Target Audience

After researching similar film genres and plot lines to our own opening sequence including, 'Fatal Attraction', 'Basic Instinct' and 'The Eyes of Laura Mars', I have evidently become aware of audience research. I believe our Thriller film should be targeted at a 15 certificate. A 15 certificate leaves an opportunity for a wider audience. Also, as our film may be classed as a Psychological thriller, I believe that an audience not intended for children would be precise, as I don't believe anyone younger than 15 would understand the plot as it is quite intelligent. Although, we have discussed having our opening sequence as a 12A or PG certificate, to reach a larger audience than a 15 certificate would.

Research and Planning

"Eyes of Laura Mars" is a thriller film released in 1978. Laura Mars is a very successful high-end fashion and advertising photographer. Detective John Neville notes striking similarities between her art photos and those of actual crime scenes. Although suspicious of her, he soon realizes that she hasn't been involved in any of the crimes but can see what is happening through the eyes of the killer. After his friends and some of her models are killed she joins forces with Neville to identify the killer before she too becomes a victim
This is similar to our opening sequence as the mysterious intelligence of the main characters are the same, and the mysterious atmosphere created.

Research and Planning

"Basic Instinct" is an American erotic thriller released in 1992.
The film centers around police detective Nick Curran (Douglas), who is investigating the brutal murder of a wealthy former rock star. Beautiful, seductive and wealthy crime writer Catherine Tramell (Stone) could be involved; over the course of the investigation, Detective Curran becomes involved in a torrid and intense relationship with the mysterious woman — who turns out to be very dangerous. This is again similar to our film as the women based in both films have similar persona's.

Research and Planning

To improve my own idea on our film, I've been studying other films that have a similar plot like to our film. My favourite out of the number I researched was "Fatal Attraction" a popular thriller film which was released in 1987.
"Fatal Attraction" is about a married man who has a weekend affair with a woman who refused to allow it to end, resulting in her obsession with him.
This is a similar plot to ours, as they both relate to the topics of desperation, obsession and a sense of insanity.

Watch an episode of any television drama. Review and evaluate how it is a reflection of real life.

“Skins” is a TV drama that follows a group of teenagers in Bristol, through two years of sixth form education. The Controversial plotline explores issues including narcissism, dysfunctional families, personality disorders, substance abuse, sex, teenage pregnancy, disability and death throughout it’s episodes. “Skins” has enjoyed critical success, high ratings and a number of awards, including two BAFTA awards and Best Drama at the 2008 Rose d’Or ceremony.
For my review on it’s reflection of real life, I have chosen episode eight of series three - In this episode Effy is at her lowest point and her home life has deteriorated so much that it is almost impossible for her to communicate. The group decide to have a party in the woods, where Cook is not welcome. Effy finds some magic mushrooms and the group experiments, making Katie’s jealousy of Effy to return. As Effy becomes the centre of action, she also grabs the attention of Katie‘s current boyfriend, Freddie, who‘s feelings for Effy have been powerfully displayed throughout series three in the previous seven episodes.
The series “Skins” is mostly in monochrome and dull colours, I believe this is because “Skins” is trying to display the darker side of the teenage world, beyond education and family life, it focuses on the negative sides of being a teenage, the temptation, the trauma and the stress, rather than the positives.
On the one hand I believe this episode of “Skins” is an accurate reflection of real life because it contains three major issues facing teenagers today, family relations, substance abuse and sexual relationships. The character, Effy, has had a dysfunctional relationship with her parents from the first episode of skins, as her parents used see her as a hardworking, well behaved girl but in reality she is sneaking out of the house to go clubbing, having sex and partying. Which I believe is an accurate image on teenage life in modern society, as most teenagers, hide the on-goings of their social life from their parents, as some would frown down on their chosen lifestyle and idea of fun. In the third series Effy is forced to deal with parent’s separating, an issue which a percentage teenagers have to deal with in modern day society. Effy’s mother is seen sitting at the table smoking, calling every man in the paper a “bastard” completely ignoring Effy’s issues of having broken up with her boyfriend and even when she jokes saying she’s pregnant, her mother brushes off the issue again, showing signs of a struggling and non-compatible relationship, which is usually an outcome of divorce and separation. This is what causes Effy to show her true lifestyle to her mother; never being in the house, turning up all hours of the morning and eventually going off the rails. Attitude change is also an outcome of divorce and separation.
Substance abuse is relevant issue in this episode, as smoking, drinking and the abuse of “Magic Mushrooms” is displayed. I believe this is a relevant reflection on real-life because modern day teenagers are more exposed to this type of substance abuse. The whole group takes part in taking the magic mushrooms, in which Effy eggs the character, Pandora, on to try the mushrooms, showing signs of peer pressure into taking drugs. Peer pressure into taking drugs is a relevant issue also, because teenagers in present society usually take drugs to fit in or to feel more comfortable in a group if others are doing it, which is displayed in this episode. They also show the effects of drugs very well in this episode, creating an underlying moral to substance abuse, they use distinct camera shots and voice mechanics when the group are under the substance, the substance creates a blurring effect, showing that the drugs have taken away the groups sense of place, and the vocal mechanics have slowed the voices down, making them echoed and sometimes hard to understand fully, also it displays the character, Effy, “tripping” and how the effects of drugs can cause side-effects such as nausea and paranoia displayed through the character Effy. Showing the young adult target audience, the effects of drugs in modern day civilisation.
Relationships, of which sexual and non-sexual, are major issues displayed throughout skins from it’s first episode in the first series. In this episode, jealousy is the key emotion, perceived mostly through the characters Effy and Katie, resulting from the love triangle containing Freddie. As a result of this, Effy and Katie’s relationship disintegrates, until the brutal moment where Katie threatens Effy and physically attacks her, which is an accurate reflection of real life as it shows the attitudes of modern day females, willing to hurt a friend to get what they want within a relationship, It also proves how more co-dependant teenagers are in being in a relationship in modern days society. Also in this episode, Tomas, Pandora’s boyfriend, discovers that Pandora has been cheating on him with Cook, the bad boy of the group. This is an accurate reflection of real life, as it shows how teenagers are now more sexually active today, than in the past, and it shows how sexual deviancy and cheating can ruin relationships between people.
On the other hand, I believe “Skins” is not an accurate reflection on real-life because it has to be dramatised to make the episode watchable. As it is a drama, it has got to be entertaining, so the episode has to move things on a lot quicker. I believe the storylines are true reflections on real-life but they are exaggerated greatly. Most teenagers do not take part in most of the activities seen on “Skins” and it could be seen as portraying a stereotypical view on it’s audience, so teenage life may be portrayed worse in “Skins” than it actually is.
In conclusion, I believe “Skins” is an incredible TV drama as I believe every episode contains an underlying moral in each episode, showing the negative sides of a heavily-social teenage life, and I believe the messages put forward are the type of lessons teenagers today need to learn about life and choice of lifestyle.
-Becky Baker(:

Problemo!

As a group, after evaluating our film together and discussions with our media teachers, we have decided to change the plot slightly to our opening sequence. It was found to be too obvious as of what was going to happen, so we decided to change it so our serial killer sneaks upstairs, not to the girlfriends attention and starts to go through the girlfriends stuff, to make it seem more of a interlectual thriller rather than a commercial thriller.
We all decided this was a better idea because it was different to all the usual plotlines within the thriller genre, we have new storyboards, shot lists and photos of the location to be uploaded and our film is the middle of being edited, we are all very excited. As they say - THIRD TIME LUCKY!

- Becky Baker (:

Why are opening sequences so important to the film industry?

"Making a main-title was like making a poster, you're condensing the event into this one concept, this one metaphor a back-story that needs to be told or a character that needs to be introduced".
- SAUL BASS

Within the film industry, the opening title sequence of a film is considered to be the most important aspect in a film. Apart from the marketing elements, the title sequences are the very first images the audience sees. The quick clips lasts about two to three minutes long, which sets up the expectations of the audience. Most films last about 120 minutes, so the first two or three minutes are crucial to make or break a film.

Title sequences tell the audience who created the film and then based on their past work, the audience get an idea on what to expect from this film they are about to watch. If someone thinks the title sequence is poor; their first impression would be that the film will not be good. So I believe that the opening title sequence of a film the most important and attention grabbing section.