main task- Diary Entry 1

I have now completed my first, rough draft of my script. It needs a few changes such as naming the antagonist and formatting it properly. I will be working on it next week as well as doing a teaser poster.

Main task- poster analysis

Thriller Character creation (part B)

Which three thriller characters share similar characteristics/emotions/ ethics/ values/ with your character and what makes them different?

Although I have previously used the example, I will use Evellyn Salt from 'Salt'.

This is because I feel they share some of the same values, for example the importance of keeping quiet and not telling the truth straight away. This is shown in my film as my character says she knows nothing and throughout the film Salt as her intentions are ambiguous and she never really says.

I also think they share the some of the same emotions as they have the power to manipulate their own emotions for example Salt can pretend she is emotionally attatched to someone very easily and then just as easily shoot them-my character pretends to be severely terrified when she is captured although she is well aware the man terrifying her will be dead in afew seconds.

I feel their characteristics differ slightly as towards the end it is clear Salt is a spy however in mine her occupation remains ambiguous. Also we see much more of Salt's home life like her neighbours and boyfriend, where as my character seems relatively isolated.

She could also be compared to Cateleya from Colombiana.

This is because they share some of the same physical characteristics, as I plan for my actor to have dark hair and eyes and a small build. The character in Colombiana witnessed her parents death and has become a cold assassin becuase of it. In this sense she shares the emotional state of catelaya as they can both remain cold in situations others would become emotional over. However it is not actually Lily who shoots, it is the woman on the motorbike, so you could say that Cateaya is a more extreme version of my chosen character. There values are similar as emotion comes after the job always.

You could also compare her to Fox from Wanted (2008.)

My character could be compared to Fox because of her physical characteristics and obviously her assassin type job. However unlike the other two she is almost a sidekick to someone else,  similarly in my film this option is shown. They both share the same ruthless personality and are not frightened of death or weapons.

Feedback from my pitch

The class generally liked my idea for the main task and helped me out with some of the issues I had, such as;

Who is the mysterious person who shoots the antagonist?

and

What could my Tag line be?

One of the suggestions was that the person should be the female spy who my main character is mistaken for.

And a tag line which I liked suggested by someone else was 'Running in to danger'.

I will take both of these suggestions in to account and the pitching definitely helped as it demonstrated my idea suited my chosen target audience of 18+.

Main task-Updated character info

After plotting out my storyline, I have decided to make Lily's occupation ambiguous, however it will be implied she works with a spy or knows a female assassin very well. This is how she will get captured (for simply knowing too much) She will still be relatable and wear ordinary clothes.
In this case I would compare her to female assassins with in real media texts as opposed to ordinary female characters who find themself captured.

A good example is Evelyyn Salt from the 2010 film 'Salt'.

This is because her real identity and occupation is ambiguous throughout.. we are unsure whether she is a 'good guy' or not. I also would like my actor to have dark hair to imply elements of a dark personality, although it seems an innocent woman has been captured at the beginning..she can become ruthless, just as Salt does in the film.

blog task 7- Linking character to a theory

Here is an outline of some of the media theories.

TODOROV’S THEORY – Todorov proposed a basic structure for all narratives. He stated that films and programmes begin with an equilibrium, a calm period. Then agents of disruption cause disequilibrium, a period of unsettlement and disquiet. This is then followed by a renewed state of peace and harmony for the protagonists and a new equilibrium brings the chaos to an end. The simplest form of narrative (sometimes referred to as ‘Classic’ or ‘Hollywood’ narrative).
PROPP’S THEORY –Vladimir Propp’s theory was formed in the early twentieth Century. He studies Russian fairytales and discovered that in stories there were always 8 types of characters evident. These are: the hero, the villain, the donor, the dispatcher, the false hero, the helper, the princess and her father. He did not state these characters were all separate people e.g. the provider could also be the helper. There are only 8 different character types and only 31 things they ever do. Once you have identified the character type (e.g., the hero) it’s easy to guess what they will do (save the maiden, defeat the villain, marry the maiden or whatever) because each character has a SPHERE OF ACTION. This is easily relatable to films and programmes today.
BARTHES’ ENIGMA CODE – The narrative will establish enigmas or mysteries as it goes along. Essentially, the narrative functions to establish and then solve these mysteries.
LEVI-STRAUSS’ BINARY OPPOSITION – Narrative tension is based on opposition or conflict. This can be as simple as two characters fighting, but more often functions at an ideological level – e.g., in Westerns, what do the cowboys and Indians each represent? What ideologies are embodied by the opposed sides in LOTR or Star Wars?

http://www.esfmedia.com/page/Narrative+theory


My character Lily who's occupation is slightly ambiguous although it is implied that she is a friend of or works with another spy. So I think Barthe's enigma code theory links with my character Lily Turner as we are unsure of her occupation which adds to the suspense, however I plan to reveal it at the end. I think my character also links with Propp's as Lily is a mix of the 8 typical characters. For example she is viewed as the 'damsel in distress'  type, however because she knows about the assassin business and is essentially stopping the 'bad guy' some would view her as the 'hero.'

Main task- similar products task 11

Originally my character was going to be a female spy, however to make the film more relatable and realistic, I chose for her to be an ordinary character who finds herself in a situation that a spy might. This means she could be compared to a number of different female characters in thrillers.

A less contemporary example of comparison would be the character Miranda in Wyler's 1965 'The collector'. Similarly, she is kidnapped and held hostage, but for his own pleasure. The character also comes across as vulnerable, but mostly as they can be compared in terms of looks.

Perhaps a more contemporary and better known film where a female is captured and is looking for ways to escape is Fincher's 2002 film 'The panic room'. My characters situation and reaction will be extremely similar to this, as she tries to think rationally and sensibly to protect her child from the men. The men in the film will also be similar to the antagonists I will be using, for example there dark clothes and unknown identities, along with threatening weaponary and persistance..

Linking theories
My film at the beginning relies on Barthes enigma code, as questions are posed about why she is captured. Some other questions that could arise are;
Who is the other women she is mistaken for?
Who are the men who have captured her?
All of these will excite the audience which is my main task as it is an action thriller, whilst keeping them intrigued about the following events.
My main character Lily could also fit in to Propp's seven character theory as there is a clear villain and hero here. Also Lily could be compared to the princess who is captured and saved, however not by a man but by a woman.