Vox Pop Video and Analysis

From creating our Vox Pop we have learnt how to edit and film a Vox Pop successfully in order to gather information. From randomly selecting and asking people, we have learnt what thrillers people enjoy the most. These thrillers included:

• Orphan - because it has a creepy child in it and its scary
• Fast and Furious 7 - because it’s a really entertaining series of films and it’s a fast paced film
• Shutter Island - because it cleverly twists the story
• Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows - because it’s got a really good use of camera work
• The Dark Knight - because it has an interesting story
• Tron Legacy - because the opening was really techno

People enjoy a wide variety of thriller film genres with sub-genres such as sci-fi, action, horror, psychological and crime. These genres make the thriller more engaging.

Audiences enjoy thrillers that have a really good use of props such as guns and include a good chase scene within it. A good opening will also most likely keep someone watching the thriller. If there is something dramatic in the beginning or creates a lot of enigmas for the thriller. Something that is quite fast paced and uses a lot of cuts also makes a good opening to a thriller. A storyline is also crucial to the thriller because the story keeps the whole film going. If there is an actor that someone recognises, people are more inclined to watch it.

Some thrillers that were memorable in our audience's minds were:

• Silent Hill: because it was really dark and eerie
• Fast and Furious 7: because it is all done in one take and follows the antagonist
• Dexter: there is a really good use of close ups
• Napoleon Dynamite: its different to most openings and uses props really well
• Sherlock Holmes A Game of Shadows: because it is different to other thriller movies and its really fast paced
• Dark Knight: the whole opening sequence creates a lot of questions and enigmas that are revealed at the end.
• Se7en: because of the use of typography and the distorted effect of it

People like thrillers that are fast paced and use bright lighting so that it is not dark. However creepy elements are really engaging. It should play with the mind a lot and be constantly be asking questions because if the thriller is predictable then it ruins the idea of it being thrilling. There needs to be a lot of enigmas because it makes it exciting as to what will happen next. If there is some form of problem solving its engaging because it gets the audience to join in and think about how it could be solved. Interesting characters make for a good thriller because they make up a large part of the story and how enjoyable it is.

In conclusion, audiences enjoy dark and eerie openings that have a clever use of camera work and are different to other thrillers. A good use of props and quick cuts makes for an exciting opening and if it poses a lot of questions and enigmas then it is engaging to watch. SFX that also link into the theme of the opening also work really well to create an exciting opening. The information has shown us exactly what people think is good about thrillers and what the audience wants. The information we have collected will be used to influence our thriller opening so that it is successful and engaging to our audience. Our opening will include the conventions that have received a lot of praise, such as good camera work and use of props, so that our opening is exciting and engaging to our audience.  

 

Thriller Trailer Research

Narratives/themes that are typical:

1. Sicario: Violence and action. Weaponry are heavily used. Criminals (presumably) have to be stopped.
2. The Walk: Confronting fears. Psychological and romantic themes. True stories
3. Crimson Peak: Supernatural and romantic themes. Discovery, solving a mystery.
4. San Andreas: Disaster movie, unsure whether its supernatural or natural. Characters saving their lost family and surviving. Ticking clock scenario
5. Legend: Crime thriller based on a true story. Gangsters. Romantic themes. Comedic. Helping to control his out of control brother.
6. Bridge of Spies: Action, political, legal government relating. Historical, true events.

Enigmas that are created/resolved:

1. Who is she killing? Why is she killing them? Why is she in danger?
2. Why is he crossing? Will he make it? What was his motif.
3. What is the house? Who are these ghosts?
4. What has happened? What has caused it?
5. --
6. --

Mise-en-scene that is typical:

1. Everyday setting. Ordinary people and locations. Set in Mexico, on highways and such.
2. Danger of death, confronting phobias. New York, twin towers.
3. Restricted areas of an old house. Very old, very historical. Female victim.
4. A popular location, California. Everyday ordinary life.
5. --
6. Based on true events, secrecy, spies. 

Roles do actors/characters that play. How they're represented:

1. Emily Blunt is presented as a hitman and the main character of the film. Partnerships. Her gender goes against stereotypes.
2. Main character is determined. It brings in relationships between his friends and lover.
3. Stereotypical female victim
4. The main character has to find their family
5. --
6. Tom Hanks is an ordinary lawyer put into something that puts him and his family in danger

Ideas: Characters

• Resourceful heroes
• Criminals
• Soldiers
• Police
• Stalkers - (avoid this though)
• Assassins
• Innocents
• Protagonist
• Antagonist
• Psychotic Characters
• Victim

Ideas: themes/narratives

• Terrorism
• Political conspiracy
• Psychological
• Supernatural
• Crime
• Espionage
• Assassination
• Tension/suspense
• Single ideas that is being perused
• Escape
• Imprisonment
• Murder
• Enigmas to be solved

Ideas: M-E-S:

• Urban locations
• Realism- not horror
• Recognisable locations
• Isolated environments
• Props- guns, weapons, knives
• Props/costume to reveal character

Thriller Sub-Genres and Conventions

Thriller Sub-Genres and Conventions.

 

 

Religious thriller:

 

• Religious themes
• Bible quotes and figures
• Motives being religiously motivated
• Satanic rituals
• Old fashioned setting
• Churches and graveyards
• Characters would be ordinary figures
• Religious fulfilment

 

Techno thriller:

 

• Sci-fi
• Based on a futuristic society
• Space and planets

 

Action thriller:

 

• Violence
• FBI, CIA and government figures
• Some form of quest
• Example: Taken

 

Conspiracy thriller:

 

• Investigation of something that stands in doubt
• Historical
• Example: Area 51

Crime thriller:

• A crime that has been committed
• A detective or investigator overcoming issues
• Perusing a criminal
• Example: Silence of the Lambs

Disaster thriller:

 

• Characters trying overcome a disaster
• Family orientated
• Example: Twister

Eco thriller:

• Solely focused on natural disasters
• Example: Twister

 

Forensic thriller:

• Shows investigations
• Forensic investigations
• Example: C.S.I

 

Legal thriller:

 

• Will be about a trial
• About real life trials
• Example: A Few Good Men

 

Medical thriller:

 

• Based in hospitals
• Links in natural disasters or diseases
• Example: 27 hours

 

Mystery thriller:

• Antagonist and protagonist competing to solve mystery
• Example: Da Vinci Code
• Example: Scooby Doo

 

Political thriller:

• Political based film
• Example: Nelson Mandela Film

 

Psychological thriller:

• Crime thriller that focuses on the detective
• Explores the subconscious world of dream
• Example: Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Romantic thriller:

• A lot of dialogue
• Basic realistic setting
• Example: The Phantom of the Opera

 

Spy thriller:

• Action sequences
• Good vs. Evil
• Example: Bond

 

Supernatural thriller:

• Supernatural elements within the thriller
• Aliens, ghosts...
• Disturbing
• Example: Alien

 

Vox Pops

Vox Pops.

The purpose of a vox pop is to interview a member of the public to learn about their opinions on certain subjects. The members of the public are picked out at random and watch someone off-screen, presumably the interviewer. Vox Pops is short to Vox Populi which means 'voice of the people.

  

What makes an effective Vox Pop:

• Random selection of people of all genders and ages
• Background sounds of ordinary sounds of crowded places
• Different professions
• Individuals or multiple groups
• Split up large answers between other's answers
• The subject is on the right of the screen looking off to the left. There is an indirect gaze
• The background is out of focus.
• The location is in a popular, busy public place.
• The question is put at the beginning of the film so to avoid repetition. The interviewer is rarely heard at all throughout the interviews
• Will ask all the questions to person A but then will split up each answer and switch to each other person. A rotation of people answering, each answer is short with a straight cut between each person.



Sound Analysis: The Hunger Games

Sound in Thrillers

 

 

Sound in Thrillers.

 

 

• Synchronous sound is sound that goes with the action and events taking place in a scene
• Asynchronous sound goes against the action
• Diegetic sound is real sound that can be heard in the action
• Non-diegetic is sound that has been edited in during post-production

What sounds do you hear?
How does it make the audience feel?
Instruments used?

 

Soundtrack 1

• A chase sequence, victim being pursued by a threat.
• Orchestral
• Staccato
• High pitched and fast paced
• Threatening
• Nervous
• Violins

 

Soundtrack 2

• Piano
• Guitar
• Slow pace, gradually quickening
• Building up to something
• Crescendo - music gets louder
• Relevant to the plot
• Equilibrium amounts to the climax/disequilibrium
• Out of tuned instruments, especially pianos and violins, makes audience feel unnerved

 

Soundtrack 3

•  Whistling
• Contrasts - unnerving
• High pitched
• Asynchronous to synchronous
• Starts of calm then becomes distorted
• Diegetic sound
• Whimsical  

What makes a good thriller soundtrack?

 

Asynchronous and synchronous sounds can have a really good effect, depending on what you want to make the audience feel. Crescendo with the climax is also really effective. The music is always in a minor key and the strings are often high pitched. Percussive heart beat sound usually accompany the bass and exaggerate the feeling of the audience's heartbeat pounding really fast. Increasing the speed and volume of the music. Nursery rhyme themes work well for a creepy factor as they create a nostalgic feeling. It turns something innocent into something dark. Sometimes no lyrics is also really effective, it draws more attention to the sound effects but other times it can work really well. All of this creates a sense of enigma. It creates mystery and suspense.

 



The BBFC

The BBFC.

 

What do the BBFC do?

The BBFC (British Board of Film Censors) is a non-governmental independent organisation that reviews movies before they are released to establish a recommended age rating for them to be shown at. The BBFC was set up in 1912.

What powers do they have?

The BBFC have powers on:

·         Cinema

The BBFC may pass a film, however local councils may contradict their decisions. The councils can ban a film passed, pass one rejected or alter categories. The age restrictions placed by the BBFC however, are enforced at the office. For example, a twelve year old child cannot buy a ticket for a fifteen movie.

·         Video

The BBFC may alter the age restriction on a DVD as it is possible for the film to be paused, reversed and overall, controlled. Like tickets, you must be above the age recommendation to be able to buy it. However, within the household the age restriction can or cannot be enforced depending on the parenting or strictness within the house. Though majority of the time it is ignored.

·         Finances

The BBFC is a non-profit organisation and its fees only cover its costs. Its income comes from its services and its calculated by the running time of what is being assessed.

The BBFC can reject films, demand cuts or even prosecute companies.

The guidelines cover:

·         Context

·         Theme

·         Tone and impact

·         Discrimination

·         Drugs

·         Imitable behaviour

·         Language

·         Nudity

·         Sex

·         Threat

·         Violence

Godzilla Opening Analysis

Analysis of a Thriller Opening Sequence Se7en

Se7en Analysis

What are the conventions of an Opening titles?

 

 

What are the conventions of an Opening titles?

 

 

Opening titles are also known as an 'Opening Sequence.' In a title sequence the following things will be included:

 

• Production Company indents
• Main cast and crew names (including directors and producers. 6 minimum key actors)
• Typography/font style that matches the genre
• Music/soundtrack to fit the genre
• Setting of the movie
• SFX
• Transitions
• Writer and designer names
• Atmosphere
• Movie title
• Indie film reflects the genre

 

Title sequences are used in film and TV to acknowledge the work of the institution, cast and crew on a product. Opening titles are shown at the very beginning and list the most important members of the production. For example, in The Great Gatsby, the costume is highly credited. They are usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or on images or on top of the footage. Music can accompany music. Where opening titles are built into a separate sequence of their own, the correct term is title sequence.

 

What is included in an actual sequence:

• Name of the studio
• Name of the production company
• A (production name) production
• A film by (director name)
• Starring
• Film's title
• Featuring
• Casting by
• Music composed by
• Production designer
• Edited by
• Director of photography
• Producer
• Story by
• Based on the book by
• Based on the characters by
• Written by
• Directed by

Summer Work - Analysis of a Thriller Opening

Analysis of a Thriller Opening.

                The thriller I chose to watch was The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The opening to the movie shows Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist of the franchise, alone in the forest clearly deep in thought. She’s then joined by Gale, a supporting character, who informs her he’d seen some turkeys wondering around and the two decide to go and hunt them.

Shot one:

The movie starts with an aerial shot of the forest. It slowly fades in with the sound of calm, peaceful music. It then cuts to a shot of Katniss, perched by a lake. The sunrise on the horizon creates the low key lighting effect, showing Katniss as a silloutette and hiding her features. The camera slowly zooms in towards her. The atmosphere is calm. The setting and the usage of low lighting creates the impression that Katniss is alone with her thoughts. Her stance makes her appear powerful, with her bow clutched in her hands and her quiver full of arrows. It shows that she is poised and ready to attack though appearing to be in deep thought. Katniss is in the center of the shot, making her the immediate subject within it. The eye is then drawn to her surroundings, allowing the viewer to establish at what point in time the movie is starting at after leaving off from the first movie.

Shot two:

The shot then cuts quickly to a close up to show Katniss’ emotions. There is a low key lighting which draws the viewer’s eye line to Katniss’ eyes which area appear to be watery. Within this shot she is slightly trembling and it is clear that she is thinking of the events within the previous film in which she was forced into an arena with 23 other teenagers to fight and kill one another for survival. The shadow effect on her face shows that she is clearly haunted by these memories. Her brow furrows slightly whilst she trembles in this shot which shows that she is clearly in distress. The background is blurred, suggesting she is deep within these thoughts and it’s troubling her. The calm music continues and it is the only sound. It almost reflects how Katniss is too lost in her thoughts to think about her surroundings. The scene is interrupted by the sound of a stick cracking under someone’s foot, breaking the peace and feeling of isolation and causing sudden panic. There are two quick jump cuts as Katniss jumps to her feet and points a loaded arrow at whomever has come. It highlights how Katniss is on edge and feeling constant panic. The music stops for a second at this point and there is a deep rumbling sound until Gale is shown and manages to calm Katniss down. The music slowly returns back to normal. The viewers at this point may have jumped when the twig napped and so may feel unsettled. The characters joke which will ease the viewer and make them feel calm again, setting them up for another scare.

Shot three:

This shot comes after Gale has told Katniss about some turkeys he’d spotted and the two decide to go and hunt them down. This wide shot show the two of them trekking through the winter forest and securing the isolated atmosphere once again. The music continues to play calmly in the background however unlike the opening shot the natural sounds around them are audible and everything is in focus, possibly to show that Katniss is now concentrating and trying to distract herself from her previous thoughts. A few cuts to Gale show that he is watching her with concern, possibly because he is worried for her wellbeing. This causes the viewer to feel concern or sympathy for Katniss. Both characters are holding their weapons which makes them both appear on alert for prey or to be ready to defend themselves.

Shot four:

After finding the turkeys, the music stops. This highlights the concentration within Katniss to make sure that she does not scare away the prey. The sound of her arrow flying from her bow disturbs the quiet atmosphere and the camera quickly cuts to an over shoulder shot of the character Marvel, the second character that she killed in the first Hunger Games. The sound of loud and fast drumming is heard momentarily as the shots quickly changes between Katniss gasping loudly as she starts to have a form of anxiety attack and Marvel as he falls limply to the ground. It creates the immediate feeling of fear and panic in the viewer, the music starts suddenly then turns eerie and the shot is unexpected and sudden. But it cleverly portrays the constant haunting feelings Katniss feels after being forced to kill young teenagers. It also causes unease in the audience or alarm those who may not have expected such graphic violence so suddenly and so early into the film since it had been so calm and so far away from any action.

Shot five:

The camera changes to a close up of Katniss. Katniss is screaming and breathing heavily which may make the audience feel uncomfortable or panicked too. Gale tries to calm her and the shots change from Katniss to Gale and to the turkeys. Katniss is visibly shaking and looking around frantically, showing panic. The background is out of focus again and the camera sticks to an over shoulder angle as Gale calms her. Katniss’ breathing starts to ease and as it does so does the music. There is a low key lighting again, which seems to only happen when Katniss is thinking about the games and is having some form of anxiety. The way that this is used, shows that despite her powerful and brave appearance, Katniss is deeply troubled by what she had been forced through.

In relations to common conventions in thrillers, suspenseful music, low key lighting, weaponry and location all come together to create a suspenseful and tension filled opening.  The viewer is made to believe the protagonist is alone, only to be startled when they are joined by the supporting character. But just before the viewer can relax again, they’re scared again by another sudden event and it creates dread that more is to come. The isolation of the music further creates the impression that the protagonist was alone. The music stops when the climax of the suspenseful moment occurs, quickly changing the mood and atmosphere of the scene. As the different climaxes happen, the music intensifies even more with each time. Therefore it makes each one seem worse than the last, as if slowly building up to some sort of overall terrifying event.

Overall, the usage of the peace and sudden shock portrays the setting of the story. It shows that Katniss has gotten on with her life since the games, however she still thinks about it and she is still afraid. The viewer sympathises with Katniss and understands that a long time has passed between the first two movies. It creates questions as to what is going to happen next for her and with each suspenseful moment, the viewer worries for Katniss’ safety. This follows the common story line that the protagonist is seeking justice or wanting to overcome an evil, in this case the games and President Snow (the one who created them and the main villain of this franchise).