Reseach into cinematography - Miss Miller

Reseach into cinematography Miss Miller
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCSl6XFHZZA

Cinematography is the way in which different camera shots are captured throughout films using various pieces of equipment. They're often used to create more that one meaning to the audience, and in some cases can create a sense of dramatic irony as the camera shot may provide the audience with acknowledgement of another character that the characters within the clip may not know off. and therefore would create tension and suspense amongst the audience.

In the film 'A lonely place to die' cinematography is used throughout to create different emotions and feelings upon the audience. In the clip I found there are examples of different camera angles for example at the beginning of the clip an establishing shot is used when you see the rocky mountains from a distance away. The point of using this type of shot would be to emphasise the size of the mountains when in comparison to the climbers. It would create a sense of danger and excitement amongst the audience because we can see the significance of the event and the life threatening task that their faced with. This would build a relationship between both the characters and the audience because we feel compassionate towards the climbers as we are able to see the danger involved where as they can only see the mountain from one perspective. This would relate to a convention of a thriller film because it keeps the audience feeling tense and engaged in the film because there are elements of danger and suspense. It would also build the relationship with both the audience and the characters as it makes the audience feel compasionate and anxious for the climbers, as there is a great deal of danger involved.

The second camera shot within the clip is a close up, this occurs when the camera is dropped and shattered against the rocks. The main reason why a camera was used may have been because they want to emphasise the fact that memories have been broken and forgotten within the camera. It could also suggest that in the later part of the film things are going to be broken or killed. We would gather this interpretation mainly because the camera specifically zooms into the camera once fallen and slows the motion down to emphasise the damage. This shot would make the audience surprised as they wasn't expecting that situation to occur. This would also relate to the typical conventions of a thriller as things are usually broken and destroyed to create different emotions within the audience.

Furthermore at 0.41 of the clip we can see an example of handheld camera, when one of the characters has taken a tumble down the side of the mountain. The main reasons for using handheld camera would be to emphasise the importance of the event and also how dangerous the situation is. The use of this specific camera angle would also suggest the panic and chaos to the audience as we see a jerky, unsettled movement which would imply that they're in danger because we would normally associate a moving unstable camera to something which is unsettled. We would also gather the interpretation that the director may not want us to focus on something particular as it could reveal an hidden identity. This would relate to the typical conventions of a thriller as there is usually handheld cameras involved because they are good at indicating individual emotions.


As the clip progresses we see an example of shallow focus at 0.04, there is focus on the main object which is the rope clip. The fact that we can see the rope clip clearly and the background is out of focus would suggest that there is an strict importance on the clip and that it has great power and significance in the events which are about to unfold. Also the main intentions of this type of shot in particular is to stress the importance of the object. During the clip you see the wires passing through the clip slowly, this may suggest that the clip determines their fate. This shot would suggest a sense of suspense as the audience is anticipating what this clip can do, and weather or not it can support the climber. It would relate to the conventions of a thriller as this type of shot is usually used because it would create suspense.

Individual ideas for a narrative - Miss Georgiou

Throughout the time in which we looked at Strangers, Saw and scream I gathered inspirations in which I would use in my own thriller opening sequence. In the film Strangers, hidden identity is used mainly to create mystery and make the audience feel curious towards who is behind the mask. It would also make the audience wait in anticipation to who the villains are. Also this is conventional to a thriller because it creates suspense and keeps the audience on the edge of their seat. The second film that I looked at was Saw IV, I found this especially inspirational as various camera shots were used throughout to convey different ideas and emotions. For example in the clip an shallow focus shot was used when the audience sees the keys in the boxes in full focus but then vaguely in the background you see the victims, the intended idea is for the audience to be reminded that their lives are at risk. It could also be used to emphasis the significance and power of the key. I thought that this camera shot was affective as it shows two different perspectives. In the last film was scream I feel as though this film has influenced my opening scene because I like the way in which suspense, shock and surprise is used throughout to good effect. For example in scream there are various occasions where the audience are preparing to be shocked but to their surprise they aren’t but later on within the scene the shock comes. I think I would use this technique as it is good when creating tension amongst the audience.

The idea for my opening sequence is to be set in an urban area unlike many other opening scenes mainly because otherwise I think it will just be a stereotypical thriller film and will be boring for the audience. The plot I was thinking of a house in the city at night, they're experiencing a power cut so the lights are out. The parents are asleep and one teenage boy is still awake watching TV on the sofa, he keeps hearing movement that he can't see. He ignores it and tries to sleep on the sofa. He hears a constant peculiar knocking so goes to the back door looks out in the garden and then he sees a young girl dressed in a white gown, then she screams and it ends… The conventions that i would aim to have within my clip would be shock and tention that will continue to build throughout the progression of the clip.

My target audience appeal would be aimed towards the 16 + maily because they're would be evidence of voilence blood and horror. I also think that once they're older than 16 then they understand concepts clearer and also they will be more mature and be able to relate some of the concepts to themselves.





 

 

Research into Mise-en-scene - Miss Georgiou

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is involves techniques that are used in films to convey different emotions/feelings. There are 5 elements involved; Settings & iconography, costume, hair and make-up, Facial expressions & body language, lighting & colour and finally settings and props. Whilst I was searching YouTube for a clip which I thought would tie into the thriller category and also shows signs of mise-en-scene I came across the film 'The Grey'.


The main reason for choosing the film The Grey was because there are examples of the 5 elements of mise-en-scene throughout the clip. For example at the start of the clip you see evidence of facial expressions and body language within Lee Nelsons face. His face looks wounded and tired, because he has signs of blood and frostbite and he is pounding for breath which would suggest that he is tired and hurt. We gather this interpretation because the marks on Lee Nelsons face. Body language and facial expressions are used mainly because they're capable of portraying meanings that may not usually be conceived. Lee Nelson’s expressions are typical of a thriller film mainly because they can be used to create suspense and mystery within the audience. Usually a convention such as body language and facial expressions are frequentley used because they add to the realism of the scenerio, and make the audience more engaged with what is going on because they're capable of relating to the emotions that they may or may not be feeling.

Secondly settings and iconography appears in the film The Grey. The film is set in remote snowy mountains, the main reasons behind this location is mainly because it can be used to show their vulnerability and also how small they are when in comparison with the rest of the landscape. Furthermore the location could create mystery mainly because we do not know what else is in the mountains alongside the crew. An example of iconography in the clip I studied is where the main character (Lee Nelson) is stood guiding the rest of the survivors to safety. This is a good example of iconography because you can clearly see that he is meant to be conceived as superior to the rest. This would relate to the conventions of a thriller because there is usually one main character that stands out from the rest, this would make the audience feel a sense of excitment and suspense as they know that the leader is at the front and guiding the rest and therefore is the closest to the dangers. Iconography is a regular occuring feature within thriller films because it helps the audience gather a suspense and excitment.



Furthermore another example of mise-en-scene is lighting and colour, this is evident throughout the whole clip with the misty dark mountains. The main reason for using a dark background and low key lighting would have been that it creates a sense of mystery and tension as we cannot see what is making the noises within the clip. Also the darkness adds to the significance of the event in which they're experiencing because the fact that the audience cannot see what is in the rest of the scene makes the occasion even more exciting and tense. The low key lighting would also make the whole scene more dramatic mainly because it would create a sense of shock within the audience because they would be waiting for the sounds to reveal their identity to the audience. The lighting used within this clip has influenced the way in which I may make my own thriller opening scene, mainly because it creates many different emotions within the audience and creates suspense, shock and an awaiting surprise.


Another type of mise-en-scene used in the film, is settings and props. For example in the clip there isn’t much evidence of props used because it is meant to have the idea that their surviving on basic rations and therefore do not have much left from the crash. Also the fact that they don’t adds to the realism of the event and makes the audience gather the impression that Lee Nelson and the crew are truly surviving for survival. A few examples of the small props used are weapons such as a contemporary knife made from pieces of the plane which made it through the crash. I think that the minimalistic use of props in this clip really are affective mainly because it emphasises the life threatening issue in which their experiencing, and makes the audience more engaged as they are anticipating what is going to happen next. On the other hand the setting is important within this clip, it is based up high within the mountains far away from any form of civilisation. I think that the main intention of doing this is to highlight the opportunity for survival as being very small.  This would relate to the typical codes and conventions within thrillers as they denote the stuggle and also creates tension as the audience is reasured that not everything is well. Another prop that is used is the clip is the bag, this is used as an reasuring tool to the audience as it emphaisises the struggle that their facing and that paartially some of their life is in the bag (medical equipment etc). This would create suspense amongst the audience as they know that if in danger there are no weapons that can save them, but their bare hands. This would relate to the conventions of a thriller as they create suspense and tension in the audience.

In conclusion my research into mise-en-scene will help me when planning my own thriller clip as there are certain elements that I will be using such as costume, hair and make up this will enable my clip to look more dramatic and real, it will also make the  audience feel a sense of suspense as they're reasured with the situation, and dangers that the characters are facing. I would also like to incorporate lighting and colour into my clip as I think that it will add another level to the scene and create more that one emotion.