PSYCHOSIS storyboard

Something else I had not been able to post before now is the scanned versions of my original story board. Some parts were left out due to time constraints (the car), others switched around (titles at the beginning of the 2 minutes rather than the end)

 

Research Findings

Only just realised I had not put this up.
Firstly, my questionnaire results, out of 10 people.

I asked Four main things, as well as some open questions. The closed questions were 'Age/Gender (The target audience was males in their late teens/ early twenties but I got a range) as well as each participants favourite genres and their thoughts on thriller films. Open questions were 'Favourite Actor, Favourite Director, Favourite Film, the best part of the film experience'. Most of the participants in the survey said they preferred Thriller films to other genres, although there was positive reactions to other genres like Action and Comedy. Many said they would see a film after watching a trailer, although it helped if they knew the actors or director, showing that there is still 'star power' within Hollywood.

Secondly was the independent research I conducted.

From the openings of various films (written up here are 'Pretty Woman', 'Dodgeball', 'Layer Cake' and 'Silence of the Lambs', but there are others) I have learned that the openings of films must introduce at least two things: character and plot. Thriller films like Silence of the Lambs, but also films like Inception and Shutter Island tension and suspense should be created. This is important, because the film I wish to create should focus on the protagonist's journey, and so both character and plot are equally important, however suspense must be built as it's a thriller.

I used 'Dawn of the Dead' remake and Four Lions as a comparison of opening titles, and decided to go for an in-between. keeping it short like 'Four Lions' but having text over black like in 'Dawn of the Dead'. I felt that this, coupled with opening music creates tension but the length allows me to get straight into the action without it being interrupted by the titles.

Finally the narrative structure. The equilibrium and disequilibrium will be addressed in the opening (the protagonists life with his fiancée and her death) with the rest of the film being the quest (trying to forgive himself and stop the visions of her). The agent of change would be the killer, and the return to normality would be when the protagonist forgives himself and the killer is caught.

'Psychosis' Classification

Looking on the BBFC website, and researching modern thriller films (Scorese, Nolan). The majority of these are either 12 of 15 certificate. Examples include:
Inception

Shutter Island

Memento

Any bold text below (12/15 certified descriptions) shows content likely to be seen if 'Psychosis' were a full feature (only the 'oldest' will be in bold, ie a 15 may be in bold but not the 12 counterpart):
The BBFC description for a 12/12A film is
"Aggressive discriminatory language or behaviour is unlikely to be acceptable unless clearly condemned"
"Any misuse of drugs must be infrequent and should not be glamorised or give instructional detail"
"Moderate physical and psychological threat may be permitted, provided disturbing sequences are not frequent or sustained."
"Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied, or appear pain or harm free."
"Moderate language is allowed. The use of strong language (for example, ‘f*ck’) must be infrequent"
"Nudity is allowed, but in a sexual context must be brief and discreet."
"Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sex references should not go beyond what is suitable for young teenagers"
"Mature themes are acceptable, but their treatment must be suitable for young teenagers"
"Moderate violence is allowed but should not dwell on detail. There should be no emphasis on injuries or blood, but occasional gory moments may be permitted if justified by the context."


And a 15 on the BBFC website constitutes as: 
"The work as a whole must not endorse discriminatory language or behaviour."
"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."
"Strong threat and menace are permitted unless sadistic or sexualised."
"Dangerous behaviour (for example, hanging, suicide and self-harming) should not dwell on detail which could be copied. Easily accessible weapons should not be glamorised."
"There may be frequent use of strong language (for example, ‘f*ck’). The strongest terms may be acceptable if justified by the context. Aggressive or repeated use of the strongest language is unlikely to be acceptable."
"Nudity may be allowed in a sexual context but without strong detail."
"Sexual activity may be portrayed without strong detail. There may be strong verbal references to sexual behaviour, but the strongest references are unlikely  to be acceptable unless justified by context."
"No theme is prohibited"
"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."


All descriptions gathered from the relevant page on the BBFC website.


Although it would likely feature would feature elements from a 12 film (language, drug use, sex/ sex references) or below (no nudity), certain elements would raise the film to a 15 (threat, violence, 'dangerous behaviour'), if the full feature were to be rated by the BBFC.

Audience Research

All Film's have a target audience, and conventions are followed within the film to make sure the target audience are satisfied. Romantic films, for instance, will normally target women aged between 25 and 40, and is normally told from a female perspective.
However, genre's like comedies and thrillers are more diverse, often targeting multiple genders and age groups. However, recently thriller's have tried to target a younger audience, with films like the Dark Knight and Inception. I believe that the main target audience for a thriller film are males aged 16-25, and so this is the audience I am targeting with my film.

Although I will use the conventions of thriller films in my piece, I also need to research my Target Audience, to see which conventions they want to see more within my piece

Film Publishing company intro

The intro to film company 'BlackJack Films' which would go before 'Psychosis'. Animation by James Parnell, based upon my original concept. Most film distributors and production companies would put original and memorable intros to associate the company with the film. The exceptions are films which are supposedly 'found footage' like the Blair witch project and Paranormal Activity.

Film Logo

After deciding on the name 'Psychosis' I decided to create a logo, which would appear on all marketing products. I did an original design, but also did two variations:

This is the logo i settled on. It shows some kind of disturbance as there is a mirror image of the title, which looks like it has been cut out.

This is the all red logo, which looks like the top layer has been placed over the background before the word is 'cut'. could be used for various marketing pieces. 

Madness logo, which appears to have the letters disappearing, corresponding to the sanity of the protagonist throughout the film. It could be blood over the letters, representing death.

It is normal for the logo to appear on the film itself, within the opening credits, although sometimes if other credits are used in traditional font, the title name may be in the same style. If this is the case, the logo would be seen at the end of the credits. Some films like Inception, use neither, going straight into the film after the studio logos, and uses plain text straight after the film finishes, without it's logo being seen at all during the film

Film Opening Name

The Johnson Conspiracy – Similarities to Bourne films, talks of other motives for death
The Man in Blue – Refers to fact protagonist being policeman
Blazing Blue – Same as above, seemingly more action
Vengeance – Main theme of film, already Danny Trejo film from 2010/2011 named this
Seeking Vengeance – Same concept as above
Best Served Cold – From phrase ‘revenge is a dish best served cold’

Psychosis (from the Greek ψυχή "psyche", for mind/soul, and -ωσις "-osis", for abnormal condition) means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality". People suffering from psychosis are described as psychotic. Psychosis is given to the more severe forms of psychiatric disorder, during which hallucinations and delusions and impaired insight may occur

Apparition

Paranoia: Being paranoid means being suspicious without reason, and believing that others are trying to harm you in some way. Everyone can be mistrustful at times, particularly if life hasn't treated him or her well. But people who are prone to paranoia always dread some forthcoming attack or betrayal. They are forever anticipating that something awful will happen, and trying to second-guess what their adversaries might do. They focus on their fears for the future, and take little account of the majority of times when the past has proved them wrong.

Mania

Psychosis has been chosen as the film title, or at least working title. This works as most thriller film titles relate to an event or person within the film. For instance, Inception is about the idea of Inception (placing an idea in the mind, literally a safe), The Dark Knight and Terminator 2 are the names of the protagonists (Terminator 2's subtitle, Judgement Day, refers to a supposed event within the film, which John Connor and the title character manage to stop.) and Psycho refers to Norman Bates. Psychosis, means having a condition of the mind, something the protagonist goes through after a traumatic experience, and hopes to cure by the narratives end.