The Genre(s) of My Film

I have decided that my film will be in the genre of an 'Action-Thriller'.

Action Films:

A action film normally involves a hero who enters into a quest or a mission to reach a goal.  They usually include of obstacles including fighting and chase scenes, physical stunts, and weapons along the way. Action films are typically very fast paced and exciting to watch, often with loads of explosions!

A example of a good action film I like would be 'Taken', directed by Pierre Morel and staring  Liam Neeson:

Fig #1

The DVD cover for the Action Film 'Taken'.

Just from glancing at the DVD cover for the film 'Taken' you would immediately be able to tell it is an action film.  The hero is placed in the middle of the cover carrying a gun, this indicates that there will likely be fight scenes.  Also the now famous quote from the film is printed on the cover, and this quote suggests he will be going on a quest for revenge.


Thriller Films:

A Thriller is a film which builds suspense and tension for the audience. They use suspense and anticipation to keep the audience alert and engaged. Danger is often a key topic when it comes to Thriller films playing with the feeling of uncertainty for the viewers.

Fig #2 

The DVD cover for the film 'Jaws'.

'Jaws' would likely be classed as a Thriller (although it contains aspects of horror too).  It definitely builds more and more suspense for the audience as the film progresses.  It also employs an iconic and dramatic music score, helping to build the tension at key moments when a shark attack it looming.

I would like to build this kind of tension in my film too.

An Analysis of Three DVD Covers (Prezi Presentation)

Click here for My prezi presentation

Bullet Time - Techniques

The matrix - Bullet time
https://youtu.be/6UgiRr-6CfI

Bullet-Time is a relatively new technique used in film-making.  It was first used in the 1999 film 'The Matrix'.  The video above shows Bullet Time in action

What happens?

In the film, after the Agents have captured Morpheus who is the leader of the group fighting against the Agents, Neo and Trinity try to get him back in a suicidal escape plan against a military building where Morpheus is being held. 

After working their way through wave after wave of soldiers who are protecting the building, they finally run into an Agent who is a computerised program that is made to kill anything that doesn't follow the ways of the make believe world. 

Neo tries to shoot at the Agent, but the Agent is programmed to be fast enough to dodge bullets. Then the Agent fires back at Neo and is surprised to see that Neo displays the same supernatural ability to avoid bullets.  As Neo is dodging the bullets, the camera pans around him in a 360 degree motion that shows everything in the slow motion whilst it is happening. 

The techniques uses many, many cameras situated around the actor in a circle.  Frames from each camera are used in a sequence to give the impression that the camera is rotating around the actor.  When Bullet-Time was first seen in The Matrix it was seen as a pioneering new film technique as it had not been used before.