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.

Reflective Analysis

Short Horror Film:

Our Objective was to produce a small sequence, from 1-2 minutes long, which would fit into both the horror and thriller genre. In order to make this effective we included conventions from both genres, this includes the types of shots used such as; long shots, mid-shots, close ups. We filmed these shots In various different ways, examples of these are; tracking shots, zooms and panning. All of these were used in order to create nervousness within the viewers and to also keep them wondering what is going to happen next. We used a familiar setting as well as characters which are easy to relate too, this helps the audience to feel fear as they can imagine themselves in that position.

The first half of the film was set in an open environment and as the sequence progressed the setting changed from into a confined space of a building and then a small room. The setting of a small room or corridor is a major horror convention which we thought would add to the audiences fear. Buildings are used as it shows the audience they are in a confined space and it is difficult for them to escape if needed. In our film we showed the victim walk into the building shortly followed by the stalker, this would have emphasised the 'trapped' feeling and would have heightened the feeling of panic in the viewers. As well as this the lighting suddenly changed from high-key when outside to very low-key when inside, this would have gave the building a sinister feel and also created uneasiness in the viewers.

The age group to which this is aimed at is teenagers and adults which is why our rating would be 12 or 12A. This is because of  the themes that the sequence projects such as stalking and murder would not be suitable for children under the age of 12 to see.

Kill Bill Vol.2

The sequence starts by showing a bride walking down the aisle in a church, in order to show this the camera tracks backwards in time to her walking. As well as this a mid-close up shot is used in order for us to see both the woman as well as the background. The main character is dressed all in white and is noticeably in a church setting. Not long into the sequence the brides face drops as she portrays a look of shock and fear, the camera continues to track her as she is walking towards the door. This gives the audience a sense of nervousness as they do not know who/what she is walking towards and also why she may be walking away from her own wedding. The whole sequence is shown in black and white, as this is done to show that the scene may be a flash back. Both low-key and natural lighting are present during this sequence in order to help create a sense of suspense.

Following this scene, using parallel editing, we see a P.O.V shot of the door way to the church, this is included in order for us to distinguish the direction in which the music is coming from. From this the bride enters the shot of the door way, she holds this position for while as if debating whether to leave or not. This is a static shot which changes from a close up to a mid shot and then further to a long shot as we see her walk outside. The emotion and actions of the bride cause the audience to replicate her nervousness as well as confusion, the fact we are shown the whole body of the bride gives us as sense of how up tight and weary she is in her surroundings.

When showing the woman outside a two shot is used, this is positioned from the further side of the male. The male character is then consequently closet to the camera as the woman is positioned further away, this shot obeys the rule of thirds as the characters are positioned next to each other on the screen. The distance between the two could show how uncomfortable they are with each others presence and also shows a lack of relationship. In this shot you can also see how she has her back turned towards the man, this can signify how they may have differences with each other.
Not long after this there is a shot reverse shot showing the faces of both characters, this is shot with a close up in order for us to see the different emotions the different characters are portraying.

Whenever the camera is showing the female she is shot on the right hand side whereas the male is shot of the opposite side this is used to emphasise their distance. It also shows that they may have some sort of relationship however this is disrupted by conflict and tension. The length of the shots quicken as the music does so this may be building up to something, in this case the start of dialogue between the two. This type of editing reminded me of a scene from 'The Good, The Bad And the Ugly' where the pace and duration of the shots quicken as the music does, building up suspense and tension. This intrigued me in both of the different sequences as it puts me on edge and wondering when and what is going to happen next. These shots are close ups of the faces of the different characters, again highlighting the different emotions of the two.

After these repetition shots the shot stills at eye level and focuses on the male, this signals to the audience that the male is ready to engage in conversion with the woman.
The shots involving the woman include a lot of negative space, this could replicate the emptiness of their relationship and enhance the thought that there is lasting issues with the two.
As the male begins to stand and walk towards the woman the camera tilts and pans while following him as well as this a continuous long shot is used. Not far into the dialogue between the two the woman begins to walk towards the male, this is shown with a tracking close-up of her feet, the camera tracks her from right to left and similarly tracks the male from left too right. This shows how the characters are getting closer to each other, and may signify how they want to rekindle their lost relationship. We know when they are close to each other as we are shown a static close-up of both their feet almost touching which portrays the level of intimacy they have with each other. As the scene cuts to their faces we can see how their body language has changed, and also see how comfortable and engaged they now seem compared to the start of the sequence. From this shot the camera then changes position and begins to show the conversation from a series of over the shoulder shots, this is used in order to involve the audience and to make them feel more connected within the scene.

Inglorious Basterds

In this opening shot, we see two guards wearing nazi uniforms which sets the time period whilst also giving the guards a bad image. This scene is shot in a mid-long shot allowing the viewer to see the surrounding objects. We also see that the man who walks from the room is also wearing a Nazi uniform however, this is white symbolising importance of the character. It is shot using a eye-level camera angle making the viewer the same level as the male in white. The camera then begins to track backwards at the same speed as the man, allowing us to see more of the surroundings. This enables the audience to notice that the colour red is prominent. This could symbolise Danger, Love, Anger. The lighting used in this scene is spotlights. The man in the white is walking in and out of the spotlights which could show his uncertainty on what he is going to do. This sequence uses non-diegetic sound which helps create tension.

The shot is an extreme close up of a golden bell ringing. This foreshadows that it is time for something to happen. This scene creates tension as the audience questions if it is something good or bad. The music used supports this as it is uses non-diegetic in the build up to the bell ringing. The diegetic sound of the bell then starts the louder non-diegetic sound as music quickens creating the feeling of danger. The lighting used also supports this as it is low-key making the scene more eerie.

This is a close-up shot of the woman's hand. The shot is used so you can tell that she is wearing red. The lighting is Low-key and shone from the back/left side of the screen. This puts emphasis on the colour red reflecting on the females hand, suggesting that she has blood on her hands as the colour red is a symbol of evil.  It uses both diegetic and non-diegetic however the non-diegetic sounds are more prevalent. The shots are increasing in pace as the music becomes louder which quickens the pace of the action in the sequence creating anticipation for the person watching.

The next shot is a straight cut to a mysterious man we know nothing about. He has a very serious persona and is shown smoking a cigarette. This shot is obeying the rule of thirds with his head being directly in the centre of the frame. It is filmed using a mid-wide shot showing him on the other side of the screening, implying how he has been segregated not only in the theatre but also in his everyday life due to the beliefs of nazi Germany. Through the mid-wide shot you can see that he is smoking, whilst stood in front of flammable film reel, showing how he no longer has the desire to care. This shot is using the same type of lighting as the first shot showing similarity with the man in white, however the mise-en-scene shows the vast contrast between the two male characters. The black man is wearing a dirty uniform with no badges whilst the white man is wearing a pristine white uniform with numerous badges. This is ironic as white is meant to show purity, the complete opposite to the morals the man in white holds.

The shot shown is of the man in white walking up the stairs in a frantic manner. It uses a low-key back light to outline the silhouette of 'Frederick' making the shot seem more mysterious. In the shot the colour scheme is white red and black, the same colours of the nazi organisation. The marching sound is then heard as he walks up the stairs. This could advocate that he is going to war with this woman in the film room, in which later we find out he loses his life. The frame is exposed via a low angle showing power within the man. It transitions from a mid-long shot to a long shot as he progresses up the stairs.

This shot is a continuation of the previous shot, but is juxtaposed. I say this because,  in this shot they use high-key lighting and also it is shot from a high angle showing that the closer to the woman he gets the more vulnerable. Shown here is a warning that something may happen in this sequence which shows him being weak.

The next shot is an over the shoulder shot showing the conversation between two of the characters. With this shot you can easily see that the woman is refusing to hold the males eye contact, this suggests that she is possibly not comfortable with his presence or his intentions. It is also shot with a hand held camera, this gives the scene a sense of realism and paired with the particular shot can make the viewer feel as though they are involved more. By using a mid-close up it allows the audience to see the clothing and background both of which would also help show the time period in which it is set. This also shows emphasis on the amount of red that the woman is clothed in giving a sense of danger and perhaps love/lust. The use of lighting on the male character is high-key whereas it is less high-key when showing the woman this is used to possibly portray how superior the male is in regards to women, this may also help to set the time period as this view was the norm during this time. Shot-reverse-shot is used to show the differences in both characters, the male in this scene is trying to 'woo' the woman however she is shown to be uninterested and distracted.

During this particular shot the woman is shown holding a weapon aimed at the male, the lighting in this scene is low-key yet focused mainly from the left hand side. The lighting is used during this shot in order to emphasis the colour red, it is shown frequently throughout the whole sequence yet only here is the true meaning shown. The way in which she is portrayed changes from being submissive to looking in control and dominant, this can show that there is meaning behind her actions. The scene is also shot at eye level this gives more of a closer feel as the viewer may feel more connected to the scene. To me this is all used here as this scene marks a big turning point in the film, this action is hinted at throughout the sequence and causes almost a domino affect onto the other big moments to follow.

This following shot shows a clip of the documentation showing the heroic acts of which the male soldier partook in. There is a lot of irony in the scene as, as shown in the clip this man survived something many others did not and was highly praised for this, but was killed by a woman in a theatre not long after. The roles of the characters seem to be reversed as the female seems to be dominant, and he is now loosing his life when before he was the one taking them. This scene is shown by using eye line match as the woman was seen looking at this before it was shown for the audience. Because of seeing this the woman shows a look of regret and sadness, both these scenes following each other show their main focus to be the emotion of the characters.

This shot shows the male lying on the floor after being shot, however this almost looks as though he is standing above the woman, this is used to show how even though he has been shot he is still considered superior. The only bit in focus In the shot is his face, this is showing that the importance is not in his action of shooting her but in fact him and how he feels when killing her.

The final shot of the whole sequence is the shot of the woman starting straight into the camera, this is used in order to create a stronger connection with the viewers. When watching this I felt as though the scene hit me harder as you see the raw emotion of the woman mixed with this you as a viewer know that she is the nicer person and therefore feel more affected by her death. The lighting in this scene is the same as it is when she is shown opening the door to the male, it lights up one side of the face yet leaves the other side in darkness. This is used to question the audience on her actions and morals, of whether they are good or if she is just as bad as him.

500 work horror essay

I am legend -


The opening scene to 'I am legend' is held on for a long time, there is also little to no sound apart from a few faint noises of birds, the lighting used throughout this scene is natural lighting, these both suggest that it is dawn. The long stills in the opening are all extreme long shots and all focus on easy recognisable areas, showing that the setting is the well-known city of New York. The shots slowly pan and also tilt upon certain buildings, as well as this there are multiple shots used such as high angles, birds eye angles and lows angles all of which show a more in depth shot of the surrounding. All of this gives the viewer a sense of loneliness and abandonment, and therefore makes them feel on edge and possibly venerable.  
An Ariel shot begins to roll over the buildings, and also shows a single ford mustang in shot, shortly after you begin to hear as well as see the car the shot then cuts to the inside of the car, firstly showing a close up of a gun this then pans over to the man holding the gun and his dog. The state of both the main character and his dog will begin to create an uneasiness in the viewer, they both appear to be clean and well maintained this contrasts with the state of the city and also the fact that he is holding a gun. This suggests that the city is not really abandoned and there is something sinister out there. This caused me confusion however it also made me want to watch the rest of the film.
While using mostly mid shots and long shots to show the movement and path of the car, the camera then changes and pans to the side of the road and zooms onto a poster which reads 'god still loves us, Do we still love god?' to me this gave the sense that something may have happened which could be seen as messing with nature and gods will. And maybe the reason why the city is abandoned is because something deemed 'unnatural' has taken place there.
On the other hand, it could mean simply that the use of violence in the situation is frowned upon, I get this feeling as the posters are covering an army tank. And the picture  shown on the poster are those of two hands reaching out to each other disturbed by a weapon. 
The sound used throughout the opening creates suspense and nervousness, it does this by only giving you sounds of birds and wind. The complete silence of the city covered with the roar of an engine being echoed within the streets made me feel scared of what is to come next. The sudden burst of sound from the running deer's as well as the braking and screeching sound from the car shocks the audience and will begin to increase the pace of the film. The only sound used in the opening sequence is diegetic, it does not use any added sound in order to show the eeriness or in fact the pace this is all portrayed using natural sounds.  

2: Favourite Film

Favourite film: dazed and confused

Richard Linklater’s dazed and confused is set in 1976 on the last day of school, situated in a small US town. The title ‘dazed and confused’ mimics the state of the young teenagers as their journey to adulthood starts by their departure from high school. The theme throughout the film explores the fears and uncertainty of life after school. Despite not having a clear storyline the film makes up for it by the easy going/messed up structure, what helps create this is the soundtrack, from Alice Cooper to Deep Purple the songs perfectly capture the teenage spirit. Both back in the 1970’s to present day. Even though the film is set in 1976 it is still very relatable to the struggles of young adults today, the unknowing of what is to come of their future as well as the daily pressures from both peers and elders.

The film is mainly positioned around the school ritual of beating (hazing) the to-be freshmen, at the front of this is Mitch (Wiley Wiggins) who is determined to outsmart the beaters. As well as this is the storyline of Randy (Pink) Floyd, played by Jason London, who is a football star who is deeply troubled by his coach’s persistence that he is to sign a pledge outrulling the consumption of both drugs and alcohol.

Despite the film being rather free willed certain aspects show the reality of discipline from parents as (Kevin) Pickford’s parents abort their weekend trip away in order to catch their sons secret keg party.

Appearing occasionally throughout the film are Mike (Adam Goldberg) , Tony (Anthony Rapp) and Cynthia (Marissa Ribisi) who spend their time talking about their fellow students and what they’re up too. ‘Dazed and Confused’ easily sways from different characters throughout the whole film by following a large number of teenagers from different backgrounds and status’s as they drive around their town and experiment with drugs, alcohol and lust. With all happening within a 24 hour period the film is faced paced as well as being chilled out and slow, by starting in school and ending with a huge party consumed with drugs and fights.

Beside the theme of decision making and troubled teens the majority of the film shows the relaxed vibe of teenage life in the 1970’s. How both young and older teens can slip under the radar and have fun with friends, as well as organise house parties without permission.

What I like most about this film in particular is the range of different themes in which the film covers, all of which are relatable to a lot of people now regardless of the year gap. The soundtrack is also a main reason of why I enjoy this film as the tracks compliment the film a great deal and even make parts of the film better and more enjoyable.

1: Deadpool

Deadpool:

Deadpool has so far smashed box office records by becoming one of the highest grossing R - rated movies of all time, by making over $135 at the box office on just its opening weekend deadpool has far exceeded expectations. A films success is measured by how much money it grosses, i.e. how much profit is made by the film by ticket sales. This refers to the total sum of money of all the tickets brought, around the world.

The film’s success was mainly down to the marketing, by releasing promo videos, interviews and using valentines weekend deadpool snatched up every opportunity to grab the much needed attention from the public.Other reasons why the film was such a hit are how unique and different the film was compared to others in the same genre, as well as this the film was very faithful to the comics. this helps the film as fans of the franchise and genre as a whole are not disappointed by the outcome. The style in which deadpool was created in differed from all other ‘super hero’ movies, the dark humour was one distinctive difference which raised the rating to a 15. As well as this the constant break of the fourth wall gave the film a different effect which was favoured by both fans and critics.

The character of deadpool is completely different to what the film industry had been portaying a super hero to be, the shocking difference in the plot and movie as a whole was much needed and much appreciated.