Se7en Analysis ( 1995 ,David Fincher )

The film opening starts with a very scratchy and distorted music track. This is configured with the opening credits , helping to enphasise , before the images are even shown , that something is not right about the pictures the audience are seeing. The scratching is also almost ,unnatural , helping convey the sense of surreal crime and unknown feelings towards the clues that are being displayed.

The clues that are being displayed are typical in a crime/thriller , giving the audience some information about the killer to help them engage in the same situation , in this case , the detectives are in. The clues are all iconic in the thriller/crime genre , also , the sinister opening helps ''prepare'' the audience for the rest of the film. This iconic montage clip at the beginning of the clip is often used in thrillers , and also other crime drama's. It is used in programs like CSI to open up the plot before hand.

An XCU shot is used throughout the opening credits , this really positions the audience right in the mist of what is happening. In this sequence , it is important because the objects in front of the audience need to be focused upon to convey the fear and mystery surrounding what is happening.

The sinister music helps add a really tense atmosphere to the out of focus pictures. The music is dark and very garage with unnatural noise being played over the montage. This connotes a feeling of surreal and upside down feeling , with everything blurred to enforce this emotion. The music then changes tone as the editing cuts get faster , meaning the music stays in time with the rate at which the images are being displayed and switched. This heightens the atmosphere and builds excitement.

Another noticable feature is the font used in the early credits. The font is soft and quite thick , it is supposed to be someones handwritting. This helps to convey the plot before the film has even begun , handwritting in this style is used to help add a more personal relationship between the killer and the audience , engaging them futher into the plot.


The first images used are used to establish the genre , fingerprints , scattered photo's and selected print from different papers are all examples of iconography used to identify the genre. The main two characters are also stereotypical , ( Morgan Freeman ) plays the wise and experienced veteran detective , while ( Brad Pitt ) plays the young and ''new to the job'' style detective. The combinations is often used in crime thrillers because it uses to different perspectives to explore the narrative. It's also used because using two different types of characters helps add a sense of diversity in the way the plot is both structured and explored.


The narrative is structured to use this ''combo'' of old and young detectives , with the older detective using his experience and the younger detective expressing his passion and determination to help bring down the murderer. The major themes of the narrative would be thrilling crime , although some scenes would be considered ''horror'' like , due to the amount of violence and gore shown through the crimes. The narrative is also fast paced , to keep the audience engaged and ''thrilled''. The crimes as act waypoints in the plot , due to the 'ticking' down feeling that the film uses to excite its audience.


I would agree that the characteristics shown in the opening 2 minutes are typical of the ''thriller'' genre , shown through dialogue , Mise-en-scene , sound and iconography.



The title of the film itself gives insight into the films plot. The serial killer in the film uses the 7 deadly sins to use as a framework for the crimes he comits , this online advertisement also shows the sins , incase someone did not know what they were.

The target audience would be adults , 18 + , due to the explicit nature of the film.

• As a british teenager , I would say the preffered reading is a fictional thriller. Used to entertain the audience , but also to perhaps also educate the audience about the subject of the film.
• The film is an example of Neo-Noir , utilising elements of film noir , but with updated themes and style. This contemporary film noir style helps add the sinister effect needed in the film.
• The film is industrial , using two bankable stars to boost its public credentials ( Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman). The stars are symbollic of the big style hollywood thriller , using Freemans acting prestiege to establish a good reputation for the film , before its even released.

ST - PRODUCT ANALYSIS

Kickass
(2010, Vaughn)



The film has a really good opening (all parts of the trailer until 1 minute are taken from the opening 2 minutes). It shows the really good dark humour used throughout the film. As well as being a great concept for a film.

GENRE

• Kickass is an Action Thriller, Adventure, Comedy.
  
  The opening is looking for the audience's expectations by using the narrative of the main charatcer and protaganist, however this is twisted for humourous effect, by killing off the audience's assumed voice of the narrative (see video). It is done ironically because usually the audience the superhero will fly away and fight crime, which is a stereotype of superheros or similar characters. The film eventually conforms to the to the characteristics of the genre in later characters, although in a more playful and ironic way.

FILM LANGUAGE
Mise-en-scene is relative throughout the film since it is a quickly defines characters for the audience to . I.e. vigilante or criminal. Also it is set in a urban area, which would imply a heightened level of crime in the area, and therefore a need for vigilantes. It is also used to show the normal teen in the normal setting, for example being in highschool and in a shop with his friends. This shows the juxtapositious types of life and how they wouldn't mix together.
The camera throughout the opening is using similar shots as other superhero film. the camera pans down onto the hero showing the character and the urban setting. as well as this there are close-up reaction shots of the crowd at the base of the building, throughtout his first sighting, his "flight" and the crash. This reinforces the narration during the scene that there was a need for heros, but this is placed in reality. Sound anchors the clip by using iconic supernatural music, in a major key, it then instantly cuts out after crash, reinforcing the fact that the film is set in reality.
NARRATIVE
The narrative folloes the assumed hero of the film, this is narrated by the actual protaganist, who is introduced after the ironically funny death of the "hero". The audience is positioned with the first hero through the use of iconic camera shot associated with the genre, as well as this mise-en-scene, editing and sound are used to give the character the appearance of a superhero. Tension is created quickly by having the hero standing on the building and eventually jumping off. After the crash the tension is lifted quickly after the inital shock, there is then little tension in the opening because it is conveying a normal teenager in school.
REPRESENTATION & IDEOLOGY
During the opening the most represented group is of male teenagers, with a sub category of socially awkward. As well this the general public is represented briefly and also the urban vigilante. The vigilante is represented as mentally unstable, and is quoted as "a history a mental problems", this represents a genreal belief that fans of fictional comics are over-the-top and slightly discoursed from reality. This representation is also proven by the use of semiotics such as; th costume of the "hero" and also the teenagers sitting in the coffee shop reading comics. This creates the framework in the film of the contrast between the world of superhero and a normal life.
MEDIA AUDIENCES
The target audience for the film is a mix between young adults, mostly male, and fans of the original book, which would also be young males. The audeinces reading of the text would be that a teenager is fixated by a piece of non-fiction, which he believes if implamented into his life then his mundane life will become better. As well as this later on in the film as more characters are introduced it is also about revenge and upholding a genreal morality against crime. As a young British teen the film is aimed at my demographic and therefore,more relatable, so if a member outside of the demographic watches the film then it may not be as easy to relate to the film and the numerous references it gives to the superhero genre.

Institution Context

• The film is based on a graphic novel by Mark Millar, it had a fan base before the film and the book is widely recieved as an excellent piece of work.
• The actors used in the film are reletively unknown, except Nicholas Cage playing Big Daddy, this gives the film a rather authentic feel compared to other superhero films, where well known actors are used.
• The film was produced by Marv Films and Plan B entertainment. It was distributed by Universal Pictures and Lionsgate
• The film was advertised at conventions in the USA such as Comic-Con. It also advertised on prime time TV, particulary during sporting events.
• During the opening there are institutuional context such as making references to other well known superheroes such as spiderman and supoerman.

JC - Film Noir Genre Analysis

The 'Noir' genre originated in the early 1940s, from the influence of German Expressionism in the arts. The power of the Nazi party within Germany led people to flee the coutry, and many artists emigrated to Hollywood, having a direct influence on film-making and introducing a genre that is established and still in operation today.

Film Noir is now most commonly applied as a sub-genre to Thriller (and thus is useful for research purposes), and its common themes are stylistic Hollywood dramas, which emphasize moral ambiguity and sexual motivation, described as pessimistic and representing a world that is inherently corrupt. The classic Film Noir era is said to represent the social landscape of the time - depicting the heightened anxiety and alienation experienced following the end of World War Two.

The main characteristics and conventions of Film Noir are:

Visual Style

• Low-key lighting - to produce light/dark contrasts; often includes the use of venetian blinds or banister rods (iconography)
• Low angled, canted (dutch) angled, and wide-angled shots
• Night-for-night shooting

Narrative

• Flashbacks
• Convoluted, complex storylines
• Voiceovers

Plots and characters

• Characters are often morally flawed, misunderstood and full of existential angst
• Common stock characters include 'hardboiled' detectives, femmes fatales, corrupt policemen and jealous husbands
• Crime - murder in particular - is usually an element of Noir plots
• Protagonists within storylines are often described as alienated
• Urban sets

Opening 2 minutes from ''Jaws''

Even though this movie is pretty old (1975) , I still think the basic idea of opening the movie from the killers prospective is so effective.

The fact that its being shot underwater from the vision of the shark adds to the predatory feeling surrounding this scene.It then cuts to the young girls and boys sitting on the beach 'unaware' of what is beneath the surf.

This adds to the drama , because we as the audience can already sense what might happen , but are compelled to see how it plays out.

Personally I think we should aim at trying to incorporate this technique into our opening scene , or give a POV shot of the killer at some point in our clip.

It helps to emerge the audience in the situation and they feel engaged in both angles of the narrative.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8SnZmUjhAA&feature=related

Thriller research - Inception (Nolan, 2010)

The following clip is from the film Inception (2010) , and

is taken from the opening scene in the film. The scene begins with a clip from the present , however then flicks to the past without telling the audience

it does so. This means that the first scene remains untouched and the producer may come back to it , to help produce a more flowing plot line. In this case , the film tells the story of how he is in this situation from reverse.

Feedback #1

Well done - this is a promising start to using the blog collaboratively. You are clearly thinking about layout and presentation in your posts. The critical analysis of genre is useful. Timo - you don't seem to have as yet contributed to that discussion?

Your next step is to now focus and co-ordinate your research into the Thriller genre, ensuring that it is relevant and useful.

Also - the layout design should now reflect the genre more appropriately?
CF

GROUP - Genre - Final Decision

Genre on Prezi

Group: Decision Time...?

Do we think we've gathered enough research to be able to decide on a genre for our film?

JC Thriller as a genre

The purpose of a 'hriller is to keep the audience 'on the edge of their seats', as though each sequence within the film is a cliffhanger. The tension that leads to this climax usually arises when the main character is placed in a periless situation, and their victory within the narrative looks improbable.

If we use the characteristics outlined in my previous posts as the principles for establishing a genre, the main features and conventions of thrillers are:

• suburban/city locations
• the heroes are often normal citizens
• the hero thwarts the plan of an enemy
• the identity of the archetypal villain is known throughout the film
• crimes are often on a much larger scale (ie terrorist attacks)
• the climax occurs when the hero defeats the villain

JC The basic principles of genre

A 'genre' is a type of category or media product, with each genre possessing different characteristics and connotations. The distinctive features, principles and characteristics of each genre are recognised through their repitition over a long period of time through numerous films. The generic codes and conventions of a text - that is, in this instance, a film - are both flexible and dynamic.

Genre serves to create a set of expectations amongst an audience. Rick Altman suggested that genres "are not neutral categories, but rather ideological constructs that provide and enforce a pre-reading", whilst Thomas Schatz remarks "we might think of the film genre as a specific grammar or system of rules of expression and construction and the individual genre  film as a manifestation of these rules". The challenge for filmmakers, therefore, is to make a film identifiable with its genre, yet to make a project distinct and original.

The following are usually covered from different aspects within separate genres:

• A recognisable protagonist
• An archetypal hero/villain - one which is so predictable that it holds the same values across genres
• Stock characters
• Plot/Stock situations
• An antihero
• Icons/iconography - Objects, Locations and Stars
• Background and decor
• Themes

It is only once these have been recognised, that a filmmaker can break the convention within a genre.

JC Thriller Research - Batman: The Dark Knight (Nolan, 2008)

Following on from my inital research conducted last weekend, and my analysis of the opening of Pan's Labyrinth, I decided that my next port of call would be one of the most popular contemporary thrillers - Batman: The Dark Knight.

At the beginning of the sequence, the camera zooms in on a skyscraper; we see a glass pane smash, and the film is continuity edited to immediately switch to a shot of the perpetrators inside the building.

As the robbers enter the building, they are all wearing masks; this use of mise-en-scene, as well as the action they are performing, denote to the audience that the masked men are the villains within the clip. As they enter the bank, the villains hold a woman at gunpoint, who reacts by screaming - reinforcing gender stereotypes.

The scene is set - as is now a regular occurance in many contemporary thrillers - in a bank. Whilst there is a stock character, he can also be described as an archetypal hero - he is in good shape, and is courageous, as he walks out of his interview room and begins to shoot at the antagonists.

ST - Lord of War

I know this isnt particularly teen drama but I thought the opening was excellent and it should be shared with the lads.

The camera follows a single bullet during production and ends at its eventual use. This is a great example of an object taking on a meaning and becoming an icon.

What I thought was interesting is how the names, credits ectera are incoperated into the natural action of this film. For example as the lid is being put onto a box filled with bullets, the screen goes black and a name appears at the same time.

As well as this the title of the film, "Lord of War", instantly defines the genre as action, thriller to the audience.

ST - American Graffiti (Lucas, 1973)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJJ4JyeAIoE

This opens with a Long Shot establishing the scene and the area that the teens will use. The use of music, modern-rock at the time, shows what type of characters will be in the film, especially when coupled with the establishing shot.

Delving into the characters, the use of simple comedy shows how this group might be a bit awkward socially and physically which many people will remeber about their teenage years. The dialouge is instantly used to express the problems and lives of the characters, especially looking towards the near future, setting up the premise of the film.

This is widespread in many teen dramas for example "American Pie" (1991, Paul Weitz) the premise of prom in the future is instantly made within the first 5 mins. All this leads to the inclination that teens are self-centred and only focused on the short-term, something that we should keep in mind if doing a teen drama.

JC Initial film opening research

When conducting my initial research, I decided to look at the opening sequences from four films, two of which cover the horror genre, one thriller and one teen drama:

Wolf Creek (Greg McLean, 2005) - Horror

Silent Hill (Christopher Gans, 2006) - Horror

American Graffiti (Lucas, 1973) - Teen Drama

Pan's Labyrinth (Del Toro, 2006) - Thriller

I chose to look at these films because I'm familiar with them - I watched Silent Hill on saturday evening - and I knew that they would fit the separate genre. I started by making brief notes on each film:

Wolf Creek:

• The opening credits include a slide with the words 'The following is based on actual events', and goes on to introduce people to the story, by telling them how many people go missing, and how some of them are never found
• The establishing shot reveals a seaside location
• A girl is shown looking through photos
• Another girl is shown writing, and posting, a postcard

Silent Hill:

• A woman is running, shouting and covered in sweat
• The story is set during the night
• The woman screaming is looking for her child - she holds 'Sharon's' bear
• As she walks under the bridge, we see graffiti
• Whilst under the bridge, the sound mix is changed so that all the external, diegetic sounds, such as cars going over the bridge, are made louder
• The woman looks down over the edge of the waterfall
• We follow her gaze, which travels down a tunnel and ends at a girls face with no body
• When the woman finds 'Sharon', she is relieved, however Shanon is screaming "Silent Hill"

American Graffiti:

• The music is very typical of the period in America - Rock n' Roll, 12 Bar Blues
• The background image whilst the opening credits run is a Drive Thru'
• One of the characters is leaning against a car
• Another drives his scooter into a wall
• Another has to kick the door shut of his car

Pan's Labyrinth:

• There is some background information to the story - all of which is historical
• A girl is crying, and seems distraught - we see a close up of her face
• There is use of blue light, to connote 'moonlight'
• There are War vehicles
• The girl is holding a fairy book
• There is a mythical 'dreamworld' setting

Iconic Horror Films

Pre-2000's.

- The Shining

- The exorcist

- An American Werewolf in London

- Alien

2000 - 2010

- Dog Soldiers

-Paranormal Activity & Paranormal Activity 2

- Saw Series

Sub Genres Consist of :

Horror/Fantasy

Horror/Comedy

Horror/Thriller

Horror/Sci-fi

Genre Research - Thriller: Pan's Labyrinth (Del Toro, 2006)

Given that we have three genres to choose between, and there are three members in our group, logically we decided to focus on one genre each - Timo is to research Horror, I will be researching Thriller and Simon will research Teen Dramas.

For me, Pan's Labyrinth is one of my favourite films, and given it's critical acclaim as a superb thriller, I decided to have a look at the opening sequence from the film. The first clip I found had no sound, however I was still able to note the main conventions explored in the clip. The video above shows the opening 11 minutes of the film, however, for the purpose of researching 'film sequence openings', I have only commented on the opening 2 minutes and 41 seconds.

The scene is set by the use of titles, telling us that the film is set in Spain in 1944, after the end of the Civil War. We are told that there are still armed men fighting the new fascist regime, however military posts have been established to 'exterminate the resistance'.

The panning movement of the camera (no pun intended) brings us to a close-up of a young girl, who's body language and facial expressions connote that she is distraught. After seeing the young girl's facial expressions, the sound mix is changed from a prevalent eerie yet melodic track, to the prioritisation of a voice-over on the narrative; at this point, the camera zooms into the young girl's (Ofelia) eye, and the cut takes us to a mythical setting, with a city within a cave, arrousing connotations of a dreamworld. This setting is further reinforced by the use of blue lighting (moonlight) and the voice-over, which has been mixed to sound unnatural and satanical, denoting that the setting holds secrets that are to be revealed.

Towards the end of the opening, we see Ofelia holding a fairy book, which also holds connotations of a dreamworld and a sense of something unnatural.

Silent Hill Opening 2 Minutes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bko9uSZW66o&feature=related

Link to Silent Hill Part 1 for the Opening 2 Minutes

Director: Chistophe Gans

Year of Release: 2006

Genre : Horror/Fantasy

Mise-en-scene: Plays the largest role since the costume is what engages the audience , and emerges them in this ''horror'' related situation. For example the woman's body language conveys fear.

Camera Techniques: Camera has close ups on the actors face because the facial expressions she is showing is important to help drive her narrative viewpoint.

Sound: Screaming helps add the sinister effect in the opening sequence , its clear this film is of a horror genre from the beginning.

Editing: Continuous editing is used to create the illusion that we are watching the events unfold as the screaming mother does. This means the audience is seeing things from the same viewpoint as the character , adding a surprise factor which is part of the ''horror'' appeal.

Narrative: The missing child is instantaneously suggesting the film is about anxiety and loss , the emotion conveyed by the mother is also of distress and panic , this fear expressed is classically shown in all horror genre type films.