Suggested Viewings

This film has been recommended to me as it links to my initial idea set in a train station. The cover and the trailer look terrifying but I'll try and watch it in the next week or so and hopefully it'll give me some inspiration for my thriller sequence.

Analysis of Filmsite

THE MEMENTO WEBSITE

I think the memento website is very clever and ties in with the film in a way that I haven't seen another films site do. To start with, the fact that the website is memento backwards (otnemem) ties in with the film which is set backwards; like the site name.

The front page of the website shows the nam of the film in capitals, the date the film comes out and site options set against a close up of a burning book. This doesn't give too much away to the person viewing the site but raises enigmatic questions such as 'why is the book burning?' and the only way to answer the question is to watch the film.

Entering the HTML site you see the letters spelling out memento apperaring from right to left with the sound of a picture being taken. Eerie music is also played to make the viewer of the website feel uncomfortable and to set a mysterious mood to the site. However, if you hover over the image the sentence 'some memories are best forgotten' appears incorporating the letters used to spell out memento. You then hear a man (the main character) say 'the world doesn't just disappear when you close your eyes does it' which intrigues the viewer to find out what it means and who the person who's speaking is. It turns out to be a quote from the film. You then hear a sound (possibly a closing door) getting louder as if it's coming towards you and a shout from the man who just spoke.

After the shout, this newspaper article appears as if it's coming towards you on screen. The newspaper article gives the viewer background information of the film and intrigues them without revealing the plot. The newspaper has word links such as 'body', 'suspicious', 'Leonard', 'photographs', 'revenge', 'local' and 'forgetful.' These links lead to photos, hand written scrawls and typed documents all relating to the film but not giving too much away. The aim is to make prospective audiences watch the film and to give those who have already watched the film, a deeper understanding of the plot.


When clicking on revenge notes like this come up along with things like death reports etc. This makes viewers of the site who have not yet seen the film wonder about the reasoning behind these documents and what relevance they have to the plot. Notes like the one above are very clever because they aren't used in the film at all because they give the viewer an idea of what happened before Leonard started his 'mission.' Also, the fact that we never find out who wrote this note puts us in the main character Leonard's position so we relate more to his character and sympathise with him.

Notes like this make the audience wonder who the writer was (Leonard or somebody else trying to trick him?). This note is very enigmatic because it makes the prospective question what this man has done and why his facts are being written down on paper. Also, the facts are very vague meaning we sympathise more with the character trying to find this man as he doesn't have much to go on and we have already established that he has a memory problem.

-I chose to analyse the memento film site because I thought it was very original in it's layout making it interesting and because in my opinion it captured the films essence perfectly.

Inspiring Clips Part 2(incomplete)

Past Latymer Thriller Projects...

Exposure


-Continuity- this sequence was spot on as it followed all the rules. Camera literally follows him wherever he goes.

-Camera work-lots of variety of different distances and angles.

-Changes from black and white to colour which is slightly unnerving for the audience adding to the feel of the sequence.

-Match on action- lots of great examples of this in the sequence.

-The sequence stuck to the 180 degree rule

-Credits- not classic but still effective. The use of the colour orange is unusual but links to the colour of the room at the end of the clip

-Typical conventions- the sequence showed conventions typical of the thriller genre e.g. the fade to black at the end of the clip.

-Techniques used- dissolve

-Pace-starts off fast and slows down at the end.

-Dress Code- black suit,Shirt,tie=gives the audience the idea that he's a business man down to his smart dress. However, his loosened tie and how he acts adds to the rush he's in.

-Diegetic Sound- Increases realism e.g. running water, keys, heavy breathing

-Non-Diegetic Sound- Music starts half way through when the man starts walking slowly towards to door the sequence which has the effect of building up tension. The heartbeat at the end of the clip could be diegetic of non-diegetic but either way it's amplified.

-Enigma Codes-Raises a number of questions e.g. Why is he in such a rush? Who's the girl in the photos?

-Influential?
I like the fact that the story line isn't too complicated meaning the people making the film could concentrate on making the experience more enjoyable for the audience. Plays on the idea of something going on behind closed doors, appearing normal from the outside but having a dark secret. I thought it was interesting how the sequence appeared to have two halves which were both very different meaning that the group got to use lots of different techniques. Uses ideas typical of the thriller genre e.g. obsession.

Inspiring Clips

Watch the beginning of this film, i know they've distorted the sound and sped up the amazing theme music BUT i think it's a really clever, effective technique.
It's from one of my favourite movies 'Requiem for a Dream' and although it's not a thriller I recommend everyone see it at some point...
Someone had 'remixed' it so it isn't quite like it is in the real movie but it was the best clip i could find.
The use of lots of different close up images all in a short space of time and resting on each image for less than a second (a montage) is very enigmatic, disorientating and creates a strange feeling for the audience making them want to keep watching the film. There is also a lot of emphasis on sound in this sequence which adds to the enigmatic effect. In my opinion, Student Thriller films never really work well with dialogue and I feel amplifying the sound of everyday noises e.g. traffic, a clock would work really well. I thought it would be amazing to use this sort of technique at the beginning of a thriller (the whole all will be explained later idea and making the audience wonder why the film makers have put these particular images together).
It would get me interested anyway and is something that will influence me when planning my thriller sequence.

However, I am aware that this sort of thing would be very hard to do seeing as we are limited to equipment etc but it's a very clever, highly effective technique...

Theoretical analysis of narrative structure

Fatal Attraction



Syd Field
Syd Field is an American screen writer who works by the theory that all films have a three act plot structure. He believes there are many plot points in a film, but there are 3 identifiable main ones. These acts change the relationships of characters within the film, change the tone of the plot etc. Below, i have applied this theory to 'Fatal Attraction.

Act 1: Setup
This occours in the first 10 minutes of the film and is used to help the audience decided whether they like the film or not. Syd Field believes that the audience will usually be unlikely to change their mind later. The film maker must give the audience a sense of the film e.g. who the protagonist is, which characters to sympathise with. The rest of first 30 minutes of the film should be used to let the audience learn the nature of the problem.
-->Applied to Fatal Attraction
Act 1 establishes Dan (the protagonist) in his family life and shows the audience the huge risk he takes when sleeping with Alex (the villain).

Act 2: Confrontation
This is the longest act in the film and shows the protagonist facing more and more extreme problems and thwarted attempts to defeat the villain. There is usually a mid-point in the film where the main character wins what looks like a helpless struggle but then realise there is still a long way to go and realise what they've been doing up until now isn't working and tactics must be changed.
-->Applied to Fatal Attraction
Act 2 shows growing tension between Dan and Alex as she tries to stay in his life and his attempts to make her leave him alone e.g. the bunny boiling.

Act 3: Resolution
In this act, we see the hero taking control of the problems they have faced usually involving some form of confrontation of their enemy on one of their home territory's to achieve the final, decisive victory.
-->Applied to Fatal Attraction
Together, Dan and Beth fight and defeat Alex in their home.


However, some people criticise Field's theory for being too prescriptive and that the theory cannot be applied to all films. Pulp Fiction, for example, is proof that films do not need to stick to the rigid rules of Field to result in interesting and popular films.


What is the 'problematic' of the film?
-A problem which the film sets up close to the start which will be resolved at the end
In the case of 'Fatal Attraction', the problematic are simply Alex's attempts to stay in Dan's life which is resolved at the end of the film by Dan fighting her and Beth shooting her. The film starts with the calm of family life which Alex destroys. The audience want the problem to be solved and equilibrium restored.

Fatal Attraction's Ideology
Fatal Attraction puts across a very definite about the view of women in society, the main of which is that single woman are evil. this is put across by contrasting Beth and Alex as good and evil. This ties back to traditional roles of women e.g. a good woman will a housewife, dependent on her husband, a family woman etc whereas independent, business women were frowned upon. The film also has the traditional ideology that sexual relationships outside marriage are wrong.

The Big Combo

In my opinion, an amazing still taken from the classic 'The Big Combo' 1955
As i mentioned earlier, I have been thinking about classic thrillers as I think they have a definite sophisticated edge to them and this still with the costumes, the silhouettes, the deserted farm yard, the dress code and smoke producing a spooky effect just screams thriller to me.

Opening sequence of Reservoir Dogs, 1992

Reservoir Dogs is one of my favourite films and while watching it I realised it would be worth while analysing it's opening sequence.
In my opinion, the opening sequence is not typical of the thriller genre yet is still effective. The film starts with a black screen and you can hear the sound of background chatter and teacups and plates giving the audience the idea that the scene is set in a public place e.g. a cafe. You then hear the sound of a man talking. What he is saying is quite vulgar but makes the audience immediately pay attention. I think it's unusual but interesting that the first person to speak in the film and the main talker is the scene is Quentin Tarantino, the director. The first image is an over the shoulder shot of a man answering him back and disagreeing with him. The camera then moves around showing all the men (the reservoir dogs) sitting round a table all wearing tuxes(apart from one) and eating, drinking & smoking making them seem quite glamorous. The fact that they are sitting in a dingy cafe juxtaposes this. The conversation they're having shows the audience that the men all know each other and are friends/ are working together. In the opening sequence. the only things in focus are the men and the camera keeps panning round them so the audience get to know what they all look like.
Not much happens in the opening sequence of reservoir Dogs but the fact that they are doing something perceived as normal helps the audience get an idea of what the characters are like and let them build up ideas about them. It is also the only time in the film when all the characters are together in the same place.

Watch the clip

JUST SO YOU KNOW

I came up with Thrillogy...not luke
SO if I happen to want to use it, it belongs to me =)

The Four narrative Theories

Applied to 'Jackie Brown'

Levi-Stauss-Binary Opposites
(Elements in a story plot are paired in opposition)
e.g. Law vs. Underworld
Masculine vs. Feminine
Rich vs. Poor
Black Culture vs. White Culture
Friends vs. Enemies

Todorov-Narrative Structure
(The idea that equilibrium is disrupted and restored)

• Equilibrium= Jackie works as a poorly paid air stewardess and acts as a courier for Ordell
  
• Equilibrium disrupted by the Police searching Jackie's bag
• The plot......
  
• New Equilibrium restored by Jackie setting up Ordell who gets killed by the police.
• Jackie leaves with the money

Barthes- Action and Enigma Codes
(Answers and Questions. )
Action Codes- plot events leading to others.
e.g.

1. What will the resolution be to the police searching Jackie's bag?
2. Who will end up with the money?
3. Will Jackie and Max get together in the end?
   

Enigma Codes-elements of the plot that raise questions.
e.g.

1. Where has the money in Jackie's bag come from?
   
2. Why does Jackie leave 'the bag of money' in the changing room?
3. Why does Ordell turn the light off when he's talking to Jackie

Propp-Character Types
(The 8 character roles common to every folk/fairy tale)

The Villain- Ordell
The Hero- Jackie
The Helper- max
The Donor- ?
The Princess- ?
Her Father -?
The Dispatcher -?
The False Hero -?

--> This film was interesting as it seemed to break Propp's rules which leaves the audience feeling confused as to how to categorise the characters.

...More

I think with the train idea there are two possible options:

1) It could be set in a really old fashioned train staion and the characters could wear really grand, victorian style costumes, maybe filming it in sepia going with the idea of creating a classic thriller

OR

2) It could have a really modern theme showing obvious technology with bright colours and could be set in a deserted typical london underground station which would be really spooky and we could create noises and echoes etc. The lack of windows and naturtal light would also represent entrapment which is a signifier of the thriller genre =D

Whether this is possible or not is irrevelant...I just like the idea. That's all.

Right then...

We had a discussion the other day about potential ideas for our thriller film etc and out of all of them, the one that really stood out to me was the idea about the train and the deserted train station. It's doable and would be really effective but there might be a few issues with continuity, stopping other people from walking through the place where we're filming and also we might not even be allowed to film there. BUT it's still a good idea and I actually really want to start drawing more ideas together and get properly started on the project. ciaoooo

Thriller Moodboard

I put a few photos together that i thought were good signifiers of the Thriller Genre. Some are stills from films and some are photos i found on the internet which I thought were effective.

Memento

I watched memento today and I absolutely loved it. I thought it was really interesting how the film played around with different concepts, for example the whole film being backwards and giving the audience false ideas about who was a villain and who was a hero. when trying to recall a part of the film, i had difficulty placing it because I couldn't remember what came before and after and I couldn't decided whether to place it according to the story line or the actual film structure. I thought that the dizziness and confusion the film created in my own mind made me feel as if I were the one who had the short-term memory deficit. Additionally, I thought that showing the main characters memories (or what we the audience believe to be his memories) in black and white was a really good technique as it added some variety to the film.
The fact that the storyline was complex and kept you guessing right till the end made it all the more interesting but i think to really appreciate the genius of Memento, I'll have to watch it again :)

The Thriller Genre- What are it's key characteristics?

Typical Thriller Themes
-isolation, lonliness, entrapment, stalking, claustrophobia, murder, law and order, vunerablility, revenge, corruption, voyeursim, secrets, suicide, sexuality, power, ambiguity, secuction, terroism, anxiety, deception, treachery, torture, heists, obsession, addiction etc...

Typical Thriller Characters
-lone detectives, femmefatale, stalkers, innocent victims, terroists, private-eyes, gangsters, the final girl, mysterious strangers, phychotic individulas, fugitives, shadowy figures, innocent/evil children, vunerable female etc...

Typical Thriller Iconogrpahy
-shadows, steet lights, gun, binoculars, knives, blood smears, artifial lights, polorioids, mist, money, briefcases, drugs, masks, technology, water, candles, glass, blinds, derelict buildings, windows & mirrors (frames within frames), rain, extreme close ups, neon lights, underwear, CCTV footage etc...

Typical Thriller Narrative Events, Sounds, Actions
-being watched, someone being followed, discovery (of a body), being trapped, gunshot, screaming, chase, stalking, voyuerism, scaming, love triangles, creaking, dramatic music, snapshots, locations (basements, attics, alleyways), stabbing, kidnap, howling of wing/rattling of bins/storm, money changing hands, being tied up, crime scenes, searches for the truth, phone calls, CCTV, sitting in bars, meetings etc...

Film DVD Cover Analysis

Explore the narrative image of 'Scream' and the way this is constructed through the DVD cover?

Camera:
The shot is an extreme close up- This puts all the focus on the character and makes it apparent to the audience that the emotion she is feeling is fear.
Only the characters face is in shot- This confuses the audience and makes them question what's going on and why she's doing what she is AKA enigma codes.
The image is an eye line- the woman on the cover appears to be staring straight at the audience. This is very direct and makes the audience feel involved, as if she's asking them for help. It also puts emphasis on her wide eyes (connoting fear).
Framing-the framing of the shot is very tight which creates enigma by letting the audience wonder what is going on.
Posed shot? I think that it is unlikely that this image came directly from the movie. i believe it was posed with the intention of attracting the audience and making them want to watch it.

Mise-en-scene:
The use of the colours blue, black, red and white- Black signifies evil and darkness and is regularly used in the Thriller genre to produce an effect that will work. The red of the lips signifies glamour and gives the audience the idea of a typical pretty, vulnerable female victim. However, red also connotes evil and could be seen foreshadowing that there will be blood in the film. The use of blue creates a cold feeling (could be linked to death)on the DVD cover and makes the audience feel quite uneasy. It also makes the females eyes stand out more and creates an eye-catching contrast with the red on the cover. The characters white face could symbolise her fear but could also be to show that she's not the villain (she's good). Also, white symbolises innocence and purity which gives the audience the idea of typical female victim traits. All the colours used are strogn colours which combined, create an eye catching DVD cover.
Text- all the text on the page is in capital letters and is very central keeping the haracters face the main focus of the photo. The use of the word 'don't' in the tag line makes it quite like a street sign or an order. The tag line is a conjunction of three, making it easier to remember. The message the tag line is putting across is very direct and as if it is actually aimed at the audience. The tag line slo hint what might happen in the filme.g. it will be set in a house, by saying things like 'Don't lock the doors'. This taps into the fears of the audience as your home is the one place that you should be able to feel safe.
The 'M' in Scream is pointy- this gives the audience the idea of a sharp dagger/knife and gives them a hint to what is going to happen in the film.
The woman has a hand over her mouth-This is an enigma code making the audience unsure whether she has her hand over her own mouth or if it's someone else's hand and why she/they are doing this.
Certificate 18- ensures that the film will be frightening or gruesome in some way.
Shadows on the characters face- this creates a spooky effect which signifies thriller and also shows the audience that the character is not all good.]
People:
The character is clearly female- we can tell this from things such as makeup and this gives us the idea that the film will use typical character types e.g. damsel in distress.
Wide eyed- action code for fear. (the colour white used on the cover make the whites of the characters eyes really stand out)
Clothing and hair can't be seen-all the focus of the picture is on the characters facial expression and lats the audience create their own image of her.
Age of the character - you can tell that the character on the DVD cover is in her late teens/early 20s which relates to the target audience of the audience of the film. Also, the fact that the character is a pretty, young female means men will be more inclined to go and see it.
She is the only character on the front cover-This signifies that her character is relevent to the plot of the film and perhaps suggests that she plays one of the key narrative roles.

The factors listed above all contribute to creating the overall narrative image of the film 'Scream' giving the audience an idea of what's to come. The cover is very enigmatic making the audience want to see what happens next and the reasoning behind it.

___________________________________________

I did some further research into the narrative image of 'Scream' and looked at the Scream Trilogy box set cover. The cover is mainly black in colour but also uses white and red. The front cover is simply the film title and shows the iconic mask used throughout all 3 films. Inside the mask you can also see the shadow of a knife being held up which foreshadows what happens in all 3 films. The black and white is used to create a simple but effective contrast between picture, text and background. The only other colour on the DVD cover is red on the 18 certificate making this stand out even more to the audience and showing them that the movies in the box set are frightening. The text is ectoplasmic creating a ghostly effect adding to the scariness of the cover. All the writing on the front of the box set is in simple, easy to read capital letters adding to the straightforward black & white theme. The box set is obviously intended for fans of the film and not neccisarily to attract new audiences. What is shown on the box set cover gives the audience clues/reminders about what happens in the plot of all 3 films yet is rtill relatively enigmatic not giving reasons for the pictures and giving no tag line which the audience can usually draw conclusions about the film from.

Disturbia

DVD Cover Deconstruction

Play on words: The title disturbia is made up of the word suburbia and disturbed which gives the audience a clue where the film is going to be set and what it's going to be about right from the start.

The tag line 'Every killer lives next door to someone' gives yet more clues to what the film is going to be about and links to the current fears of society.

Images:

• white boy (almost spookily white) close up on face
• Binoculars- signify thriller theme of voyeurism
• You can't see his face due to the binoculars and his face is half shadowed which is strange because usually it's the villain who is dehumanised
• Houses are shown at the bottom of the DVD cover showing surburbia giving more clues to the audience as to the location of the film.
• The binocular lenses are the only places where colour is used on the DVD cover. The colour used is red which represents blood. This could be foreshadowing that by looking through the binoculars, bad things are going to happen. In the lenses you can see the heroine of the film and in the background you can see the silhouette of the armed villain. This is a very effective picture as you are unsure whether the heroine knows if the villain is behind her which makes the picture tense.
• The colours used on the DVD cover are black, red and white. Black connotes darkness and danger, red represents blood and white possibly shows the boy on the front of the DVD cover is the main character (in the limelight) or is heroic / saintly (religious)