Pre- Production Planning (Synopsis) by Becky and Nathan

• This is a first draft for our film synopsis, we need a final go ahead from other group members because they were unfortunately absent today.

Synopsis
A man (Protagonist Stan) trying to make an important crime deal for his mob manager turns up to discuss this with a mystery man, finding out the Mystery Man will be late he begins to panic and begs his mob manager to allow him to return to base. The Mystery man is a quiet kept person but very cunning and nothing ever gets past him. Stan is kidnapped by the Mystery man and finding no help from the mob he used to love, he ends up betraying them and working for the kidnapping gang. His final fate is due to a web of lies and betrayal.

Other things we've done - 31/01/11

• Thought of 2 possible locations (A long and 'scary' bridle path in both Crawley Down and Hassocks)
• Thought of what sort of editing techniques we could possibly use such as cross cutting to add tension and suspense.
• 2 of us won't be acting ourselves, however Nathan and Alex don't mind . Also we will be asking one other person to act, this is likely to be Becky's brother.

Alex - 5 Thriller Openings

1. Terminator 2: Judgement Day
Camera Work - At the start of the film the first shot is a long shot of a large road which has a large amount of people on it. It also shows children playing on the swings looking happy, but it is edited into slow motion. This is used to show a large amount of people living and enjoying life as the next part shows that there has been a war of some sort which many people have died in.
- There is a close-up on a human skull which creates as suspense as you don't see how the person dies.
- In the same show a low-angle shot is used to show the robot. It makes it look more menacing as it looks taller from the low angle shot.
- A small panning shot shows a few machines and this adds suspense for the viewer as you don't actually know how many of the machines there are.

Mise-en-scene - The clothing in the opening scene is generally combat uniform. Excluding the very beginning the opening of this film is set in a war zone. At the very beginning the clothing is normal, average everyday clothes where it shows the children on the swing.
- The opening is set in a war zone so the set design is one of rubble, craters, etc from a destroyed city.

Sound - There is a build up of noise in the opening of the clip. The only sound in the area is the wind, until a machine steps on a skull and as the camera moves up the rest of the machines come in sight and the noise level picks up.

Editing - In this opening scene there is a Narrator. The Narrator is a woman and she reveals that she is a character in the film. The Narrator sets up the story for the viewer as she explains why there are so many skeletons about and a large war is going on.
- When the camera just shows the skull on the floor, there is a long Pan across the surrounding area which then goes into a close up on the skull. While the fighting is happening the cuts are going much faster which makes the viewer think the fighting is more exciting then it actually is.


2. Vertigo
Camera Work - It begins with a Close-up of a ladder which then zooms out and shows a person running away from two others. It makes the viewer wonder why this man is running?
- An extreme long shot and a pan shows the distance which these three people are running.
- When one of the men slip and is just hanging off the edge of the rooftop, a close-up is used to show the fear on the man's face.
- A Long-shot is used to show the drop down off the edge which shows the viewer how high up the men are.

Mise-en-scene
- The three men in this scene are generally wearing a smart attire. The first man is wearing just a suit while the next two look like Police Officers. This explains a little bit of why they were chasing the other man.
- The set is of a city rooftops which is where quite a few chase scenes have been.
- The lighting is dark as it is set at night in the city.

Sound - There is music thrughout this scene. It is fast-paced music and it is also quite loud. This makes the audience feel more excited with the chase scene. Also when they're running the Police Officer shoots a few times at the man he's chasing which shows the viewer that this chase is serious.

Editing - The scene has got a large amount of quick changing cuts. This makes the audience think that the action is happening faster then it actually is which builds up excitement.

3. The Dark Knight
Camera Work - There are a lot of close-ups on certain objects for example: a mask that one of the men is holding. When the men have broke in, there are other close ups for example close ups on the money in the safe. The close-ups show the audience which objects in the film are important.
- At the beginning of the scene there are a lot of long-shots as it is set in a city. When the two masked men zip-wire over to another building, there is an extreme long-shot which shows to the viewer the risk that these men are prepared to take.

Mise-en-scene - In this scene the people who are stealing from the bank are all wearing clown masks. This can scare some viewers but it will definitely make the other viewers think about why are they wearing them and not just balaclavas.
- The men are all wearing suits which would let them fit in with the crowd when they escape.
- The Setting is a large, rich bank in the middle of a city in America.

Sound - The sound at the beginning of this scene is very quiet and seems to be building up. This creates suspense among the viewers.
- The music then drops after they have entered the bank and it is fast paced which goes with what's happening in the film.

Editing - Again, the cuts go very fast when the action in the film builds up.
- During the period's of dialogue, the music and the cuts both slow down. But when the bus crashes through the wall at the end both speed up again.

4. GoodFellas
Camera Work - At the beginning of the scene it shows three men driving in a car. While they are in the car the same camera shot is used. It is a mid shot which can get the whole car in view.
- When the men get out the car, they are not sure what's really going on in the boot. The camera zooms in slowly on the boot before they open it to build up the suspense.
-When the Men are waiting to open the car boot, a low angle shot is used to make them look big, which makes them look powerful.

Mise-en-scene - These men look quite rich from the suits they're wearing. And by the end of the scene after they have killed the person in the boot, the viewer can tell that they are a gang or a mob of some sort and that they probably didn't acquire the money for the suits by legal means.
- Apart from the inside of the car, the only other setting in this is hidden away from the road and in some trees.

Sound - Only at the very end of the scene is there any loud music. The whole, rest of the scene is with very quiet music. This can create more tension as the viewer is even less likely going to expect when some things happen.
- When they are driving in the car, the tapping noise from the boot can make the viewer feel the suspense as the characters d not know what its from either.

Editing - At the very end of the scene a Narrator comes in. This can help set some of the story for the viewers.
- All the cuts in this scene are very slow. There are a few long panning shots and this makes it different to the other Thrillers as it makes you even less likely to know what's coming next.

Face Off
Camera Work - There is a few close-ups of John Travolta and his son. The viewers can see this is a happy part of the scene.
- Then it changes to a long shot of Nicolas Cage. It creates suspense as the viewer cant see him clearly but can see he as a gun. The shot changes to an extreme close up of his mouth which creates even more suspense for the audience as they cant see his face clearly.
- Another extreme close-up is of the gun this time as Nicolas Cage fires.
- A couple of different Mid-shots show John Travolta hit. The Mid shot lets the viewer see exactly what has happened.

Mise-en-scene - The costume worn by John Travolta in this scene is just everyday wear as it is being made to look like an everyday scene with his son.
The setting is on a Carousel which is good contrast to the fact that someone is going to get shot.

Sound - The music at the beginning of the scene is generally quite happy music. This changes later on during the time when John Travolta and the child get shot.

Editing - There is a lot of slow motion at the beginning of this scene as it is showing family time. The director is trying to make it as nice and family l-like as he can up to the point where Nicolas Cage is shown.
- There is also slow-motion when they get shot which is good contrast to the slow motion before.

shona- 5 thriller openings.

1.    Pulp Fiction

Camera work:

-          During the beginning scene of pulp fiction long shots are used to show the surrounding area of the characters. This is used to introduce the characters to the audience and show them who may be involved in the upcoming scenes.

-          A low angle shot is used to show how the adult character has authority over the child, this can also be seen as a point of view shot from the child’s perspective, looking up at the adult character.

-          close ups are used to show reaction and emotion in this scene

-          An extreme close up is used to show detail on a watch, this shows the audience that the watch is probably of some importance.

       Mise-en-scene

-          Clothing is used during this scene to show a characters occupation, he is wearing uniform that indicates he is in the air force.

-          The house in which this scene is set in is very spacious and filled with furniture, this indicates that the family is well off.

      Sound

-          Not a lot of background noise is involved during this scene, this is so the audience concentrates on what the character is saying as it will probably have something to do with the events that unfold later during the film.

-          We can hear birds in the background but no traffic which indicates that the family may live in quite a secluded area.

-          Dialogue plays an important part during this scene, this is why there is not a lot of other background noises. This shows that what the character is saying is important and so the audience knows to pay attention.  

     Editing

-          The cuts during this first scene are not short and quick as no tension is meant to be building. Instead they are long scenes as the audience needs to pay attention.

2.    Se7en

Camera work:

-          A long shot is used, introducing the character from afar so we can see what they are doing but have not yet scene their face in enough detail.

-          The camera pans up from below to slowly reveal the characters face, this creates questions about the character. Who are they? Why are they important to the film?

-          The scene then changes and another slow pan is used to reveal a dead body which will instantly create more questions.

  

Mise-en-scene:

-          The character in the first scene is very well dressed; this suggests to the audience that they may have an important, well paid job.

-          The light during the first couple of scenes is very dark and dim, this creates a negative feeling in the audience.

-          Blood is used on the body of the victim in the second scene which tells us they must have been killed in some sort of violent way this also causes slight tension for the audience as they don’t know who murdered this person or why.

Sound:

-          During the first short scene we can faintly hear the sound of sirens in the background, this gives the impression that the film is set in the city and also that the sirens may have something to do with what is about to happen in the film.

-          The second scene in the film begins with dialogue, someone is explaining to our main character how the victim laying on the floor has been murdered. This confirms that the main character does in fact have an important job and tells the audience a bit more about this character.

Editing:

-          This film also begins with very long scenes, this is used to introduce the characters.

-          There is not a lot of action going on in this scene so not a lot of editing is used as they do not want to cause tension yet.

3.      Leon

Camera work:

-          The film begins with a tracking long shot of a street; this shows the setting of the film, a busy city.

-          The film then begins with some extreme close ups, these show us great detail of some parts of the characters faces, yet they do not show us the characters whole face. This will cause frustration for the audience as they will want to see who these people are.

Mise-en-scene:

-          A photograph of a man is used during this scene which will make the audience begin to ask questions. It draws them in as they will want to find out why this man is important to the film.

-          The fact that the characters are smoking and they way in which they speak suggest that they are gang members of some sort.

-          Later on in the scene when the action begins guns and other weapons are used a lot which helps build up tension as the audience knows something big may be about to happen.

Sound:

-          At the beginning of the scene there is no music, this means the audience is concentrating fully on what the characters are saying.

-          When one of the characters leaves, slow dark music soon starts to play, this gives the impression that this character is very dangerous and may be about to break the law in some way. The music also builds up some tension.

-          Through the scene as the action begins the music beat speeds up, this causes a great deal of tension as it seems as though it is building up for something big to happen.

Editing:

-          When the action begins later on in the scene the camera pace speeds up, this combined with the music builds up a lot of tension in the audience.

4.    Inception

Camera work:

-          At the start of the first scene the camera tilts slightly while filming which makes the audience think that the character may be dizzy or disorientated.

-          Close up shots are used to show emotion on the characters face, confusion.

-          Low angle shots are used to show authority, the character that is armed with a gun is shot from below to look more powerful.

-          In the second scene we do not see the new characters face for quite some time, this gives off the impression he is important. This causes a sense of mystery and frustration as the audience wants to see the characters face.

Sound:

-          The first piece of dialogue we hear is in a foreign language, this strengthens the confusion the audience is already feeling as they obviously will not understand what is being said.

-          The slow music at the beginning of the scene adds to the disorientated effect that the camera work and editing have together made.

Editing:

-          To begin this scene the camera is out of focus, this makes the audience feel that the character is disorientated.

-          To add to the disorientated effect the scene has also been made into slow motion, this makes the scene seem longer then it is and also could be seen from the characters point of view as they are disorientated.

Mise-en-scene:

-          The island that the main character has washed up on has guards that are armed with guns, this suggests that the island is well protected and of some importance.

-          The character has washed up on the shore fully dressed, this makes the viewer start asking questions. How did he get there? And why?

-          In the second scene the lighting is very dark; this causes a sense of mystery and the unknown.

5.    Die hard

Camera work:

-          The camera slowly pans up to introduce the character sitting on the plane.

-          Close up shots are used to show character reaction. This makes their emotion more powerful as we see it in great detail.

-          A long shot is used to show the surrounding area and set the scene.

-          Tracking shots are used to show characters journey’s.

-          A high angle shot is used to show a characters authority over the rest of the people in the room, he is looking down on them showing that he has power and is in control of the room.

Sound:

-          During the first scene there is no music, all that can be heard is the landing of a plane which gives the impression the character that we will be introduced to first is on this plane.

-          In the next scene classical music can be heard, this helps set the scene and gives the impression that the character is in a posh building.

-          Dialogue is used to introduce the characters background too and give the audience a better understanding of the character.

Mise-en-scene:

-          The characters body language on the plane helps us learn a little more about him, he is very stiff and un-relaxed. He is afraid of flying.

-          The character is well dressed suggesting he has a well paid job.

-          A gun shows that the character is in fact a police officer.

-          All these points help us understand the character a bit more and give us some information about them.

Editing:

-          The beginning of this thriller is not where the action begins to happen therefore the pace of the shots is quite slow as to not cause any tension.

Most of these thrillers seen to have a few similarities, they all tend to cause some sort of confusion to draw the audience in and keep them watching. When the action begins the shot pace and the music both speed up to make the film look more action packed or they slow right down to cause a lot of tension.

Feedback by Us on Our Preliminary

What we think needs improving:



Lots of clutter in the background




Our framing isn't brilliant as there is lots of unnecessary scenery that we don't need to see.


We can barely see Alex!





Bad Lighting. To make this better we must use artificial lighting for our foundation portfolio.











Good points:

• We observed all 3 of the continuity techniques
• Used a lot of purposeful mise en scene!

Feedback

Feedback from Andrew...

Research Task by Becky

1. Requiem for a Dream
Camera Work

• A point of view shot is used when the mother is looking through the key hole. This was used so that the audience can see through her perspective and see what level she is at compared to her son, who she is peering at through the key hole. 

• A close-up is used when the mother is in the bathroom. This has been used so that the audience can clearly see her emotions and her reactions to what is being said to her, from the other character in the other room. 

Mise-en-scene

• Everyday props such as a table, a lamp and a telephone have been used to create realism. This psychological thriller is meant to be realistic and having props that everybody else uses, makes the audience automatically think that this is meant to be a normal home, in everyday life. 
• Again, to create realism, the characters hair, make-up and costumes have been done in a way that portrays them as 'normal' people, so that people can possibly relate to them. As the film begins with what we can presume is a T.V. programme, we wonder why we are seeing this. When the camera cuts to the characters in the house, the main focus is the on son, trying to take the T.V. This creates enigma and questions. Why is he taking the T.V.? and what has a T.V. got to do with anything?
• The lighting is supposed to be natural, as it is coming through the window. When the mother locked herself in the bathroom, she perhaps feels isolates and upset with her son, to reflect this, low key lighting has been used. In the other room, where the son is shouting and rushing around, high key lighting has been used, which possibly makes him look superior to his mother.

Editing

• Quick cuts have been used because a lot of shouting and running around is happening in the house, so this creates confusion and disorientates the audience. 



An example from later in the film of a split screen.

• A split screen has been used, which is strange as the characters are only a door away from each other. In other films such as '(500) Days of Summer' they used it to show distance. I think this has been used because it shows each of their emotions, and possibly to show comparison between each of the characters and show what their relationship is like with one another.

Sound

• There is a lot of dialogue used in this opening sequence, which is not at all common in thrillers. It isn't a common convention which I think makes this film all the more interesting.
• The soundtrack is however something common in thrillers. Dark ominous music has been used to create suspense and build tension.

Types of character again aren't something common to thrillers. A mother and an adult son isn't perhaps what you would expect.
The narrative order is what appears to be chronological.
I would definitely say the theme for this thriller is psychological.


2. Shutter Island
Camera Work

• An establishing shot is of an old looking boat out at sea is the first thing we see. This has been used to give the audience context of where the story begins and possibly what to expect.



The establishing shot

• A close-up is used of what we can presume is the main character. He looks fairly scruffy and not the type to care about his appearance, therefore the close-up automatically tells the audience what kind of man he his, just by his appearance and the way he presents himself. 

Mise-en-scene

• The costume of the two characters automatically sets the time period for this film without even seeing anything else. They are wearing old-fashioned suits, with the typical trilby hats from the 50's and 60's. 
• The props in this film show that this film will have a crime element to it. Props such as a gun, chains, handcuffs and old rusty doors suggest we won't be watching a comedy. 

• Lighting in this scene is meant to look natural, so when sunlight is coming through the window, it creates realism. However, when the main character steps outside, it is all cloudy and the colour is a low grading and desaturated colour. This channels the theme of the film, as it is a thriller, the colouring won't exactly be bright and full of sunshine, therefore with a dim and dull grading, its goes with the scene. 

Editing

• In this opening, a flashback has been used to show more background information on the main character. He is telling a story to the other character, and the flashback channels what he is saying.
• The cuts in this film aren't at all short and quick, they are much longer and slower. This is because in this particular scene, there isn't a tremendous amount of action as we are just learning about the character. It would be inappropriate to have a lot of cuts when there isn't much happening.

Sound

• Dialogue in this opening scene is used quite a lot, just like in Requiem for a Dream. The first thing we hear is the main character talking to himself. This has been used so that the audience can find out more about his character and get an insight to his emotions.

• Diegetic sounds such as the chains, footsteps and the metal gate have been heightened and you can imagine a Foley artist making these sounds. This has been done to add emphasis on the props and pay more attention to them.

I think that this thriller doesn't create a lot of enigma, as whilst the characters are having a conversation, we are learning everything we are asking in our heads. For example, we wonder who the main character is talking to, and he says 'you alright boss'. We automatically learn that he is his partner.
The narrative structure appears to be in chronological order as there is a flashback we can presume that it was in the past, and when it switches back, we are back to the current time period.

3. Pi
Camera Work

• The very first shot is a canted close-up. This may disorientate the viewers, and also show that the main character is confused as well, because he is just waking up, not in his bed but from his desk, he too doesn't know what is happening. 
• Again, Darren Aronofsky uses a point of view shot, where the character is peering through the key hole. He wants the audience to know what the character is exactly looking at.

Mise-en-scene

• The setting of this opening scene is clearly of his home. The desk, bathroom, front door and the outside corridor suggest we are in his flat and learning about him just by what his home looks like.
• One prop makes automatically informs the audience about what this film is going to be evolved around. A calculator. A girl is holding a calculator and asks the main character what the answer is to a really difficult sum, he doesn't even look at it and knows the answer in a flash. As soon as we see this calculator, we know what to expect.

Editing

• A montage of quick action cuts is used so that it doesn't take as long to show what is happening and to create psychological tension. He opens a bottle, puts pills in his hand and takes them. This happens in about 3 seconds. 
• This film is in black in white, which is intentional because of the year it was made (1998), colour was the common way in which films were shot. I think the use of black and white is because it doesn't show everything in great detail, therefore stimulates your mind to think about what is being portrayed in the scene.

Sound

• A voice over is being used, even though it is coming from the main character himself. This is because he is letting us know what he is thinking and feeling.
• At the opening, an upbeat electric soundtrack is being used, which suggests that the film could be futuristic, and something out of the ordinary. 

This film doesn't contain many common conventions of a horror film. There isn't any obvious hero or villain or mood/atmosphere (such as suspense, danger or darkness). The narrative structure is what we can presume is chronological order.


4. Fight Club
Camera Work

The low angle , from the side shot

• A low angle has been used from the side of the face. This shows superiority from the character who is standing taller than the other male character.
• A common convention from these thrillers seems to be close ups. It has been used in this case to focus on the characters injuries to his face, which creates enigma. Why does he look as if he has been beaten up?
• Shallow depth of field is used, when the focus is on the main character. It directs the audience to focus on him.

Mise-en-scene

• The setting is clearly a typical American city, possibly New York. We can tell this from the tall lit up buildings and big roads. The room that they are in looks like a modern office which portrays the idea they are in a busy city.
• Low key lighting is used to counter act the action that is taking place in the scene. Dark, and low grading is used to show what is taking place is dangerous.

Editing

• A flashback has been used, where the main character reminisces of how he got into that situation. And in that flashback, another one has been used to go back even further. This is a manipulation of time, which gets the audience to really think about what is going on.
• Slow cuts have been used so that the story is being told with clarity and there is no confusion withing the audience.

Sound

• To add emphasis to the fact they are in a city, sirens and car noises have been added and heightened, also conveying a lot of action is taking place, in this certain scene.
• Just like 'Pi', the main character is narrating, whilst the scene is taking place. This is cleverly done, as the narration carries on back in time with the flashbacks.

This is in a non-chronological order, which may confuse the audience. We can tell that the themes of this film is suspense, danger, crime and urban decay. We know this because we see a beaten up man, tied to a chair which adds to the crime factor. Also a gun adds to the danger and darkness theme.

A close-up of the main character lying on the floor.

5. 44inch Chest
Camera Work

• Still shots have been used to set the scene 
• Slow panning is used to reveal the shocking image of a scruffy looking character lying on the floor.

Mise-en-scene

• A messed up and trashed flat suggest something violent has happened, which creates questions that the audience are thinking. What has happened? Why is this flat trashed?
• Realistic props have been used to create realism. A typical sofa, kitchen and T.V. show that this is meant to be something that could possibly happen.

Editing

• The cuts fit are in time with the music. Every four beats, the cut switches to another still image of another messed up area of the house.
• The narrative structure is something that gets the audience to interact more, and think about. The beginning is actually at the start of the film, and then after the title appears, it cuts to the 'present time'.

Sound

• Contrapuntal sound has been used as the soundtrack. An 80's love ballad is not what you would normally associate or pair with in a thriller. 

• There isn't any dialogue in this opening scene, unlike all the other thrillers I have analyised. It is used sparingly, and done so that we can concentrate on the setting and let the destruction of the house let itself do the talking.

This makes us ask questions and feel hostile. We know that it is going to be a crime film and there will be violence. It makes us confused and the types of character are sinister and that there will be protagonist and antagonist. The flat looks fairly modern so we know that it is set in current time.      

Research Task by Nathan Packham

 Here is my research for the 5 Thriller openings.

Deja Vu

Camera Work

• A long shot of the boat from a high angle to suggest a growing sense of danger. The fast tracking emphasises this.
• Close up of Doll shot from a high angle. This foreshadows the fate of those on board.
• Shallow depth of field during shots of families and children means the audience focuses on and connects emotionally with their story

Mise En Scene

• Use of clothing (Sailors) to promote viewer understanding and to introduce context.
• Body Language of Sailors expresses excitement, later contrasted with utter fear as the Boat explodes.

Sound

• The sound is contrapuntal throughout. The joyful scenes have a melancholy soundtrack, whereas the moment the bomb is found uses a pop track.
• The digetic cheering of the Sailors makes the audience even more nervous about their final fate.

Editing.

• Slow motion throughout suggests something is not quite right and allows the audience to connect emotionally
• Slow cuts until man realises bomb, quickening of pace creates confusion and terror.

Is it a conventional Thriller?

• Lack of dialogue still leaves audience confused as to what is happening in some aspects of the scene.
• Music builds tension and scenes of destruction.

Differences to the norm?

• There is no initial darkness. The film begins with scenes that take place in a high key and appears joyful.

Narrative Structure?

• Jumps in time as the investigation gets underway. The main character is seen on the ground then suddenly on a bridge.
• Objective. The audience is aware of the bomb when the majority of characters are not, likely to create a reaction of worry from the audience.

Things I would want to use in my work? 

• Lack of dialogue to leave the audience questioning the situation.
• Contrapuntel sound to create an omniscient threat of danger.

Green Zone 
Camera Work

• The camera is very unsteady, this creates a sense of confusion.

• There are very few long shots, the close ups allow the viewer to connect to the characters plight.  

Mise En Scene 

• The clothing of a few of the men suggest their authority and their need to be protected.
• Changes in setting sets up an argument between two sides of the story.

Sound

• Soundtrack parallels completley the urgency and confusion within the scene.
• Use of dialogue teases the audience into thinking they will an initial understanding of character traits, but really there is very little that can be drawn from it.

Editing

• Quick cuts add real pace to the scene as it seems to take place in a smaller time frame than it actually does.

Is it a conventional Thriller?

• Scenes of destruction
• Element of mystery. Why are these people under attack?

Differences with conventional Thrillers?

• Use of dialogue

Structure

• Non- Linear- Jumps to 4 Weeks later after opening scene.

Things I would want to use?

• Quick cuts to add urgency.
• Some sort of authority, whether this be corrupt or the protagonist.

Notorious 

Camera

• Low angle on sign expresses authority and possibly the idea that this authority is corrupt or wrong?
• Long shot in court keeps the audience detatched from the case. This would suggest they will later have to make up their mind on the conclusions drawn from the court case.

 Mise En scene

• The use of a Judge's constume inside the court room to show that the authority is present.
• Woman has expensive clothing and perfect hair, but her facial expressions shows her worry.

Sound 

• Cacophony of noise when the courthouse sign is shown makes the audience fear for the characters. 
• The use of dialogue to set up character traits and personality.

Editing

• Long Takes promote viewer understanding, rather than prevent them from understanding what is happening
• Use of Shot/ Reverse Shot to show that a relationship is building between two characters.

Conventional Thriller?

• Element of crime and authority
• Mystery- How did this happen?

Differences?

• A real lack of urgency, Hitchcock appears to want to make the time take its natural course.

Narrative

• Use of a elipsis to skip to later in the day. 

Things I would want to use? 

• Shot/ Reverse shot as a means of continuity.
• Soundtrack or noise that is likely to frighten or worry the audience.

The Departed

 

Camera Work

• Close ups of violence, social upheaval and urban decay.
• Mid long shot of the mystery man, audience is aware of body language but can see no facial features.

Mise En scene

• Lack of light on the mystery man makes him seem dangerous but also intrigues the audience. Use of restricted narration.
• Contrast in costume in the cafe scene shows who is in control of the situation.

Sound

• An unknown narrator commentates over scenes of violence. Is he the perpetrator of the action? A very subjective point of view, the man expresses his feelings of events going on at the time.
• The use of a popular music soundtrack to help the audience understand when the film is initally set.

Editing

• Quick cuts during scenes of violence, this slows to rhythmic cuts to show that the man is in control and aware of the situation surrounding him
• 180 Degree Rule keeps continuity and emphasises the importance of the scene where the mystery man and the boy are talking.

Conventional Thriller?

• Narration by a man who the audience cannot trust is likely to provoke a reaction of interest.
• Scenes of violence.

How is it different?

• Use of archive rather than original footage to create a wider context that surrounds the time of the film.
• Split between long+ short cuts. Drawing parallels between the outside world and the mans personal actions.

Narrative

• Close up of boy changing to man shows a huge jump in time bringing us right up to the present day.

Things I would want to use?

• Binary opposition in clothing. E.g In this opening, one man is in formal clothing whilst the other is weraing his work clothes.
• Themes of conflict brought about by an enigmatic perpetrator. Narration is also very effective in this sequence.

Memento

Camera

• Close ups of blood make the violence seem even more horrific and realistic.
• Man shot from a very high angle expresses his helplessness and utter confusion.
• Subjective POV for a long time, this adds to the shock when the scene of violence is revealed.

Mise En Scene

• Use of polaroid camera immediately creates audience interest into why this man needs to photo this event.
• Use of black+ White colour to suggest a loss of the senses and understanding.

Sound 

• An underlying string soundtrack creates a sense of tension .
• Digetic Sound- Flipping of the photos is a mundane thing to do after you have killed somebody.

Editing 

• Time manipulation, the action begins to go backwards and then suddenly shifts in time, this leaves the audience utterly confused. 
• Extremely long takes promote some viewer understanding as the picture fades for almost 1 minute.

Thriller?

• Violent and destructive themes.
• Mystery- Who is this man who has just killed? Why is he suddenly in a bedroom? Audience likely to question his morality.
• Binary Opposites- Act of agression countered by isolation and confusion?

Differences 

• Urgency builds rather than being present throughout. 

Narrative Structure 

• 2 changes in narrative structure. The first 1 minute 30 goes backwards in time, and then a sudden jump to another moment in time. 

What I would take from this?

• Getting the audience confused by making a character appear as antagonist and protagonist.
• Changes in narrative structure.