Saturday 21 January 2012

BBFC stands for the British Board of Film Classification and they are in charge of certifying each film, DVD, or video games in the UK. There are many categories that a film can fall under.







It is impossible to predict what might upset any particular child. But a ‘U’ film should be suitable for audiences aged four years and over. ‘U’ films should be set within a positive moral framework and should offer reassuring counterbalances to any violence, threat or horror.

If a work is particularly suitable for a pre-school child to view alone, this will be indicated in the Consumer Advice.


sPG
General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children.

Unaccompanied children of any age may watch. A ‘PG’ film should not disturb a child aged around eight or older. However, parents are advised to consider whether the content may upset younger or more sensitive children. For example, Sexual activity may be implied, but should be discreet and infrequent. Mild sex references and innuendo only. OR, Discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly disapproved of or in an educational or historical context. Discrimination by a character with which children can readily identify is unlikely to be acceptable.



s12A12

Exactly the same criteria are used to classify works at ‘12A’ and ‘12’. These categories are awarded where the material is suitable, in general, only for those aged 12 and over. Works classified at these categories may upset children under 12 or contain material which many parents will find unsuitable for them.

The ‘12A’ category exists only for cinema films. No one younger than 12 may see a ‘12A’ film in a cinema unless accompanied by an adult, and films classified ‘12A’ are not recommended for a child below 12. An adult may take a younger child if, in their judgement, the film is suitable for that particular child. In such circumstances, responsibility for allowing a child under 12 to view lies with the accompanying adult.

The ‘12’ category exists only for video works. No one younger than 12 may rent or buy a ‘12’ rated video work.


s15
No-one younger than 15 may see a ‘15’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a ‘15’ rated video work. For example, Drug taking may be shown but the film as a whole must not promote or encourage drug misuse. The misuse of easily accessible and highly dangerous substances (for example, aerosols or solvents) is unlikely to be acceptable. OR Violence may be strong but should not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury. The strongest gory images are unlikely to be acceptable. Strong sadistic or sexualised violence is also unlikely to be acceptable. There may be detailed verbal references to sexual violence but any portrayal of sexual violence must be discreet and have a strong contextual justification.


s18
No-one younger than 18 may see an ‘18’ film in a cinema. No-one younger than 18 may rent or buy an ‘18’ rated video work.n line with the consistent findings of the BBFC’s public consultations and The Human Rights Act 1998, at ‘18’ the BBFC’s guideline concerns will not normally override the principle that adults should be free to choose their own entertainment. Exceptions are most likely in the following areas:

  • where the material is in breach of the criminal law, or has been created through the commission of a criminal offence
  • where material or treatment appears to the BBFC to risk harm to individuals or, through their behaviour, to society – for example, any detailed portrayal of violent or dangerous acts, or of illegal drug use, which may cause harm to public health or morals. This may include portrayals of sexual or sexualised violence which might, for example, eroticise or endorse sexual assault
  • where there are more explicit images of sexual activity which cannot be justified by context. Such images may be appropriate in ‘R18’ works, and in ‘sex works’ (see below) would normally be confined to that category.


The ‘R18’ category is a special and legally restricted classification primarily for explicit works of consenting sex or strong fetish material involving adults. Films may only be shown to adults in specially licensed cinemas, and video works may be supplied to adults only in licensed sex shops. ‘R18’ videos may not be supplied by mail order.

We have decided to rate our movie "15". This is because our movie will involve dangerous behavior such as killing and self-harming. There will be use of strong language. We think because of the theme in our film of schisoprenia, no one younger that 15 would be suitable for understanding the depth of this mental illness.

Thursday 12 January 2012

Research into Sound/Music for Main Task

From my research into the deconstruction of psychological thrillers such as Silence of the Lambs, Memento and Black Swan I discovered that they open with an establishing shot with non-diegetic classical music over the top. For our psychological thriller we want to use classical music when the women is sorting out her child's room. As the women has OCD she will be making sure objects, trinkets and clothes are in an exact order, in some shots her measuring with a ruler to make sure things are precisely in place. By using classical music it will great a tension for the audience as they are expecting what the women will do next.

Research Song 1: Lullaby composed by Johannes Brahms


Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist who was born in Hamburg. I felt his song 'Lullaby' would create a sombre mood over the audience and would connect well with our plotline of her child who she killed as she has schizophrenia. Due to her having schizophrenia she has two personailities; her Good Side and her Bad side who has killed her child, however her Good Side has convinced her that she hasn't. Lullaby songs are 'stereotypically' sung to by mothers to their children so they can sleep at night, so by using this song it would have connections again of the women's relationship with her child as she sorts out her child's room.

Research Song 2: Clair de Lune composed by Claude Debussy

Claude-Achille Debussy was a French composer. I felt this song would a good choice to use for our main task as it's quite light with a bit of a bouncy tune. 'Clair de Lune' would work well as it would create, again a sombre mood, with the audience and also would help them understand better what may have happened to this women, and how she is coping.

Research Song 3: Any Other Name composed by Thomas Newman

Thomas Montgomery Newman is an American composer and conductor who is one of the more respected and recognized composers for modern film. I feel that 'Any Other Name' is the best song out of the three which I have researched. When I listen to this song, I can imagine the audience connecting more emotionally to the women, as in their eyes they could identify her OCD disorder which she has due to her losing a child. This song would create a better sombre mood than the other two songs.
 

                                                 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Debussy
                                                 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Newman

Main Task: Talking Titles further Research

Through my research of titles for pyschological thrillers I came across a website with a powerpoint explain the main objects for a pyschological thriller:Locations, Mise-en-scene of costume and props/colours, sound and titles.What I found out from the power point is that titles can be placed into two sections: Over Image and Over Colour.

Research on Over Image for Titles:

Some pyschological thrillers such as Misery and Cape Fear has the title and credits appear on the image. Examples below;



As you can see from these print screens, the titles of the production team and the title Cape Fear itself are over the image on the screen.


Research on Over Colour for Titles:

In some pyschological thrillers films such as American Pycho and Memento, the title and the credits appear either on a black or white background. Examples below;





Wednesday 11 January 2012

Main Task: Talking about Titles

Whilst discussing what titles we would like to use in our two minute opening of our film, we looked at psychological thriller films for inspiration. 
The Silence of the Lambs 
The titles were very interesting in this film, some of the words appeared backwards/upside down. For example, If I wrote my name: Jessi Kullar, my surname would appear backwards so that it spelt: ralluk. 
We thought, this was a very exciting concept of titles, which definitely fit our genre perfectly.Additionally, as the main actor in our film has schizophrenia, we felt that it mimicked her two personalities subtly. 
Black Swan
This entire film was a representation of two colours, black and white, the titles showed this. On a blank black screen, continous titles appeared in a classic white font which reflected the classical swan lake music used in the opening (helpful to us, as we too are using classical music).

Developed and Finalised Plotline

Main Task - Finalised Idea's for opening 2 Minutes


This image below shows idea's of what would happen if we were making a full length tv drama/film. We needed to brainstorm this in order to have an idea of how the psychological thriller would end. 


Main Task - Work in Progress of Script for the opening 2 Minutes

Main Task - Work in Progress of Drawing Ideas for Storyboard

Initial Idea's for 2 Minute Opening Film - Main Task


These are the starting points for our two minute film opening, we are definitely going to develop the ideas by the end of this week, therefore coming to a finalised idea and a finished storyboard for the opening of our film.