Filming Schedule

The File

• Start filming at 5:30am (ish)
• Bring warm clothing and extra blankets; so when not filming actors can keep warm
• Start by filming the car pulling up and male character stepping out of the car, also female shielding her eyes against the glare of the headlights
• Go to the end of piece and film female running away with male pulling up gun
• Then dialogue between characters is filmed
• Eye shot of male from in the car
• Female running to meeting place; from many different angles
• (Hopefully) DONE!
• Then lots of editing....

Political Thriller Presentation

Note: This was presented with a powerpoint, but as yet i have not been able to load it on to here, this will hopefully be on here at a later date.

Wikipedia Thoughts

This thought gives the audience, script writers and directors the basic outlines for what a plot line might hold in this film genre. Though many films of this particular genre may have male roles, as stereotypically men are dominant in the political world, Wikipedia has suggested that women can play the main role, for example The Interpreter. The caption also states that the main protagonist maybe employed by the government in question, however some films such as State of Play do not hold to this.

Original Plots

These plots can also link in with other sub-genres, such as historical but they still contain the same convections: like the non-diegetic music, the under-lit settings and the heart-stopping explosions. The elections link in with political side of the film genre, for the script writers this creates an excellent opportunity to make plot lines for sabotage, betrayal, even murder all of these can be link with M.E.S and keep he thrill alive for the audience.

Directors

These directors have all been known for their accomplishments in creating excellent thrillers.

What Makes A Political Thriller?

The political side of the thriller is explainable on its own, how it is made in to a thriller is where the twists and turns of the plot come on. I feel that the under-lit set and shadows help create the dark and fearful side of the film more emphasis. Characters themselves with the specific costumes can create great effect, for example in Vantage Point the President wears grey, this shows that he is neither good or bad, a combination which shows he is willing to make any necessary decision to protect his country, whether this may create war or avoid it.

Study Of The Clip

The grey elevator reflects the unfocused images of the men whom enter it. As the doors close the audience has a feeling of privacy, the men only discuss business in the presence of each other, the closed elevator represents them locking themselves away from the rest of the worlds ears.

Coming out of the elevator the men walk through the corridor filled with shadow and light showing the contrast between their debate n the subject. When entering the room the T.V is put on, this is a reminder to the audience that the President has committed an offence and should not really be there.

As their discussion carries on they see the double being shot, this appears to be a warning. A bomb then goes off outside, this appears to reflect how the danger is getting closer and bigger for the President, finally the assassin enters, wearing black a dark and dangerous colour showing he brings death, the assassin kills everyone in the room but the President.

The audience is left on a cliff hanger as time is rewound to the start of 12:59. This is a very important time as all the “parts” are linked to it and how they are linked together: revealing the importance of time in a thriller.

Analysis Of Thriller: TAKEN

TAKEN

When introduced to the main character he seems to have a very dark and clouded life, there are flashbacks of happier times but these are clearly all left in the past. The under-lit set is soon brightened when the character visits his daughter, it is her birthday party and the change of scene is quite different it terms of brighter, fresher and cleaner colours, showing the many differences between the father and daughter. Though it has been revealed to us that the male character is a protector of sorts and good at his job, this does not seem to have protected his marriage, his wife has gone for his opposite; a rich business man, who provides everything, and more for the daughter.

When staying in France from the daughter the rooms are very light, this represents that she can see everything, whereas the father back at home is in darkness, showing that he cannot see what she can. This prevents him from helping his daughter and so she is taken from him.

When in France the character does a lot of night time investigation, the darkness co-notates that there is something hidden which the character cannot see. With the darkness comes the prostitution, showing the women in the dark to be hidden and taken from their society, as they have been taken this also leads to connections of their virginity being taken from them. The women also wear vey revealing clothes signifying that they have nothing left to hide now that their innocence have been stolen.

There are many chases in which the audience is left on the edge of their seats watching the amazing stunts pulled as the character dodges bullets in unbelievable ways. The disgusting circumstances in which the character searches for his daughter find the audience in a very sympathetic position. After taking a few false leads the character finds the men who took his daughter in the first place, they are stereotypically foreign and after some clever trickery the character thwarts them, finding out that he kills all but one; the leader who physically took his daughter. After a horrific torture scene, the character comes closer to finding his daughter.

This is the costume of the female character; there are brown leather boots to show the hard life she has, then the blue jeans to represent the kind of ordinary person she is, we then have the grey coat to show her is neither bad nor good disguise, but underneath is a light coloured scarf and a white shirt to show her true innocence.

Main Male Character: Costume

This is our main male character in the costume that we think will suit the characters persona the best. He is meant to be portraying a sinister villian

Storyboards

Here are our two pages of storyboarding: (If you click on the photo, then it will show all of the picture)

Location Site Pictures

We location scouted and decided that this graveyard/church was a brilliant place to shoot come of our concept.

Main Male Character

Dialogue:

Between the female and male character:

Female: Carlos.. es esto usted? (Is that you?)
Male: He's going to be a bit late, might not even make it at all.
Female: You!
Male: Stop wasting my time, you know what I want.
Female: I think I'll take my chances. [turns around, we then see the male character pull a gun out, a shot is heard).

BLACKOUT.

Possible Music Choices (Updated)

Aggressive Expansion - The Dark Knight - Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard

The Jagged Edge - I Am Legend - James Newton Howard

Captain Jack's Theme - Torchwood - Studio Orchestra & Ben Foster

Props (updated)

- Red File
- Engagement Ring (possibly)
- Gun (x2)
- Silver Toyota Landcruiser
- The headlights from the car for lighting

Shot List

Opening Credits With Running Female:

• close-up of feet
• mid-shot of female running past
• establishing shot
• long-shot from behind character; looking back
• high-angled-shot with female running underneath

Car Driving Into Carpark

• drivers eyes in rear-view mirror; close-up
• mid-shot of car coming round the corner; headlights on full beam
• close-up of female; put her hand up as headlights blind her
• low-shot of the bottom of the car showing part of the wheel and headlight. Keeps headlights on
• still at low-shot car door opens, foot of driver steps out
• tracking feet as they walk towards the front of the car

Possible Music Choices

Angels and Demons - God Particle

The Dark Knight - Aggressive Expansion

King Arthur - Budget Meeting

Pearl Harbor - Attack

I Am Legend - Darkseeker Dogs, The Jagged Edge

Casino Royale - African Rundown, Stairwell Fight, The Switch

Quantum Of Solace - Time To Get Out, The Palio, Target Terminated

Star Trek - Nallin' The Kelvin, Nero Sighted, Nice To Meld You

Torchwood - Theme, Captain Jack's Theme

Props

red file
engagement ring
gun (x2)
black BMW

Costumes

Female:

dark boots
skinny jeans
white shirt
grey coat
light coloured scarf

Make-Up:

light foundation
bronzer/blusher
black eye-liner
black liquid-eye-liner
mascara


Male:

pointed-lace-up black shoes
black suit
dark grey shirt
black tie
long black trench-coat

What To Expect...

Female character running across a feild, at night, towards a building with a playground beside it.

A car turns in to the car park, it's headlights blind her for a moment.

As she walks towards the car the driver's door opening, a male character gets out. The female realises it's the wrong person.

There is some dialogue, the female then turns to flee, the male character lifts up a gun. There is a blackout at the same time as the shot is made.