Production Company research

What is a production company?
Production Companies are businesses who are involved in the making of multimedia (Performing Arts, TV, Radio, Film)

They do so by investing in the production via themselves or third party investors (bank loans, business investors), they also are tasked with handling the budget of the production, casting, scripting, time management, post production (if applicable), distribution and marketing of the production. As well as the production itself as a whole.

These are usually owned by media companies/conglomerates, film studios, entertainment or motion picture companies or a television network. This of course, depends on the medium of the production. For example a film production company would not be owned by a television network, but instead a film studio, entertainment or motion picture company(s)

These are often divided into mini conglomerates, also based on the medium of the production. However, as our production company is standalone and not owned by a larger company, this would not apply to us as the only medium of production that we make is film.

What do production company logos look like?
Here are a collection of production company logos to gain a feel of what we should make our logo like. Not identical or overly similar as to not break any copyright laws, and to also express individuality of our company.

I decided to collect specifically independent film production companies as we are exactly that.

Syncopy films (Inception) UK Independent

Lionsgate productions US Independent

The Tea Shop & Film Company (Anomaly) UK Independent

Unstoppable entertainment (AdULTHOOD) UK Independent

Heyday films (Gravity) UK Independent

Based on this, I hit Photoshop to create my Production company's logo:

I based the logo off of the original Ideas we had in our team talks (filmed on 30th of November), which I had created little draft versions of and put them on-screen. Here is the before mentioned video:

During the creation of the logo, I would constantly refer back to the ideas mentioned in the video and to the advice and opinions of my fellow team members, just to make sure that all was fine with them

Overall, I believe the logo suits the specialty of Thrillers whilst giving off the mood we'd like to have the most. I believe this logo is effective and professional looking

BBFC Research

U: A film classified as a U is suitable for all audiences aged 4 and over (although it is impossible to predict what may upset a particular child). The film should be set within a positive moral framework.




PG: Films rated PG (parental guidance) can be viewed by anyone and should not unsettle a child aged 8 or over, it is up to the parents to decide if they feel the film is suitable for their child to view. No theme will be included that is inappropriate for a child although there could be a possibility for mild language and violence.  

12A: Is used in cinemas to classify films. No one under the age of 12 can view a 12A unless with adult supervision. Although younger viewers can go and watch these films it is suggested that the film is suitable for those around the age of 12 and above. Moderate violence, discrete and brief sexual references, and strong language (depending on the manner of which it is used) may be included in the content of a 12A film.



12: Films classified as a 12 are allowed the same content as a 12A. 12 is used to classify videos works so no one under the age of 12 can buy or rent a film classified as 12.

15: 15's can be viewed by audiences of 15 years and older. No theme is prohibited  providing that it is appropriate for the viewing of those aged 15. 15's may include strong violence, frequent strong language, portrayals of sexual activity, drug taking, strong verbal references to sex, sexual nudity, brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence, discriminatory language or behavior.





18: Films classified as an 18 are to be viewed by those who are 18 and over. There is no limitation on what can be shown in an 18 film and no theme is prohibited, it is up to the adult what entertainment they would like to watch.



Typical Classification for a Thriller:

Most Thriller films are often classified as a 15. This is because 15's allow strong language, strong violence, sex references, hard drugs and is allowed to show a limited amount of blood and gore from injuries and all of these aspects are what is included in a lot of Thrillers.   
However there are exceptions where some are classified as a 12 or 18. A Thriller rated a 12 would have mild language and possible minimal use of strong language if justified, as well as minimal detail on violence and reference to sex. A film classified as an 18 can have pretty much anything included, it would be a lot more brutal and gritty than a 15.

Classification of past students films

Inner Evil-

I would classify this film as a 12 as there is a small amount of violence shown when the girl is dragged off the street and at the beginning the girl is laying motionless on the ground with blood on her head however it is a very small amount of blood and it doesn't show any violent scenes that cause the girls trauma. The sequence isn't too explicit or inappropriate for those aged 12 and over. 

Exception- 

I would classify this film as a 15 as there is quite a lot of blood shown throughout the sequence and also there is a small bit of violence and a chase scene where someone ends up threatening to kill someone else whilst holding them in a headlock, I think because of the use of the blood and the violence that it is inappropriate for the viewing of those aged below 15. 

Alice-

I would classify this film as a 15 as I think the overall theme of the sequence could be inappropriate for younger viewers (such as people 12/13 if it was classified as a 12) and I think it may be a bit too disturbing for the younger audience. There isn't any explicit content, although there is a knife and some stabbing actions shown through a shadow and some blood I still think that the film is appropriate for viewing of people 15 and older. 

Vox Pop

Here I have videoed 3 suitable people that fit within our target audience category of 16-18+ males to tell us what they feel a thriller film should include and their views on our thriller opening. Here I pitched our original thriller ideas in order for them to give us feedback and as to whether they would watch it or not within our chosen target audience. 

Conclusion: What should a thriller film include?

Overall, our 3 interviewed target audience viewers all say that a thriller film should create suspense and mystery and have some kind of plot and twist within to keep the audience entertained and build up that crucial suspense.

Each of the 3 people interviewed all agree that our thriller film opening idea is a suitable idea that full fills and satisfies their needs. They would be whiling to watch and enjoy our thriller if they got the chance.

Moodboard - Iconography and Typeface

Team Talk from (30/10/12)

This video was a Skype call involving all members of SolarFlare where we discuss:

• Logos (with visual representations)
• Locations (pros and cons of each and basic risk assessment)
• Potential of lease forms
• Security for both equipment, ourselves and the actors

Treatment - Inspiration of Ideas

Tanaka
I was inspired by the movie The Departed, the scene that inspired me was the Chinatown Chase scene

http://www.anyclip.com/movies/the-departed/a-chase-through-chinatown/

Kieran 
He was inspired by a surveillance scene in the payday 2 live action show

Georgina 
She was inspired by a chase scene in taken

Final Thriller Opening Idea - Singularity

Picadilly Circus, London. The streets are busy with commuters and shoppers, all bustling through. A man, dressed in smart civilian clothing and carrying a briefcase is one of these commuters in the crowd. He says not a word, but calmly makes his way through the crowds.

Unbeknown to him, he is being watched over. In an elevated position, a masked, silhouetted and suited man stands, watching the man make his way through. We can then see the civilian from another elevated angle, still being watched. This time, by another man, also in an identical mask. And another final man in shown to be seen doing the same. The men are then seen walking slowly and calmly off frame.

The civilian becomes more and more paranoid and walks faster, apologising to each person he bumps. The movements of the watchers can be seen walking past the camera and toward the civilian, creating tension. The civilian turns a final corner to be greeted with one of the watchers face to face, who gets his pistol disarmed from him. Suddenly, the civilian pulls a pistol out and holds it to the watcher's face, trembling in fear. The watcher slowly raises his arms, tilting his head to the side to show how smug he was. Why? Because the other watchers had jumped down and were approaching him from behind, fast. Silenced guns in hand, both with their heads tilted and taunting with their weapons. The man is then shot dead, suppressed gun shots from an establishing shot. It then cuts back to a shot from the length of the briefcase, overlooking the man's dead body. We see one of the masked men's hands grab the briefcase handle. The watchers are then seen in a deep focus shot, walking away from the body.

Thriller Film Target Audience Research

• Lucy - Genre: Action, Sci-fi, Thriller / User review: 6.5 / Target Audience: Anyone over the age of 17 (unless accompanied), specifically males due to female actress/actions up to the age of 40s, Teenagers and Adults, Thrill seeking, thriller/sci-fi/action fans, Scarlett Johansson fans

• The Equalizer - Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller / User Review: 7.5 / Target Audience: Male audience due to gore, 16-40 year olds, Teenagers and Adults, Gore/Thrill seekers, fans of the genre, Denzel Washington Fans

• The Cabin in the Woods - Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller / User review: 7.1 / Target Audience: 15-30 year olds, Gore/Thrillseekers, Fans of the genres, Teenagers specifically (horror/psychological thriller)

• The Imitation Game - Genre: War,Thriller,Drama / User review: 8.5 / Target Audience: 20-50 year olds, Fans of drama, Benedict Cumberbatch fans, Enigma code fans, Adults

• X-men Days of Future Past - Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-fi, Thriller / User Review: 8.2 / Target Audience: 12-40, male, sci-fi/action fans, Fans of x-men comic books and movies, teenagers, Mostly Adults (hardcore fans of comics)

• Inception - Genre: Action, Sci-fi, Thriller / User Review: 8.8 / Target Audience: 18-40 year olds, males due to action, Enigma code fans, Adults who like to think (problem solve)   

• Godzilla 2014 - Genre: Action, Sci-fi, Thriller / User Review: 6.7 / Target Audience: Male, 15-40 year olds, monster movie fans, Adults, teenagers    

• Transcendence -
Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-fi, Thriller / User Review: 6.3 / Target Audience: Males, 18-30 year olds, Futuristic sci-fi fans

  

• The Departed - Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller / User Review: 8.5 /  Target Audience: Male, 16-40 year olds due to action, fans of crime and cop movies, Leonardo DiCaprio fans, Jack Nicholson fans   

Individual initial ideas for Thriller film opening

Thriller Ideas

Tanaka
we would have one guy within the middle of a crowd in a shopping center looking worried (with his heart beat beating faster) this would be filmed in an establishing shot/long shot. A few feet away a suspiciously dressed man walking towards the worried guy then he gets drugged, gets his bag stolen by the suspicious guy and collapses

Kieran
A watcher from afar surveills a man below, carrying a briefcase. The watcher's face cannot be seen, as all shots are over the shoulder perspective so to create mystery. It is then revealed that there are several watchers, all in elevated positions, all wearing identical masks. The man becomes more aware of these watchers and begins to increase the pace in which he walks, increasing his paranoia. He then turns into an alleyway where one of the watchers can be seen. The man pulls a pistol out on the watcher. However, he is unaware that the other watchers have jumped down behind him and are approaching, armed. Cut to black

Georgina
A chase scene based in the centre of London; the chase will follow a man through Piccadilly Circus as it is a main busy location and has the vibes of Time Square - New York and follows him running through the major train station unknown of his whereabouts and where he is to go next.