Cinematography - Miss Miller

Cinematography  is the art or science of motion picture photography. It is the technique of film photography, including both the shooting and development of the film.In this essay i will be exploring the different camera angles and shots and the impact they have on the audience. 

In this scene there is a low angle used when one of the characters jumps on top of the car, this angle is used as it shows the woman as more superior as the men inside the car are helpless to the acts she is about to commit.This is mainly done for the audience as it is the camera angle that allows us to differ who is more superior, this is something which is done in all thriller films when the producer wants to illustrate power.

There is a close up at the end of the scene of blood splattered across her face, the producer does not decide to show the killing but instead shows the severity of the action by showing the blood splatter across her face however she seems to show blank face showing the audience that what she has done has no effect on her emotions.This may even shock the audience even more as they not able to see what has happened, this is quite often used in thrillers when the producers wants to leave some sort of mystery.

Here the camera shot has zoomed out this allows the audience to see what is going on from an emotional distance.In this case we can see the head sliced off from a samurai sword, this producer would want this scene to be zoomed out as he would want the audience to fully experience the shock and horror of the scene as this is a thriller film. This scene is also made more gruesome as we can see the head fly off into a different direction as it is zoomed out. This is done in many thriller films as like i previously mentioned it allows the audience to see everything that is happening from an emotional distance.

This scene would be considered eye level as the camera is positioned at eye level with the audience to make them feel more engaged with the scene. The audience are able to see the facial expressions of all of the characters and share the shock that they feel as they see blood pouring down from his wrist.This quiet conventional as most thriller films like to engage their audiences as it makes the film more shocking and generally mote frightening adding to the experience of the film.

A high angle has been use here to show the body language of both characters as they move in a circle.We the audience are able to see a substantial difference in the body language of the two as the female character is stood up very confident however the other character is slouched gripping his other hand and generally looking very panicked. These type of angles are what helps the audience understand or analyse the situation further.

Each camera angle or shot has there own purpose for example close up help the audience solely concentrate on what is being showed. However when they all are all put together they create the 3 elements of shock,surprise and suspense very well.When i create my own thriller i will look into many different angles and camera shots as they will help me achieve the three elements to a thriller fim  

Research into editing styles-Miss.Georgiou

Editing is essential to thriller films as it allows the producer to add suspense and shock to the scenes as they are able to cut the scenes and add sounds.

Sound- Miss.Miller

In this post i will be exploring sound techniques used in a scene and how they add shock,suspense and surprise. This scene has been chosen as it contains quite a few different sound techniques which helps me provide deeper analysis and research. Sound is an extremely important element to a film as like i previously mentioned it helps provide the three elements of a thriller film which are needed in order for it to be successful

Half way through the scene some digetic sound is used, there is banging coming from behind the door. The speed of the banging contributed a lot to the scene as it is quite slow, this is actually what helps create more suspense as like i mentioned it is in a slow rhythmic pace.The audience also do not expect to hear anything come from the cupboard so when the sudden sound occurs it becomes more shocking, This is conventional of a thriller as many thriller films have sudden sounds as it helps create shock and suspense for the audience.

Non-digetic sound is also appears in the scene when one of the characters checks what is behind the cupboard. The eerie soundtrack stays a slow pace as it creates a vast amount of suspense leading up to the opening of the cupboard, by keeping the sound at the tempo it allows the same level of suspense to be kept with the audience.Soundtracks are both very traditional and conventional of a thriller as help build suspense in scenes.

In this scene we can hear and see the girl breathing very heavily this is described as on screen sound as we are able to see where the sound is coming from. The deep and quick breathing builds suspense with the audience as we are able to see that something shocking is about to happen, this makes the audience anticipate what they think might be coming.This is quite conventional of a thriller as directors/producers often want to show the audience how panicked the characters are to add more shock and suspense.

At the end of the scene we can hear screams which would be described as off screen sound as the audience are not able to see where the sound is coming from.The off scream sounds don't necessarily create more suspense however would i say they create more shock as the audience are not actually able to see so instead it is left for them to imagine what is happening.

My research into sound has allowed me to understand the importance of it in a thriller as without it the three elements are not possible, it creates tension, shock, suspense and surprise very successfully.This has helped with my research as exploring sound has made me realize how essential it is in order to make my own film to be classified as successful.

Research into mise-en-scene

Mise-en-scene is an expression used to describe the design aspects of a theatre or film production, which essentially means a visual theme or telling a story both in visually artful ways through storyboarding,cinematography and stage design, and in poetically artful ways through direction. (source:wikipedia)

In this scene there is there is a vast contrast of lighting, there is evidence of this at 0:10 in the video link above. The most important feature of this scene would be the flashlight in the characters hand, the light from the flashlight shows that the characters is frantically running throughout the forest in a scared manor as the light is constantly moving in different directions. There is also a large amount of low key lighting here which helps to emphasise the light from the torch further as it is the only beam of light that the audience recognises.These techniques ensure that the audience really feel a sense of suspense as they are clearly quite oblivious to the situation due to the darkness however the torch gives them a glimpse of the emotions of the character and intensity of the situation.The beam of light may not seen as very conventional however the use of low key lighting will be viewed as very conventional as it is used in almost all films within in the thriller genre and also helps to create more suspense and tension which is a key elements in thriller films.

The killer has a very stereotypical costume as he is wearing a a hockey mask  at 2:04 in the clip when the killer has appeared behind Trent. In most thriller films the identity of the killer is concealed as this adds an element of mystery to the character. Although we cannot see it in that specific scene the character is also wearing baggy dark clothes which adds to the mystery as we the audience also little knowledge of the physical attributes however we are able to see the character is tall enough to tower over the victims of the film adding to the superiority and image of the killer. The costumes of the victims in this case would be regarded as normal attire which is done on purpose as this creates a stronger relationship between the audience and character which is due to the fact that the audience can relate as the characters are portrayed as normal people like the audience members watching.That relationship also highlights the emotions during that scene further as they audience now has a stronger connection with the characters and most probably feel that it is a situation that they could be in themselves, so it is a very effective tool to convey emotions further.
The choice of costume for both the antagonist and victim would be regarded as conventional as many other films use the same technique of normal clothes for the victims and more obscure or concealing clothes for the antagonist as like we previously said the normal clothes help the audience relate better and the obscure clothing for the antagonist shows he/she is an outsider per se.  

The scene chosen is quite frantic as the characters are constantly running from something however it does stop at one point when Trent almost gets run over.At the beginning of the clip a dead body drops onto the top of the car, Trent and the female character next to him start to scream and show many signs of being horrified as they frantically stumble into the forest trying to get away as far as possible, they both look horrified and extremely frightened at what they have just seen.This allows the audience to relate the same emotions with the characters as if they see the characters frighten it will also create the audience to feel this way.Body language and facial expression do not necessarily have any conventions related to them however there a type of body language and facial expression that could be related to thriller films for example in scenes where suspense is being built the character needs to have anxious facial expressions and seem hesitant in their body language which will ultimately make the audience feel the same way.




The general setting of this whole scene is very dark, gloomy and obscure. The majority of the scene is set in a forest type area with only the moon light and a single torch.This makes the events more shocking as the viewer is just as unknowing as the characters as they also cannot see what is about to happen. However in other scenes of the movie there must be a contrast of low key lighting and bright lighting in order for the use of low key lighting to be most effective as it is the sudden change in light which makes the unknown less apparent and like previously mentioned helps various elements like the torch stand out further.This type of setting would be regarded as conventional as most if not all thriller films have scenes very similar to this one in terms of lighting and the setting as this key of lighting is essential in creating the three elements of a thriller.

In this particular scene Trent is being held up by the killer the positioning of the two characters shows the audiences clearly what is happening which in this instance is Trent being violently killed. The knife has gone directly through Trent in direct sight of the audience. This allows the audience to experience the elements of surprise, suspense and shock more as they have been kept in the dark for most of the scene but now they are able to see exactly what is going on which is a good example of contrasting lighting used in certain scenes to create different emotions.The positioning of the characters can not exactly be considered as conventional as there are no conventional positions for characters however the emotions and the aim of the positioning of the characters can be considered conventional, for example as i previously mentioned the main for this type of positioning is that the audience now has a clear sight of the situation which could not be seen throughout this scene this caused a sudden shock for the audience as they could suddenly see the situation, this created a vast amount of shock and surprise which is are key elements for thriller films.

The research i have conducted on mise en scene will ultimately prove to be very valuable when it comes to creating my own opening scene as i will want to make my production as conventional as possible in terms of mise en scene , so i should refer back to the thriller films have previously mentioned and try to take conventions from them however i should also make sure that i add my own creative edge to ensure that it does not seem like the various elements have been copied

History of a thriller- Miss.Georgiou

Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as its main elements.Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods, giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror. Films of this genre tend to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-paced. (source:wikipedia)


1940:
Alfred Hitchcock is an english film director and producer who created many techniques in the suspense and physiological thriller genres.In the 1940's he directed a film named "Foreign Correspondent" and "Rebecca" which consisted of a romance between a young woman and and an emotionally distant rich widower.Hitchcock then continued to direct many other films throughout the 1940's. 

George Cukor produced a psychological thriller called "Gaslight" in 1944, this film was about a man who planned to make his own wife go insane so he could inherit her inheritance.the second film produced buy Cukor was "Noir" which was murder investigation made by a police detective named Dan Andrews.

1950:

Hitchcock is continued to produce films like "Strangers on a Train" which was about two train passengers who both traded murders with each other .Another was “Dial M For Murder” in 1954 which was about a husband who attempt to murder his wife, yet another was “Rear window” in again 1954 which was about a man who was convinced his neighbour was a killer. Other thrillers which were made in the 50s were movies such as “Niagara” 1953 by Henry Hathaway this movie starred the famous Marilyn Monroe who plays a character who plots to kill her husband.

1960:

Director Michael Powells “Peeping Tom” (1960), was about a psychopathic cameraman, this film was released prior to Hitchcocks “Psycho” (1960) which was about a lonely man and mother fixated motel owner. J.Lee Thompson released a production called “Cape Fear” in 1962 which featured a menacing character seeking revenge.Stanley Donens thriller of 1963 called “Charade” which had numerous plots and twists starring a pair of characters on the search for hidden loot which takes them to Paris.

1970: 

During this time period there was many films produced in the thriller genre.In 1972 was “Frenzy”, Hitchcocks first British film in almost two decades, was given a rating “R” for its explicit content.In this period brought the first film about a individual being disturbingly obsessed with their idol, this came in Clint Eastwood’s “Play Misty For Me” 1971.Director Nicolas Roegs macabre “Don’t Look Now” of 1973 emerged a tale of despair in Venice as a couple grieving the death of their daughter.Other 1970 Thrillers include: Francis Fords Coppolas tense thriller, “The Conversation” (1974), Irvin Kershner, “The Eyes of Laura Mars” (1978) and Brian De Palmas psycho-thriller “Sisters” (1973).The 80’s approached bringing us Dressed to Kill (1980), the assassination thriller “Blow Out” (1981) and “Body Double”

1980:

Brimstone and Treacle’ was released in 1982 but Richard Loncraine. It has a certificate rating of 18 this means that extreme violence is allowed to be shown, including blood and gore, also bad language, and even sexual scenes such as rape, which is actually part of the movie.

1990:

The 90s started with Rob Reiners “Misery” 1990 which was based on a book by Stephen King, then in 1991 came “Sleeping With The Enemy”. “The Hand That’s Rocks The Cradle” by Curtis Hanson was produced in 1992, the plot was of a nanny who was seeking revenge against her dead husband patient.The famous Jonathan Demme’s produced “The Silence Of The Lambs” (1991) where a young FBI agent is in a psychological war against a cannibalistic psychiatrist named Hannibal Lector, David Fincher created “se7en” in 1995 which was about a search for a serial killer who conducted the seven deadly sins.


Hannibal according to this table has had the biggest lifetime gross and largest opening. Hannibal was an American crime thriller produced by Ridley Scott in 2001 adapted from a novel of the same name. The main theme of this film is revenge,the plot turns on the revenge motive of wealthy quiet man called Mason Verger, who seeks to avenge the fact that he now fits the words of the Christmas carol that children once sang outside his bedroom window.When he heard these words he realized that he must make Hannibal Lecter, the man who did this to him suffer. The target audience for this film would be anyone older then 18 as the BBFC has rated it an "18" most likley due to an excessive amount of violence.

Red Dragon is a 2002 American crime thriller film based on Thomas Harris' novel of the same name, featuring psychiatrist and serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. It is a prequel to both The Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal.A major theme of the film Red Dragon is the concept of mental instability and the idea of a human being having the capacity to commit murder. Will Graham is a gifted investigator, who has tracked down two serial killers who both taxed his mental state before he retired from the FBI. Will Graham is the main character who started as a diesel mechanic

and later became the FBI agent that hunts Hannibal.The BBFC has rated this film a 15 meaning that anyone of the ages of 15 and above are able to watch however the target audience may not streatch across the whole spectrum.

The Cell is a 2000 science fiction psychological thriller film directed by Tarsem Singh.Catharine Deane is a psychotherapist who is part of a revolutionary new treatment which allows her mind to literally enter the mind of her patients. Her experience in this method takes an unexpected turn when an FBI agent comes to ask for a desperate favour. They had just tracked down a notorious serial killer, Carl Stargher, whose motive is to abduct women one at a time and place them in a secret area where they are kept for about 40 hours until they are slowly drowned. The main theme of this film is quite unclear. This film is also rated 18 which means the target audience would be above 18 as the contents of film is not suitable for anyone younger.

BBFC-Miss.Miller

BBFC



The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) is a non-profit organisation who creates age ratings appropriate to the content of the Film, the age ratings prohibits necessarily anyone under the age rating to see the film.

The lowest age rating the BBFC provides is the U category which stands for universal meaning that most audiences are able to view the film however this does not include anyone under the age of four. There are many restrictions when it comes to a films that watched by broad audiences for example the films are not able to contain any type of bad language except for very infrequent use of very mild bad language. It is possible that there may be kissing or cuddling within U listed films however there is no direct focus on sexual behavior or innuendos. Violence is also tolerated but in a very mild manor for example scenes may include very brief fight scenes or the character may be danger but they always end in a positive outcome to stop any kind of emotional stress. Children can easily be impressionable so to prevent this the BBFC has disallowed an dangerous or anti-social behaviour to occur. At this rating there are no references to any kind of illegal drugs unless there is a clear anti-drugs message which is able to be understood by the younger audiences although do they allow passing phrases to be used which would be missed by children. An example of a film under this category would be despicable me as it contains very mild nudity ,profanity ,violence and gore for example the bare buttocks of a baby boy are shown in a aback and white image, a young girl kicks a man in the shin and name calling "idiot" or "lame". However frightening and intense scenes in the film seemed to be the most prominent as this film has a high amount of action so there are many intense scenes for example At one point Gru is attempting to rescue the girls from the exterior of an aircraft, requiring them to jump to another. This scene may be intense for people with a fear of heights.

Parental Guidance (PG) is a more mature age rating then U, meaning that it is suitable for general viewing but some scenes may not be suitable for children aged under 8. The restrictions with the rating become a little more lenient as it is intended for a slightly more mature audience, the bad language in these films are now just mild but it depends which way the language is delivered as if it is used in an aggressive way it will most probably be rated at a higher age rating. Sexual references are unlikely unless they are shown not very often and un-detailed, they may be entertained if the reference is not likely to be understood by a child. The use of drugs are not allowed however passing references to illegal drugs and drug mis-use may be occasionally considered but will never be strongly focused on. A surprising example of a film that fits into this category is Frozen as it contained a a decent amount of violence, gore and fighting for example the main character creates a giant snow monster that may appear frightening to some small children or when When Anna is leading a blindfolded Kristoff, he smacks into a pole. There are also a few reference to alcohol and sex when drinks are served at a coronation ceremony in the films or the final kiss at the end of the film.

The BBFC created a new genre called "12A" in 2002.Films under this category are considered to be unsuitable for young children. Cinemas are only allowed to supply tickets to see a 12A-rated film to children under the age of 12 years if they are accompanied by an adult, aged at least 18 years. However, it is unlikely to be suitable for children under the age of 12.Films under this category can contain mature themes, discrimination, soft drugs, infrequent strong language and moderate violence, sex references and nudity. Sexual activity may be briefly and discreetly portrayed. Sexual violence may be implied or briefly indicated. A vast majority of films that fit into this category are superhero films like Spider man, Captain America and many more as they all contain quite a lot of mild violence. The film Spider man is the reason why this new age rating was introduced as it had such a high interest from children under the age of 12 so they decided to introduce a new rating so younger children were able to watch it with the supervision of their parents. The majority of the film has a high content of violence for example a man is shot and killed (off-screen) and we see him with a bloody wound in his chest.

Originally the age rating "12" was created however it is only used on films releases from August 1989 to 2002 and home media since 1994.These films are only suitable for children 12 and over, if the viewer fits that description there is no need for adult supervision. If the film is rated a "12" it can contain adult themes, hard drugs, regular use of foul language and limited use of very strong language, strong violence and strong sex references, and nudity without graphic detail. Sexual activity may be shown but without any strong detail. Sexual violence may be shown if it is discreet and justified by context of the film.The film Lord of the Rings has been classed under the category as it fits the features  above however  this film mostly contains a large quantity of violence and a few references of smoking and drinking.For example the movie begins with scenes from a vast battle, during which elves and men do battle with Sauron and his forces. The violence is more stylized than graphic. Almost no blood is seen. However, a great deal of medieval weapons are visible during this scene, and corpses are strewn all over. During a one-on-one fight between the leader of the men and the dark lord, the man is flung against rocks and dies.

The second highest age rating the BBFC can issue is a "15". This age rating is strictly only suitable to be viewed by anyone who is 15 and older. Films that fit this age rating can contain adult themes, hard drugs, regular use of foul language and limited use of very strong language, strong violence and strong sex references, and nudity without graphic detail. Sexual activity may be portrayed but without any strong detail. Sexual violence may be shown if discreet and justified by context.The film Ted has been given the 15 rating for various reasons as it contains many references to drug, sex, violence, smoking and a large amount of profanity.For example We hear a woman's sexual moans and the voice of a talking teddy bear also making sexual moans; a man walks toward the sound and we see a bear thrusting, a woman's legs are seen with her underwear around her ankles, it is implied that the bear is engaging in sex with the woman and we hear the teddy bear make a remark that is implied to be a sexual request.

The most severe rating that the BBFC can provide is the "18" rating. This category has few limitations in comparison to the lower age rating, however there is relatively large amount of films that are granted this rating for example major films like Django Unchained and The Wolf of Wall Street. Films like these could of contained not limitation on foul language used. Hard drugs are generally allowed,A famous example of a film that fits comfortably into this rating would be Pulp fiction as it contains a vast amount of drugs, profanity, sexual scenes , alcohol, smoking and gore. For example Two men get into a brutal fist fight in a pawn shop, one of whom prepares to shoot the other but is interrupted. One of them is hit in the head with the butt of a shotgun and knocked unconscious by a third man; the other man passes out from his injuries.n

The BBFC proves to be extremely important to the general public of the UK as protect children from unsuitable and even harmful content in films and videos and to give consumers information they might need about a particular film or video before deciding whether or not to view it. I am currently unsure of what exact age rating i plan on using for my own thriller film however i am considering on a 15 rating. In order to stay within the guideline for the age category i will have to constantly refer back to the criteria on the BBFC website or alternatively use the research that i have found here.