Sample Moodboard

Here is an example of a Moodboard for the Crime Thriller Subgenre. I have included some conventional Iconography for the Genre: Locations, Settings and Props that are common, along with some Actors that you might expect to be cast in a film of this type. You should also include a brief commentary, as shown below.

Crime Thrillers often centre around the 'seedy underbelly' of Urban Settings, commonly London (pictured), New York or LA. Cars and Guns form an important part of the Iconography of the Genre, and create an expectation of Action and Violence for the Audience. Stars of these films are predominantly male, Mid-to-late thirties, and are often not typical Hollywood 'heart-throbs' in appearance. Rather they tend to be more average looking, thus creating a sense of 'gritty' realism, or 'verisimilitude' for the film. Robert De Niro and Al Pacino (pictured) are well-known and highly regarded for their performances in films within the Genre.

Sample Opening Analysis

The sequence opens with a slow tracking shot, eventually pausing on door with metal grating. The absence of a non-diegetic soundtrack, which is common in the opening sequences of most films, particularly those in the crime/thriller Genre, focuses the audiences' attention on the diegetic sound. The lack of camera movement in the first sequence is disquieting for the audience, and focuses our attention on the movements of these characters; the fact that we only see them in Medium Long Shot also distances us from the emotionally - these are not characters that we warm to.

The hiss of grasshoppers is a commonly used signifier of a warm climate, which makes the first man's clothing all the more notable. He is clearly coded as a villain - his black clothes, ornate belt-buckle and sharply manicured goatee are all commonly used conventions. The other man is clearly his subordinate - his clothes are far scruffier, as is his generally appearance. The fact that he is the one carrying the bigs also connotes lower status on his part.

This analysis covers only the first 20 seconds - bear in mind the level of detail and that you should be covering at least the first 2 minutes.

Individual Contribution

Each member needs to blog an entry about what he/she personally contributed to the editing process since the audience screening. Your entry should be only a few sentences, but should also be visual. (Screen grab, photo . . . be creative.)

Mark your progress

Screen grab one shot from your film and mark it using the OCR marking criteria (see page 60). Explain your mark and what you need to do next to move it up to the next level.

You may include more than one shot.

Getting Started

Today you must create your own blogs for your group.  Use the assignment sheet to help. A basic blog has been created for you and each group has been given a number for your blog. 

To edit the blog you must log in as dunopening2010@googlemail.com and use the password 'dunravenmedia'. 

Before the end of the lesson:

• Select a template for the blog.
• Go to settings, permissions and then invite Mr Dyas (pdyas@dunraven-school.org.uk) and Ms Taylor (ttaylor@dunraven-school.org.uk) as authors. You may wish to invite yourself (if you want to sign in using your personal email address).
• Create a hyperlink to the Main Film Opening blog so that you can easily check when teachers have posted to it.

The blog may be updated by any member of the group, but it would be useful to elect one member of the group to oversee responsibility.  At the end of entry, add your name as a label. 

You may blog as much as you want.

The blog will be used to evaluate the planning section of your coursework and the link will be sent to the examiner as proof of your work. 

Good luck and get blogging!

Reminders

1. Ms Miah is burning your films BEFORE Thursday, so they must be complete.

2. Please label all your entries. If YOU posted something, put your name to it. All posts should not include the names of everyone in the group.

Audience Feedback from Rough Cut

Blog your audience feedback AND the changes you intend to make because of it.