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.
Sunday 31 January 2010
Thursday 28 January 2010
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.
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.
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.
Monday 25 January 2010
Thursday 21 January 2010
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)