of these problems looks more like a trailer or a short film insufficient titles poor sound, poor lighting confusing for the viewer uses one of the six common openings

ways to make your blog posts creative/engaging prezi’s, scribd edit shots scanned images of your notes, diary, texts, e-mails ‘test’ video/focus group videos/videos that inspire your idea images of your group working/images that inspire you Soundcloud, Flipsnap, Slideshare Writing and many many more Examiners want to see you engage in many types of media