Camera Shots
Aerial Shot - Taken from an overhead position/bird's eye view. Often used as an establishing shot.
Close Up - A head and shoulders shot often used to show expressions/emotions of a character. Also can be a shot of an object, filmed from close to the object or zoomed in to it, that reveals detail.
Extreme Close Up - Part of a face or body of a character fills the whole frame/dominates the frame. Also can be shot of an object where only a small part of it dominates the frame.
Extreme Long Shot -
Long Shot -
Establishing Shot - Establishes a scene, often giving the viewer information about where the scene is set. Can be a close up shot but is often a wide/long shot and usually appears at the beginning of a scene.
Medium Shot - The framing of a subject from waist up.
Two Shot - Of two characters, possibly engaging in a conversation. Usually to signify/establish some sort of relationship.
Point-Of-View Shot - Shows a view from the subject's perspective. This shot is usually edited that the viewer is aware who's point of view it is.
Over the Shoulder Shot - Looking from behind a character's shoulder, at a subject. The character facing the subject usually occupies 1/3 of the frame but it depends on what meaning the director wants to create.
Overhead Shot - the camera is positioned above the character, action or object being framed.
Reaction Shot - shows the reaction of a character either to another character or to an event within the sequence.
Camera Angles
Camera Angle - the position of a camera in relation to the subject of a shot. The camera might be at a high angle, a low angle or at eye level with what is being filmed.
High Angle - Looks down upon an object or subject. Often used to make the subject or object appear small or vulnerable.
Low Angle - Looks up on an object or subject. Often used to make the subject or object appear powerful/dominant.
Canted Framing - makes what is shot appear to be skewed or tilted.
Camera Movement
Pan - The camera pivots horizontally, either from right to left or left to right to reveal a set or setting. This can be used to give the viewer a panoramic view. Sometimes used to establish a scene.
Track - The camera follows a subject/object. The tracking shot can include smooth movements forward, backward, along the side of the subject, or on a curve but cannot include complex movement around a subject. 'Track' refers to rails in which a wheeled platform (which has the camera on it) sits on in order to carry out smooth movement.
Crane - Sometimes used to signify the end of a scene/programme/film. The effect is achieved by the camera being put onto a crane that can be moved upward.
Steadicam - A stabilising mount for a camera which mechanically isolates the operator's movement from the camera, allowing a very smooth shot even when the operator is moving quickly over an uneven surface. Informally, the word may also be used to the combination of the mount and the camera.
Tilt - Where a camera scans a set or setting vertically.
Zoom - Using a zoom lens to appear to be moving closer (to zoom in) or further away from (zoom out).
Thursday, 27 October 2016
Conventions of comedy genre
Setting
The setting is usually set in highly populated areas (e.g. big cities).
Lighting
The lighting is commonly bright to connote happiness and laughter.
Characters
A common attribute within characters is sarcasm and for there to be idiotic people contrasted to “normal” people or really clever people who are socially awkward and unaware of social boundaries with “normal” people (these are stereotypes shown in the comedy genre).
Sound
Diegetic sound like the dialogue needs to be clear to make sure that it be can heard and laughed at. The non-diegetic sound can also give emphasis on many scenes.
Camerawork
The camerawork used for most comedies, is naturalistic and the characters are filmed in a way that shows that no one is better.
The setting is usually set in highly populated areas (e.g. big cities).
Lighting
The lighting is commonly bright to connote happiness and laughter.
Characters
A common attribute within characters is sarcasm and for there to be idiotic people contrasted to “normal” people or really clever people who are socially awkward and unaware of social boundaries with “normal” people (these are stereotypes shown in the comedy genre).
Sound
Diegetic sound like the dialogue needs to be clear to make sure that it be can heard and laughed at. The non-diegetic sound can also give emphasis on many scenes.
Camerawork
The camerawork used for most comedies, is naturalistic and the characters are filmed in a way that shows that no one is better.
Conventions of horror slasher genre
A slasher film is a sub-genre of the horror film genre typically involving a psychopathic killer stalking and killing a sequence of victims in a graphically violent manner, often with a cutting tool such as a chainsaw.
Setting
Usually set in isolated areas where there is no help for the characters and no hope of finding somewhere to run. There is also the use of pathetic fallacy which consists of thunder and rain used to enhance on the use of isolation. Also, usually, the scary, sinister scenes are set at night because it's dark and the dark connotes evil.
Props
The main props used are the killer's weapons e.g. knifes, hammers, axes, chainsaws, saws, rope, cable ties, chokers, plastic bags etc... Also, there can be antiques and paintings which are a big prop used to create a dark and sinister scene.
Colour scheme
Colours used within horror films are usually reds or blacks because they connote danger, and death. The background colours are usually black with hints of dark red at times. The colours can also be pale (sometimes) e.g. twilight has a lot of elements of pale colouring of the scenes; the reason for that film to use pale colouring is because of the slight genre of horror that is in that film (vampires are usually pale and they drink blood which therefore connotes a horror genre). The colour red connotes blood majorly; the genre of horror expects to see a lot of blood so that is why the colour red is used for a lot of things e.g. font or colour/special effects.
Characters
For characters, there is the blonde (normally the 'scream queen') who is busty, blond and wearing revealing clothing. Then there is the killer who is normally a man wearing all black, no colour, black leather boots, holding props such as knifes, hammers, chainsaws or axes etc... The killer's face won't usually be shown. in some cases the killer may be female e.g. in Jennifer's body.
Lighting
Lighting is used in horror films to give the effect of something bad is about to happen for example shadows and light flickering makes the audience feel scared and nervous. As well as this, lighting can be used to give the mood in horror films, usually when some one is scared its quite dark and is usually raining outside. It can also be used to create a personality of a character by casting shadows across there face to create a sinister minded character or a split personality of a character. So, the lighting is usually low key and dark.
Usually set in isolated areas where there is no help for the characters and no hope of finding somewhere to run. There is also the use of pathetic fallacy which consists of thunder and rain used to enhance on the use of isolation. Also, usually, the scary, sinister scenes are set at night because it's dark and the dark connotes evil.
Props
The main props used are the killer's weapons e.g. knifes, hammers, axes, chainsaws, saws, rope, cable ties, chokers, plastic bags etc... Also, there can be antiques and paintings which are a big prop used to create a dark and sinister scene.
Colour scheme
Colours used within horror films are usually reds or blacks because they connote danger, and death. The background colours are usually black with hints of dark red at times. The colours can also be pale (sometimes) e.g. twilight has a lot of elements of pale colouring of the scenes; the reason for that film to use pale colouring is because of the slight genre of horror that is in that film (vampires are usually pale and they drink blood which therefore connotes a horror genre). The colour red connotes blood majorly; the genre of horror expects to see a lot of blood so that is why the colour red is used for a lot of things e.g. font or colour/special effects.
For characters, there is the blonde (normally the 'scream queen') who is busty, blond and wearing revealing clothing. Then there is the killer who is normally a man wearing all black, no colour, black leather boots, holding props such as knifes, hammers, chainsaws or axes etc... The killer's face won't usually be shown. in some cases the killer may be female e.g. in Jennifer's body.
Lighting
Lighting is used in horror films to give the effect of something bad is about to happen for example shadows and light flickering makes the audience feel scared and nervous. As well as this, lighting can be used to give the mood in horror films, usually when some one is scared its quite dark and is usually raining outside. It can also be used to create a personality of a character by casting shadows across there face to create a sinister minded character or a split personality of a character. So, the lighting is usually low key and dark.
Titles
The font of the titles is usually the colour white or red on a black, dark background to create a contrast, like the contrast between good and evil. Horror fonts can also be serif or in upper case. The three main colours the titles usually will be are white, black or red to connote the sinister, bloody, gory, dark nature of the film (the horror genre).
Monday, 24 October 2016
TBC Vodcast 1: Narrative Exposition
Script
"In this vodcast I will be covering some of the key aspects of narrative, from what I have seen in the 5 movies I have chosen. There are usually 3 or 4 film idents shown at the start.
Narrative enigma
Barthes' narrative theory of 'narrative enigma' can be seen in 'For those in Peril', 'Wild Child' and somewhat in 'We are your Friends'. You see the main protagonists in each film opening. Although, in Bridget Jones's diary there is minimal narrative enigma.
Sound
In We Are Your Friends, there is immediately an audio bridge of non-diegetic sound that starts in the second film ident. In For those in Peril there is diegetic sound of waves in the sea throughout.
Immediately the first shot is also a mid shot of the main protagonist from behind; this is unusual of a film to not have an establishing extreme long shot as the opening shot.
Shots
In For Those in Peril, the audience is shown a mid shot of a naked boy standing on a boat in the sea. There is narrative enigma here, since the boy is shot not in focus and again, this is strange to have this type of shot as the opening shot of the film opening. Also the camera movements are shaky to connote verisimilitude of standing on a boat. There is only diegetic sound in this shot of the waves in the sea. Immediately the first shot is also a mid shot of the main protagonist from behind; this is unusual of a film to not have an establishing extreme long shot as the opening shot.
Todorov's narrative theory
Referring to Todorov's 5-part narrative theory, the equilibrium only, is established in all the film openings I looked at.
"In this vodcast I will be covering some of the key aspects of narrative, from what I have seen in the 5 movies I have chosen. There are usually 3 or 4 film idents shown at the start.
Narrative enigma
Barthes' narrative theory of 'narrative enigma' can be seen in 'For those in Peril', 'Wild Child' and somewhat in 'We are your Friends'. You see the main protagonists in each film opening. Although, in Bridget Jones's diary there is minimal narrative enigma.
Sound
In We Are Your Friends, there is immediately an audio bridge of non-diegetic sound that starts in the second film ident. In For those in Peril there is diegetic sound of waves in the sea throughout.
Immediately the first shot is also a mid shot of the main protagonist from behind; this is unusual of a film to not have an establishing extreme long shot as the opening shot.
Shots
In For Those in Peril, the audience is shown a mid shot of a naked boy standing on a boat in the sea. There is narrative enigma here, since the boy is shot not in focus and again, this is strange to have this type of shot as the opening shot of the film opening. Also the camera movements are shaky to connote verisimilitude of standing on a boat. There is only diegetic sound in this shot of the waves in the sea. Immediately the first shot is also a mid shot of the main protagonist from behind; this is unusual of a film to not have an establishing extreme long shot as the opening shot.
Todorov's narrative theory
Referring to Todorov's 5-part narrative theory, the equilibrium only, is established in all the film openings I looked at.
Friday, 21 October 2016
Film Opening Analysis 4: Jennifer's Body
Director: Karyn Kusama
Production Budget: $16m
Domestic Box Office: $16.2m
UK Box Office: $1.9m
Distributors: 20th Century Fox
Production Companies: Fox Atomic, Dune Entertainment
BBFC Rating: 15
MPAA Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Actors:
Megan Fox
Amanda Seyfried
The main protagonist in Jennifer's body is pure and virgin but got taken in a van by a group of men (a band) who wanted to do a ritual by using a virgin as sacrifice to become more famous as a band. The group of men left her there to die but instead of dying in this process, Jennifer got possessed by a demon that took over her body and made her want to eat boys. She needed to eat humans. So, this is how she became the killer. Also in this film Jennifer is very dominant compared to her best friend who she calls "needy" for a reason; Needy is blonde, nerdy and unpopular (countertype) and Jennifer is, very attractive, very popular, a cheerleader (stereotype) and gets the attention from all the boys but still seems to be a virgin and pure and a brunette which is unusual of this stereotype of the popular, scream queen, connoting she could be the final girl but in this case she is neither the final girl or the scream queen. Needy is the final girl, best friend of killer (unusual).
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FILM INSTITUTION 1
This is the first film institution shown: 20th Century Fox.
...
The lighting in this shot connotes that the film has a dark, scary vibe to it. This connotes the horror/slasher genre. Also, the type of shot here is a stalkerish extreme long shot zooming in. The titles here are somewhat girly and neon, this is a binary opposition between the horror/slasher genre. This sans serif font also attracts a female audience (this font is girly).
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The font is now pink and handwritten to reinforce the femininity of the film and connote that there are the female protagonists. Therefore, this attracts a female audience too.
...
Order of Titles
1. Fox Atomic Presents
2. Main Title: Jennifer's Body
Production Budget: $16m
Domestic Box Office: $16.2m
UK Box Office: $1.9m
Distributors: 20th Century Fox
Production Companies: Fox Atomic, Dune Entertainment
BBFC Rating: 15
MPAA Rating: R
Genre: Horror, Comedy
Actors:
Megan Fox
Amanda Seyfried
The main protagonist in Jennifer's body is pure and virgin but got taken in a van by a group of men (a band) who wanted to do a ritual by using a virgin as sacrifice to become more famous as a band. The group of men left her there to die but instead of dying in this process, Jennifer got possessed by a demon that took over her body and made her want to eat boys. She needed to eat humans. So, this is how she became the killer. Also in this film Jennifer is very dominant compared to her best friend who she calls "needy" for a reason; Needy is blonde, nerdy and unpopular (countertype) and Jennifer is, very attractive, very popular, a cheerleader (stereotype) and gets the attention from all the boys but still seems to be a virgin and pure and a brunette which is unusual of this stereotype of the popular, scream queen, connoting she could be the final girl but in this case she is neither the final girl or the scream queen. Needy is the final girl, best friend of killer (unusual).
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This is the first film institution shown: 20th Century Fox.
...
...
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Order of Titles
1. Fox Atomic Presents
2. Main Title: Jennifer's Body
Thursday, 20 October 2016
1ST 5 SHOTS OF FILM 3: Bridget Jones's Diary
Director: Sharon Maguire
SHOT 1
This is the opening long shot- main protagonist is shown to the audience. It is snowing and the protagonist is holding a piece of luggage to connote she is going somewhere for christmas or New Year's Eve/Day (snow in the winter time, christmas time). The lighting is bleak to connote Bridget's life and how she feels when she goes to see her mother. There is a black taxi in the background to connote the setting (London). While she is walking in this shot, a female voiceover appears in the background establishing the first person narrative; this voiceover provides anchorage of who this character in the shot is. She is saying:
SHOT 2
An extreme long/long shot of village where Bridget Jones is at the moment- on her way to somewhere (her mother's house). The church in the background connotes that the village is quite religious (christian from the cross). Also, underneath this cross are some poppies which connote that this is an British/english setting (attracts a British audience).
...
SHOT 3
This shot is a crane shot, following where the character is going; this connotes that the film is not a low budget film but instead a high budget film (A Working Title film). The house in this shot is very big and the garden is very fancy and decorated which connotes that the people who own this house (Bridget's parents) are very wealthy. There are two bushes which are decorated as swans which connotes that the family (most presumably the mother) is obsessed with love. The mother always goes on at Bridget to find a man. These two swans foreshadow how the mother will be in the next scene of when Bridget steps into the house (going on at Bridget that she needs to find a man/boyfriend). Two swans together connotes love.
...
SHOT 4
This shot immediately tells the audience that there is a different atmosphere completely in the mother's house from the drastic, immediate change in non-diegetic sound to an upbeat, comedic song (this music finally reveals to the audience that this is a a romance but also a comedy - romcom). This shot says whenever she sees her mother again it is always a fake kind of happy and she puts on an act, she hates how her mother sets her up all the time for a date.
...
SHOT 5
There is a sort of dutch angle here which connotes that this house is an uncomfortable, uneasy place for the main protagonist. Also, this dutch angle connotes that she found the hug and kiss from her mother uncomfortable. The furniture and objects in this shot are old fashioned and very ordered to connote that this house is dominated by the mother; this tells the audience immediately what the mother's personality is like. Also, the inside of the house connotes wealth. The father living there may have had no say in any of the design or furniture of this house. The mother's clothing is stereotypical of an old, traditional person.
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Production Budget: $26m
Domestic Box Office: $71.5m
UK Box Office: $61m
Global Box Office: $281.9m
Production Companies: Working Title
Distributors: Universal, Miramax
BBFC Rating: 15
MPAA Rating:
Genre: Romantic Comedy
IP: Pre-built audience from global hit book
Actors:
Renée Zellweger
Colin Firth
Hugh Grant
...Domestic Box Office: $71.5m
UK Box Office: $61m
Global Box Office: $281.9m
Production Companies: Working Title
Distributors: Universal, Miramax
BBFC Rating: 15
MPAA Rating:
Genre: Romantic Comedy
IP: Pre-built audience from global hit book
Actors:
Renée Zellweger
Colin Firth
Hugh Grant
SHOT 1
" It all began on New Years day... on my 32nd year of being single. Once again, I found myself on my own and going to my mother's annual turkey curry buffet. Every year, she tries to fix me up with some busy-haired, middle-aged bore and I feared this year would be no exception."
This voiceover creates no narrative enigma in the film opening at all and gives the audience information (her age, where she is from - her accent tells us that, that she is single and where she is going) immediately into the film. This woman is heading to her mother's annual turkey curry buffet on New Years Day. The fact that the bags that she is carrying are not feminine provides binary opposition between a stereotypical girl.
...
SHOT 2An extreme long/long shot of village where Bridget Jones is at the moment- on her way to somewhere (her mother's house). The church in the background connotes that the village is quite religious (christian from the cross). Also, underneath this cross are some poppies which connote that this is an British/english setting (attracts a British audience).
...
SHOT 3
This shot is a crane shot, following where the character is going; this connotes that the film is not a low budget film but instead a high budget film (A Working Title film). The house in this shot is very big and the garden is very fancy and decorated which connotes that the people who own this house (Bridget's parents) are very wealthy. There are two bushes which are decorated as swans which connotes that the family (most presumably the mother) is obsessed with love. The mother always goes on at Bridget to find a man. These two swans foreshadow how the mother will be in the next scene of when Bridget steps into the house (going on at Bridget that she needs to find a man/boyfriend). Two swans together connotes love.
...
SHOT 4
This shot immediately tells the audience that there is a different atmosphere completely in the mother's house from the drastic, immediate change in non-diegetic sound to an upbeat, comedic song (this music finally reveals to the audience that this is a a romance but also a comedy - romcom). This shot says whenever she sees her mother again it is always a fake kind of happy and she puts on an act, she hates how her mother sets her up all the time for a date. ...
SHOT 5
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1ST 5 SHOTS OF FILM 2: Wild Child
Director: Nick Moore
Year: 2008
Production Budget: $20m
Domestic Box Office:
Distributors: Universal,
BBFC Rating: 12
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romantic Comedy
...
The Opening shot is an extreme long shot of the sea, there is high key lighting to connote that the film is upbeat, happy and perhaps comedic; also it connotes that it is the dawn of a new day, creating a beautiful, light atmosphere. The first title is shown in white, sans serif font to connote the contemporary, modern, girly, upbeat, comedic feel/genre of the film.
...
SHOT 2
...
SHOT 3
This medium shot is just supposed to show the actions/movements of the character in the shot so in this case, the main protagonist rushing out of bed. Also, we can see some signifiers in this shot that connote the film is about a very stereotypical modern day girly girl. The pink pillow, the pink top, the blonde long hair, the bed colour, the lamp all connote this. The long blonde hair and clothes connote that this character may somewhat be the 'dumb blonde girly girl' who is bitchy and mean.
...
SHOT 4
Long shot of bedroom here, lots of signifiers in the room that connote a typical, stereotypical girly teenage girl. The title font for the film is in sans serif font. The font attracts the target audience of females who like glamour (the silver gems on the word 'wild' connotes this) and the prominent background colour of gold to connote the rich, posh, glamorous side of the film/main female protagonist. The film title font perfectly connotes what the main protagonist's personality and life is like. ...
SHOT 5
This is an over the shoulder shot which shows what the character is looking at. It is a calendar full of events. The main event there is portrayed through an explosion drawing to connote that that event is completely horrific and the equivalent of an explosion/torpedo to the main protagonist. The amount of arrows around this connotes the huge prominence of this event. Her reaction of looking at this connotes that it is that day with the explosion drawing on. Also, the colours (lilacs, purples, pinks, light blues) and fonts of all these decorations reinforce and connote even further that this main protagonist is very stereotypically girly.
...
Order of Titles
1. Universal Pictures Presents
2. In Association With Studiocanal
3. A Working Title Production
4. Director's name then film
...
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1ST 5 SHOTS OF FILM 2: Submarine
Director: Richard Ayaode
Year: 2010
Production Budget:
Domestic Box Office: $467k
UK Box Office: $2.3m
Production Companies: Warp, Film 4 Productions, UK Film Council, Red Hour Productions
Production Companies: Warp, Film 4 Productions, UK Film Council, Red Hour Productions
BBFC Rating: 15
MPAA Rating: R
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Actors:
Craig RobertsSally Hawkins
Paddy Considine
Yasmin Paige
Box Office (UK, US, World): $5k, $4.5m
UK/US Distributor: Optimum Releasing, The Weinstein Company
The first shot before this is of some titles (Film 4). This is the opening long shot (of the main protagonist's bedroom) to connote that this is where the protagonist spends most of his time and to show the strangeness and unusualness of the main protagonist.
...
SHOT 2
There are lots of posters and pictures in his room to connote the strangeness and madness of the protagonist, that his mind is constantly all over the place (lots of thoughts in his head). The objects in his room are unusual, old fashioned and different to what an ordinary child would have in their room to again connote the strangeness of this character.
...
SHOT 3
This is a panning shot of the main protagonist's room and then at the end of the panning shot you finally see the main protagonist. Since he is the first character shown in the film this connotes that he is the main protagonist. The audience can see unusual objects again such as the skeleton and telescope which connotes that the main protagonist is interested in science and nerdy things. This connotes that the main protagonist is a nerd. Since there are many objects in his room this could connote that he spends all/most of his time in his room using all these objects; this could further connote that this character doesn't have many friends and spends most of his time alone. At the end of this shot non-diegetic music starts playing (a tick that goes in time with the shot cuts changing to getting closer on the main protagonist).
...
This is the second shot of the three shots that get closer in on the main protagonist. This shot has framing left, not central framing to connote that this character is strange, unusual and different, so being in central framing would be too normal for this specific character. There is a painting of a submarine to connote the unusualness of this character and to relate with the title of the film (submarine) which could metaphorically connote that the main protagonist feels submerged, just like a submarine so he relates with them.
...
SHOT 5The shot has got closer and closer to the main protagonist's face and there is left framing again to connote that this character is isolated and strange. The fact that only the character's head is shown connotes his isolation from the world (looking out of the window into the world as if he is isolated) and the strangeness again of this character.
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1ST 5 SHOTS OF FILM 1: For Those In Peril
Director: Paul Wright
Year: 2013
Production Budget: Unknown
UK Box Office: $3.8k
Production Companies: Warp Films, Film 4
BBFC Rating: 18
MPAA Rating: Unknown
Genre: Drama
...
SHOT 1
The first film titles shown are BFI, Film4, Creative Scotland and Screen Yorkshire (they are funding agencies that the government gives grants too except for Film4 who is an exhibitor expecting the money back, since they are showing this film on Film4 the TV channel). The main three film institutions are shown first in the titles, then below, there is the title 'In Association with Screen Yorkshire' connoting that this film institution is less important than the others above. It is connoted that this is a low budget film because the film institutions are low budget, for films that are targeted for a small audience (Britain). The 'In Association with' font is smaller than the film institution names' font. The overall font is serif and the signifiers in the shot are: the typewriting font, the black and white shot and the seriffont; they all connote a serious drama. All upper case letters and the text overall is very small to connote the target audience of the film is adults (age rating is 18).
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SHOT 2Warp X got all their money from the national lottery as a government grant to make 6 films. Warp X is a film production company. It is made clear that Warp X is the main production company.
...
SHOT 3
Using selective focus (he is out of focus) the effect of looking ghostly is created. The fact that this character is shown immediately first and that there is a medium close up, centrally framed shot as the opening shot connotes that this character is the main protagonist. The signifier in this shot is the sea shown in the background to connote that the sea is a very important element of the film. There is natural lighting and the weather looks cold. You can see that the camera is handheld....
SHOT 4
This is an extreme long shot of the sea in the distance. There is a non-diegetic voiceover (connotes setting- Scotland) "I remember when I was little." and non-diegetic music used to connote sadness and a serious, depressive tone; this helps to create the genre of serious drama. The sad non diegetic music has an organ playing, this connotes that it is church music (normally meaning death is being signified). The black and white filter and the grainy effect connotes that this scene is set back in time. It is a long take- this connotes that the audience is older. A teen/young audience would get bored already (a 27 second take).
...
SHOT 5
There is diegetic sound of the ocean now. There are connotations that someone has died here because the framing has got tighter on a section of rocks in the sea.
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