Group 2C (is the best group)

Individual Contribution to Avoiding Problems

The 5 things i can do to make sure shooting runs smoothly are...

1. Encourage people to speak their mind--> If no one says what they think then no one else will know there's something wrong and resentment will build up resulting in pointless arguments.
2. Keep the group focused --> Stop time-wasting as much as possible and make sure everyone in the group knows we're on a tight schedule.
3. Assigning Jobs --> Make sure 'fun' and 'boring' jobs get shared out equally between group members so everything is fair.
4. If I'm supposed to bring anything on shoot weekends, I must make sure I check I have everything I need before I leave.
5. Losing my patience --> When things don't go my way I must learn to compromise and understand that everyones ideas are equal and therefore deserve to be heard.
   

Opening sequence of "Pi"

A film made by Darren Aronofsky, the director of "Requiem for a Dream".
'A paranoid mathematician searches for a key number that will unlock the universal patterns found in nature' -IMDB
I am desperate to see this thriller movie! I thought the opening sequence was really interesting; really unconventional in some ways but really sticking the rules in others. The whole effect of the opening sequence with the music and the images is really freaky and trippy and looks a bit like a computer game. This sequence is similar in ways to ones I've posted before in the way that there are lots of different images flitting on and off screen in a very short space of time. Very inspirational for my own thriller sequence.

The Departed (incomplete)

First 10 minutes


One of Martin Scorsese's earlier films. In "The Departed", we see the typical Cop vs. Gangster relationship but with a twist; the race to uncover the moles who have infiltrated the Police force and the mob. This makes sure the audience aren't too unnerved, but adds excitement to what would be a very conventional film. It's also such a simple idea that I'm surprised other writers haven't focused their films on this sort of plot. I find it interesting how i was inclined to take the side of the gangsters over the cops and the overall message of the film to me is summed up in this quote "When I was growing up, they would say you could become cops or criminals. But what I'm saying is this. When you're facing a loaded gun, what's the difference?" which sets the tone for the rest of the movie. Throughout the film, it becomes difficult for the audience to distinguish between the 'bad' and the 'good.' Scorsese seems to sit on the fence and does not seem to persuade you who is right or who is wrong and is basically saying at the end of the day, what difference is it going to make?

The movie opens showing the racial unrest and protests of 1960s Boston, suggesting a political metaphor which in fact is not followed throughout the rest of the film. You could say what's happening in the opening sequence has nothing to do with the plot of the film. However, it sets the time and the city in which the film will be situated in therefore giving the audience the background of the film.

"The Departed" is a remake of the Hong Kong blockbuster "Infernal Affairs" and i feel Scorsese had done an excellent job of modernising the story and tweaking it so the audience can relate to it more. However, many people find the psychological tension to be much higher in the original.

"Forget the film, watch the Titles"

While researching opening sequences i came across the following video which I can't seem to paste into the blog so I'll just put down the URL

http://www.submarinechannel.com/titlesequences/video.jsp?video=27967

I recommend everyone have look at it as it was made with a small budget using close ups to make ordinary, everyday objects seem strange. I have read the information down the side of the page about Danny Yout and apparently this title sequence links to Se7ens title sequence.
If you press back you can see the rest of the films which are also very good e.g. El Bufalo de la Noche, Allerzielen. Defiantly worth looking at it, and very influential for budget producers [like ourselves].

(I've realised I really REALLY like the use of image close ups and want to use them in my thriller film)

From Top left: Reservoir Dogs, Scream, Hide and Seek, 12 Angry Men, Memento, L.A. Confidential, Scarface, Psycho, Flightplan

Rope (1948)-Another Hitchcock Film

While researching Scorsese's long take from Goodfellas, I found information about the film 'Rope'. The whole film was made up of a series of 8-10 minute shots all seamlessly cut together to make it seem like the same shot. According to IMDB, 'there are only 2 intentionally visible cuts during the main body of the film' This was the first notable film to use long unedited takes to tell a story and has inspired many directors e.g. Scorsese, to use this technique.

Hitchcock, on the other extreme, also made the film 'The Birds' which has 1,360 edits.

________________________________________

Kill Bill
-Another great example of a long take. This one isn't quite as well known or quite as long as the other but I really do think it's an amazing technique. The way the directors make it seem so easy when in fact, it would be extremely difficult to do. It makes the audience feel like they're really there, inside the film and part of the action, instead of making the audience feel like an outsider.

• Long takes can be used to create the effect of claustrophobia on the audience and negatively can cause the audience to wait for the actor to make a mistake rather than paying attention to the plot. It can also bore the audience so they loose intrest in the film.

Director Research: Martin Scorsese

Other Films: Mean Steets, Taxi Driver, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, Raging Bull

After finally watching Goodfellas (thanks to Michael) and thoroughly enjoying it, I was compelled to do some research into the Director, Scoresese's, work and the techniques he uses...

Many see 'Goodfellas' to be the high point in Scorsese's career and shows a fantastic display of the director's cinematic technique. Scorsese usually begins his films with segments of the film taken from the middle/the end of the story plot. I think this is particularly influential for me and my thriller as it is very enigmatic and makes the audience want to keep watching the film. Scorsese is a huge fan of long, tracking takes and uses them in many of his films. Below is the legendary clip taken from 'Goodfellas' showing the long tracking shot of Henry and Karen walking into a restaurant. This clip puts the audience in the point of view of Karen who Henry is about to sweep off her feet. I find the maneuvering of the camera through the tight hallways while maintaining dialogue and a high level of acting very impressive.

Goodfellas Opening Sequence-
The Opening sequence of 'Goodfellas' raises a number of questions in the audiences minds the main one of which is; what is Scorsese trying to tell us? The first thing we see is 3 men in a car driving into the woods and we hear a banging coming from inside the boot. The car stops, the men get out of the car and the camera zooms in on the boot. Next, the boot opens and there is a reverse shot back on the men as if something is staring at them. We then see the boot open and see a man covered in blood pleading for his life. Two of the men seem to sympathise with the man but the third shoots him a number of times. The camera then zooms in on the main character and 'antihero' of the film whose voice over says "As far back as I can remember, i always wanted to be a gangster" which is a strange thing to say in those circumstances. The scene is very enigmatic and the audience don't know why any of the things happening in the scene are happening. The only way to answer their questions will be to watch the film.


Binary Opposites in the film
e.g. Law vs. Criminal
Family Greatness vs. Underworld
Glamour vs. Despair

_________________________________

I've decided I want to base my thriller sequence around gangsters, crime and vigilantes.

Loactions

I decided to do some research into the filming locations used in some of Mr Quentin Tarantino's movies...


Pulp Fiction
The film starts and ends in the above diner. i think it's an interesting place to set a thriller/ black comedy hybrid as it seems to be a quite a normal place. There is nothing dark or mysterious about it e.g. the house used in 'Psycho.' This is clever as it means that perhaps the audience can relate to what's happening more easily.


Reservoir Dogs
The majority of this film is set in an old deserted warehouse which I've done some research into and found out the warehouse was once a mortuary. This follows the typical conventions of the thiller genre e.g. isolation. The interior of the warehouse is quite dank, seems unused and decor gives the auedience the idea of a prison or of criminal activity.



Jackie Brown
A lot of the 'exciting activity' or whatever you'd like to call it takes place in a shopping centre. We see the same time period a number of times (i think 3 but don't hold me to that) from diferent characters in the story points of view in order to understand why things happen e.g. why Jackie leaves the money in the changing room. The first time you see it is very confusing but as it is replayed again and again from different points of view, the audience understand. I think it is an interesting place to shoot a film as it is a very normal place, full of people making the stealing of the money more interesting.

Opening Sequence: Se7en

An extremely clever set of opening credits which, in many ways shares techniques shown in my earlier clip taken from 'Requiem for a Dream.' I haven't yet seen the film and Se7ens opening credits are highly effective in sparking curiosity in the audience and creating enigma. The credits are classic yet at the same time do not conform to the 'rules'; they are black and white but move around and switch colour places regularly. My earlier clip and this one are similar in the way that they show lots of close up images that the audience don't understand and will only find out how they are relevant by watching the film. The music used is modern and the flickering on screen disorientates the audience.
A highly effective opening sequence...

Opening Credits

What's in them?

• Company name e.g. Dreamworks, Motion Pictures
• Main Characters
• Director e.g. A Tarantino Production, A Steven Spielberg Film
• The Title
  

Are Opening credits neccessary?

I think the opening credits of a film are useful as they are the first thing the audience see and if used effectively can set the mood/tone for the film prefectly e.g. the opening credits in 'Psycho' -simple yet hypnotic.

Opening credits can be used to outline the directors intensions and set up expectations of those watching the film. However, I have researched openind credits a bit and I have found out that many films don't have opening credits and some dont even mention the name of the film.

Vanilla Sky, Apocolypse Now, The Ring, The Bourne Identity, and The Mummy Returns are all examples of this.

These are all highly successful films which could be seen as evidence that Opening Credits are unnecessary. However in my thriller I still plan to use opening credits as i think it's a helpful form of introduction for the audience.

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)

Blog Customising

I had some problems trying to customise my blog. I used THIS site in order to get a themed blog template. I wanted it to look quite dark and spooky, perhaps with some shadows and to use the colour red to symbolise blood (signifiers of the Thriller genre). However, there were a few issues e.g. loosing the tool bar at the top of the screen, and I ended up having to redo some of my lists and had to go to a lot of bother to get my blog back to looking normal.....so just as a word of warning, don't use that site. It's not worth the hassle.

Pyscho Stills

*Plot Synopsis*

(1) This image signifies the Thriller genre in a number of ways. Firstly, the mansion looks huge and intimidating sue to it being on top of a hill and due to the sheer size of it. It looks old, isolated and mysterious and gives the audience the idea of a haunted house and something going on behind closed doors. The overgrown shrubbery connotes the idea that no one ever goes there and the area is very isolated. The silhouette standing next to the house is a huge signifier of the thriller genre as the fact that you can't tell who it is is an enigma code making the audience want to know who the character is. The character is looking down at the camera making them seem more threatening. The characters posture is very manly giving the audience the idea of typical character roles and makes the audience sure that this is the villain.



(2) This image is very enigmatic. The character is completely in shadow connoting villainy. The character is holding a weapon above their head in a very threatening way and as the still is from the point of view of the victim, it makes the audience feel part of what's happening. The water moving diagonally across the image is obviously from the shower but it also looks like slashes which foreshadows waht is about to happen. The fact that the audience has no idea what the villain looks like is very enigmatic and adds to the excitement of the film.

Thriller Still

Camera:

• The shot is an extreme/a big close up to show the emotion (fear) on the characters face and so the audience doesn't know who they are connoting an air of mystery around the character.
• The still is at eye level and at a straight angle. This makes the character stand out even more because everything (e.g. the door, the window frame) is in straight lines apart from them, signifying that they shouldn't be there.
• I think a single, artificial light is used here to create shadows and create a creepy effect. This is helped by the fact that you tell that this was shot during the night.
• Shot set at a slant in the direction that the eyes are looking therefore putting more emphasis on them.
• The door is more in focus than the character adding to the feeling of entrapment and possibly signifying that the door is more powerful than the prisoner.

Mise-en-scene

• Set in black and white signifying the time period or around 1950s.
• The character is looking out a peep hole which is a frame within a frame.
• The window in the background- shows it's dark outside and the bars represent entrapment.
• The light on the characters face creates a creepy effect along with the shadows and shows off the whites of the characters eyes (which is a signifier for fear)
• The lack of decor and the neutral surroundings of the shot make sure the audiences full attention is on the character.
• The shadows on the characters face make them look almost inhuman.
• The character is looking into the distance to the left of the shot signifying that there is something there which is unknown to the audience and encourages excitement and anticipation and makes the audience predict what might be there.
• The dirt on the door and the shabbiness of the place connotes the idea that the character is trapped in a derelict building which is uninhabited and isolated.

People

• You can only see the characters eyes which focuses all the audiences attention on the expression in their eyes which is fear.
• The characters look off screen signifies to the audience that there's something there.
• No other part of the face is shown on the screen meaning that the feeling in the characters eyes is enough to express the mood.
• You can not be completely sure of the characters gender. However, the character possesses the features of a man e.g. strong bone structure and shot hair, and the lack of make up suggests that the victim is not a woman.
  

Survey

What does the word Thriller mean to you?

• "Captivates the audience right from the start and keeps them guessing" -Ann Rebak
• "A film full of tension, viewer doesn't necessarily know what's going on at the beginning, resolution at the end, usually about a darker side to life" -Marianne Rebak
• " A film that makes you want to hide behind your cushion, usually set at night time- Aaron Rebak
• "A film where the audience doesn't necessarily know what to expect, A thriller movie has to have a clever plot in order to keep the audience interested as opposed to other genres e.g. action" - James White
• "Usually has a good storyline and should have a variety of possible endings to keep the audience interested. Usually a better chance that the cost of the cinema ticket is worth paying for!" - Jon Rebak
• "...Michael Jackson" - Joseph Rebak
  

COMMENT YOUR OWN! =D

Initial Ideas

I have an idea but I'm still really unsure of details. I thought it would be really interesting to do a documentary style opening. I thought a young couple in their teens or a single guy could be filming something with a small camera in a isolated forest area for research or something. He / they would have stumbled over something they shouldn't or have found out something they shouldn't have and are now trying to collect evidence because they know someone/something is after them. You would then keep cutting to very bumpy camera work and hear raspy breathing and the sound of crunching leaves in the forest sort of staggering/running( the villain). There would be a huge build up of tension (i know I'm being very vague, but i did say i was unsure of details) and at the end of the scene the villain would catch up with the guy or the couple and the camera would be dropped in a ditch and the whole screen would go static.
After that, i had the idea that you could cut to a scene about 3 weeks later( it would tell you this) during the day and you would see some feet stop by the camera, which by this time is quite well camouflaged, and see them pick it up.
I know my idea isn't very detailed yet but i really do think it has the potential to make a really original, creative thriller sequence.

Rear Window vs. Disturbia

Disturbia is an modern remake of Alfred Hitchcocks famous thriller, Rear Window. Although the two films are similar, there are also a number of significant differences which are listed below...

Characters

Similarities:

• Same number of characters in each film.
• The caracters have the same roles e.g. Housebound man is the main character, sidekick
• In both Rear Window and Disturbia, the female is seen as a sex symbol.
• Sexual Attraction between the characters
• There is a sidekick in both films who is talkative, not particularly smart and provides comedy for the audience.
• The main characters all get really involved in both films.
• In both Rear Window and Disturbia, the villain is played by the same kind of character and is in the around the same age. Both villains are male.
• In both films, the main male character is scruffy and quite uncarign about his appearence (probably due to him being housebound). In contast the female is quite glamourous and brave opposed to being the typical damsel in distress.
• The victims in both films are female.

Differences:

• The films are set in different time periods. Rear window is set around the 1950s and Disturbia is set in 2007.
• In Rear Window the characters are in their late 20s early 30s whereas in Disturbia, the main characters are in their teens; around 16 or 17 years old.
• In Disturbia, it's the female who originally wants to start watching the man whereas in Rear Window the woman tries to distract the man from looking out the window all the time and only gets involved later on in the film.
• In Rear Window, the female goes to look in the villains flat of her own accord agaisnt the main characters wishes, while in Disturbia it's the sidekick who gets sent into the villains house on the orders of the main character.
• In Disturbia the sidekick is the main characters best friend and is male but in Rear Window the sidekick is the main characters nurse and is female.
• The Villain in Rear window is quite mysterious and the characters do not come into any physical contact with him until the end of the film. In distur bia, the villain is a lot more bold and upfront and you find out much more about him throughout the film.
• In Rear Window, there is only one victim( being the villians wife). howevr, in Disturbia there is high body count (multiple murders, all sexy women).
• In Disturbia, the villian is a serial killer who kills in bloody, disgusting ways whereas in Rear window, the villian is only disposing of his wife and the killing as far as we know isn't gruesome (he doesn't take pleasure in killing).

Themes

Similarities:

• Both plots revolve around the fact that the main character is trapped in their house.
• Due to this, the main characters see things they wouldn't otherwise see.
• Both Rear window and Disturbia share themes of Suspense, Fear, Murder, Suspiscion, Claustraphobia, Spying, Voyerism, Technology, Morales (right and wrong), Sexual Attraction, Justice and they both make you jump at times.
• There is police involvement in both films.

Differences:

• Although characters in both films are stuck in their house, they have different reasons for being there. In Rear Window, the main character is there due to personal injury and an accident. In Disturbia, the main character is under house arrest due to him hitting a teacher and getting involved with the law.
• In Disturbia, the death of the main characters father is the driving force behind the film.
• Disturbia shows paternal relationships (mother and son) but Rear Window has nothing to do with family.
• In Disturbia, the main characters trust him right from the start but in Rear Window, they humour him at the beginning and only start to really trust the main character towards the end.

Narratives

Similarities:

• Both films are character driven (although some events are crucial)
• They aren't particularly fast moving, therefore take time to let the plot unravel and build up tension.
• The point of view in the film is of the hero and his friends.
• Neither film is particularly enigmatic as we only know what the hero knows.
• However, in both films the audience are in the frame meaning not much is held back.
• In both films, there is a case of mistaken identity which the heroes see as proof.
• Dead animals are used in Rear Window and Disturbia.
  
• A main character breaks an entry in both films in order to confirm suspicions.
• There is a party in both films which distracts the protagonist and therefore distracts the audience.
• The main character is believed by his friends in both films but is not believed by the police.
• There is a use of technology current to the time the film was made in both Disturbia (e.g. computer) and Rear Window (e.g. camera).
  

Differences:

• Disturbia builds up it's plot a lot more than Rear Window.
  
• The murder count differs in both films; Disturbia features multiple murders and Rear Window only features one.
• The films are set in different places and therefore create different effects. Rear Window is set in an urban, inner city area meaning the sounds you hear are those of a city e.g. passing traffic, horns etc. Disturbia is set in surburbia which typically is seen as a family place and hence hear the sounds of family life.
• Different animals are killed by the villain in the films. In Disturbia a deer is killed and in Rear Window, a dog is killed .
  

Iconography

Similarities:

• In both Rear Window and Disturbia, artificial lighting is used e.g. street lamps, house lights.
• Frames within frames are used regularly throughout both films e.g. windows, computers, camera lenses, blinds ( all signifying entrapment)
• Knives are used in both films.
• There are ordinary settings used in both Rear Window and Disturbia which taps into the fears of the audience of what's going on behind closed doors

Differences:

• Rear Window is set in the inner city while Disturbia is set in suburbia.
• The size of the set varies in both films. Rear Window is all set from one room whereas Disturbia makes use of the whole house.
• There is different dress codes in Rear Window and Disturbia, due to the time difference.
• In Disturbia, the main character is a teenage slacker and it his own fault he has been put in the situation he is in. In Rear Window, the main character has a job and is quite a gentleman and it is accidental that he has been put in his situation.
  

Definition of the thriller genre

Thrillers are characterized by fast pacing, frequent action, and resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of more-powerful and better-equipped villains. Literary devices such as suspense, red herrings, and cliffhangers are used extensively.
-Wikipedia

My definition of a thiller- A storyline with a plot full of suspense, keeps the audience on the edge of their seat + keeps the audience guessing right till the end.

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Luminaries Of The Thriller Genre

• Alfred Hitchcock
• James Stewart
• Raymond Chandler
• Barbara Stanwyck
• Henri-Georges Clouzot
• Clint Eastwood
• Steve McQueen
• Kevin Spacey
• William Friedkin
• Bruce Willis

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