Setting:
Here is our planning of the different locations we are
planning to use in our production.
Dark room/unknown location:
We have decided to use this in the opening 30seconds of our
production to introduce our antagonist character. The fact that he is in a dark
room creates mystery and suspense around his character form the audience. He
will also be under a spotlight to highlight the fact that he is unpredictable
and no-one knows where he is. We think this will be effective as it doesn’t
reveal much about him, apart from the fact that he is a ‘showman’ of some sort.
Park:
As our opening develops from the dark room with the spotlight,
the next location we are introduced to is a park in the late evening with no
one around. The reason we have chosen this is because parks are associated with
children and innocence, and the fact that the antagonist is seen lurking around
here will allow the audience to connote that he is up to something, or looking
for a child which will create fear and worry for the audience for any child
victim. The fact that it is evening will also give us natural low-key lighting
which will emphasize the fear and obscene response we are trying to create.
Dark bedroom:
Once the antagonists has sought his
victim in the park, the next location will be a dark bedroom. We would like a
mirror here and maybe some chilling lighting from candles. What we want to show
here is the older antagonist getting ready/dressing up in his clown attire, and
the child imitating him. We have decided to show this to signify to the
audience that the antagonist has captured his victim, however he hasn’t harmed
him as such, he is now grooming the younger child to be like him. We will want
a long view mirror here to show them putting on make-up as I think we can
capture some really nice cinematography here. Also, the fact that they are in
the room will allow the audience to question the relationship between these two
characters and we think that will make them feel uneasy.
Street:
Once the little clown has been groomed in the bedroom, we
will see both character from behind walking down an empty street to show now
the little victim has turned into an antagonist too and is ready to go
‘hunting’ and look for victims too. The empty road is being shown to highlight
the idea that there movements are random and unpredictable and they are on
their journey to seek other victims. The fact that it is night again shows the
antagonist hunts his prey at nightfall and the audience can create meaning from
this.
Spotlight –
Will be used to isolate and introduce the main character to the opening scene,
we chose this type of lighting because it is the best possible way of just
showing the audience this character and helps cancel any other unwanted things
and objects in a room. Spotlight is a common convention in thrillers as they
are used in criminal themed thrillers where one character may be interrogating
another character, or a scene where we are introduced to a main character. This
type of lighting can also be used to show the character as they are, they can’t
hide their identity and instead they are stripped off their hidden energy and
shown to the audience as this character on a chair or somewhere in the glow of
light.
Low-key – This
will help us as low-key lighting is a good way to support a characters role as
an antagonist or anti-hero. This type of lighting is normally used in very dark
scenes to further explain the themes behind a film. Low-key lighting is common
in thrillers as it is used to show the dominance of a character(s) and the
power they may have in the film, when used it is important to understand the
effect it has on a scene. Low-key lighting is used in many thriller films to
show the effect of this one character most commonly an antagonist in dark
superhero movies the superhero such as Batman they show him in low-key lighting
for the audience to acknowledge their physical strength as well as the
influence in the film.
Under-lighting –
Is when the source of light is placed directly below the character. This
usually allows the audience to understand who this character is and how
demented and alone he is, also under-light is a good way to promote the
character. Under-lighting is used to create dark reflections of a character
which is another way to hide their identity and create silhouettes of that
character, in other thriller films under-lighting may be used to show the
audience that there is about to be a death or murder or the arrival of an
assassinator to conclude their job. Under-lighting can also be used to show a
much slow and calm scene in a thriller and the romantic bond between the main character
and his love interest if there is one and confuses the audience as it can be
used in many ways to produce different effects for a film, scene or opening.
