Below I have provided a table of which analysis's the variety of locations we have chosen for this project.
Wednesday 18 January 2017
Characters and Props
In this blog post I have included the agenda for each of the protagonists, not only that but the Props they will use and have provided brief summaries of their personalities, their costume and style.
Within our planning time my group and I have decided to change the name of the character Mia to Lila, this is simply because we felt Lila suited the personality of the character more.
In more detail we have also decided upon age, props, personality and Costume.
Lila will be aged 17, an age we can relate to as students and directors of this project, we feel we can make her more realistic as a character.
Her personality is timid as stated in the images but also reserved and vulnerable however friendly and welcoming at the same time. We want her to be shown as the most unexpected victim, someone who never puts themselves in danger or in the position where she would be in harm from another person.
In the variety of shots we will do we will have props show such as school books, pictures of family and friends but also an object from her place of work such as an Imeldas bag. We want to show her as someone to be close nit, someone who is only ever in a safe and loved environment. Her costume style will also help emphasise her simplicity and conservative life, nothing revealing or eye catching.
Our antagonist, Mark, will be aged 50. A more in depth analysis of his personality can describe him as not only obsessive but punctual, controlling, narcissistic, impatient and short tempered, someone the audience would establish as having clear psychopath tendencies. The props we will provide the character with will also help clearly connote this: leather clothes helping establish his neat and clean lifestyle (clean hands, no trace); a wallet full of past victims, young girls, dating back years and finally a watch, to connote his need for constant time keeping.
Within our planning time my group and I have decided to change the name of the character Mia to Lila, this is simply because we felt Lila suited the personality of the character more.In more detail we have also decided upon age, props, personality and Costume.
Lila will be aged 17, an age we can relate to as students and directors of this project, we feel we can make her more realistic as a character.
Her personality is timid as stated in the images but also reserved and vulnerable however friendly and welcoming at the same time. We want her to be shown as the most unexpected victim, someone who never puts themselves in danger or in the position where she would be in harm from another person.
In the variety of shots we will do we will have props show such as school books, pictures of family and friends but also an object from her place of work such as an Imeldas bag. We want to show her as someone to be close nit, someone who is only ever in a safe and loved environment. Her costume style will also help emphasise her simplicity and conservative life, nothing revealing or eye catching.
Our antagonist, Mark, will be aged 50. A more in depth analysis of his personality can describe him as not only obsessive but punctual, controlling, narcissistic, impatient and short tempered, someone the audience would establish as having clear psychopath tendencies. The props we will provide the character with will also help clearly connote this: leather clothes helping establish his neat and clean lifestyle (clean hands, no trace); a wallet full of past victims, young girls, dating back years and finally a watch, to connote his need for constant time keeping.
What do directors seek to establish in the openings of thrillers?
In the openings of thriller films the director seeks to establish different key aspects of the film itself, such as: location and setting; plot; tone and mood and character. Different directors will choose to focus on one overall in the opening.
Establishing Character: Se7en
For establishing a character in the opening of a thriller I have chosen David Finchers film Se7en. I have chosen this opening sequence because it allows the audience very quickly to establish the protagonist, it gives them focus on key material items and in some cases metaphorical objects to allow the viewers to get a grasp on who they are and in this case the importance of the character in this film.
For example in this shot we instantly understand the characters job, in the police force. Detective William Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman) is already shown to be organised in his up keeping, his belongings are perfectly placed and set out. The precise placing of these particular items show us that he can be described as a careful man. It can be said that all the items placed down correlate apart from the object furthest to the left, this suggests it is of sentimental value to the character, something to hold onto as a memory. The background details and storyline to this object of emotion was in fact removed from the full movie, although this is an enigma, we are still able to establish an emotional attachment to it, it clearly contrasts to the more serious and work life feel to the other objects placed on the right.
This scene provides us with the idea that Somerset is not only a careful man and professional in a workplace and situation, but his home life can be suggested as lonely, the inequalities of positioning in this shot emphasise this, especially by the double bed with only one person on one side and the other empty, he is a single person in a wide shot that should be filled with the second, however they are missing. The inequalities can then again be questioned by the lamps and lighting by how they are both switched on as if he is reliving the moments of which he shared with the missing person, but also by the fact the lamps are different heights, suggesting a deeper meaning that he has lost the power and he is at his lowest at home, alone.
Establishing Tone; The Disappearance of
Alice Creed
The two images show the panning shot of items the two protagonist villains need for there kidnapping. This shot I believe is the most important out of all the thriller openings we have watched, this is because it is in complete contrast to what is shown in this opening before, it creates a more violent and dangerous tone to the opening sequence and film. It expresses to the audience the severity of what the characters are about to become involved in. The seriousness of what crime they are about to commit and how deadly it could become. It provides the audience with a more heart beating moment, it provides a tone of which completely captivates them.
Another example as to how this film opening establishes tone, is this simple wide shot scene, in my opinion it allows the audience to relax, the simplicity, aesthetically pleasing and symmetrical shot puts the viewers mind as ease, there is nothing complicated. The relieving tone is also established by the way the characters are placed and positioned, they are relaxing, slouched and at peace after their preparation. The calm before the storm.
Establishing Location: Essex Boys
Terry Winsor, the director of the British thriller establishes location beautifully. An example is shot. The car of which has both protagonists in, driving into the bleakness, heading into the darker side of life, it emphasises urban life but empty. The scene then leads the audience into another where the Essex sign is clearly shown. This example not only sets location but the metaphor that the location connotes, the grey cloudy British skies allows the viewers to set the scene, relate and experience each step with the characters. The on-screen vanishing point also helps the audience get a full grasp of the location and setting Winsor chose.
This scene I have chosen as my second example of establishing location in this opening is chosen simply because it is so obvious and simple to the viewers of the characters location, again Winsor uses a repeated technique of on-screen vanishing points, this enables the audience to take in the vast landscape that the director has chosen so perfect for the storyline he is following. This shot is filmed in the Essex marshes, again providing a bleak sky and colour palette as seen before. I believe Winsor has chosen these vast areas and locations because it enables the audience to guess what is going to happen, to leave them with the vast amount of ideas and scenarios that the characters could be involved in. For instance in this shot, the viewer will inevitably think this location is dangerous, there is nothing but mud and sea, you cannot possibly survive out there, and that is what Winsor wanted, to not reveal anything but allow the astonishing location and landscape to tell the story and outcome for each character.
Establishing Character: Se7en
For establishing a character in the opening of a thriller I have chosen David Finchers film Se7en. I have chosen this opening sequence because it allows the audience very quickly to establish the protagonist, it gives them focus on key material items and in some cases metaphorical objects to allow the viewers to get a grasp on who they are and in this case the importance of the character in this film.
For example in this shot we instantly understand the characters job, in the police force. Detective William Somerset (played by Morgan Freeman) is already shown to be organised in his up keeping, his belongings are perfectly placed and set out. The precise placing of these particular items show us that he can be described as a careful man. It can be said that all the items placed down correlate apart from the object furthest to the left, this suggests it is of sentimental value to the character, something to hold onto as a memory. The background details and storyline to this object of emotion was in fact removed from the full movie, although this is an enigma, we are still able to establish an emotional attachment to it, it clearly contrasts to the more serious and work life feel to the other objects placed on the right.
The clear correlation between the other 4 objects is that they all link to the characters intelligence and profession. The gold plated police badge enforces his role and clear seriousness in his occupation as a detective, the pen knife, pen and glasses case all reinforce his strength and intelligence in this role. It provides the audience on the truly in depth life this character leads, just how precise, detailed and significant each item is to him and the life he has lived. The knife can however connote a darker side, a sense of danger is emphasised, a warning to the audience that this character will put himself into situations where he may need to protect or fight, furthermore it could connote what he has had to fight in the past, a clear emphasis on his need for protection in a weapon.
This scene provides us with the idea that Somerset is not only a careful man and professional in a workplace and situation, but his home life can be suggested as lonely, the inequalities of positioning in this shot emphasise this, especially by the double bed with only one person on one side and the other empty, he is a single person in a wide shot that should be filled with the second, however they are missing. The inequalities can then again be questioned by the lamps and lighting by how they are both switched on as if he is reliving the moments of which he shared with the missing person, but also by the fact the lamps are different heights, suggesting a deeper meaning that he has lost the power and he is at his lowest at home, alone.
Establishing Tone; The Disappearance of
Alice Creed
Another example as to how this film opening establishes tone, is this simple wide shot scene, in my opinion it allows the audience to relax, the simplicity, aesthetically pleasing and symmetrical shot puts the viewers mind as ease, there is nothing complicated. The relieving tone is also established by the way the characters are placed and positioned, they are relaxing, slouched and at peace after their preparation. The calm before the storm.
Establishing Location: Essex Boys
Terry Winsor, the director of the British thriller establishes location beautifully. An example is shot. The car of which has both protagonists in, driving into the bleakness, heading into the darker side of life, it emphasises urban life but empty. The scene then leads the audience into another where the Essex sign is clearly shown. This example not only sets location but the metaphor that the location connotes, the grey cloudy British skies allows the viewers to set the scene, relate and experience each step with the characters. The on-screen vanishing point also helps the audience get a full grasp of the location and setting Winsor chose.
Thursday 5 January 2017
How does the opening of Essex boys use metaphorical spaces to create meaning?
Image 1:
This shot enables the audience to question this characters freedom. The glazed over windows shot surrounding him and the entwined cobwebs suggest a claustrophobic position to be in, no clear direction or movement for the character. In other ways the shot could foreshadow his entrapment in future life, the life he will lead that we as viewers will follow. The side profile that the actor is shot at creates a sense of mystery still, we don't see his full facial feature nor where he is leading us.
Image 2:
This image again connotes Billy's (the character in focus) entrapment. This can be suggested by the reflection of light on the windscreen, a prison bar like reflection off his face; a visual metaphor of criminality and foreshadowing this characters possible imprisonment. Although one character isn't it focus there is still a questionable power imbalance presented, this is by the foreground in focus character to be shown tensed up and concentrating on a job, whereas the male character in back is relaxed, with not a lot of care in the world, no reflection of bars across him particularly.
Image 3:
This shot includes a very prominent on screen vanishing point whereby leads us to the set location of Essex. The emerging bleak grey colour palette displays the thought that Billy, a protagonist, is heading into a darker side to life, becoming the anti-hero, heading into a life of criminality and a bleak future. The lighting is low, blurry and dark to coincide with the darker colour palette, creating this overwhelming sense of darkness for both characters.
Image 4:
In this image there is another on screen vanishing point, connoting that this mans life may never be over however the combination of the bleak lighting and colour palette can suggest it is not going to be enjoyable. The shot is very off balance and disorientating, as if the character is not only stuck in the marshes of Essex but trapped in a life of angles and diagonal lines that fill the screen.
From looking at this thriller opening I have noticed just how key disorientating camera angles are and colour palette of the location to reflect the mood of characters or to foreshadow the characters fate.
Sunday 1 January 2017
How does the sewer scene in The Third Man use mise en scene to create meaning?
Image 1:
For this shot it is shown that matrices are used, this is in place to create a sense entrapment and growing or prolonged fear and lack of power that the character is dealing with this comes with the additions of diagonal lines and high angle shots from the characters perspective. The winding staircase creates a sense of disorientation, a metaphor for power, how he is trying to gain more and climb back up.
Image 2:
This shot also connotes and presents to the audience a sense of entrapment and lack of hope for the character central in the shot. The chiaroscuro lighting used can also emphasise the metaphorical surrounding of darkness, helping to foreshadow the characters fate and for now the lack of hope for his escape to continue, let alone succeed.
Image 3:
The diagonal lines in this shot create a sense of confusion, not only this but alongside the uses of matrices they help to enclose the character into the shot which then follows on to causing a maze like setting. The large space of which is shown by using such a wide shot creates and enables the audience to view the large shadows which follow on to emphasise the protagonists evil side. The wide shot can also provide a chance for the setting to become a metaphorical space - Claustrophobia, the character is stuck in this space.
Image 4:
In this shot the chiaroscuro lighting creates silhouettes which then can be seen to connote the characters darker side, he is surrounded by darkness. The use of a stable on screen vanishing point brings the addition of a conclusion/end to the thriller, a clean finish. The protagonist is shot no longer properly central in the sewer which can suggest he has less importance now, and is also shot to be small in the entirety of the shot, therefore connoting weakness.
Image 5:
In this final shot it creates a overwhelming feeling of disorientation. This is created by the angle it has been shot at and the wide long view of setting. The angle provides entrances to the numerous different sewers. This therefore then makes the audience question where he may be and the mystery that question holds, also then adding a sense of confusion. The character within this image is presented as vulnerable, this is accomplished by the size of him compared to the vast space that he is featured alongside with.
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