Wednesday 27 January 2010

film analysis, opening scene analysis and feedback

Film Title: Out of the Loop
Analysis: After many politicians who are against the proposed war get killed, an undercover agent goes rogue to uncover the conspiracy. After being spotted snooping around, the higher powers decide to frame him for the murders of the politicians, so now our protagonist has to keep one step ahead of the law in order to uncover the truth

genre: political action thriller

Opening Scene Analysis: showcases an assasin taking down one of the anti-war politicians. At first, when he is walking towards his destination, it will be mainly medium to long shots to show him blending in to the crowd, then when he is at his destination alone, it will be mostly shakey cam with close up. except for when the politician is in shot. Once the assasin kills the politician, he goes down to pretend to be concerned about the politician.

feedback: the feedback was mainly positive, the only concern was bringing a weapon onto college site, as we'd be filming mostly around the quad area. Overall though, the scene should prove to be quite successful, we'll just have to be considerate about how we handle the weapon. We will now sort out shot types, costume and props, hopefully do all the filming within one session.

Tuesday 19 January 2010



Lucky Number Slevin is a crime thriller released in 2006.
We have chosen the featured scene as it contains most of the features of a generic thriller. It shows examples of a non linear narrative, common in thrillers. It is used here to reveal previous events and inner details to the audience at the climax of the film.

Student Thriller Opening Analysis - 36

This thriller opening has some quite distinctive pros and cons. One strong point is the very enigmatic feel it keeps throughout, making you want to see the rest of the film to see if it will explain it, however, it is quite average in it's delivery, using unnecessary sound effects, such as the zip opening and the weak and inaccurate gunshots which distract from the story line. A good thing about it is the way it doesn't appear as a thriller at first, until the red filter appears and the mood drastically changes, this is good because it delivers a sense of confusion to the viewer. One thing that didn't do them any favors was the overuse of the special effect for the title, which took up over a quarter of the time meaning the sequence was longer and more arduous than it should have been. Overall, we'd give this film a medium or high Level 3. We will make we follow it as a guide, such as selecting mise-en-scene that creates appropriate meaning (I.E costume, setting etc.)


We have decided that this thriller opening should be graded at a level 4 as it shows an excellent level of ability. A variety of shot types has been used well including a POV shot from inside the van as it drives, a convention of thriller films which helps the viewer to become more involved in the story.
The non linear narrative works well, creating tension by juxtaposing the shots of preparation with the action shots.
They have made a good use of mise-en-scene especially with their props. The shots of the whiskey glass, gun prep and inside of the van work well within the sequence, building tension.
They have set up the shots well, making good use of a tripod for steady, well framed shots including detailed backgrounds.
When filming our own sequence we will try to make use of some of the techniques used in this sequence for a better effect, remembering the variety of shots and well used props.

Friday 15 January 2010

What is genre and why is it useful for you as producers of a film?

- An easy way to categorize films (type of film)
- Starting point - conventions - iconography
- Symbol associated with genre
- Narrative/Theme/Character
- Visual/Oral/Style

For the industry.

- Existence of Genre makes it easy to target your audience
- Based on previous box office ratings film makers can make judgments about who the audience is.
- Trailers/posters include:
-Iconography (visual)
-Title
-Clues to narrative, character.etc

- Benefits to audience, influences your decision to see a film. Audience exceptions, familiar, recognizable.

"Genre is in a constant state of flux" Steve Neale -1981

Flux - Movement, Change.

Reasons:
- Changing attitudes/Ideologies(beliefs)
- Improving technology (Action, Sci Fi, Horror)
- CGI - Computer Generated Imagery
- Fashions/Popular trends.
- Reflect current times e.g. Global Disaster
- To provide variation for audiences - Hybrid - Attracts a wider audience.
- Ideas of repetition and variation makes genre successful

Dark Knight

-Part of comic book action trend/Hybrid

-How does it follow generic conventions?
-Micro/Macro

-How does it make x(can't read own handwriting) - how does it achieve this?
-Techniques.

-Hybrid of Action, Thriller.

Dark Knight Opening

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OYBEquZ_j0

The Dark Knight is classed as a action/crime/thriller. It Therefore follows some useful conventions for a thrillers opening sequence. Firstly the music is a simplistic, tense and slightly jumpy at relevant parts of the sequence.
There is also a level of mystery, frequently used in the opening of many thrillers. This is done by no names being used and all the characters involved in the robbery wearing masks.
The characters are also discussing the antagonist "The Joker" about which nothing seems to be sure. The sequence is made tense also with the idea that everyone is expendable. Despite the fact that the robbers enter as a group, no key character is identified until the end of the sequence where one of the robbers reveals himself to be the joker.
The rumours surrounding the joker aside, elements of his character are revealed through his ability to manipulate people to his own end and willingness to dispose of them.
Like many thrillers, the film is set in Gotham, a New York style city that 'never sleeps'. This increases the level of danger as many more citizens are at risk.
There is also an important deterrent from conforming to a stereotype that all criminals have a motive and a code of honour, by showing a criminal that has neither.
"Criminals in this town used to believe in things; honour, respect. Look at you, what do you believe in?" (To Joker) This also comments on the jokers extreme ideals and sets up an unconventional character generally unknown to the genre.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-rkpgchJOA

Thursday 14 January 2010

title sequence analysis - Sparticus - Max Thompson

the title sequence for Sparticus sets the general mood and scope for the rest of the film. The music is very dramatic and ominous giving the sense of an epic story. The hands in chains hint at the fact that this may involve slaves, plus when you see the first hand in chains the words 'Kirk Douglas as Sparticus' appear, implying to the fact Sparticus frees the slaves. An stone owl appears with the words 'Lawrence Olivier as Crassuss' suggesting he could be in some senses an omniscient figure, and then 'Jean Simmons as Varinia' appears with a feminate hand holding a jug, implying she is or will be a mother or provider. The fact that all the images are stone sculptures and there is latin writing suggests this is an historical epic and the imagery of swords suggests war or a battle. The final shot is of a stone statue of a man's face crumbles away to leave a bit of cracked face and a eye hole. This could resemble the fall of the Roman empire, which is what Sparticus tries to do. The opening title sequence is simple, yet it purely represents the battle between the iron fist of oppression and the desire for freedom.

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Cape Fear evaluation

this is how the opening sequence links to the rest of the film with Cape Fear
water - the climax of the film is set on a houseboat on a river
bird - one of Max Cady's tattoos (the antagonist) is of a bird of this nature
silhouette - Max Cady (the antagonist)
eyes - belong to 15 year old Danielle

Cape Fear Notes

We watched the opening sequence of some thriller films to find the conventions of thrillers etc.
The film we are focusing on is 'Cape Fear'
- Water - distorted images, reflections, drowning connotations
- Links with 'cape' water, lake
- Could be linked to the narrative (danger)
- Bird - predator from low angle. suggests being hunted, victim
- Silhouette of man - mysterious, villain, hidden identity
- Extreme close up of eyes - danger, victim
- Eyes - vulnerability, fear shows in the eyes
- Water droplet, red filter, could refer to blood, danger
- Tense orchestral music, louder with credits, uncomfortable atmosphere
- Negative view on face
- Bold, white capital font
- Distorted images, layered, confusion, merges ideas

Tuesday 12 January 2010

Sub Genres

Examples of sub genres.

Psychological thriller - the conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional, rather than physical. Examples: The Machinist, Memento, Oldboy

Erotic thriller - Based around sexual desires. Examples: Basic Instinct

Techno thriller - In which technology is described in detail and made essential to the reader's/viewer's understanding of the plot. Examples: Minority Report, Blade Runner, Gojira, The Hurt Locker

Disaster Thriller - The main conflict is due to some sort of natural or artificial disaster. Examples: The Day After Tomorrow, The Towering Inferno

Religious Thriller -Tthe plot is closely connected to religious objects, institutions and questions. Examples: The Da Vinci Code, The Devil's Advocate

Conventions of a Thriller

- crime at the core of the narrative
- Enigmas (mystery) for spectator
- mystery usually solved at the en
- suspense - key to thriller
- micro elements - musical score, suspense and tension
- low key lighting, adds to mystery/suspense
- often oblique/canted angles, distorts image
- often POV shots, fast action shots and close ups
- protagonist (main character) and antagonist (villain or force e.g. paranormal)
- main characters often accustomed to danger e.g. law enforcer, spies, soldiers etc. or normal civilians drawn into danger
- hero usually beats the villain

Friday 8 January 2010

prelim