Textual analysis planning

Editing

In general, the editing is very sudden and quick, to indicate the pace of the film’s context, this is especially shown through the use of cross cutting and jump cuts between and during the scenes, like from the apartment and to the crime scene.  Inserts are used often for example, when Freeman’s character is organising his possessions an insert is used to display their significance towards the character. Another insert is used again, on the metronome implying the importance of its being there and how it relates to the situation.  Shot/reverse shot are displayed amid Pitt and Freeman’s characters whilst conversing, connoting the shared partnership.

Mise-en-scene:

The scene starts with all bright colours and the clothing that Morgan Freeman’s character is wearing is white, this could possibly connote happiness. When he starts to get ready for the case that he is investigating he puts on darker clothing and the building that he is investigating in has much dimmer/darker lighting. This could be to represent death as they are looking into a murder case and the colour black is often a connotation of death.  Stay classy. The metronome may be to represent that he is running out of time with the case that he is investigating. It could also be to show that the more time he takes investigating, the more death there will be. The use of mise-en-scene is interesting in the opening credits of the film because it is all dark colours and you can see photographs of people with black pen over them, possibly representing the people that have lost their life. The rain could connote the sadness that the characters are feeling as people have lost their lives and they are finding it difficult to solve the case.

Camera

Over the shoulder shot used when he is looking in the mirror, this shows that he cares about the way that he looks; he is professional. Medium shot used to clearly show the blood on the wall to represent the death that has taken place. The close up on the metronome represents that he is running out of time. The constant changing of camera shots during the opening credits represent that the characters are desperate to solve the case and they are worried that they won’t be able to find the conclusion to it.

 

Sound  

- Metronome resemble time ticking away to catch the killer

-Synchronous, keys when he picked them up, footsteps, sound of rain 

- Dialogue

-Diegetic

-Non-diegetic with the music being inserted within the title clip making the book

- Silence creates tension

-Record screeching

This task was completed by the whole of the group each person did one

Potential logos

BBFC age ratings

The BBFC examines and age rates films and videos before they are released in order to protect children from unsuitable content in films and to give consumers information they might need about a particular film before watching it. Typically, two examiners view a film for theatrical release. In most cases a Senior Examiner will confirm the examiners’ initial classification, but if the Examiners disagree with each other, or if important policy issues are involved, the work may be seen by other members of the Board up to, and including, the Director and Presidential team. Occasionally they need to take specialist advice about the legal acceptability of film content. The same process exists for DVDs and Blu-rays though generally these are seen by one Examiner. However, opinions from other Examiners may be required for more difficult works. They look at issues such as discrimination, drugs, horror, dangerous and easily imitable behaviour, language, nudity, sex, and violence when making decisions.

 

U - Suitable for all

PG - Parental guidance

12 - Cinema release suitable for 12 years and over

12A - Video release suitable for 12 years and over

15 - Suitable only for 15 years and over

18 - Suitable for adults only

R18 - Adult works for licensed promises only

Reception Theory

Reception Theory It is when producers or directors construct a text that has hidden message or meaning. If done correctly the audience will be able to pick up the meaning or message straight away, but the audience will need to be reminded of the message throughout the film this could be done through character dialogue or actions within the film. For example; In horror and thriller films the audience is supposed to feel specific emotions that are related to a specific genre of film such as fear, anticipation and surprise these are all used to create suspense and tension within the film.

Audience theory presentation

Pictures demonstarting the use of lighting from a single light source

hypodermic needle theory

HYPODERMIC NEEDLE THEORY

The ‘Hypodermic Needle Theory’ is a theory which is the belief of a piece of media having a strong, powerful effect on its audience. 1940s and 1950s main media was seen as having a dominant influence on behaviour change. Factors that are consistent with the theory are; the fast rise and popularization of radio and television, the occurrence of the inducement industries (advertising and propaganda for example), the Payne Fund studies of the 1930s, which focused on the impact of motion pictures on children and Hitler’s monopolization of the mass media during WWII to unify the German public behind the Nazi party.

This task was completed by Tia Giove 

Thriller Institution

 

Thriller History within Film

 

Alfred Hitchcock's first thriller was his third silent film The Lodger in 1926.It was a story about Jack the Ripper. A lot of British directors made thrillers in the early stages of the thriller genre such as Walter Forde, Victor Saville, and George A. Cooper. Hitchcock was following a strong British trend in his choice of genre.

Types of Thriller

There are lots of sub-genres within the Thriller genre. These sub-genres include Comedy thriller, Conspiracy thriller, Crime thriller, Erotic thriller, Legal thriller, Political thriller, Spy thriller, Supernatural thriller and Techno thriller.

Marketing and production

The thriller Cloverfield used multiple teaser trailers to promote the film and made its target audience more aware of the film before it came out.

Another way the movie promoted itself to audiences was the use of posters like the one above. These are a good way to reveal to the audience the film’s release date and show them an image from the film to give them an idea of what it’s about. 

 

Well Known Directors

Alfred Hitchcock-

Rear Window (1954)

Psycho (1960)

Vertigo (1958)

Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Steven Spielberg-

Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

Jaws (1975)

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

James Cameron-

Titanic (1997)

Aliens (1986)

Terminator (1984)

Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

 

Distributors 

Warner Bros

Sony Pictures

Universal

Paramount Pictures

Fox Films

 

 

This piece of work was done by Jared Musson in our group

 

Script Analysis

For the script we have chosen to use minimal sound, to add effect and suspense. At the beginning we have a voice over of the antagonist which is Tia wondering what has happened and having flash backs of the chase. He have attempted to emulate 'Bates Motel' as when Norman looses his mind he forgets what has happened when he gets angry and kills but we have gone against the typical stereotype of the murderer being a masculine male and reverse it to be a petite teenage female in casual attire. By doing this we have avoided the cliché of a school girl. The typical connotations of a female that is feminine is the they are inferior and weak but we will manipulate the camera with low angles on the antagonist making her look more superior and using high angles to make the protagonist weak.

Script

Script

Scene 1

Room in the dark with a single light source  

Antagonist (Tia):    what happened?
             *Flash to woods scene*
               why did I do it?
              *Flash to running scene*
               when did it happen?
               *Flash to running scene*
                 Where did it happen?
               *Flash to running scene*

Running through woods, heavy breathing, diegetic sound

Log book

Activity Log

November 5^th 11:55 – filmed our initial idea and our thoughts on what our group could do, for example; the setting, when, how, what we are going to do etc.

November 6^th 9:10 – continued filming our first idea.

November 7^th 2:10 – changed the ideas and thoughts on the trailer.

November 12^th 11:55 – attempted lighting shots and worked out what lighting we may need, we couldn’t decide on camera shots or the source of lighting.

November 13^th 9:10 – we started to make the final decision on what sub genres we will put in to the genre category.

November 14^th 2:10 – we classified the sub genres that will be In the film.

November 19^th 11:55 – debated on diegetic or non-diegetic sound that we will use in the scene (mainly talking about voiceover).

November 20^th 9:10 started work on story board and started discussing the shots we are going to use.

November 21^st 2:10 – finished story boards, shots and setting.

November 26^th 11:55 – took the pictures demonstrating the lighting effects.

November 27^th 9:10 – started to consider what we are actually going to do in the scene.

November 28^th 2:10 – fully completed script.

 

 

explaination for the storyboard

With the storyboard we have chosen to film in the wood for a horror like effect because it is typical iconography for the genre and cross genre we have decided to choose, horror/thriller. We have reversed the typical character types making Tia the antagonist we will so this through low angle shots to make her look superior and we will also use lighting to create an ambient effect. Tia appearance will consist of casual attire, alluding the audience into a false sense of security. Christian is the protagonist within the scene we felt this with contrast with Tia's petite appearance.

Storyboard for thriller task

My preliminary video

Preliminary Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIkpfyRmJTk
There were some technical problems in production

These are my storyboards for the preliminary part of media studies AS.

Preliminary task

Started my preliminary this week, really exited to be working with Tia Goive and Daniel Hornigold. I've filmed before at GCSE but its different at a new school and makes it even more exiting working with different people. I cant wait!