Research: Mise en scene: lighting and colour - MS B

Mise en scene: lighting and colour

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

In a thriller based film, the lighting of the scene helps to convey mood and atmosphere, it can be used to guide the audiences attention to a particular object. The colour used in a scene is also

very important as it will get the audience interested of what is about to be shown.

Angles of Lighting:

• Under Lighting - this is when the light reflects from below to the person. This tends to have a disturbing effect on the character.

• Top Lighting - comes from above highlighting the feathers of the characters.

• Back lighting - light source is behind the person. If no light is used this creates fear or disgust. 

Types of Lighting:

• Low Key - the lighting is dark with small areas of light. 

• High Key - appears to be more natural and realistic.

What type of lighting is conventional in thrillers and why?

In a action thriller it is conventional that the director uses High Key as lighting because

it will show the action scene as natural as possible and this is guide the audience to feel like

a part of the action scene.

Colour and Lighting in scenes - examples 


This is a cover of a horror thriller and the director has used dark colours to present the characters role, as black, navy and brown are negative colours. Also 2 types of lighting have been used; first one is Under Lighting as the light reflects at the characters` face, shadowing her eyes and sides of her cheeks. This creates an disturbing image of the little girl.

                                                               




 This scene is from Paranormal Activity and the  producers has used Low Key lighting as we as an audience could only see some areas of the scene.
This indicates that this scene creates a nervous tension as we dont know what to except
 and we cannot see the scene in detail. 

 

What types of colours are conventional in thrillers and why?

Colours in scenes have different connotations to them and give different interpretations of the scene such as a Light coloured scene with bright colours is used in Romance as the lightness of the colours present love and warmth. On the other hand, Dark coloured scenes are ,mostly used in Crime, Action and Horror Thrillers as the darkness of the colours show evilness, wealth and torture.

Thriller scene analyse  - THE MOON AND THE GUTTER

The opening scene from The Moon and the Gutter introduces us to a scene of red, the first micro element we see is the colour red as this is a sign of what the film might be about a red indicates death or cruelness. The whiteness of the female characters dress, represents her innocence and love, Low key lighting creates suspense and creates a brain teaser as it feels like a mystery. Furthermore, top lighting is also used supporting the use of low key lighting. Top lighting used allows the audience to see the clearly the speed that the characters walk at, This illustrates fear and anxiety.

 

Conclusion

From this research, I now clearly understand how important it is to present your Thriller film, in different lighting angles as it creates emotion. When creating my own Thriller, I will use Under lighting where the light comes below the character, This may present my characters as powerful, disturbing and capable. I then will use Back lighting which light tends to come behind the character, if I use this lighting effect then this will create solid scenes and characters. When using these two lighting effects, I will use High key Lighting also as to illustrate my Thriller as a natural and realistic Thriller. Using High key Lighting is a firm way to present my characters as my characters will look realistic. 

Research: Sound - MR S

Sound

What is sound? Why is it important to use sound effects in Thrillers?

Sounds are used in films to create understanding for the audience and to create more meaning about the characters and their emotions. Sound is also used in Thrillers to create a response from the audience. Non-digetic sound is when the music is not matching what is playing on screen, where as digetic sound is when the music is matching the scene.

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

Jaws - as the characters notice the shark, there is an off scene sound taking place. Has the tune that you playing is not a part of the film. As the other 2 characters see the shark the off scene sound appeals to get higher in tune. This effects the audience as they know what is going to take place. This is also a CONTRAPUNTAL sound as (play at 1:07 to 1:21) the sound track also doesn't match to the scene as the shark swims away.

 Scream 2 - This clip has a lot of sound such as, a PARALLEL SOUND, this means that the scene starts of at a cinema, which we are excepted to hear people eating or the film that is playing or playing talking. In this scene there is also on scene sound as the cinema has a film on air and we could see where the sounds coming from. On screen sound is also used as the victim is in the cinema and we could hear sounds from the screen, this means that we can see where the sounds coming from. On the other hand, Off screen sound is also used as they high pitch notes appears the victim attacks the anthologist. Off screen is when sound is included to the scene but we as an audience cannot see where the sound is coming from, this builds excitement for the audience as there is also a very violent scene and the high pitched off screen sound makes it suspense as the audience feels like there is more to come.

In this scene, the use of non-diegtic sound builds tension for the audience, they feel very nervous as they do not know what to expect. The first sound that we introduced is the clicking of the clock, this creates fearful emotions for the audience because they feel like something unexpected is going to occur which is going to frighten them. 

Conclusion

In this research I have explored the different terms of sound and how sound is used to create a image in the audiences mind. When creating my own Thriller I will use 3 sound techniques, firstly Off screen sound as to confuse my audience with the feelings they may hear a toned sound but they cannot see where the sound may be coming from so this will build a distrustful connection with the audience and the film. Secondly, I will use On screen sound as it is important that my audience is aware of what to except in some areas of my Thriller clip so they are clearly understandable of what is happening in the scenes. Finally I will use Non diegetic sound as for my audience to notice of what the other character is capable of doing, the use of Non diegetic creates unpredictability feelings and may leave the audience to want more of the film.

Research: Editing - MS B

     

Editing 

What is Editing? Why is it important to use editing in films?

Editing is a way to show your audience a different point of the film, it

is important that directors edit their film in a right way to get positive feedback. There

is 10 different rules of editing a film, Editing a film involves more than simply stringing shots together to make scenes and scenes to make a film. Sometimes editing is very technical, such as using an laptop in order for the editing to look professional. It is important that editing builds tension within shots to create suspense for the audience.

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

This scene is a reaction shot and a reaction shot is when any character has a reaction and in this scene we notice that the women character has reactions when hitting the male character with a bat (Iconography used) the camera focuses at the female characters face as her reaction is presented as pain and hurtfulness.

This scene is from 'Scream 1996' and the editing technique used is Wipe cut example and this indicates that one shot slides into another shot without the confusing the audience. This is an good editing technique which the audience understands the scene and the characters role. 

A montage is when the speed of editing in a scene where the shots are quickly juxtaposed together to create excitement. From this clip 'Scream 4' when the victim is attracted by the antagonists the shots start to follow by other shots as this builds tension for the audience who now know there is more to come. 

Conclusion

After researching the different types of techniques I have a clear understanding of what editing techniques create within the film and how it has an impact on the audience. At the start of a thriller the 'Equilibrium' slow editing should be used in order for the audience to understand the story and what is going on within the film, then the 'disequilibrium' should be introduced e.g. something disrupting happens and a change occurs when it needs to be resolved , at this point of the thriller fast editing to should used to create an powerful and tragic suspense. When filing my own Thriller I will use 3 editing techniques, firstly 'Shot reverse Shot' when there is a conversation going on, this will not confuse my audience and they will understand the tension between the characters. Then I will include 'Montage' to create dramatic and thrilling shot. And lastly I will include '180* Rule' this will allow my audience to understand the story line better as it will look professional.

Research: Cinematography- MS B

Research: Cinematography- Miss B

What is cinematography?

Cinematography is looking at the way the shot is framed, the angle it is taken in and the movement of the camera within a scene. There are 8 different shot angles in which directors tend to use which gives the audience a different representation of the character and allows the audience to respond in many ways, e.g. creating tension. Within cinematography there are various shot angles:

• Long shot- This captures the individual from head to toe.
• Close up- This allows the characters face to be seen clearly.
• Extreme long shot- The camera captures the individual, but also the surroundings.
• Extreme close up-This captures the individuals emotions on their face.
• Establishing shot- Shows a lot in the scene of the film.
• Medium shot- This captures the individual from head to toe.
• Medium close up- This this captures the individual from head to chest. 

Examples of Camera Angles:

  This is a Medium close up shot from the antagonists head to chest. This presents the antagonist as a brave and heroic character as he is looking directly at the camera, his enables the audience to feel engaged and the character makes eye contact with his audience. The use of the iconography the (Motor bike) allows the audience to feel the power of the antagonists and that he is a brave super natural hero. 

This scene is a Extreme Close Up scene and it shows the characters fear as the camera is well focused into the actors face. This close up also allows the audience to see the characters feelings by the emotion on their face. This shot is also very effective as in Thrillers it may give the audience some kind of connection of how the character may be feeling during the scene. 

Low/ High angles: 

Low Angle -

This is a low angle shot this indicates that the camera is placed below the hips, to make them look big and strong. As the character will be looking down at the audience. This may make the audience feel unsafe as they will need to look up to this characters.

This scene is taken from a high angle which creates suspense as the audience is looking down to the scene. This almost creates a fear of something or someone preparing towards the audience. 

camera movements from thrillers 

Camera shots include: 

• Planning shot - Camera moving across 
• Tilt shot - Camera moves up and down 
• Crane shot - On a crane, camera movement is flexible 
• Zoom - captures emotion and gets away with it 
• Point of view - when it looks like it is from a persons view 
• Hand held - when the camera moves with the person 
• Establishing shot - A whole shot of everything e.g. The background view 
• Two shot - when two characters take up a equal amount of space when filming
• Over the shoulder shot - This is when the camera is placed behind a characters shoulder facing towards an character

This is an over the shoulder shot as this camera movement helps to establish the position of each person, and get the feel of looking at one person from the other's point of view. This is used to cut between these shots during a conversation, alternating the view between the different speakers.

Although this film is not a Thriller, the director of 'Paranormal Activity' has used an hand held shot to create tension like the way a Thriller may give. Using an hand held shot throughout this scene which makes the audience feel engaged to this scene as the character does not cut out as moments (Editing,) such as an Jump cut used in editing which a drastic camera movement that is noticeable to the eye. This hand held movement scene is also very effective as it makes the audience feel as if any kind of drama may be caused. 

Conclusion

This research has helped be aware of the camera movements/ angles and shots that I should use in order to make my Thriller look effective and professional. I need to use close ups of the victim to show their emotions so my audince knows what the victim may be going through as a close up shot explores onto a victims face by presenting their emotions. I need to use low angle to make people look powerful, as I will act evil and I need to use a crane shot to show the characters and the surrounding, Overall I now know what shots I need to use in order to engage my audience. I could use an establishing shot to encourage my audience to feel as if their with me in my film as they will see my background and feel the connection with the location. I will use a Point of view shot as to make the audience know how it is to be in my place and how the character I act see the environment around me in her own eyes. 

Research: What is a thriller? - MS B

Research: What is a thriller? -Miss B

What are Genres?

There are many different types of Thriller genre this means the category

that a film falls into and knowing the genre of a film is very

important to both film producers and film audiences because the producers

need to engage their target audience in order to be successful, whilst the film

audience need to be engaged and interested. Genres can change over time as different social groups come about.  For example; in the past western cowboy movies were the most popular as the viewer of the film got engaged with it. Therefore it is important for the audience of the film to know the film genre of what their going to watch, this also allows them to know what their getting themselves in to.

The definition of 'A Thriller genre?'

Se7en

                            

The definition of a thriller genre of a film is the genre category that a film falls into, an example of a thriller is the film, 'Se7en.' the producers 'Arnold Kopelson' and 'Andrew Kevin Walker' has presented the audience an deeply involved case of a sadistic serial killer whose meticulous planned murders correspond to the seven deadly sins: gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, pride, lust and envy.The director of the movie has created a film that has a theme of violence as the film takes the audiences breath away as he 'David Fincher' has created scenes of unexpected moments of his and also the layout of the poster describes the film in many ways as David Fincher used dark colours and low lighting to give an clue to his audience of what is unexpected.

Orphan

Orphan is a 2009 American psychological horror thriller directed by

Jaume Collet-Serra, the director has presented a film of mouth opening scenes as a the narrative of the film is about a 10 year old girl who has a misery living inside her body as she may look 10 but she is  actuality 30 and creates danger in the foster house she has moved in. The subgenre used is Psychological the conflict is mental, rather than physical. The protagonist has become involved in a dangerous situation which is literally threatens their sanity. They must use mental prowess to overcome their opponent, whether the battle is inside their own head or it a battle of wits. 

What is a Sub-Genre of Thrillers?

A Sub-Genre is a way to sort out different typed genres into groups. The chart below indicates the different Sub-genre groups in Thriller:

They are broad enough to accommodate practically any film ever made, although film categories can never be precise. By isolating the various elements in a film and categorizing them in genres, it is possible to easily evaluate a film within its genre and allow for meaningful comparisons and some judgments on greatness. Films were not really subjected to genre analysis by film historians until the 1970s. All films have at least one major genre, although there are a number of films that are considered crossbreeds or hybrids with three or four overlapping genre types that identify them. 

Examples of Sub-Genres of thriller:

                                               

The Dark K/night Rises

                     
Eight years after the Jokers reign of anarchy, the dark knight return must to defend Gothsm City against the enigmatic jewel thief Catwoman and the ruthless mercenary Bane as the city teeters on the brink of complete annihilation. The film has common themes such as Techno as is a cross between future science fiction and thrillers and action as it has a back seat effect on the audience. So this means that it is impossible to be batman as seen on the poster above, some one the technology weapons do exists but putting it in another way is a matter.



Audience response from Thrillers:

In order to understand the audiences response from the Thriller, they are watching it depends on the genre of the thriller and the age boarder. In younger aged thrillers, the audience is frighten up to a point where they are not mentally disturbed. Also on the other side, in general Thrillers build suspense to create a excited response from the audience. 

  

Conclusion 

From researching and by doing this post I have released that in Order to meet the coursework criteria I must make my thriller conventional by making the theme and location conventional. My lighting will be dark with shadows, the music will be quiet and the location will be a lonely and quiet place, the characters will have a victim, such as; a hero or psychopath. I now know more about thriller genre, such as; thriller themes which are, death, crime and killing. In order for my coursework to be on a high grade i must include, what age group my film will be at and what is the reason of this age group. use feedback examples of what other audiences disliked or liked about other films.