Advertisement Production:

I aim to make a perfume advert, advertising a new fragrance for women, this is because I have done some research and looked at many different perfume adverts aimed at women and they are all interesting and effective for different reasons; whether they are eye catching or mysterious. However many of the adverts portray women negatively I.E. exposing them and making them into more of an object than a woman. Having taken the research on board I am going to create a socially acceptable advertisement for a new women’s fragrance. I have decided to use a romantic genre for my advert because I intend it to show innocence and fun, rather than a highly sexually orientated advert that is very sexist towards women. I got this idea from the opening scene of ‘Sin City’ where the ‘Femme Fatale’ character is standing alone on a rooftop in a large dark city. The heavy rain adds a sense of romance to the scene and the monochrome editing ads style and class to the romantic embrace between two characters. The woman featured in this scene is very sexy and attractive but not in an inappropriate way, she is fully clothed and there isn’t much visible skin, but the lighting and dress code make her very elegant and beautiful.
The target audience I am going to aim this fragrance at will be young women aged 16 to 20 years of age, Therefore I have chosen to use a model 17 years of age, to represent and reveal to the market that the fragrance is aimed at. I am going to show the model in monochrome but use editing to highlight specific parts of the advert, for example the bottle of perfume itself. Using sin city’s opening as a stimulus I am going to try and show the same elegance and romance without making exposing the woman.

Evaluation

I think the final advert was reasonably successful, as the model is of the correct age to represent the target audience. I took this picture inside of my friend’s house against a large full length mirror and used the lighting to brighten one half of the picture and make the other half dull, this how I got the slogan of ‘Have you got a dark side?’ I used the idea of Film noir as the women or femme fatales are often very sexy and attractive but they don’t have to be exposed or dress in revealing clothing to achieve their seductive appearance. I didn’t make the product very obvious, and perhaps should have included a separate image of the product to make it clear what it looks like, however I drew as much attention to the product as I could by making the picture monochrome and leaving the perfume in full colour also the model is holding and looking straight at it. I tried to give the advert a romantic feel, so that young girls could relate to the romance and link the romantic feelings with this fragrance. The Slogan ‘have you got a dark side’ makes you feel rebellious when wearing the fragrance and you feel as though you have released your dark side as it were. The model is wearing a simple dress with little design work; the idea was to try and show natural beauty and make the customer feel beautiful just by wearing the fragrance without covering up themselves with makeup. The location could have been better, my criticism of the location is the fact that in the background of the image a door and various items of furniture can be seen, this reduces the adverts effectiveness it a certain extent, If I had shot this image in a photo studio I could have tailored the background to my ideal standards. The model I used is 17 years old this is only just in the age category for my target audience and it shows, on closer inspection I realise that I should have used an older model perhaps of mid 18 years old because this aged model would be more relevant to all ages in the category.

Thriller Voice over script

This is the script that we used for the voice over in our thriller opening. It is very eerie and poetic. Portraying lots of dark imagery. This script took a great deal of time to develop as it had to connote dark or sinister ideas to the audience but it still had to be appropriate for our target audience.




'She is more beautiful than the last sunset of summer or the first snow flake of winter, and she was mine but not anymore, she is gone, where? Why? There is only one thing I know for certain, she will regret leaving me. I will be her biggest mistake! Her friends say I'm unstable, I'm obsessed, but the irreparable damage I will cause will make them understand. I will show them how it feels to be crushed to feel nothing, constantly numb. My heart is an open wound that won’t heal. If I can't have her no one can. I make her suffer the pain I feel every day if only for a moment a second of what I feel, will make her understand how it feels to be me. I'm isolated, but I am not alone I am tormented by my thoughts constantly. I'm never fully conscious in a state of waking sleep. But now it’s her nightmare...'



I think that this script was perfect for our opening as it linked in with the story line perfectly and it also revealed a great deal of the past of the characters without actually just describing the past. Personally I feel this script was a success and worth the confliction of ideas amongst the group because the end product was very successful and worked beautifully.

The conventions of L.A. Noir

L.A. noir is almost a sub genre of a sub genre; L.A. noir is very similar to film noir but has its own style and conventions. L.A. noir is generally filmed in colour with use of monochrome in certain scenes. There are heavy elements of crime, deception, adultery and smoking.
L.A. noir is set in L.A. which is a very sunny state of America, the lighting throughout L.A. noir films is. The strong and bright lighting adds a very eerie effect to the films, the bright sunny lighting contrasts with the dark themes such as crime and adultery. The lighting is ironic as the images are of crime and evil and the lighting is bright and colourful.

L.A. Noir features the same style of characters and the same generic conventions of film noir. The main difference is the way the film is shot using bright lighting however dark and gloomy monochrome shots are also used just the same as film noir however the dark shots are often used as flash backs and to reveal a time period to the audience. The bright sunny shots are very contradicting of the dark and evil plot lines. The mise en scene is very dark and the strongest link to the original film noir style.

L.A noir is commonly shot in American Los Angeles because of the weather conditions. The sunny weather provides a strong contrast with the dark night scenes and the bright sunshine can be linked with money or success, as many of these films are based around gang activity or crime, the sunshine provides a connotation of success .whereas The darkness or evil is commonly shown in night scenes as it provides the perfect tone for sinister activity or the dark connotations of the director.

The sound tracks and the narrative structure is very similar to the film noir style of non diegetic and non diegetic sound. The sound tracks are also very similar, older style music is sampled over the image to create a tone or effect however as in film noir the music is often used to establish a disagreement of moods or tones.

Thriller Evaluation: The Neurotic

Thriller evaluation on Prezi

Conclusion to research

After constructing two different questionnaires I discovered allot about what the audience expected from a thriller opening, mainstream or independent. I used two different interviewees with two interviews with different questions. The second interview I did was far more successful as I used longer and more detailed questions I also provided examples of a mainstream thriller and an independent thriller so the interviewee could gain a better understanding of what differentiates the two. Also so I could gather the relevant information for developing my personal thriller, and what style would be easier to achieve. I chose to go for an independent styled thriller opening. 

Discuss the ways in which the extract constructs representation of gender in the extract from: East Enders live episode

I am analysing a 4 minuet extract from the east Enders live 25th anniversary episode, unfortunately I cannot find the original YouTube video I watched so I cannot embed the clip 

The extract opens with a three shot featuring two male characters and one female. Note rule of three and character positioning, the female is in the far left of the shot which implies significance however the two male characters are in the centre and the right of the shot, this opening shot is very male dominated as two thirds of the frame are male. The woman is wearing a large white coat which connotes innocence and purity this idea stems from marriage tradition. In the background a row of lights are stringed up along a market stall however because of the camera angle the lights appear to be hovering above the women like a halo, this further emphasises the idea of innocence. The male characters in this scene are wearing dark black suits which imply wealth or a high end job. The dark colours also introduce negativity or darkness to the characters. The voices of the characters have strong east London accents to make the location more obvious. The men’s voices are very deep making them seem very masculine comparatively the woman’s voice is shrill and high pitch. The characters voices are very traditional and are what we would expect from these characters.  The second shot is an over shoulder shot from the women’s point of view this reveals another male character, this mid three shot has the same layout as the opening shot same rule of three with male dominance. The 180 degree rule is used here keeping the women on the left side of the shot making it easy to assess the action within the scene. The shots are joined with quick cuts; this gives the extract high energy and helps the viewer understand the mood of the extract, which I assumed was panicky and exciting. A close up is used to show what we assume the main character, to show fear and anxiety. The lighting non ambient but very simple, a small amount of soft focus light is thrown over the character we are supposed to be focusing on. A low angle long shot then introduces two female characters. The low angle makes these characters appear powerful and important. The dress of these characters is very interesting and helps with depicting and retrieving extra information about these characters. The first character is wearing a smart suit showing she is controlling or powerful, the second character is dressed very much like a femme fatale this gives us the impression that she uses her looks to get what she wants. Both of these women are blonde and wearing a lot of make-up, this shows us they are possibly insecure or uncomfortable with their natural beauty. This is the first female dominated scene which connotes independence. The two characters seem very strong and appear to be able to take care of themselves, without needing a man to care for them. The dialogue in this scene is joint together using sequential over shoulder shots this makes the viewer feel like part of the conversation. A jump cut leads us to a packed traditional pub where a further two characters are introduced.

 A large bald headed man violently grabbing a young girl. The girl appears too young to be buying alcohol in a pub however she is wearing a very revealing top; using her body as a device of persuasion this connotes social and moral issues. The male character grabs the girl and spins her round very roughly majorly inappropriate, the violence shown by this character raises ideas of abuse and raises a very delicate social issue. The pub scene continues to a mid three shot featuring a second female dominated scene following the rule of three. The first character we are drawn to is a red headed woman in a wedding dress, thus keeping with tradition she is wearing white. However her mannerisms are totally opposite of what we would expect from a ‘blushing bride’ as she is being very mouth towards other women in the pub. The mouthy women is associated with alcohol or binge drinking as this is a huge problem in Britain and this theory is demonstrated in the extract. In this short scene a man stands helplessly in between the two women, this generates the idea he isn’t in control and that perhaps he is the insignificant person in the relationship. The background noise is very subtle and hardly audible which draws the viewer’s concentration to the central action. A long shot is then used placed waist height amongst the crowded pub focusing on a female character clearly distraught, this shot makes her appear isolated or trapped amongst the other pub goers, this woman is portrayed to be alone and in dismay. The quick jump cut takes us to a small corner shop where the two blonde characters from the previous scene are arguing. When watching this scene I didn’t notice at first the woman in the background working a lower end job stacking shelves in the shop, this didn’t seem significant however when noticing this I realised that all the women we see working are either bar staff or small low paid jobs. The action is then taken outside but to keep the audience involved in the scene a dual shot and an over shoulder shot is used to keep us close to the action. The lighting is once again non ambient but very subtle and made to look like street lamps, this reinforces the idea of being in London city.

This clip from east Enders cleverly constructs stereotypical representation of gender and also elaborates on more unusual gender ideas. The women in this clip are generally stereotypical representations of women. The biggest clarification of gender representation is in the mise-en-scene, the producers and director have cleverly chosen appropriate costume and lighting to set up the correct mood and tone of characters. The males of this extract all seem to be wealthy and in executive positions however all seem to be troubled to a certain extent for example: the newlywed husband in the pub seems to have a considerable amount of trouble staying in control, or the large man who violently grabs the young girl. The characters portrayal also engages various social and moral issues for example abuse and binge drinking. East Enders has followed basic criteria for characterisation and produced characters so that the audience can relate to them to a certain degree; this is a very wise and safe move in making a popular soap opera. 

New technology: How is digital cinema production affecting film quality?

Digital cinema production is a term used to describe the way a film is produced filmed and eventually displayed on screen. Digital production is basically filming to a new style of media. Digital production is cheap and very easy to use; it cuts out huge amounts of time and makes replication very easy. Digital production also allows a huge amount of new techniques and innovative ideas to be practiced and developed.

Technical convergence is a key point in digital production and development. Technical convergence is the term used to describe two or more initial entities coming together for example a mobile phone which can take photographs. This is a key point in digital production because technical convergence can make a huge amount of tasks possible. The coming together of technical devices such as digital projector can not only play standard films but also 3d films and high definition (HD 1080p). Other devices which have converged to make one better device is the computer, a computer can do the tasks of editing rendering film quality and even help distribute the film online. Technical convergence makes many things possible that weren’t possible with film reel projection, High quality surround sound and there are no reel changes or cigarette burns in the reels. Due to technical convergence the whole experience of going to the cinema has changed. You can now expect a much greater quality of sound and image. Also because the production of the films is cheaper and the replication of the finished film is cheaper, going to see the film itself is cheaper. You are eventually paying less for a much higher quality film.

The digital cinema development is helping cinemas all over the UK to exhibit films in higher quality and for less money. Warp, picture house and Vue. The biggest effected cinema in my local area is cinema city owned by picture house, this is because digital cinema productions are cheaper and easier to play, this means that the smaller independent cinemas such as cinema city can acquire more films from different genres and styles and play them much more frequently meaning they can appeal to a wider audience and in the long run make a higher profit. With the lowering costs of film production cinemas can acquire films for cheaper meaning they can buy more of a varied selection, this means they can in turn appeal to a wider audience. Vue cinema is a mainstream cinema however is still benefiting from the advancing digital world being able to release two types of the same film a standard version and a 3D version. Bringing in more custom and giving people even more of a choice. The way to get a bigger audience is to be flexible. The bigger the time scale and the larger the variety of films the more people will have the chance to see the film they want when they want to see it. Technical convergence and the advancing digital production scheme are making this possible to give cinemas the power to fit around the customer.

Digital production means that the internet is very closely linked to the film’s production. This gives film distributers the power to advertise on a massive scale; almost every home in the UK has a computer connected to the internet. And a vast majority of the public are connected to the internet via social networking sites such as face book or twitter. This gives film distributers and advertisers a huge chance to sell their films to the public and get their film seen by a huge audience and entice a vast amount of the public. The internet also provides other possibilities such as renting or selling DVD’s and films. Vue are linked with an online rental shop which has proved very successful to their yearly revenue.

However technical convergence has its disadvantages, eventually there will only be one device to film edit and project a film however that is in a very distant future and the technology convergence is nowhere near that good yet. But it will slowly mean some technology companies will shut down due to them not being needed to produce any more equipment. Also due to the fact that the digital projector is a relatively new idea there are undoubtedly problems with the projecting equipment and in cases audiences’ cinema experience has been ruined due to technical problems with the equipment and the connections between devices. Also some people like the authenticity of film reels and it keeps it more of an even than just going to see a bigger screen. Also now that everything is converting to digital, it means that people can illegally download and upload it to the internet so more people can download it this is a majorly bad point as a large amount of money is lost due to pirate downloads. And illegal file sharing. With film reels this was a much harder process but as long as you have the internet you can acquire any digital media from films to computer programmes.

I personally feel that the digital switch over is a good idea as long as certain aspects are controlled such as illegal file sharing. The overall process will benefit the public as they will have cheaper and much better quality cinemas and also a much more varied selection of what and when the audience can view it. The digital production process needs a lot of improvement to be fully successful however there is a huge area for innovative ideas to improve and advance the digital production method. 

Thrillers that influenced our thriller

Se7en



The thriller Se7en influenced our thriller a great deal through the opening scene alone. Se7en has a very eerie opening and uses clever editing and shot types to create this effect. We used the technique of short close ups linked together very quickly to keep an energetic and exciting feel maintained through the title sequence. The titles of this thriller are also very successful, as they are slightly animated and seem to vibrate, there are no black screens either the titles are super imposed over the top of the action to ensure that the opening isn’t to boring or lacking interest. By using the short shots of various items and movements of the characters, enigma is implied about the characters featured and gets the audience to keep guessing as to whom the mysterious character is and his connection with the story. The high contrast editing styles also bring high detail to the shots and create an even more sinister feel. Se7en has a soundtrack placed over the action this provides a mood enhancer and develops the dark and eerie feel. However we didn’t use a soundtrack we used a voice over this links to the thriller opening from the film Layer Cake.



Layer cake


Layer cake uses a voice over to tell the background of drugs. Drugs being the main theme of this film. We took the idea of a voice over and adapted it to fit our thriller opening scene. The voice over is a useful method of describing the plot background of the characters or in our case describe the action loosely. The voice over is a very difficult method as the voice has to be correct to match the character and tone of the thriller. In our case the voice over wasn’t planned particularly well and the voice wasn’t of the right tone to the action therefore making it less effective. On the other hand the voice over we decided to use wasn’t the generic mainstream style an audience would have expected thus making it independent and making the opening more effective in a sense, so long as the audience is expecting an independent style thriller.



L’homme Du Train


L’homme Du Train is a French thriller which heavily features trains, as obvious as this seems. This particular thriller is particularly useful as our opening scene uses trains as a form of escape. L’homme Du Train also has a very intelligent subtle way of defining characters. We choose to use this film opening and took ideas from it simple because it established the main character very early on very effectively. By using extreme close ups of items the character had for example a small box of medial pills. We could use the same technique to develop our characters. We used extreme close ups of items both of our characters had either on their person or in their vicinity. The girl on the train had a glossy magazine telling the audience she is in touch with the social life and very much like any other teenage girl e.g. she is just an average teenage girl, this means that the general young female population can relate to this girl and become closer to the action.



Strangers on a Train


Strangers on a train is a dated thriller in black and white. We chose to use several aspects of this thriller to enhance our own. The black and white style inspired us to use a monochrome tone in certain aspects to add a sinister effect to certain shots and sequences. Strangers on a Train also uses a very effect low angle close up of two characters walking, we took this idea and used it to show two characters walking in different locations but the feet appear to be walking towards one another to give the impression they are being drawn together. The footwear in strangers on a train is also a significant factor in characterisation and tells the audience a lot about the characters wealth and style. In our thriller we used very cheap and common shoes in the youthful population. This tells the audience the characters are young it is also an indication to the target market and who the thriller is aimed at. The low angle close ups of feet are very effective and give out a lot of implications toward meanings and characters

Mainstream and independent interview

D ROAD







DISTRICT 9




Audience research: Main stream or independent interview



Which Film would you prefer to view at the cinema?

I would rather see district 9.



Why would you rather see district 9?

I would rather see district 9 because the animations look really good and the story line looks allot more interesting.



What doesn’t appeal to you about red road?

It looks to boring and slow paced, I don’t really like the way its shot.



What doesn’t appeal to you about the camera work?

It just seems to grey and dull, and I would prefer to see a fast paced action film.



Why would you rather see an exciting film?

When I go to the cinema I want to see an exciting film which is highly entertaining because I want to escape reality for 2 hours, Red road seems to realistic which I find boring.



What would you fundamentally expect from an independent film?

Unknown actors, more controversial and in depth story lines, usually the have less or no computer generated images.



What would you fundamentally expect from a mainstream film?

Well known and highly regarded actors. Highly developed computer generated images.



Why do you think that mainstream films are so popular?

I think that they are popular because they don’t do anything unexpected they are a very safe film choice and the audience knows what to expect.



Do you think independent films are successful?

They can be however it all depends on the story and camera skills because some films tend to use unusual camera work which reduces a films success.



Could you tell the difference between the two film trailers?

Yes I found it easy to tell the difference between the two simple by looking at everything in the picture (or mise en scene) an independent film wouldn’t have high quality C.G.I or interesting abroad locations because these two factors are very expensive.



Why do you think there is such a difference between the quality of editing and camera work and shots?

Well the main difference is down to funding and how much money is pumped into the production of the film a film with a higher budget can afford to use expensive computers and use foreign locations. Also the actual production company will help a films quality due to having a large reputation and drawing in the best actors and production crew.



What do you think is the biggest aspect that affects each film’s quality?

I would say the money that is put into the films is the largest factor that affects all aspects of the films. Budgeting is a big deal in the film industry and a lack of money can severely restrict what can be done in a film. District 9 clearly had a huge amount of funding as high quality effects and C.G.I is used to produce unimaginable scenes.



How do you think an independent film would achieve its budgeting goals?

Erm I would presume they would ask companies for funding or use their own money to invest in the films; however I’m not really sure.



How do you think mainstream films acquire their funding?

Well when I watch mainstream films a large amount of titles from various companies come up at the beginning of this type of film so I presume that large production companies such as 20th century fox fund the films. Or other companies such as Sony allow companies to use their equipment a lower fee.

Interviewee: Joseph Robson

Picture house Vs. Vue screenings

Picture House


The Scouting Book for Boys
‎ - 1hr 33min‎‎ - Rated 15‎‎ - Drama/Suspense/Thriller‎‎ - English‎ - IMDb
11:00 13:30 15:40 18:00 20:20

Shutter Island
‎ - 2hr 18min‎‎ - Rated 15‎‎ - Drama/Suspense/Thriller‎‎ - English‎ - IMDb
14:20 17:20 20:20

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Man som hatar kvinnor)
‎ - 2hr 32min‎‎ - Rated 18‎‎ - Suspense/Thriller‎‎ - Swedish‎ - Trailer - IMDb
13:00 16:15 19:30

Morris: A Life with Bells On
‎ - 1hr 41min‎‎ - Rated 12A‎‎ - Comedy‎‎ - English‎ - IMDb
12:00



Four films are being exhibited at cinema city Norwich however each film is only being screened a few times a day. The scouting book for boys is being screened five times in one day on a wide variety of times. Shutter Island is only being exhibited 3 times through various times of the day. The more varied the screening times the more popular the film will be as more people will be able to fit that cinema around their lifestyles. There are four films being shown with twelve combined screenings. Three of the four films are British the remaining film is Swedish. From the screening times I can tell that shutter island is the most popular film as it is shown the most frequently.



Vue

Alice in Wonderland in Disney Digital 3D
‎ - 1hr 49min‎‎ - Rated PG‎‎ - Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Family‎‎ - English‎ - IMDb
11:40 14:10 16:50 19:20 21:50

Green Zone
‎ - 1hr 55min‎‎ - Rated 15‎‎ - Drama/War‎‎ - English‎ - Trailer - IMDb
11:10 13:40 16:15 18:50 21:15

I Love You Phillip Morris
‎ - 1hr 40min‎‎ - Rated 15‎‎ - Comedy/Drama‎‎ - English‎ - IMDb
10:40 12:50 15:10 17:20 19:40

Alice in Wonderland
‎ - 1hr 49min‎‎ - Rated PG‎‎ - Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Family‎‎ - English‎ - Trailer - IMDb
12:20 15:00 17:30 19:50

Shutter Island
‎ - 2hr 18min‎‎ - Rated 15‎‎ - Drama/Suspense/Thriller‎‎ - English‎ - IMDb
13:00 15:50 19:10 22:20

The Bounty Hunter
‎ - 1hr 46min‎‎ - Rated 12A‎‎ - Action/Adventure/Comedy/Romance‎‎ - English‎ - Trailer - IMDb
14:40 17:05 19:30 22:00

Old Dogs
‎1hr 28min‎‎ - Rated PG‎‎ - Comedy‎‎ - English‎ - Trailer - IMDb
14:50 19:00 21:20

The Spy Next Door
‎ - 1hr 32min‎‎ - Rated PG‎‎ - Action/Adventure/Comedy‎‎ - English‎ - IMDb
12:15 14:30 16:40

Hachi: A Dog's Tale‎1hr 33min‎‎ - Rated U‎‎ - Drama‎‎ - English‎ - IMDb
12:30 16:55

Leap Year
‎ - 1hr 37min‎‎ - Rated PG‎‎ - Comedy/Romance‎‎ - English‎ - Trailer - IMDb
18:40 21:00

Sherlock Holmes
‎2hr 14min‎‎ - Rated 12A‎‎ - Action/Adventure/Drama‎‎ - English‎ - Trailer - IMDb
11:00

The Crazies
‎ - 1hr 41min‎‎ - Rated 15‎‎ - Action/Adventure/Drama/Horror‎‎ - English‎ - Trailer - IMDb
22:15

The Lovely Bones
‎ - 2hr 15min‎‎ - Rated 12A‎‎ - Drama/Horror/Suspense/Thriller‎‎ - English‎ - IMDb
22:10



Vue is exhibiting 13 films in total. Alice in wonderland 3D is screened 5 times on one day on an open time scale. However the crazies is only shown once very late at night (due to the genre). 40 combined screenings are shown of the 13 exhibited films. 11 of the 13 films are Hollywood produced mainstream films when only 2 are British films. Vue shows a huge amount of different films and also screens them at a massive scale this draws in a large amount of the public as they have a wide variety of films a flexible time scale.

A discussion of British gangster film conventions: Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

British gangster film isn’t a genre but a sun genre of gangster films. The difference is in the mise en scene. British gangster films will show typically British associated items such as red double Decker busses and small cultural shops for example a grocery shop or vegetable stand. Lock Stock uses these patriotic symbols combined with accents to heavily emphasis the idea of being in Britain.

This screen shot introduces us to the first character of the film, instantly we get introduced to cultural behaviour, the character is trying to sell knock of jewellery a common site in British marketplaces. Roadside or street side pops up stands are also frequently seen in British cities and towns. Another aspect of the mise en scene is the costume, the characters clothing suggests the weather is cold. Everything in the frame is also very dull and grey commonly associated with the English weather.

In this screen shot we see the first character is now handing out goods to a small crowd of people and they are handing him money, we get the impression this is illegal as they all seem to be in a rush and hastily hand over the money which is all in cash. The products the character is handing out aren’t wrapped or packaged professionally emphasising the idea that this is an illegal practice.

Our original suspicions of the illegal trade become clear when a traditional British police officer sees them and the characters quickly take the goods and run. British gangster films heavily feature drugs and illegal practices. This is a prime example of law breaking activity as the characters are falsely selling goods to the public. In the mise en scene in this frame the buildings in the background are all painted in British racing green.

Gangster films commonly use small dinghy alley ways and dark areas of big cities to create a dark and unsettling feel. This uses the convention of claustrophobia and darkness to connote the idea of getting caught or trapped by the police. The character throws his belongings everywhere as he jumps a stair case showing that they are worthless or disposable to him, this creates the idea that perhaps this character does more than sell cheap jewellery.

This frame suggests no illegal or criminal activity but only continues to strengthen the British feel of the film. The small shop selling vegetables and other necessities is a regular site when walking through a British city. This image introduces a new character who doesn’t appear to be submerged in criminal behaviour.

This image instantly suggests criminal activity and is very suspicious. Two characters appear to be exchanging money for goods obviously this isn’t legitimate as the lighting is poor and the shelves are all stacked up with cardboard boxes of all sizes. The British culture is cleverly portrayed through props; the small red telephone box suggests British society. The characters all look very shady and uneasy; this image is the traditional idea of a ‘drug deal’ or the exchange of an illegal product.

This image shows us two of the characters exchanging money. We get the impression this is illegal due to the sheer amount of money each man has in their hands. The large wads of money suggest success and power in the criminal world, as success is determined by materialistic items. The facial expression of the character on the right side of the frame suggests the character is reluctant to hand over money to the other character.

Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels uses gangster film conventions and also adds its own British twist to the film. I have used the opening to describe the conventions and briefly describe the action included in the films opening. British gangster is a sub genre but uses the same conventions as gangster films; however the British culture is commonly featured and made subtly obvious.

Describe the use of binary opposites

Film noir along with L.A. noir frequently use binary opposites to show conflict or a challenge either mentally or physically. The idea of binary opposites is simple to grasp, basically a binary opposite is when things come in pairs but are the total opposite of the latter, for example the use of black and white or good and evil. Binary opposites are used in Film Noir because they set up obvious incompatibility and create tension between characters and make the film more entertaining and interactive.




The Black Dahlia is a prime example of an L.A. noir film which heavily uses binary opposites

This is a screen print of the title screen, this image features binary opposites and combined with the shot and camera angle produces a very successful image. This scene is very violent and shows police fighting with the navy. The navy are dressed in pure white clothing head to toe and the police are dressed in black, this is two binary opposites the first is the colours and secondarily the white represents cleanliness and purity but the characters wearing white are being violent and fighting in comparison too the police who are wearing black which connotes evilness and corruption which conflicts the idea of keeping peace and serving justice.

This image is a continuation of the violent opening scene however this image shows the police in a different light. In this image the police choose not to fight and mix with the riot instead they stand at the side laughing and jeering at the navy workers. One police officer has stolen a cadet’s hat. The binary opposites used in this scene are the colours and the lighting the police are covered in darkness and shadow making them appears powerful and mysterious. However the few outlaws are well lit and are clearly visible the lighting contrasts with the action as you would presume the trouble makers would try and hide their identity.

In this image the two main characters both sit around a table smoking. The table looks formal and creates the idea of an office or a police station. Smoking is a common occurrence in film noir and L.A. noir so it is no surprise to see the characters smoking. The lighting has a significant role in this image. The lighting is non ambient and a dull beam of light is send through the window. The window has blinds down this creates shadows which divide the shot. Blinds are often used in film noir to connote ideas of good and evil. In this image the blinds create an eerie atmosphere and create tension between the two characters. The use of light and shadow is a binary opposite and is very effective in this particular scene.

This scene is set in a police office and uses binary opposites once again to help set the story and connote ideas and themes. This police station is very messy and unorganized with people standing everywhere this is the opposite of what a police station should be to function correctly. This shot tells us that the police are unorganized or unstable. The high angle or aerial shot makes the police station seem insignificant. The lighting is non ambient and strong beams of light cascade through the windows. The strong lighting from the windows contrasts with the left side of the shot where there is very little light.

This image is very interesting. A new character is introduced dressed in a formal suit a woman with blonde hair and bright red lips. This character fits the usual style of the Femme Fatale; the red lips imply a seductress. The woman is very attractive in comparison to the man standing next to her who fits the specifications for a film noir hero/villain. These two characters are binary opposites of one another because the women is short blonde and dressed in a light coloured suit where as the male characters is tall and dressed in a dark suit which connotes corruption or moral ambiguity. The lighting in this occasion suits the mood of the image which is unusual for an L.A noir.



In conclusion Binary opposites are items or elements in the mise en scene they can be anything from lighting contrasts to contrasting themes or ideas such as a corrupt police officer. Binary opposites are a reoccurring theme in L.A. noir and film noir because it is very successful at creating ideas of conflict and quickly and successfully set up tension and enigma to hold the audiences attention.

Chiaroscuro Lighting

Chiaroscuro lighting is a term to describe the contrast between light and dark it was originally a term used to describe art, however the developing media world transformed this and began using chiaroscuro lighting in film. This was the idea of using strong light and dark shadows to create a contrast. The third man uses the method of chiaroscuro lighting to create a dark feel and make the film more eerie. Frank millers Sin City also used this idea or dark and light. Chiaroscuro lighting can also be used to connote good and evil through lighting different objects or characters in either shadow or light. Chiaroscuro lighting is frequently used in film noir because it is very effective in monochrome film, this is because obviously colours cant be used to highlight good and evil for example an evil character dressed in black or a seductress dressed in red, through using chiaroscuro lighting characters can be defined without colours making it very popular in film noir. To improve the effectiveness of chiaroscuro lighting it is often combined with wet streets or in raining scenes because the water reflects the light and casts interesting shadows which can be used to symbolise corruption or unpredictability of either the characters or the plot line. Not only is water added to increase the effectiveness of the lighting but smoke is commonly used because bright light can be cast onto the smoke making it appear white which increases the contrast between the shadows and the light.

This is a screen shot from ‘double indemnity’This is a perfect example of chiaroscuro lighting as it features dark shadows and an extremely bright Smokey background which connotes the ideas of confliction between good and evil. The strong silhouettes of the two characters create enigma and mystery and get the audience to question who the characters are and what their relationship is. All of this affects are created by chiaroscuro lighting which is very commonly used in film noir because of the results achieved.

Describe the role of heroes in film Noir

Film noir features many different types of characters however some styles of characters are more common than others, these are the characters you are most likely to encounter whilst watching a film noir. Heroes (or anti-heroes), corrupt characters and villains included down-and-out, conflicted hard-boiled detectives or private eyes, cops, gangsters, government agents, a lone wolf, socio-paths or killers, crooks, war veterans, politicians, petty criminals, murderers, or just plain Joes. These protagonists were often morally-ambiguous low-life from the dark and gloomy underworld of violent crime and corruption. Distinctively, they were cynical, tarnished, obsessive (sexual or otherwise), brooding, menacing, sinister, sardonic, disillusioned, frightened and insecure loners (usually men), struggling to survive - and in the end, ultimately losing.
Film noir will always have a hero because it gives the film strength and a character to attach to. A hero will often be flawed or corrupted in some way or another to make his journey more difficult and show character building. Noir heroes are often alienated or isolated making them seem more rugged and independent. Heroes in Film noir are constantly smoking this connotes their one comfort or security. Their cigarettes are the only certainty they have. The heroes will often have a run in or romantic affair with the femme fatale character, the idea behind this is create a deeper plot line and link sequential stories together to make a more interesting plot line.

Thriller Planing: Plot Line

Our thriller plot is very basic and easily understandable. The story shows a young teenage girl arriving at a train station and boarding a train, this young girl then reveals her past by using jump cuts to her telling it to a physiatrist. The girl talks about her father and we learn that he is a gangster with a corrupt mind and no sense of justice. The girl is running away from her father after accidently witnessing him murder someone. We are going to use long shots to establish the idea of isolation and use jump cuts to show her state of mind. These ideas are influenced by various thrillers: Se7en gave us the inspiration for using the jump cuts to establish an unstable state of mind. Homme Du Train heavily features trains and connotes the idea of running away which we thought was very successful. Homme Du Train also uses random shots of scenery and noise clips to set up the scene which we aim to use. Strangers on a train is another thriller which we found closely related to ours, I liked the idea of randomly meeting a stranger on a train and then conducting a plan. I also like the way Strangers on a train creates characters and introduces them.

Audience research: interview results

Results for audience research interview
Interviewee: Katie Watts

What do you expect from a thriller opening?

Ermm I expect a fast paced exciting opening which creates a mystery and makes me guess and ask questions about the film to come. I like the use of soundtracks as they make it more exciting and effective.

What would you find the scariest opening?

I really don’t like torture so I think that would be incredibly scary I also find jump cuts of eerie images scary and when combined with a sinister soundtrack I can become very frightened and involved with a thriller opening.

What would you say is an ideal location for a thriller opening?

Personally I think anywhere can be a good location depending on the lighting, because I find the lighting is what makes or breaks a scene. The darker the better I also like when strong beams of light are used.

Should the opening be graphic?

Sometimes I think a graphic or gory opening is brilliant depending on the films theme and plot, but a slow suspense building opening can be just as effective if done properly. I personally don’t think an opening should be too graphic as it might turn away audience members.

Do you think the opening should create enigma?

Yes I think this is a very important aspect of a thriller film, enigma engages me as an audience member and makes me feel like I am a part of the action itself. Enigma is also a clever hook to keep me watching.

From this interview I have gained more understanding of what the end viewer prefers and expects from a thriller opening. These results will be used when planning my thriller opening because I need to understand what the audience wants to create the best suited opening.

Thriller film audience research

What I want to find out:
1. What the audience expects from a thriller
2. What is the scariest opening?
3. What is an ideal location for an opening?
4. Should the opening be graphic?
5. Should the opening create enigma?

How am I going to find out?
I am going to find the results through a quick interview.

What I expect to find out:
1. I think that the audience will expect an exciting film opening that will have them on the edge of their seat, making them want to find out what happens.
2. I presume that the audience will either say; torture, rape, car chase or robbery.
3. I’m expecting the interviewee to say either a train station or a large bridge.
4. I am very curious as to what this answer will be but I think it may be that the audience don’t want the opening to be too graphic to aid suspense or the opposite and let the audience know what is going to happen.
5. The audience will either want the opening to create enigma or start all guns blazing and let the audience what is in stall.

Thriller planning: costume and Props

Thriller Planning: Shot lists

Thriller Planning: Location planning

Audience ratings for British and USA Television Drama

hese results are based on Barb ratings from the week November 22 to 29th of November 2009

When comparing these two tables its clear to see that UK TV dramas are much more popular in this country there are several possible reasons to explain this anomaly. Firstly the programmes viewings is greatly affected by the airing time, the most popular time slot is between 2000 towards 2200, because this is the time where most people begin to wind down and want some time to relax. The second reason for radical viewing changes is because of the channel it is viewed on. Sky One is a digital channel that you must pay for on a monthly basis in comparison to BBC One which is totally free and is available to digital customers as well as analogue. The BBC’s programmes received the greatest ratings because they are widely available to the public. Another reason for the massive viewing differences between British TV drama and American TV dramas is perhaps the similarity between the US shows, the shows which I have chosen received the highest ratings however they are all very similar in genre for example crime, sci-fi and fantasy are very common. Thus people would get bored of the monotonous plot lines and similarities of the programmes. However the most popular British TV dramas are soap’s which are also very predictable and common but still received extremely high ratings. My fourth explanation between the viewing differences is simply put down to being patriotic, some people would rather watch a British TV drama just because its British, judging that this is a valid reason and British people are widely patriotic then this would explain why American TV dramas aren’t as popular as the British.