It's essential that each scene is edited continuously for the film to flow smoothly which will appeal to the audience because with good continuity, the audience escapes in the film where as with bad continuity the audience is reminded that they are watching a film and the escapism element is broken. In our AS year we completed a preliminary task where we learnt the three most important rules when filming; the 180 degree rule, match in action and over the shoulder shots. It was important that we followed these principles for our A2 year, especially because the film is required to be twice as long, in order to produce a professional looking and continuous film. We encountered a small issue during film production as one of the group members who played Melissa got her nose pierced. At this point we had only filmed one scene where Mellissa, Olivia and Ruby hang some flowers on a lamp post but this was the end scene so she would've had a nose piercing throughout the film but not one at the end. Even though it most likely wouldn't be noticeable we decided to re-film the scene, making sure we were wearing the same outfits, so that she would have a nose piercing throughout the film to avoid the risk of bad continuity. It also became apparent that some scenes were more difficult to film than we expected but we managed to overcome these challenges by re-filming, experimenting and coming up with new ideas. An example would be the Ouija board scene where Melissa, Olivia and Ruby are holding the planchette as it's moving the various letters. There's a lot of conspiracy theories surrounding a Ouija board so to avoid superstition we didn't hold hands to create a chain, we didn't begin with saying "Hello" or "Goodbye" when we had finished and we didn't remain our hands on the planchette at all times which are apparently how to make a Ouija board work. The first attempt of filming this scene the camera was constantly placed in the same spot creating a birdseye shot and each time we moved the planchette onto a letter we stopped the record button and then pressed record again for the next letter, when we edited the footage together we realised that it was too plain and would bore the audience. Therefore we decided to film this scene again, this time we kept changing the angle of where the camera was stood from left to right whist remaining it behind the 180 degree line. As the individual letters were being shown on screen from different angles we realised that this approach was more intriguing for the audience.
Our film both support and subvert stereotypical media conventions of a Thriller, to ensure the audience are able to identify the genre we used key elements and iconography typically shown in a Thriller. For example, in the Ouija board scene we used low key lighting to create chiaroscuro, we made sure that there were bold shadows and that these were shown in the shots we filmed, the shadows were also included on the characters' faces to create a contrast. We also used Thriller related conventions when creating the title sequence by using the Ouija board in it, we filmed a spiral shot of the board from a birdseye view with the planchette placed in the middle. Along with the board the film title also spirals in to catch the attention of the audience. The board first appears dark and grained like it's just been burnt and then fades to how it originally looks, we did as a typical convention of a Thriller is dark colours and because the Ouija board is one of the main focuses of the film. Another convention which we supported was the modern use of technology amongst the younger generation. Throughout the film mobile phones, particularly smartphones, are a big source of communication and are an essential part of everyday life. This was reflected in our film as it shows that they're relied on in todays society. Mellissa and Ruby are both shown talking to each other on a smartphone to arrange when to meet and Olivia uses her smartphone to call Jake as he's late but it goes to voicemail which indicates something is wrong as many young people always have their phone to hand therefore it intrigues the audience. However, our film also subverts conventions of a Thriller. Typically a Thriller is closed ended but it could be argued that our film is open ended as Jake appears after Mellissa, Olivia and Ruby have put some flowers on the lamp post making the audience think if Jake really is dead or not. Another typical Thriller convention for a film with our storyline is someone becoming possessed by some sort of demon from the spirit world but this doesn't particularly happen in our film. Mellissa hears whispers and the lighting flickers but nothing bad happens to her and she doesn't end up dead which typically would happen. Instead the three friends find out that their friend Jake is dead. This could raise questions for the audience which would allow them to interpret the ending of this film however they like creating a preferred, negotiated or oppositional response.
Throughout the film we wanted to imply some suspense by using our choice of non-diegetic sound
carefully because we didn't want the plot revealed too early in the film through the screenplay. We used high pitched soundtracks throughout the film which gradually became louder at the Ouija board scene which naturally creates suspense and tension as the audience will expect something to happen from this use of sound. We also made the sound of the car crashing and screeching loud to scare and shock the audience and to add the element of suspense. It is soon revealed that Jake was ran over by a car as there's a shot of him lying on the floor with his phone in his hand showing the missed call from Olivia. After the main plot is revealed the music goes from being tense and suspenseful to being sad with the high pitched sound of a piano. Another way we created this suspense without giving too much away was when Olivia's phone call to Jake went unexpectedly to voicemail. From the sound to the missed phone call the audience realises how obvious this plot was after the plot is actually revealed and they begin to wonder how they didn't see it coming - which is what we wanted to achieve with our film. We knew how important it was to include certain shots for certain implications of each character. The film begins with Mellissa and Ruby talking on the phone, the audience doesn't know who these characters are yet so we decided to use mid shots of the two characters so that the audience can also see the background of where they are - the background indicating that they are both students as they are both in a classroom or study area, especially with Mellissa's class work being blatantly obvious as it's shown through an over the shoulder shot as she's dialling Ruby's number. The next scene shows a long to mid shot of Olivia and Ruby walking to the location where they are supposed to be meeting Mellissa and Jake, this shot shows where they are walking to and that they are friends as they are together side by side and are discussing where Jake is. During the Ouija board scene Mellissa is placed in the centre with Olivia and Ruby by her side, the first shot is a mid shot of all three of them together therefore signifying their friendship. Then over the shoulder shots are used to show each individual character as they speak with a fraction of Mellissa being in all of them which indicates her importance in the film. She's the one who came up with the idea to do the Ouija board, invited everyone herself and she's also the one who found it which potentially ultimately leads to death. During the part where Mellissa hears the whispers with the lights flickering it was important to have this shown in a close up shot to make the audience focus on what's happening to her. A close up shot was shown of Jake's phone in his hand when he had been run over to make the audience sympathise with all the characters as they had lost a friend, it also shows the use of parallel editing and that the audience knows what the characters don't know therefore making the film have an omniscient narrative. A high angle shot is used of Jake on the floor to show how helpless he is and that there is no sign of him getting up which tells the audience he is dead. When the three friends put up flowers in memory of Jake the scene starts with a long shot and then a mid shot showing all three of the characters which again signifies their friendship. A close up shot is then shown of them tying the flowers, this makes the audience focus on the flowers and the reason why they are there - which is something the audience can relate to as everyone has experienced a loss of someone and the tradition of putting flowers on a grave. In this close up you can still see the three friends together which shows even with the loss of a friend they still remain together as a unit. After the flowers have been placed a long shot is shown of the three friends stood together at the lamp post, however they are placed in the bottom left of the screen with a path dominating the rest of the screen. This signifies that together they are walking away from the loss of their friend to focus on the future and will continue their friendship in memory of Jake.
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