Research: Opening Credits - MR S

Opening Credits

What are opening credits?

Opening Credits are shown at the very beginning of a Thriller/ Film, and opening credits is a list of the most important members of the production. They are now usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or static pictures, or sometimes on top of action in the show. There may or may not be accompanying music. 

What is their purpose? What information do they provide?

The purpose of opening credits is for the audience to identify the major actors and crew, while the closing credits list an extensive cast and production crew. 

How do they make the audience feel?

Opening credits are effective in films as they are usually followed by a soundtrack which automatically helps to build up tension among the audience. Images are often used in opening credits to make the audience ask questions about their relevance.

Example:

In this opening credits clip taken from the thriller, Se7en, the editor has put the text on graphic images. This builds tension for the audience as the font and size of the writing allow the audience to understand that this thriller film is fearful therefore this engages the audience to watch the film. 

Conclusion

When creating my own Thriller, I will ensure that my production name comes first as it will look professional to my audience and also I will include my main characters as it is important too let the audience know who is starring in the Thriller. I would also make sure that images are as a background  while the opening credits are shown because this will interest my audience as my target audience is younger teens which they could get bored after while watching the opening credits alone. 

Research: Typography - MR S

Typography

What is Typography?

Typography is how the text in the film is presented to the audience. e.g the size of text, the font, colour and texture of the text. Therefore this can impact your thriller in many ways as it needs to be interesting and attractive in order to get audiences attention. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading (line spacing), adjusting the spaces between groups of letters (tracking) and adjusting the space between pairs of letters (kerning).

Examples of Typography:

The typography used in this Thriller, is very upcoming as the text above pops up to the screen then dissolves throw a black filter. This creates an exciting emotion as in seconds the text disappears within a blackness. 

The typography used in this Thriller expresses Murder as the text is white plain and the background for the text is black.

Conclusion

When creating my own Thriller, I am going to use normal size font as I want my typography simple but effective as I am going to use white text colour on a dark background as this will appeal to he audience and give them a hint of what is excepted 

  

                                          

Research: Results from questionnaire - MS B

Results from questionnaire

What is the importance to get and analyse feedback?

It is very important that you are aware of your audiences expectations and it is also important that you get the right information that are audience has given you as you will need it to analyse and that you then analyse the key areas that  your audience may want to see your own Thriller in. 

Graphs that I have created using my feedback from audience:

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

This research has been beneficial as I now know what key information that I should be aware of when creating my own Thriller. I know what the audience may like now, I could add that to my thriller and also I know what key aspects my audience may except from me.

Research: Questionaire - MS B

Questionnaire

What is the importance of primary research?

Primary research is very important as you will look for the topic you need in order to help you, the creation of your own research, whether a question that you ask to your friends and family or a survey put together alongside and agency and administered to a wide panel. Primary research will instantly let you feel more in control of your project; and that is the exact position you will find yourself in. You choose the questions and select your panel through qualitative research, allowing you detailed responses from individuals.

Who did you ask and why?

I asked twenty people and my aim was at ages 10 to 25+ ages. From the results I got, I now know what is suitable for my audience and what my audience may want to see from my Thriller. When giving out my questionnaire I made sure that i give both males and females the similar number of questionnaires to answer, the reason for this is that I want to know what both genders think about Thrillers because in my Thriller I will be having different genders acting so I now know what a male audience would except from my thriller as well as females

Advantages and Disadvantages of Questionnaires:

The advantages of questionnaires:

1. Large amounts of information can be collected from a large number of people in a short period of time and in a relatively cost effective way. 
2. When data has been quantified, it can be used to compare and contrast other research and may be used to measure changes.
3. The responses of a questionnaire are gathered in a stardard way, so questionnaires are more like objectives also known as more like interviews.
4. they are relatively easy to analyse
5. they are familiar to library staff and managers
6. a large sample of the given population can be contacted at relatively low cost.

The disadvantages of questionnaires:

1. Questionnaires, like many evaluation methods occur after the event, so participants may forget important issues.
2. if you forget to ask a question, you cannot usually go back to respondents, especially if they are anonymous
3. it is sometimes difficult to obtain a sufficient number of responses, especially from postal questionnaires
4. those who have an interest in the subject may be more likely to respond, skewing the sample
5. respondents may ignore certain questions
6. questionnaires may appear impersonal
7. questions may be incorrectly completed

Thriller Questionnaire

Conclusion

From the feedback, I received It has been beneficial as now when I am creating my Thriller, I know what my audiences exceptions are and what will engaged them to my Thriller. I have asked 3 different types of questions; closed, open and multiple questions. Firstly, for Closed questions i gave to options 'YES' or 'NO,' For Open questions I have given lines for my audience to write their answer in more detail. And finally for Multiple questions I have provided my question with answers.



Research: Film Censorship - MR S

Film Censorship

Who are the BBFC and what is their role?

The BBFC stands for, British, Board of Film Classification. Their job is to protect

the public from anything offensive that is used in a film or could cause any harm. There are

two methods in what the BBFC use to edit films:

CUT : When a film is edited or has had scenes taken out of it to make it is suitable for viewing.

BANNED: A film is taken away from cinema viewing completely due to indecent and harmful.

Why is the role of the BBFC important to the film industry?

The BBFC is an independent body which was originally established by the film industry in 1912.

Some films get Censorship, as it presents content that the BBFC does not allow for. They revise the film due to the specific content it shows.

Why might a film be censored?

A film may get censored for the audiences safety and to ensure that the audience isn't effected or influenced by the film.

- Extreme violence 

- Graphic representation and realism

- Corrupt the young 

- Controversy and the press 

- Sex and nudity 

- Sexual violence

- Religion

- Class

- Language 

- Shock 

- Drug abuse

- Culture 

- Race

- True events 

Example of a Banned thriller:

The Excorist: 

This Film has been banned in the several countries including the UK in 1974, the narrative of this film is that a 12-year old girl is possessed by demons, a young priest takes it upon himself to selflessly save her at the behest of her famous movie-star mother. The reason why the film was banned because it had an X- rating from the BBFC, this meant that the film was not suitable for viewing as the film introduced extreme violence. 

Example of a Cut thriller:

This film was banned in 40 and more countries, it was banned completely from the UK as the film introduces death scenes from the real world off media. Many people have found this disturbing as well as some of the actual on-camera deaths of a variety of animals, the main reason why the BBFC has asked the director of this film to cut scenes that show real life accidents. 

Discuss the Forna and Kermode debate

Journalist and broadcaster Aminatta Forna makes the case for censorship while film critic and broadcaster Mark Kermode makes the case against.

Forna knows importance of freedom but recognises that freedom comes with responsibility. Allowing some groups use freedom to stir racial hatred removes the freedom of minorities to live without persecution. Despite the Race a relations. Where as, Kermode, argues that cuts and edits to a film can change the meaning of a film and does not expose the correct message to the audience therefore should not be censored in order for the audience to understand the film properly and the meaning. He believes that everybody who watches films have different interpretations and different views meaning that film censorship will not stop the audience from forming interpretations therefore is irrelevant in his eyes. 

Conclusion

From this research about film classification, When creating my own Thriller, i need to make sure I do show to much violence as it may not be suitable for my Audience, as my audience age rate is '15' (Age Certification.)

Research: Age Certificates - MS B

Age Certificates

What are the role of the BBFC and Why? 

The BBFC stands for the 'British Board of Film Classification'. It is important to the film industry as it is in charge of classifying all films. Its job is to protect the public from content that is unsuitable for their age group, and to stop children from seeing explicit images that may harm them. It allows parents to make informed viewing choices by acting as a guide.


What age certificates do Thrillers tend to get and why?


Usually nowadays most Thrillers tend to get a '15' age certificate as at the age of 15 most teenagers are able to notice what is done in the Thriller in order to get their view. At the age of '15' young adults are able to be responsible for their use of language and actions when viewing a thriller.

Age rating:


The U symbol stands for Universal. Films classified with a 'U' should be suitable for all audiences aged 4 and over, but this is up to the parents choice. With a 'U' classification, only very mild bad language such as 'damn' or 'hell' are used.








An example of a Universal film would be 'Despicable Me'. There is no reference at all to sexual behaviour and although some of the ideas can be seen as violent, they are not portrayed in this way, meaning any child can watch this film without it damaging them mentally.





The 'PG' symbol stands for Parental Guidance and is suitable for general viewing, but some scenes may not be suitable for younger children. A PG film should not effect a child at 8 years or older, but it is the parents responsibility to decide what is and is not appropriate.

An example of a PG film is 'Scooby-Doo' the movie. It is about a gang of meddling detectives who try to solve the mystery of why a theme park is haunted before it loses all its customers. Due to there being a TV series before this, most children would know that the storyline is repetitive as it involves the gang finding the villain and putting him away for good.

The '12' certificate is just for DVDs and Blue-rays, where as the '12A' certificate is for cinemas only. The A in '12A' stands for 'accompanied', which means that children under 12 years of age can see the film at the cinema if accompanied by an adult (of 18 years).

An example of a 12A film is 'Spider-Man' which was in fact the first ever film to be given the certificate of 12A, in 2002. At first, the film was given an age rating of 12, meaning that most of the films target audience couldn't go to see the film at cinemas. So after many complaints and arguments the film was given a 12A so that children under the age of 12 could go see the film with an adult.

The '15' symbol means that no one under the age of 15 can see a film at the cinema or buy a 15 rated DVD. Sexual activity and nudity can be portrayed as long as there is no strong or graphic detail. Strong violence is acceptable as long as the film doesn't focus on the infliction of the pain/injury. Drug taking may be shown but it must not promote or encourage drug misuse. 

An example of a 15 rated film is 'The Hangover' which is about a planned
bachelor party and the events that happen during it. There is strong
 language used and there are references to sex, although this is not
focused in a lot of detail as the film is about a group of men suffering
from a hangover.

The 18 category is purely for adults over the age of 18. It has absolutely no limits on bad language, violence, sexual activity or drugs portrayed. An example of an 18 rated film is 'Se7en' which was filmed in 1995. It is about 2 detectives, a rookie and a veteran, who hunt a serial killer who uses the 7 deadly sins as his way of doing things. It is classed as an 18 because it has references to sexual activity, drugs and bad language, which would not be suitable for a 15 rating. 

Conclusion

From researching about the different age certificates, I have learned how important it is for a film to have a age certificate that it suitable for their viewing, it is also very important for a Thriller to have  age certificate agreed by the BBFC as it has to be view able according to the age limit. When creating my own Thriller, my age certificate will be '15' as I am aiming at teenagers and as I may use bad language and some sort of other iconography that is all view able to people over 15. Also when accessing my Thriller, I would give my own Thriller clip a '15' age certificate as I have different types of weapons (iconography used,) a younger age certificate is not suitable to see my Thriller as they may get influenced.