Sound Techniques

This PowerPoint has the definitions of each technique as well as an example:

Propps Character Theory

What Is A Character Theory?
Character theories are used to understand media, its useful for analysing and understanding media in which people take on roles as actors or actresses. They are popular within the education industry when studying media and film studies.

Whos is Propp?
Vladimir Propp was a Russian literary critic and scholar, Propp was essentially interested in the narrative of folk tales. He noticed many tales were similar in a variety of areas, he identified a theory about characters and actions as narrative functions. According to Vladimir Propp, characters have a narrative function, they provide a structure for the text. His theory has influenced many filmmakers to writing and producing successful narratives.

Propp's Character Theory:
Props came up with a theory for studying media texts and productions, this indicates that there are 7 broad character types, these were:
1. The villain (Struggles against the hero)
2. The Donor (Prepares the hero or give the hero some magical object)
3. The (magical) helper (helps the hero in the quest)
4. The princess (person who hero marries, often ought for during the narrative)
5. The false hero (perceived as a good character in beginning but emerges as evil)
6. The dispatcher (character who makes the lack known and sends the hero off)
7. The hero (reacts to the donor, weds the princess)

The Struggle Scene:
This theory suggested that:

• There is a struggle between the hero and villain.
• The hero is branded.
• The villain is overcome.
• The state of disorder is settled. 

The Recognition Scene:

• At this stage in the film the hero is recognised (an action film, for example Superman)
• Or the false hero or villain is unmasked (a horror film scene)
• As well as the false hero could be punished in this scene (a cops and robbers scene)
• Or the hero attains the rewards (Princess/ kingdom) and they live happily ever after (fairytale)

Research Summary

From my research I have learnt the following things about different aspects of films under the genre of Thriller:

Target Audience:
The majority of thriller films are aimed at audiences of above 12 year olds, 15 year olds or in some cases 18 year olds. This is due to the common use of guns, bombs, violence and bombs in thriller films as a lot of them involve tense action. Films which have a subgenre of action tend to appeal a male audience. Thriller films tend to target younger adults such as 20-30 year olds, as they sometimes include unrealistic storylines and action sequences which would turn older viewers away. However thrillers with a psychological sub genre tend to appeal to older audiences as they are slower paced and involve the viewer to figuring out the plot, this might not appeal to younger audiences as it gets confusing and tiring for them.Thrillers with a subgenre of comedy would be aimed at younger audiences as they are lighthearted and can be viewed as immature and stupid by older more mature audiences, for example The Inbetweeners Movie.

Opening Credits:
From the three thriller films I analysed: Saw, Cabin In The Woods and The Dark Knight, it is demonstrated that lots of thriller films makeover their production logo to give it a more frightening feel using different colour themes and animations. For example the both of the common company logos of Lionsgate and Warner Bros have a different colours scheme to the usual, this immediately sets the tone for the film. The logo for Saw has animation of lightning and barbed wire which again shows the tone of the film and immediately presents the genre.

Mis En Scene: 
For thriller films Mis En Scene used varies between sub genres. Horror thrillers are set in dark, grimy rooms with a cold, damp tone to it, they also use low level lighting, this puts the audience on edge as it isn't a comfortable environment for the characters. For comedy thrillers that appeal to teenagers and young adults the surroundings tend to be places they relate to such as teenagers homes or high schools. For action films, the Mis En Scene tends to be bright lighting, creating a modern feel to it with elaborate locations such as London, New York, Los Angeles or the south of France. This appeals to male target audiences (who most action thriller films are aimed at) as it presents the lavish life which young boys aspire to have, these lives have been presented as desirable through games such as Grand Theft Auto which are popular amongst young males.

Sound:
Like Mis en Scene, sound tends to change with the subgenre of the film. Action thrillers use sharp intense, loud music to build tension and get the audiences adrenaline pumping. Horror thriller films tend to use music that builds up to gradually build tension and suspense, this gets the audience on the edge of their seat making it easier to scare them, therefore having a lasting impact on the viewer. Psychological thrillers use eery music, this makes the audience unsettled. Comedy thrillers tend to use modern well known music, this adds an upbeat feel to the film. However some comedy thrillers will use over-the-top dramatic music to mock the stereotypical thriller genre an example of this is Spy (2015).

Editing:
A common editing technique used in action thrillers is jump cuts. Jump cuts are often used during action sequences for example a car chase, these are common in James Bond films. Crime, horror and psychological thrillers often use cold, grimy filters in their films, this adds to the gritty feel of the film and plays a large part when setting the tone.

Genre Research (Thriller) - Cabin In The Woods Opening (2012)

Institutional Information:
When five friends go for a break at a remote cabin in the woods they get more than they bargained for. Together they must discover the truth behind the cabin without getting killed. This filmed was released 13th April 2012 (UK) with an estimated budget of $30,000,000 and made $14,743,614 opening weekend. Overall the movie grossed $42,043,633 all together. The film was directed by Drew Goddard who is also known for Six Feet Under (2001). The movie was written by Joss Whedon who is known for their work on Toy Story (1995). The movie stars actors such as Kristen Connolly known for Revolutionary Road (2008) and Chris Hemsworth famous for the well known Thor series.

Target Audience and Genre:
This film is aimed at older audiences, this is due to the official certificate which is a 15. Other aspects of the film which also point towards the older audience are for example: references to a sexual relationship between a student and a teacher, as well as the strong language used throughout. These features would be inappropriate for younger viewers to watch. The genre of this film is thriller, with sub genres of comedy and horror. The horror is represented through the violence the teenagers face, with the scientists observations added to lighten the mood.The sarcastic humor used by the scientists would appeal to teenagers as it is used commonly within the younger generation. However the slightly immature characters would appeal less to older audiences therefore putting the targeted audience of around 15-20 year olds.

Opening Credits:

We are first given an edited shot of the Lionsgate logo. By giving the normally blue/grey logo and red/black makeover, this has connotations of blood, danger and death, this links with the plot of the movie). This would also reinforce into the audiences' mind that they are about to watch a movie with aspects of horror. This then fades to black and is replaced with pools of blood oozing onto a black background. This would again promote that its a horror movie. On top of the blood there are symbols that resemble those of ancient Egypt. This could illustrate to the audience that the reasoning behind some aspects of the movie is that its for a bigger purpose than it seems. This is all revealed at the end of the film. These symbols, although at first seem meaningless, are little clues to the audience to keep them guessing. The credits that appear over the top are in a dark red font, this blends into the background easily, this keeps the attention on the symbols.

Narrative:
This film has a linear narrative, we are told the story step by step. There are no flashbacks used, therefore we rely solely on characters speech to understand what has happened previously. For example; we are told that the protagonist had a relationship with a teacher, although this is crucial information to the plot, we aren't given any flashbacks, it leaves the audience to fill in the blanks.

Shots Used:

 

Over the shoulder shots have been used between the two scientists, this is used to show an equal relationship between them, this shows that neither one has a higher job role then the other. This is also shown by the shots being kept eye-level. A higher or lower angle shot would signify the dominance of one character other the other. By keeping it eye-level it shows the respect and friendship between them, this is because they work together. At 1:34 we see a long shot, this establishes the setting these characters are in, we can see people with lab coats, this tells the audience that they are scientists who work for a large company.

This high angle extreme long shot shows the audience how insignificant these characters are in the bigger picture, every shot until now has been eye-level, by making the characters look so small in such a big room, it shows they are just one of many employees, this could explain their sarcastic attitude. At 2:54 a long tracking shot is used to establish a new setting, this follows a man on a bike in the street which then pans up and shows the window with the main character standing in front of it. At 3:17, we get a low angle shot of the protagonist staring at a book. The deep focus is on the girl, this could therefore suggest the girl is mesmerised by the book due to the drawing of the man inside.

A close up shot is used of the brown haired girl looking at the drawing whilst her blonde haired friend looks over her shoulder behind her. Close up shots are often used to display emotion, this shot cleverly shows the contrast in emotions the drawing brings out of the two characters. The girl on the left is clearly very emotional, this tells the audience that she has a emotional bond to the man, however from her watery eyes we can tell that whatever relationship that has occurred between them has ended.The emotion on the girl on the right's face is clearly disgust, this tells the audience that their past relationship was unhealthy as her friend is not sympathetic at the sight of him. This is later confirmed when we learn its a teacher student relationship.

Sound:
During the opening credits, non-deigetic mysterious music has been added, this makes the images on the blood more dramatic. As we cut to the office building with the two workers inside, typical elevator music plays in the background, this creates a work environment and tells the audience that these two characters have jobs in this location. During this scene there is also subtle diegetic sounds such as the coffee machine, this again creates a work environment as coffee is typically drank while at work. A diegetic announcement is heard in a woman's voice as they walk out of the room, this creates a smoother transition between the shots, also adds to effect that this is a large facility. There is also an echo to their voices creating the same effect. A very loud non-diegetic sound effect has been added over the credit 'The Cabin In The Woods' this would catch the audience off guard as every scene so far has been relaxed and quiet. Loud added sound effects are a common horror convention. The loud spiralling music also signifies that they are building up to something. As it cuts to the second setting, loud non-deigetic 'funky' music has been added, this would appeal to the target audience as it is fun and catchy, this also relates to the characters, as they are teens, they would stereotypically be into that genre of music. Although this music is non-diegetic it fits well, as the girl in the window appears to be slightly dancing. This upbeat music is kept up throughout this whole scene.

Conclusion:
Overall this conclusion is very successful as it combines conventions of horror and comedy, although these are two juxtaposing genres it works well and creates something that isn't done often, therefore it keeps the audience on their toes as its difficult to predict what will happen next.

Genre Research (Thriller) - Saw Opening 2004

Institutional Information:
Two men wake to find themselves in a room with no idea how they got there or why they're there. They have to piece together the puzzle to get out answering the ultimate question: If given one last chance at life, would you kill to live? This movie was released October 1st 2004 with an estimated budget of $1,200,000 making $18,276,468 on opening weekend (USA). Overall the movie grossed $55,153,403 (USA). Saw was directed by James Wan who is also known for his work on other horror movies such as Insidious: Chapter 2 (2013) and The Conjuring (2013). Its written by Leigh Whannell and James Wan who have written other horror movies such as Insidious: Chapter 2 & 3 (2013) & (2015). The movie stars actors such as Cary Elwes and the writer Leigh Whannell.

Genre/ Target Audience:
Saw is targeted at older audiences due to the official certificate of the film which is 18. This is due to the blood and violence throughout, this would typically appeal more to males than females as males stereotypically enjoy films with more gore. The genre of the film is thriller with subgenres of horror and mystery, this is shown through the audience waking up with the characters, we know nothing more than the characters in this situation, this would appeal to the viewer as we are seeing through their perspective.

Mis En Scene:
The opening of this film is set up so that the viewer is in the same position as the characters, we know nothing more about their surrounding then they do. This makes for a more captivating scene as we are thrown into the storyline straight away. The first half of the opening is set in darkness, this adds mystery to the setting as we can't see the full picture. Before the lights are turned on in the scene the room is very dimly lit, this makes the audience uneasy because they don't have any insight into the location. The lighting of the scene is very cold with blue tones, this adds to the chilling feel of the room and the dampness they wake up in. The room they are in doesn't feel warm or welcoming at all, this makes the film more off-putting for the audience, these are common scenes within horror thrillers. The fact that the scene is set in a small room with no windows adds to the feeling of being enclosed and trapped with no where to run; this puts the audience on edge. The grubby walls and flickering lights give connotations that they are in abandoned building, this is scary because there would be no one around to help them. The shots are filmed on a handheld camera which creates frantic shaky shots which implies to the audience that the characters are very fearful.

Narrative:
The opening of saw has a linear structure, the audience is with the characters as they wake and up and analyse their surroundings. As viewers we don't know anymore than the characters, this would intrigue the audience as the plot uses an enigma, the movie constructs a puzzle which is solved through the characters actions. However the movie as a whole has more of a non-linear structure as we are given flashbacks throughout. These are effective as it helps the audience to solve the puzzle. A lot of flashbacks are used in the ending of the film, this reminds the audience of everything that has happened for the character to end up in the position they are in. It also builds suspense and dramatises the ending when the puzzle is solved.

Opening Credits:
The first thing we see is flashes of green light, we then see a bright white flash and then a edited version of the 'Lionsgate' logo is shown. This sequence reflects lighting, this has been used as lightning storms are typically scary, the loud bang would catch the audience off guard as they wouldn't expect such a loud noise right at the start of a movie. This would scare them and start the uneasy tone which they keep up throughout the movie.

The next logo we see is the logo of the production company which is Twisted Productions. This fits with the horror genre well as particularly horrific horror movies are often described as 'twisted', this has connotations of being a psychopath, and have no empathy. This connotes to the audience that this film will show no mercy, this would excite them as they have watched this movie to be scared. The barbed wire adds to the creepy feel of the logo as it has connotations of being trapped as it is generally used for the surrounding walls of prisons. The next strike of lightening signifies to the audience that the movie is about to start. The opening credits of the movie are in a blue font, as it fades on and off the screen it swirls around, this gives the illusion that its underwater which gives a clean transition into the first shot of the movie.

Shots:
One of the first shots we see is a close up of the character underwater. Close up shots are usually used to show emotion, in this case its fear, shock and confusion. This tells the audience that this character is shocked by his surroundings, demonstrating that he isn't there by choice, immediately raising the question of who put him there. By placing the character underwater in the first shot, this sets a tone of danger as its possible he could have drowned. We are then given lots of different close up shots of him struggling in the water, this emphasises the danger and fear he is feeling as he is trying very hard to get out. A close up shot of a key is presented to us, this signifies that this is an important object that will be a large part of the plot, its later revealed what the key was for and why it was important.

Once the character emerges from the bath we are shown a medium shot of the character, this shot lasts for 50 seconds without a cut. This shot has been used to emthasise the confusion felt by the character. He can only see him as he discovers the chain on his leg and the wall behind him. The audience sees him looking around the room, however no cross cutting is used to show the audience what he is seeing. This adds to the mystery as although we see him reacting to what he is seeing, we can't see, therefore this gets the audience interested to see what he has reacted so strongly to. This shot could also link to him not being able to see anything clearly due to the limited light. He can't see anything therefore the audience can't either.

This high angle shot is used to show the blinding effect the lights have on the man. High angle shots are generally used to show weakness within the character, this emphasises the big effect turning on the lights has on him, visually impairing him for a few seconds. This is reinforced as we get a low angle point-of-view shot from the perspective of the man which slowly focuses, this represents his eyes adjusting to the lights. We then cut to a medium shot of the only other character in the room, which cuts to a blurred long shot which represents his eyes adjusting to the light. This shot also reveals a large section of the room which hasn't been done yet, this is the most of the room we have seen yet. We then see a long shot which pans down exposing a large part of the floor we have never seen before, the floor. On the floor we see a dead man who seems to have shot himself in the head. This shot then zooms out while spiralling, this is an unusual shot, this would unnerve the audience as it spins, this could make them nauseous which adds to the sickening sight. This cuts to three different close up shots of his head, a recording device and a gun. These close up shots tell the audience that these items as well as the dead man play a huge part in the plot. It also answers the question of what happened to the man; he shot himself.

Sound:
The first sound we hear is a non-diegetic lightning sound, this has been added to the opening credits, the loud bang would possibly make the audience jump, this is a common horror convention. Also during the opening credits we hear swirling sounds of water, this links with the transition into the first shot which is underwater. In one of the first shots we see the character underwater, a non-deigtic thud has been added as the character wakes up, this dramatises the shot and adds a sense of panic. We hear lots of diegetic splashes of water, this also adds to the sense of panic. We hear the scraping of metal, this suggest that the victim is chained up. There is a slight echo to the sound, this illustrates that he is in an empty room which creates a feeling of abandonment. A loud non-diegetic noise has been added when the dead man is revealed, this makes it more shocking to the viewer. The scream sound also has the same effect, making the audience uncomfortable. As the three close up shots are used, non-diegetic thuds have been added again, this reinforces the importance of these objects to the plot. Eery music has been added throughout most of the scene which builds up the tension.

Editing:
The whole scene has a very blue filter over it, this creates a cold, stark, grotty tone to the room. This is a popular convention within the horror/thriller genre as it unwelcoming. Towards the end of the opening when the man with the brown hair pulls against the chains screaming for help, there is the use of jump cuts. These jumps cuts display the panic he is feeling as he realises the situation he is in.

Conclusion:
Overall, this opening is successful. By choosing to follow the characters as they wake up in their unknown location, it kickstarts the storyline straight away leaving the audience with unanswered questions, this keeps them interested in the story as they want to find out what these people did for them to end up in such a horrible situation.

Genre Research (Thriller) - The Dark Knight (2008)

Institutional Information: 
When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of gotham, the hero known as the Batman must come to terms with one of the greatest psychological tests of his ability to fight injustice. The movie was released on 18th July 2008 with an estimated budget of $185,000,000 (USA) making $158,411,483 on opening weekend (USA). Overall the movie grossed $533,316,061. The movie was directed by Christopher Nolan who is also known for directing Interstellar (2014) and Inception (2010). Nolan also worked on the screenplay along with Jonathan Nolan who has worked together many times previously. The movie stars famous actors such as Christian Bale who is known for American Hustle (2013) and Terminator Salvation (2009), as well as the late Heath Ledger who is famous for 10 Things I Hate About You (1999). This was the second film in the Dark Knight Trilogy and ended up becoming the bestselling of all three films. The film won 124 awards all together and 97 nominations including an Oscar for the sound editing of the film.

Target Audience/ Genre: 
The primary target audience for this film is fans of the batman franchise. his franchise has the ability to attract many different ages as the franchise dates back to May 1939. The target audience would predominantly be males above 12 years old as the film displays violence through the use of guns and bombs. This action aspect of the movie would greatly appeal to male audiences. The genre of this movie is thriller with the sub-genre of action or superhero. However this challenges stereotypical conventions as the protagonist has a darker side which is not normally common for the hero of the story.

Opening Credits:

Right at the beginning of the opening we are presented with a shot of the 'Warner Bros. Pictures' logo, however the normal gold yellow tones are replaced by dark blues and blacks with a stormy sky in the background. This could connote that the movie will have a darker side, in this case its the protagonist. This isn't common within the genre, this adds an edge to the movie as it hasn't been done before. The same idea has been applied to the 'Legendary Pictures' logo again making the film darker, as well as the 'DC Comics' logo. After this we are given a shot of what looks like the swirl of water or the smoke of an explosion. A cloudy vague version of the batman logo then fades in and out again quickly. This is a well known symbol that the audience would recognise easily.

Mis En Scene:

This aerial shot is used to establish the location of the movie. The shot is around 20 seconds long and shows us a wealthy looking city. We can see this due to the large number of tall buildings, this can be recognised by people familiar with the franchise as Gotham city, this is where the Batman franchise is set. Cities are also more crime filled than rural areas, this is a common setting used for action movies. An example of crime is displayed when we see the window of the building getting smashed. This leads up from the setting straight into the plot of the opening. 

This high angle shot emphasises the danger the robbers are in as they slide out the window, this tells the audience that the criminals have done this before as they jump out without hesitation at the long drop. This implies that this robbery has been carefully through out and planned beforehand warning us that these people are highly dangerous. This is demonstrated again when the scene cuts to an aerial shot of them zip lining between the buildings. 

This close up shot is used to emphasise the danger the criminal is in as the man behind him lifts his gun to shoot him. Close up shots and generally used to show a characters emotion, however in this scene the majority of characters are wearing masks, this therefore leaves the audience to imagine what their facial expressions would be as this sequence plays out in front of us. As its such a stereotypical shot for an action movie its easy for the audience to fill in the blanks. 

This close up shot of the bank worker shows him leaning over to a desk and taking something out of a draw, although we understand what he is doing, we aren't shown what he is taking out of the draw. This adds mystery to the scene. This then cuts to a shot of a robber who is shot from behind, as he drops and the glass behind falls away we see that it was the bank worker who shot him and what he got out his draw was a gun. This short sequence is very successful as it plays on the confusion of the audience.   

This low angle shot is used to show dominance of the man in the mask over the bank worker. The dominance is because the worker in the bank has already been shot, therefore is in a weaker position compared to the joker. These low angle shots are stereotypical within the action thriller genre because they make shots of the villain dramatic. This is successful as it shows that the joker has control of the situation. 

Although the joker is present throughout almost the whole opening scene, his identity is kept a secret only being hinted at every now and then. This adds mystery to the opening allowing the audience to pick up the clues and figure out which one is the joker- a key character in this story. All the criminals are dressed in dark clothing, this has connotations of crime, especially robbery. Cross cuts are used between different conversations about the joker, this reinforces the idea that the joker is a very important character for this movie. 

Sound:

In the opening we start with non-deigetic music added in the background whilst the city is introduced, this music gets gradually louder as you zoom into the building, this builds tension signalling to the audience that the action is about to start. We hear diegetic sound as the window is smashed, and straight after the music starts to build up and pick up pace, this links in with the action commencing. We cut to a scene with the joker standing on the corner of a road holding a mask, as the camera zooms into the mask we hear one lingering note, this tells the audience that this mask is important to the plot. This note is immediately cut off as the van pulls up and the joker springs into action. During the high angle shot of the street a loud thud has been added as non-diegetic sound, this creates a dramatic effect emphasising the danger the robbers are risking. 

As the robbery is happening non-deigetic thuds have been added to the scene in groups of two. These could represent a heartbeat, this adds a sense of danger and threat to the movie. It puts you in the position of the people being robbed. At the end of the opening as the joker looks down at the bank manager the same music is played that was added during the establishing shots of the city Gotham. This tells the audience that this is the villain that everything has built up to reveal. 

Character Representation:

The Joker is presented as manipulative as he was able to set up a whole bank robbery involving multiple criminals and purposely manage to be the last man standing, this shows intelligence. The men are presented to be working for the Joker as they call him 'The Boss', this tells us the audience that the Joker would have be crafty to pull this off without revealing his identity as none of the robbers know who he is, this is shown through snippets of conversation such as 'So why do they call him the Joker?' 'I heard he wears makeup'. This is also a line which helps the audience identify him as  when he takes his mask off at the end of the opening. The long build up leading to the reveal of the Joker illustrates to the audience that he is a very important character.  

Conclusion:

Overall this is a very successful opening for a thriller action movie. This movie is one of the most successful action movies made. It cleverly sets up the audiences opinions of the Joker before even revealing him, therefore the audience get a sense of what he is like right at the start of the film setting the tone for the rest of the movie. The use of sound builds up tension very well, also adding clues for the audience to pick on up as the scene progresses. 

Genre Research - What Is a Thriller?

What is a Thriller?
Thriller is a genre of film or television that heavily stimulate viewers moods through the use of suspense, tension and excitement. These moods generally consist of uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror, these create a heightened level of expectation and anticipation. Films in this genre tend to be face paced and filled with adrenaline. Thrillers are designed to provide a rush of excitement with peaks and lulls throughout the narrative. This keeps the audience on the 'edge of their seats'. Plot twists and cliffhangers are often used to do this. Thrillers usually include villain-driven plots, this is where the protagonist has to overcome the obstacles the antagonist throws in the way.

Subgenres:
Within thriller there are also subgenres. Here are some examples:

Action Thriller: Featuring explosions, guns and amazing set pieces. First developed in the 1970s. Examples: Dirty Harry and French Connection.
Comedy Thriller: Combines elements of comedy and thrillers, combination of humor and suspense or action. Examples: Silver Streak and Charade.
Conspiracy Thriller: Hero/heroine confronts a large powerful group of enemies whose true intent only he/she recognises. Examples: Awake and Snake Eyes.
Crime Thriller: Offers a suspenseful account of a successful or failed crime/s. Often focus on the criminal instead of the police. Examples: Seven, Silence of the Lambs.
Erotic Thriller: Empathises on eroticism, sexual relationships play a large part of the pot. Examples: Sea of Love, Colour of Night.
Supernatural Thriller: Brings in other worldly elements mixed with tension, suspense and pot twists. Examples: Unbreakable and Horns.
Spy Thriller: The protagonist is generally a government agent who must take violent action against an opposing government. Examples: Spy Game, Traiter.
Psychological Thriller: Conflict between characters is mental and emotional rather than physical. Dangerous situations they are not prepared to cope with. Examples: Strangers om a Train, Blue Velvet.
Political Thriller: Hero\heroine must ensure the stability of the government. Examples: Seven Days in May, The Man who Knew Too Much.
Legal Thriller: Suspense film where major characters are lawyers and their employees. Involves system of justice. Examples: The Jury, Silent Witness.

Why have I chosen the Genre Thriller?
I have chosen to create a thriller film as this is a very open genre with many different subgenres, this allows me to have a wider range of options to choose from for my film opening. Thrillers also tend to be set in abandoned, isolated areas, this will be helpful because I live in a rural area where these places are available to me to film in. Thrillers also tend to involve fewer characters, this will be ideal as I will have limited access to actors.