Research: Opening Credits - Mr. Smith

Opening Credits

What are opening credits and what is their purpose?

- Opening credits are written information, presented to the audience in an opening of a film.

- The credits are used to show who produced the film, who is starring in the film and other production roles.

- This is essential information that allows the audience to know more about the production and show everyone who helped create the film.

 - They are effective in thrillers when accompanied by sound to create tension and fear. They are also effective when images relating to the film are used, as they give the audience an idea of what sort of images will be seen throughout the film. 

What information they provide?

Opening credits provide information about a film production in order to let the audience know who did what on screen and off screen to help create the production.



Here is the opening credits from the well known thriller production 'Se7en'. In this case, the order of appearance is:

- 'Name of studio' that is distributing the film.

- 'Name of production company' who actually made the film and are investing the production

- A film by.. (Director)

- 'Starring' Main actors (Real names)

- Film 'TITLE'

- Featuring (Featuring actors)

- Casting by..

- Music by

- Costumes designed by..

- Edited by..

- Production designed by..

- Director of photography

- Co producers

- Co-executive producers

- Executive producers

- Written by..

- Produced by..

- Directed by..

The opening credits make the viewers feel anxious by giving them an idea of the thriller type and what to expect in the film by the type of soundtrack that is used to build up tension within the types of iconography shown. This gives the audience an idea of what to expect, which are disturbing scenes and bad intentions. This is shown immediately by the disturbing peeling off of a mans finger prints and by several explicit images that are used to make the viewer feel put off.

Conclusion:

All the information above has helped me understand the information provided in a films opening credits. I will consider this to follow and show a similar order in my opening credits to gain as many marks as possible.

Research: Cinematography

 

Cinematography

Cinematography is a combination of how a shot is framed through the use of several micro-elements.

 Cinematography is spilt up into three features which is camera shot, movement and angle.

The way a shot is framed allows the audience to see how big or small the scene is or how a character is feeling and the situation they are in. For example, close ups allow the audience to see what the characters are feeling through facial expressions. Different types of shots can be used for various different ways e.g. to establish a clear view of a characters appearance or emotions. 

The movement of the camera allows the audience to see what is going on in a scene. For example if a protagonist is being chased by an antagonist, the camera movement would be following them or guiding the characters movements. This allows the audience to see where the characters are and what they are doing. For example a panning shot is used to follow characters walking. This also sets a scene and helps the audience view clearly the setting.

The angle of the shot allows the audience to see if the character is superior or not. For example, if the camera is shooting at a high angle and is facing down at the character this would represent the character as inferior. If a camera is showing the character at a low angle this makes the character look strong and superior. These shots are commonly used when one character is overpowering another e.g. when the protagonists or antagonist is about to lose a fight.

Research: Editing - Ms Begum

Editing

What is editing?

Editing is one of the most important micro-elements in film production, or even overall media.
Editing is when you select and prepare different editing shots to make a scene. This involves organising and correcting many different shots or even cutting some out to make a scene.

In editing there is a wide range of different types of shots and cuts that can be used in film. Different types of editing have different reactions towards the audience. Here are some examples of editing:

Straight cut: is when one shot goes into another shot in an edit. So there are no effects used, just simply putting one shot straight after another. Straight cut makes sense to the eye so it does not confuse the audience. Straight cut also makes it easier for the audience to see what is happening in the scene as it allows them to see what is happening in different angles and shots.


Fade to black: is when a shot moves into another shot with a black filter in between. This edit makes the audience feel curious of what is about to happen next. This type of edit is used in many trailers as it creates the curiosity effect towards the audience. fade to black can also be used to shock the audience as the black filter in between can be used to stall the audience of what is about to happen next.

Fast editing: is when a scene is edited to be played at a faster pace than normal. This engages the audiences attention as it makes them focus on the scene more so that they can catch everything that is happening in in the scene. This edit makes the scene look more realistic and believable, also raises the climax of the scene/film which makes the audience feel excited and attached.

Wipe cut: is when a shot replaces another shot by sliding from one side of a frame to another. There are many different types of wipe cuts. This type of editing is used a lot in the star wars films as it allows the new scene to be displayed and also helps the audience to understand the film as the story transitions in to a different part.

Dissolve: is when a shot disintegrates into another shot. This shot makes the audience aware of the characters that appear and allows them to identify the character which avoids confusion. This shot is also known as 'morphing'.

Reaction shot: is when a shot is used to show reaction to the previous shot. This shot allows the audience to see how the characters are feeling, for example; if a character finds out they are in danger and starts trying to escape, their attempt of escape is their reaction. This makes the audience feel sympathy towards the character. This shot is used to create a comedic, scaring, shocking effect towards the audience.

Montage: is when many different shots are put together on after another. This edit can be used to both confuse or explain and make sense to the audience. To confuse the audience this edit can be used in trailers in which many different shots are used to make the audience confused or curious towards the film so that it makes them want to go and watch it. To explain or make the situation of the film make sense to the audience, the characters thoughts of puzzling up a story can be shown, so many different shots of 'flashbacks' are put together the make the story make sense to the audience.

180 degree rule: is a hypothetical line that is drawn between two or more characters. The camera should shoot only at one side of the line and not pass the other side of the line when shooting so it does not confuse the audience. This edit is mainly used for when a 1-1 conversation is happening.

Shot reverse shot: is when a conversation is taking place and then the scene moves into another/different conversation. This type of edit is mainly used in a film when a conversation is being watch and then another conversation is happening in which the characters comment on the conversation they are watching.

Conclusion:
All the information above has helped me develop more knowledge of editing and how editing can be used in thrillers. This also showed me how some edits can connote different things towards the audience. I am planning to use as many edits as I can so I can gain as much marks as possible.

Research: Narrative Theory

Narrative Theory

 

What is narrative and why is it important to audiences?

 

Narrative is the structure of a story, the beginning, middle and end. This is important for a film and  the audience as it is initially what happens in a film and how it happens. Narrative is important so that it is easy for the audience to follow the film unless the story is altered to create confusion to make the audience think.

 

The four elements to help the audience find meaning;

-Connotation & denotation: this allows the audience to pick up different messages and ideas from an iconography, theme, costume (etc.) shown.

-Characters: allows the audience to see who the star of the film is and what their roles are within the film and what their relationship is towards the other characters.

-Genre: allows the viewers to see what the narrative is about, what type of characters will be in the film, what types of lighting and setting will be seen and what will be conventional to the genre.

-Structure: helps the viewers to understand where the start, middle and end is within the film.

 

Propp

Vladimir Propp was Russian a folklorist so he was basically interested in the narrative of folk tales. Propp had a theory that folk tales were about the same basic struggles, therefore had the same type of characters. Characters have a narrative function in which they provide a structure for the text.

 

Propp's characters:

-The hero; a character that seeks for better things

-The villain; who opposes or actively blocks the hero's quest

-The dispatcher; who sends the hero on his/her quest

-The false hero; who disrupts the hero's success by making false claims

-The doner; who provides an object with magical properties

-The helper; who aids the hero

-The princess; acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villains plots

-Her father; who rewards the hero for his effort

 

Stages

1. Complication
2. Transference
3. Struggle
4. Return
5. Recognition

Todorov

Tzvetan Todorov was also a theorist like Propp but his theory towards narrative is different but similar to Propp's. Todorov's theory was narrative stages that he thought happens in a narrative.

Stages:

1. State of equilibrium (Start)
2. Disruption
3. Recognition(Middle)
4. Repair
5. New equilibrium(End)

 

These stages could also be broken down into just three stages:

• Equilibrium; Start, and is usually when the characters and story appears stable.
• Disequilibrium; Middle, which is when something is disrupted or a change occurs that needs to be resolved.
• New equilibrium; End, which is when the disruption/situation is resolved.

Aristotle

Aristotle was a Greek philosopher who also had a theory on narrative which was simply having a beginning, middle and end. Aristotle focused on evoking emotions through themes and that this was important to arouse emotions from the audience, and this occurred mainly within tragedy.

Barthes

Roland Barthes was a French philosopher and theorist who's theory on narrative was the semiology within narrative.

• Symbolic - connotation
• Semic - Denotation
• Cultural understanding - events which can be recognised as being part of a culture.

Conclusion:

All the information above has helped me develop a deeper understanding on narrative and narrative theory. In my thriller I will use all of the four theorist theories as I believe that without all of them a story, narrative cannot be created. So all theories are needed within a narrative.

 

Research: Mise en scene: Setting and Iconography - Ms. Begum

Mise en scene

Setting & Iconography

Setting:

Setting is the location that's being used to make highlight the themes and narrative of a film. it is important because it sums up the conventions features within the genre the film belongs to. For instance, in a thriller, a common setting would be in a haunted house, abandoned hospital and cemetery. This immediately creates meaning toward the audience, also make it easier for them to connote through the use of setting. If a haunted house is shown, the audience would understand that this is a thriller movie.

Iconography:

Iconography is basically the significant objects used within a scene. This is important because it creates different meanings toward the audience and also conventional to the genre the film belongs to. For example, if a wedding ring is being shown, the audience would immediately connote that the movie belongs to a romance or comedy thriller. Whereas, if a knife and blood is being shown, the audience would connote that this belongs to a thriller, horror or action genre as it symbolises death, crime, murder etc.

Setting sub-genre:

Setting is dependant on different sub genres to make a movie more interesting and to also have more than one based genre so that it engages the audience to build more tension and suspense.

Action / Thriller: the setting would be in the street, club, underground, air base, warehouse etc.

 

Crime / Thriller: the setting would be in the streets, home, rivers, banks, stores, basements, hospitals, neighbourhood etc..

Psychological / Thriller: the setting would be in a hospital, prison, church, house, neighbourhood etc..

Iconography sub-genre

Action / Thriller: the iconography would be weapons, blood, protection etc.

Crime / Thriller: the iconography would be weapons, drugs, money, blood etc.

Psychological / Thriller: the iconography would be weapons, blood etc.

Conclusion:

From the information above, i now have a deeper understanding of setting and iconography and how they can connote and denote different messages to the audience. The type of setting i am planning to use are streets, home, cemetery and the type of iconography i am planning to use are blood and lethal weapons.

Research: Mise en Scene: Lighting and Colour - Ms. Begum

Mise en scene

Lighting and Colour

 

What is lighting and colour?

Lighting and colour can be used to highlight importance of a character or object in a film. Lighting and colour is an important micro-element because it conveys mood and atmosphere in a scene or film. This can be used to guide the audiences attention to a specific character or objector even gestures and emotions. Lighting can also be use to show shadows and build up tension and suspense.

Angles of lighting:

Under lighting: is when the source of light is placed under/below the character. This tends to have a distorting effect on the character and creates shadows. This type of lighting can also make a character appear scary to the audience.

 Top Lighting: is when the source of light is placed above the character. This highlights the features of the characters. This type of light makes them stand out to the audience like a 'spot light' effect. This makes them look glamorous towards the audience.

Back Lighting: this is when the light source is behind the character. What this does to the camera is create a silhouette which the audience sees. With the back lighting creating a silhouette this can be used to create a scary and eerie effect towards the audience. As for the use of this is to hide the identity of the character, and this is makes the audience see the character as mysterious.

Type of lighting:

Low Key Lighting:  is when the lighting is dark with small areas of light, which also creates shadows.

High Key Lighting: appears more natural and realistic to our eyes. The lighting effect is heightened.

Natural Lighting: is when no lighting has been added so the audience will see what you expect to see.

Low key lighting is conventional in thrillers because the darkness builds up tension and creates suspense. The more darkness over the little light shown connotes the vulnerability of the protagonist and shows who has more power.

Colour in scenes















Colours that are conventional to thrillers are red, black and other dark colours because it makes a scene look isolated and surrounded by danger and mystery. Different colours have different connotations of objects and emotions for example; blood could represent danger, violence, murder etc.


Conclusion:
All of this information has helped me to have a better understanding of how lighting and colour can have different connotations in thrillers. I am planning to use low key lighting and under lighting because they are conventional to thrillers.