An updated research page (even after the presentation, research shall continue):

4. Research Outline for your Thesis Project

A.) Bibliography of all books, articles, archives, and other texts.

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. USA: Wiley Pub., 2006. Print.

B.) A filmography or artist research (Films, videos, interactive work,

installations, and performance work you have reviewed about your

subject).

Sucker Punch. Dir. Zack Snyder. By Zack Snyder and Steve Shibuya. Perf. Emily

Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung,

Carla Gugino, Oscar Isaac, Jon Hamm, Scott Glenn, and Gerard Plunkett.

Warner Bros., 2011. Film.

Silent Hill 2. Konami. September, 2001

Heavy Rain. Sony Computer Entertainment. February 23, 2010.

“Dexter.” James Manos, Jr. Dexter. Showtime. Original broadcast date: October 1,

2006.

Seven. Dir. David Fincher. Perf. Pitt, Brad, Morgan Freeman, Gwyneth Paltrow,

R. Lee Ermey, and Kevin Spacey. New Line Cinema, 1995. Film.

C.) Research from the internet or pertinent websites.

"Crime Film." Wikipedia. N.p., 11 Aug. 2011. Web. 3 Sep 2011.

.

"Depressive Episode (Depression)." Psychological Disorders. N.p., n.d. Web. 1

Sep 2011.

episode-depression/>.

Any and all websites dedicated to serial killer methods and mental

disorders.

D.) A list of all “outsiders” who you have talked about your subject with.

Dorothy Yingsery

Clancy Obrien

E.) Experts with whom you have consulted.

Production book, page 2:

2. Field Notes, Observations, and Research

A.) Artist work that inspired or applies to thesis:

-The movie “Sucker Punch,” directed by Zack Snyder

- The PS3 game “Heavy Rain,” directed by David Cage and developed by Quantic Dream

- The PS2 game “Silent Hill 2,” published by Konami and developed by Team Silent

B.) Subjects, theories, and or philosophies that informs your thesis

project:

- Subjects: Crime drama stories

Extreme Psychological mindsets

Ghosts and what they see post death

- Philosophies: Nihilism

Structuralism

- Theories: How one’s ghost sticks around after a traumatic event

How people think they see things, even if they are right

How one sees truth through insanity

C.) Field observations (observing your subject matter as natural phenomena in outside world):

- People tend to give in to their obsessions (and related mindsets) when looking into matters of personal interest, whether they are hobbies or indeed crime scene investigations (at least ones that are not trained in the art). These kinds of events heavily color one’s view of the world. This is what I want to exaggerate through the actions and visual styles of the characters proposed. In times of seclusion, whether self-imposed or otherwise, people also tend to become paranoid from too much thinking. The small parts that can be seen as slightly off behavior can lead to major breakdowns and unjustified actions.

D.) What do you see that may be problematic in producing your thesis:

- Limited control of the actors’ schedules

- Potential weather problems that impede travel

- The potential unavailability of locations

E.) What do you see that may support your efforts in producing your thesis:

- The interest of the chosen actors in the subject matter proposed

- The proximity of the locations planned

- The unique approach to directing skills

F.) Preliminary research and interviews:

- Review of similar subjects in shows such as CSI and other TV shows

- Review of horror genres and psychological dramas

G.) Possible subjects for your imagery and or audio:

- Newscasts of older murder cases related to serial killers

- Ambulance/police sirens

- Local towns and old basements for settings

-Various demonic sounds from well known movies/works

H.) Describe tests and experiments you will conduct to prepare for the

production of your thesis project:

- The planned effects will be tested on individual actors and locations

- Each actor chosen will be test to see how far they can go into character

- Locations will be set up to desired scenes to test areas appearances

I shall now post the production book for the most recent project. Here is page 1:

-1. Production Outline (Treatment/ Proposal)

A.) Format, Media, and length if applies

- Format: High Definition (1440 x 1080) (16:9)

- Media: Digital Film

- Length: 20 minutes or less

B.) Intended audience: Anyone open-minded

C.) Summary description of project in one paragraph: A short film about a serial killer who takes the blood of 1,000 people to fold 1,000 paper cranes for a ritual. A survivor of the killings tries to find the killer and the part of himself he lost in the attempted murder. A modern-day oracle and an unofficial detective become obsessed with the killings and both try to catch the serial killer. The views of each character are heavily affected by their previous experience with the serial killer, both in their actions and visually on screen. In the end, all three main characters catch up to the killer who kills themselves in desperation.

D.) Discussion of themes you plan to explore: Psychological states of mind, crime scene investigation techniques, media’s role in spreading information, and individual approaches to loss and obsession.

-Ghostly visions of the world

-The perspective and exploration of a serial killer’s mind

E.) Statement of your relationship to your subject and theme: I have always been interested in abstract approaches to serious matters and narratives, such as crime wave narratives and the states of mind each person involved goes through in extreme situations. I also am interested in the subject of ghosts, and wish to portray that visually.

F.) Social, theoretical, historical, and or cultural issues which are relevant to your project:

- Social: The alienation people can feel in the midst of modern media and the size of modern cities, as well as from their own actions which can be deemed “odd.”

- Theoretical: Exploring and solidifying the ideas of narrative structure, with influences of psychotic states of mind and heavy loss.

- Historical: The approaches to crime investigation and how it has and has not changed. The use of older techniques of “divination” to analyze modern issues.

- Cultural: How media can drive people to extremes in a place of a lot of people and technology, including the way they see life.

G.) Discuss conceptual themes and issues: The states of mind visually represented through the warping of the video.

-views of life after death

H.) Review methods (test audience plans): Show the film to test groups with context of an “experiment.” Listen for parts to improve on and what parts the audience likes.

I.) Approach and style: Dramatic narrative with psychological influences to the video.

J.) Probable collaborative members or production crew: None planned but all help appreciated

K.) List of all equipment you will be using: HD Handy Cam

- Olympus Portable Recorder

-Three outdoor ground lights

-Two Handheld lights

An updated and finalized research proposal:

B. SENIOR PROJECT PROPOSAL RESEARCH

1. Proposed Research Topic(s): Psychological states of mind

- Crime scene investigation techniques

- Shakespeare tragedies/comedies

2. Describe significance of Proposed Research to Thesis

Project: The techniques of crime investigation and psychological states of mind will directly influence the portrayal of the characters.

3. Describe Proposed Research in conceptual, theoretical,

historical, and cultural terms: Conceptually the research will influence the visual style of the film proposed.

- Theoretically, the research will solidify the narrative approach and improve

the story portrayal

- Historically, the research explores the approaches to crime narratives and information dispersal, from early news types to modern methods.

- Culturally, the research will emphasize the subculture within mainstream media, enriching my knowledge about media and how adding to the feeling of alienation of the characters of the film.

4. Describe your Proposed Research methods:

1. Fieldwork: Data will be gathered through the ways information is spread, like newspapers, newscasts, and other media.

2. Written Materials: Books (mostly fictional, some non-fictional). The fictional books will be like Shakespeare books, illustrating the mood of tragedy in satirical ways. The non-fiction books will focus on the methods of crime scene investigation and the people involved.

3. Screenings & Work Reviewed: The movies watched will be analyzed for their stylistic qualities and how the camera work adds to the mood of the story and/or characters. The setting in the proposed movies will be analyzed to understand how they are predominant and how they can be used almost as characters themselves.

4. Interviews: I will seek out interviews, either pre-recorded or live, with people who have already made work dealing with psychological thrillers and/or crime dramas

5. List resources you have already referenced for this

research: The movie “Sucker Punch”

- The PS3 game “Heavy Rain”

- The PS2 game “Silent Hill 2”

The research is still rough around the edges (at least more than the production) but:

B. RESEARCH

1. Proposed Research Topic(s): Psychological states of mind

- Crime scene investigation techniques

2. Describe significance of Proposed Research to Thesis

Project: The techniques of crime investigation and psychological states of mind will directly influence the portrayal of the characters.

3. Describe Proposed Research in conceptual, theoretical,

historical, and cultural terms: Conceptually the research will influence the visual style of the film proposed.

- Theoretically, the research will solidify the narrative approach and improve

the story portrayal

- Historically, the research explores the approaches to crime narratives and information dispersal, from early news types to modern methods.

- Culturally, the research will emphasize the subculture within mainstream media, enriching my knowledge about media and how adding to the feeling of alienation of the characters of the film.

4. Describe your Proposed Research methods:

1. Fieldwork: Data will be gathered through the ways information is spread, like newspapers, newscasts, and other media.

2. Written Materials: Data will be analyzed based off the modern sources read and replicated.

3. Screenings & Work Reviewed: The movies watched will be analyzed for their stylistic qualities and how the camera work adds to the mood of the story and/or characters.

4. Interviews: I will seek out interviews, either pre-recorded or live, with people who have already made work dealing with psychological thrillers and/or crime dramas

5. List resources you have already referenced for this

research: The movie “Suckerpunch”

- The PS3 game “Heavy Rain”

I am still seeking valid research sources and shall report as soon as possible.

In short, here is the project production proposal for the latest idea

1. Working Project Title: "With Cranes"

2. Medium: Digital Film

3. Intended Audience: Those with an abstract view of the world and interested in the digital film genre of entertainment

4. Describe Project in one sentence: A satirical, psychological crime drama from different perspectives and themes.

5. Summary of Project in approximately 250 words: A serial killer, bent on gathering one thousand paper cranes to earn one wish, kills the same amount of people. Each person’s blood is soaked into the paper folded into the one thousand cranes. One victim survives the killing spree and, not knowing why, seeks out the blood and soul parts they lost. In the process of finding his lost self, he goes from rich to poor due to lack of care for anything else. A modern day Oracle, whose parents were killed by the serial killer and seeing all the deaths as visions, seeks to stop the killer before she is driven crazy. An unofficial detective, intent on finally catching this serial killer, chases down what clues he can. The detective catches the survivor and interrogates him, not learned too much before the Oracle is in the mix too. All three characters find the killer watching them and chase after the killer until they reach the killer’s hideout. The three characters finally catch the killer, after nine hundred and ninety nine deaths, who kills themself in desperation to complete the thousand cranes. The survivor picks up his crane, reclaiming full senses and foiling the serial killer’s plans. After the killer sees this, they die knowing they had failed and that their wish will never be granted. The survivor later comes back and quietly kills themselves, knowing they have nothing left to live for.

6. Main conceptual goal(s) to be achieved: Explore how a crime drama/serious story can be twisted in tone, but still retain the narrative wholeness.

a.) Conceptual themes: Psychological exploration of crime victims and those involved in crime investigation.

-How instinct can be more truthful than conscious thought.

-Visual representation of mental ailments.

b.) Historical themes: Investigation techniques from the past and the present.

-Misplaced individuals and how they can be the same in many eras.

c.) Cultural themes: The effect of media on people and information

-How investigation can take many forms through modern media

7. Discuss technical pursuits and how they parallel with your

conceptual themes: The camera will be used from extreme angles to add emphasis to the people and their states of mind.

-The use of sound from objects in the frame will add to the distorted tone of the piece.