Research: Mise en scene: lighting and colour.

Lighting and Colour.

  Lighting is an important convention because it is used to put across a certain mood or atmosphere. It helps to guide the audience's attention to a particular object, person, emotion or gesture. The lighting in a film can create more meaning than we think. Colour is a important convention in film because in scenes it has different connotations to them which give a different interpretation to every scene.

Angles of Lighting.

Under Lighting:

• Under lighting is when the light comes from below the person. This has a distorting effect on the look of the character.
• An example of under lighting is this scene from the walking dead. It is used to portray the things in the scene as distorted and mysterious. This gets a certain response from the audience making them feel uneasy and confused.

Top Lighting:

• This is when the light comes from above the person, this tends to highlight the features of the character. When they use this lighting it makes the person look more glamorous
• An example of top lighting is from the film women in black. When the character enters the top lighting is used so the audience can see his facial expressions clearly and so that everything in the scene is almost visible. This lighting all makes it look as natural as possible for a house setting. 

Back Lighting:

• The light is from behind the character. It causes silhouettes to be seen and mystery.
• An example of back lighting is in this picture. It causes mystery because it hides identity and facial expressions. This causes the audience to feel anxious about what they are watching. 

Types of Lighting.

Low Key:

• When using low key lighting is used it is usually dark with small areas of light, this creates shadows within the scene.
• An example of low key lighting is in this picture, it shows the tension within the scene. It creates shadows within the shot which distorts what is happening. 

High Key:

• The lighting looks more natural when using high key lighting. When watching the scene it looks more realistic to our eyes.
• The high key lighting in the film obsessed has been used to highlight the actresses facial expression. It is natural but at the same time very dramatic. 

 What type of Lighting is conventional in Thrillers and Why?

  In thriller films the type of lighting that is conventional differs depending on what type of thriller it is. For example in a psychological thriller the types of lighting that would be conventional would be low key lighting because it will cause confusion and suspense. The angles of lighting that are used in thrillers are usually under lighting and back lighting because they create the most mystery. This adds to the story line and plays with the audiences emotions and reactions as well as portraying the characters in a certain way. The lighting used also helps add to the idea that thrillers are quite depressing and dark. 

Colour.

  Colour in scenes have different connotations to them and can give different interpretation to the scene and the storyline of a film. 

An example of colour in thriller scenes would be the colour red. The colour red connotes the sign of blood, anger, romance and danger. This adds to the emotion the audience will feel whilst watching a film. Half the time when watching a film the audience does not realise that the colour in a scene is having an effect on them.

Colours such as red and blue are used to create a sense of darkness in scenes. Here are examples:

Red:

In this scene the blood is red, this represents death, pain and danger.

Blue:

This scene uses blue to create light shadows that make everything feel more intense. It gives the feeling that something is there when it isn't.

The Moon and The Gutter.

There is very little lighting and most of the lighting there is, is back light and low key. The way the lighting goes from light to dark will make the audience feel apprehensive to what is going to happen next. There is four main colours; black, blue, white and red. The white provokes the thought of innocence but the black and blue represent  darkness and mystery. The colour red shows us that something is about to happen.

 

Conclusion: What types of lighting and colour are you now planning to use and why? 

In my thriller the types of  lighting I will use are low key lighting, under lighting and back lighting. All of these combined will create a sense of mystery and will distort the look of the scene, if they are used in the right way. I believe that the lighting I use will contribute to how the person watching my opening will feel. I will use dark colours that link in with the thriller genre. Examples of the colours I will use are; black, white, blue, green and red.

 

Research : Sound : Mr Smith

Sound.

What is sound and Why is it an important Micro-element?

  The use of sound in a film is to create an understanding of what is happening. It also helps emphasis emotion and the meaning of the character. The sound emphasises emotion action going on in the film. Different sounds create different responses from the audience and also guide the audience to believe certain things.

Sound Definitions.

Diegetic Sound:

• This is sound which is part of the film world.
• Examples of this are dialogue, music from a radio or jukebox.
• A diegetic can be either on screen or off screen

Non -Diegetic Sound:

• When the sound is not apart of the film world.
• This could be anything from a soundtracks, to sound effects and voiceovers

On Screen Sound:

• This is when you can see where the sound is coming from.
• Examples of this would be the sound coming from car when its driving.

Off Screen Sound:

• With this sound you can hear the sound but you can't see where it is coming from.
• Even though you can't see where it is coming from it still makes sense in the film world.
• Examples of off-screen sounds are traffic sounds in the background and coughing.

Parallel Sound:

• This is when the sound you hear in a film is what is expected.
• An example would be when in a kids playground you expect to hear happy sounds and music.

Contrapuntal Sound:

• This is when the sound does not add up to what is in the scene.
• An example of this would be a killing scene with classical music.

Conclusion:
 
  In my thriller I will look to use contrapuntal sound to create tension and suspense. The research has helped me to understand how sound helps encourage certain things in a film. It also shows how it can convey different emotions and interpret different situations.

Research: Editing : Miss Begum

Editing.

What is editing and Why is it important to use in films?

Film editing is the technique used to join two different bits of footage together in an effective way. The editing in a film is extremely important, if it is not done properly you could potentially lose your audience. The way a film is edited keeps the audience interested in what they are watching. Editing helps keep the audience wanting to know what's going to happen next in the film, it plays a big part in the excitement. It is not only used for changing from one scene to another but it is also used to show the same scene from different view points.

Terms and Definitions of Editing.

Straight cut Example:

• This is when a shot moves into another shot in an edit and it does it in a way so the audience does not become confused.
• This scene from the film "Would You Rather" uses straight cuts to show the expressions and different type of body language from each character in the scene without dramatically jumping from one to the other. 

Fade to Black:

• This edit is when one shot moves into another one but there is a prominent black filter in between both shots.

Wipe cut:

• This is when the shots slide into one another

Dissolve:

• This is when you have two different shots but they disintegrate in to each other.

Reaction Shot:

• This is any shot that shows a reaction from the character; it usually relates to previous shot. It captures every single bit of emotion on the persons face.
•  A reaction shot is used in the film 'The Grudge' to show the emotion and expression of the character. This helps to get a response out of the audience and helps us understand how she is feeling. Using more than one reaction shot how they change.

Slow Editing:

• This is when clips are joined together but are kept at a normal pace. Using this edit helps keep the fluency through out the story of the film.

Fast Editing:

• Fast editing is when the clips are joined together at a quicker pace. It creates excitement within the film.

180 degree Rule:

• This is where the person filming the shot needs to imagine a hypothetical line.
• The line must be drawn between two or more characters.
• The camera must be sure not to shoot on the other side of the line because it can cause confusion toward the audience and it will also make your shooting inconsistent.

Shot Reverse Shot:

• This is used for conversations. They use this edit to switch from one person to another.

Jump Cut:

• This is a dramatic movement that the audience finds noticeable. It is almost a jump form on shot to another.

Montage:

• The speed of editing, this is where shots are quickly juxtaposed together to create excitement

Conclusion:
 
  The conclusion of my research I have done is that editing is used to create different types of emotion through out the film. The edits are also used to create a specific atmosphere specific to the genre of the film. In a thriller film, edits would be used to create suspense and excitement so you want to keep on watching.

Research : Cinematography : Miss Begum

Cinematography

What is cinematography?

  Cinematography is the term that is used to describe the various types of techniques that the camera can do whilst in the process of making a film. It also looks at the way the shot has been framed, the movement of the camera and the angle it is taken from. All these different elements give a different representation of what is happening in the film, this creates different kinds of responses from the audience. I will go on to show examples of camera shots and angles from thriller movies. 


Extreme Long-shot

• An extreme long shot is a stationary shot which shows a character from head to toe but it also shows part of the scenery and surroundings. 
• A XLS is used to portray where the character is and to help the audience visualize the characters body language

An example of this would be from scream, when the man in the scream mask is standing in the background holding a knife whilst the girl is in front with a anxious expression, it clearly shows his intentions and his body language and shows in detail the expression on her face.

Long Shot

• A long shot is also a stationary show which shows the body from just head to toe.
• It allows you to see the shot in more detail and closer up than a XLS 

This is an example of a long shot from the thriller film "would you rather?"
Even though there is a table blocking there legs you can see the longshot has been used so all the characters are seen and so that the audience can admire the dialect going on between them all in detail.

Medium Shot.

• The medium shot is used to capture the waist and above.
• Using this shot allows you to capture the emotion of the person in the film. 

In the film "MaMa" a medium shot is used to show the detail of a demon as it jumps out. The fact that you can only see from the waist up, doesnt directly show if the demon is flying or not but it shows enough to show it is abnormal.

Close Up.

• A close up is used to capture every single little bit of emotion on a characters face
• The emotion conveyed by the character may be passed on to the audience if shot well enough
• It can also be used to film intense or emotional conversations
• Using a close up shot in that situation would build up a response from your audience

This is a close up of the main character Iris, from the film would you rather. This is just before she gets tortured. It shows the pain and confusion on her face from just one frame of the movie.This causes the audience to feel a similar way, therefore having a psychological effect.

Extreme Close Up.

• An extreme close up is from the head and above
• It usually focuses on main features and expressions of the face.
• There is emphasis on detail

This extreme close up shows the fear in the characters face. The extreme close up also gives the audience ideas of how to feel and seeing facial expressions can really help tell the story better.

Establishing Shot.

• It shows a lot of detail in the beginning scenes of thrillers
• It is usually at the start of the film or scene

The establishing shot shows where the scene is going to take place. It gives more of an insight into the storyline of the film.

High Angle

• High angle is when the camera is filming and it is looking down on the character. This makes the character look small and as if they are of low status.

Low Angle

• Low Angle is when the camera is filming and it is facing upwards toward the person. This makes the person appear bigger and that they have a high status and that they are superior.

Panning Shot.

• This is when the camera moves across the scene whilst it is filming
• There is no breaks and editing

Tilt Shot

• This is when the camera moves up and down
• It allows you to see all the detailing in the scene being filmed

Crane Shot

• This is when the camera is  on a crane
• It allows it to move around very smoothly and get a shot without breaks
• The movement of the camera is very flexible

Zoom

• This is to capture emotion
• It also uses the zooming out to get away from tense scenarios

Point Of View.

• This is when it looks like it is from the persons point of view.
• It adds to the effect of the film
• It can add to the response of the audience

CONCLUSION. - How has the research of cinematography helped you developed ideas of what you could use in your thriller?

  The research I have done has helped me realise more about thrillers. It has shown me all the different shots I could involve in the two minute thriller I have to create. I have learnt that all close up shots are good to show emotion that is being conveyed. I have to use longshots and establishing shots to make sure all the detailing I want to show is being seen. All the shots and angles I chose to use will all result to my audience response, so I have to be really careful when picking them.

Research : What Is A Thriller? : Ms Begum

WHAT IS A THRILLER?

What are genres? Why is it important?

  A genre is a way of putting films of different types of categories. The genre of a movie is important to know because it'll help you realise certain codes and conventions that the film should have. For example a romance film should have high key lighting, romantic music and usually has a storyline that is based around a good-looking male and female. The genre is also important so that you know what target audience the film is suited to, an example of this is animation film such as "Finding Nemo" and "Cars" are best suited to young children and families.

 

The Thriller Genre - Definition.



  For a film to be categorised under the definition of thriller it must elements that add up to this. These things usually play with your mind psychologically and they get a physical reaction out of you too. Soundtracks that build up loads of tension is an example of a convention that effects the audience both psychologically and physically. The soundtrack builds tension, this makes you think that something bad is approaching. The soundtrack in the background also has people "sitting on the edge of their seats" and builds up intensity to the point where people are biting their nails.

Example of Thrillers.

MAMA.

The film 'Mama' is about a man called Jeffery who kills his business partners and wife in the year of 2008. After his killing spree he then took his son and daughter to an abandoned cabin and left them there. Five years later they send out a search party looking for the children,
set but by Jeffery's brother and it's successful. When they are found they are appearing to be acting like animals. The uncle realises this and takes them to the doctors. The doctor believes that this "mama" character that the little girl has created drawings of and keeps on mentioning is simply a person that the young lady has made up. It is actually a spirit that had attached itself to her whilst she was in the abandoned cabin and made her to believe she was actually her mother figure. Because of this when the uncle and auntie gain custody of both the children the demon will not let go of the little girl and tortures the uncle's pregnant wife. She does this by playing mind games and creeping around the house. At the end of the film it is definitely clear that the spirit doesn't want to go anywhere, the aunt begs for the release of the little girl and it is given. This film would be classed as a thriller because it would cause psychological discomfort to the viewers. This is because it would not be normal for a demon spirit to be mothering a human child.

WOULD YOU RATHER.


'Would You Rather' is about a group of people who are in need of money, a wealthy man offers to help them out but little did they know it involved playing a game. The whole aim of the game it to torture the other players until there is a winner. The torturing usually ends up in severe injury, blindness or death. Amongst the players of the game there is the main character Iris; Iris needs the money in order to pay for her brothers chemotherapy. That information is not unraveled until the very end of the film. This film would be categorized as a thriller because the fact the audience has to sit there and watch the players stab, whip, drown and electric shock each other would cause a lot of discomfort. The film would have a psychological and physical effect on all viewers. It would have people cringing, covering their eyes and have them thinking how people could actually do these things to each other.

Sub-genres of Thrillers.

A sub-genre is a way of categorizing films. It is when a film has the conventions and themes of two different genres of film. An example of this would be a 'crime thriller', such as the movie 'Seven'. 

SEVEN.

Seven is a film about people who have committed the seven deadly sins. One of the main characters is extremely against what these people have done and gives them what he thinks they deserve. In the end it turns out that he too committed one of the deadly sins; this results in him killing himself. This film would be classified as crime thriller because all the themes of crime film are included throughout the film. Examples of these themes are greed, guilt and family. It also has the themes of a thriller movie such as mystery, assassins, whodunit and conflict.

Audience's Response To Thrillers.

  The audience's response really depends on what type of thriller they are watching. Stereotypical responses would be, nail biting, sitting on the edge of their seats and covering there eyes. Thrillers that affect a person psychologically would leave them to respond in a way that is not physical; being confused, anxious, suspicious and anticipating what will happen next. Even though these films may be discomforting to watch people still enjoy scaring themselves, that is why the thriller film industry is doing so well, because people will carry on paying for the excitement. 

Conclusion: How has it helped with your understanding of Thrillers and Coursework requirements?

  My research has helped me understand that thriller films are not the same as horror films. Thriller films have various contrasting themes and conventions. A thriller film doesn't have to be scary to "thrill" you, the main aim is to play psychological games and cause discomfort to the audiences or to just simply get them thinking. The research I have done has shown me that sub genres are simply two different genres in one film, the themes and conventions from both genres are put together and end up complimenting each other throughout the film. 

  I understand that in the course I have three different pieces of coursework to complete and that they all add up to fifty percent of my grade. I am expected to film a two minute thriller using everything I have learnt from my research. All my research and planning must be inserted onto my own blog and lastly I will have to evaluate all of my coursework.