Critical Reflection

Here is our critical reflection.

Final Project

Here is our final project: Escape Route

Editing Finished

We finished our editing today and I could not be more pleased with the outcome. I think that we used shots that suited the theme of the film well. I really loved the beginning of the close up of the car parking with my feet getting out and walking to the trunk. I am overall very satisfied with our film.

Filming

Yesterday we filmed our project and I believe that it came out exceptionally well. We used the dolly that we created for our opening shot, and used lamps and other sorts of lights to make the lighting look right. We used a tripod for many of the scenes as well as a shoulder mount for some to give it sort of a steady but shaky appearance. Since the whole project is filmed, all we have left to do is the editing. I am looking forward to seeing the end result of the film and messing around with sounds to make it perfect.

Revised Film

After reviewing the film again, we have decided that we are going to make the bank robber calm and relaxed throughout the whole film. Our original plan was to have the man enter the house calmly, and as soon as he sees his face on the news he'd go into an instant panic. Instead of this, we decided that the man would remain calm the whole time. When he sees his face on the tv, he will looked shocked but still remain calm as he reaches into his bag to pull out the shotgun. He will then walk over to the door, calmly cock the gun, and stand there with it in his hands.

Editing Programs

During my software of high school, I was in a class called television production where we would film and edit videos. Throughout the year, my partner and I both used Adobe Premiere Pro and became accustomed to the way that the program was set up. At the end of the year, we had an exam to certify us in Adobe Premiere Pro for our final exam, and we both became certified. I think that since w both have prior experience in using this program, we can edit it fluidly together with ease.

Searching for Actors

After going over our film, we have decided that we would like an actor who appears to be anywhere from 20-30. We are in search of a male with an average build. Since this opening scene does not have any lines, my partner Brandon and I have been considering using one of us as actors. We have no experience in acting, but since this opening scene only has facial expressions, we believe it'll be simple. It consists of the actor getting out of the car (only showing his feet), making a bowl of cereal, sitting down, and then getting up and standing at the door. I believe that I could possibly fit this role.

Sound Programs

After researching sound and score in crime-thrillers, it is shown that using an eerie sound will intensify the mood of the film. Having experience playing guitar and using garage band, I played around with the sounds in attempt to make some sounds we could have as options to use in our film. I was able to create a couple eerie sounds that I believe are suitable for our film. We can possibly use these sounds at a moment of high intensity.

Planning our film

My partner, Brandon Kerby, his brother has an HD camera that we are planning on using. At first, we were planning on using my GoPro camera, but we have decided to use his HD camera. We created a dolly using pvc pipes, wheels, and a wooden plank. We will be using this for our first scene of the car pulling up to the house and the actors feet getting out of the car and walking to the trunk. We also have a shoulder mount to make the shots steadier as well as a tripod.

Sound and Score

The sound in a crime-thriller movie creates the effect of the movie. In high tension scenes, using a certain type of music or sound in these specific parts makes the viewer feel the tension and feel as the characters do. For example, in horror movies such as "Insidious", when something pops out onto the screen, the sound in the movie is much louder to scare the viewer and allow them to feel the same way they do in the film.

Anticipation from Sound

In any type of thriller movie, sound adds to the overall message of the film and makes the viewer feel the anticipation of that scene. In a scene of high intensity, fast-paced intense music is commonly used in order to show the intensity of the scene. This concept applies to not only crime-thrillers, but is used in every genre of film. In sad movies, slow-paced music portrays the idea that the person is upset or that something negative happened.
As stated in Videomaker, timing is crucial when editing a crime-thriller. The suspense that is built up during an intense scene is what keeps the audience sitting on the end of their seat wondering whats going to happen next. The use of fast paced short clips and intense close ups of the actors show a sense of urgency and intensity in the film. All of these different techniques are what add to the overall mood of a crime-thriller movie.

Research on Bank Robbers

I think that to successfully create a film about a bank robber, it is vital to research the methods criminals have successfully robbed a bank, so that we can use this to incorporate some mistakes that the robber in the movie might have made. In order for the viewer to truly feel connected to the film and feel the anticipation as the man sees his face on the television, it's crucial that I conduct research on real bank robbers.
From my research, I found multiple witnesses and stories from real bank robbers who did this for multiple years without getting caught. According to Adequateman, Clay Tumsey who was a successful bank robber for several years, claimed that he always did his heists alone because a larger group of people means a higher risk of being caught along with a smaller profit. He also stated that he would perform his robberies during the time when police officers were changing shifts so that there were less on duty to arrive at the bank on time. I want to use this information in the film to clearly show the reason how he got caught.

Classmate advice

I have been unable to post for the past few weeks due to Spring Break but I will share my progress from the previous week or so. Last week, we gathered in groups to share our ideas about of films and the different types of shots we planned on incorporating into our introduction. One of my colleagues suggested that instead of viewing this idea as a more serious introduction, we could possibly use a voiceover to give it more of a comedic effect. She suggested that when the bank robbers' face appeared on the screen, he looks directly at the camera and begins to say something alone the lines of "And this is how it all began. This is how I ended up where I am now." Doing so would make the film a less serious, comedic one rather than a serious film about a bank heist. Although I do like this idea, I think I will continue with our original idea of showing a scene of panic when the man realizes that the police had identified him.

Crime-Thriller

Among the highest rated movies in history are many crime-thrillers. Shawshank Redemption, Seven, The Godfather, Pulp Fiction, and countless others stand out as influential movies to the genre in history. They intrigue most viewers due to the fact that they have not experienced the type of lifestyle demonstrated in the film. Crime-thriller movies allow them to feel as the criminal does and explore a new lifestyle of being a criminal through a television screen. The music in these films certainly adds to the mood of the film and creates the film by making the viewers feel the way that the characters do, thus making the film nearly feel real to the viewer. Prezi states that one convection of crime-thriller films that are used is that they establish the criminal as both the main character and protagonist. This method is unique as the protagonist is mainly portrayed as the "good-guy" and the character that is the hero throughout the movie. In crime thrillers, the protagonist/main character is generally the criminal, which brings a new perspective to the viewer.

Genre Selection: Crime

I have decided to produce a crime-thriller film. This genre of films allows viewers to explore the lives of criminals and easily hooks the viewer into wanting more. With my enticing introduction, this film is almost going to be assured to hook each one of its viewers. As they wonder in curiosity why this man has come home with two duffle bags (making the bags clear that they are significant in the intro) leading up to him turning on the news channel and seeing a photo of himself, the viewer will be immediately hooked and want to find out what happens next. According to Flavorwire, a well constructed crime film contains dim lighting to set the eerie, melancholy mood along with a twist at the end that is unexpected by the audience.

Rough Draft

The story that I am filming is going to be based off of a criminal who had just robbed a bank. The beginning of the film will show the bank-robber who gets home carrying two duffle bags in his hand. When he walks inside his home, he drops the bags on the floor, and proceeds to go about his normal routine when he gets home. He go to the kitchen to get food, changes his clothes, and then lounges on the couch to watch tv. When he turns on the television, he switches channels to the news station only to find that a bank robber had been identified, and that person was him. He instantly turns into a mode of panic and paces around the living room. I have chose to use music to convey the mood of this film to allow the viewer to feel the way that the man feels during the aftermath of his robbery. The music as he enters his house and sits on the couch will be a calm, soothing song. As the television changes to the news channel, the music will become suspenseful and when he realizes he had been identified it will change to something that suits the mood more. Doing so will allow the viewer to truly feel the emotion that the character is feeling.