Scream 4 Cinematography Notes - Mrs Frisendar

Today we studied cinematography and learnt about different angles, movements and positions. We used this knowledge to then analyse the cinematography of a scene from "Scream 4". 

At the beginning of the scene when the antagonist is on the phone to the victim, a mid shot is used. This camera position is conventional to a thriller film as it proves who the victim is as she is wearing white clothing which represents her innocence. This shot also allows you to see her facial expressions and body language. Her facial expression shows that she is very scared. By being able to observe her facial expression, the audience can be put into the mindset of the victim and feel the same emotions that she is feeling.  This heightens the audience's anxiety and creates suspense which is a key element to a thriller film.

A panning/hand-held movement is also used when the victim runs into the kitchen. The panning movement allows the audience to observe the victim's running and panic which shows her fear. The hand-held movement also creates a chaotic atmosphere and represents the victim's erratic state of mind. These camera movements are conventional to a thriller film as they put the audience into the shoes of the victim and make them feel the same chaos that is surrounding the victim. This increases the audience's anxious adrenaline and makes them want to continue watching.

No County For Old Men - Mrs Frisendar

No Country for Old Men

There are many codes and conventions within the opening scene of ‘No Country for Old Men’ which relates to a typical thriller film. One of them being the isolated setting. The fact that the location is abandoned proves that there is no escape if something horrific was to happen. An abandoned setting is conventional to a thriller film as it makes the audience feel alone and shows that if a victim was to fall into danger, then there would be no one to save them and no where to escape. The use of camera work also emphasises this point. Throughout the first few seconds of the scene a series of establishing shots are used. These establishing shots emphasise how deserted the location is and makes the area seem quite intimidating. 

The pace of the editing at the beginning of the scene  is very slow. The slow pace creates intensity. This is conventional to a thriller film as it increases the audience's anxiety and makes them nervous for what could happen next. However during the first killing, the pace of the editing quickens. This fast pace creates a more chaotic atmosphere. A mid shot is used to show the villain's facial expression which is very aggressive and psychopathic. This proves that the villain is a very cruel and dispassionate killer. This increases the audience's fear and dislike for the villain. The transitions are basic straight-cuts which is conventional as they make the story line feel more realistic and have a larger psychological impact on the audience.

The costume design has a large impact on the scene. The villain is seen wearing all black which reflects on his personality and function. The victim's are also wearing bright colours which emphasises the character of the villain. This contrast in colour is conventional to a thriller film as it makes it clear to the audience who is the antagonist and who is the villain. The positioning of the characters is also very important when the victim is being murdered. The villain and victim are on the floor, however the villain is placed higher than the victim. This represents the large amount power, strength and importance that the villain has compared to the victim. This kind of positioning is conventional to a thriller film as it makes the audience feel more fear towards the villain because of his higher status.
               The use of dialogue is also a key element to the scene. Just before the second killing, the villain asks the victim 'Can you step out of the car please?' He says this in a very calm and polite manner. This is not conventional to a thriller film as the audience wouldn't expect a villain to talk that way, however it is very effective. The politeness of the villain adds 'creepiness' to the character and the scene and it also shocks the audience even more when he kills the second victim. This is important as 'shock' is one of the main emotions that is expected from the audience when watching a thriller film.

The order of events is not conventional to a thriller. During the beginning of the scene you see the antagonist's identity and you see him being arrested. This is not conventional as a thriller usually consists of an unidentifiable villain who is revealed nearer the end of the film. However in 'No Country for Old Men' the villain is revealed immediately. This causes the audience to build an immediate dislike for the character and also makes them wonder why he is being arrested. This consequently influences the audience to continue watching the film in order to find out the background and the function of the villain.

Alfred Hitchcock - Mrs Frisendar

Alfred Hitchcock

Alfred Joseph Hitchcock was born August 13, 1899 and died April 28, 1980. He studied mechanics, electricity, acoustics and navigation at St. Ignatius College in London and art at the University Of London. He began his filmmaking career in 1919 illustrating title cards for silent films at Paramount's Famous Players-Lasky studio in London. Many of Hitchcock's films have twist endings and thrilling plots featuring depictions of violence, murder, and crime. Hitchcock’s use of trademark techniques include creating suspense, similar characters (such as a vulnerable woman or an innocent victim accused falsely), human psychology, usually forgotten or rundown locations, lighting and camera techniques and controlling the emotions of the audience. One could say that this would qualify Hitchcock as an auteur.

His first completed film as director was ‘The Pleasure Garden’ (1925), an Anglo-German production filmed in Munich. ‘The Lodger’ (1926), was his breakthrough film and was an example of the classic Hitchcock plot: an innocent protagonist is incorrectly accused of a crime and becomes involved in a web of intrigue. ‘Blackmail’ (1929) was his first sound film. The film tells the story of a woman who stabs an artist to death when he tries to seduce her. Hitchcock emphasized the young woman's anxiety by gradually distorting all but one word "knife" of a neighbour’s dialogue the morning after the killing. This is an example of Hitchcock's technical skills. In ‘Blackmail’ and in ‘Murder!’ (1930), Hitchcock first made the link between sex and violence.

As a director, Alfred Hitchcock completed many films:

1922	No. 13
1923	Always Tell Your Wife
1925	The Pleasure Garden
1926	The Mountain Eagle
1927	The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
	The Ring
	Downhill
1928	The Farmer's Wife
	Easy Virtue
	Champagne
1929	The Manxman
	Blackmail (silent version)
	Blackmail
1930	Juno and the Paycock
	Murder!
	Elstree Calling
1931	The Skin Game
	Mary
	Rich and Strange
1932	Number Seventeen
1933	Waltzes from Vienna
1934	The Man Who Knew Too Much
1935	The 39 Steps
1936	Secret Agent
	Sabotage
1937	Young and Innocent
1938	The Lady Vanishes
1939	Jamaica Inn
1950	Stage Fright
1972	Frenzy

'The Strangers' Analysis - Mrs Frisendar

   helht

'The Strangers' Analysis

Editing and Sound:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrCZ-X66KKQ 

The pace of editing and the use of sound is what makes this scene from 'The Strangers' very intense. The diegetic sounds are extremely useful as they make the scene seem very authentic - for example the knocking on the door at the beginning of the scene. This sound is very important as it is the opposite to what a villain would do. The audience would expect an antagonist to burst into the room, not to knock on the door. This gives the villain an unexpected 'politeness' which is not conventional to a thriller, however, this makes the scene more creepy which is conventional to a thriller film. This sound is also effective because the audience can hear the knocking but because of the obstruction of the door the audience cannot identify the villain. This is common in a thriller film as it adds mystery to the scene which makes the audience feel curious but anxious to find out who is knocking at the door. The diegetic sound also makes the audience fear for the victim and pray that she doesn't open the door. The pace of editing during this scene is very slow. Slow editing makes the scene feel very long and intense which is conventional to a thriller film as it builds the audience's anxiety and puts them on edge. It also portrays the victim's cautious and fearful state of mind which makes the audience feel the same.
                 Later on in the scene, the knocking sound becomes more aggressive. This sound proves that the victim is become more impatient and aggressive which puts the audience in the mindset of the victim and makes them panic. This diegetic sound makes the audience ask themselves, 'should I open the door or hide?' and heightens their apprehension and builds their adrenaline which is the purpose of a thriller film.
              
There is a non-diegetic sound as one of the masked villains appear at the window. This sound  shocks the audience and makes them jump. It also portrays the shock and fear of the victim and is conventional to a thriller because it creates a fearful reaction from the audience. The editing quickens in order to create a chaotic atmosphere. This portrays the victim's erratic state of mind. This pace of editing is conventional to a thriller film as it makes the audience feel as erratic and a sense of panic for the victim. The editing throughout this scene is very basic (only straight cuts, regular motion etc) in order to make this far-fetch story seem very realistic. This is conventional to a thriller film as it makes the film seem more believable and has more of a psychological impact on the audience.
               During this event, diegetic music begins to play on a record player. The style of music is very strange and doesn't seem like the style of music that the victim would own. This shows that perhaps the villain has put the music on in order to torture the victim even more. This creates a reaction from the audience as their hate for the villain increases and so does their sympathy for the victim. The music also makes the scene feel more creepy. The increasing volume within sounds also creates an erratic atmosphere and portrays the rapid increase within the victims fear and adrenaline. This is conventional to a thriller as it puts the audience into the mindset of the victim and makes them as frightened as the victim. It also provides the audience with nerve-wracking adrenaline which is an emotion that is expected when watching a thriller film.

Questionnaire Analysis - Mrs Frisendar

Thriller Questionnaire

I came up with twelve questions based on the thriller genre and asked ten people to answer. By creating a questionnaire I thought I would have a clearer understanding of what the audience expects from a thriller opening. Here is my questionnaire:

I also used Column and Pie Charts to represent and compare the answers:

Are you male or female?

What age are you?

Do you like thriller films?

What is your favourite thriller film?

 

 

What is your favourite sub-genre?

What do you expect from the opening of a thriller?

What affects you more; Visual or Psychological?

What thriller theme interests you the most?

How do you usually feel when watching a thriller film?

What location makes you feel anxious?

 

What villain scares you the most?

 

What type of iconography makes you more anxious?

Interview:

What is a Thriller Film? - Miss Georgiou

Thriller Opening Analysis

Salt

Codes and Conventions

In the opening scene of the film you see the protagonist being tortured. This kind of violence is conventional to a thriller film as it makes the audience wonder why the protagonist is being tortured and want to continue watching. The use of blood also emphasises the violence of this scene and shows the protagonist's exhaustion. The close-ups allow the audience to see the protagonist's facial expressions and the diegetic pleading from the protagonist shows her frustration, exhaustion and pain. These elements are conventional to a thriller as they make the audience feel sympathy for the protagonist and puts them in the mindset of the character, however because she is being accused of being a spy the audience wonders whether she is the antagonist or the heroin. This hooks the audience and puts them on the edge of their seats wanting to continue watching. These elements would also attract the target audience (PG 13) as they grip the audience to the screen.
              The low-key lighting contributes a lot to this scene. It creates extremely dark shadows making the surrounding barely visible. This is conventional to a thriller as it creates mystery and secrecy as it is hard to make out what is going on and leaves the audience feeling on-edge and eager to find out what is happening and why it is happening.
              A lot of 'point-of-view' shots are used to show the audience what the female is seeing. This is common in a thriller as it puts the audience in the mindset of the character and creates a response from them. Many 'hand-held' shots are also used to create a chaotic atmosphere and makes the audience feel as mentally erratic as the character.
              The music is non-diegetic and has a very 'sad' sound to it which portrays the females emotions. As the music grows louder towards the end of the scene, it shows the females negative emotions growing stronger and also creates suspense as you know that she is going to be tortured and hurt even more. Suspense is conventional to a thriller film as it the purpose of this genre of film. Suspense is also what the audience expects to feel when watching a thriller as suspense increases the viewer's anxiety and excitement.

Throughout this opening sequence the audience is unsure of whether the female is the protagonist or the antagonist therefore it is difficult to predict whether the theme of this film is going to be pursuit or terrorism. However, this indecisiveness and curiosity is what helps attract the audience and make the want to continue watching.

Cinematography - Mrs Frisendar

'Obsessed' Fight Scene

Many different angles, positions and movement of the camera are used to make the fight scene of “Obsessed” intense. A high-angle shot is used when the villain strangles the victim and tries to push her off of the banisters. The high-angle allows you to see what the victim can’t - the vast distance from the staircase to the floor. This is conventional to a thriller movie as it makes the audience feel on-edge because it is obvious the victim is at risk of getting hurt. This angle also allows you to see the frightened facial expression of the victim, which makes you feel immediate sympathy for her.
              A close-up is also used on the victim and the villain’s feet. In this shot you see the victims’ feet being lifted from the ground as she is being tilted over the banister. This proves that the victim is losing strength, which consequently makes the audience feel anxious that the victim is going to fall. Anxiety is expected in a thriller film therefore this close-up is conventional.

A mid shot is used when the victim is pushed down the stairs. You see the victim’s face covered with blood and sweat. This mid shot allows you to see the victim’s exhaustion through her facial expression. This shot is conventional to a thriller film as you begin to feel the exhaustion of the victim and wonder if the victim will survive the fight.

A point-of-view/hand-held movement is used when the victim is looking throughout the house for the villain. The fact that the shot is filmed from the victim’s point of view means that the audience is witnessing what the victim is witnessing.  The hand-held movement represents the victim’s anxiety and irratic state of mind. This movement is conventional to a thriller film as it creates suspense and puts you in the mindset of the victim. It leaves the audience feeling anxious and on-edge for the victim - which is something you expect to feel when watching a thriller film.

A lot of panning is also used when the fight is at its climax. The panning movement exaggerates the speed and force of every kick and punch. This is conventional to a thriller as it makes the scene feel very violent and chaotic. Chaos and violence is expected in a thriller film.

Thriller Conventions - Mrs Frisendar

Thriller Film Conventions

Purpose and Themes:

A 'Thriller' is a genre of film which uses suspense, tension and excitement and tend to be adrenaline-rushing and fast-paced. The purpose of a thriller film is to manipulate the audience's mood and raise their level of anxiety. When watching a thriller the audience expects to be alert, surprised and left on the edge of their seats.

Thriller films are usually based around dramatic themes such as; greed, envy, jealousy, terrorism, pursuit, romantic triangles etc. A typical thriller would include a protagonist who is in danger and an unidentifiable antagonist. Thriller films usually include a fight or chase scene in order to emphasise the danger that the protagonist is facing.

Codes and Conventions:

Dark colours and low-key lighting is conventional to a thriller film. Low-key lighting creates shadows which makes the film more mysterious and intense. The antagonist is usually dressed in dark-coloured clothing and the protagonist is usually dressed in lighter clothing. The colour of clothing is very important as it portrays the character's personality and shows the audience who the villain is and who the victim is (like in the image above).

The use of violent iconography, such as guns and knives, are common in thriller films. They emphasise the theme of danger and make the audience feel uncertain. Phones are also common in thriller films and are mainly used be the victim. The use of a phone exaggerates the fact that the victim is alone and vulnerable and has nobody there to save them. 

The pace of editing is conventional to a thriller film as it portrays a certain atmosphere to the audience. Slow editing creates intensity and heightens the audience's anxiety and fast editing creates a chaotic atmosphere, portrays the victim's erratic state of mind and makes the audience feel the same emotion as the victim. Cinematography is also a key element of a thriller. Hand-held shots are commonly used as they create an erratic atmosphere and increases the audience's adrenaline and intense excitement. The use of different angles, positioning and movement is conventional to a thriller as they show the audience different viewpoints such as; the victim's point of view, the victim's facial expressions or sometimes a certain shot will allow the audience to see what the victim can't which increases the audience's anxiety and sympathy for the victim as they know that they're about to get hurt.

The use of sound is an important feature of a thriller film as it creates suspense. Diegetic sounds are used and emphasised to make a far-fetch storyline seem more realistic. Non-diegetic sounds, such as music, is also essential as it builds the audience's anticipation. These sounds are conventional to a thriller as they portray emotions in order to create a response from the audience and helps the film meet its purpose which is to make the audience  constantly feel on-edge.