Aims and Context

Aims and Context:

• Script/Screenplay
• Extract of a film, opening sequence
• Target audience of 18+, mainstream film audience
• Apply cinematography from thriller filmography
• 
  

Research project - Coen brothers

Does the Coens brothers use of crazed and unconventional characters in their filmography make them a modern day auteur?



Films:

Item 1 - O Brother, Where Art Thou? ( The Coen Brothers, 2000)
I chose this film as my focus film as it is one of the main films produced and directed by the Coen Brothers which portrays a lot of the Coen's auteur themes, most importantly unconventional characters. For example the main characters being prisoners shows how the brothers use flawed male protagonists in their filmography but also make them likeable to the audience.






Item 2 - Fargo ( The Coen Brothers, 1996)
This film shows more depth in the theme of unconventional characters as there are three main characters which portray this. For example the character of Carl shows how a conventionally 'bad' character can become likeable from the Coen's portrayal of them. As well as this the film also shows the early development of the Coen's style of directing/producing, this I believe is important in relation to why they use unconventional characters repeatedly through their filmography.






Item 3 - Raising Arizona ( The Coen Brothers, 1987)
This is my final film as it presents clearly how the Coen brothers incorporate flawed yet likeable characters into their productions,







Websites:

 Item 4 - http://www.cinelinx.com/movie-stuff/item/9019-directors-trademarks-the-coen-brothers.html






Item 5 - http://sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/coens/
This article discusses the narratives, characters and themes running throughout the Coen's films, this is important as its content it relevant to the characters behaviours therefore relating to my question.




Item 6 -  Ateur theory in film criticism (a2 film blog)- ://h2g2.com/edited_entry/A22928772
This article explains the auteur theory in relation to film criticism, this is relevant i can relate this to my study of the Coen Brothers.


Item 7 - Why the best Nicholas Cage performance is in 'raising Arizona' http://uproxx.com/movies/nicolas-cage-raising-arizona-medium/2/
By explaining cage's performance in raising Arizona, this article helps a lot with information regarding the creation of the characters in item 3. 

Item 8 - Auteurism in today's hollywood - http://theconversation.com/o-coens-what-art-thou-auteurism-in-todays-hollywood-26558

This resource explains how the Coen's have incorporated a 'recognisable contemporary style' into their filmography throughout their career. This links to how the Coen's are described as auteurs therefore important to my research.

Item 9 - http://dc.cod.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1313&context=essai

This article explains how, in multiple ways, the Coen's are considered to be modern day auteurs

in many aspescts such as shooting, directing, producing and also, most important to my study, script writing and character building.

'In many ways, the Coen brothers are true modern day auteurs. From pre-production, through shooting, to post-production they are in total control of their films...Overall, it is fairly easy to spot

their unique fingerprints and ways of doing things on each of their films.'

The story in their films usually starts out with an average Joe who gets involved in a complex scheme that appears to be simple at first, but, in all reality, is totally beyond them. The character of The Dude refers to this in The Big Lebowski.'

Item 10 - https://www.shmoop.com/fargo/steve-buscemi.html

This resource contains multiple articles on the characterisation present in 'fargo', character analysis and the reoccurring themes. I will be using this to explore the characters behaviours in my chosen film, this is useful as it contains many aspects I can incorporate into my presentation. 


Item 11 - http://sensesofcinema.com/2017/cteq/raising-arizona/  
This source explains the repetitive aspects in the Coen's filmography such as characters and common themes, therefore I believe this source will be important to my research.

Books: 

Item 12 - Joel and Ethan Coen, written by Ellen Cheshire and John Ashbrook 
This resource contains information on a variety of the Coens films, in relation to the development of the plot, cast and setting as well as many other things. This will be beneficial to me as, as previously stated, the book contains information on all the Coen Brothers films I am including in my project. 



Item 13 - The Cinema Book - Pam Cook, Mieke Bernink 1999 (auteur theory) 
 This book contains information on the auteur theory and its origin as well as authorship in hollywood, this will be important 




Item 14 - The Idiotically Criminal Universe of the Brothers Coen By J.Madison Davis
This resource contains a lot of information useful for my question for example it explains the Coens 'consistency' in their work in regards to characterisation, genres and themes. 'Their main characters are usually lovable idiots who find themselves drawn into various criminal enterprises' - This backs up my question as it highlights the consistent use of these 'lovable' yet criminal characters throughout their filmography. This article I think will help greatly as it discusses a wide range of the Coens Filmography in regards to the auteur theory.



Item 15 - The Coen Brothers "Fargo" - Edited by William Luhr 



Item 16 - The Coen Brothers - Ronald Bergan 
This book contains relevant information on all major films produced by the Coen Brothers, it also mentions their 'distinctive stamp - a flamboyant visual style' and how this links to their mass success. This source will be important to me as I am researching three major films all mentioned in the book.



Interviews: 

Item 17 - The Coen Brothers and Frances McDormand interview on 'Fargo' (1997)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FW0NG-CGGRM
This interview with both Ethan and Joel Coen as well as a leading actor in Fargo shows how the characters were formed as well as the setting and dialects. This is useful as it explores the characters personalities and behaviours in relation to other Coen films as well as the setting of Minnesota.





Item 18- The Coen Brothers and cast interview on O Brother where art thou (2000) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERXsHcCmXek
This interview is with both Ethan and Joel Coen as well as a leading actor in a few of their films, this interview took place in 2000 - the year in which O Brother was released. This interview is important as the creation of the characters in O Brother Where Art Thou are discussed, this will be important as it is relevant to my topic of unconventional characters.



Item 19 - Written interview script with the Coen Brothers - https://issuu.com/lafamiliafilm/docs/192746210-interview-with-joel-and-e
In this interview both Joel and Ethan Coen discuss their planning behind the creation of their distinctive characters, how they did so, and where their inspiration came from. This is important for my studies as I am looking into the specific characters portrayed in their films and how this is passed on throughout their filmography.







Videos: 

Item 20 - Fargo - Mortality in the Coen Brother's World - (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuXXeOw5P7w)
This clip references the characters behaviours in 'Fargo' - such as how they are all perceived as 'Perfect' and happy with the underlying issue of murder. I believe this will be beneficial to my assignment as the interview is in relation to the characters as a main focus.



Item 21- http://www.indiewire.com/2014/11/watch-20-minute-auteur-analysis-of-the-coen-brothers-career-269800/
This source is an auteur analysis on the Coen's career, it focuses on how the characters are made and their part in the films. 'their tendency to create existentially confused protagonists who are out of step with the socially accepted madness that surrounds them' Here this backs up my initial question therefore this source will be important for my research.



Rejected Items: 

 The big Lebowski (1998)
I was originally going to use the film 'the big Lebowski' however after researching the film I decided that 'O Brother Where art Thou' portrays unconventional characters better. This is in regards to the characters like ability despite being conventionally 'bad' characters.



























Does the Coens brothers use of crazed and unconventional characters in their filmography make them a modern day auteur?

Presentation script: 

Speaker: All three of my focus films are good examples of how the Coen Brothers repeatedly use crazed and unconventional male protagonists throughout their filmography, however make them relatable to the audience. 'Their main characters are usually lovable idiots who find themselves drawn into various criminal enterprises' (item 14)

Compare the attitudes to poverty conveyed in the films you have studied

In the film La Haine (1995) main characters Said, Hubert and Vinz all express different attitudes in regards to their life of poverty and crime. This difference of characters causes conflict especially between Vinz and Hubert, as their view on their own life and how to escape it is very different.

For example, Hubert is portrayed as a daydreamer he often wishes he

Vinz on the other hand is shown as aggressive, often towards power and leadership - for example before visiting Paris Vinz expresses his want to 'shoot a pig'. this is due to his anger towards those in power as he feels as though he has been let down by them, that they are more to blame of his lifestyle. In the bathroom scene upon entering paris Vinz openly expresses his anger and hatred towards the government in a heated row with Hubert, here he states 'I've had my fit of being fucked by the system' and 'we live like rats in shit holes, do you do anything to change it'


Although the main characters are shown to be under class, Said, Hubert and Vinz have an opinion of those underneath them. This is shown on the metro on the way into Paris, here multiple beggars are present asking for money and help. Instead of helping them Said compares his situation to theirs saying 'my dads in prison' and 'get a job like everyone else' here he shows no sympathy to her situation



Compare the attitudes to poverty conveyed in the film you have studied 

The film La Haine was made in 1995, the plot revolves round the actions in a 24 hour period in response to riots in a small housing estate on the outskirts of Paris. This plot of the film is loosely based around the actual student riots of 1986, because of this the themes of poverty and crime play an major role in the development of the characters. Although growing up in the same environment all three main characters have a different view and response to their life,

Aims and Context

Type of Production - Short Film (opening sequence)
Genre - Drama
Target Audience - 15+
Techniques - Longshot, Close up, Mid-shot, Zoom, Tilt
Key Stylistic Elements - Cinematography

Short Horror Film

           

The Shining

The Shining:
(Here's Johnny Clip)





The sequence opens with a shot which is tracking backwards showing the main character Jack Torrance the camera is tracking at the same speed of him walking. In this shot jack is walking into a room up a small corridor, while this is happening non-diegetic sound is playing in order to create suspense. The music playing is a high pitched screeching type sound which tells the audience that something sinister is going to happen.
When Jack reaches the end of the corridor he is stood in front of a door/window in this shot you can see a cross shape being made by the window panels. This shape is seen very frequently throughout the whole film which is used to reference religion and possibly a sinister force being present, this is big horror film convention used a lot in the genre.
From this the shot cuts to a mid-shot of a woman struggling to get out of a window, the fast movements of the woman and the speed of the music helps to create panic in the viewers. The following long-shot shows the boy outside of the window, the panic is also emphasised from the fast and heavy breathing of the boy, this put me on edge as you know that something is going to happen soon. From this scene I also began to mimic the sense of nervousness shown in both the characters. The next few shots are shot reverse shot of jack walking closer to the bathroom door and the woman trying to get out of the window, these are being used to show the audience that the woman and her son are trying to get away from Jack.
In the shot that Jack reaches the door the music takes a slight pause and then begins to increase its pace again, this adds to the suspense of the film as it uses the music to show climax's in the action. The following shots are of Jack breaking the door down with an axe, in the first shot there is a window present again showing the cross symbol, perhaps hinting at the supernatural force that sent him into madness.
There are many different shots used at different angles showing Jack breaking down the door, the second shot is positioned in line to the door, this is a mid-shot and shows the axe coming through the door and also the woman's reaction. The music during these scenes are very quiet compared to build up, the prominent sounds are diegetic and of the axe/door and the woman screaming. Another shot used was a mid-shot showing Jacks face as he is making a hole in the door, this shot shows Jack to be quite crazy, following this shot is the shot of Jack with his face through the door this also emphasises how crazy he has become.

The Shining

The Shining (Come play with us - twins scene)





The beginning of this scene opens with a long shot tracking forward, this is showing the boy Danny riding down a long corridor on a tricycle. This shot obeys with the rule of thirds as all the walls and furniture fit within the rule, this happens with the majority of the scenes in the film giving the place an eire feel. The camera carries on tracking despite Danny being out of shot. The next shot is still tracking forward showing Danny riding down a corridor, however the camera is closer towards Danny and he does so, this helps the audience relate to his position as they feel as though they are there also. As Danny turns the corner of the hallway a long-shot is used to show the audience Danny, the hallway and also the unknown characters. The scene then cuts to a close of up Danny's face showing his expression of shock and fear, from this you can also see the fast breathing of Danny which will help the audience to replicate his fear.
The music throughout this sequence I used again to create suspense and to also show climax's in the films action, the music puts the viewers one edge as it gives a sense of when something is going to happen but instead is nothing.
Following this the scenes cut to one another quicker, shot reverse shot is used also to show both Danny and the unknown twins. These scenes caused me as a viewer a lot of nervousness and confusion as although you have not been introduced with these characters yet they know Danny's name and are talking to him. This made me want to carry on watching the film in order to find out who they are. The scenes show the twins talking and then also dead with the corridor being covered in blood, this tells the audience that the people are possibly just figments of Danny's imagination. This is one of the early signs that the place may be within company of a evil presence.
After this the Twins disappear as Danny is repeating to himself that the people are just like pictures in a book backing up our idea that the people that Danny is seeing are not real. The setting is always neat and well maintained look which contrasts with the flash backs to murders which appear to be reckless and messy, this gives the hotel an unnatural feel as it seems too neat.