Soundtrack

Soundtrack

 

Inception soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT8hilib_6Q&list=PL001A57588A6E955F

This soundtrack from Inception is effective in creating an atmosphere for the audience. This soundtrack fits with the gripping nature of the film and helps ads to the tense atmosphere of the film. When the bass drops in the soundtrack, it creates a sudden drop in pace during the film and has a large increase of tension.

 

Jaws soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9QTSyLwd4w

The jaws soundtrack is very good at creating tension at a particular point in the film. The soundtrack is used in the film when the shark (Jaws) approaches it’s pray. The song helps to build tension as the pace gains speed. This makes the nature of the film more and more gripping throughout the course of the film.

 

The dark knight rises soundtrack:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbJmpKcNrLQ

This soundtrack is affective in creating a tense atmosphere that continues through the entire film. This helps to keep the tense atmosphere within the movie and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats throughout the film. This helps the thriller appeal to the audience as they are attracted by a tense and gripping nature.

Sub-genres and audiences

Sub-genres and audiences

 

Action thriller - Aimed at teenagers of 16+. Appeals mainly to males.

-       Items in the film such as guns, knives, women, and chases get the audience excited and create a thrilling atmosphere.

Sci-fi thriller – Normally aimed at ages of 18+.Both genders. Appeals to the more sophisticated audiences as they find it easier to understand. Aliens and future weapons attract these kinds of people.  

Crime thriller – Aimed at ages of 18+. Appeals to males. The audience enjoy the violence and conflict that occurs throughout the film.

Noir – Aimed at ages 18+. Appeals to both male and female audiences. The audience are attracted to the shady characters and contrast of characters.

Religious – Aimed at ages 18+. Attracts both genders. The devil adds a surreal atmosphere the film that attracts the audience.

Psychological – Aimed at ages 18+. Appeals to both audiences. The film keeps he audience thinking as they wonder what is going to happen in the film.

Erotic - Aimed at ages 18+. Appeals to mainly. Attracts the audience as they explore the parts off life that is not usually shown.

Supernatural – Appeals to ages 15+. Attracts both males and females. The series of unnatural events attracts the audience as they are unsure of what is happening within the movie.

How does Thompson create an atmosphere of threat in the school yard scene in cape fear?

 

In the classic thriller movie Cape fear, Thompson uses the school yard scene to create an atmosphere of threat and tension. The atmosphere created overhangs throughout the rest of the movie and keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. This is a typical style of scene with a film of the thriller genre. The setting of the scene plays an important role in creating a sense of threat. This particular scene takes place as the female is leaving school. Throughout the scene there are metal bars in shot that are surrounding the school yard. The bars remind the audience of a prison and imply the feeling of being trapped. This suggests that the female is trapped and can not escape the scenes villain. The atmosphere of threat is created as the audience realise something bad is going to happen to this young female character and there is no way she can escape.

 

The sense of threat is also suggested right at the beginning of the scene. As the scene begins, there is a shot of a working water fountain. The fountain is making some sort of hissing sound. This Non – diegetic use of sound is similar to the hiss of a snake. Because the snake is a predator, this noise suggests to the audience that the man involved in the scene also shares the same instincts. The snake is also the Christian religious symbol for the devil. This creates a larger sense of threat because he is like a predator himself looking for the little girl.

 

The costumes also help to suggest a different attitude of threat between the two characters. Although both characters are wearing mainly white, the colour has different meanings between the two. For the girl, the white school uniform suggests innocence and purity within the character. This shows her to be the typical sweet young daughter figure of the time. The sense of threat is added as the man begins to follow her. This suggests that the man is trying to attack her and wipe away her innocence. On the other hand, the use of the same colour on the males costume suggests a hidden identity and sense of mystery within the character. Although the colour white is a symbol of peace and harmony, the man is clearly shown as a villain as he stalks the young girl. This shows how the male character is not what he appears to be and will likely cause trouble throughout the course of the scene. This continues to expand on the atmosphere of threat as the audience knows that the man will do something to the young female. The man hat also helps to build tension within the scene. Throughout the scene the hat is covering part of the man’s face. This once again suggests a lack of identity with this particular character. The bright clothing is also important as it links to the lighting of the scene. The white clothing is easily visible in the dark room that the girl hides in.  This implies that there is no way of the little girl hiding and there is no escape from the man chasing her. This is another one of Thompson’s ways of creating tension and threat throughout the course of the scene.

 

Another way of creating tension in this scene is Thompson’s use of music and chromatic sound. At the beginning of the scene when the man walks towards the girl, the backing music begins to play. The most effective piece of music is the chromatic sound as the man gets closer and closer. As the distance between them decreases, the music gains volume and it becomes much more jumpy. This makes the audience feel more on edge as the scene becomes increasingly alarming. This also makes the audience feel more involved in the scene as they share a sense of threat just as the girl does.

 

Throughout the clip there are also different shots that are used to emphasise the threatening nature of the scene. For example, after Nancy has entered the class room and hidden away, there is a shot of the man’s pelvis as he comes down the stairs. This is a phallic symbol within the scene that suggests some kind of sexual threat towards the female character. The use of this phallic symbol suggests to the audience the kind of things he may do if he caught the girl. This creates a new style of threat as it gets even clearer to the audience, the horror of what the man will do. This also helps to create a clear contrast between innocence and the evil that is shown throughout the scene.

 

How does Wilder convey the characters and their relationships in the penultimate scene of Double Indemnity?

Throughout this scene Wilder uses different camera techniques that help to convey the typical Film Noir genre. The first example in this scene is when the male character first enters the room. As he comes through the door he is placed in a dark area on the far side of the room. This prevents the audience from being able to see the characters face. This suggests a lack of identity within the character and adds a bit of tension to the scene. A lack of identity may also suggest a sense of mystery within the character and suggests that he is unpredictable and can do something out of the ordinary. This builds tension as the character may do something hostile later in the scene and the audience don’t know what it will be. Building tension at the beginning of the scene is Wilders way of setting the rest of the scene. The continuous build of tension will keep the viewer on their seat throughout the entire scene. This is common with movies of the Film Noir genre.

 

The composition of the scene is also important in conveying the characters and their attitude. After the male character enters the room, he takes a seat on the arm chair above the woman. The male is made to look more dominant as he is sitting in a higher position than the woman. This suggests a more powerful figure and shows a difference of class between the man and the woman. This also links to the stereotypical view of men being superior to woman at the time and how women were believed to be below men. This helps to build more tension in the scene as the more dominant character is likely to cause some kind of damage to the people below him.

 

In this scene, Wilder has also used the typical character traits of the time to create tension and represent the characters in different ways. For example, the woman is shown as the common Feme Fatal of the Film Noir era. The Feme Fatal is known for causing trouble in the movie and causing the main protagonist to end up in some kind of trouble. This creates suspense within the scene as it suggests to the audience that she is likely to cause trouble during the course of the scene. This shows the audience that either character can cause trouble and may do so later on in the scene.

 

The lighting used throughout the scene also helps to convey the mood of the characters and their relationships with one another. There is a very low amount of lighting used in this scene. A low amount of light helps to show the dark ways of the characters involved in this scene. The male character has less light than he woman for most of the scene. When the man stands behind the woman’s chair, his face is half covered by the darkened area of the room. This exaggerates the lack of identity hanging over the character and helps to convey his dark ways. The lack of light shows the man to be the villainous character of the scene as he is shown as hidden and mysterious. On the other hand, the woman is shown by a much larger amount of light throughout the scene. This shows the audience who the character is and what she looks like. There are no hidden features of the woman and there is no mystery to her figure. This suggests a sense of purity and innocence towards the character. This makes the audience believe that she is not hostile or harmful in any way. The woman’s costume also shows the innocence of the character. The dress she is wearing is white all over. The colour white helps to emphasise the characters innocence as it is the colour of peace and care. The lighting at the end of the scene once again shows the attitude of the characters. After the male has been shot and is closer to the woman, the room is split into two different effects of lighting. The woman’s side of the room is lighten up from the light of the window, but the man’s side of the room is still dark. This shows the opposition between the man and woman that continues to the end of the scene.

Preliminary task analysis

Preliminary task analysis

For our preliminary task we needed to create a 1 minute video of some kind of meeting. This need to include the conventions of a thriller and needed to build some kind of tension for the audience.

Camera work:

In our production, we used a wide range of camera shots to make the attitude of the piece more effective. We wanted to show each of the characters as a different status of power. For example, we used over the shoulder shots when looking at the two detectives. This made the detectives appear to be more important in the scene and made them seem more dominating. This use of camera work also helped to show the mysterious view of the villainous character. This helped us to build tension within the scene as it created an unsettling view towards the character.

We also used close ups to show the expressions of a character in more detail and to show an object important to the scene. The most obvious close up was the shot of the villain’s eyes whilst the detectives are talking to him. This close up showed the uneasy attitude of the character shows that the character is unaffected by what is going on. This may suggest that the character is likely to do something irrational during the course of the scene. This was our way of building tension. Another close up we used was the shot of the door handle. This shot helps to make it clear to the audience that the scene is set in an isolated location. This suggests to the audience that the plot is too dangerous to be in a public setting. This was another effective way of building tension.

Lighting:

The lighting we used in our production was important in creating a tense atmosphere. Throughout the scene we tried to use dark lighting within the room. We wanted the room to be dark when it was just the villain sitting alone, but the lights to come up when the two detectives enter. This shows a clear contrast of good and evil between each of the characters. By doing this, the audience know who the villain is and who the ‘hero’s’ in the scene are. Throughout the scene, the outside edges of the room were always darker than the characters area. We wanted to make it seem like not only are they in an isolated area, they are also alone when inside the room.

Costume:

The use of costume was also important in creating an effective preliminary video. Each of the characters in the video had different costumes to show their significance in the scene and helps to show the clear contrast between good and bad. The villain in the scene (Vincent Murphy) is wearing what is meant to be some sort of straight jacket. To create this effect we just used a normal black jacket that was worn backwards by the actor. This made it seem like some kind of restraint and made it more obvious that this particular character was a criminal of some kind. The straight jacket made the atmosphere of the scene more thrilling as it shows the danger of the villain. This may also suggest that the character may cause trouble later in the scene. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.

The other two characters involved in the video were the two detectives (James Girard and Joe Dickinson). These characters were wearing the classic attire of a detective. They are both wearing smart trousers with a shirt and tie. This use of costumes showed the audience that these two characters are the sophisticated and well to do heroes of the video. The costumes used throughout the video are used to show the contrast between good and evil. This makes he thrilling nature of the scene more affective towards its audience.

Overall we think that we were successful in our preliminary task. We showed the video to the other members of our class and collected feedback to find out what was good and bad about it. We found out from the feedback that our use of camera shots was the most effective. We found that we had a large range of camera shots that helped to make the video more effective within the thriller genre.

If we were to remake our video we would improve on the location. We felt that with more time we could find a more isolated and effective location to film our scene. This would help to make our video better.

Thriller conventions

Thriller conventions

 

 

Camera work:

 

- Mid shots adn close ups show expressions and what the characters are doing. Close ups show involvement and makes the audience feel more claustrophobic. Framing may exclude ertain things to keep the audience guessing and to create tension. Lots of low angle shots to show power and authority. They show the dominant character.

 

Editing:

 

- Often use dissolves to link the key events of the movie. Fast cuts are used to build the tension of the scene and it builds the pace of what is happening. Thrillers can be un chronological. This can show what is going to happen to a character and will build tension throughout the movie.

 

Thriller opening conventions:

 

- Opening shows the names of the actors and the people who contributed towards the movie. Often there is an ident to show who funded and published the film. The first 2 minutes introduce the characters of importance. Sometimes builds tension at the beginning of the film. The opening should show something to do with the plot of the movie. Sets the rest of the story up.

 

Sound:

 

- The music is used to create the atmosphere of the scene. e.g. fast paced music helps to build the tension in the scene.

 

- Can be used to enhance the plot of the film.

 

- Ambient music an be used to create an unsettling atmosphere.

 

- Voice overs can be effective.

 

Mise-en-scene:

 

- The props used hint to the audience what may happen. e.g. a gun will hint that someone will be killed or harmed.

 

- The setting should look believeable to the audience. It must be realistic. An isolated setting may show the pressure of the thriller and keep the audience close to the action.

 

- Males have authority/power. Usually the killer or the hero.

 

- Women play the role of damsel in distress-typical stereotypes

 

- The use of light and dark can be used to show the atmosphere. Low light can show the dark attitude of a place or character.

 

Narrative:

 

- Story line usually consists of revenge/crime/justice.

 

- The time sequence is often changed. Dual narrative. Sometimes things don't follow in a logical sequence.

 

Sub-genres:

 

- Techno

- Sipernatural

- Reigious

- Crime

- Action

- Psychological

- Film noir

- Sci-fi

- Conspiracy

- Disaster

- Eco

- Medical

- Political

- Romance

- Spy

Film noir mood board

 

 

Psycho - Parlour scene analysis

How does Hitchcock use cinematography to create tension in the Parlour scene in Psycho?

 

Throughout this scene, Hitchcock uses cinematography to create tension and a gripping atmosphere for the audience. This scene uses a variety of different shots and editing techniques that helps to convey the thrilling nature of the scene and what the scene contains. The Composition and framing of the scene are also important in conveying a particular mood within the scene. They help to show different aspects of the characters and setting that hint to the audience what may happen and what is likely to come.

 

The way the characters in the scene are placed plays a large role in building the tension. For example, from the beginning of the scene, the woman is sitting on one side of the room next to a lamp but the male character is sitting in a dark corner of the room. This suggests to the audience that the male in the scene has a dark attitude that may be revealed later on in the movie. This builds tension because of the shady and mysterious mood hanging over the character. This scene also builds tension because it involves two conflicting characters alone in the same room. A scene involving an innocent woman and a mysterious man suggests to the audience that some kind of conflict may arise in ht future of the scene or the rest of the movie. This tells the audience something that will be overhanging for the rest of the feature. This is Hitchcock’s way of building suspense throughout the movie.

 

This scene also creates tension by using the setting and props. The main example in this scene is the way the birds on the wall are positioned and how they are fitted in to camera. The larger bird is placed at the top of the wall above the paintings. When looking at the male character, the birds are shown to be above in the shot. This implies that the bird is overlooking the conversation between the characters. This is significant as it links to how birds and killers share the similarity of stalking their prey before they kill it. The bird may also suggest that there is a sense of animalistic behaviour within the scene and the characters involved. A killer is almost like an animal as they kill without caring. Once again, this builds tension in the scene by creating the sense that the characters and audience are always being watched. Furthermore, the birds being above the other characters suggest a sense of dominance and power. This is a hint that the animalistic nature of the scene is stronger than the natural human instincts.

 

Hitchcock also creates tension by creating a physical barrier in the parlour scene. Throughout most of this clip, he two characters are never shown in the same shot. This creates the impression that both characters are an opposing combination and are on a different side. This portrays tension towards the audience as it implies a minor conflict that you are not fully aware of. This also emphasises the use of 180 degree rules of filming. This shows a clear conversation between the two characters and does not confuse the audience.

 

The different editing techniques used are also important in creating tension throughout the scene. The main camera shot used is the classis fast cut. This is when the shot quickly switches to the next. This is realistic as the human eye can only see what it looks at and what it switches to. The quick shot is also good at creating more tension in a scene. For example, in the parlour scene, although it shows a calm conversation between the characters the fast cut is quick and sharp. This may suggest a sharp and short tempered mood foreshadowing the characters. This builds even more tension as it tells the audience that one of these characters may suddenly act in aggression towards something or someone. Another common editing technique used is the pan. At the beginning and the end of the scene the pan is used to wipe across the setting and show the characters leaving or entering. This suggests that throughout the entire scene, the only calm moments are when the woman enters the parlour and when she leaves. This suggests to the audience that the characters are unsafe and uncomfortable when they are in the same room. Tension is increased because the audience feel that because of the characters differences, something may happen. This fits with the thriller genre as it keeps the viewer on their seats.

Psycho - Shower scene analysis

Psycho – The shower scene

In the movie Psycho, multiple camera shots are used to convey the different emotions and reactions of the characters. The shots are used to add effect on a particular action within the scene. For example, when the victim enters the shower, the camera is placed at a mid- long shot above the shower head. This is a way of showing the victims vulnerability and shows her lack of dominance. This suggests to the audience that in the course of the scene, she may be a victim to an attack or some kind of danger. This adds tension to the scene as it foreshadows the events that are to come later in the movie. During this scene there are also multiple uses of the close up shot. The close up is used to show a reaction of a character or an object significant to the theme of the scene. The most obvious close up in this scene is the shot of the victim’s mouth when she is being stabbed. This shot clearly shows that she is screaming and shows that she is in agony. This is used to show the audience the horror of the scene and exaggerates the aggression involved in the scene. Another close up used in the scene is the shot of the victim’s eye. This shot shows the dilating of the pupil and represents the fading away of her life. The way the pupil fades into the shot of the plug hole suggests to the audience that the victim’s life is being drained away, just as water does in a shower.

The shower scene in Psycho also has a variety of different editing techniques, used to convey the pace and tempo of the scene. The main type of editing is the simple quick cut. The quick cut is used to quickly switch between shots without watching anything in between. This makes it more realistic as the human eye on sees what they are looking at and don’t see bits in between. This type of shot is used when the victim is being stabbed by the killer. The fast pace of the editing, shows the ferocity of the attack and adds to the horror of the scene. Editing is also used in this scene to switch between different kinds of shots. For example, a fade is used to change the eye ball shot into the plughole. This allows the audience to see the link between the two shots as they are both visible at one point. This makes it clear to the audience what has just happened. Towards the end of the scene, a pan is used to move from the newspaper on the desk to the rest of the bedroom. The pan is a way of showing the setting with only one shot and is very slow paced. This shows a link of how the scene slows down, just like the victims life fades away. The pace of the editing changes and becomes slower, as the initial attack has finished.

The use of sound is extremely important in this scene. The sound helps to show the mood of a scene and helps to set the pace. In the course of the shower scene, the most effective sound is the screeching of the violins when the victim is being stabbed. The sharp and sudden noise of the screeching fits with the impact and devastation of the knife. This tells the audience that the killing is quick, sharp and extremely painful. The thrilling nature of the scene is elevated by the use of this background music. The use of non–diegetic sound represents the unnatural horror of the scene. The diegetic sounds of the scene help to make the scene more realistic and natural. A significant noise is the running of the water in the shower. The water is heard throughout the scene, even as the victim is being killed. This is because it represents the woman’s life being washed away like water. The sound in this scene helps to convey the pace an mood of what is happening in the scene.

This scene used many techniques that suggest different things about the characters and setting. The Use of camera shots helped to show how the victim was affected by what had happened to her and how she reacted. The sound used in the scene fitted with the pace of the shots as it changed throughout the scene. These different techniques are used to build tension through the course of the scene and make the audience feel on edge. This is the common aim of the thriller genre. This scene from Psycho uses these conventions to fit with the genre of the film.