Friday, 29 January 2010
Assessment 3 - Genre Research - Inspiration by the whole group
Inspiration: Skins -Characters
Stardust - Puppetry
Voodoo Theme
Tormented - characters
Blair Witch Project - Camera
Texas Chain Saw - Opening
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Assessment 3 - Target Audience Research - Rating Systems by Grace Peel
The film must not promote discriminatory behavior or language, and it can show drug taking but not promote it throughout the film. The misuse of aerosols for example is unlikely to get the go ahead in the film. The ge
nre of horror can show strong threats and menacing behavior, although it is not allowed to show sadistic or sexualized menacing behavior. Behaviors such as hanging, suicide and self-harming can be shown, but not throughout the film, as the audience could imitate or copy it. Weapons such as guns, should not be in the audience’s face as a centre point all the time. Strong language such as ‘fuck’ can be used but not repeatedly all the
time, but the strongest word ‘cunt’ can be used depending on the context and if it fits in with the scene of the film. The use of nudity is allowed in a sexual content but not with strong detail or references, along with sex can be portrayed without strong activity being shown. There can be strong verbal references to sexual behavior, but strongest references won’t be allowed unless the context is necessary. There is generally no theme around this age category as long as the film is appropriate for 15 year olds. There can be strong violence in 15 films but shouldn’t dwell on the behavior or injuries. Strong ‘gory’ images are unlikely to be seen in 15 films along with sexual violence such as rape. If there was to be sexual violence, it would have to justified strongly, although there can be references to this behavior.
The 18 certificates say that adults should be able to choose what film they want to see. The 18 certificates have the same qualities of a 15 but pushes the boundaries even more. There can be more violence, sex, weapons and language used in the films but not go beyond the certificate were the ‘R18’ films come into play. In an 18 film, there can be scenes of sex workers but not strongly as these scenes showing epic images of sex and sexual nature are rated an R18.
R18 films can only be shown in selected cinemas and venues, and there is a strict age of no person under 18. The twisting of the law is strictly not allowed in R18 films along with materials such as rape and pedophilia is strictly forbidden also. Any act of physical harm that may last cannot be shown along with strong abuse and humiliatation that is not in context with the film cannot be shown.
The 18 certificates say that adults should be able to choose what film they want to see. The 18 certificates have the same qualities of a 15 but pushes the boundaries even more. There can be more violence, sex, weapons and language used in the films but not go beyond the certificate were the ‘R18’ films come into play. In an 18 film, there can be scenes of sex workers but not strongly as these scenes showing epic images of sex and sexual nature are rated an R18.
R18 films can only be shown in selected cinemas and venues, and there is a strict age of no person under 18. The twisting of the law is strictly not allowed in R18 films along with materials such as rape and pedophilia is strictly forbidden also. Any act of physical harm that may last cannot be shown along with strong abuse and humiliatation that is not in context with the film cannot be shown.
Sunday, 24 January 2010
Assessment 2 - Final Destination - Title Order
Procuction Company (New Line Cinema)
Producers (Warren Zide/Craig Perry)
Title (Final Destination)
Stars (Starting with Devon Sawa, Ending with Tony Todd
Casting (John Papsidera)
Costume Designer (Jori Woodman)
Music (Shirley Walker)
Edited by (James Cobientz)
Production Designer (John Willet)
Director of Photography (Robert McLachlan)
Executive Producers (Brian Witten/Richard Brener)
Co-Producer (Art Schaefer)
Produced by (Warren Zide/Craig Perry)
Produced by (Glen Morgan)
Screenplay by (Glen Morgan/James Wong/Jeffrey Reddick)
Story by (Jeffrey Reddick)
Directed by (James Wong)
Assessment 2 - Analysis Continued..
This helps the narrative progress as we see that the character is planning a trip to france. This is re-established when he picks up the book 'Touring France'. However, when this book is removed, the title of the next book is revealed. The title of this book reads 'Death of a Salesman'. This, again, adds a mystery and reinstates the horror genre. It also links the flight to france with death. The fan blows the pages of the book open and begins to flick through them fast. The viewer only catches glimpses of each page untill it stops on a page. The image of this page is of execution. Again this brings the narrative back to death. Death is the theme throughout this sequence, and the whole film. It then flicks to a page that just says 'evil'. Again, a viewer watching a horror film will expect to see evil as a key theme in the narrative. It also creates an enigma as the viewer will want to know what is evil and why death is so important. The final image seen in this opening sequence are the words 'This is the end' i red writing. Red is a semiotic for blood. This is also a juxtaposition. As this says end and it is at the beginning, the veiwer wants to watch on and find out what it is the end of.Sound is very important in creating an atmosphere within a film. the sequence begins with a non-digetic soundtrack that runs throughout. This soundtrack is made up of strings. Strings are used predominantly in films accross the genre. They are used to build up suspence. The change of tempo throughout the track helps change the feelings of the viewer. Also, the track changes in volume to allow other sounds to be heard. This is known as a sound perspective.The first sounds, other than the strings, that we hear are the weather sounds. We hear the claps of thunder and the rain hitting the windows. These are synchronous and digetic sounds as we can see their source and they can be heard with in the frame. The fan can be heard within the frames in this sequence too. This adds an eerie tone to the soundtrack. In places, the fan sounds like a roar. This adds an air of mystery to the scene. The sounds of the pages turning adds to the atmosphere as the sound is magnified. This gives the feeling that something out of the ordinary is happening. Another sound which can be heard throughout is a scream. This is iconic to the genre. It also adds fear.As these screams sound echoey, it seems as if they are from far away. This adds to enigma as the screams are asynchronous. The viewer wants to know who is screaming and why. The way the images are framed and the way the camera moves are important within a horror film. The main shot used in the sequence are close-ups. this is to show everything in the room in detail. This is teamed with a lot of tilts and pans so that the camera is not still for long. it also allows the viewer to take in a lot of images in one shot. This is good because the framing is kept tight in each shot. There are a lot of zooms in and out used in the sequence. This makes the viewer focus on something specific with in the frame and see it in more detail. The zooms are usually into things that are key to the narrative such as the zoom in to the passport and plane ticket. This allows the audience to read the information given to them. Birds eye view shots are used to look down onto the books. Also, while looking at the books, a shallow focus is used. This, again creates a mystery and makes the viewer feel that they are only getting half of the information. Not much can be said about the editing of this particular part of the film. The pace of editing is quite slow with lots of fades and wipes used instead of straight cuts for transitions between shots. This goes with the soundtrack. When the soundtracks gets quicker, white fades are used. It is made to look like lightening. A few cutaways are used. The scene cuts from the fan to different eerie images. Along with this, cross-cuts are used. The scene cuts from parts of the narrative to the montage of images from the bedroom.I think that this is a successful opening sequence to a horror film as it immerses the viewer. It also creates an enigma, which makes the viewer want to watch on.
Assessment 2 - Analysis of Final Destination - Beginning - 3:00
The micro-elements, mise-en-scene, sound, cinematography and editing, are very important in establishing a genre and making a film successful. The opening sequence is important in a film as it grabs the audience's attention, making them want to watch on.
My chosen clip was the opening credits from Final Destination. The mise-en-scene is very important in this clip. The lighting used is low key almost completely throughout. This adds atmosphere. Generically, horror films are dark. this obstructs what the viewer is seeing and makes the scenes unsettling and eerie. The lighting becomes more high key in places during the sequence. This is because these area are crucial to the narrative, which means the viewer needs to see them to understand the narrative properly. Lighting is used at the very beginning of the scene in the form of lightening. This, again is a generic convention of horror films. Lightening provokes fear in people.Fear of the dark and fear of thunder and lightening are irrational fears which are suffered by a lot of people. Horror film makers use these to add fear. The viewer also sees rain on a window. This is another weather typical for the genre. The whole sequence is made up of numerous images that hint at the narrative or are semiotics of horror.The first creepy thing seen is the 'voodoo-style' doll on the piece of string. After a few seconds of looking at the doll, we see the shadow of it moving against a pale wall. Horror films use shadows to create enigma and hide the identity of the monster or killer. In this case, it adds a scary effect in that it seems to be moving. As more objects are revealed, I began to wonder who this room belonged to and why they had so many strange objects. We see a strange and scary looking gorilla toy amongst the Nick-knacks. The fan in the room plays a big part of the mise-en-scene. It acts as a break between images. Also, we see images through the metal cage part of the fan which is distorted by the turning blades. The first thing we see through this are the words 'France 180'.This is important as it is a clue to the narrative. It is seen numerous times to establish it in the viewers mind. Although the main character is not seen with in this sequence, we are introduced to him. We see a picture of him when his passport falls to the bed.Along with his passport, we see a plane ticket from America to France.
My chosen clip was the opening credits from Final Destination. The mise-en-scene is very important in this clip. The lighting used is low key almost completely throughout. This adds atmosphere. Generically, horror films are dark. this obstructs what the viewer is seeing and makes the scenes unsettling and eerie. The lighting becomes more high key in places during the sequence. This is because these area are crucial to the narrative, which means the viewer needs to see them to understand the narrative properly. Lighting is used at the very beginning of the scene in the form of lightening. This, again is a generic convention of horror films. Lightening provokes fear in people.Fear of the dark and fear of thunder and lightening are irrational fears which are suffered by a lot of people. Horror film makers use these to add fear. The viewer also sees rain on a window. This is another weather typical for the genre. The whole sequence is made up of numerous images that hint at the narrative or are semiotics of horror.The first creepy thing seen is the 'voodoo-style' doll on the piece of string. After a few seconds of looking at the doll, we see the shadow of it moving against a pale wall. Horror films use shadows to create enigma and hide the identity of the monster or killer. In this case, it adds a scary effect in that it seems to be moving. As more objects are revealed, I began to wonder who this room belonged to and why they had so many strange objects. We see a strange and scary looking gorilla toy amongst the Nick-knacks. The fan in the room plays a big part of the mise-en-scene. It acts as a break between images. Also, we see images through the metal cage part of the fan which is distorted by the turning blades. The first thing we see through this are the words 'France 180'.This is important as it is a clue to the narrative. It is seen numerous times to establish it in the viewers mind. Although the main character is not seen with in this sequence, we are introduced to him. We see a picture of him when his passport falls to the bed.Along with his passport, we see a plane ticket from America to France.
Assessment 2 - My chosen horror opening sequence - Final Destination
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=si8RLhCkNMw
Friday, 22 January 2010
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