Sunday 30 September 2012

G321 Thriller Research: Title Sequences

I, Robot opens quietly and the music starts to build up as titles start to appear on the screen. The sounds is like water and consists with the imagery. You see car parts and the opening title of the film is given a purple/red glow which emphasises technology. There are knocking noises which sound as if they are underwater. Bubbles are a common feature. 

The volume lowers as "law 1" is put on the screen for the audience to read but the bubbles are still present. The text fades slowly onto the screen and then slowly out again but its dispersed into bubbles. The shot then quickly cuts to an action shot for 1-2 seconds.  


The action shot shows instant panic and characters in trouble. We get the impression two cars are underwater and a little girl and a man are trapped. The bubbles from the text follow a theme. And that the text and action is happening in the same environment.  The music has a sharp violin type noise and makes the opening eerie


The action stops suddenly and so does the music. Law 2 comes up on the screen in the same style as law 2. It separates the action into chunks and to add tension because you can't tell to what is going on.  


You start to hear space type noises, robotic and technology. The noises get louder and you can make out shouting under water and thudding against the glass. You come into contact with two characters, the characters stuck in the danger. The characters costume implies them to be ordinary people. 



The action sequence is sliced again after 3-4 seconds. Each time you cut to a law the action sequence gets longer and the mystery is slowly revealed. The Law transitions creates anticipation because the action is spread out and distorted. Dark colours are constant with the watery effect. Rule of 3: three laws in the opening titles means there is great relevance to the plot-line, to the location. 



It then suddenly cuts back to the action and to the shouting under water. This action sequence is longer as a important aspect of the plot-line is revealed. A robot. The smashing of the glass is loud and you hear shouting still underwater. The CGI of the robot is similar to everything else and portrays the title sequence in it sci-fi light. We watch it grab Will Smith but it cuts to black as we watch the hand go over. The title sequence overall portrays a dark eerie atmosphere and builds up tension as the music chops and changes because of the Laws interaction in between.   


Analysis: The break up between the action and the text inserts makes the situation tense for the audience and doesn't give away anything of the film. The laws give the audience clue about what is to come, but it doesn't ruin any of the plot but its hints at the laws being of some importance. The general tone of the opening builds up and climax's the audiences interest and the suspense that they are feeling. The sans-serif font is used.       

Game of Thrones

The music starts of in a periodic type style. It is a drum beat which stays at a constant upbeat pace. We are greeted first by a dark background with a golden glow in the middle of a sphere looking object. The shot focuses on the sphere for quite a while and shows the metal bands in more detail. You can see engravings which are given a extreme close up. Another thing to note is the font style, it is a medieval and in gold which goes with the ongoing colour scheme of browns, golds, bronze and beige.   


The music changes slightly with a tinned guitar riff to speed up the music as the opening titles speed up. There is a special effect like a microscope as it zooms in on Kings Landing. Every time you look through the microscope you cut closer and closer to the settlement. The transition as it gets closer is smooth and move relevant to the object.  


The violins gets louder as more imagery is shown. There is clapping along with the drum beat. Clock parts and machine part (Steam punk) like object sprout from the map to recreate medieval towns and/or cities. The camera then weaves through the city at a comfortable speed with the music. It travels like its a bird across the map and stops at important landmarks which suggests they are an important part


We cut then to the sphere again and the symbol is show clearly to us in a extreme shot. This means this is important to the Game of Thrones. Could suggest royalty? Due to the extreme close ups and referral the engravings suggest importance. There is a sword/black smith sound effect to emphasise the flames/fire.


The camera zooms and twists across wooden map in a fast motion. Similar to before and goes over important places which will probably be featured in the plot line. The title sequence is setting the scene and background.


The music reaches a fast tempo until the title comes up on the screen in a slow zoom out of the metal bands again (showing the engravings). The sword contact sound pierces your ear drum as the title stops on the screen. The music stops as it cuts to black. Has a fantasy persona.


Analysis: The opening title sequence entices the audience from its intriguing animation and the choice of music which fits in. The font with with golden glow gives the audience the impression of magic and wonder, and is very effective. The imagery hiders to the audience it is medieval (the genre of the thriller). The map is a kingdom, therefore the opening titles are setting the scene for the audience so they understand that 'Game of Thrones' is filmed over a vast area (a kingdom). It suggests that the 'kingdom' is a big part of the series plot line.  

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

The music is fast and upbeat. The shot cut along with the beat putting your heart on the edge. The images revolve around black water or black oil. The transistions between shots are violent.

The shots become linked with the film titles as the black oil gushes over the sketchy text. It makes it look restless and rebelious. It stays with the black shiney colour scheme. The music at this point is loud and reaches the vocals.    

Electrical appilances have their own mind and twine in the air. Black is a huge conponent in the imagery background. The text of the credit in the sequence is contrasted against the background and is a quick 2 seconds on screen then off screen. Fire is then brought in and a match is falling into a eye. The fire and the blackness contrast but still has dark colour scheme despite the vivd contrast.  


The extreme close up on the high is very dramatic and the CGI of the flames consuming the eye is amazing. It then cuts to the whole body catching in fire and burning. Despite the random semiology its set a mood and tone of what the film is going to be like, especially with the music. We get the impression its got some sort of psychological action genre about it aswell as it being a thriller.  

We get to look at the characters but with the same theme they are made of oil. We can see particular features which we wouldn't nesscaryily see. She is centred in the head shot so we are to focus on her and her alone. There is nothing in the background but she doesn't stand out due to the dark background, she blends in.   
More absurd effects are used on the fire. A phoneix rises. It's put into slow motion so you can observe the way the bird is flapping its wings for dramatic effect and its fits in with the music which is making your heart race from adrenaline. 


Bugs then come out of the characters eyes just before they come out of her mouth. There is no fire which could suggest the subjects on fire could be symbolic. As it is a psychological it could have a hidden meaning behind the things that are on fire and stand out. The shots are still very short and choppy.   



The music stays at its constant heavy going speed and tempo. There is more emphasis on Daniel Craigs character, who is bound and wound. It shows in more detail the idea of the oil and the action/drama in the film to come. The obscurity must be linked to the film.


It ends with the "girl with the dragon tattoo" (I assume) opening her mouth and the camera going in before cutting to black. The effect the camera gives the impression we could be at a point of view of one of the bugs or that she is swallowing us because she has power. The music comes to a sudden stop and goes black.




Analysis: To the audience, the opening sequence would be seen as confusing. It's makes your heart race and grips you to the beginning due to the sharp transitions to different shots and the timing it has with the dramatic increase in tempo. The black and the fire could be symbolic. The fire being symbolic such as the phoenix which is a symbol of fire. When the fire goes into her eyes and the whole body is blown up into flames could be symbol of corruption and/or the mentality of a character in the film. The surrealism gives you the impression it messes with your mind as well as the action side, which the audience would of got from the opening. The use of black suggests the darkness of the story, dark events occur in the film and the tied up and gagging portrays the violence and sexual assault.   








A Mothers Son Analysis

A Mothers Son was shown on ITV as a 2 part drama thriller.

Summary:
It's about a mother who finds a pair of bloody shoes that belong to her son. She tries to figure out if her son had anything to do with the murder of school girl Lorraine who was stabbed and found dead in the moors. In the end the son confesses to killing her because she wouldn't have sex with her. 

Analysis:

In the opening sequence we are greeted with a dark isolated atmosphere. The location is set on a beach at night, the waves crash against the rocks which symbolises death and danger. We can hear seagulls screeching which sounds a bit like screaming. The camera is put in a high angle shot showing she's lost, alone and helpless. This adds tension and builds up as she runs, and stumbling which shows her to be weak and helpless. The colours in the shot are all bland dark colours: blues, black, grey. 





50 seconds into it we get a close up of why the girl is running and why she is stumbling. The stumbling is adding suspense to the climax to come. The blood in the image is brighter and stands out against the other colours. It emphasises her injury and makes her stand out which means she is significant to the rest of the plot line. You can hear her trying to breath. The shot cut faster as the music builds up and gets faster. 


When the girl falls we get a Point of View shot (POV). We can see it from her eyes and the way she is running. How badly injured she is. It lets us relate to the character and we can see how vulnerable she is. She's running away from something or someone. You can hear her footsteps against the stones and the wind is causing the grass to rustle which is giving it that dark, eerie tense atmosphere.  


She falls over for the final time and we focus on her eyes. You can hear heavy footsteps coming towards her. Her eyes darting because she's scared and panicking, this gives us a hint that who's following her is the person that stabbed her. We can see the reflection in her eye of a person but can't make it out. The colours once again are dark and eerie. The extreme close up emphasises how frightened she is and the panic in her eyes tells the audience how she is feeling. (Anticipation)   

We cut to a crane close up shot over the girl. She is portrayed as even more of a victim. Her eyes are looking up at her murderer. She says "I'm Sorry", suggesting that she knows the person who stabbed her. The grass in the moor is out of focus showing she is hidden in the grass, that she will not be found. She's alone and helpless once again. The colours used are consistent through out. 



It cuts to black before back to the scenery which reminds us where this took place. The camera tills up from the moors and to the dark night sky (Same colours used). The music simmers down from the build up as the climax of the tension has been reached. The titles are introduced and the location has calmed. Pathetic fallacy was used through the build up (the wind). Within two minutes of the introduction, the scene has been set and been introduced to important characters. 

Thursday 27 September 2012

Thriller Research: No Country For Old Men

No Country for Old Men Thriller Film

Summary:
A man called Llewelyn finds 2 million dollars when out in the desert when he stumbles across several dead drug dealers. Throughout the film he is being chased by a hit man called Anton. Lewelyn sends his wife Carla to live witrh her mother for safety. Sherrif Ed Tom Bell tries to reduce crimes and tries to save Llewelyn. Bell is too late as Llewelyn is dead and the money is gone. Carla is informed and later her mother dies. When coming home from the funeral Anton is in her house and talks about how her husband decided to take the money instead of giving it to him to save her. Anton then leaves the house and looks at his shoes, (He has killed Carla). Anton gets hit by a car and wanders off, pretending he was never there. Bell retires in his old age and Anton gets away.

Directed by - Joel and Ethan Coen
Produced by - Coen Brothers and Scott Rudin
Screenplay by - Joel and Ethan Coen
Based on - No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
Starring - Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin
Music by - Carter Burwell

Awards Won:
  • AFL Awards, USA - Movie of the Year
  • Academy Awards USA - Best Achievement in Directing, Best Motion Picture of the year and Best Writing, Adapted screenplay
  • Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror fims, USA - Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem)
  • Art Directors Guild - Contemporary Film (Excellence in Production design) BAFTA - Best Cinematography, Best Director and Best Supporting Actor
  • Golden Globes - Best performance by an actor in a supporting role in a motion picture and Best Screen Play


Tuesday 25 September 2012

Cameras & Equipment

For the last couple of lessons in media we have been experimenting with the media equipment to get to grips with the sort of this we will be using.

We started from the basics to turning the camera on to using a Dolly trolley to film a tracking sequence.

Equipment we had a go with:
  • Camera
  • Tripod
  • Dolly Trolley
Despite doing media two years previously, turning on the camera was still hard in my mind. Unlike putting in a tape, recording and setting up the tripod. I still couldn't master the turning on of a camera.


Close up (close up of subject)
We were spilt into groups and walked around College trying out different shots and angles. Some angles were...
  • High camera angle
  • Low camera angle
  • Close up
  • Extreme close up
  • Tracking shot
  • Over shoulder shot
  • And many more...
Trying out the dolly trolley for the first time was fun. We got to experiment with different effects when moving it and how it moved. A steady smooth movement which didn't move the camera and make the recording shaky.
Now I am familiar with the technology and confident to film and work the equipment. I also can explore camera effects applying to the context of the situation.
(Labelling the shots when putting the video together was unfinished, because we ran out of time. But we each have a recorded list of each, which then we can apply to our thrillers)

Thursday 20 September 2012

G321 Thriller Research: Poster Analysis


Alien

In the film poster advertising Alien it consists of two main colours, black and green. Green emphasises the alien side because we associate aliens as being green. The sci-fi font is San-Serif which makes it look futuristic and relevant to the films genre. The Ionic line "In space no one can hear you scream" is placed in the centre and has a huge impact on the poster. Despite its size, it makes a bigger impact then it being huge. This is because the space around it (the black abyss) is enhanced and you could interpret the line representing humans in space (We are ants in space). It instantly tells you the film is dark, scary and definitely a thriller film. 
The black background gives you a sense of lost in space, but trapped and confined to the darkness. Also the strange object in the middle could give you a clue about the film plot line, but its still a mystery which attracts you. The glow in the background of the blackness stands out and gives it a eerie outer space feel. The green glow contrasts the rest of the poster. The lettering and the glow stands out against the background. All together the poster gives off a sci-fi persona and allows the audience to get an idea of what the film is about. 




Leon

The close up of the character on the poster suggests he is the main character. He's looking up making him 'small' so maybe there is a bigger challenge ahead. The red tint suggests blood and danger along with the sunset which gives the impression of something ending, a finale. The reflection in his glasses hint at part of his life hidden because we can't see his eyes that well or the glasses reveal is life by showing us the building. Maybe where he lives or he works, the film could be centered around that building? The title Leon is in a vertical format which ties in with the vertical building and the character looking up. So a themed is linked together. Gives the sense of suspense to the audience who see the poster. 




Limitless

From the poster we get the impression that the man is the main character and by his facial expression it's a very serious film. He looks like he's focusing on something we cannot see. From the question "What if a pill could make you rich and powerful?", this implies the film is based around a pill that enhances you and makes you powerful and rich. We can gather that it enhances you because the numbers and words in the background symbol some sort of thought the pills gives you. Maybe makes you clever at maths? We can also assume the plot line is set in a city because in the background you can see block buildings so it's probably set in a city such as New York. The titles are slanted which could try a emphasis Limitless (Never ending) by having the text looking like its fading off in the distance. The colour scheme is mostly grey, whites and blacks which gives the effect of technology. Calculations and technology are a big part in the film, which we can conclude from the posters semiology. 

In conventions with thrillers all three posters give a sense of suspense and tension. In Leon and Limitless both characters are looking away and/or staring at something in the distance. This suggests they are isolated from us because they are significant but we as an audience don't know why. Aliens poster is conventional to a sci-fi with the correct colour usage and style for sci-fi. Even though its different from the other two posters, we know it isn't a light hearted family film. Unlike, Leon and Limitless there are no characters displayed so we get the impression we (humans) are insignificant in this film. 

All three are presented differently and are all different sub-genres of thrillers, so it is expected for them to vary in poster design. 



Tuesday 18 September 2012

What is a Thriller Film?


A thriller film is aimed to present the film with tense, suspension and drama. The audience are meant to feel the anticipated of events as its climax. Thriller films tend to be adrenaline-rushing and gritty. The main aim is to keep the audience on the edge of their seats and enticed in the films plot line. 

Thriller is divided into sub-genres: 

  • Action or adventure thrillers
  • Sci-fi
  • Crime-caper
  • Western 
  • Film-noir
  • Comedy


Successful examples of thrillers are the films of Alfred Hitchcock (North by North west).