Tuesday, 10 November 2009
Section 7- Recce and location sheets
Health and safety
Production health and safety is extremely important as it keeps everyone safe and all of the equipment in one piece, this reduces in an easier to produce film.
Something’s may seem almost trivial however it is always important to ensure the clips are always fastened correctly and that the tripod is always placed in a level place to avoid it falling over. Another simple thing is making sure all cables that can be taped down are taped down to avoid accidents and those that cant be taped down have a stool or object is over it to show that the cable is there. Forms of contact are also important as if there is an accident it will be the only way to alert someone this means that they must always be charged and have credit on them when filming outside.
Another thing to take into account is the fire exits and emergency procedures, this then applies to the crew and the actors as they should all know where to go and what to do. Another important thing to know is where the first aid kit is as this minimises the need for of site treatment.
When filming off site at night, early morning or any time of day you must be aware of the fact there are fewer people around this could be a good thing, however this also means if there is an accident there are fewer people who can help. Weathering conditions are also important as frost and ice can not only be bad for costume and actors but can also be dangerous when positioning the tripod of moving with the camera, the most obvious but still on that is important if it is early morning or of a night it is going to be darker than usual, this means there are more dangers of tripping and falling but also of things such as muggings ect, to ensure you are not attacked or mugged it is always a good idea to film in a group of three, as if there is an accident then there is someone to stay with the injured person an then one to go for help.
Finally there are some technical things to be aware of when using the equipment, the light (red heads and blonds) can reach between 800-1000 watts this making them extremely hot. This means that you should not touch any part of the head of the light as it will also be very hot and can cause severe burns. You must also ensure that you do not touch the bulb weather it be hot or cold, if hot it can melt through your skin, if cold you can leave grease on the bulb and this will cause it to shatter once it is turned on and becomes hot enough.
Location sheet
Opening scenes:
--garage, jess’ house
Address:
-Sutton park,
Runcorn, WA7 6AA
--bed room, jess’ house
Address:
-Sutton park,
Runcorn, WA7 6AA
Recce
This image is of the garages and the area in which in Adalade lies in our opening sequence, originally we were going to film in an attic or loft space however we felt that the garage would be safer for out group and the actress and that is had a more sinister feel and was easier to gain access to.
Production health and safety is extremely important as it keeps everyone safe and all of the equipment in one piece, this reduces in an easier to produce film.
Something’s may seem almost trivial however it is always important to ensure the clips are always fastened correctly and that the tripod is always placed in a level place to avoid it falling over. Another simple thing is making sure all cables that can be taped down are taped down to avoid accidents and those that cant be taped down have a stool or object is over it to show that the cable is there. Forms of contact are also important as if there is an accident it will be the only way to alert someone this means that they must always be charged and have credit on them when filming outside.
Another thing to take into account is the fire exits and emergency procedures, this then applies to the crew and the actors as they should all know where to go and what to do. Another important thing to know is where the first aid kit is as this minimises the need for of site treatment.
When filming off site at night, early morning or any time of day you must be aware of the fact there are fewer people around this could be a good thing, however this also means if there is an accident there are fewer people who can help. Weathering conditions are also important as frost and ice can not only be bad for costume and actors but can also be dangerous when positioning the tripod of moving with the camera, the most obvious but still on that is important if it is early morning or of a night it is going to be darker than usual, this means there are more dangers of tripping and falling but also of things such as muggings ect, to ensure you are not attacked or mugged it is always a good idea to film in a group of three, as if there is an accident then there is someone to stay with the injured person an then one to go for help.
Finally there are some technical things to be aware of when using the equipment, the light (red heads and blonds) can reach between 800-1000 watts this making them extremely hot. This means that you should not touch any part of the head of the light as it will also be very hot and can cause severe burns. You must also ensure that you do not touch the bulb weather it be hot or cold, if hot it can melt through your skin, if cold you can leave grease on the bulb and this will cause it to shatter once it is turned on and becomes hot enough.
Location sheet
Opening scenes:
--garage, jess’ house
Address:
-Sutton park,
Runcorn, WA7 6AA
--bed room, jess’ house
Address:
-Sutton park,
Runcorn, WA7 6AA
Recce
This image is of the garages and the area in which in Adalade lies in our opening sequence, originally we were going to film in an attic or loft space however we felt that the garage would be safer for out group and the actress and that is had a more sinister feel and was easier to gain access to.
This is where at the end of the opening sequence Adalade as an adult sharply awakes, we decided to use this space as it looked mature enough for an adult, was easy to access and worked well with the feel of the overall film. It is a simply room with little artwork and is also very mellow this then worked again as there was nothing to draw attention away form Adalade.
Section 6- Character outlinesand shooting script
Character profiles
Adalade Mathews- as a child
§ She is a 10year old girl, she is taller than average and has short brown hair and hazel eyes. Her mother died when she was 7years old and she now lives with her father; however she is a sufferer of domestic abuse at the hands of her father, her only family member. Due to this life of torment and violence as she finds herself forever locked in the attic space of their home, she is covered in bruises and is a very quiet, nervous, shy little girl who is petrified of the dark and her father.
Adalade Mathews- as an adult
§ She is a 23year old woman, she is shorter than the average woman and she now has long brown hair and hazel eyes. Despite her background of domestic abuse at the hands of her farther she has now turned her life around and is a fully qualified psychologist, she has chosen this career in order to help other sufferers and come to terms with her past. She now owns her own house and lives in it with her 6 year old daughter. However her life has been dramatically affected by her past and she is still quiet, shy and afraid of the dark, but she has found herself having terrible dreams since the release of her father from prison.
Father
§ The father in this film is known and referred to as he and him; however his name is actually Albert Mathews. When released from prison he is aged 57, he is tall and has a large build, he also has brown hair and hazel eyes. Before Adalade was born he was in the army however was struck off. From the age of 5 he was aware of the domestic violent abuse that effected his mother and sister at the hand of his father and when Albert had misbehaved and needed to be punished his father would force him to watch the domestic abuse towards his female family members; however growing up with this he somehow believed that it’s was the norm and so when he got married he then saw no problem with abusing his wife, however when she was killed in a car crash he then turned his attention to his daughter and when found guilty by the courts received 13 years without parole.
Script
Adalade as a child*
INT GARAGE. CUT IN. CLOSE UP-TEDDY.MIDDAY
The audience can see a TEDDY’s face in a dark room; the TEDDY is lying on his side
REVERSE. CLOSE UP-ADALADE.
The audience can see a young girl’s face in a dark room; she is also lying on her side and is looking at the TEDDY
SHOT. EXTREAM CLOSE UP-TEDDY
The audience can again see the TEDDY however this time it rakes up most of the frame and has not changed his position
REVERSE. EXTREME CLOSE UP-ADALADE
The audience is again shown ADALADE’s face in a dark room this again takes up the whole frame and she is still in the same position.
CUT IN. HIGH ANGLE. MIDDAY
We see a shot of ADALADE looking at the TEDDY in what seems to be a mirror image in the same dimly lit room.
CUT. CLSOE UP, TRACKING-ADALADE
There is a shot of ADALADE in the same room still lying down, however the as she sits up the camera follows her actions.
CUT. FULL SHOT-ADALADE and the TEDDY’s head
We can see ADALADE sitting upright holding her knees to her chest; we can also see the back of the TEDDY’s head in the bottom left hand side of the frame. ADALADE then reaches for the TEDDY and holds it close.
CUT. MID SHOT of ADALADE. FULL SHOT of TEDDY.
We see ADALADE look eye to eye with the TEDDY, she then pulls the TEDDY towards her face.
CUT. OVER THE SHOULDER SHOT. CLOSE UP-ADALADES mouth.
We see the back of the TEDDY’s head and a shot of ADALADE’s mouth and the bottom of her nose as she whispers to the TEDDY
ADALADE:
He’s here
CUT. FULL SHOT of DOOR. OVER THE SHOULDER
We see a shot of the door from behind ADALADES head looking at the door in the dimly lit room.
CUT. CLOSE UP of the DOOR.
We can see most on the door in the frame, and no lighting has been changed however this time we are looking at it more form ADALADE’s point of view rather than over her shoulder.
CUT. FULL SHOT of ADALADE.
We are shown a full shot of ADALADE holding her knees to her chest in the dimly lit room. The camera then CRANES up to produce a slightly HIGH ANGLE shot of ADALADE without changing her position.
CUT. EXTREME CLOSE UP on DOORHANDLE.
The DOOR HANDLE fills the left hand side of the frame and is slightly lit on one side in the otherwise dark room.
CUT. EXTREME CLOSE UP-ADALADE.
ADALADE’s eyes and the bottom of her nose is the only thing that is visible within the frame, her eyes are filled with fear and there is a large amount of light on her face.
ADALADE’s face is then covered in shadow and it is hard to distinguish her facial expression and features.
CUT. BLACK SCREEN.
We can see nothing, but can hear screaming and whimpering.
Adalade as an adult*
EXT. CUT. ARIEL SHOT-ADALADE.
ADALADE wakes up suddenly in bed and gasps loudly.
CUT TO CREDITS
Section 5- Treatment
Synopsis
Adalade Mathews is tormented by her abusive past. She finds it difficult to enter dark and scary places, as these places make her re-visit her trauma of the past. Her father kept Adalade captive in an attic when she was seven years old, after her mother was killed in a car accident. Adalade’s father was given the sentence of 13 years imprisonment but later came to find his daughter and gain revenge. By the time her father is released, Adalade is now a mother of one and a successful psychologist and studies domestic abuse. Whilst at a dinner party she calls her friend whom is babysitting her daughter. During this phone call she hears the abduction of her daughter and that all too familiar sound of her fathers sinister laughs. This is when Adalade realises that she is the only one who can stop him to save her daughter. She uses her connections in the law enforcement and her knowledge of domestic predators to follow her fathers trail. Whilst in the haste of trying to find her abducted daughter, she is a witness to a car accident; she immediately sees the connection between this accident and her own mother death. Scratched in to the bonnet of the car involved was an address. This leads her to the place where it all started. Adalade now realises what she has to do, she acquires a gun. Goes to the address scratched in to the bonnet and has to overcome her trauma of being in the house where her domestic abuse began. After struggling to enter the house she is surprised by her father who ties up Adalade next to her daughter in the attic. Adalade manages to become free using a protruding nail from the floor boards, and shoots her father repeatedly in the chest.
Treatment
Nostophobia
Every night is the same for Adalade, constant sleepless nights that she has never been able to control. You see Adalade keeps a secret, a secret that she even tries to keep from herself; a secret so painful that it torments her every single night of her life. Nobody knows of this secret and Adalade makes sure of it, you see this secret has manipulated Adalade to believing that it never happened in the first place, but yet it happened and there are scars to prove it.
At one point Adalade had a normal childhood with normal things, normal parents and a normal life; nothing was wrong until she reached the age of seven. This is where Adalade’s life would be flipped upside down, inside out and then spat into the gutter. You see there was an accident involving a 4 tone lorry and a little family car, and inside this little family car was Mrs Mathews a fourth grade teacher; also known as Adalade’s mother. A seven year old girl losing her mother, what could be worse? Well let me tell you.
After the accident things were changing in Adalade’s home, her father was manic depressed, he couldn’t even wash his own clothes let alone look after a seven year old girl who had massive needs. For the first few months Adalade’s father was a drunk, a shadow of his former self, his behaviour began to change dramatically and it was for the worse. Some times Adalade would go without food for days, wearing the same clothes for weeks and never being shown affection when it was severely needed. However this was the good side to Adalade’s life now, not being fed or clothed was often a relief for her, you see her father turned against Adalade, he could see his wife in her and it drove him insane, he could not look Adalade in the face without bursting into rage or into a depressive mess.
Then things got worse, much worse.
“Mr Mathews, this is Adalade’s school here, we haven’t seen your daughter for at least 2 months, and we have tried ringing on several occasions but there has been no answer”
“Yes?” replied Mr Mathews
“Well what is the reason for this absence? We know about your wife and that things must be difficult, however Adalade needs to be in school, it may do her some good”
“YOU DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MY WIFE! And as for Adalade .......well how do you know what is best her? Goodbye!”
This phone call was the start of dreadful events, Adalade’s life would now be living hell and there was no escape.
“Not been school Adalade?” asks Adalade’s father
“w.....well I can’t get there.... daddy” Adalade replies looking at the floor and fidgeting with her hair.
“So.....this is my fault? Is that what your saying? MY FAULT!? I SPOSE YOU THINK YOUR MOTHER WAS MY FAULT TOO, DONT YOU? Listen to me you little bitch, things are going to change around here and I mean this!” Mr Mathews is mad, real mad, and mad to the point of explosion; his face goes bright red with his veins protruding out of his head. He grabs Adalade by her hair; beats her repeatedly across her whole body and then throws her into the attic.
For many months this abuse was happening, no one around to know or do anything about it, Adalade was all alone. She had nothing and no one to care for her, spending most of her days in the dark crying out for her mother; however this crying attracted him. It wasn’t as if Adalade didn’t want to go to school but the bruises and marks on her face made it very difficult, plus it’s doubtful for a seven year old to take full control of their lives. As time went on and the abuse from her father got severely worse Adalade was a shell of a child, she was so terrified off her father that she spent every hour of every day in the attic, she wouldn’t dare leave for the thought of him catching her.
Until her 9th birthday....
They both came flying out of the front door of the house, Adalade is screaming intensely hoping someone will notice, and they did. Just so happens that a police car was rolling down the street and caught this little girl screaming and a man who looked threatening in pursuit of her.
The police stopped Albert and took Adalade for safety, they discovered the attic in the house and also the fact that Adalade was kept in there most of her days, they found all the server scars on Adalade’s body and the fact that this is one tormented child. Albert had no chance, they had caught him red handed and there was nothing he could do, this had gone further than just domestic troubles. Albert was sentenced to thirteen years in prison.
As time went on Adalade began to take control of her life, she began back at school and wanted to help people who are in the same position as she was. Adalade became very motivated in her life, taking complete control for the first time since her mother died. As the years past the memories of her father and the attic were fading out of her life, however they came back and tormented her at night, this Adalade could not escape.
Now a successful psychologist and studies of domestic abuse Adalade does help the people who are stuck in these dark and painful situations, after all she is defiantly one to understand. Also a nice surprise was installed for Adalade, she gave birth to a little girl which she cherished with her whole life, nothing was more important to Adalade.
As time went on and Adalade and her daughter led a very close, but yet normal life and to Adalade nothing could ruin this life she was leading. Well so she thought....
Its been thirteen years since her father went to prison and she had no idea what he had installed for her, his ‘precious’ daughter. To Albert Adalade has destroyed him, his wife died and then his daughter betrayed him and he wanted revenge.
When Adalade was at a dinner party she had a phone call, a muttering, deep voice on the other end. Adalade paniced because it was her baby sitter ringing, all she could think about was her daughter. She drove back as fast as she could to find her daughter missing and her baby sitter unconscious laying on the floor. Hysterically she rang the police and a full search is trying to find Adalade’s daughter.
This was Adalades nightmare, she couldn’t function, all that was going through her head was the thought of her daughter being harmed. In was now a week and there has been no leads for the police to follow, this was crushing for her. It was late at night and Adalade got a phone call, this voice was so familiar to her... almost too familiar... then it came to her. It was her father, the man she banished from her life and never speaks a word about. She knew that he was out for his revenge and was taking it out on his granddaughter.
She now has to go through all her past memories that she has suppressed for so many years and this itself breaks Adalade down into a depressive mess. She decides to use her links in the law enforcements; she has no faith in the police so takes action herself. She requires her own firearm. Out on the hunt to find her father and daughter Adalade was on a old country lane when she witnessed a car accident, this accident was very strange, nobody in the car... however there was a address scratched into the bonnet, 197 Totters Road. Adalade went white, his address shook her through and through because it was the house where she was held and beaten by ‘him’.
Adalade made it to this address and entered, the house was a mess and falling apart. All of a sudden Adalade was hit over the head and everything went black, it must of been a few hours later she came around to find herself tied up in the attic she had spent her childhood in, but one thing was great for Adalade, she was with her daughter.
After several hours of being beaten by her father all the memories came flooding back to her and she lost herself, however there was a protruding nail sticking out of the floor board just behind her hand, using this nail she managed to rip her hands free and grabbed the hidden pistol from inside her boot, Adalade got her daughter to safety and waited for her father to come through the attic door. BANG BANG BANG BANG ....six shots, right into the chest of her father and she had a strange satisfaction of putting this monster in his place, in hell.
Adalade and her daughter are now safe, all the monsters in her closet have seemed to fade away, she can live her life with her little girl.
Section 4- Audience research
Questionnaire
1. Gender
Male
Female
2. Age
15-17
18-20
21 +
3. Do you know what a thriller genre is?
Yes
No
4. Do you watch thriller films?
Yes
No
5. Which type of thriller film do you enjoy the most?
Psychological
Action
Creepy/Scary
Supernatural
Mix all a few or all
6. Do you think children can add a scary factor in the right places?
Yes
No
If yes, what do you think is the creepiest thing for them to be doing?
7. Do you think the idea of a ‘normal’ problem such as domestic violence to be more disturbing as a UFO or ghost?
Yes
No
8. What do you expect from a thriller film most of the time?
9. Do you think a thriller involving domestic abuse would be appropriate?
Yes
No
10. Do you think a old warn out teddy bear can add to the feel of neglect?
Yes
No
Results
1. Gender
Male
Female
2. Age
15-17
18-20
21 +
3. Do you know what a thriller genre is?
Yes
No
4. Do you watch thriller films?
Yes
No
5. Which type of thriller film do you enjoy the most?
Psychological
Action
Creepy/Scary
Supernatural
Mix all a few or all
6. Do you think children can add a scary factor in the right places?
Yes
No
If yes, what do you think is the creepiest thing for them to be doing?
7. Do you think the idea of a ‘normal’ problem such as domestic violence to be more disturbing as a UFO or ghost?
Yes
No
8. What do you expect from a thriller film most of the time?
9. Do you think a thriller involving domestic abuse would be appropriate?
Yes
No
10. Do you think a old warn out teddy bear can add to the feel of neglect?
Yes
No
Results
There are more males here then females, this could mean that the majority of the resulsts we collected are biased from a male point of view. This could result in making a film that is more suited to the male gender rather then a female. This reasearch could have been more effective if we had asked the same amount of males and females in our data.
Age
Here we have asked the majority of people in the age range of 15-17 this could mean that our film is more suited for the people in this age range. This could be as the majority of people we asked was in college so most people are within that age range in college. This data could be seen as useful as most people around this age tend to enjoy the thriller genre.
Here we have asked the majority of people in the age range of 15-17 this could mean that our film is more suited for the people in this age range. This could be as the majority of people we asked was in college so most people are within that age range in college. This data could be seen as useful as most people around this age tend to enjoy the thriller genre.
Do you know what a the thriller genre is?
This is probably one of the most important questions that we have asked as it allowed us to continue asking the people questions who would understand what they were about. This question also told us how many people would know what genre the film was if we were to show it to a real audience showing.
This is probably one of the most important questions that we have asked as it allowed us to continue asking the people questions who would understand what they were about. This question also told us how many people would know what genre the film was if we were to show it to a real audience showing.
Do you watch thriller films?
The question in hand made sure that the people we were researching actually watched thriller films. This is as they may understand what a thriller is but not have enough experience in watching thrillers to answer the questions ahead in the questionnaire. This question again made sure that are information was as useful as possible.
The question in hand made sure that the people we were researching actually watched thriller films. This is as they may understand what a thriller is but not have enough experience in watching thrillers to answer the questions ahead in the questionnaire. This question again made sure that are information was as useful as possible.
Which type of thriller film do you enjoy the most?
Most people who answered this question chose creepy/scary and psychological. This tells my group and me that if we wanted are film to be one of the most enjoyable for the audience we should try and make our film fit in to these categories. The least popular option was a mixture of subgenres; this tells us that most people prefer thriller films that fit in to one clear subgenre.
Most people who answered this question chose creepy/scary and psychological. This tells my group and me that if we wanted are film to be one of the most enjoyable for the audience we should try and make our film fit in to these categories. The least popular option was a mixture of subgenres; this tells us that most people prefer thriller films that fit in to one clear subgenre.
Do you think children can add a scary factor in the right places?
This question tells us that subsequently if we add children in to our thriller film this may add to the scary effect that was the most popular choice in the subgenres. This means that our film would be more appealing to our target audience if we were to add the factor of children.
This question tells us that subsequently if we add children in to our thriller film this may add to the scary effect that was the most popular choice in the subgenres. This means that our film would be more appealing to our target audience if we were to add the factor of children.
If yes, what is the creepiest thing for them to be doing?
The most popular choice here was singing, but we feel that this may be quite difficult to fit in to a thriller film. The second most popular choice was staring. We agree and feel that if the child were to stare in to the camera this may bring across this tense, creepy subgenre to life and make our target audience enjoy the film more.
The most popular choice here was singing, but we feel that this may be quite difficult to fit in to a thriller film. The second most popular choice was staring. We agree and feel that if the child were to stare in to the camera this may bring across this tense, creepy subgenre to life and make our target audience enjoy the film more.
Do you think that the idea of a 'normal' problem such as domestic abuse is more scary then a UFO or ghost?
‘Normal’ problems seem to be more scary then supernatural ones. We can use this to our advantage in out thriller film as creating supernatural things on film would be more difficult. This means that we can make the film easier and still appeal in the right way to the audience by using a ‘normal’ problem within the story plot.
‘Normal’ problems seem to be more scary then supernatural ones. We can use this to our advantage in out thriller film as creating supernatural things on film would be more difficult. This means that we can make the film easier and still appeal in the right way to the audience by using a ‘normal’ problem within the story plot.
what do you expect from a thriller most of the time?
Suspense was the most popular option within this question. This heightens the view that we should use should thriller codes and conventions such as patracted outcome and darkness. This may make the film tenser and make it feel more attractive to the audience. As this question was open, it meant that the person filling in the questions could put whatever they felt. This suggests to us that we should try and include all of the above in our films.
Suspense was the most popular option within this question. This heightens the view that we should use should thriller codes and conventions such as patracted outcome and darkness. This may make the film tenser and make it feel more attractive to the audience. As this question was open, it meant that the person filling in the questions could put whatever they felt. This suggests to us that we should try and include all of the above in our films.
Do you think a thriller involving domestic abuse would be appropriate?
This question seems to have an equal result on ‘yes’ and ‘no’. This could mean that many may not feel it appropriate but there is a slightly higher result on ‘yes’ meaning it could be appealing to the higher portion of the audience. The results from this question provide the group with pause for thought as to whether to include this in our film. It could be that we include this within the plot but not in the opening scene.
This question seems to have an equal result on ‘yes’ and ‘no’. This could mean that many may not feel it appropriate but there is a slightly higher result on ‘yes’ meaning it could be appealing to the higher portion of the audience. The results from this question provide the group with pause for thought as to whether to include this in our film. It could be that we include this within the plot but not in the opening scene.
Do you think an old worn out teddy bear can add to the feeling of neglect?
This question tells us that we should include an old worn out teddy to add to this feel of neglect. This may put across the films ideas more clearly. Hopefully this may also tie in with the other audience wants, such as scary/creepy and suspense.
Section 3- Brainstormof content and classification of film
We would classify our film as age 15, as we think the violence and language contained within the film wouldn't be suitable for younger audience members.
Section 2- Research into examples of comparable products
Seven
Seven was made in 1995 and was directed by David Fincher, and as well as being in classed as a thriller it is also considered a crime and mystery film, this film I have found follows a linear narrative structure which helps as the film is easier to watch and understand.
Things such as the setting of the dirty city that is constantly dim as it all it does is rain, fits in with the codes and conventions that GK Chesterton brought to the for-front, he said that a thriller usually and should take place in an urban landscape. There are many codes and conventions made visible in this film; others are the new place to live for mills and his wife as this enforces the idea of the exotic as Mills and his wife are added and do eventually stir up the whole film as it is Mills wife who is killed therefore making him part of Doe’s game it also gives the film a romantic aspect which is also present in most thrillers; however this also enforces the idea of moral dilemma as Mills the ordinary hero then becomes the villain as he kills Doe through anger of his wife’s murder. Another code and convention of this film is the apartment building chase scene this then links to the ideas of Mathews but it is also something that is always shown as it adds suspense for the audience as they don’t know what is round the next corner; this could also concern the plot in general as it is not predictable therefore keeping the audience interested. The shooting of John Doe at the end of the film is greatly anticipated by the audience but is also almost predictable and again this protracted vision causes more suspense and violence for the audience as does the partial vision throughout, as you never see the killers face in the chase scenes, all of what is in the room as they are left dark and who’s head is in the box.
Throughout this film there are lots of camera shots such as mid shots, tracking shots, close ups, long shots, hand held shots (this could be to show confusion) and the list goes on, however the cinematography in the final scene with John Doe and Detective Mills is particularly interesting for me as there are lots of camera shots that carry certain connotations. The camera angles of both Mills and Doe change as the scene unravels; first there are high angle shots of Doe and low angle shots of Mills to show that Mills is more powerful and in control, however this changes when the box is opened as then there is an extremely low angle shot on Doe to show that there has been a change in power, it is also positioned so that his head is blocking the sun showing the importance and almost god like power he has, but this shot is then copied for Mills when he shoots Doe.
The sounds within this film are relatively simple; the diagetic sounds follow the lines of speech, screams, gun shots and the typical sounds you would expect to hear in a city. The internal diagetic however only appears once, and that is when Somerset is saying his quote at the end. The non-diagetic sounds however are those of loud music at different pitches to create suspense and tension.
The editing in this film consist of cross cutting shots which happen when the Somerset is in the library and Mills is looking through evidence, and also when the two are separately getting dresses, this then shows contrast between the two characters. Shot reverse shot is also used throughout this film as it shows character reactions when holding a conversion.
The graphics at the start of this film are a montage of images and clips, the images are of fingertips with not ends, developing photographs, diaries and images of torture and death, this then shows insight to the rest of the film however because it is the graphics very few people pay attention. The typography is scrawled, warped and distressed looking text; this also gives the audience an insight to Doe’s character but again is not picked up on unless re visited after the film. The colour scheme is what would be expected as it is very dark with flashes of red to grab the audiences’ attention.
The costumes in this film all follow the view of a stereotypical view of police detectives, they’re wearing long coats, holsters, hats, shirts and ties; the hair of the two detectives however are very different to perhaps show contrast, as one has neat hair and the other has more “untamed” hair. The makeup consists of cuts and bruises, also there are prosthetics and I can’t help but think body paints have been used at some point in order to make the victims look dead. The props are mostly guns, helicopters, hats, body parts, the souvenirs, neon cross and the evidence all have been used as they used in order to make the film more attractive and easier to follow. The setting and lighting link in together as it is set in a city where it is constantly raining this makes the lighting dim and shadowed. However this then changes to bright dry light when the setting moves to the open desert with the pylons, this could be to show the shear intensity of the area. There is also however a lot of partial vision involved when in the apartment buildings, but then this is broken when the audience is shown the neon cross above Doe’s bed as this gives the apartment a sinister feel.
Seven was made in 1995 and was directed by David Fincher, and as well as being in classed as a thriller it is also considered a crime and mystery film, this film I have found follows a linear narrative structure which helps as the film is easier to watch and understand.
Things such as the setting of the dirty city that is constantly dim as it all it does is rain, fits in with the codes and conventions that GK Chesterton brought to the for-front, he said that a thriller usually and should take place in an urban landscape. There are many codes and conventions made visible in this film; others are the new place to live for mills and his wife as this enforces the idea of the exotic as Mills and his wife are added and do eventually stir up the whole film as it is Mills wife who is killed therefore making him part of Doe’s game it also gives the film a romantic aspect which is also present in most thrillers; however this also enforces the idea of moral dilemma as Mills the ordinary hero then becomes the villain as he kills Doe through anger of his wife’s murder. Another code and convention of this film is the apartment building chase scene this then links to the ideas of Mathews but it is also something that is always shown as it adds suspense for the audience as they don’t know what is round the next corner; this could also concern the plot in general as it is not predictable therefore keeping the audience interested. The shooting of John Doe at the end of the film is greatly anticipated by the audience but is also almost predictable and again this protracted vision causes more suspense and violence for the audience as does the partial vision throughout, as you never see the killers face in the chase scenes, all of what is in the room as they are left dark and who’s head is in the box.
Throughout this film there are lots of camera shots such as mid shots, tracking shots, close ups, long shots, hand held shots (this could be to show confusion) and the list goes on, however the cinematography in the final scene with John Doe and Detective Mills is particularly interesting for me as there are lots of camera shots that carry certain connotations. The camera angles of both Mills and Doe change as the scene unravels; first there are high angle shots of Doe and low angle shots of Mills to show that Mills is more powerful and in control, however this changes when the box is opened as then there is an extremely low angle shot on Doe to show that there has been a change in power, it is also positioned so that his head is blocking the sun showing the importance and almost god like power he has, but this shot is then copied for Mills when he shoots Doe.
The sounds within this film are relatively simple; the diagetic sounds follow the lines of speech, screams, gun shots and the typical sounds you would expect to hear in a city. The internal diagetic however only appears once, and that is when Somerset is saying his quote at the end. The non-diagetic sounds however are those of loud music at different pitches to create suspense and tension.
The editing in this film consist of cross cutting shots which happen when the Somerset is in the library and Mills is looking through evidence, and also when the two are separately getting dresses, this then shows contrast between the two characters. Shot reverse shot is also used throughout this film as it shows character reactions when holding a conversion.
The graphics at the start of this film are a montage of images and clips, the images are of fingertips with not ends, developing photographs, diaries and images of torture and death, this then shows insight to the rest of the film however because it is the graphics very few people pay attention. The typography is scrawled, warped and distressed looking text; this also gives the audience an insight to Doe’s character but again is not picked up on unless re visited after the film. The colour scheme is what would be expected as it is very dark with flashes of red to grab the audiences’ attention.
The costumes in this film all follow the view of a stereotypical view of police detectives, they’re wearing long coats, holsters, hats, shirts and ties; the hair of the two detectives however are very different to perhaps show contrast, as one has neat hair and the other has more “untamed” hair. The makeup consists of cuts and bruises, also there are prosthetics and I can’t help but think body paints have been used at some point in order to make the victims look dead. The props are mostly guns, helicopters, hats, body parts, the souvenirs, neon cross and the evidence all have been used as they used in order to make the film more attractive and easier to follow. The setting and lighting link in together as it is set in a city where it is constantly raining this makes the lighting dim and shadowed. However this then changes to bright dry light when the setting moves to the open desert with the pylons, this could be to show the shear intensity of the area. There is also however a lot of partial vision involved when in the apartment buildings, but then this is broken when the audience is shown the neon cross above Doe’s bed as this gives the apartment a sinister feel.
Red eye
The film red eye was made and released in 2003 and 2004 and was directed by Wez Craven, and follows a linear structure as there seems to be a planning process involved with the individual events of stealing the wallet ect.
This follows many of the codes and conventions such as questions and answers, who is the girl in the photographs? Whose house is it? Who stole the wallet? This causes the audience to feel involved and also grasp their attention immediately. It also has the exotic, the box, the audience never see what is in the box or understands the reason for the box this technique was named the McGuffin by Alfred Hitchcock. Another technique is partial vision, as we never see the face of the man who steals the wallet; this creates tension for the audience.
The camera work in this opening sequence consists of close-ups in order to keep the audience asking questions or to show things that will be involved with how the film plays out later on and also quick shots to give a feel of pace and sharpness. There is also a switch on shallow focus as it shows the man then the cards and the wallet; this could be to indicate that they play a roll in the film further in.
The editing of this film is continuous shots but it is mostly a montage of a lot of little shots and the graphics are also extremely simple with small text that recedes, the typography resembles that of a typewriter with a colour scheme of black, white and red.
The diagetic sounds within this opening consists of no speech, but plenty of other sounds such as: keys, the shower, the flatbed of the car, the ice and the envelope, these could be the only sounds that we can hear perhaps to draw attention to what’s important and give nothing away, however the non diagetic sounds are those of low dramatic music that quickens to create tension, but there is also the sound of a plane taking off this then creates questions for the audience, why a plane? Again more questions.
The costumes in this film are fairly simple as there are workmen in overalls to perhaps show they are not as important and a man in a suit jacket to show he is more important. The lighting changes form a warm interior light to a cold, harsh, dim light of night. The workmen are performing in a rushed efficient way in order to show that they are good at what they do. The props that are used are those of photographs that indicate toward a protracted outcome and blueprints in order to make the audience subconsciously question why someone is looking at blueprints. The final thing is the setting, and in this sequence there are three, the first a warm perfectly ordinary home, then some sort of secluded dark cargo loading bay, and a dirty looking motel, these are all achieved using crosscutting and are done to show again a quick plan being put into action.
This film directed by Kevin MacDonald was made and released in 2008; this film I presume follows a non linear structure as it leaves the audience “clueless” as to what is going on and why it may be happening.
This film follows the normal codes and conventions; it is set in the urban landscape in this case being a bit busy city with the normal dark cold bad weather. The darkness creates partial vision for the audience as not everything is visible, like for example what the man is running from. The exotic is also introduced in this film as the audience never sees what the importance is of the briefcase; however this also causes the audience to ask questions introducing the critique of Noel Carroll. The scene of the man running through the city adds tension for the audience and grabs the attention as we a re given no clue as to what may be going on, another addition to the codes and convention is the use of a gun to add action and give a sense of danger but the law enforcement (security gaud) indicates that there is some form of order in this society.
The cinematography in this opening sequence is used in a way that very subtly links each technique to give a different effect and emotion. The tracking shots and the hand held shots give a sense of excitement and action as the hand held shot emphasises the clumsy ness and quickens the pace of how the opening seems to be happening. The close up of the man on the bike who is shot creates a sense of questioning, will he survive? Why did he get shot? The low angle shot of the man with the briefcase however gives a sense of power as it makes him look “bigger” than what he is. Other shots like long shots and pan then link up all of these separate grouped shots.
This opening sequences what watching it seems to be taking place very quickly this is down to the editing however, unlike many different shots all pieced together causing a lot of different shots there is actually very few shots as it just tracks the man running. There is also a build on pace as the case becomes more intense the cuts become a lot quicker this could be to add tension and give the sequence a feel of speed; however the pace of cuts then slows to lead the audience into what becomes a false sense of security as it is then the man gets shot. The graphics in this film are relatively simple, and have a blue and purple colour scheme that flashes on, this could be to represent the lights on a siren however if this was the case the surely the colours should be blue and red, the text is also quite small and this shows that the name of the film is not as important as the film itself. The typeface however is that which represents the army text this could be to show that is it strong and masculine and all is in bold capitals indicating each letter is as important as the next.
In this opening sequence there is very little diagetic sound it starts with no speech but there is the heavy breathing of the runner which slows to again create a false sense of security; the city sounds introduce the setting, and the sounds of the crashing vases in the shop give a sense of urgency and recklessness. The non diagetic sounds are those of the sound track that begins at the end of the opening sequence to introduce the credits.
The costumes within this opening give nothing away as to the class or status of the people as the clothes are simply modern. The lighting is all very dark to indicate partial vision, and the silhouettes again create tension. I think the performance of the man running is really good, the breathing and the clumsy recklessness shows he is in a rush to get away from something. The props and setting tie in well with each other as it makes sense that the cars, gun, public transport and bikes would all be found in an urban city.
Strangers on a train
This opening sequence follows a linear narrative structure and was directed by Alfred Hitchcock and was made and released in 1951.
This opening sequence’s codes and conventions are the setting of an urban landscape, in this case
The cinematography in this opening can help the audience in separating the two characters, I found that although there are constant close ups of the feet the camera is not on level with them but is actually a slightly high angle, these close ups also utilise the use of partial vision as the faces are never released therefore creating tension for the audience. I also found that the long point of view shot on the train tracks not only establishes the setting of both the train and the tracks. These shots all have there own individual sounds, there are the actual sounds such as; the footsteps, the car engines and the car doors, however this film has a constant soundtrack over it, and the music instead of having a sound with a mix of high and low pitches the music is still dramatic but almost romantic, this I think could simply be down to the time the film was made.
A lot of the techniques used in this film are, I think, strongly related to the time the film was made; the most obvious to me is the fact that the film has been filmed in black and white simple because there was not the technology for colour film. Some editing techniques such as the fade out indicate change or a gentle way to link up the two separate cuts and settings. The cross cutting in this opening sequence is used when the two characters are in the same location in this case the train station, but the one long take then adds a sense of reality to the shot. The graphics in this sequence however also follows the fashions of the time with the incredibly large text on top of the credits, the type face however varies as some is bold and strong were as the other is soft and swirled this not only links with the dramatic yet romantic music but also indicates which bits are more important than others.
The mise-en-scene in this film is almost predictable, we are not shown the face of the people so I can therefore not comment on the hair or the makeup. The style of the shoes in this film indicate two things the fashions of 1951 and also the two separate styles indicating the black and white shoes may be owned by a man with more money; the props in this film also follow the fashions of the time, suite cases were very often seen in the 1950 by those with wealth, this again emphasises on the two contrasting characters and also show they are going on a journey. the performance in this sequence is also not something I can comment on greatly as all the audience is shows is feet, however they are not walking in a rushed way, not stamping their feet and also not walking very slow, this then gives a sense of relaxation and calm.
The film
This opening’s main code and convention is the introduction of the exotic in this case the spear of destiny, it also follows the idea of partial vision when looking into the whole as the audience is not shown what is in the whole until it is brought out, another example of this is when the car hits the man and the car is surrounded by smoke this again makes it almost impossible fore the audience to see what has happened. Whereas the opening sequence is filmed in a run down derelict area however I think this still would have been an urban landscape. This sequence is also entertaining and it grabs the audiences attention as in the opening sequence violence is present as this happens when the man is hit by the car. Despite following the above codes and conventions it also breaks he convention of darkness, as this is filmed in daylight however there are still some shadows.
The camerawork in this sequence is fairly simple but still extremely powerful, the first shots are establishing shots in order to introduce the setting and emphasis the abandonment, there are also quite a lot of two shots of the men scavenging, this could be to show that one is not as important as the other. When the man finds the spear wrapped in a Natzi flag, this goes from the normal mid shot to a low angle to almost give the impression that the man has been instantly empowered, this is then further shows by the cross and sun behind him to again give the impression of power; after this there is a reasonably short close up on the spear itself, however this again changes and switches to a high angled shot, this could indicate the sudden loss of power and look like he’s being watched. One of the final shots in this sequence is the close up of the man crushed into the car, and an extreme close up on his wrist is the focus point as he has suddenly got the markings of a cross on his wrist.
The sound in this film has been added in such a way that it compliments the cinematography and the atmosphere of the opening. The diagetic sounds are those of the car driving past, the floor breaking through, the early natural sounds and the use of e Spanish dialect without subtitles, therefore implying that they are not important characters and what they have to say makes no difference to the film. However the non-diagetic sounds within this opening sequence are those of the “creepy” music that may make the audience recognize that something is about to happen, there is also a harp hiss when the high shot occurs this then signifies that the man may be being watched. The higher pitches of the music add tension to the sequence. I found that actually counting the amounts of cuts in this sequence was extremely interesting as the sequence consists of 22 cuts however at the beginning of the film the cuts are very long and slow but the most amount of cuts occur during the car accident, this happens so quickly I found it hard to count those particular cuts.
The graphics in this film are extremely simple this could indicate that the film is much more important. Before the audience is told anything, like the producers or directors ect they are simply shown a black screen with information on it about t what the spear of destiny is and that it has been missing since world war two this then gives the audience a chance to question what is in the Natzi flag. The main graphic, I think, is the one with the mane of the film, this is I think very interesting, it is dark following partial vision and the convention of darkness, the typeface however is quite simple and the colour of grey and white could then indicate that the name is not as important as the film, however the scratches in the black backdrop indicate the idea of violence.
Mise-en-scene is utilized in this opening sequence to show the poor conditions of the two Mexican men, both are dressed in old tattered clothes. The lighting is natural but slightly shadowed by the dark smoke and decaying buildings. The setting for this sequence is what looks to be like a desert in Mexico; the performance I thought was very good, he makes he suspicious, untrustworthy and shifty emotions very obvious and so the audience know this is not something he wishes to share however this could all be emphasized by the make up, it has been used in order to give the man scars, dirty and also unhealthy.
This film was directed by Ron Howard and was released in 2009; this opening sequence follows a linear narrative structure as everything seems to be rather rehearsed and have a formal format.
This film follows many of the codes and conventions both expected and mentioned by critiques. It is set in the urban landscape of Vatican City however we are not shown this location until further into the opening sequence. Another convention is also the ordinary; however this is within religion not ordinary life. The opening sequence also contains many aspects of partial vision, and questions and answers; the partial vision occurs in the shot with the throne as it is mainly lit by natural light coming through the windows and the candles leaving some areas in darkness and shadow, this then causes some subconscious questions for the audience, however the main occurrence of questioning, in my opinion, is the very start of the opening sequence when the audience can see a priest destroying a ring, why is he doing this? However the audience is then told why this is happening by the voice over. This film also starts with death, this then grabs the attention of the audience; despite the break in convention as this film is filmed in the day light it is not complete brightness as it is dim outside, I found this as when watching the opening scene there are large lights on whist outside.
Shots such as close ups on the ring, the cross that is put onto the ring and the Vatican crest in the wax, causes the audience to ask questions, why are they defacing this ring, whose ring was it, why are they in the Vatican? These close ups of the destruction however could also indicate violence. There is also a pan over a large number of people as the dead pope is being brought out into st Peters basilica, this could be an establishing shot or be to show how important to people that pope was. The diagetic sounds in this film consist of church bells and the tools coming into contact with the ring, this is to ensure the audience is involved, however the non-diagetic sounds are those of the monks singing the powerfully gentle music that starts a the very beginning, grows in pitch and volume in the build up to the ring being destroyed, but is sharply silenced by the sound of the hammer hitting the ring and then another non-diagetic sound is added; the use of the voice over informs the audience of what has just happened so all the subconscious questions become answered in the opening sequence to perhaps give a sense of what the film in its entirety is based around.
The 21 cuts that were in this opening sequence all follow a slow pace, this could be to signify that it must be done properly, that it has been done before and is a ritual or to show respect. In the build up of destroying the ring slow motion is used this could be to add emphasis to the actions taking place, but in a way it also builds tension and it follows the critique of Lars ole Salurburg as there is a protracted outcome. The graphics however are very simple, the background imagery is out of focus due to pixilation this could be to draw attention to who produced the films however the pixilation then fades and the audience is shown the side of the ring, then they are given the name of the film; the typeface is somehow strong but soft at the same time, it is also quite small and in white so therefore subtle, this could be to draw no attention away form the actions at hand, however the colour scheme of whit on gold does make it stand out resulting in the audience being able to see it for the small amount of time that it is there.
The costumes used within this film are those of religious robs of the priest in black and the what look to be clergy men or Preferiti (next in line to be pope) however these are much grander the costume that is worn by the priest, this could be to show that they are more important than he is. The props within this film are all those of religious important, the ring, the tools, the parchment and the throne; this again I think is simply to emphasis the setting and the event of the pope death. The light used in the setting of the Vatican rooms, and St Peters square, is natural and looks but is however a little dim, this could have been down to the weather or to indicate the emotions felt by the people. The hair and make up I think have been done to resemble a person with a good life as there are no scars or wounds or bruises; the acting performance within this opening sequence is that of a person who is morning a death but is also being extremely reserved in doing so, his emotion however becomes more apparent after the destruction of the ring, this could signify that he no longer has to subdue his devastation.
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