Mock Results Sheet

The use of a MacGuffin in Intruder.

" The main thing i've learnt over the years is that the MacGuffin is nothing. I'm convinced of this, but I find it very difficult to prove it to others"- Alfred Hitchcock 


What actually is a MacGuffin? Hitchcock described it as a 'plot device or gimmick' on which to hang the tension in a film. The MacGuffin provokes the action without being of important significance itself. For instance, two strangers sitting next to each other may lead to love or murder. The MacGuffin is the bus journey/waiting for a train etc. An example of this is in Strangers on a Train, the fact that the two strangers got on the train and sat next to eachother causes the events for the rest of the film. Other examples of MacGuffins in thriller films are 'Shadow of a Doubt' (1942) with the newspaper and the ring, and also The Trouble with Harry (1952) with Harry's cause of death.
In our thriller, we use one main MacGuffin throughout the opening of Intruder. 
at the beginning of our thriller, the Intruder is seen driving slowly in his car past Jo. This is a Red Herring because at this instance, it is not clear that this man driving past her, has any relevance to the rest of the thriller. However, it does give the audience a sense that Jo is already being followed. The audience then see a fairly close up shot of a watch that the man is wearing- this is our MacGuffin. At this point, the audience are completely unaware of any significance the watch may have to the rest of Intruder. However, the watch is seen several times after this, for example in the lift. The more the watch is seen, the importance it has to the audience throughout the opening intensifies. 
However, as the audience are become more aware of the importance of the MacGuffin, Jo is still completely oblivious to anyone, let alone the significance of the watch her stalker is wearing. This has an impact on the audience as they can see her being followed by this mysterious man, even though it is not directly shown. It is shown more subtly with the quick cuts of both their feet walking away from the camera, which uses the 180degree rule. The tension is building purely through the use of this seemingly 'useless' prop. 
I decided to use a watch as the MacGuffin as watches have an underlying significance in various thriller films. This is evident in 2002 thriller Phone Booth. Stu Shepard finds himself trapped in a phone booth by an unknown man pointing a sniper rifle at him. This man is constantly counting down the minutes. A watch is used as it suggests metaphorically that someone is watching them. Watches are also frequently referenced in thrillers because they indicate the time of the murder which is significant for the forensics. 
I have included the trailer for Phone Booth. I cannot find any clips which reference the time he has left on YouTube, however I believe the trailer shows an important element on him being on a time limit. 



At the end of the opening to Intruder, the watch is placed (unknown to audience and Jo) in Jo's living room which was intended to be found by Jo so that when she reaches to get the watch she is killed by the Intruder. 
There will also another small Red Herring in the opening of our thriller. When Jo turns the television on, the news comes up with the reporters talking of the Joanna Yeates murder. This is important, although more subtly to the audience because I have based the entire opening around the murder which happened in Bristol with the man following her back to her apartment and killing her while she is alone and vulnerable inside. The references to this murder (within a murder story itself) will play on the minds of the female audience with them putting themselves in Jo (and Joanna Yeates) position as everyone for example whilst home alone has heard a noise and thought there was someone else in the house with them. The fact that the Joanna Yeates murder was directly referenced in the thriller is a cultural signifier as it will be raw in the minds of the audience as it was happening at the time Intruder was filmed. 

Plan for shoot on the 26th.

I have the first and last scene to shoot as well as a quick shot of the lift going up, as I forgot that on the 18th. 
Shot list for character of Jo and opening:

• Low angled shot of car headlights coming towards camera
• Camera on dolly and tripod going backwards slowly as Jo walks towards camera- medium shot
• Car drives past Jo slowly- red herring for someone following her
• extreme close up shot of the screen on lift showing numbers going up
• Re shoot scene where Jo walks out of bathroom and picks up remote. Need to re-shoot because I forgot to get Sarah to leave the tap on.
• Over the shoulder where Intruder walks into doorway, silhouette.
• Close up of Intruder's eyeline.
• extreme close up of knife

Shot list for Intruder:

• Driving car towards camera- low angled on ramp
• Drives past Jo in multistory carpark, long shot of him coming round corner and Jo walking towards camera
• Point of view close up shot from Jo's perspective of car going past, focus on watch on window.
• *done middle of opening*
• feet shot walking down corridor (might use in editing/might not)
• Close up of watch and hand selecting the floor she is on (3)
• Walks behind her with knife/brick as she gets bracelet on floor.

Intertextual References

Although I already have included intertextual references throughout my Thriller opening already; I have decided to relate this to the current news story of the Joanna Yeates murder, this is called a Zeitgeist.

"The 25-year-old’s body was found on Longwood Lane, Failand, North Somerset, on Christmas Day morning, sparking a huge police operation.

A police investigation was launched when Miss Yeates

' boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27, reported her missing after he returned to Bristol on December 19 following a weekend away visiting family in Sheffield.

Miss Yeates was not seen again until her body was found on December 25.
Today’s news came a day after police revealed that more than 300 people had contacted detectives investigating the murder in the 24 hours after a reconstruction of Miss Yeates’s final movements was filmed."
Developments have now been made in the case, and it is now believed she was murdered in her own apartment following the discovery of new evidence. There was also no sign of a forced entrance which suggests she knew the person who murdered her. 


Ironically, I had already related my Thriller to this news story but the way in which this story of Joanna Yates will be on the audience's minds, gives my Thriller authenticity. She was murdered in her own home; where she is meant to be at her safest gives it a cruel, ironic twist. The way that the public who have heard about the story have sympathised with Joanna's family and the great sense of shock replicates the way my audience of my thriller will respond to seeing the final scene of 'The Intruder'. The fact that this is a real life situation gives a frightening reality to the thriller.

 

This final scene in the apartment also relates to The Sixth Sense with the way in which an ex patient breaks into Anna and Malcom Crowe's home. This fear of your house/apartment being broken into will play on the audience's fear, making themselves almost feel a part of the story.


The corridor scenes......
The use of the lift.....
the effect of using the shower .....

Shoot on the 18th

This went really well, managed to shoot all of the different shots I intended, plus more of different angles so that when it comes to editing, I can pick which angle works best. For example when Jo was walking down the corridor, I took a low angled, of just her feet, and an over the shoulder in order to give me variety and a choice when I edit. The hardest part was filming the transitions between shots, so that it looked believable and not too jumpy. Also when I followed Jo into the bathroom, as there was a large mirror inside, I had to film her feet walking in, as if I held the camera up, i could see myself filming in the mirror!
I was really pleased with how the light looked on the camera, it was much less subtle than how it appeared on my stills camera. However, in the last scene inside the apartment, I had a switch a small light on because otherwise the few seconds where she was walking to get the remote would've been in complete darkness, which isn't very good! Also, by coincidence, when I was filming the over the shoulder shot where she turned on the television, the Joanna Yates murder was being talked about on the news, which added to the suspence of the scene and added another Red Herring. The Joanna Yates case was also what I mainly based by thriller on, so this worked really well.
****need to re-shoot scene where Jo walks out of bathroom to turn television on, as I forgot to leave the bath running****

Left to shoot:

• First scene- low angled on ramp in between floors on mutlistory carpark. Only see car headlights as it's dark. Then car drives past Sarah who is walking towards the camera. This is a Red Herring.
• Last scene- over the shoulder from the front of Jo, looking into doorway. See's silhouette of man holding massive carving knife. Close up of massive carving knife- finishes.

Character Profile

Character Profile. Jo acted by Sarah Watts
Sarah as Jo will be wearing black boots, tights, a black dress and coat because she has been at work. The black also makes her blonde hair stand out further which is an important aspect of the character of Jo.
Jo, the murder victim in Intruder, is modelled around Joanna Yeates, who was murdered in December of 2010. Similarly to Joanna Yeates, Jo was stalked walking home to her flat and targeted whilst trapped and alone inside her own home. Joanna Yeates' partner who she lived with, was away for the weekend which gave her obsessed neighbour Vincent Tabak the opportunity to ambush her at her most vulnerable. Jo (from Intruder) however, lives alone in her small city apartment. She is an independent woman who is driven by her career as a lawyer. The Intruder knows she lives alone as he has been watching her. He knows the exact time she walks home from work and that everyday, she runs herself a bath as soon as she gets in. 
I have used my mum Sarah Watts as the part to play Jo because Sarah has long blonde hair, just as Joanna Yeates used to. The Intruder is also obsessed with Alfred Hitchcock films, especially Psycho, who's murder victim Marion Crane, had blonde hair. Hence his obsession with Jo running her bath everyday and the significance of the shots of her bath before and after the murder. Alfred Hitchcock himself also said: “Blondes make the best victims. They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints.” 

The Intruder- acted by Chris Watts
the Intruder will be wearing steel toe boots, jeans, and a black coat. The steel toe boots are worn because he has a job as a manager on a construction site which shows him to be of power and control. Also that he is fit and capable of such murders. The jeans allow him to 'fit in' and not stand out during his time spent stalking Jo. 
I thought my dad would be the best person to play the Intruder because he is 6ft 4 and big built. It is essential that the Intruder is tall simply so it is believable he is able to carry out the murders alone. Because in the opening the audience will not fully see the Intruder, just his feet, then hand and silhouette, he needs to make an impression on them. He stalks each of his victims including Jo, familiarizing  himself with their daily habits. He his OCD with these details and writes each movement of his victims down, ensuring to never make a mistake.  He is also obsessed with Alfred Hitchcock films, especially the blonde victims such as Marion Crane. All of his previous victims have been blonde which is why he has moved on to Jo. He compares her to Marion Crane, who is also a business woman and alone at her time of death, however Jo is not murdered in the shower, but is running a bath when she is murdered. The camera will show her turning the tap on and of the Intruder placing the knife he killed her with by the side of the bath. 

Shot list for 18/01/10

·         Low angled shot of Jo’s feet walking away from the camera down corridor.

·         Cut to …over the shoulder shots of Jo, giving feel of someone following.

·         Walk through door towards camera in front of lift

·         Close up of pressing button

·         Inside lift… Jo walking in and pressing button

·         Close up of her face waiting in lift

·         Numbers on the lift

·         Her walking out- mid shot

·         Walking up to door

·         Close up of keys in door

·         Jo walking in through door (camera already inside so sees her walk through)

Preliminary Video

Evaluation:

1. In order to get our preliminary video the way we wanted it to, we had to use serveral different planning techniques. Firstly, we had to look for suitable locations. We had to have someone walking through a door so we decided to use the canteen as it had doors and is brightly lit. Secondly we did a floor plan and mapped out all of the tables and chairs we had to work around so we didn't get confused. Lastly we made a shot list and script so we knew exactly what we had to say and do with the camera. This included taking stills of what we are going to shoot.
2. I acted in the preliminary task, so didn't actually use the camera, but I helped to direct Vicky who did use the camera and gave some ideas we could all use. I watched when we were setting up the camera so I know how to get it started and I already knew how to get the different shots from previous projects in media before and during GCSE. However, I did learn how to attatch the camera to the tripod and the dolly. This will help a lot with our thriller filming.
3. I have developed so many editing skills and feel pretty confident now! As before this, I did not have a clue how to do anything on an editing programme. I can now upload a video and chose what I want to put into the video using 'input' and 'output' and make the transitions between cuts smooth. I find it difficult to pause it on the exact place to want to stop the video though, so could do with some more practise. I also cannot save it to the right kinda of file either.

Story Board for Final Thriller Ideas

                                                         



First possible opening shot. Medium/long shot of female character- victim walking across car park towards camera on a dolly, to enable steady movement. Lighting is ambient as using lights from the car park so within the mise-en-scene. Lighting is enough to light shot, yet still giving a dull feel to the shot adding to the mystery and tension. The car park is often used as a generic convention in Thriller films and television programmes as they are often run down giving a feel of crime. A car will drive slowly past her giving feel of being followed- Red Herring







The next main shot is that of Betty walking down the corridor. The corridor much remebles those of the corridors from the film; The Shining. Even though The Shining is a horror fim, it has certain aspects of theThriller genre with the long thin repetitive brightly lit corridors. The corridors almost seem to carry on into a 'vanishing point' often used in Thrillers to give a feel of going on forever and not being able to escape. The camera will take several shots of her walking down the corridor, for example, over the shoulder. The shots will cut quickly during this scene giving a feel of urgency. The over the shoulder shots also give a feel of being followed. Lighting is ambient as corridor is brightly lit. A man will also walk past her, acts as Red Herring as if someone is following her.

Close up of inside the lift, choosing which floor to go to. Close up need to be used in Thrillers to build anticipation and mystery. Lifts are also used in thrillers as you cannot escape in them and you never know who is going to meet you on your floor or who you are stuck inside with. A film that uses a lift is Towering Inferno.The woman by herself is vunerable. Lighting is ambient as brightly lit. Other shots in the lift are inluding over the shoulder which will also be close us, giving feel of someone else being in the lift and the close up feel gives feeling of claustraphobia.

Shot of outside the lift when Betty is going up to the top floor. This little screen shows the number which floor the lift is on. Not showing her the whole time in the lift gives an opportunity for the audience to not know what is happening to Betty as they cannot see her. This adds to the suspense. 

Medium shot of Betty walking out of flat and walking to flat door. Various shots again of her feet, walking away from camera once again giving feel of being followed. Ambient lighting still as corridor is still fully lit. Still using quick pace giving sense of being followed and urgency in her pace, as if she should be worried.

Medium/long shot of Betty arriving at apartment door. The audience see the room number which gives a more personal feel to the opening, then the audience can allow themselves to feel they know the character even though they have only seen her for about a minute. Lighting is very bright outside the apartment door, then will be dark inside as it is going to be filmed at night. This sudden contrast of change from light to dark gives sense of almost heaven to hell, or safety to danger, which is ironic as your own home is normally the place you feel safest.

Close of up of her unlocking the door to the apartment. This close up breaks up the shots adding variety. The close up also gives the audience a closer look into what is happening so they feel involved, making them feel the emotions of Betty; which by now is anxious as she thinks she is being followed.

Medium shot of Betty walking inside, this includes match-on-action as you see her enter from one side and in the other. As it is very bright outside the room, and really dark inside the apartment, she will be a silhouette which adds to the fear of the audience as they are scared for Betty. The effect of using the camera in this way, makes the audience anxious as their 'backs' are to the apartment so they cannnot see what is going on behind them. They also cannot see the emotion on the face of our character which would put them of edge further. It quickly cuts away from this shot which does not allow the audience to get too familiar with the shot.

Close up of her turning the bathroom light on and walking in and looking in the mirror. Medium shot allowing the audience to see what is going on. The use of the mirror is also frightening as you can never be sure what is going to appear behind you, especially since she has her back to the door. Lighting is ambient as using the light in the bathroom. Bathrooms are often also used in thrillers as they are often fairly small, a thriller that uses a bathroom is Psycho.

The camera then cuts to outside the bathroom in the corner of the living room (as if it were the television). Betty then walks out of the bathroom towards the camera and picks up the television remote. She stands up and turns the television on. A channel comes on and lights up her face and the rest of the room slightly (as only the bathroom light is on).

An over the shoulder shot from the front is taken of the room (will be darker than this as this shot was taken when it was light outside) and the door is in view. The silhouette of a man, the 'intruder' walks into the doorway from the bed room. (the bathroom is to the left and the bedroom to the left).