My Film Poster

Photos for film poster

During this shoot, we asked emily to act like the character (Alex) in our film so that we could get photos that would reflect the emotions of Alex. this was because we needed to use at least one of these photo's for the poster, meaning we needed 'Alex' and not 'Emily' in these pictures.

Voice Over Script

Hi. My name is Alex Taylor. 
I never really what to say on these things, but here goes. 
Weird things have started to happen. 
Things gradually started disappearing... Out of my life. 
Completely. 
Everything i needed, loved and wanted. 
Whether it be important or not. 
I am here to tell you that you can get through this, to tell you to not go down the same route as me. 
To let you know that nothing in life can stop you from being who you want to be, but yourself. 
I myself, let it get too far. Too far that i couldn't turn back. 
This is one thing that i wish i could change, regret.
People I love, memories, my health..
I let it all get too bad.
So here's my confession.
Here's my plead to you, to tell you there's always a reason.
Let me be your reason, to never give up..
Or let anything take over.

Me? My mind took over. I lost it all. I lost everything.

Mental disorder research- Panic disorder

Panic Disorder

What is panic disorder?

A panic attack is an uncontrollable and terrifying response to ordinary, nonthreatening situations. People who experience recurrent panic attacks, have persistent anxiety or fear regarding their panic attacks and change their behavior in an attempt to avoid further panic attacks may have panic disorder.

Individuals with panic disorder are likely to experience some combination of the following symptoms during a panic attack: sweating, hot or cold flashes, choking or smothering sensations, racing heart, labored breathing, trembling, chest pains, faintness, numbness, nausea or disorientation. They may feel like they are dying, losing control or losing their mind. Panic attacks typically last about five to 10 minutes but can vary from only a few minutes to almost an hour in some cases. During the attack, the physical and emotional symptoms increase quickly in a wave-like fashion and then slowly subside. A person may feel anxious and jittery for many hours after experiencing a panic attack.

Panic attacks can occur in anyone. Chemical or hormonal imbalances, drugs or alcohol, stress, poor sleep or other situational events can cause panic attacks. In some people, panic attacks are mistakenly interpreted as heart attacks or respiratory problems, as these can cause similar symptoms. Therefore, prior to the diagnosis of panic disorder, a thorough evaluation should be performed to ensure that no underlying medical condition is the cause of the symptoms. This evaluation may include blood tests (e.g., thyroid tests), urine tests (for drugs and alcohol), electrocardiograms (EKG) and a physical examination.

What are some problems that people with panic disorder experience?

Many people with panic disorder “fear the fear,” or worry about when the next attack is coming. The fear of more panic attacks can lead to a very limited life and, in some people, can cause agoraphobia, an intense fear of feeling trapped in a public place. People with panic disorder may avoid the places they used to go to or stop doing the things that they think trigger their panic attacks. This can cause significant occupational and social problems if a person feels uncomfortable going to work, school, family gatherings or other events.

Similar to people with other anxiety disorders, people with panic disorder are at increased risk of developing other mental illnesses. Many people feel sad or depressed about how panic attacks have affected their lives, and up to half of the people with panic disorder may eventually be diagnosed with depression. Alcohol and drug abuse can also be a serious problem for some people with panic disorder, both as a trigger for panic attacks and as a type of self-medication that can quickly get out of control. Panic disorder, particularly if untreated, can raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or acts.

Even people without the added difficulties of depression and substance abuse may feel very scared and ashamed of their panic attacks. The associated secretiveness and feelings of shame or low self-esteem that occur with this illness can cause some people to isolate themselves from their friends and family. Other people are unwilling to go anywhere or do anything outside their homes without the help of others they trust. This can be very concerning or confusing for loved ones who are trying to help. Therefore, it is recommended that friends and family of people with panic attacks encourage their loved one to seek treatment for their illness.

What causes panic disorder?

Panic attacks occur frequently, and approximately one in 20 Americans will be diagnosed and treated for panic disorder each year. Panic disorder is more common in females than males (2-to-1 ratio). Scientists have not isolated a single gene in studying panic attacks, but it is generally thought that there is a genetic component to panic disorder. This means that people who have a parent with panic disorder are more likely to develop the disorder themselves. Scientific studies have shown that areas of the brain function differently in people with panic disorder. Inappropriate activation of a region of the brain called the amygdala—which is involved in the fight-or-flight response—has been associated with panic disorder in research studies. However, brain imaging is not a practical clinical tool to make a diagnosis.

People who experience high levels of stress in their lives are also at increased risk of developing panic disorder. For example, people who have been physically or sexually abused, people with severe medical illnesses (e.g., asthma or heart disease) and people who abuse drugs and alcohol are at increased risk of developing panic disorder.

Mental disorder research- Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline Personality Disorder

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a serious mental illness that can be challenging for everyone involved, including the individuals with the illness, as well their friends and family members. BPD is characterized by impulsivity and instability in mood, self-image, and personal relationships. The treatments and longer-term studies of BPD offer hope for good outcomes for most individuals who live with BPD. Ideas to name the condition in a manner that better describes the pattern of concerns (e.g., Emotion Dysregulation Disorder) have been advanced but no name change to the condition is planned for the release of DSM-5.

What is borderline personality disorder (BPD) and how is it diagnosed?

Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed by mental health professionals following a comprehensive psychiatric interview that may include talking with a person’s previous clinicians, review of prior records, a medical evaluation, and when appropriate, interviews with friends and family. There is no specific single medical test (e.g., blood test) to diagnose BPD and a diagnosis is not based on a single sign or symptom. Rather, BPD is diagnosed by a mental health professional based on sustained patterns of thinking and behavior in an individual. Some people may have “borderline personality traits” which means that they do not meet criteria for diagnosis with BPD but have some of the symptoms associated with this illness.
Individuals with BPD usually have several of the following symptoms, many of which are detailed in the DSM-IV-TR:

• Marked mood swings with periods of intense depressed mood, irritability and/or anxiety lasting a few hours to a few days (but not in the context of a full-blown episode of major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder).
• Inappropriate, intense or uncontrollable anger.
• Impulsive behaviors that result in adverse outcomes and psychological distress, such as excessive spending, sexual encounters, substance use, shoplifting, reckless driving or binge eating.
• Recurring suicidal threats or non-suicidal self-injurious behavior, such as cutting or burning one’s self.
• Unstable, intense personal relationships, sometimes alternating between “all good,” idealization, and “all bad,” devaluation.
• Persistent uncertainty about self-image, long-term goals, friendships and values.
• Chronic boredom or feelings of emptiness.
• Frantic efforts to avoid abandonment.

Borderline personality disorder is relatively common—about 1 in 20 or 25 individuals will live with this condition. Historically, BPD has been thought to be significantly more common in females, however recent research suggests that males may be almost as frequently affected by BPD. Borderline personality disorder is diagnosed in people from each race, ethnicity and economic status.

What is the cause of borderline personality disorder?

The exact causes of BPD remain unknown, although the roles of both environmental and biological factors are thought to play a role in people who develop this illness. While no specific gene has been shown to directly cause BPD, a number of different genes have been identified as playing a role in its development. The brain’s functioning, as seen in MRI testing, is often different in people with BPD, suggesting that there is a neurological basis for some of the symptoms associated with BPD.
Neuroimaging studies are not clinically helpful at this time to make the diagnosis and are research tools. A number of hormones (including oxytocin) and signaling molecules within the brain (e.g., neurotransmitters including serotonin) have been shown to potentially play a role in BPD. People who experience traumatic life events (e.g., physical or sexual abuse during childhood) are at increased risk of developing BPD, as are people with certain chronic medical illnesses in childhood.
The connection between BPD and other mental illnesses is well established. People with BPD are at increased risk for anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse. BPD is often misdiagnosed and many people find they wait years to get a proper diagnosis, which leads to a better care plan.
Many people with borderline personality disorder have a first-degree relative with a serious mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder or schizophrenia). This is likely due to both genetic and environmental factors.

What are the treatments for borderline personality disorder?

Once an accurate diagnosis is made, developing a comprehensive treatment plan is important.  Typically the treatment plan will include psychotherapy strategies, medications to reduce symptom intensity, and group, peer and family support.  One overarching goal is for the person with BPD to increasingly direct their care plan as they learn what works and what is counterproductive for them.
Psychotherapy is the cornerstone of treatment for individuals who live with BPD. Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) is the most well researched and effective treatment for BPD. DBT focuses on teaching coping skills to combat destructive urges, encourages practicing mindfulness (e.g., meditation, regulated breathing and relaxation), involves individual and group work, and is often quite successful in helping people with BPD to control their symptoms. DBT has been shown to reduce the outcome of suicide in research studies for people who live with BPD. Becoming a DBT therapist requires special training and supervision. If you are interested in DBT, be sure to understand the qualifications of the therapist in this specialized treatment.
While cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), psychodynamic psychotherapy and certain other psychosocial treatments are useful for some people with BPD, the majority of people with this illness will find dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) to be the most useful form of psychotherapy.
Medications can be an important component to the care plan, yet is important to know that there is no single medication treatment that can “cure” borderline personality disorder. Furthermore, no medication is specifically approved by the FDA for the treatment of BPD. Medications are however useful in treating specific symptoms in BPD and may support and enhance essential psychotherapy efforts. For example, off label use of a number of medications may manage key symptoms, including valproate (Depakote) that may be useful in decreasing impulsivity, omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) that may be helpful in decreasing mood fluctuations, and naltrexone (Revia), which has helped some people decrease their urges for self-injury and the use of antipsychotic medication may help with symptoms of disorganized thinking. Relief of such symptoms may help the individual change the harmful patterns of thinking and decrease the detrimental behaviors that disrupt their daily activities. Medication treatment of coexisting medical and mental illnesses, such as anxiety or depression, is also very important in the treatment of BPD.
Co-occuring conditions are common and require attention in the care plan. The use of psychiatric medications should be discussed at length with one’s psychiatrist as individuals with BPD may be at increased risk of experiencing side effects from their medications due to the large number of medications that many people with this illness are prescribed. The use of psychiatric medications should be discussed at length with one’s psychiatrist to understand the risks and benefits of any treatment choice and to get a better sense of the literature upon which the recommendation is based.
While not usually indicated for the chronic symptoms of BPD, short-term inpatient hospitalization may be necessary during times of extreme stress, impulsive behavior, or substance abuse. In other cases however, inpatient psychiatric hospitalization may be paradoxically detrimental for some people with BPD.
The support of family and friends is of critical importance in the treatment of BPD as many people with this illness may isolate themselves from these relationships in times of greatest need. Family and friends can be most helpful in encouraging their loved one to engage in proper treatment for this complicated illness. With the support of family and friends, involvement in ongoing treatment, and efforts to live a healthy lifestyle—regular exercise, a balanced diet and good sleeping habits--most people with borderline personality disorder can expect to experience significant relief from their symptoms.

Type Face Analysis.

Type Face Analysis.

For our second year film, the title sequence is quite important in order to gain a decent grade, so to make the themes and aesthetics true to the genre is essential. The font shown above (PW Squared), fits the genre quite well as its quirky and imperfect. It also resembles stress (because of the messy aesthetics of the text) which is one of the main themes that run along our film. It also looks quite feminine which is another factor in our film as the cast is dominantly female. This type-face will likely be used in our opening credits/ title sequence, and any other promotional items such as teaser posters and advertisement in the future of our unit to maintain a theme, however up to now, none of our design work as a group has used this font.

Metal Disorder research - Anxiety.

Anxiety Disorders

What are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are a group of mental illnesses that cause people to feel excessively frightened, distressed, or uneasy during situations in which most other people would not experience these same feelings. When they are not treated, anxiety disorders can be severely impairing and can negatively affect a person’s personal relationships or ability to work or study. In the most severe cases, anxiety disorders can make even regular and daily activities such as shopping, cooking or going outside incredibly difficult. Anxiety disorders can further cause low self-esteem, lead to substance abuse, and isolation from one’s friends and family.

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses in America: they affect around 20 percent of the population at any given time. Fortunately there are many good treatments for anxiety disorders. Unfortunately, some people do not seek treatment for their illness because they do not realize how severe their symptoms are or are too ashamed to seek help. Furthermore, these disorders are often difficult to recognize for friends, family and even some doctors.

What are the most common anxiety disorders?

Panic Disorder—Characterized by “panic attacks,” panic disorder results in sudden feelings of terror that can strike repeatedly and sometimes without warning. Physical symptoms of a panic attack include chest pain, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness, upset stomach, feelings of being disconnected and fear of dying. Some people with this disorder may experience unrealistic worry of having more panic attacks and become very ashamed and self-consciousness. This can result in some people feeling too afraid to go to certain places (e.g., airplanes, elevator), which can be very intrusive in their daily lives.

Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD)—OCD is characterized by repetitive, intrusive, irrational and unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and/or rituals that seem impossible to control (compulsions). Some people with OCD have specific compulsions (e.g.,counting, arranging, cleaning) that they “must perform” multiple times each day in order to momentarily release their anxiety that something bad might happen to themselves or to someone they love. People with OCD may be aware that their symptoms don’t make sense and are excessive, but on another level they may fear that the thoughts have are having might be true.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)—When people experience or witness a traumatic event such as abuse, a natural disaster, or extreme violence, it is normal to be distressed and to feel “on edge” for some time after this experience. Some people who experience traumatic events have severe symptoms such as nightmares, flashbacks, being very easily startled or scared, or feeling numb/angry/irritable/distracted. Sometimes these symptoms last for weeks or even months after the event and are so severe that they make it difficult for a person to work, have loving relationships, or “return to normal.” This is when a person may be suffering from PTSD. Many people with PTSD have difficulty discussing their symptoms because they may be too embarrassed or scared to recall their trauma. This is common in victims of sexual abuse and in combat veterans.

Phobias—A phobia is a disabling and irrational fear of something that really poses little or no actual danger for most people. This fear can be very disabling when it leads to avoidance of objects or situations that may cause extreme feelings of terror, dread and panic. “Specific” phobias center on particular objects (e.g., caterpillars, dogs) or situations (e.g., being on a bridge, flying in an airplane). Many people are very sensitive to being criticized and are ashamed of their phobias which can lead to problems with self-esteem.

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)—A severe, chronic, exaggerated worrying about everyday events is the most common symptom in people with GAD. This is a worrying that lasts for at least six months, makes it difficult to concentrate and to carry out routine activities, and happens for many hours each day in some people. Some people with this disorder anticipate the worst and often experience physical symptoms of fatigue, tension, headaches and nausea due to the severity of their anxiety.

Social Anxiety Disorder—An intense fear of social situations that leads to difficulties with personal relationships and at the workplace or in school is most common in people with social anxiety disorder. People with social anxiety disorder often have an irrational fear of being humiliated in public for “saying something stupid,” or “not knowing what to say.” People with this illness may have symptoms similar to “panic attacks” (e.g., heart palpitations, dizziness, shortness of breath) or may experience severe sweating (hyperhidrosis) when in social situations. This leads to avoidance of social situations, which can make it difficult to go to parties, school, or even family gatherings.

Other recognized anxiety disorders include: agoraphobia, acute stress disorder, anxiety disorder due to medical conditions, such as thyroid abnormalities, and substance-induced anxiety disorder, such as from too much caffeine.

Some people with other mental illnesses, such as depression or schizophrenia, may have symptoms of severe anxiety. These symptoms of worrying, panic attacks or compulsions may make treating their primary illness more complicated for mental health professionals. Therefore, complete treatment of depression or schizophrenia often requires treatment of anxiety symptoms.

People with anxiety disorders are more likely to use or abuse alcohol and other drugs including benzodiazepines (e.g., diazepam,alprazolam and clonazepam), opiates (e.g., pain-killers, heroin) or cigarettes. This is known as self-medication. Some people use drugs and alcohol to try and reduce their anxiety. This is very dangerous because even though some drugs make people feel less anxious when they are high, anxiety becomes even worse when the drugs wear off. Other people are anxious because they are intoxicated or withdrawing from drugs and alcohol.

Are there any known causes of anxiety disorders?

Although studies suggest that people are more likely to have an anxiety disorder if their parents have anxiety disorders, it has not been shown whether biology or environment plays the greater role in the development of these disorders. Some anxiety disorders have a very clear genetic link (e.g., OCD) that is being studied by scientists to help discover new treatments to target specific parts of the brain.
Some anxiety disorders can also be caused by medical illnesses. Scientists at the National Institute of Mental Health and elsewhere have discovered a link between some cases of OCD that occur following infection or exposure to a certain bacteria. This connection is described by the term Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders (PANDAS). Other anxiety disorders can be caused by brain injury. Scientists have also found that certain areas of the brain, including a part of the brain called the amygdala, work differently in people with anxiety disorders.

The sudden appearance of severe anxiety symptoms in a person of any age requires immediate attention by both caregivers and doctors. Parents and friends should be aware that a traumatic event may be causing their loved one to become more nervous or to have other symptoms of anxiety disorders. Doctors should be aware that many medical problems including hormonal and neurological illnesses can cause symptoms of anxiety.

Codes And Conventions Of A Psychological Thriller

Psychological Thriller is a specific sub genre of the popular film genre, Thriller and there are many films that are categorised into this genre. these types of films focus heavily on the main characters phycological state as well as incorporating elements form the mystery and drama genre. the characters psychological state is the driving force of the plot line, rather than the plot line driving the characters psyche. often there is a first person narrative allowing the viewers to better understand the character physiological state of mind.
 Main themes
-Reality- characters often struggle to determine what is real and what is not.
-Mind- The mind is explored mainly through the first person narrative, revealing inner conflict and the characters emotional state 
-identity- Characters often doubt who they are or what purpose they serve and so set of to discover themselves 
-Perception- often a characters perception of the world is revealed to be different to that of others with a more sound mind.
-Death- characters often have a fear or an obsession with death or the dead

Conventions of a psychological thriller

The conventions of psychological thrillers will include things like:

-Low level lighting- shadows to create fear/tension.

-Quick edits & changes in camera angle- increase the feeling of fear and shock. Often used during significant scenes.

-Music- high tension, eerie, silence.

-Flashbacks- time disorientation confusing the audience or showing the past to give an insight into why the characters are the way they are.

-Black and white colouring- increase effectiveness of shadows.

-claustrophobic spaces- entrapment of the mind, planes or house.

-Font/colour of title- may be written in a certain way to emphasise the theme of the film

Directors of thrillers

-Alfred Hitchcock - also known as the 'Master of suspense' uses these conventions to an extent that its so effective   and really encapsulates the audience. You can find it in one of his best films 'Psycho' which does this really well.

-David Lynch - is a surrealist director whose mysteries are usually puzzles of the mind. The audience and the characters themselves must figure out what is real and what isn't. E.g. Mulholland drive.

-Martin Scorsese - director of 'The Departed' & 'Shutter island'.

Research into radio trailers.

Research Into Radio Trailers.

In the video shown above there are four examples of a modern radio trailer advertising a feature length film available to see or soon to be available in cinemas. In a way they all have the same formula of how they are written and structure of narration; All of the following radio trailers contain narration mentioning their awards (eg 'Gravity', the advert is filled with mentions of things like nominations and awards.) Gravity also tells us that there is more than one way, visually, to see the film. The trailer also mentions to availability of IMAX and 3D, which hypes up the visual experience. whereas other trailers such as 'The Conjuring' rely heavily on the emphasis of genre, and how 'scar' or 'terrifying' the film is, quite rightly so as it is a horror film. 

Another example being 'The Great Gatsby'; This radio trailer relies mostly on the names of the musicians involved in the film. Being that the film is based around parties and celebration, so music plays a big part in the film, an if most if not all of the music in the film is performed by big named musicians then thats a great selling point (pull factor).
Conclusively, all of these trailers focus on their own strongpoints; whether it be awards, music, genre or just hype, they all show their own strength in order to persuade you to pay and see the film. None of these trailers leave tied ends either, they all seem to be loosely described an leave cliffhangers in order to leave confusion onto what is going on, and because it is a radio trailer, there is no visual aspect so something small in the film may sound big and important on the radio, but because you cant see what is happening in the trailer at that point, they can leave scenes open to your own interpretation.