Analysis of Opening: Bully, 2001 - Crime, Drama, Thriller

Story line: The story follows the plot to murder a mutual friend of several teenagers in Florida as a vengeful act against the continual abuse and psychological torture he pressured onto others. The teens soon learn that along with their actions come very serious consequences. Based on a true story.

Director: Larry Clark

Stars: Brad Renfro, Nick Stahl and Bijou Phillips

Opening: The film beings with the title credits with no sound. After this we see a close up of who we believe to be the main character on the phone at home, making two sexual comments to whoever is on the other end of the phone call. Urban, electric music begins to play and the setting changes; the audience are now shown a moving, establishing shot taken from the view of a car's side window of the surroundings of the location of where the film will be set throughout: urban suburbs, stores, roads and a sign post saying 'Hollywood'. The setting changes to a medium shot of a car containing two teenage girls pulling up into the car park of a store, making references to how carrying out sexual acts and working hard enough, you can get you exactly what you want. The setting changes to inside the store where the two girls are being served sandwiches by the previous main character we met before and his friend. Here a conversation is held between the group about meeting on a beach later on in the day.The location changes to the beach where the two guys finish surfing and invite the two girls watching to a party within an exchange of close up and medium shots. The next scene shows all four of the teenagers in a car driving through the urban suburbs where they pull into a different car park.

Setting: Urban suburbs - rough side of town, certain issues regarding negative influences addressed throughout film.

Props: cars, cigarettes - suggests growing up too fast, trying to mature and fit in with stuff before you're physically and mentally ready - represents a common theme throughout film.

Camera shot types/angles: close ups - suggest which characters will be dominant throughout, suggests ideas of what character's background is and how audience should react to each character. Establishing/long shots - shows setting of where film is most likely to be throughout, gives audience impression of what to expect from rest of the story line.

Lighting: natural - suggests film will show true representation of teenage life and what the main characters have to go through - can relate it to certain situations. 

Casting: group of teenagers - suggests film will deal with the issues surrounding growing up and trying to 'fit in with the crowd' stage - true representation of teenage life for some individuals.

Costume and make-up: topless, bikini - minimal clothing - suggests a true, bare representation of the lifestyle some teens live. Top and trousers - stereotypical clothing for a teen - typical issues will be dealt with and themes throughout, i.e. smoking, drugs, sex, alcohol etc.

Movement: pushed into objects - element of overpowering, bullying present, character just takes it - suggests the bullying has been happening for a while, used to it.

Music:gangsta rap, hip-hop - suggests a tough and upbeat lifestyle - could also represent tough decisions that could be made later on in the film and upbeat, fast actions that need to be taken, sets 'edgy' atmosphere for opening of film.

Positives: the setting of the film is made clear by the use of establishing shots and sign posts, all four of the main characters are introduced, the dialogue between the main characters gives the audience a sense of what they are like.

Negatives: audience are not given a clear idea of background for the main characters.

Why I chose Bully: Bully is based around the lives of a group of teenagers, the age range of the majority of the cast I would put into my coursework and the impacts of alcohol, drugs and sex, again the topics I plan to face in my film opening. Bully centers around the genres of Crime, Drama and Thriller, three of the genres I plan to base my opening on. 

Analysis of Opening: Havoc, 2005 - Crime, Drama, Romance

Story line: A pair of young, naïve and wealthy teenagers living in Los Angeles are exposed to hip hop culture that inspires them to imitate the ‘gangsta lifestyle’, although they learn that every action can have a consequence as they come into trouble with they come face-to-face with a real gang of Latino drug dealers.

Director: Barbara Kopple

Stars: Anne Hathaway, Bijou Phillips, Shiri Appleby and Channing Tatum

Opening: starts with titles of producers. View from hand held camera, interview type experience with a teenage girl in a car park surrounded by other teenagers – main character, explains her take on society – the current separation, close up and extreme close ups.

Establishing, panning shots of surrounding settings – urban American city – tall buildings, extensive motorways, beach, suburbs with more title credits appearing over the top of footage and background ‘gangsta’ music to match theme, finishes on current setting of previous interview – car park full of teenagers. Camera angle changes from hand held view to long shot from a different camera, capturing the casual interview taking place – more insight into ‘gangsta culture’ among teenagers, then a fight breaks out between two gangs. Exaggerated use of swearing and insults exchanged before punches were thrown, girls join in fight, not just the male characters.

Setting: Urban America - rough part of town, where most crimes and committed and where most trouble happens. Abandoned car park - suggests they have nowhere better to go, not easily seen by adults of law enforcers - can do whatever they like, represents the freedom most teenagers crave.
Props: hand held camera might be a dominant prop throughout and introduce certain issues or depth into a character's background. Cigarettes - attempting to grow up too fast, fit in with and be associated with 'wanna be' gangsta lifestyle.
Camera shot types/angles: camera angle changes from hand held view to long shot several times - suggests that hand held camera might be a dominant prop throughout and introduce certain issues or depth into a character's background. Close up of certain characters - mean 
Lighting: low-key - evening/night, but natural - could represent a dark side to society and the lives of teenagers, yet the natural light from the moon could suggest the 'real' aspects of what actually happens within society and the influences and the problems they could create - a true representation.
Casting: group of teenagers - suggests that purpose of film could be showing the influences of growing up and how they can affect a life and how to deal with them in the right way opposed to the wrong way.
Costume and make-up: jeans and t-shit - typically expected from teenagers, could suggest typical teenager-based film. Big hoop earrings, chains - represent a chavy, wanna be gangsta lifestyle - represents background to characters.
Movement: sexual interpretations between characters - suggests a background to the relationship between them, outbreaks of fights - suggests the anger within the teenagers' minds, have to let it out one way or another.
Music: gangsta, rap - supports idea of 'wanna be' gangsta lifestyle - think they're 'it' but really they don't have a clue.
Positives: clear showing of setting of film, introduction to main character, given an insight into what to expect from rest of the film, i.e. gangs, fights etc.

Negatives: too much time spent on establishing shots of surroundings – could have been narrowed down and used more effectively to introduce story line

Why I chose Havoc: Havoc is based around the use of gang culture, alcohol consumption and drug use among teenagers in urban American – all three topics will feature in my opening as well as the genres of Crime and Drama. The opening to Havoc will give me ideas on how I should introduce the topics into my own coursework.

Analysis of Opening: Project X, 2012 - Crime

Story line: Three high school seniors throw a birthday party to get themselves noticed within their high school. The party starts off small but things soon start to get out of hand as the word of the party spreads and the night progresses.

Director: Nima Nourizadeh

Stars: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper and Jonathon Daniel Brown

Opening: begins with text – gives audience impression that either something so offensive, embarrassing or shocking is going to happen within the film that the producers have to apologise in advance on behalf of the production. Set in a town in California, America. Film begins with footage from what seems to be a hand held camera – quality of film looks amateur along with the filming techniques, for their own purpose and entertainment, not for mass viewing. Immediate knowledge of time, date and event of the purpose of the film provided by one of the main actors standing outside what the audience would expect to be the dominant setting of the film. Title of film is shown and music begins in background – typically teenager related. Point of view camera angle further exploring setting, begin to learn more about plot of film and background of characters through the dialogue between the main characters. Classic storyline of parents go away for the weekend, kid left to look after the house and been told he can only have 4-5 friends over maximum, audience expect that this will not happen and that this will turn into a huge house party with serious consequences.

Setting: Town in California, America - someone's house - suggests that this will be the dominant setting throughout the film, pretty usual.
Props: handheld camera - suggests that it will play major part in film and be a dominant prop used throughout
Camera shot types/angles: switches between amateur camera used by one of the characters to professional filming, plenty of 'point-of-view' shots - makes audience feel that they are in the film with the characters, feel part of the movie - can relate to story line more.
Lighting: natural - daytime, normal, nothing to suggest that something out-of-hand is going to happen, further suggests that story line could flip and the event they are planning, a birthday party, will almost definitely become too much for the three teens to handle.
Casting: bunch of teenagers - suggests the film will focus on the influences society has on growing up and how it affect individuals.
Costume and make-up: jeans and t-shirts - pretty ordinary and usual clothing to expect from a typical teenager - will story line reflect the normal expectations of a teen?
Movement: carefree, 'do whatever I want attitude' - until parents walk in - told off, shut down by parents - reminded of responsibilities - represents relationships between most teenagers and their parents - trying to grow up too fast and being reminded of their age and place in society by their parents.
Music: Urban, rap - typically teenage house party - represents the event that's going to happen later in the film - foreshadowing events
Positives: learn a lot about the background to the main characters, the meaning behind the film and what is expected to happen, lots of different camera angles and shots types used within opening, storyline – relatable for audience, introduced to main characters

Negatives: storyline becomes too revealed within first five minutes, audience can already predict what is going to happen

Why I chose Project X: I chose Project X because one of genres that the film covers in Crime, which would feature it my initial ideas for my coursework piece. Also, Project X is centred on teenagers and the impacts alcohol consumption and drug use can have, the same age of the characters and topics of concern that I would like to centre my opening around.

Analysis of Opening: Spring Breakers, 2013 – Crime, Drama, Thriller

Story line: four college girls who land themselves in jail after they rob a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation are bailed out by a drug and arms dealer who want them to participate in some dirty work in return for their freedom of being bailed.

Director: Harmony Korine

Stars: Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, Gucci Mane and James Franco

Opening (first five minutes): Begins with title credits – use of bright, neon, aluminous colours with bold, flashing font – like the ones used for nightclub signs – suggests cast are in their late teens, discovering some of the impacts of growing up when it comes to drinking and the impacts of being under the influence of alcohol. No music, just text on screen until the title of film appears (roughly one minute into opening), electronic music brought in – music you would expect to hear in most nightclubs – linking in with impression of title credits.

Music increases in volume as first location is introduced – beach with clear blue skies, filled with a mixture of both males and females in their late teens partying in beach wear and drinking alcohol from bottles, cans and the well-known ‘American red cups’ – hints at a more detailed setting, summer on a beach somewhere in America. Close ups and extreme close ups of random teens with background out of focus, panning establishing shots of surroundings. Demoralising – exactly what parents wouldn’t want to see their kids doing – letting the influence of alcohol control their actions, completely letting loose. Screen turns black, sound of loading a gun and a shot.

Different location – boxed in room, dark, not well kept, mess everywhere – sums up typical teenagers lifestyle? Various teenagers smoking cigarettes and weed, passed out on sofas. Introduced to the first two main characters: Rachel Korine, passed out, and Vanesssa Hudgens, inhaling smoke from a bong – careless image. No music, faint background noise coming from children’s programme on TV. Various shots – close ups, extreme close ups and medium shots.

Different location – school/college/university buildings, establishing shots of new setting. Calm faint music – contrasts with previous scenes – different side to the teenagers that were shown before.

Different location – inside a lecture hall, hundreds of students with Apple Macs in front of them – establishing pan shot of the hall, calm music continues but fades into background as voice of lecturer overpowers. Extreme close up of another main character, Ashley Benson, and Vanessa Hudgens – messing around, clearly not interested in the lecture – only excited about Spring Break.

Different location – inside a studio, class lead by a teacher, introduced to final main character, Selena Gomez, by a close up – only main character who seems interested in her academic studies opposed to socialising events.

Setting: University/college/school - suggests main characters are going to be students there. Beach - carefree, sense of freedom - what teenagers crave. Room - dark, confined - suggests they have been confined into certain positions where they felt pressured to 'fit in with the crowd'.
Props: Bottles, cans of alcohol, cigarettes, bongs - negative influences on growing up - suggests film is going to hit at reality and not create some kind of 'bubble' where everyone is happy and lives happy ever after where they can't be touched by negative influences of hurt. 
Camera shot types/angles: establishing shots of beach and school/college/university, pan of study/lecture hall, dark room - showing where film could be set throughout, or a setting that will have a big impact on the story line. Close up and extreme close ups of main characters - made clear who will be focused upon during film.
Lighting: natural - beach, natural surroundings, can just be yourself, sun - bright, high-key, happiness. Study/lecture hall - low-key lighting, dark and boring side of their lives - don't want to be there, would much rather be at the beach or elsewhere. Room - dark, low-key lighting - represents dark side to growing up, smoking, drinking passing out etc.
Casting: ex-Disney stars - Disney grown up, suggests how not all of the stars continued to act like they did on the TV shows - grew up and where they are now, what they're doing on a daily basis, shows that their lives are not innocent and 'happy ever after' - faced with negative influences, dealing with pressure etc.
Costume and make-up: minimal clothing, beach - bikinis, swimming shorts - revealing, showing their inner character, what they really want to be doing, opposed to sitting in a lecture hall, fully clothed - bored.
Movement: beach - dancing, running around in the sea - carefree, freedom. Study/lecture hall - all sitting still - confined, bored, caged in. Room - passed out, out of their heads - no clue what's going on - drained from education and their actions. 
Music: upbeat, electronic, house - to keep up with their movements and actions - growing up too fast.
Positives: introduced to main characters and given ideas about what to expect from the film, Disney grown up – audience will be familiar with 3/4 of the main characters from Disney shows they watched when they were younger.

Negatives: not much information is actually revealed within the opening, just a mixture of two very different locations – how will they ever link together? Will now see their loved Disney characters in a completely different light - could affect their image they had of them as a child

Why I chose Spring Breakers: I chose to analysis the opening of Spring Breakers as the genres are Crime, Drama and Thriller - the genres I have chosen to focus upon for my own coursework piece. The main characters in the film are a mixture of teenagers and gang leaders with the subject of growing up, dealing with consequences, alcohol, drugs and making money illegally, the initial ideas for my film opening. 

Looking at Screenings

Screening 1 - 'A Day in the Life Of'
Strengths:
The narrative/voice over gives audience information on main character
Appropriate music
Weaknesses:
Same scenery throughout - easy to get bored of
Same camera angle - point of view shot
Narrative/voice over is hard to understand and keep track of - pitch and volume changes 
Level 1, 23 marks

Screening 2 - 'The Promise' 
Strengths:
Appropriate titles and music - fits in well with 'gangsta', 'rough streets of London/Birmingham' theme
Variation of different camera angles and shot types
Appropriate mise-en-scene - props, guns, and stereotypical characters, chavy gang members
Weaknesses:
Dialogue scenes filmed on different days - change of weather, windy, made dialogue difficult to hear
Level 3, 45 marks

Screening 3 - 'Amazing Grace'
Strengths:
Appropriate music
Appropriate mise-en-scene: lighting in bathroom - quite dim and gloomy
Weaknesses:
Music cut out and jumped 
Confusing aspects - hard to understand and follow what was going on
Lack of variation of camera shots and angles
No real meaning - looked more like a trailer than a film opening - not appropriate for task set
Level 3, 39 marks

Screening 4 - 'Four Walls'
Strengths:
Appropriate to task - clear purpose of being a film opening
Variation of different shot types and camera angles
Appropriate mise-en-scene - setting gives audience clear clue of where it is
Weaknesses:
Dialogue out of sync with playback
Level 4, 51 marks

Screening 5 - 'One Way Out'
Strengths:
Appropriate titles and music
Variation of different camera angles and shot types
Material appropriate to task
Get immediate impression of main characters
Level 4, 48 marks

Screening 6 - 'Moving On'
Strengths:
Different approach - stop motion - interests audience
Variation of camera angles and shot types
Weaknesses:
No real story line
Level 4, 49 marks

In my coursework task I will make sure to include a wide varied range of different camera angles and shot types, choose appropriate mise-en-scene to fit in with my selected genre, make sure my editing portrays my meaning across to the audience correctly, use appropriate titles and music and show that the material I create is appropriate to the set task.
I have not decided on a genre or have any clear idea of what I would like to create for my coursework, however, from looking into similar pieces others have created, I have decided that whatever I do, I want to create something different, to capture the attention of the audience and examiner/s using a wide range of techniques. 

Todorov

Most films and TV programmes follow this sequence: the film or TV show start of with a happy beginning, then something happens that causes a disruption to what the audience were shown at the beginning, followed by a resolution and the happiness at the start is restored.

By showing the potential of this sequence and where it could lead in the opening, it could relate to the audience and seem far too familiar, and therefore becoming boring. In my coursework I will avoid this sequence and use a different alternative to capture the attention of the audience and intrigue them into how the film will turn out by showing them a sequence they will not be as familiar with.

Vladimir Propp

Protagonist (hero):
Leads narrative
Quest
Journey

Antagonist (villain):
Get in the way of the protagonist

Heroine:
Prize/reward for hero
Can be a physically thing, using a person (female)

Father:
Authority figure
Offers reward to hero (usually heroine)

Helper:
Sidekick - helps hero

Donor:
Gives something: clue/tool/some sort of power etc that helps hero complete their quest

This system of main characters will help me in producing my coursework as I know roughly what types of characters the audience could be looking for and that I definitely should show these in my opening.

Creating characters

In today's lesson I created a profile for three different characters with only one photograph for each as a base to develop upon. 

Character A:

Name: David Elwood

Age: 70

Marital Status: married

Occupation: warehouse and company owner (left to him in his deceased brother's will)

Previous Jobs: ex-businessman, company went bust when David turned to law-breaking ways to keep it running

Residency: detached house just outside of a big city

Family Life: one daughter - close to her, her husband and their children

Close friends: wife, few close friends who he met when he took over his deceased brother's company
Where is this person right now? (in the photograph): the warehouse he owns
Who are they with? (in the photograph): rivals in industry - competing business owners from his past - holding grudges against one another
Where were they at 10pm last night? filling out paperwork at the warehouse
Who were they with? alone
Where do they see themselves in 5 years? selling up the warehouse and the business and retiring to the island of Hawaii with his wife, his daughter and her family

Character B:

Name: Guy Leevsley
Age: 18
Marital Status: single (on-off relationship with girlfriend, Katy)
Occupation: student
Previous Jobs: works part-time in a garage
Residency: lives in a detached house with his mum, dad and little sister
Family life: close to his mum and little sister, Grace. Dad wants him to follow in his footsteps as a banker - Guy doesn't want that - causes arguments, problems at home creates a difficult and awkward atmosphere
Close Friends: popular kid at school - plenty of friends but only hangs around with a select group of his closest friends
Where is this person right now? (in the photograph): library at college
Who are they with? (in the photograph): college counselor - dad phoned up college and insisted his son is having trouble deciding what he wants to do in the future - lie to make him question what he wants to do with his life
Where were they at 10pm last night? working on his car in his best mate's dad's garage
Who were they with? a couple of his guy friends
Where do they see themselves in 5 years? Working, if not owning, his own garage and fixing up cars  

Character C:

Name: Kelly
Age: 24
Marital Status: engaged
Occupation: unemployed - made dependent on fiance
Previous Jobs: part-time in a local shop when she was at college, before she met her fiance
Residency: detached house - her fiance's property
Family Life: not close to her immediate family - no longer in contact with - fell out with family when she got engaged to her boyfriend - family didn't approve, too naive to listen to them
Close Friends: none. Isolated by fiance - kept under lock-and-key, literally
Where is this person right now? (in the photograph): underground car park after escaping from her fiance's house
Who are they with? (in the photograph): no-one, wanted to be alone
Where were they at 10pm last night? home
Who were they with? fiance - arguing about how he's taken control of her life
Where do they see themselves in 5 years? hopefully - as far away from her fiance as possible, back in close contact with her family, moving on and starting a successful career. Realistically - still under house arrest by her over-protective, obsessive fiance

Pick a character and write a short synopsis about a film they could star in
David Elwood, a 70 year old former gang leader and company owner, received a money-making life line when it seemed he would be left with nowt. His older brother has recently died and has left him his warehouse-run business in his will. David is determined to keep his deceased brother's business running and legit but just as some old rivals from his past return holding grudges and take his beloved daughter hostage as punishment, will David seek legitimate help or will he slip back into his old, dodgey, law-breaking ways? 

By using this activity of creating character profiles from just one image will aid me in my coursework task through the use of in depth description of characters which I will use in my own

Genre of film

Action-Adventure

Typical Conventions - Always a motive, at least two sides competing with each other ('goodies' and 'baddies'), fights, cat and mouse chase, explosions and destruction of deatures of a building (smashing of windows, breaking of doors etc), killings and/or serious injuries
Props - hi-tech equipment, futuristic cars, weapsons (knives, guns)
Music - fast, upbeat, nerve racking, builds up tension to keep audience of the edge of their seat
Setting - large, modern city
Target Audience - 15-40, both genders, although dominantly male, female audience can vary based on sub-genres, i.e. romance
Examples of films: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, White House Down, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol 
Goes well with: Adventure, Crime, Thriller

Animation

Typical Conventions - amusing characters that entertain young audience, fast-paced action to keep the young children entertained
Props - everyday objects they could come into contact with: toys, cars, other young children, parents etc
Music - bubbly, happy to match the feelings of the young audience, keep them positive and occupied
Setting - usually a glorified town, village or forest
Target Audience - Young children, 3-10 years old, both genders
Examples of films: Despicable Me, Monsters Inc, Tangled
Goes well with: Adventure, Family, Fantasy

Biography/Documentary

Typical Conventions - interviews with main focus or those who are linked to subject matter, voice over or narrator describing and explaining events or their actions etc, archival footage obtained from a certain source, reconstructions to give audience better understanding or feeling, montage of sequence shots
Props - vary depending on subject matter or person, for example, if the focus is an athlete or footballer, props would include those familiar to the sport, i.e. hurdles, goal posts, footballs, tropies
Music - varies: can be dramatic if action or thriller-based or dull if just informative
Setting - no particular setting, depends on the subject matter or person, for example, for a boy band on tour - mainly on stage, back stage or on the road
Target Audience - Older generations, 20-60 year olds, both genders, for those who have a specific interest in a topic, subject matter or person
Examples of films: The Conjuring, One Direction: This is Us, Schindler's List
Goes well with: History, Mystery, Sport 

Comedy

Typical Conventions - socially awkward people, 'idiotic' people in a contrasting group of 'normal' people, road trips gone wrong, finding out answers - messing up the original 'plan', going on holiday, close friendships
Props - certain props may inflict pain on a character in a comedic sense and usually focuses upon the physical side to comedy opposed to the mental and speech side, i.e. having no common sense or sarcasm
Music - usually upbeat to keep in with the comical sense 
Setting - can vary depending on the type of comedy, whether it's a harmless sketch or with a dark and sinister twist. Most light-hearted comedies occur in bright places that have a welcoming, everyday atmosphere, like towns or cities, high schools, the characters' houses, pubs and bars
Target Audience - varies - appeals to most ages and both genders, sub-genres and themes define detailed audiences
Examples of films: The Heat, Anchorman, Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa
Goes well with: Action, Romance, Horror

Crime/Drama/Mystery

Typical Conventions - some sort of chase - usually by car, some kind of betrayal, someone's private life becoming public knowledge, a secret being revealed, an obvious villain 
Props - a lot of involvement of weapons that can lead to a fatal injury or death
Music - dark, mysterious to build tension
Setting - bank, safe or someone's house where a robbery could take place
Target Audience - late teen to adult, 16-35, both genders, can vary dependent on sub-genres, i.e. romance
Examples of films: The Counsellor, Now You See Me, The Shining 
Goes well with: Action, Drama, Mystery

Family/Fantasy

Typical Conventions - happy ending, relatable topics (everday life for family, imagination conepts for fantasy), no serious violence or bad language, magic, supernatural events, make-believe creatures, use of Propp character roles - extremely common, use of green screen or animation technology,
Props - everyday objects - family based - familar to young audience. Fantasy - make-believe, imaginative objects - costumes, futuristic methods of transportation
Music - light, uplifting, positive - develops feeling of happiness among audience, reflects their mood 
Setting - normally settings audience are associated with on a regular, if not daily, basis, i.e. living room, car, park, shopping centre etc, if fantasy - environment exaggerated
Target Audience - young children and their parents - family trip to the cinema? Fantasy - intrigue wider audience, dedicated fan base? can vary in ages and genders
Examples of films: Despicable Me, The Avengers, Hocus Pocus
Goes well with: Adventure, Comedy, Fantasy

Film-Noir

Typical Conventions - cinematography - often disorted and uncomfortable for viewer to look at - puts audience at unease - reflects the tone of noir, extreme close ups, deep focus shots, obscured reflections, low key lighting, high contrast images, classic role of hero against villain,
Props - weapons i.e. knives, guns etc, dark clothing - enforces mysterious aspect
Music - melancholy downbeat jazz,
Setting - urban settings, 'wrong end of town', 'dodgy' areas of everday locations, damp streets - reflection of bad weather, often rain or storm,
Target Audience - late teens - adult, 17-30, both genders - thrill seekers, old-fashioned film lovers
Examples of films: The Third Man, Strangers on a Train, The Killing
Goes well with: Crime, Mystery, Romance, Thriller

Horror

Typical Conventions - danger of death, death, violence - fatal injuries, some kind of curse, flickering of lights, charcters going out and investigating - leads to injury, kidnap or death, bad weather - heavy rain, storms, low key lighting - use of shadows
Props - weapons - knife, gun, axe, anything that can inflict pain or death upon a character,
Music - dark, plenty of beat, gradually gains volume, builds tension for audience - lead up to something happening which can cause a change of events in the plot, prepared for it but at the same time still impacted by shock - jumping out of your seat
Setting - woods, ghost town, abandoned building, haunted house in the middle of nowhere - usually isolated places that are not easily found
Target Audience - teen to adult, 15 (most horror films have a certificate of 15 or 18)-26, depending on interest in the topic, both genders
Examples of films: Carrie, Sinister, The Strangers
Goes well with: Drama, Mystery, Thriller

Musical

Typical Conventions - cast of teenagers during everyday life, addressing modern issues, characters faced with a problem, solve it - Todorov system, sing to express their mood
Props - usual objects found in schools/universities i.e. desks, computers, pianos, music hall etc., cars
Music - bubbly, uplifting - reflects mood of characters to impact upon audience - normally positive
Setting - typically a high school or university - full of teenagers 
Target Audience - children - teen, 6-16 - younger children look up to characters in film, older children can often relate to story line
Examples of films: Grease, High School Musical, Pitch Perfect
Goes well with: Comedy, Family, Romance

Romance

Typical Conventions - 'boy meets girl' storyline, sexuality, symbolising everyday life, happy ever after ending, story links with audience's emotions
Props - flowers, hearts, use of colour red, wedding bells, church, mobile or laptop - communicational purposes, photographs - memories, comforting clothes, fire, chocolate
Music - usually positive, seductive, reflects mood of situation on screen onto audience
Setting - varies, can be in a cinema, resteraunt, bedroom, school, beach, small town or large city, local park etc. places that are linked to everyday life
Target Audience - large audience, dominantly female, 12-50
Examples of films: The Notebook, Crazy Stupid Love, Friends with Benefits
Goes well with: Comedy, Horror, Film-noir, Thriller

Sci-Fi

Typical Conventions - use of supernatural creatures - aliens, binary opposites - good vs evil, obvious hero attempting to save world from invasion, explosions, crashes, demolishment of buildings, can be set in future - futuristic technology and creatures, time travel, robots, war, follows either utopian or dystopian - society will either become better or worse throughout film
Props - weapons, robots, aliens, futuristic technology used in a futuristic setting - i.e. a lab
Music - 'out of this world' - not what most people listen to, created by instruments - not a soundtrack with a main singer etc, impacts on events taking place within shot, builds tension for the audience
Setting - big city - where most action takes place, space - away from human kind
Target Audience - dominantly male,
Examples of films: Pacific Rim, District 9, Star Trek into Darkness
Goes well with: Action-Adventure, Fantasy, Horror

Thriller

Typical Conventions - disorintation of time and surroundings, low key lighting - sense of the unknown and use of shadows to inflict paranoia, flashbacks, dangerous characters - i.e. convicts, gang leaders, criminals, spies, law enforcement officers,
Props - mirrors, stairs, weapons - i.e. knives, guns etc., pills,
Music - dark, bass, usually increases tension and suspense for the audience 
Setting - urban - dark alleys, run-down estates,
Target Audience - teen -adult, 15-28, both genders
Examples of films: Gravity, Escape Plan, Spring Breakers
Goes well with: Crime, Horror, Mystery

War
Typical Conventions - follows combat of individual solider or platoon of troops, often occurs within the center of action, violence, death, explosions, destruction
Props - methods of transport: trucks, helicopter, etc., weapons, i.e. guns, knives, bombs etc., 
Music - upbeat to keep up with action, builds suspense, beat hits home - fits in with pattern of heartbeat
Setting - usually on front line of impact, town/village, army camp, navy battleship
Target Audience -  late teen-adult, 18-50+, dominantly male audience
Examples of films: Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Goes well with: Action, Biography, Documentary

Western

Typical Conventions - stand offs, gun fire, injury or death, chase on horseback, cowboys, card games, stetson hats, bar brawls, train or bank robberies
Props - pistols, rifles, gun holders, money, cigars, horses, tumbleweed,  
Music - starts off with steady drum beat and electric guitar cords until characters are introduced - music beat picks up, music never normally stops completely during openings, just fades
Setting - Texas, desert, abandoned towns, saloon
Target Audience - older generations, 20-50, dominantly male
Examples of films: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Django Unchained, Unforgiven
Goes well with: Action, Adventure, Comedy

Mise-en-scene

Mise-en-Scene (everything in the frame)

I have taken a still image from the film 'Mean Girls' and commented on the mise-en-scene: the setting, lighting, costume and make-up and movement, framing and composition.

The use of this in depth analysis of mise-en-scene from this screenshot will aid me in my coursework by making me think deeply about what I should include in each of the frames to portray a certain message across to the audience

Micro analysis of the opening 7 minutes of Spider-man 3, focussing on mise-en-scene and diegetic sound

In this essay I will be conducting a micro analysis of the opening seven minutes of Spider-man 3, focussing on mise-en-scene and diegetic sound. Spider-man 3 is an American superhero-based film produced by Marvel Entertainment and Laura Ziskin Production and distributed by Columbia Pictures in 2007. The film is based upon the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-man and is the last film in its trilogy. The main focus in this essay is how the mise-en-scene and diegetic sound represent the contrast in the differing positive and negative atmosphere.

An example of mise-en-scene that can determine the atmosphere is the use of casting in the movie. In the opening seven minutes of the film we are introduced to three main characters: Peter, i.e. Spider-man, Mary, his girlfriend, and Harry, an old friend who holds a grudge against him. From the beginning of the film it is obvious to the reader that Peter/Spider-man has been labelled as the ‘hero’ in the film; this is by the young children admiring his actions being shown on a large screen, keeping Manhattan safe. As the opening continues we are introduced to two further main characters, Harry and Mary. The audience gather the impression that Harry will be portrayed as the villain in the film; this is because of the previous tension shown between Peter and himself, and the expectance that Harry will be looking for some sort of revenge. Harry also buys Mary the same type of flowers as Peter does, but much bigger, possibly showing that Harry is attempting to ‘out-do’ Peter and disturbing his relationship with Mary. Mary is shown as the ‘heroine’ in the movie, the hero’s girlfriend and the tension between Peter and Harry, along with the incident with the flowers, gives the impression that both the hero and the villain will have to fight over her at some point throughout the course of the movie. The atmosphere created by Peter and Mary is a positive, content one, whereas the presence of Harry puts the audience on edge and makes them question what he is capable of.

The setting in the first 7 minutes of the opening plays a large part in determining whether the atmosphere created is positive or negative. The film takes place in urban America, specifically Manhattan in New York City, named one of the greatest and busiest cities on Earth. An example of a positive atmosphere is during the daytime, where the weather is bright and Spider-man is making headline news. Peter stands on a curb watching on as young kids admire the video being played of Spider-man on a large screen. Hearing the children’s admiring comments, the headlines on newspapers and the covers of magazines promoting Spider-man as Manhattan’s hero makes Peter feel good about himself and the whole atmosphere is portrayed as positive and the future looks bright for Manhattan and Peter, Spider-man, himself. An example of where the setting creates a negative atmosphere is when Peter and his girlfriend, Mary, are laying underneath the stars and begin to head home, both unaware that they are being followed by an unknown, black, slimy, moving object. The setting is dark and gloomy, leaving you unable to see everything around you clearly, therefore the added intensity of what the object could want with or what it is planning to do with Peter and Mary, showing a hidden, sinister twist to, what was, a romantic moment and therefore creating a negative and apprehensive atmosphere.

Another factor of mise-en-scene that plays an important part in determining the atmosphere throughout the film is the props used in the framing of the scenes. An example of some props that create a positive atmosphere are the newspaper headlines and magazine covers which portray Spider-man in a positive light to the civilians of Manhattan – making Peter feel proud of himself and the audience feeling content with the uplifting atmosphere the safety of having their very own hero, that Manhattan is producing. Although, an example of some props that create a negative, sinister atmosphere in when the audience is introduced to what looks like Harry’s ‘futuristic lab’, which contains all kinds of costumes and masks, all of a dark colour, highlighting the mysterious and dark meaning behind Harry owning these items, producing a creepy, mad-scientist feel and creating a nervous and suspicious atmosphere for the audience.

Lighting is another factor of mise-en-scene that plays a vital part in the contrasting atmospheres featured in the opening seven minutes of the film. The type of lighting used most in the opening is artificial, as the majority of the opening is at night opposed to day. When the audience are introduced to Harry’s lab, it is dark and gloomy with almost a sinister feel, putting the audience on edge as to what this new scenery is capable of. Harry enters the lab through a lift and green smoke covers the majority of his being, the green colour possibly representing the jealousy he feels over Peter being Spider-man and having Mary as his girlfriend; jealousy turns the atmosphere in Harry’s lab sour, therefore keeping the audience on edge as to what Harry himself in capable of.

Another factor that can contribute to the atmosphere created is the costume and make-up of the main characters. Peter is dressed in casual clothes, exactly what you would expect an everyday student to wear, implying that there is nothing special or out of the ordinary about him, especially not stereotypically seen as a superhero. However, the image of Peter is strongly contrasted with the image of Spider-man; Spider-man is shown wearing mainly red, but instead of representing danger, the colour gives the feeling that he is saving the civilians of Manhattan from danger. During her performance, Mary is shown wearing a very delicate, elegant white dress; this can imply that the white shows her innocence and that she is oblivious to the tension between Peter and Harry. All of these images produce a positive atmosphere: the ordinary feel about Peter, the superhero ‘save the day’ image from Spider-man and the innocent portrayal of Mary. The positive atmosphere is soon contrasted with the dark sense that Harry creates; Harry is shown wearing mostly black, a dark colour to represent a dark being, supporting the other sinister influences made about him as a character.

A final factor that can influence the atmosphere within the film opening is the diegetic sound. Examples of this that create a positive and uplifting effect are the scenes where Peter is narrating to the audience explaining the change in his life, him becoming Spider-man, and how it has helped him, and the scenes where Peter walks past a jewellers and a ring inside catches his eye, with the audience questioning ‘is he going to propose?’ and where Mary is performing on stage and he announces to the two men sitting next to him that “that’s my girlfriend” – clearly showing how proud he is of Mary. Examples of diegetic sound that produce a negative atmosphere are when Peter narrates to the audience that clearly some things have not changed in his life, how he still manages to get picked on by others during his lectures, and the scene where the audience are first introduced to the first piece of dialogue in the opening between Harry and Peter where there is clearly a tension between the two and Harry makes a remark about Peter apologising to his father’s death bed opposed to him – implying that a past event has corrupted whatever friendship they once had and therefore keeping the audience on edge about what this negative tension and atmosphere could lead to.

In this essay I have analysed the opening seven minutes of the film, Spider-man 3, through the focus of which parts of the mise-en-scene and diegetic sound produce which type of contrasting atmosphere: positive or negative. From my analysis I can conclude that the mise-en-scene and diegetic sound play a massive part in determining the atmosphere created and can change the audience’s perspective by the use of a costume or a prop or the setting. 

Run Lola Run

Why are all of the scenes of Dad filmed in Video rather than in 35MM Film?
NOTE: Only when Lola and/or Manni are in the scene is there 35MM Film. Why?

QUALITY:
35MM Film - high definition - most important people in Lola's life/characters in the film appear in 35MM Film
VIDEO - characters that aren't shown in 35MM Film but are in VIDEO - low definition, not as clear as 35MM Film - not as important to Lola

MONEY:
35MM FILM - Expensive - represents the amount of money Lola and Manni need, and also the amount of money they end up with at the end of the film
VIDEO - Cheaper alternative - 'Dad' - shown in video - will not give Lola the money she needs - shows how cheap her father i9s and how unimportant she is to him

Run Lola Run 1998

What is the meaning of Lola's three screams - especially the third scream?

Scream One (9:26) (in her bedroom): 

• In this scene Lola is just 'off-center' and instead the phone she is using is the main focus of the frame
• The back ground is out of focus in comparison to Lola and her phone - what the audience is expected to focus upon most (1)
• Lola screams down the phone to Manni to get him to stop stressing out and going on about his current situation (1)
• As the scream increases in volume and length - the camera zooms in on the phone itself, intensifying the scene and the impact of Lola's scream (2)
• By screaming, Lola manages to shatter the glass bottles that are on a table across from her, yet the scream does not break the bottle by her foot - the nearest to her - insinuating that her actions will keep the person closest to her safe but damage those who surround her (3)
• The scene also shows a tortoise crawling by her feet - this represents a large contrast in pace between them both: Lola - needs to be very fast in the film in order to help Manni, whereas the tortoise - very slow (4)

1) 

2) 

3)

4)

Scream Two (21:12) in her father's office:

• Similar to 'Scream One' - the purpose is to silence the other character in the scene (1)
• Lola is trying to silence her father so she doesn't run out of time to help Manni (1)
• The use of time is a connection to the glass clock shattering in the background - time is a common theme throughout the film - always in the background in frames and theoretically - constant reminder of the time limit she has to help Manni (2)

1)

2)

Scream Three (1:07:38) in the casino:

• The purpose of Scream Three is different from the previous two - caused by frustration for wanting something rather than to silence somebody (1)
• Lola knows she has to win this bet/game - 'make or break' situation - the future for her and Manni depends on the next few seconds (1)
• Scream gets louder as the ball eventually lands - Lola's frustration and desperation grows along with her scream (2) & (3)
• Drinking glasses smash around the room but the reading glasses nearest to her do not - common theme in every scream - keep those closest to her safe, but damage the other surrounding her (4)

1)

2)

3)

4)

This in depth analysis will aid me in my coursework as it has shown me how deeply I have to consider what I show in my opening, the purpose it will play and how it will be inferred by the audience - that I need to show the audience certain types of actions to make my intentions clear so that they do not infer it in the wrong way.

What is a film opening?

(A film opening is shown at the very beginning of the production and usually lasts for a few minutes. It should tell the audience what genre the film is and show a dominant setting or location of where the film will be set throughout. The opening normally includes the film title, the name of the studio, the production company, the producer, the director and the starring actors (the other relevent information concerning featured actors, music, costumes etc. is shown in the end credits). The opening should include some, if not all, of the main characters and allow the audience to imagine where the plot could lead. A film opening should be informative in its purpose towards the audience, i.e. giving them a rough idea of what the film is all about and what they can expect from the production; however, the opening should also be entertaining for the audience, it should capture their full attention from the very start and keep them captivated as the film goes on. There are several different types of film openings; some consist of just text, others a recording with only music as sound, others can be a recording with only narration or a mixture of the both, depending on the genre of the film and the purpose of the producer and director.)