Foundation portfolio 2012 - 2013 by Becky, Jess and Jodie

Monday, 4 February 2013

Sound Homework (by Becky, Jess and Jodie)

Sunday, 3 February 2013

Research Task by Jess Brayne

Thriller Opening 1: The disappearance of Alice Creed

Mise en Scene

Setting: A car park, a hardware shop, a flat, the woods and a bed/furniture shop.
Costume: Typical men's clothes, jeans, t-shit and a jacket/coat
Props: Mainly DIY tools
Facial Expressions: Not many
Body Language: Normal, they know what they are doing

Editing

Straight cuts

Camerawork

Close-ups
Extreme Close-ups
Two Shots
Panning Shots
Tracking Shots

Sound:

Diegetic: Exaggerated throughout, plane overhead, car moving, trolley wheel, DIY work. No talking
Non-diegetic: Music - fast, sad, tense and builds over time

Evaluation:

This opening works well as a thriller because the audience is left with lots of unanswered questions like, out of all the cars why steal a van? Who are these people? Where is this film set? Why are they soundproofing a room? It also works well as there is no talking as it creates more mystery.

Thriller Opening 2: Along Came a Spider

Mise en Scene:

Setting: An office, a flat, the street/road
Costume: Smart work clothes
Props: Food and drinks, computer/desk, a car
Facial Expressions: Main character - Bored, fed up, maybe depressed. Others: Happy
Body Language: The same as the facial expressions

Editing

Straight cuts
Maybe cross cutting

Camerawork

Close-ups
Over the Shoulder shots
2 shots
Shots that just show setting

Sound

Diegetic: Singing 'Happy Birthday', general chatter, feet tapping, typing on a keyboard
Non-diegetic: Clunking as words appear on screen, music - gentle but fast and the main characters thoughts

Evaluation:

One reason this works so well as a thriller opening is because of the on screen writing that comes up first and then makes the audience wonder what this character has to do with the Fraternity. Also we wonder who the man getting out of the car is as the main character is talking about his dad as this other man come on screen so could that be his dad? Another reason this works well as a thriller is because it appears to be normal day so there must be a big twist as some point.

Thriller Opening 3: Donkey Punch

Mise en Scene

Setting: City, a hot country, a hotel, bars
Costume: Swimwear and dresses over the top, stereotypical summer clothes
Props: Drinks
Facial Expressions: Mostly happy, at one point concerned, maybe angry
Body Language: Mostly happy and ready for a good time,

Editing:

Straight cuts

Camerawork

Panning
Close-ups
Multi person shots
Over the Shoulder shots

Sound:

Diegetic: Plane, chatting, water, phone
Non-diegetic: Music - slow, acoustic

Evaluation

This opening makes the film seem very normal and that it is going to be about a group of girls who have a nice holiday, the only hint of something bad is when there is a close-up of a blood covered tissue in the sink. Although there is a little bit of speaking which is uncommon in thriller openings it helps give the impression that this will be a very happy film.

Thriller opening 4: Watchmen

Mise en Scene:

Setting: A flat, Presidents office, a TV studio, outside the flat
Costume: Pyjamas, dressing gown, smart/professional
Props: Badge, cigar, kettle, TV
Facial Expressions: Serious
Body Language: Not a lot, mostly standing still or sitting down

Editing:

Straight cuts
One shot links to another, the character changes the channel and the setting changes as well

Camerawork:

Close-ups
Medium-long shots
Pan-in

Sound:

Diegetic: Kettle boiling, the TV, water
Non-diegetic: None

Evaluation:

Although this is not a classic thriller opening, as they like to give the impression that everything is normal, I think it is still a very effective one because the audience still doesn't know this character is or why the news is so important to him/his character. The lighting in this opening is very low and this suggests that something bad is going to happen as usually bad things, like murders for example, don't happen in broad daylight. One reason this is very different to any other opening is that there is no non-deigetic sound, it is all in the film.

N.B. I am sorry for the lack of screen shots but I do not own the films on disc and when I paused them a 'play' button came up in the middle of the screen.

Research task by Jodie Cruttenden

Initial Research

Task: To post research findings on at least four thriller openings. Make at least two references to each of the 4 areas of editing, camerawork, Mise en Scene and sounds.

Panic Room (2002)

Setting/Decor

Mise en Scene

Setting- New York/New York apartment (You can instantly identify that it is set in New York because of the iconic yellow taxis)
Decor- It is an empty apartment in new York, and as the apartment is for sale the place is empty. Decor can usually tell you things about a character but as it's empty it leaves you to interpret what the characters could be like.
Props- Scooter, umbrella, bags
Lighting- When the characters are outside, it is daylight so the lighting is natural light. Whereas inside the apartment the only light is coming from the windows.
Costume- Fur coat, plain black clothes, white coat.
Body Language- nervous

Setting

Facial Expression- Unsure

Editing

Straight cuts
Continuity editing

Low angle showing the child on the scooter

Camerawork

Low angles
Close ups, Medium Shots,
Tracking

Sound

Diegetic sound- Traffic, cars, children, walking, dogs barking, wind

Evaluation

This is quite a interesting opening to a thriller. At the beginning of the film you see the characters walking through New York to look at an apartment for sale. The questions that were raised when I watched this opening were- How is this going to turn into a thriller? Simply because the opening to this film is a happy opening, the characters have a good lifestyle, it leaves the viewer wanting to know how the film ends.

P2 (2002)

Mise en Scene

Setting- In New York, car park and in an office block
Decor- Office setting, desk, computer, paper all over desk, plants
Props- Phone, headset, computer
Lighting- Quite dark, her face is well lit
Costume- Blue shirt, hair up, plain trousers
Body Language- Friendly towards employee, stressed whilst on phone
Facial Expression- Not bothered, tired

Editing

Match on Action

Match on action
Straight cuts

Camerawork

Panning
Depth of field
Close ups, big close up, medium close ups, 2 shots

Match on Action

Sound

People talking in the background, music, sirens, keyboard, phone ringing
No other sounds used in this opening

Evaluation

The opening of this thriller starts of with a few shots from the car park, the car park is dark and sets a 'nervous' atmosphere. It then switches from the car park to the office where you see the female character talking on the phone and then to an employee, you can interpret that something is going to happen because of the shot of the car park but that's the good thing about this opening because it leaves the audience wanting to know more.

The Machinist (2004)

Man lighting ciggarette

Setting- An apartment/outside by the sea
Decor- Quite modern, big windows
Props- Truck, cigarette, lighter
Lighting- Dark, few lights in the apartment. When outside it is night time.
Costume- Open shirt, trousers, blood and cuts on face
Body Language- Weak, tired, nervous
Facial Expression- Scared

Editing

Long takes

Camerawork

Tilt
Extreme long shot, close ups, long shots, medium long shots
Low angles

Sound

Waves, truck, walking
Music from the start of the film, plays throughout the opening

Evaluation
This thriller opening is different to the previous two because it begins with the actual 'story', whereas the other two started with the characters having no idea what was going to happen (dramatic irony). There is non diegetic sound, and it is used from the start of the opening till the end, this creates suspense and fits perfectly with what is happening on screen,

Arlington Road (1999)

Setting- Neighbourhood, hospital
Decor- Very 'American' neighbourhood
Props- Car
Lighting- Daylight, brighter lights when in hospital
Costume- Child is wearing trainers, trousers and a hoodie
Body Language- The child is limp and looks as if about to pass out
Facial Expression- Hardly a facial expression as about to pass out

Editing

Cross cutting
Quick cuts

Camerawork

Low angles
Long shots, extreme close ups, over the shoulder shot

Sound

Non diegetic- Talking, background music
Sounds when in the hospital

Evaluation

This is an intruguing thriller opening as it starts with the little boy and shows what has happened to him. This thriller opening includes suspense as you want to know what has happened to the child and why it has happened to him.

Friday, 1 February 2013

Research task by Becky Fermer

Initial Research

Inception

Mise en Scene

Reveals the setting

• Setting: beach/by the sea (waves crashing, sand, rocks)

• Costume: Main character = Dark, grey, damp and dirty

Girl = Pink dress

Boy = casual shirt and trousers

Man = Smart suit, clean

Guards = Military-like uniform

• Props: Guns, spinning gem

• Central positioning of subjects in the frame

• Facial expression: sad, helpless

• Body language: helpless, weak

Editing

Good use of DOF

• Straight cuts

• Slow motion (children building sand castle)

Camerawork

• CU, ECU and LS

• Low angle and eye level shots

• Tilt ups

• Good use of DOF

Sound

Props

• Diegetic: waves crashing, dialogue, children screaming and talking, gun on the table, spinning gem on the table.

• Non-diegetic: Low, humming pitch in the background.

Evaluation

The opening to this film, considers the aspects of what makes a good thriller. These include suspense, tension and dark themes, all of which engage the audience. At the end of this opening scene, we are left with a series of unasked questions. Who are these people? What is the object they are discussing? What do the children on the beach have to do with the character? Where are they? These factors produce an ENIGMA, which is a key feature to a successful thriller film.

Character in context (LS)

Jaws

Worms view

Camera work

• CU/LS/ELS distances

• High angles and eye levels.

• Worms view of the character from underneath the water.

• Tracking (Characters running along the beach.

Mise en Scene

• Lighting is low key

Character in context

• Characters costume consists of beach wear items

• Body language: -Loose, flexible, relaxed – tense, shaky, helpless

• Facial expression: - Happy, cheerful, full of life – scared, worried, shocked

• Setting is based by the sea (beach and sea)

• Characters and subjects are positioned in the centre of the frame.

Editing

• Straight cuts

• No cross cutting or parallel editing

Tension and suspense starts

Sound

• Diegetic: Dialogue, gasping for breath, splashing, screaming

• Non-diegetic: Deep sounding music (creates tension)

Narrative

• The first few seconds, start off in normality, when she is gathered around the campfire and running along the beach.

• However there is a dis-equilibrium, where an unrestricted narrative is used, as the audience know that something is going to grab her from underneath the water, although the character does not know this.

Evaluation

LS of character in context

The opening to Jaws, works well as a thriller. At the beginning, the film casts a calm and joyful atmosphere, with no sign of danger or trouble. However, this doesn’t remain the case. A few second later, we see panic and anxiety within the character as something appears to grab her from underneath the water, although the viewer and the character don’t actually see what it is. Suspense and tension therefore develops as the character starts to struggle. The introduction of intense non-diegetic sound reinforces this panicked mood, before the character is pulled under. The opening therefore ends unresolved and lies on a cliff-hanger.

44 Inch Chest

CU of hand

Mise en scene

• Close up shot distances of context (smashed up glass, torn cushions, scared dog) suggesting an argument or fight has taken place.

• Compositions of subjects in the frame are central.

• Lighting is low key

• Character is casually dressed (casual shirt and trousers)

• Setting appears home-like (sofas, TV, computer etc.)

• Man’s facial expression is drained and pale

• Body language is weak and helpless

Birds eye view (character appears dead)

Editing

• Transitions are a simple cut.

• Short and simple.

• No cross-cutting or parallel editing.

Camerawork

• Slow pan of the setting, from a LS (reveals a body lying on the floor)

• Close up of a hand (no movement, implies that he is dead)

• Close up of the man lying on the floor, eyes wide open (looks dead)

Sound

• Non-diegetic

• Sad music ( creates a sense of loss and sorrow)

• No other sounds within the extract

Evaluation

Although this is an unusual way of opening a thriller movie, it does work in an effective way. Everything is slow, calm and silent; however it casts a sense of distress and drama, which thrillers contain. The audience is left intrigued to continue watching the film and find out what’s going to happen next, all of which is a key feature when making a thriller movie.

The Usual Suspects

Mise en Scene
• Setting: On board a ship (night)
• Costume: Dark, black
• Hair: Short and scruffy (Keaton)
• Lighting: Low key, producing shadow and creating a tense mood. Lighting has been used in order to create a fire effect.
• Body language: Relaxed (Keaton) Bold and tall (Kaiser)
• Facial expression: Bleak, tired (Keaton)

• Composition: Character is central in the frame (Keaton) however we only see part of Kaiser, and never his face, therefore hiding his identity from the viewer.

Camerawork
• CU, LS, MCU
• Eye level when Keaton is in the frame. Low angle when Kaiser is in the frame.
• A tilt upwards is used, when the audience is first introduced to Kaiser’s character.

Editing
• Straight cuts
• Match on action

Sound
• Foley sound (footsteps of Kaiser when walking down the steps)
• Off-screen source of sound (the gun shot)
• Diegetic sound

• Slow, low pitch, non-diegetic pitch playing in the background

Narrative
• The structure of the film, places the resolution at the beginning, therefore highlighting a key scene, which helps the audience relate to the whole story.
• Objective camera is used
• Restricted narration is used, where the audience know less than the character (who is Kaiser?)This raises questions to the audience

Evaluation
The opening sequence to this film, considers aspects of dark themes, suspense, tension and engagement with the audience, all of which contribute to making a successful thriller. The usage of a restricted narrative leaves the audience with a series of questions. Who is Kaiser? What is the relationship with the two characters? Why are there so many dead bodies around? At the ending of the opening scene, we are left with an off screen gun shot, therefore, the audience are unsure whether Keaton was actually shot or not.