Liam James' AS Media Thriller Idea

Thriller Initial Ideas

Luther: TV Series

Believe it or not, Luther has more than one director. Sam Miller has done 8 episodes, Brian Kirk has done 2 episodes just as Stephan Schwartz and Farren Blackburn have. I think the reason for this is because each episode is a different story and different techniques of directing help keep the audience interested.

 

Luther was released on the 4th of may 2010, and the series continues to be extremely successful.

 

Awards - Golden Globe for best performance by an actor in a mini-series or a motion picture made for television (Idris Elba). Edgar in best television episode teleplay (episode 1, series 1). Royal television society, UK won in best drama series.

 

This series is truly amazing to me as it allows the viewer to see it as a reality instead of a typical Hollywood movie. We, as the audience, get to see what the character Luther really is and we get to understand his character more than other characters in the series. To us, Luther is portrayed as doing the right things but in the wrong ways, by the law that is. Because we see this rebellious detective do all these things he seems to be a bit of a hero. One of my favourite parts of the series is when Luther is trapped inside the back of a truck with a killer, and he pours gasoline over himself to make it seem he is surrendering to the killer, whereas he is waiting for the right time to tell the SQUAT team outside where to shoot on the side of the truck, and we witness a slow motion viewing of the killer getting penetrated by bullets coming from the side of the truck. When Luther gives the order to shoot at a particular part of the truck, and the man in charge of Luther says "well you heard the man" my blood pressure dropped. This is when you know a thriller is amazing.

"And the last few minutes of tonight's episode will grab you, force you to the end of your seat, give you about 12 consecutive heart attacks and then drop you at precisely the right time." Quote on the first episode of series 3 from The Guardian. This quote cannot be more perfect. This is what Luther does to you. The choreography, acting and storyline allows the audience to feel as though they are in the show and allows them to have the same emotions as the characters. When there is a suspense moment the locations chosen are spectacular. You see Luther move house from a lovely house to a run down flat. When there is a murderer threatening to kill their victim, it is in a widely spaced pure white shopping-mall looking building. They film in the middle of London when Luther thinks he sees the murderer, and starts chasing him. The camera angles and perfect lighting choices (e.g. noire lighting when Luther first confronts a murderer) represent to the audience, subconsciously, who is in power. The best part is, you can never guess the outcome. Luther usually survives, yes, but you never know what could happen in the show. It always takes a different direction to what you expect, and sometimes a direction you didn't think was valid. This is why I chose this quote - because it does put you on the edge of your seat. When you are watching this show, you can't think of anything you would rather be doing at that moment.

  It says on page 6 of my coursework booklet "the tension usually arises when the main character(s) is placed in a menecing situation or mystery, or an escape or dangerous mission from which escape seems impossible." Luther is constantly in a bad situation. When he isn't in a situation as such you feel a sense of relief. Luther has so many generic conventions, for example; excitement, suspense, uncertainty and nerve-wrecking tenssion. A lot of the time, Luther is unaware of things the audience is aware of which creates suspence as you feel you know what the outcome will most probably be, but the show almost always takes a different path. Luther's life is his job, and you see as the show progresses, the effect it has on him. He seems broken, and seems such an intelligent individual that it keeps the audience interested just because he is broken but still brilliant.

 

 

 

Evaluation of Preliminary Task

Evaluation of Preliminary Task

  We did a simple story board and drew a map of places around the school to decide where to shoot in which part of the school. We changed many ideas as filming went on and changed our minds about which shot was best in which situation. I suggested we should do the video on the topic of bullying, knowing I should be the bully because I am quite tall with a large build. I knew there would be many shots to show the bullying taking place, and that there would be a good conversation at the end. We decided the conversation was going to be my colleague confronting me in a classroom. At first, it was going to be the victim of the bullying walking in on me and a friend talking, and making my friend leave, but we decided this did not suit the video, and just had me in the room. I made the mistake of changing my jacket the second day of filming, so we had to re-shoot the first shots on the same day to make it look professional and as though all the events happened in the same day. We did not mess up any shot reverse shot scenes. However, we did re-take many shots due to disagreement.

  The 180 degree rule is very important. Not for the producers, but for the audience. This is because they will get confused if the camera changes the sides of the characters. The 180 degree rule basically means that if two people are having a conversation, the camera must stay on a certain side of the two people, or the audience gets confused. This rule was only important at the end of the task, when I, the bully, was having a conversation with the victim. We did not break this rule.

The shots we used and the effects of this shot, in chronological order of the film.

Panning shot -  We used this shot as the first shot to show the surroundings and to show the victim of the bullying (Jamie) walking into the school. It showed the motion of the shot.

Low angle shot - We used this to demonstrate the victims power early in the film because we could use shots after the bullying took place to show his change in mood.

Long shot - We used this to show Jamie walking into the building. The audience has no idea what is in the building so this adds suspense.

Close up - This was on Jamie's hand as he opened the door to the building to give the audience a sense of danger.

Tracking shot - We used this to show Jamie's movements clearly. The audience still does not know where he is going and gives the indication anything could happen.

Tilt shot - This was used to give the indication that not everything is straight and may be abnormal to a usual day for Jamie.

Over-the-shoulder shot - This was used to show Jamie's perspective and because you could see there was a corner he had to walk round, it gave the indication of suspense as anything could be round the corner, or anything could come out of it, which is exactly what my character did. After my character shoulder barges Jamie's character, the shot turns into a mid shot as the camera stops moving with Jamie, even though he carries on walking.

Birds eye view shot - This was used to show his surroundings, but not all of them as the audience could not see where he was walking to create suspense.

Long shot - Used to show Jamie's body language and to show he is alone, anything could happen.

Over-the-shoulder shot - This is to show my characters dominance as I walk up to the Jamie's character who is alone and not expecting me.

Long shot - The camera goes back to the same position as the previous long shot, but the camera switches as I push Jamie's character into the wall. This shot indicates a change of atmosphere.

Worm's eye view - The victims shoe is in this shot to show he cannot move, maybe from shock, or helplessness. It shows my characters dominance as I leave the scene.

Close-up - This is to show Jamie's emotions before confronting my character.

Mid shot - To clearly show Jamie's actions as he opens the door to the room I am sitting in.

Panning shot - Follows Jamie's actions as he walks into the room.

Low-angle shot - Used to show Jamie's character sit down to confront me and to show his dominance and how he feels about the situation.

many shots within the conversation. Close up, md-shot, over-the-shoulder shot. All not breaking the 180 degree rule. - This was used to show body and facial expressions throughout the conversation. We used the 180 degree rule to not confuse the audience.

Panning mid-shot - We used this to show the distance between each character and to show their body expressions.

Panning long shot - This was to show Jamie's actions as he gets up and walks to where the next shot is.

Low-angle shot - Shows Jamie's new found confidence and dominance as he is leaving after confronting my character.

Close up - This is used to show Jamie's emotions as he says the punch line. He is angry but confidant. Shown through volume of his voice.

Mid-shot, long shot - Used to show Jamie leaving. He walks away from the camera suggesting the film is over.

  I am now much more confident with editing. I have done editing before, but not on software as good as what the school has. I developed the skill of slowing down the images and changing the light of the shot. Putting the shots together and editing parts of shots out was easy, and very similar to other software's. There is much I still have to learn as Oli did a lot of the editing, whilst me and Jamie assisted. I lack confidence in adding correct effect when scenes change. There are many more things this software has to offer, and I am excited to find out what they are and can do to improve film.

 

 

 

 

 

Preliminary Task Storyboard

 

 

Summer Task

Example Camera Shots

High Angle Shot

This shot suggests vulnerability to the character and promotes emotion for the character in the audience. This usually happens when someone is alone and the camera does not show much of the surroundings, suggesting anything can happen at this moment of time.

Low Angle Shot

I used an oil painting my aunt drew as a background in these examples of camera angles, however I feel this is the best camera angle for it. It shows the scenery really well. It makes the elephant figure look powerful, and as though he owns all the land.

Over The Shoulder

This allows the audience to see things from the characters prospective. This could also give the audience the emotion of fright as there could be someone/something behind the character.

Tilt Shot

This creates confusion in the audience. The character this angle is focused on is usually in intimidating character and gives the impression of a nightmare.

Long Shot

This allows the audience to see where the characters are and whether they are under threat or not. This can promote the audience as being relieved or scared. The camera can be level with the heights of the characters for this shot but I thought a higher shot was better for wildlife.

Medium Close Up

This allows the audience to see past the main focus of the camera. This is usually to ease tension and to bring focus to the characters.

Close Up

This allows the audience to see the expressions on the characters face and allows them to establish their emotions.

Extreme Close Up

This is usually used in horrors. Mainly used on intimidating characters so the audience feel the same feelings as the characters looking at the intimidating character.

Bird's eye view

This gives the audience a different view of the action and allows them to allocate any threats.

 

Worm's Eye View

This indicates fear on the audience as the camera is usually placed in the position of another character that may have fallen to the character in the shot, like this example.

 I would like to inform you I have completed the summer task but I am having difficulty uploading it to the blog, apologies for the delay.