Research:Thriller Analysis- Mr Smith

          

 

How is the opening sequence of ‘Scream’ conventional to a thriller opening?

 

The opening extract of the thriller ‘Scream’ is conventional to a thriller opening through the use of the micro elements of camerawork, soundtrack, editing and mise en scene.

In this extract a close up is evident when the female victim is on the phone to the antagonist allowing the audience to see her facial expressions and emotions clearly. This emphasises the victims unbearable fear and symbolises the negative impact the phone call has had on her. She is unable to hide her emotions and breaks down while speaking to the antagonist enabling him to see her vulnerability and perceiving her as an easy target to kill. The close up of the victims face presents her as dependent and needy making the audience respond with a chilling response as they fear for the victims life as they wait in suspense for the outcome. This is conventional to a thriller opening as it is expected for the opening to immediately have an effect of the viewer to ensure that they build up anticipation and adrenaline looking forward to watching more of the film.

Furthermore, a zoom shot is used in the extract when the female victim is hanging and the camera zooms from the parent’s perspective into the victims face allowing the audience to perceive the victims state. This generates the audience to fear the antagonist as the female victim looks possessed as well as being in a horrifying state covered in blood. This highlights that the antagonist is capable of committing abnormal murders creating a chilling response from the audience as they are fully aware of the antagonist’s behaviour and the games he plays on victims. Therefore the audience wait apprehensively in suspense to see what the following murders will consist of. This is conventional to the opening scene of a thriller as it prepares the audience for the disequilibrium that will mess with their mind set and show the disturbed actions of the antagonist and the effect it will have on victims.

Moreover, off screen sound is evident in this extract when the antagonist speaks to the victim on the phone. The antagonist voice is coming through the phone however we are unable to predict where the antagonist is or who the antagonist is, therefore the audience only familiarise with the antagonist and make judgements through his voice. This indicates that the antagonist has a disturbed persona as he uses the phone to warn his victims and torture them before physically committing the crimes. This creates a chilling response from the audience as tension is created through the antagonists messages and his aggressive tone indicating him as an evil and mysterious character. This is conventional to a thriller opening of a film as the antagonist is not immediately introduced and they somehow make themselves known through other ways such as phones, letters or images.

Parallel sound is also used in this extract. This is evident when the antagonist catches the victim and stabs her with a knife. The stabbing sounds are parallel as this is expected from the antagonist who creates pain for the victims and makes them suffer. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they put themselves in the victim’s shoes and can only imagine her ill state. This is conventional to a thriller opening as it is expected for a victim to suffer the consequences of the antagonist and it immediately introduces the antagonist’s capability and gives the audience an insight of what the antagonist will do further on in the film and how he will effect society and the victim’s lives. It is also conventional as it is expected for the antagonist to commit horrific crimes giving the audience an insight of the characters motives and their relationships with other characters in the film. However, it is unusual for the attack to take place so early on in the film as the audience do not expect to feel adrenaline from the beginning and it is expected for the tension to build up first. However, in this opening the audience immediately view a murder creating suspense and tension early on.

Fast pace editing is used in this extract when the female victim is panicking and she begins running around the house locking the doors, then it is continued when the antagonist gets inside the house while the victim tries to escape. The use of the fast pace editing creates adrenaline and excitement for the audience and creates fear for the victim as she tries not to get caught by the antagonist who she knows is going to do harm to her. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for fast pace editing to occur during the disequilibrium which creates suspense for the audience and the characters who predict the outcome as they sit in the edge of their seats. 

Moreover, a reaction shot is evident when the female victim reacts after seeing her boyfriend in a chair tied up. She understands that he is in danger and begins to scream and cry historically while locking the door for safety. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they get to understand how disturbed the antagonist is and that he is extremely knowledgeable due to being able to get hold of the victims boyfriend and put him in danger as we'll as the female victim. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the female victim to be put in a difficult position by the antagonist causing her to be traumatised and vulnerable making her react by crying and screaming. 

Furthermore, the elements within the micro element mise en scene including lightning, body language and facial expression, setting, iconography and costume (hair and makeup) all make the opening stereotypical to a thriller opening and the thriller genre. 

Low lighting is evident when the victim is outside hiding and trying to escape from the antagonist with the colour black evident connoting danger and death. This creates fear and suspense for the audience as they await for the antagonists approach. When the antagonist finally begins chasing the victim the use of the low lighting and the colour black symbolises that the victim has no escape and is left to suffer the antagonists vile consequences. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the disequilibrium which the victim is attacked or killed usually takes place at night when the antagonist is less likely to be identified and the victims screams are not to be heard. This also creates a chilling response from the audience as the adrenaline and tension builds for them due to the event taking place at night making them fearful. The use of the low lighting portrays the negative future ahead of the victim and represents the antagonist as a threatening and psychotic individual. 

The female victims facial expression is full of fear and terror as the antagonist threatens her over the phone. It portrays her as a weak and fragile person as she is unable to protect herself and knows she cannot ignore the antagonist as he knows to much. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they are unaware of the antagonists whereabouts and how he is so knowledgeable telling the victim about herself. Her body language is tense and she crawls and hugs her legs in order for the antagonist to not find her or attack her. This is expected from the female victim and is conventional to the thriller genre as she has no other escape and does not have anywhere else to go therefore, uses her size to her ability to make herself as small as possible so she is lot easily seen by the antagonist. This crates a chilling response from the audience as they sympathise with the victim and wait in suspense to see what the antagonist will do and if he will find the victim. 

Additionally the setting is in the female victims home which is in a suburban location, making it impossible for the female victim to seek help as she has nobody around to help her. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they know the victim will eventually be caught by the antagonist as escape is almost impossible . This is conventional to the thriller genre as the victims homes are the prior location for an attack and murder to take place as it heightens suspense and adds to the pressure.

The iconography used in this scene includes, popcorn which is placed on the stove at the beginning of the scene and is evident until the end of the scene, a telephone which is used by the female victims who is threatened by the antagonist and a knife which is used by the antagonist to kill the female victim. The use of the popcorn symbolises  the female victims life as it begins to cook at a steady pace, similarly the female victim is getting ready to watch a movie and there is no disruption occurring yet, the popcorn then cooks and pops rapidly demonstrating the female victim being threatened and left to face the consequences, then the popcorn burns and sets alight, which is similar to the female victim being stabbed to death and left hanging. Therefore, the use of the popcorn illustrates the steps of the victims situation. The knife connotes danger and death and the antagonist uses the knife aggressively when he kills he female victim. The most important iconography is the telephone as it is the main source that is used for the problems to occur and develop. Every time the phone is heard to ring tension is created and the victim is immediately full of dread. The knife and the phone are conventional to the thriller genre as these are common connotations of the negative things that occur and connote danger, death and create adrenaline for the audience who predict the outcomes. The use of popcorn is not conventional however is commonly eaten by viewers and the audience and the female victim was gong to eat them when watching a film therefore is conventional to her situation. 



iconography-popcorn

iconography-knife  






iconography-telephone

 The victims costume is a white jumper connoting the female victims innocence and purity displaying her as a sympathetic victim conventional to the thriller genre. She has little makeup at the beginning of the scene however is smothered in blood at the end of the scene after she is stabbed numerously by the antagonist. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the victim to be covered in blood after being attacked and killed demonstrating the state she is in and highlighting her devastating experience. The audience respond with a chilling response as they feel sorry for the victim and cannot imagine her feelings however they loath the antagonist after seeing what he is capable of. The antagonist on the other hand, is dressed in a long black outfit and a threatening mask that symbolises he is hiding his identity and therefore cannot be identified by the other characters. The use of the black outfit connotes the antagonists bad intensions and suggests he is going to cause harm to innocent victims. The antagonist wears a mask that is also black and white however this creates a chilling response from the audience as they are in suspense as to who the antagonist is and what he looks like. There is a sense of the fear of the unknown as the audience do not know what to expect from the antagonist. 

 

characters contrasting outfits

Overall, the extensive use of the micro elements in the Scream opening makes it conventional to the thriller genre and opening as it creates heightened suspense for the audience who sit on the edge of their seats waiting for the outcome of the current situation. When creating my thriller film I will take into consideration the micro elements and ensure I use the conventional elements, for example the victim will wear neutral colours presenting their innocence and purity while the antagonist wears a dark colour illustrating them as powerful with dark intensions. Also, the victim will have a fearful facial expression demonstrating their vulnerability while the antagonist is confident and stern symbolising them as overpowering and a threat to the victim and audience. After analysing the 'Scream' opening scene I now have a clearer understanding of the conventional micro elements that I should include to make my thriller conventional to the thriller genre.

Research:Mise En Scene-Costume,hair and makeup,body language and facial expression- Miss Begum

Costume, hair and makeup, body language and facial expression

What are costume, hair and makeup, body language and facial expressions and why is it an important convention?

When creating a film, the director along with the organiser of mise en scene must decide on the characters individual appearances which involve their costume, hair and makeup, body language and facial expressions in order to represent them in a particular way and give them a particular role such as protagonist, antagonist and victim. 

A characters costume is what the character is wearing in the film. Costume is an important convention as it immediately allows the audience to identify whether they are a protagonist, antagonist, or victim. For example a female victim is likely to wear clothing that portrays their vulnerability, it should also be of light colours such as white connoting innocence and purity. 

Hair and makeup is used to build the image if a characters appearance. It is

also an important convention as these elements also make the character suitable for their role. If the character is to play the role of an antagonist who hides their identity they should have makeup that will not give away their persona. The hair of the character should add to their appearance and it should help the audience to understand whether the characters intentions are good or bad.

Body language is presented through the characters movements and postures communicating the characters feelings. For example, if a character has an upright posture it determines their capability and strength. This is important in a film as it portrays the audiences feelings to the audience and the other characters.

Facial expression is the way the characters emotions are protracted through the movements of their face, such as eyes and mouth. Facial expression is supportive of body language as this feature allows the audience to observe the characters emotions through their expressions and identify whether they are in a positive mood or in a negative mood based on their experiences. An example of facial  expression is if a character is crying it demonstrates that they are most likely to be a victim as they are experiencing something bad and need the protagonists support. 
 

Discuss connotations and stereotypes of characters and clothing (hair and makeup). 

Characters are stereotypical to the thriller genre based on their appearance such as the clothes they wear and their hair and makeup. if a character wears white clothing such as a dress it connotes innocence and the character is likely to be a female victim who is stereotypical to he thriller genre through her vulnerability and innocence. Furthermore, protagonists that are stereotypical to the thriller genre are most likely to wear suits or vests portraying their superiority and strength causing the audience to depend on them and rely on them to save the day. The protagonist is likely to wear black or white connoting their powerful and authoritative image making them stereotypical. Moreover, the antagonist may also wear a suit connoting their knowledge and power creating fear for the audience and victims who are unable to defeat the antagonist and can only depend on the protagonist. However, the antagonist may also wear a mask in order to hide their identity and avoid being caught by the police or protagonist. The antagonist is likely to wear black or red connoting danger and death symbolising their capability to create problems in society. The victim is likely to have their hair open showing their lack of control and no makeup highlighting that they are devastated by the events taking place. The antagonist is likely to have messy hair or no hair at all demonstrating their negativity and off putting image, while the protagonist on the other hand is likely to have their hair neat and jelled connoting their heroic personas allowing the female audience to have faith in the protagonist. overall, the image of the character and the clothing they wear must make them stereotypical to the thriller genre connoting the themes of danger and death through their use of clothing, hair and makeup.

 

Identify examples of stereotypical characters. 

 

 

This is an example from the film 'Se7en' of the antagonist Doe in the middle being led by the two detective protagonists. The antagonists costume, hair and makeup is conventional to the thriller genre as he is dressed in a bright orange prison outfit which highlights that he has committed crimes and is therefore a criminal. The bright orange colour of the antagonists costume connotes warning and danger demonstrating that the antagonist is a very dangerous person. This creates a chilling response from the  audience as they fear the antagonist due to knowing that he is capable of horrific murders. The antagonist is bald therefore he looks 'rough' and he is portrayed as a macho male. The character also has no makeup therefore this highlights that he has nothing to hide and is not afraid of anything or anyone. The audience respond with a chilling response to the antagonists hair and makeup as this adds to the fright and portrays the antagonist as a psycho path who has no emotions making him stereotypical to the thriller genre. 

 

 

 

The protagonist Ethan Hunt is portrayed as a superior figure through his use of costume. He is seen to wear a black vest with a black leather jacket on top. The colour black connotes Ethan's power and strength as he is able to fight the antagonist and overcome the issue with confidence making the audience self-assured that the protagonist will save the day. The use if the leather also connotes confidence therefore the audience have faith and have no doubt about the antagonist being defeated. The protagonist has no makeup but he wears black sunglasses that hide his eyes. This symbolises that he does not want his identity to be revealed to the antagonist immediately creating mystery for the antagonist and excitement for the audience. The protagonists hair is dark and short further resonating his superior role in the film. This makes the audience believe in the protagonist. 


 

The female victim from 'I spit on your grave' Is seen to be wearing a white vest and knickers. The use of the colour white portrays the victim as innocent and pure however the grey cloth stuffed in her mouth highlights her being used and abused therefore the colour grey symbolises darkness and danger, The victim has no makeup displaying her misery and the fact that she has nothing to hide as her personal privacy has been stolen from her. she also has her hair open symbolising that she has no power and is unable to protect herself. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they fear for the victims life and loath the antagonists for putting her into this state by sexually abusing her. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the female victim to be innocent and pure and for the antagonist to take advantage of her innocence and create problems for the victim putting her life at risk.

 

The antagonist from 'The Exorcist' is perceived to be wearing a dress and a patch of blood on it suggesting that the antagonist was innocent however turned into an antagonist due to an event. The use of the blood on her dress demonstrates death and danger which creates a negative and fearful response from the audience who fear the antagonist due to her looking dangerous and threatening which is also supported by the blood over the antagonists face which allows the audience to understand that she is capable to murder. The use of her messy hair demonstrates that she has a fragmented mind-set and the use of her fringe illustrates that she is partially hiding her identity or her actions. This is unconventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the antagonist to wear a dark colour to disguise themselves and live up to the representation of being an antagonist and having a threatening persona. However it is also conventional as the use of red blood on the white dress and her face clearly symbolises the antagonists dark intensions and murderous capabilities.
 

 

Body language: Discuss representations and meaning to the audience and expectations.

 

In thriller films, conventional characters are represented through their body language giving the audience an immediate first impression. The conventional body language of antagonists and protagonists are similar as they both stand upright and strong representing them as powerful, however the antagonist is likely to be perceived as intimidating while the protagonist is approachable and superior. This is expected from the audience as they despise the antagonist and fear him while they have faith in the protagonist and rely on him to achieve defeating the antagonist. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the protagonist is expected to be dominant in order to be able to save the day, while the antagonist is expected to also have power to create competition and distress for the victim. The victim Is expected to be portrayed as venerable through the use of slanted and slouched body language outlining her vulnerability and need for protection. this makes the audience feel sorry for the victim and they fear for her life hoping the protagonist will be able to save her.

 

 

Identify examples of stereotypical characters

 

 

 

 

In this scene from the film 'The dark knight' the protagonist is seen to be standing upright with his fists clenched. This highlights that the protagonist is ready to defeat the antagonist as his fists highlights his strength as a protagonist and this causes the audience to feel confident as they have faith in him. this is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the protagonist to have power and strength in order for him to be able to defeat the antagonist who is also likely to be powerful.

 

 

 

 

In this scene from the film 'Psycho' the victim is seen to be reaching her hand out for help as she is dying and has no hope. The use of her hand reaching out demonstrates her desperate need for help as she is aware that she is dying and is in extreme pain. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they are able to see the female victim suffering and struggling to live as she is dying causing them to fear the antagonist. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the female victim to be attacked by the antagonist in some way causing the victim to suffer the consequences

 

 

 

 

 

In this scene from the film 'Mission Impossible II' the antagonist is evidently standing upright holding a gun in his hand. This portrays him as knowledgeable as it is clear that he is up to something due to having a gun in his hand. He stand upright displaying his capability and strength. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they fear the antagonist due to him having a gun in his hand and standing upright highlighting that he may be putting the protagonists life at risk. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the antagonist to have an upright posture trying to come across as superior and unbeatable. It is also likely for the antagonist to hold an object for protection to use against the protagonist and make themselves look more powerful.

 

in this scene from the film 'The Grudge' the antagonist is perceived to be standing upright with her head slouched to the side. This illustrates that the antagonist is powerful and her existence has a major impact and influences the audiences response as they a threatened by the antagonist and fear for the victims. The use of the antagonists head being slouched suggests that she has a twisted personality and has a flexible body demonstrating that she may move in an unexpected manner making the audience feel uncomfortable and making them respond in shock. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the antagonist to be threatening and create suspense and anticipation with their action.

 

Facial expressions: Discuss representations and meaning to the audience and expectations.
 

 In thriller films the characters facial expressions determine a first impression as the audience are able to see the characters emotions by the look on their faces. The conventional facial expression for the antagonist is usually a smirk or an evil smile which represents their negative persona and their capabilities. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they see the antagonists intelligence and therefore fear that the protagonist will be unable to defeat him. Furthermore, the protagonist facial expressions are likely to be stern making him stereotypical to his dominant role, it highlights his seriousness and shows that he is determined to defeat the antagonist representing him as superior and strong. The audience would expect the protagonist to have a stern facial expression as they would expect him to do everything in his power to save the day and for him to be angry with the antagonist for causing the problems. Moreover, the female victim is likely to have a frightened facial expression representing her vulnerability and lack of power. the audience would expect the female victim to be scared in order to fit in with her role, this would lead to the audience expecting the protagonist to save the female victim from the antagonist before she is seriously hurt or even killed. These representations of the characters are conventional to their roles in the film and it is expected that they follow these facial expressions in order to be stereotypical to the thriller genre.

 

 

Identify examples of stereotypical characters

 

 

 

 In this scene from the film 'Scream' the female victims facial expression shows terror and she is screaming due to her mouth being open symbolising her fear as she is on the phone to the antagonist who is threatening her. This demonstrates the victims vulnerable state and the fact that she is unable to escape from the antagonist. The audience would expect this expression from the victim as she is unable to defeat the antagonist or stop him from threatening her as he clearly has more power than her which is demonstrated through his deep voice and knowledge about her. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the female victim is expected to be scared and crying due to her fear of the antagonist making the audience sympathise with her.

The antagonist in this scene has a evil smile with his eyes wide and looking directly at the camera threatening the audience. This portrays the antagonist as somebody with bad intentions and a mischievous plan making him stereotypical to the thriller genre. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they are aware of the antagonists capabilities and see him as a threat due to his facial expression. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the antagonist is expected to be psychotic in order to be able to commit murders to innocent victims.

 

The protagonist from 'The Bourne Ultimatum' has a facial expression of seriousness and confidence as he holds a gun towards someone. The protagonist develops his power through the use of his dominant role in the film. The audience respond by relying on the protagonist that he will be able to defeat the antagonist and protect society. The audience respond with adrenaline as they await for the protagonist to defeat the antagonist. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the protagonist to be confident in order for him to succeed.

The victim from the film 'Would You Rather' has a facial expression of shock as she sits with looking in one place wide eyed suggesting that what she has experienced has resulted in her being shocked by the revelations and unable to snap out of her shock. This makes the audience respond by sympathising with the victim as they fear for her life but also feel sorry for her as they are unable to imagine what she has experienced. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the victim to feel shocked by certain events and it is expected for them to find it difficult to come to terms with certain events such as witnessing death.
 

 

Thriller scene analysis. Analyse a scene identifying the use of costume, body language and facial expressions

 

 

 

In this scene from the film 'Se7en' the male protagonist is stereotypical to his role as a dominant superior through the use of his representation. The protagonists costume consists of a white shirt and tie promoting his intelligence and smart persona displaying the protagonist is serious in what he does. He has a black safety vest on top used for protection and a leather jacket symbolising the protagonists confidence allowing the audience to have faith in him. The protagonist outfit is black further displaying his power and strength. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the protagonist is expected to have a strong and powerful persona in order to defeat the antagonist and save the day. The protagonist has no makeup however he has cuts and plasters on his face displaying his hard work and determination in his job and his hair is short adding to his positive persona as it symbolises that he has nothing to hide. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the protagonist to be superior and for his image to support his persona. The protagonists body language is upright and he is pointing a gun at the antagonist displaying his anger and seriousness. His facial expression also symbolises anger but also devastation as he hears about his wife's murder. His anger oversees his sadness and the protagonist is determined to kill the antagonist despite it going against his occupation. This audience react by fearing for the protagonists career and are in suspense as they wait for the protagonists decision. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the protagonist is likely to be more powerful and knowledgeable than the antagonist and therefore can defeat him. Overall,the protagonists dominant representation is stereotypical to the thriller genre.


Conclusion: What types of costumes, hair and makeup, body language and facial expressions are you now planning to use and why?

 

After doing my research I am now clear about how to represent my characters through the use of their appearance making them stereotypical to their role in the film. When representing the antagonist, they will have a dark coloured costume that will present them as intimidating and aggressive making the audience respond with a chilling response towards them. The antagonist will have messy hair and cuts on their face to symbolise their unhealthy and disgusting appearance putting the audience off and making them loath the antagonist.  They will have intimidating and upright body language that will portray them as strong and determined creating fear for the victim and making the audience unsure as to whether the protagonist will be able to defeat the antagonist. Their facial expression will be evil and with a smile promoting their dark intentions. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the antagonist is expected to be a threat in the film and have an appearance that frightens the other characters and the audience.

 

The protagonist will also have a dark coloured costume in order to symbolise their strength and confidence making the audience feel excited about the protagonist being able to defeat the antagonist. The protagonist will wear something such as a suit in order to portray him as authoritative and he will have his hair short and neat with no makeup further supporting his superior persona. His body language will be upright and he will have a serious face expression to highlight his dominance and make him seem reliable and trustworthy. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the protagonist is to look physically strong and for the facial expression to create suspense for the audience making him unpredictable.

 

The victim will be wearing a light coloured costume such as a white dress symbolising her innocence and vulnerability making her stereotypical to the thriller genre. The victim is likely to have her hair open displaying her lack of control over herself, and she is likely to have cuts or blood on her highlighting her negative experience with the antagonist who mistreats her. Furthermore, the victim is expected to have a shocked and frightened facial expression showing just how scared she is and highlighting her negative situation. The victims body language should support her facial expressions by being weak and using her hands to protect her face and body. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the victim to feel threatened and fear the antagonist being unable to protect herself due to her size and lack of power.

 

overall, when I create my characters I will ensure they are represented stereotypically to the thriller genre.

Research:Mise En Scene-Lighting and colour- Miss Begum

                  

                        Lighting and Colour 

 

What is lighting and colour and why is it an important convention?

 

Lighting is an element of mise en scene however it is not a micro element. Lighting helps to convey the mood and  atmosphere. It can be used to guide the audiences attention to a particular object, person, emotion or gesture. For example low lighting is used when something bad is going to happen creating suspense and anticipation. Lighting creates more meaning than we think. It is an important convention as it improves the quality of an image that the audience can see. It is also important as it is a visual element that dictates how a character or scene is to be interpreted. Colour is the filters added to lighting to create a more obvious effect. Colour is an important convention as it connotes particular emotions and moods and gives different interpretations.

Barthes theory of semiology demonstrates denotation and connotations which is suitable when discussing light as the denotation of light and colour have different connotations based on the colours used and the position of the lighting, for example the denotation of the colour black connotes danger and darkness therefore should be used during a murder scene giving the audience a clear understanding and preparing them for the events to occur.

Lighting is split into two, there is angles of lighting and types of lighting. 

Angles of lighting- use examples
 

Angles of lighting consists of under lighting, back lighting and top lighting.

 

 

Under lighting comes from below the character and tends to have a distorting effect on them. Under lighting has been used in this scene on the antagonist representing him as an evil character with dark intentions. Although his life is at risk the audience have no sympathy as he does not have a sympathetic persona and still looks as if he is up to something. The use of the under lighting used on the antagonist is conventional to the thriller genre as it presents them in a negative way and creates a chilling response from the audience who fears the antagonist. 

 

Back lighting is when a light source comes from behind the character. If no light is used silhouettes are created and the audience respond with fear or disgust. In this scene back lighting is used when the antagonist commits the murder. The use of the back lighting allows the antagonists persona not to be revealed creating mystery for the audience as they fear the antagonist. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they are able to see what the antagonist is capable of without being identified symbolising his knowledge and psychotic personality. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the antagonist to create mystery without being identified making the protagonists work to defeat him harder. The use of back lighting Is conventional to connote darkness and disequilibrium occurring.

 

 

Top lighting comes from above the charter and highlights the features of the character. It creates a glamorous look. Top lighting is evident in this scene on the protagonist. The protagonist Is bending down and is clearly concentrating demonstrating his intelligence and knowledge causing the audience to have faith in the protagonist. The top lighting portrays the protagonist superiority and the lighting reinforces his actions. This is conventional to the thriller genre as top lighting is used on the protagonists to symbolise their courageous and powerful manner representing their dominance.

 

 

What angle of lighting is conventional in thrillers and why?

 

All the above types of lighting are conventional to thriller films as they all portray the different types of characters in certain ways. For example, under lighting is likely to be used on antagonists portraying them as evil and powerful while top lighting is used on protagonists representing them as superior and confident. Back lighting is also probable to be used on antagonists creating silhouettes and shadows creating more suspense and tension for the audience.

 

 

Types of lighting-use examples

 

Lighting consists of two types- low key lighting and high key lighting

 

 

 

Low key lighting is dark with small areas of light which creates shadows. Low key lighting is perceived in this scene when the antagonist is standing behind the victim. There is very little light and the only light visible is the light coming through the window, creating fear and suspense as the audience are also left in the dark about what is going to happen to the victim. This creates a chilling response from the audience as the antagonist looks horrifying and therefore freaks the audience out creating panic. This is conventional to a thriller film as low key lighting is used during the disequilibrium when the antagonist is causing problems connoting danger.

High key lighting appears more natural and realistic to our eyes. The effect is heightened. High key lighting is evident in this scene when the two protagonists stand inside the car, this symbolises that the protagonists are dominant and are able to defeat the antagonists with their skills. The effect is heightened as the pressure is on for the protagonists as they know they must not let the audience down as they are relying on them. This is conventional to the thriller genre as high key lighting is used to highlight the protagonists skills and creates excitement for the audience.


What type of lighting is conventional in thrillers and why?

Low key lighting is conventional in thriller films as it adds to the fear and tension that is built through the storyline and is usually dramatic heightening the suspense for the victims and the audience. Furthermore, it also presents the antagonist as frightening and low key lighting is used during the disequilibrium when the problems occur.


 Colour in scenes- use examples

Dark colours such as black, red and green are used in thriller films as they connote bad intentions and creates fear amongst the narrative.

                                                     Black and white lighting

In this scene the colours black and white are used connoting danger and supernatural. These colours are a powerful form and black connotes strength however also connotes negativity associated with fear and suspense. on the other hand, the colour white connotes light and innocence highlighting the characters persona contrasting with danger. Black and white is conventional to the thriller genre as they symbolise danger and tension and fit in with the thriller genre.


                                                             Red lighting

 
Red lighting is evident in this scene when the female antagonist sees the antagonist behind the curtain. The colour red connotes danger and a sense of terror representing the antagonist as a powerful and fearful individual who is capable of anything considering entering the bedroom. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they fear for the victims life. the colour red also connotes blood and fire highlighting the possible problems the antagonist can create such as murder. The colour red is conventional to the thriller genre as tension is built and adrenaline is created for the audience and the victim who is in danger.
 

                                                          Green lighting

Green lighting is used in this scene connoting envy and deceit. This symbolises that the antagonist has the traits of envy as he envies the protagonist and does everything in his power to defeat the protagonist, he Is also deceitful as he is mischievous as he creates he protagonists problems. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they despise the antagonist and fear that the protagonist will be unable defeat the antagonist. This is conventional to the thriller genre as the antagonist is expected to cause major problems for the protagonist due to envy and deceit which makes the antagonist driven and determined.


What types of colours are conventional in thrillers and why?

The types of colours that are conventional in thriller include black, red, green, white and orange. These colours connote danger, death and innocence which are all major themes of the thriller genre and therefore fit in well with the genre. Dark colours are more conventional compared to light colours as they create suspense and thrill.


Analyse a scene identifying the use of colour and lighting.

 

In this scene from 'The Moon In The Gutter' low key lighting is used. This is evident as the characters walk through the night which is evident through the use of the moon connoting darkness and the female victims innocence. The low key lighting results in shadows being formed creating suspense and mystery of the antagonists identity. Furthermore, top lighting is also used supporting the low key lighting, however the top lighting comes from the moon which is a natural light source. The top lighting allows the audience to see the characters shoes assuming the characters roles, which is a female victim being followed by a psychotic antagonist. The speed at which they move speeds up from walking to running highlighting threat and fear from the female victim, as they antagonist also begins to speed up the audience are aware that he is psychotic and capable of murder. The audience respond with a chilling response as they are filled with adrenaline and fear for the victims life as they predict what is going to happen. The theme of danger is symbolised through the use of dark colours such as red and black which connotes darkness, mystery and death which is soon revealed through the victims death. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for murders take place at night when crimes are more likely to take place and the antagonist is able to escape without being caught.


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

When I am creating my thriller film I will ensure that I try to use all of the types of lighting as they are all conventional to the thriller genre and are used for different characters and in different situations. I will use under lighting to portray the antagonist presenting them as evil with dark intensions causing a chilling response from the audience. I will also use back lighting when filming the antagonist creating mystery through the use of shadows and silhouettes that are created. When filming the protagonist I will use top lighting portraying them as superior and intelligent causing the audience to have faith in the protagonist. I will use low key lighting when filming the disequilibrium to create tension and anticipation for the victims and characters. High key lighting will not be suitable unless the disequilibrium takes place in the afternoon which is highly unlikely as it will not have the same effect as it would at night. I will use dark colours including red, black, blue and white in order to create fear and suspense. Overall, in order to make my thriller suitable to the thriller genre I will use lighting and colour appropriately ensuring connote the correct interpretations ,for example if I want the theme to be death, the colour black should be used to connote death.

 

Research: Sound- Mr Smith

           Sound

 

 

 What is sound and why is it an important micro element?

 

Sound is everything the audience are able to hear in a movie. Sounds include people talking, sound effects and music. There are two categories of sound in a movie including diegetic sound and non diegetic sound. Sound is an important micro element as it is used to provide a mood for the audience and provide them with information such as the characters in the film, the plot and location. Without sound In a film the audience would not react in the same way and in a thriller film, without sound the audience probably wouldn't feel as scared  and be effected by what goes on. Therefore, sound is essential in films as it creates the tension and suspense for the audience.

 

Refer to all the terms that you have learnt in todays lesson and provide an example from thriller films and explain its use of causing a response from the audience.

 

Sound is split into two categories including diegetic sound and non diegetic sound. Diegetic sound is sound which is part of the film world such as dialogue, music from a radio or jukebox, the sound can be on or off screen . Non diegetic sound is not part of the film world, for example a soundtrack, sound effects and voice overs. Characters are unable to hear non diegetic sound. Other types of sound include on screen sound, off screen sound, parallel sound, and contrapuntal sound.

 

Off screen sound is sound you hear but you cannot see where it is coming from, but makes sense to the film world. Off screen sound is used in this clip from the film 'Insidious' (at 0.34 seconds). It is evident when the characters hear the door knocking twice while the female victim is discussing the weird things that happened earlier that day. It highlights that something negative is going to occur putting the victims lives at risk due to the uneasy atmosphere. The sound is heard however it cannot be seen where it is coming from, therefore suspense is created due to the possible mystery. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they fear for the victims lives and tension is created due to the unknown identity of the antagonist.

 

 

Parallel sound is the sound you hear in a film is what is expected. Parallel sound Is also evident in this clip from the film 'Insidious'  (at 2 minutes 34 seconds) when the baby cries excessively. This is due to the mother screaming after seeing something having an impact on the baby. This symbolises that the threat and panic increases for the victims as the baby's cries adds to the pressure causing a chilling response from the audience. The audience are aware that the antagonist is extremely powerful to be able to get inside the house and they fear for the victims lives as they have no escape.

 

 

 

 

 

Non diegetic sound is not part of the film world. Non diegetic sound is noticeable in this clip from the film 'Jaws' when the victims identify the shark. The soundtrack used accompanied by the theme tune of 'dur dur' creates fear for the audience as they know what the shark is capable of, therefore they are able to  predict what may occur next. This also highlights that the victims lives are at risk as they are in the sharks surroundings. The use of the non diegetic sound creates unpredictability and leave the audience wanting to watch more.

 

 On screen sound is when you can physically see where the sound is coming from. In this clip from the film 'Fast and Furious 6' on screen sound is witnessed when the protagonists are chasing the antagonists in the car. The use of the car sounds are used to create tension and excitement as the audience fear for the protagonists lives due to the fast speed they are travelling at but they are also excited to see if the protagonists are able to catch the antagonists and defeat them. The use of the on screen sound allows the audience to identify what the protagonists are in the car for and what their goal is. The screeching of the cars enables the audience to have clear understanding of what is going on.

 

 

 

 

Diegetic sound is part of the film world and can be heard by the characters. Diegetic sound is heard in this clip from the film 'The Dark knight' (at 1 minute 11 seconds) when the glass is shattered by the antagonists. The use of the glass shattering creates fear for the audience as it is a sign of danger and is hazardous. Therefore, it makes the audience dislike the antagonists as they are aware that the antagonists are going to cause redundant problems making the protagonists life difficult, this makes the audience question the protagonists abilities as to whether he will defeat the antagonists. The diegetic sound creates suspense and tension for the audience as they are unaware of why the antagonists smash the glass and want to watch more in order to find out.

 

 

 

 

Contrapuntal sound is when the sound does not match the expectations of what you are viewing. Contrapuntal sound is discerned in this clip from the film 'Reservoir dogs' when the sadistic psychopath begins dancing to a song while the victim sits in the chair after being assaulted. This is not expected however highlights the antagonists fragmented mind-set as he is clearly psychotic due to his unnatural behaviour. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they fear the antagonist and his capabilities and wait in suspense to see what is going to do to the victim.

 

 

  

Analyse a scene and identify three effective uses of sound

 

 

Diegetic sound is evident in this clip from the film 'The Dark Knight' when the dogs are barking after seeing Batman. This highlights that the dogs see Batman as the enemy and when told to 'get him' by the antagonist they immediately attack Batman and bark loudly. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they fear for Batman's life as they are unsure as to whether the dogs will defeat him leaving him severely injured. The joker watches pleasantly symbolising that he feels animosity towards the protagonist and feels no sympathy. This creates suspense and excitement for the audience.  

 

Furthermore, parallel sound is also used. This is apparent when the joker and batman are fighting and the parallel sound of the kicks, punches and knife sound are heard. This is expected as they are fighting therefore they will do anything in their power to defeat one another. This creates a chilling response from the audience as they are filled with suspense as to who's going to win, However they wait with anticipation as they fear that the stab wounds will affect the protagonist and leave him fighting for his life.

 

Moreover, non diegetic sound is perceived when the soundtrack plays after Batman throws the Joker off the building. The soundtrack emphasises that Batman has yet again defeated the joker after battling in a difficult fight, it symbolises that Batman is more powerful than the Joker and is always able to save the day despite the difficult circumstances he is put into. The audience feel relieved and have faith in Batman as he has proved the audience wrong after looking as if he was being defeated with the dogs and the joker violently assaulting him .



Conclusion- How has your research of sound helped improve your understanding and what types of sound are you planning to use and why?

After researching sound I now have a clearer understanding of what each sound is and how they are used in films fluently. I know that I must use the correct sounds in order to make my thriller sound professional and have the correct effect on the audience. Therefore I have decided to use off screen sound in order to add thrill and excitement to my film and create suspense for the audience. But I also want to use on screen sound when the characters are talking. Non diegetic sound will be used fluently through the use of soundtracks and sound effects in order to create tension for the characters and audience. I want to try using contrapuntal sound in order to make my thriller more exciting and unique, however I intend on making sure it will flow properly and will shock the audience as they will not expect to hear it. Parallel sound will also be used in order to create a chilling response from the audience.I will try to use all the different sounds as they are all conventional to the thriller genre and will make my thriller exciting to watch.