Planning: Micro-Elements- Mr Smith

 

Micro- Elements

Introduction

Cinematography is significant in films as it relates the angles, shots and movement of each scene and allows the audience to have a clearer understanding regarding the characters  representation and the events taking place in each scene. I believe cinematography is especially important in thriller films as it allows the audience to understand whether the character is a protagonist or an antagonist depending on the angle and shot, for example, a high angle evokes vulnerability symbolising that the character is a victim or protagonist. This creates a response from the audience as they react according to the angles, shots and movement. A tilt used on a antagonist for example would create suspense and tension from the audience. Some of the conventional cinematography used in thriller films include, extreme long shots which allow the audience to see the setting, characters and events occurring which creates more suspense and excitement for the audience. Furthermore, a zoom is conventional to the thriller genre as it allows the audience to see the characters emotions clearly creating more of a reaction from the audience. Finally, a low angle is commonly used on the antagonist demonstrating that they are superior and dominating which creates fear for the audience as they fear for the victim and the protagonist.

The cinematography we intend on using in our thriller consists of the following:

1) The first movement that will be using in the first shot will be a panning shot which will be used to show the professor who is sitting at a desk watching something on a laptop with photos of a women surrounding him. This will allow the audience to have a clear understanding regarding the professors occupation and will give them an insight on what he is doing. This will make the audience respond in a positive manner as they will understand that the professor has good tensions and is the protagonist of the film. However, they will also respond with interest as they will be unaware of what the professor is looking at and will want to find out more creating suspense and excitement. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the audience to be introduced to the main characters and build a clear understanding revolving the character through their representation.

2)  We intend on using an over the shoulder shot when the professor is observing a demented woman on a laptop screen. This allows the audience to see what the professor is watching clearly, and causes anticipation for them as they want to understand more about the woman and about her present state. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the audience to gradually find out more about the storyline and build an understanding about the characters. An over the shoulder shot is used regularly in the thriller 'I Spit On Your grave' I'm order for the audience to see the antagonist from over the victims shoulder suggesting their power and dominance. Therefore, by using an over the shoulder shot in the professors scene will also present the professor as dominant and intelligent highlighting this representation to the audience allowing them to have a clear understanding regarding the protagonist. 

3)  We are also planning to use a close up showing the anti hero's angry reaction after she sees a flashback of the antagonist catching her and the antagonist. This allows the audience to perceive the anti hero's feelings and emotions clearly understanding that she has mixed emotions and has a split personality immediately transforming her feelings. This creates a sympathetic response from the audience towards the anti hero as they are aware that the events have had a negative impact on her and caused her to react with anger. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for a close up to be used in order to show a characters facial expressions clearly. It is also conventional for the anti hero to have feelings of anger due to the antagonists behaviour which demonstrates that the anti hero can act aggressively as they have unpredictable personality. Close ups are continuously used in the opening scene of 'Scream' on the female victim to symbolise her feelings clearly to the audience allowing them to see her distress and vulnerability. This will therefore be effective to use in order for the audience to gain an understanding about the anti hero's anger. 

4) We will include a zoom shot after the anti hero sees her pregnancy flashback and is seen to her her stomach with a grateful facial expression. This allows the audience to see the anti hero's feelings clearly and see her facial and body reaction to the flashback,they are able to understand that she looks foward to having her baby and that she does not regret getting pregnant. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for zoom shots to be used allowing the audience to have a greater understanding about a particular character and their actions and reactions towards situations. A zoom shot is used in the thriller film 'Psycho' in the final scene when the camera zooms into the antagonist allowing the audience to see his emotions and facial expressions more clearly which is effective as it creates tension for the audience, therefore we will use a zoom shot in order to create the same response from our target audience. 

5)   We will use a long shot when the door of the anti hero's room slowly begins to open. This creates tension and excitement for the audience as they await to see who enters the room in anticipation as they do not know what to expect, the long shot allows the audience to see the full length of the door as it opens. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for unexpected and tense events to take place shocking the audience and leaving them on the edge of their seats in suspense and tension.

6) A point of view will be used to see things from the anti hero's perspective when she is aware of the antagonists presence. This allows the audience to see the antagonists emotions and they react by sympathising with the antagonist. This also creates a response from the audience who are left in suspense as to what is going to happen as a result of the anti hero and lover getting caught. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the audience to evoke sympathy for particular characters and for them to be in suspense due to unexpected events occurring leaving  the audience unaware of the upcoming events to occur.

 

7)  We intend on using a high angle shot when the anti hero sees her pregnancy test and identifies that she is pregnant. This suggests that she is vulnerable as she was not expecting

the pregnancy and is left in shock due to the revelations as she is left in a difficult situation. This creates a response from the audience who are in shock about the situation and react with sympathy as they empathise with the anti hero. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the anti hero to experience situations which leave them in a difficult position and make the audience question the anti hero's decision.

8)  A tilt shot will be used when the antagonist enters the anti hero's room. The audience first see the antagonists feet gradually tilting vertically towards her head. This creates suspense for the audience as wait in anticipation to find out who has entered the anti hero's room and more tension is built due to the antagonists threatening and frightening appearance. This is conventional as it is expected by tension and suspense to build for the audience as they await for the antagonists appearance to be identified.

 

9)  We want to use an extreme long shot when the anti hero shoots the antagonist. This will allow the audience to witness the murder and the surroundings. This creates shock and suspense for the audience as they are able to clearly see what is going on as well as observing the surroundings. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for murders to occur creating a twist to the plot heightening the tension for the audience.

Sound is also important in a film as it heightens tensions and gives the audience an insight into the events. Without sound a film would lack fluidity and would not create suspense or anticipation for the audience, sound is especially important in a thriller film as the dark and high tempo sounds create a response from the audience and adds to their excitement, during a frightening scene the sound allows the audience to be on the edge of their seats. 

We intend on using the following sounds in our film: 

1) We will use diegetic sound when the anti hero shoots the antagonist. This will be due to the sound effects of the gun shot that will be created. This creates suspense and shock for the audience as they cannot believe what has happened and is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the sound of a gun to be presented after a shooting.

2)  We intend on using parallel sound when the anti hero and the lover are caught by the antagonist. This will be the when the antagonist reacts to the situation in shock and gasps,

this creates anticipation and sympathy for the audience. This is conventional to thriller genre as it is expected for the characters to react to certain situations in shock as they do not know how to respond at that certain moment. Parallel sound is used frequently in 'Scream' as the female victim screams in response to the antagonists actions which is expected. This then creates anticipation and suspense for the audience which will be effective to use in our production, as the audiences tension will build up as they predict how the antagonist will react to the events. 

3) We also want to use on screen sound through the anti hero crying repeatedly demonstrating signs of guilt and regret due to the situations. This suggests that the anti hero's emotions change repeatedly according to the situation, the on screen sound is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the anti hero to show signs of sadness by crying.

4)  We will also include non diegetic sound through the use of a dark and high tempo soundtrack when the antagonist approaches the anti hero causing the anti hero to react and move away from her in a threating manner.  This suggests that the anti hero is threatened and feels intimidated by the antagonist causing her to move away. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for an intimidating soundtrack to used during a tense situation causing the audience to react with suspense and excitement as they await for further revelations to take place. Non diegetic sound is evident in the film 'Insideous' during the baby monitor scene when the soundtrack used creates tension as the audience wait in suspense. This is effective therefore using it in a similar situation will  create the same response from the audience. 

5) Another important sound we will use use is off screen sound through the sounds of traffic, during the flashback of the anti hero and her lover acting intimately. This demonstrates that the characters are in public which creates the risk of the characters getting caught, however it is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the characters to experience romance in urban locations allowing the audience to relate to certain situations.

Editing is significant in a film as it completes a film by ensuring that each shot can easily be produced and easily followed by another shot without it being obvious to the audience eye. Different editing types have a different effect in the audience, for example fast editing increases excitement for the audience and is used during scenes such as a car chase. Editing is especially important in thriller films as the different edits create different moods for the audience, however the most common moods consist of excitement and fear.

We will use the following editing in our film: 

1) We intend on adding a reaction shot when the antagonist catches the anti hero and her lover acting intimately. This allows the audience to see how the  antagonist reacts to the situation and they are able to sympathise with her and may be able to relate to her. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for a reaction shot to be used in situations that evoke feelings of shock, anger, fear etc allowing the audience to perceive the characters emotions and understand more about the character and connecting with them and the film itself. 

2) We also want to use slow editing when the antagonist enters the anti hero's room. This creates a chilling response for the audience as the tension builds and they are able to predict the upcoming situation which will consist of the antagonist approaching the anti hero, the predictions cause  more suspense an excitement for the audience. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for slow editing to be used in tense and dangerous situations leaving the audience on the edge of their seats. 

3) We also want to add a shot reverse shot when the antagonist begins walking towards the anti hero. The use of the shot reverse shot allows the audience to see both the characters reactions and emotions creating more suspense for them and creating fear for the anti hero who is unaware of what the antagonist will do. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for a shot reverse shot to be used between the antagonist and other characters who are not as superior and lack confidence creating more anticipation for the audience who fear for the weak characters life. 

4) We are going to include a wipe cut when the shot changes from the professor looking at the laptop screen and changing into the camera zooming into the laptop screen. The use of the wipe cute allows the audience to have a clearer understanding of what is going on and prevents confusion for the audience. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for a wipe cut to be used when changing from one shot into another. 

5) We have decided to use fast editing when the anti hero is perceived to be acting insane and demented. The use of the fast editing allows the excitement to build for the audience due to fast pace action occurring. Fast editing encourages the anti hero's behaviour as it presents her as more demented and also reflects her fragmented mind-set. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for fast editing to occur during particular situations in order to increase the anticipation and tension for the audience. 

6) A fade to white will be used when the anti hero switches from reality to each of her flashbacks. This gives the audience a clear a understanding that the anti hero is seeing flashbacks and reminiscing on her past. This makes the audience respond with interest as they are able to find out about the anti hero's past and find out about how she got into her current state. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is expected for the main character such as the anti hero to look back on significant parts of their life which has affected them also informing the audience using a fade to white avoiding confusion for the audience about the different tenses. 

Conclusion 

Overall, I have identified the importance of cinematography, sound and editing  in thriller films and my group and I have decided which cinematography, sounds and editing we are going to use in our thriller ensuring that they are conventional to the thriller genre and get the correct message across to the audience regarding the characters and events. For example, we have decided to use a high angle shot will be used when the anti hero is in a vulnerable situation and this also allows the audience to understand through the use of he characters size as she appears smaller and more intimidated.Therefore, cinematography, sound and editing must be used carefully and correctly to ensure that they fit the thriller genre.