Preliminary Task Evaluation

Before we began making the preliminary task, we planned what we were going to make, by creating mind maps of ideas we could use, shot lists and a story board planning out which shot went where and all of the key details within the scene, like the transitions between shots and the angle and type of shot that would be used. I found this story board very helpful when carrying out the task as it was helpful to have a plan, a main frame from which each shot can be started from even if the shot was not exactly the same, each shot plan was a good starting point and because of this it was easy to keep the scene in the order that it should be so that it flowed properly throughout.

When making the scene, I found keeping the camera still when shooting quite difficult, and I also found the zooms hard to keep at a steady rate, as they either went very fast or not fast enough and I think that I could improve on this for the next task.
I also found the placement of the camera quite difficult, working out where the camera could be placed for the best shot, were it should be placed to keep to the 180 degree rule and also where it had to be placed to make sure that the continuity through the scene was right.

When editing the scene, I found making each of the shots join together in the right way so that it flowed properly a lot more difficult than I expected it to be, if I were to do this exercise again I would make sure that I had more versions of the shot, and also I would make sure that I leave more time before and after a shot to cut and edit if necessary. During the editing I also found it hard to find the right transition and sound for each shot and section of the scene, although I found it helpful to try them all and find the one that suited the most, but from this I have a better idea of what the better transitions are to use for certain shots, for example fade to black for fast moving, dramatic shots works well and from doing this I also have a better idea of what sound effects work well for the thriller genre compared to others.

I enjoyed this task, and making the scene, and I have learnt alot about how to use the camera for the best shots and effect, that will help me alot in the next task.

The Dark Knight- Analysis

How does Christopher Nolan create tension and convey The Dark Knight as a Thriller?

The Dark Knight is a mixture of a few different thriller sub-genres; it has conventions of crime and actions thrillers, and also some conventions of the psychological thriller genre, all of these sub-genres play apart in creating tension within the film.

In the opening of the film the music is very quiet, and slowly builds as the scene unfold. At the beginning certain sounds are made more prominent than others. A ticking can be heard in the background, this creates tension as it gives the viewer the impression that something is about to happen in the scene.

At the beginning of the scene, an establishing shot is shown of rooftops in a city scene, this shot then focuses and zooms in on one building in particular, this building is large a looks like a office building, with rows of small square glass mirrored windows, then shot them zooms further in and one of the windows smashes, this is a prominent sound in the shot, and draws most of the viewers attention making it seem important and adding tension, the shot then cuts to the inside of the building, to the room from which the building was broken, where the viewer is now show a shot of two men wearing clown masks, one of which is holding a gun which a string and hook attached to it.

The shot then jumps to a low angle mid to long shot of a man standing on a side walk with a duffel bag over one shoulder, and in his other hand holding a clown mask. The shot then zooms in on this mask, which gives the viewer the impression that it has importance in this scene, and the idea of a clown has importance in the movie. By using a clown to cover up their identities, it creates a sense of tension and fear, as it plays on people’s fears and nightmares as a lot of people are afraid of clowns, especially ones that have haunted faces, which are the type portrayed with the mask, by using this is makes the men seem scarier, more dangerous and sinister.

We then see this man jump into a car that has three other men inside, all of which are also wearing clown masks. This shot them jumps back to the rooftop shot, showing both of the men inside the building moving from the building they are in to the rooftop opposite them using a zip wire, as they move across they are shown from a bird’s eye view from which the viewer can see the scene below. This gives a sense of danger and vulnerability and creates tension among the viewer. When the two men land on the building, they fall into the camera, this gives the viewer the impression that they are not in control of the situation.

As the men begin to speak they talk about the job at hand, which hints to the viewer what is about to happen, and they also talk about someone called the joker. This shows the viewer that these men are hired, and that everything has been planned for them and also tells the viewer that they are not in control of the situation at all and only know what they have been told as none of them know who it is that has told them to do this. This gives a sense of mystery and tension, and the identity of this person has been hidden more than the other men in clown masks. Also from hearing this name, it gives the viewer some insight into why these men are wearing clown mask.

The men then all start loading guns in the car and as they jump out scan the area and then run into a building, which the viewer can infer is a bank. At the same time, the viewer sees the other two men breaking into an electrical box. This scene is quite dramatic and creates tension for the viewer as they can see that these men are quite dangerous, as they have guns and seem to know what they are doing, as they are quite planned and are acting quite strategically.

As the men are robbing the back, the viewer sees who they infer is the bank manager as he is in a smart suit and has a separate office, from the rest of the bank realise the situation that is unfolding. He appears quite powerful at first, attacking the robbers and shooting at them. But this image of him is then reversed when he is shot and the robber that shot him is shown from a low angle shot, giving the viewer the impression that he is powerful and dangerous creating tension.


As the men begin to break into the vaults and rob the bank, each start to kill the others off, each saying that they have been told to kill each other by the joker when one has finished the job which shows the audience that the joker has a lot more control over the situation than was thought before, and also gives the impression that this has all been carefully planned, which creates tension as the viewer wants to know what this person has gone to so much trouble for.
At the end of the scene the audience sees two men dragging bags of what they can infer are full of money into a pile at which point one pulls out a gun ready to shoot the other guy, but this guy says something about a bus, at which point one comes crashing through the glass doors. This creates tension as the viewer sees that this man knows more than the others, and so they wonder who this man is and why he knows more than the other men, they begin to wonder, and infer the idea that he might be the joker.

The group of men that are robbing the bank are shown in a very stereotypical way of robbers, wearing masks, working together and then turning on each other, being very planning strategic and also being shown as dangerous and ruthless, not caring is they hurt of kill anyone to get what they want. The bank manager is also shown in a very stereotypical way, very smart and powerful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OYBEquZ_j0&feature=player_embedded

The Dark Knight Bank Robbery Scene HD

Conventions- Openings of Films

In movie openings you always have the productions and distribution logos of the main companies that work on the movies. These logos will sometimes be edited to relate to the theme of the movie.

The first shot of the film is usually an establishing shot or a blank screen with titles. These title screens can also be a way of building up suspense before the film and giving away the genre of the film to the audience before the film actually starts.

At the beginning of a thriller, a scene will usually be played to show the audience what the rest of the film will be about, what the rest of the film will be trying to unfold; why this scene has taken place.

Often at the beginning of films, the main characters will be shown before any others so that the audience know who they are and so who to pay attention to throughout the film, as they will have a main part to play.

At the beginning of most films, there will be music that relates to the genre of the film, that plays in the background through the opening credits and also through some of the opening of the film, in thrillers the music is usually dark and sombre, to create a feeling of suspense among the audience before the film begins.

The mise-en-scene in the opening of a film, will also relate to the genre of the film, for thrillers, the mise-en-scene will be dark and forbidding, whereas in a comedy film the mise-en-scene will be bright and cheerful.

Shot Composition

A good shot compositions can be done by using:

The Rule of Thirds: this concept words by dividing a frame into 9 sections, this then acts as a guide to frame the image. If the main part of the image is placed in the centre sections, the viewers eye will be drawn to this sections first.

The Golden/Diagonal Method: this concept works by dividing the frame diagonally down the centre. All points of interest should be placed on this line, as the viewer will look and pay more attention to them.

The Golden Section rule: In this rule, all of the points of interest should be placed where the lines drawn from the rule of thirds cross each other.

Minimalism: By providing the minimum of what is needed in a shot and not overdoing the shot, makes something eye catching and gives the subject a prominence in the shot.

Correct Perspective: Using the correct perspective in a shot can create a lot of different effects; making sure that when subjects go towards the horizon line in a shot that they become progressively smaller, high and low angle shots and eye level shots.

Looking Space: Having looking space in a shot makes for a good composition in a shot, having an empty space where the subject could be looking, facing, talking in a shot adds a sense of mystery.

Motion Space: Having motions space heightens the feeling of motions in a shot, this is an empty space where the subject could be walking, running  or moving too.

Angled Horizon line: This heightens energy and attracts attentions.

Level Horizon: This adds stability.

The Thriller Genre

The main elements of the thriller genre are tension, excitement and suspense, all of these elements make for a good thriller movie.

Thrillers are literary devices (aspects of literature that express ideas through language, which can be recognised, identified, interpreted and analysed in different ways) the techniques used in thrillers may be hard to identify and therefore challenge the viewer to understand them, which is what creates the suspense and tension normally felt in thrillers.

Thrillers tend to promote moods in the viewer, such as high levels of anticipation, ultra heightened expectations, uncertainty, anxiety and occasionally terror.

The hero's in thrillers tend to be ordinary people, unaccustomed to danger who find themselves in situations, however crime thrillers tend to have the hero's as hard men, accustomed to danger, e.g. the police. The hero's are traditionally men, although woman are now increasingly common.

Thrillers often overlap with mystery stories but are separated by the way that the plot is ordered. In a thriller the hero has to stop the plans of the enemy rather than uncover a crime that has already happened. In thrillers the story, villain and any details are typically known from the beginning.

Thrillers don't tend to be defined by the subject matter in them, but more by the way that they approach it. They are often defined by the mood that they create: fear, tension, excitement... They create intense emotions no matter what type/sub genre of thriller that it is.

Some of the sub genres of thrillers are:

Conspiracy thrillerCrime thriller

Disaster thriller e.g. The Day After Tomorrow

Mystery thriller

Medical thriller

Political thriller

Psychological thriller e.g. Phone Booth

Religious thriller e.g. The Davinci Code

Techno thriller e.g. I Robot

In recent years thrillers have become more and more influenced by horrors and psychological horror, using the ominous and monstrous elements to heighten tension.

DaVinci Code- Still Analysis

In this still we see a close up of a clocked man through a caged door, the prominent feature in this shot is the gun as this is at the eye line of the viewer and is made to seem as though it is being aimed towards the audience and so at first is the main focal point, but then the audiences eye is drawn to the hooded man, the gun is blurred so the line of sight follows down the arm of the man to his face which is clearer but also darkened, this adds mystery and tension. It makes the shot more dramatic and much more frightening, but grips the audience, which are all conventions of the thriller genre.

In this shot the two characters, begin talking, but the subject of the conversation is not clearly revealed to the audience, the cloaked man asking, "where is it hidden?", he appears to be trying to get information from the man. By not revealing any more information to the viewer it makes them question what’s happening and what will happen and so keeps them in suspense for the rest of the scene.

The moonlight coming in through the windows is the only light in this room, this creates a eerie felling, as all you can see in the idea of light are the shadows from the windows also moonlight is closely associated with the horrow genre, as most scenes are set in the night, and shadows are used to create a frightening effect. This may convey the idea that something terrible and frightening is happening in this scene. The moonlight is only slightly hitting the hooded figures hand and is also glinting off the gun slightly, which again draws the viewers attention to the gun.

Hit list- how to improve my work!

• Avoid shopping lists
• Always state why!
• Don't repeat things that have already been said
• Go into detail
• Good language/terminology
• Focus on the main details/points
• Don't waffle!
• Make a point and explain them
• Always link ideas back to the main idea/question
• Give evidence and an explanation behind all ideas and points made
• Create clear sections for different points e.g. Sound.... points about sound can be linked together and placed in one paragraph.
• Make relevant points

Memento Analysis Notes

Conventions:
The mise-en-scene is dark and sombre, which is very conventional of a thriller genre.

Sound:

The sound is pensive and sombre, it is reflective, sad and ironic. The music builds to a crescendo.

The music is a drone throughout the film. Quiet in the background.

When the gun sounds its louder than the rest of the music which shows its importance and draws the attention it it.

His voice is also a drone which shows how he is thinking out loud to himself.

Camera work/Editing:

Dissolves are used to symbolise his memory.

The close ups and point of view shots that are put in give a sense of mystery as you can't see anything around it. The close up of the picture shows gives a sense of mystery as you wonder what the pictures about.

The blood is a special effect used in the beginning of this scene.

The black and white scenes in this movie show his memory, him working things out for himself, trying to remember whats happened.

Narrative:

The story is not linear which is unconventional. It flicks back and forth compulsively, which shows frustration and my symbolise the thoughts of Lennie as a character.

Mise-en-scene:

The font at the beginning, blue on black and is spread out, bold. Font ‘memento’ symbolises his memory. The font being blue on back may show how his memory fades away, and it being spread out may show how it is not in order and how he as a person can be quite spacey as he can't remember much.

Picture is distorted, may symbolise memory.

Representation:

Teddy- not stereotypical of a killer, he is friendly, but still could be a killer as he comes across as being quite twisted. He is also a cop which is not stereotypical of a killer.

Lennie- not stereotypical of a mentally disabled person, he is very independent and driven, and has his own system of dealing with things.

The film:

The film challenges the audiences way of thinking, through the narrative, the way that the film has been made and how it is jumbled up.

The first scene goes backwards(re-winds) which may be symbolic of how his memory works.

Memento Analysis

How does Nolan convey Memento as a psychological thriller?

Nolan conveys ‘Memento’ as a psychological thriller in a number of ways, he uses conventions of a psychological thriller, sound, editing techniques, camera angles, and the representation of the characters.

The narrative of the film is not conventional compared to other films; it has been made so that it is in a non linear order. The film starts from the end and as it moves through the film works towards the beginning, revealing information that the viewer did not know in each scene, showing why the previous scene has taken place. The way the scenes flick back may symbolise the characters compulsive nature and shows the frustration that he is feeling. The way that the film has been made may also symbolise the characters memory, how it is not easily put together, how things are forgotten and then remembered. The film confuses the audience’s expectations and challenges the viewer’s way of thinking. The way the film is set out grips the audience and creates tension which is conventional in a psychological thriller, as the viewers have to watch and want to know why these events are taking place and what started it all. The way that the film slowly in chunks reveals the story of Sammie and the story of how Lennie’s wife died, also creates tension and makes the audience have to watch on as you don’t find out the whole story until the end of the film.  The character Teddy in this film is the anti-hero, the audience does not find out whether he is good or bad, or both. They can’t tell if he is on Lennie’s side as so this creates drama and a compelling story line for this character, as he confuses the audience and gets them thinking, this conveys the idea of Memento being a psychological thriller. Another character that does this is Lenny himself, the audience sees him as a dark and complex character that can be quite violent and so we draw an opinion that he is not the nicest of people, but then at the same time the viewers feel sorry for him because of what has happened to him, with his memory, and his wife.

Before the film begins we see the opening credits, which are accompanied by the same style of sombre and reflective music as it heard in the first scene. We also see the opening title to introduce the film and state what the film actually is. The font used is blue on black and is bold and spread out, this font saying memento’ may symbolise the memory of the character. The font colours, blue on black do not stand out as much as using white on black would, which would be the colours used for other films. This may show how is memory fades and is eventually nothing and the was that it is spaced out and bold may show how some of his memories are clearer than others but at the same time are not placed together in his mind how they should be, and so not much sense can be made of them, like the memories of Sammie Jenkins and his wife’s death.

In the first scene the mise-en-scene is dark and sombre, this creates a sense of mystery and is a key convention in a psychological thriller, as it must confuse the audience and keep them guessing and gripped to the movie.

The non-diegetic music in the first scene is sombre and reflective. It also sounds quite sad which is quite ironic, as this scene is quite a sad and sombre scene, and is as well quite reflective as Lennie is thinking back to the events that have recently happened, but that he can’t remember. The music is almost a drone, which may reflect the scene being edited to reflect slow motion, so that the seriousness of the scene is put across to the audience.

At the beginning of the film, the audience watch a photo being shaken and fade to black, this image is blurred and distorted which confuses and grips the viewer as they want to know what the picture is, and also why it is fading to black rather than becoming clearer, as until we begin to see more of the scene is isn’t let onto the audience that the scene is being shown backwards.  The shot of the photo is a close up and also a point of view shot, which gives a sense of mystery as the viewer can’t see anything else in the scene just the photo and this isn’t even clear, by creating this sense of mystery and using point of view shots it conveys memento as a psychological thriller, as it puts the viewer artificially into the situation. As the scene begins to unfold, we see that someone has been shot; the blood that has been used is a special effect to create a sense of tension and drama that show conventions of the psychological thriller. The way that the scene rewinds gives the viewer the impression that they are going to see why the shooting has taken place, from the beginning of the story to what they are watching now. Nolan therefore confuses the viewer by not showing this and instead having a direct cut straight to a completely separate scene. Dissolves are used as transitions between cuts to symbolise his memory dissolving/being forgotten.

Just before the scene cuts to the next he see the gun flying back into his hand and then the trigger being pulled and the gunshot sounding, this shot gives a sense of power to the gun instead of the Lennie as it is the gun going to his hand, rather than him gripping the gun, it makes the gun seem real and much more powerful, like it has control of the situation. The gun shot sound is much louder than all of the background music and gives a sense of the seriousness and anger of the situation.

The next shot is a black and white shot of Lennie sitting in a room. As he begins to speak his voice is almost a drone, which gives the impression that he is thinking out loud to himself, trying to work out where he is and what’s happened. By having this scene in black and white it takes away from the main movie, and so we can see that the black and white scenes symbolise/show his memory. The black and white scenes show him recalling memories and show him working things out, for example in this scene, he is working out, trying to understand what room he is in, and is trying to decide whether or not it is where he lives. Using black and white editing conveys the idea that this is a psychological thriller as using this creates a sense of darkness, and gives the viewer a sense that something is not right.

The representations of the characters are not very stereotypical representations. Lennie is not very stereotypical of a mentally disabled person. He is very independent and driven rather than relying on anyone else. He has his own system for dealing with his condition, also Teddy is not shown as a stereotypical killer, he is friendly and appears to be helping Lennie, rather than going against him, although there are some things that hint to him trying to stop Lennie finding out information, for example he give Lennie people to kill, and he is said in the film to be lying a lot, which gives the impression that Teddy is not as nice as guy as first thought. He is also said to be a cop who is not stereotypical of a killer either. But in the way that he seems quite twisted, shows the viewer that he could be a killer. This will convey memento as a psychological thriller as it confuses and concerns the audience.