Tuesday 31 January 2012
Initial Idea : Apparition
Apparition focuses on the death of an elderly woman who dies in a car crash before the time period in which the film is set.
An unknown person laying flowers on to the old woman's grave sets the scene The film continues with a teenage boy aged 17 walking through a back gate, opening and then closing it. The boy then goes to unlock the door goes to open it, walks through the door into the conservatory then closing the door behind him. He walks into the kitchen and hears noises upstairs. Flashing images of graves and the old woman can be seen. He goes upstairs and nothing can be seen.
An unknown person laying flowers on to the old woman's grave sets the scene The film continues with a teenage boy aged 17 walking through a back gate, opening and then closing it. The boy then goes to unlock the door goes to open it, walks through the door into the conservatory then closing the door behind him. He walks into the kitchen and hears noises upstairs. Flashing images of graves and the old woman can be seen. He goes upstairs and nothing can be seen.
Thriller idea - Rebecca Gibson
A man is sitting on a chair in a kitchen, staring vacantly into the distance. This one shoot is inter-cut with shots of different people's faces, family photographs, and news paper headlines.
People seem to appear behind the man in the chair and reach out to touch him (they would be slightly opaque).
Another man walks into the room behind the man in the chair and touches his shoulder - as he walks past, the "ghosts" disappear. The man in the chair continues to stare vacantly until the other man, slams his coffee cup onto the kitchen counter - the sharp noise "wakes him up".
POV shot of man sitting in chair looking forward at the other man, standing up and leaning against the counter. The man standing up asks "You okay?".
People seem to appear behind the man in the chair and reach out to touch him (they would be slightly opaque).
Another man walks into the room behind the man in the chair and touches his shoulder - as he walks past, the "ghosts" disappear. The man in the chair continues to stare vacantly until the other man, slams his coffee cup onto the kitchen counter - the sharp noise "wakes him up".
POV shot of man sitting in chair looking forward at the other man, standing up and leaning against the counter. The man standing up asks "You okay?".
Monday 30 January 2012
Production logo ideas
Addam's Idea (Hexic Cinema)
Rebecca's Idea (25 Films)
Rebecca's Idea (25 Films)
Will's production idea (Melting Time Studios)
Craig's idea 25 productions
Tuesday 24 January 2012
Case 342 Sound Analysis
Case 342 uses non diegetic (however diegetic when in the police station) sound through a sound bridge (between the beginning scene in which they are in a police station and the scene where he is in the house) The non diegetic narration is contrapuntal to the visual aspect.
Case 342 also has ambient sound as it's background soundtrack to build tension and suspense. There is no music and is instead replaced with this ambient sound to build the atmosphere. The ambient sound stops when the door is answered at the end of the clip.
The diegetic sound can be heard aswell but is quieter than the narration. This is more apparent when ambient track finishes and the door knocking can be heard.
Case 342 also has ambient sound as it's background soundtrack to build tension and suspense. There is no music and is instead replaced with this ambient sound to build the atmosphere. The ambient sound stops when the door is answered at the end of the clip.
The diegetic sound can be heard aswell but is quieter than the narration. This is more apparent when ambient track finishes and the door knocking can be heard.
The Adjustment Buearu - Opening Sequence Analysis
In the opening sequence of The Adjustment Burearu, the Universal logo is shown telling us that it is a Universal production. The Media Rights Capital logo is shown also, telling the viewer that they had involvement in the film as well. The Adjustment Bureau is written on a black background which tells us the title of the film. After these opening logos, the main protagonist of the film is shown with non-diegetic sound in the background, giving us information as to who the character is (a senator). There are various shots of the main character, David Norris, in New York. (This is is also apparent that he's in New York by the diegetic sound. These shots suggest that he is an important character. It also gives the viewer the impression that he has a successful life.
These opening shots are unconventional of a thriller as there isn't much of an apparent construction of enigmas. However, there is a close-up shot of a man (with a contrasting facial expression to the people around him, making him seem mysterious). The next shot is of a newspaper article reading 'David Norris' exposed. This makes us, the viewer interested and want to know more, thus creating an enigma. The sound changes after this scene from rock music to a mysterious ambient soundtrack and the man shown in the previous scene answering a phone without mentioning anything specific (as though he is talking in the middle of a conversation). This also makes us want to know more and creates another enigma, increasing the mystery around this character. The room in which he is in, is dark and there is nothing recognisable about the location that he is in, creating another mysterious element to the character.
The pace of the cuts from scene to scene also changes at this point. Before the scene with the man in the dark room answering the phone, the pace of the cuts was fairly fast paced giving the impression that David had become successful in a short amount of time. (Establishing a character that we can sympathise with when we find out his career may be in danger, and then later on in the film when the real peril is established) to a much slower pace with the introduction of the non-diegetic ambient music in the background when the newpaper article about David Norris. This changes the atmosphere of the film from fairly relaxed and optimistic to that of suspenseful and serious.
The clothes that David is wearing in the opening sequence are typical of his job (senator). He wears a suit and a formal looking coat. The mysterious character wears a suit also, giving the impression that he is an important character and maybe has high status. However, the mysterious character also wears a flat cap, not usually associated with someone of this high status and seems somewhat unfitting of his suit, raising questions.
When David is in his apartment watching the television the non-diegetic music in the background is suspenseful and creates the impression that David is waiting for something. (This is because there is nothing that seems obviously suspenseful so the viewer makes assumptions as to what the character is doing.)
David is watching a news report on the television about a photo of him that was found pulling a prank when he was at college (this is what the newspaper was about in a previous scene). There is an element of mystery created by this as we are not shown what the photo is of.
The next scene contains four men all dressed similarly (in formal looking coats, with suits and formal looking hats). The mysterious looking character that was in the previous scenes is in this scene also. He is carrying the book that he had in the previous scene and because of this, gives us the suggestion that the book is important, and makes us want to know what it is for. The men are watching something from a rooftop, but what they are looking at is not shown, creating yet another enigma.
The camera angles used in the opening sequence show a lot of high angle establishing shots showing the location in a way that the audience would associate with stereotypical New York. The filming style at the beginning is similar to how a new programme may film a political piece (it still has clear cinematic filming conventions however). This changes when the newspaper article is shown to a much more typically cinematic style. Helping to change the pace and help enhance the enigmas being created within the opening sequence.
In conclusion, the opening sequence isn't entirely conventional of the thriller genre. It constructs various enigmas and mysteries throughout, but it does not give an insight to the main enigma of the film that is revealed later on. The music is conventional of the thriller genre, helping to add suspense as well as the filming style, with the main subjects in each shot being well lit (as opposed to an example of another genre, such as horror in which there would be various close-up shots of character's expressions). The introduction of characters is however conventional of the thriller genre, creating something that the main antagonist must overcome in the film.
Monday 23 January 2012
Thriller Opening Sequence - No Country for Old Men by Addam Morley
The information in the opening sequence is conveyed mainly through a characters monologue. You know that he became sheriff at 25, there is also a killer who had killed a 14 year old girl. Images in the background also set the scene in this opening sequence which is somewhere in the United states.
Main secrets which are in this opening sequence are: Why did this man kill this girl, what does the sheriff do. These may unfold why this killing happened and why the title suggest that there is no country for old men.
Through sound they was the diegetic monologue of the main character explaining some of the story and how he became a sheriff (Protagonist possibly. The atmosphere made it seem that it was an alright place to be in as he did not talk about the crime to much but it seemed a calm opening to a film.
Mise en scene helped set the scene by the arid landscapes in the background setting the film in a more sandy desert area of the USA and also the sheriffs car was of typical nature by having the lights and the paint work of what would be expected for a police in this area. Also uniform where you can see the sheriff which shows authority o he may be the main character and also the dominance in his body language as he is taking a citizen into the car.
Throughout the opening sequence the editing was very basic by using ordinary cuts to set the location of where this production is set. There were no inappropriate editing which made it lose its feeling of a thriller.
Again cinematography was very basic in the sense that there was mainly establishing shots to set the scene and aslo the long shot as the two characters walk away and you think where exactly is this set and what has that man done to be taken away.
No graphics were used in this opening sequence.
Main secrets which are in this opening sequence are: Why did this man kill this girl, what does the sheriff do. These may unfold why this killing happened and why the title suggest that there is no country for old men.
Through sound they was the diegetic monologue of the main character explaining some of the story and how he became a sheriff (Protagonist possibly. The atmosphere made it seem that it was an alright place to be in as he did not talk about the crime to much but it seemed a calm opening to a film.
Mise en scene helped set the scene by the arid landscapes in the background setting the film in a more sandy desert area of the USA and also the sheriffs car was of typical nature by having the lights and the paint work of what would be expected for a police in this area. Also uniform where you can see the sheriff which shows authority o he may be the main character and also the dominance in his body language as he is taking a citizen into the car.
Throughout the opening sequence the editing was very basic by using ordinary cuts to set the location of where this production is set. There were no inappropriate editing which made it lose its feeling of a thriller.
Again cinematography was very basic in the sense that there was mainly establishing shots to set the scene and aslo the long shot as the two characters walk away and you think where exactly is this set and what has that man done to be taken away.
No graphics were used in this opening sequence.
T1-22 2011 Thriller Opening Sequence Analysis
Throughout this opening sequence, the film conformed to thriller genre conventions and constructed through a variety of close-up shots, the construction of enigmas well. The shots chosen for the thriller film feel close-up and claustrophobic.
T1-22 portrays a clear theme of sight and seeing, this is because the movie flashes to the camera, pictures are hung on the wall and photos are being developed. These three factors link in with the thriller convention of sight.
T1-22 has a consistent editing style, where it cuts from scene to scene without transition. This helps to build tension and suspense. The way in which the the credits transition in through a fade is not intrusive and does not distract from the action.
The sound for T1-22 builds suspense as it is a typical thriller non diagetic soundtrack. It seems to build up the scene in order to support the construction of enigmas through the use of cinematography. The soundtrack fits the imagery being shown and doesn't distract from the visual footage.
There isn't much of a variety in the types of shots. The majority of these are close-ups. However these are appropriately used and fit the genre well and feels more professional as they match the feeling of claustrophobia and unease.
T1-22 portrays a clear theme of sight and seeing, this is because the movie flashes to the camera, pictures are hung on the wall and photos are being developed. These three factors link in with the thriller convention of sight.
T1-22 has a consistent editing style, where it cuts from scene to scene without transition. This helps to build tension and suspense. The way in which the the credits transition in through a fade is not intrusive and does not distract from the action.
The sound for T1-22 builds suspense as it is a typical thriller non diagetic soundtrack. It seems to build up the scene in order to support the construction of enigmas through the use of cinematography. The soundtrack fits the imagery being shown and doesn't distract from the visual footage.
There isn't much of a variety in the types of shots. The majority of these are close-ups. However these are appropriately used and fit the genre well and feels more professional as they match the feeling of claustrophobia and unease.
U1-25 Thriller Opening analysis
This was a more of a lesser thriller opening.
Firstly camera angles and shots. The shots were not steady making it lose its genre of a thriller. The lack of different camera shots and what i would believe would be relevant in this would be more close up shots to convey what the characters feeling. To keep with thriller conventions they should of used close ups instead of a continuous use of mid shots.
Editing was basic as they made only basic cuts and the use of the polaroid pictures was not in the convention of a thriller. The editing was not appropriate to the genre again as the cuts came across as a montage edit when it seemed to be a continual edit.
Mise en Scene was relevant to the story as the character was a school student who had the feeling of being followed. With the idea of the photographs enhanced this aspect of the thriller making it easy to understand through mise en scene.
The sound in the sequence did not fit in with the genre convention. The sound seemed quite random and did not enhance any aspect of the sequence. What I found disappointing is that they did not manage to mute out any background noise which made the thriller become less effective.
Finally the opening credits were very basic as they used a font which was appropriate but the way they were used by introducing the title at the beginning removed any potential enigmas you may have from this opening sequence.
Firstly camera angles and shots. The shots were not steady making it lose its genre of a thriller. The lack of different camera shots and what i would believe would be relevant in this would be more close up shots to convey what the characters feeling. To keep with thriller conventions they should of used close ups instead of a continuous use of mid shots.
Editing was basic as they made only basic cuts and the use of the polaroid pictures was not in the convention of a thriller. The editing was not appropriate to the genre again as the cuts came across as a montage edit when it seemed to be a continual edit.
Mise en Scene was relevant to the story as the character was a school student who had the feeling of being followed. With the idea of the photographs enhanced this aspect of the thriller making it easy to understand through mise en scene.
The sound in the sequence did not fit in with the genre convention. The sound seemed quite random and did not enhance any aspect of the sequence. What I found disappointing is that they did not manage to mute out any background noise which made the thriller become less effective.
Finally the opening credits were very basic as they used a font which was appropriate but the way they were used by introducing the title at the beginning removed any potential enigmas you may have from this opening sequence.
Sunday 22 January 2012
Analysis of "Gamer"
Gamer is a 2009 science fiction thriller movie, directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, and distributed by Lionsgate.
The story follows John "Kable" Tillman who is being controlled by Simon, a 17-year-old gamer. It’s set in a future where people are able to control other human beings through videogames. The film received poor reception.
In the opening sequence, there are no opening credits to speak of but we do learn who produced/distributed the movie – Lionsgate and Lakeshore entertainment.
We are also shown things about the location and various things about the main character. We can gather from the opening that the movie is set in a relatively similar time period, and in the city.
As for the character, we are mislead very early on. Kable starts out looking like a normal soldier but it becomes obvious quickly that this isn’t quite true. As far as the audience is concerned, Kable is in a warzone. He is carrying a gun and is seemingly shooting at “the enemy”, but the clever editing makes us question this. The screen flickers and experiences static, and the framerate is messed around with so that some parts appear jerky.
At the very beginning of the movie, we see multiple long shots of buildings and cities, each having the word “Kable” on it as well as advertisements for something. One of the buildings has “Four battles to Freedom” written on it. All of this makes us question the plot of the movie, which hasn’t yet been revealed.
Non-diegetic sound is used at the beginning of the film in the form of a metal song, which helps to create the gritty, real tone of the movie and sets the atmosphere.
The moment the long shots of the buildings end and the main action begins, the music stops.
There is also lots of diegetic sound – mainly gunfire and explosions which help to set the location and make everything seem more real, but also the amplified sound of the breathing which could show the emotion state of the character and their physical exertion. There are also sci-fi sounds that may or may not be diegetic.
Mise en scene is definitely key in the movie. In terms of costumes, all of the characters are dressed in military/solider type cloths (grunge coloured tops and trousers, boots, ect.), carrying weapons. This instantly gives the audience the idea of war and killing which is a main point of the movie.
The set also shows the atmosphere of the movie. They are in some kind of abandoned/broken warehouse, with a lot of scrap metal and broken things lying around – some of which is on fire.
Dead bodies are also scattered across the floor, showing the audience how much danger the main character is in, and again showing the theme/atmosphere of war/killing.
The opening sequence is first edited as a montage, before becoming continuative. Editing is largely short, fast pace shots, showing the quickness of the battle and how much is going on at once. There are also some interesting graphical effects that have been added. For example, the first person shot of when the save point is being targeted.
The cinematography is interesting. Apart from the opening long shots of the cities, the rest of the shots are hand held shots, which makes the movie feel jerky, fast pace and real. There are also several point of view shots that which make the audience feel as if they are playing the “game” as well.
Kable is mostly filmed from a low angle, making him seem powerful and dominant through out the sequence.
The story follows John "Kable" Tillman who is being controlled by Simon, a 17-year-old gamer. It’s set in a future where people are able to control other human beings through videogames. The film received poor reception.
In the opening sequence, there are no opening credits to speak of but we do learn who produced/distributed the movie – Lionsgate and Lakeshore entertainment.
We are also shown things about the location and various things about the main character. We can gather from the opening that the movie is set in a relatively similar time period, and in the city.
As for the character, we are mislead very early on. Kable starts out looking like a normal soldier but it becomes obvious quickly that this isn’t quite true. As far as the audience is concerned, Kable is in a warzone. He is carrying a gun and is seemingly shooting at “the enemy”, but the clever editing makes us question this. The screen flickers and experiences static, and the framerate is messed around with so that some parts appear jerky.
At the very beginning of the movie, we see multiple long shots of buildings and cities, each having the word “Kable” on it as well as advertisements for something. One of the buildings has “Four battles to Freedom” written on it. All of this makes us question the plot of the movie, which hasn’t yet been revealed.
Non-diegetic sound is used at the beginning of the film in the form of a metal song, which helps to create the gritty, real tone of the movie and sets the atmosphere.
The moment the long shots of the buildings end and the main action begins, the music stops.
There is also lots of diegetic sound – mainly gunfire and explosions which help to set the location and make everything seem more real, but also the amplified sound of the breathing which could show the emotion state of the character and their physical exertion. There are also sci-fi sounds that may or may not be diegetic.
Mise en scene is definitely key in the movie. In terms of costumes, all of the characters are dressed in military/solider type cloths (grunge coloured tops and trousers, boots, ect.), carrying weapons. This instantly gives the audience the idea of war and killing which is a main point of the movie.
The set also shows the atmosphere of the movie. They are in some kind of abandoned/broken warehouse, with a lot of scrap metal and broken things lying around – some of which is on fire.
Dead bodies are also scattered across the floor, showing the audience how much danger the main character is in, and again showing the theme/atmosphere of war/killing.
The opening sequence is first edited as a montage, before becoming continuative. Editing is largely short, fast pace shots, showing the quickness of the battle and how much is going on at once. There are also some interesting graphical effects that have been added. For example, the first person shot of when the save point is being targeted.
The cinematography is interesting. Apart from the opening long shots of the cities, the rest of the shots are hand held shots, which makes the movie feel jerky, fast pace and real. There are also several point of view shots that which make the audience feel as if they are playing the “game” as well.
Kable is mostly filmed from a low angle, making him seem powerful and dominant through out the sequence.
Friday 20 January 2012
Thriller Opening Sequence Evaluation for The Dark Knight
In the opening sequence for the Dark Knight many of the antagonists are wearing clown masks, this creates an enigma to their real identity as well as giving us a clue as to what the main antagonist is (in this case the clown masks are clues to the joker as he is associated with clowns and circus related instruments). The masks are also trying to represent evil as only the evil characters in the film are wearing masks. When the man is standing on the street waiting for a car the camera zooms in slowly onto the mask in his hand until he puts it on, this shows us that the masks are in fact more important in this scene than the bank robbers itself.
Another part of the opening sequence that is important is mise en scene. One way in which this is shown is the school bus. This is an important part of the scene as it shows us what type of criminal the joker is, we can derive from this scene that he is a very organised criminal. This is because his getaway car is a school bus which he uses when school buses are taking children home. It also allows the Joker to become invisible to the police as shown in the scene when they race straight past the bus in which all the stolen money is held.
Another important micro element in the opening sequence of The Dark Knight is sound. This is because the non diagetic soundtrack at the beginning of the scene is typically used in most 'big screen' films. This is because it creates tension and suspense which normally makes the viewing experience more enjoyable, and because it was used at an establishing shot it gave the audience an opportunity to lose themselves in the scene as it makes them feel part of the story.
One thing that is important for the opening sequence of this film is that the first scene takes place in the busy town of Gotham City which is where you would expect to see a crime. So it's using the normal aspect of a busy town and then placing the scene into an extra ordinary situation. This shows that the film itself could be considered to be irregular from the norm.
Written by Will Rathlou
In the opening sequence for the Dark Knight many of the antagonists are wearing clown masks, this creates an enigma to their real identity as well as giving us a clue as to what the main antagonist is (in this case the clown masks are clues to the joker as he is associated with clowns and circus related instruments). The masks are also trying to represent evil as only the evil characters in the film are wearing masks. When the man is standing on the street waiting for a car the camera zooms in slowly onto the mask in his hand until he puts it on, this shows us that the masks are in fact more important in this scene than the bank robbers itself.
Another part of the opening sequence that is important is mise en scene. One way in which this is shown is the school bus. This is an important part of the scene as it shows us what type of criminal the joker is, we can derive from this scene that he is a very organised criminal. This is because his getaway car is a school bus which he uses when school buses are taking children home. It also allows the Joker to become invisible to the police as shown in the scene when they race straight past the bus in which all the stolen money is held.
Another important micro element in the opening sequence of The Dark Knight is sound. This is because the non diagetic soundtrack at the beginning of the scene is typically used in most 'big screen' films. This is because it creates tension and suspense which normally makes the viewing experience more enjoyable, and because it was used at an establishing shot it gave the audience an opportunity to lose themselves in the scene as it makes them feel part of the story.
One thing that is important for the opening sequence of this film is that the first scene takes place in the busy town of Gotham City which is where you would expect to see a crime. So it's using the normal aspect of a busy town and then placing the scene into an extra ordinary situation. This shows that the film itself could be considered to be irregular from the norm.
Written by Will Rathlou
Tuesday 17 January 2012
Hidden Evaluation
Notes -
Information is in establishing shot. Credits are displayed over the top of the intro in an unconventional way. The first shot of the opening sequence is an establishing shot of a building and there is no clear information about the narrative or the characters. There is also no non-diegetic sound to give an idea of what to feel or expect, the viewer is kept in suspense because they expect something to happen or something to give them a jump/shock.
The viewer starts to assume things about the film in the opening sequence due to the little information given.
Information is in establishing shot. Credits are displayed over the top of the intro in an unconventional way. The first shot of the opening sequence is an establishing shot of a building and there is no clear information about the narrative or the characters. There is also no non-diegetic sound to give an idea of what to feel or expect, the viewer is kept in suspense because they expect something to happen or something to give them a jump/shock.
The viewer starts to assume things about the film in the opening sequence due to the little information given.
Thriller Opening Sequence Evaluation - Hanna
Information contained in the opening sequence. (Character, Location, Institution)
From the opening credits we could understand is that this is a Focus Feature presentation and also directed by John Wright from the opening credits. Next thing we noticed where from the establishing shots which set the location in a snowy secluded environment. From this opening sequence it also introduces the main character Hanna through tracking shots especially through the woods where we see a tracking shot going left to right and is blocked out by a tree and disappears. This shot can suggest that the main character is a fast, quiet and stealthy when following the deer as she is about to kill it. When Hanna returns to her home we see her with a male character (supposedly her father) and is speaking to her in many languages showing that Hanna is also and intelligent character.\
Construct of Enigmas
Within the opening sequence there are many questions to be asked as there is very little information given away. The main enigmas of this sequence were; what are they doing in such a remote area away from civilisation?, who are these people? This a great opening sequence as there are so many questions the audience can ask and hopefully keep them interested in what is happening.
Use of sound to create atmosphere, tone, genre.
Throughout the opening sequence we can quickly notice that there is only diegetic sound present and with some sound amplified to make the atmosphere seem even more realistic to the audience. Examples of sound which were amplifies was Hanna breathing to show her focus on killing the deer and she was calm and not panicking and the deer in pain when hit by the arrow. With the sounds of the deer in pain and dying we can see that this will be a higher rated film due to the goriness of the scenes shown and amplified with sound.
Use of Mise en Scene to create atmosphere, tone, genre.
From the use of Mise en Scene we can see that both of the characters introduce were wearing animal pelt and skins which shows that they live off and from the land being independent within this unusual human environment.
Use of editing to create atmosphere, tone, genre.
There are very little editing aspects to comment on but to start with where very little is happening there are regular cuts every 5 to 7 seconds until Hanna shoots the arrow into the deer. Once the deer has been hit there are many quick cuts making the scene move very quickly which gives the audience the feeling that they are caught in the action. The editing eventually goes back to being regular cuts once has been shot in the head. With the opening sequence including an action scene we can tell that this is a hybrid film being a Action/Thriller genre of film.
Use of cinematography to create atmosphere, tone, genre.
As before we have explained that when we see the main character we see her being tracked through a snow dusted wood. Through the use of tracking and blocking we can see that Hanna is a stealthy, fast and quiet character with her quickly disappearing. We watch her from another tracking shot after she has hit the deer with an arrow. As she is chasing the deer she can keep up with the wounded animal again re-enforcing that she is a fast/quick character. Again from the explanations above we can re-enforce the fact that this is a Action driven film.
Use of graphics. (What do they symbolise?)
There are no graphics within the opening sequence so we cant comment on this aspect.
Vertigo -Opening Sequence Evaluation
Notes -
The opening shot of the eye, the shapes, the high up establishing shot, looking down and watching the policeman fall all create a theme of 'sight'.
The filter of on the eye is red. This ma symbolises danger.
The non diegetic soundtrack creates suspense as it fits the theme with rising and falling. (The music goes raises tension and lowers it). This suspenseful music is typical of the thriller genre.
The credits are shown in the opening, giving information as to who made the film. This convention of thriller films.
The main part of the opening sequence consists of a series of graphics which form various shapes and vortexes. These may symbolise dizziness and directly relate to the feeling of vertigo (which is the title of the film). It also contains the credits in this part of the opening sequence and is a good way of getting information across to the viewer while keeping them entertained and wanting to know more. The music also helps to build a sense of suspense and unease. It does so because the music rises and falls making the viewer thinking there will be some sort of explanation or resolution however it doesn't have one.
The opening shot of the eye, the shapes, the high up establishing shot, looking down and watching the policeman fall all create a theme of 'sight'.
The filter of on the eye is red. This ma symbolises danger.
The non diegetic soundtrack creates suspense as it fits the theme with rising and falling. (The music goes raises tension and lowers it). This suspenseful music is typical of the thriller genre.
The credits are shown in the opening, giving information as to who made the film. This convention of thriller films.
The main part of the opening sequence consists of a series of graphics which form various shapes and vortexes. These may symbolise dizziness and directly relate to the feeling of vertigo (which is the title of the film). It also contains the credits in this part of the opening sequence and is a good way of getting information across to the viewer while keeping them entertained and wanting to know more. The music also helps to build a sense of suspense and unease. It does so because the music rises and falls making the viewer thinking there will be some sort of explanation or resolution however it doesn't have one.
Monday 16 January 2012
Inception - Does Inception have the characteristics of a thriller? By Addam Morley
Does Inception have the characteristics of a thriller film?
Does the narrative centre around a crime e.g. a theft or a murder? With Inception we learnt that the male character called Cobb’s job title is an extractor. With his work he clearly says to Ariadne when teaching her to become an architect that what he does by going into people’s minds and looking at information is not legal. Through this way we can see that Inception revolves around the theft of ideas and thoughts.
Does the protagonist become fallible and has an 'Achilles heel' that is exploited by the antagonist? The title of the thriller may relate to this weakness eg Vertigo and Insomnia. When searching through Cobb’s targets minds with Cobb being the protagonist this is where he becomes his most vulnerable as within dreams anything can happen and this is where he comes into contact with his dead wife Mal. Mal wants to get revenge on Cobb as she wants him to stay in the dream with her forever which usually turns out into a fight between these two characters.
Is the protagonist seen to be 'in peril' in one or more scenes before the resolution? Does the antagonist ensnare the protagonist in an increasingly complex web, until the protagonist feels isolated and helpless? Throughout most scenes when Cobb is inside another’s mind he usually is seen in peril when Mal comes in contact with him. With her seeking revenge and trying to make him stay within the dream world this usually means that she would put Cobb in pain for him to surrender and make the decision not to leave.
Does the narrative present ordinary situations in which extraordinary things happen? Throughout Inception during the reality scenes nothing out of the ordinary usually happens but as soon as the characters enter a dream state they can make extraordinary things happen. This was done in the first dream with Cobb and Ariadne during the scene where they are at a cafe in France with it seeming normal then everything around them started to explode. This is how something ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Do the micro elements combine in a build up of suspense? Throughout most scenes there is a combination of sounds, camera work, mise en scene. An example of the combination of camera work and mise en scene is through the facial expressions of the characters to show that something maybe is not quite right and the camera work producing a close up shot helps convey suspense combined with this is mise en scene producing the body language to show that a character may be uncomfortable and this uncomfort can further build the suspense which the audience can only guess at what happens.
Are there themes of identity? Mistaken identity, doubling/doppelgangers, amnesia? Throughout some scenes you can tell by the change in character that there is a change of identity. The change of identity is very common within Mal’s character as outside of dreams she was a kind woman and very caring but once within the dream world she becomes a very revenge driven character trying to make Cobb stay within the dreams with her. There are no other themes of identity which include doppelgangers or amnesia within the film Inception.
Are the themes of seeing, reflection and mirroring, manipulation of perspectives, visual McGuffins, and optical illusions common? Throughout Inception they had to teach the architect (Ariadne) that throughout her creations there had to be some form of paradox to make it possible to escape from any created object quickly. One optical illusion and also includes manipulation of perspective is where Arthur is teaching Ariadne about this escape technique. Arthur creates a never ending staircase which enables them to escape quickly from any situation.
Are the audience of a thriller placed in an ambiguous position of voyeur? Voyeurism can also be a theme and the objectification of female characters is common especially in earlier thrillers. Through watching this film I could not see any of these characteristics present in any of the characters. This may be because of the rating the film has been given which is a 12A and scenes of voyeurism would not be suitable for an audience of this age group.
Are there a series of/ one important enigma(s) in the opening sequence of the film? Is this further complicated during the first part of the film and only resolved at the very end? There are many enigmas in this film but the main one is when Cobb is unable to see his children’s faces. At the beginning he is within a dream where he is trying to find out some information about a Japanese man and hoping that this is his last work assignment to be completed so he can go home to see his children. When having a flash back about leaving the home to go to work you see his children with their heads turned and then walked away. This whole idea is based around that Cobb wants to finish his work so he can go home to see his children. This eventually happens at the end of the film but you see Cobb spin his small spinning top and if this was to fall over this meant he was in reality but the topple seems to be very steady which indicates that he may still be in a dream so this is unsure that Cobb has actually returned to see his children.
Does the narrative centre around a crime e.g. a theft or a murder? With Inception we learnt that the male character called Cobb’s job title is an extractor. With his work he clearly says to Ariadne when teaching her to become an architect that what he does by going into people’s minds and looking at information is not legal. Through this way we can see that Inception revolves around the theft of ideas and thoughts.
Does the protagonist become fallible and has an 'Achilles heel' that is exploited by the antagonist? The title of the thriller may relate to this weakness eg Vertigo and Insomnia. When searching through Cobb’s targets minds with Cobb being the protagonist this is where he becomes his most vulnerable as within dreams anything can happen and this is where he comes into contact with his dead wife Mal. Mal wants to get revenge on Cobb as she wants him to stay in the dream with her forever which usually turns out into a fight between these two characters.
Is the protagonist seen to be 'in peril' in one or more scenes before the resolution? Does the antagonist ensnare the protagonist in an increasingly complex web, until the protagonist feels isolated and helpless? Throughout most scenes when Cobb is inside another’s mind he usually is seen in peril when Mal comes in contact with him. With her seeking revenge and trying to make him stay within the dream world this usually means that she would put Cobb in pain for him to surrender and make the decision not to leave.
Does the narrative present ordinary situations in which extraordinary things happen? Throughout Inception during the reality scenes nothing out of the ordinary usually happens but as soon as the characters enter a dream state they can make extraordinary things happen. This was done in the first dream with Cobb and Ariadne during the scene where they are at a cafe in France with it seeming normal then everything around them started to explode. This is how something ordinary becomes extraordinary.
Do the micro elements combine in a build up of suspense? Throughout most scenes there is a combination of sounds, camera work, mise en scene. An example of the combination of camera work and mise en scene is through the facial expressions of the characters to show that something maybe is not quite right and the camera work producing a close up shot helps convey suspense combined with this is mise en scene producing the body language to show that a character may be uncomfortable and this uncomfort can further build the suspense which the audience can only guess at what happens.
Are there themes of identity? Mistaken identity, doubling/doppelgangers, amnesia? Throughout some scenes you can tell by the change in character that there is a change of identity. The change of identity is very common within Mal’s character as outside of dreams she was a kind woman and very caring but once within the dream world she becomes a very revenge driven character trying to make Cobb stay within the dreams with her. There are no other themes of identity which include doppelgangers or amnesia within the film Inception.
Are the themes of seeing, reflection and mirroring, manipulation of perspectives, visual McGuffins, and optical illusions common? Throughout Inception they had to teach the architect (Ariadne) that throughout her creations there had to be some form of paradox to make it possible to escape from any created object quickly. One optical illusion and also includes manipulation of perspective is where Arthur is teaching Ariadne about this escape technique. Arthur creates a never ending staircase which enables them to escape quickly from any situation.
Are the audience of a thriller placed in an ambiguous position of voyeur? Voyeurism can also be a theme and the objectification of female characters is common especially in earlier thrillers. Through watching this film I could not see any of these characteristics present in any of the characters. This may be because of the rating the film has been given which is a 12A and scenes of voyeurism would not be suitable for an audience of this age group.
Are there a series of/ one important enigma(s) in the opening sequence of the film? Is this further complicated during the first part of the film and only resolved at the very end? There are many enigmas in this film but the main one is when Cobb is unable to see his children’s faces. At the beginning he is within a dream where he is trying to find out some information about a Japanese man and hoping that this is his last work assignment to be completed so he can go home to see his children. When having a flash back about leaving the home to go to work you see his children with their heads turned and then walked away. This whole idea is based around that Cobb wants to finish his work so he can go home to see his children. This eventually happens at the end of the film but you see Cobb spin his small spinning top and if this was to fall over this meant he was in reality but the topple seems to be very steady which indicates that he may still be in a dream so this is unsure that Cobb has actually returned to see his children.
Sunday 15 January 2012
How does Inception use Typical Thriller Conventions?
Inception is a science-fiction action heist film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. The film was released in 2010 by Warner Bros. It uses a lot of typical conventions found in thriller movies.
The narrative centres around a crime eg. a theft or a murder
The narrative centres around breaking into someone’s mind and planting an idea there, making them believe that it’s their own idea, which is a crime. Thriller films often centre around some kind of crime.
The protagonist is fallible and has an 'Achilles heel' that is exploited by the antagonist
In Inception, the protagonist’s, Cobb’s, flaw is the guilt he feels over his wife’s, Mal’s, death. He blames himself and always ends up bringing her projection into the dreams. Interestingly, the antagonist is Mal, or rather her projection. She exploits Cobb’s weakness by ruining any “plans” Cobb makes in the dreams, such as trying to kill Fischer before he is able to unlock the safe room of his subconscious.
Towards the end of the movie, when Cobb is in limbo, he is able to overcome this fallibility by confessing what he did to the projection of Mal.
Most stories, regardless of genre, have protagonists with some kind of fault because it makes them more accessible, relatable and real to the audience, however, in thriller movies, this convention is almost essential in order for the antagonist to be a real threat to the protagonist.
The protagonist will be seen 'in peril' in one or more scenes before the resolution.
Cobb, along with all of the main characters, are technically in peril from the moment they enter the first dream – if they die, they won’t wake up, instead going into a limbo state.
That being said, there are definite moments when Cobb is really in peril. For example, in the first level of the dream, projections in Fischer’s subconscious attack the team, almost killing them and injuring Saito.
The narrative presents ordinary situations in which extraordinary things happen.
The world of Inception is seemingly ordinary, until we learn out the shared dreaming.
During the dreams, situations are shown as being ordinary before extraordinary things happen in them. For example, during Ariadne’s second experience with shared dreaming, she and Cobb are walking down an ordinary street, however (because it is a dream) she chooses to fold the street over itself, which is obviously impossible.
Themes of identity are common: mistaken identity, doubling/doppelgangers, amnesia.
Misleading characters, or mistaken identity, is a common theme in thriller films. Inception also features the theme of mistaken identity. A good example of mistaken identity would be when the team manage to fool Fischer into thinking they are trying to help him, when in fact they are the ones breaking into this subconscious.
Mistaken identity is also shown, for example, when Eames takes the appearance of Fischer's godfather Peter Browning, and makes Fischer believe that it is really him.
Themes of seeing, reflection and mirroring. Manipulation of perspectives, visual McGuffins, and optical illusions are common.
Inception features multiple optical illusions within dreams. For example, when Arthur teaches Ariadne about creating dream environments and mazes, he explains Penrose Stairs – the impossible stair case.
In conclusion, I think Inception uses enough of the typical thriller conventions strongly enough that it can be classed a thriller movie.
Post by Rebecca Gibson
The narrative centres around a crime eg. a theft or a murder
The narrative centres around breaking into someone’s mind and planting an idea there, making them believe that it’s their own idea, which is a crime. Thriller films often centre around some kind of crime.
The protagonist is fallible and has an 'Achilles heel' that is exploited by the antagonist
In Inception, the protagonist’s, Cobb’s, flaw is the guilt he feels over his wife’s, Mal’s, death. He blames himself and always ends up bringing her projection into the dreams. Interestingly, the antagonist is Mal, or rather her projection. She exploits Cobb’s weakness by ruining any “plans” Cobb makes in the dreams, such as trying to kill Fischer before he is able to unlock the safe room of his subconscious.
Towards the end of the movie, when Cobb is in limbo, he is able to overcome this fallibility by confessing what he did to the projection of Mal.
Most stories, regardless of genre, have protagonists with some kind of fault because it makes them more accessible, relatable and real to the audience, however, in thriller movies, this convention is almost essential in order for the antagonist to be a real threat to the protagonist.
The protagonist will be seen 'in peril' in one or more scenes before the resolution.
Cobb, along with all of the main characters, are technically in peril from the moment they enter the first dream – if they die, they won’t wake up, instead going into a limbo state.
That being said, there are definite moments when Cobb is really in peril. For example, in the first level of the dream, projections in Fischer’s subconscious attack the team, almost killing them and injuring Saito.
The narrative presents ordinary situations in which extraordinary things happen.
The world of Inception is seemingly ordinary, until we learn out the shared dreaming.
During the dreams, situations are shown as being ordinary before extraordinary things happen in them. For example, during Ariadne’s second experience with shared dreaming, she and Cobb are walking down an ordinary street, however (because it is a dream) she chooses to fold the street over itself, which is obviously impossible.
Themes of identity are common: mistaken identity, doubling/doppelgangers, amnesia.
Misleading characters, or mistaken identity, is a common theme in thriller films. Inception also features the theme of mistaken identity. A good example of mistaken identity would be when the team manage to fool Fischer into thinking they are trying to help him, when in fact they are the ones breaking into this subconscious.
Mistaken identity is also shown, for example, when Eames takes the appearance of Fischer's godfather Peter Browning, and makes Fischer believe that it is really him.
Themes of seeing, reflection and mirroring. Manipulation of perspectives, visual McGuffins, and optical illusions are common.
Inception features multiple optical illusions within dreams. For example, when Arthur teaches Ariadne about creating dream environments and mazes, he explains Penrose Stairs – the impossible stair case.
In conclusion, I think Inception uses enough of the typical thriller conventions strongly enough that it can be classed a thriller movie.
Post by Rebecca Gibson
Saturday 14 January 2012
Does Inception use thriller conventions
Does the film 'Inception' use thriller conventions
One thriller convention that is used in Inception is the theme of identity, this is because Dom's identity is often mistaken as he is seen as a thief of peoples minds and the murderer of his wife but as quoted when Dom is in his fathers office he describes himself as 'the person who navigates peoples minds' and at the ending scenes of the film it is revealed that Dom did not kill his wife directly but feels that he may have indirectly contributed to her death.
Another thriller convention that is used in the film Inception is the theme of seeing and reflecting, one way in which this convention is used is when the cut scenes of Mol are used, this has an effect on Dom because this triggers guilty memories from the past. One scene in which this is used is when Dom is on the phone to his son James and he asks 'is mum here still' and then it cuts to a clip of Mol, this reinforces the idea that she is causing him to feel guilt and that because of this guilt he hasn’t told his children what has happened to her. Another way in which the theme of seeing and reflecting is used is when Dom keeps seeing projections of his children and the memories of when he had to leave them, one scene in which this is used in the bar, the glass drops and is ringing and then he sees a projection of his children, this shows us that the children are also causing him to feel guilt about leaving them.
Another thriller convention that is used is that the protagonist has an Achilles heel, Dom's weakness is his wife and that he is unable to forgive himself for her death and she is constantly taunting his subconscious and trying to get him to live in their world. In the ending scene of Inception they are sitting in their old apartment room and she tells him that he must choose between reality or her, but Dom says that she is not good enough any more. Mol then attempts to stab him with a kitchen knife, at this point is seems as though he has finally forgiven himself after being in peril for most of the film and that the problem of guilt has been resolved.
Another thriller convention that is used in the film Inception is that the narrative centres around the crime of theft. This theme is shown or mentioned throughout the film, one key scene in which this is used is when they are trying to crack into Fishers fathers safe, even though this is an attempt to convince Fisher that they are trying to help this still link in with the theme of theft. This theme call also be be shown by the common use of the 'safe' which is commonly stereotyped with security, cracking and theft, the safe is mentioned when Dom and the builder are in the dream talking about the subconscious filling the 'safe' with information and the most important scene in which the safe is used is when Fisher opens the safe to the memory of his fathers last words where he tells him that he is 'disappointed that he tried to be like his father'.
Another way in which Inception uses thriller conventions is the use of ordinary situations in which extraordinary things happen. One scene in which this is used is when Dom and the architect are outside of the café, then he tells her to stay calm, then the coffee starts to shake and the scene starts to explode and the debris shows us that this is not natural and that they are dreaming. Another scene which shows this is when they are in the hotel and the characters are floating as there is no gravity present, again this is an ordinary day to day setting with an extraordinary twist.
I conclude that 'Inception' could be considered as a 'proper thriller' film because it uses the Thriller Conventions and portrays a combination of them throughout the film. These conventions include focusing on the crime e.g. theft, showing the protagonist's weakness and how it is exposed and exploited by the antagonist and the theme of seeing, optical illusions and reflecting e.g. the constant reflection on the children and the guilt that Dom feels when he sees them and that he cannot see their faces as he knows that they will looking at him in disappointment and sadness.
Written by will rathlou
One thriller convention that is used in Inception is the theme of identity, this is because Dom's identity is often mistaken as he is seen as a thief of peoples minds and the murderer of his wife but as quoted when Dom is in his fathers office he describes himself as 'the person who navigates peoples minds' and at the ending scenes of the film it is revealed that Dom did not kill his wife directly but feels that he may have indirectly contributed to her death.
Another thriller convention that is used in the film Inception is the theme of seeing and reflecting, one way in which this convention is used is when the cut scenes of Mol are used, this has an effect on Dom because this triggers guilty memories from the past. One scene in which this is used is when Dom is on the phone to his son James and he asks 'is mum here still' and then it cuts to a clip of Mol, this reinforces the idea that she is causing him to feel guilt and that because of this guilt he hasn’t told his children what has happened to her. Another way in which the theme of seeing and reflecting is used is when Dom keeps seeing projections of his children and the memories of when he had to leave them, one scene in which this is used in the bar, the glass drops and is ringing and then he sees a projection of his children, this shows us that the children are also causing him to feel guilt about leaving them.
Another thriller convention that is used is that the protagonist has an Achilles heel, Dom's weakness is his wife and that he is unable to forgive himself for her death and she is constantly taunting his subconscious and trying to get him to live in their world. In the ending scene of Inception they are sitting in their old apartment room and she tells him that he must choose between reality or her, but Dom says that she is not good enough any more. Mol then attempts to stab him with a kitchen knife, at this point is seems as though he has finally forgiven himself after being in peril for most of the film and that the problem of guilt has been resolved.
Another thriller convention that is used in the film Inception is that the narrative centres around the crime of theft. This theme is shown or mentioned throughout the film, one key scene in which this is used is when they are trying to crack into Fishers fathers safe, even though this is an attempt to convince Fisher that they are trying to help this still link in with the theme of theft. This theme call also be be shown by the common use of the 'safe' which is commonly stereotyped with security, cracking and theft, the safe is mentioned when Dom and the builder are in the dream talking about the subconscious filling the 'safe' with information and the most important scene in which the safe is used is when Fisher opens the safe to the memory of his fathers last words where he tells him that he is 'disappointed that he tried to be like his father'.
Another way in which Inception uses thriller conventions is the use of ordinary situations in which extraordinary things happen. One scene in which this is used is when Dom and the architect are outside of the café, then he tells her to stay calm, then the coffee starts to shake and the scene starts to explode and the debris shows us that this is not natural and that they are dreaming. Another scene which shows this is when they are in the hotel and the characters are floating as there is no gravity present, again this is an ordinary day to day setting with an extraordinary twist.
I conclude that 'Inception' could be considered as a 'proper thriller' film because it uses the Thriller Conventions and portrays a combination of them throughout the film. These conventions include focusing on the crime e.g. theft, showing the protagonist's weakness and how it is exposed and exploited by the antagonist and the theme of seeing, optical illusions and reflecting e.g. the constant reflection on the children and the guilt that Dom feels when he sees them and that he cannot see their faces as he knows that they will looking at him in disappointment and sadness.
Written by will rathlou
Friday 6 January 2012
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