What i found interesting about the illusionist before i watched it was the fact that it was a PG and still managed to a thriller - i know they don't all have to contain violence but it's a very common convention. The film is about a magician Eisenheim (Edward Norton) who falls in love with Sophie as a young boy but she is a Duchess and the two are forbidden to see each other.
Years later he comes to town as a master illusionist and the 2 meet again at a performance, they oinstantly realise they are still in love and make a plan to run away. However Sophia is engaged to the Crown Prince he finds out of her love and she is found dead in a river.
From that point on most of the story is driven by one question 'Is she dead or was it a trick/an illusion?'. After she is found 'dead' Eisenheim leaves town and sets up a different kind of show where he summons the dead (however it is all a trick) and he summons Sophia and finally himself at the end. The final scene is him running to Sophia and therefore showing she was alive all along and they are now going to start a new life together as everyone believes them to be dead.
Back to the point about the PG rating, i think this shows that the film is easy to second guess because there is really only one you want to know - is she dead or alive, and that it's easy to understand. Despite this i think the way it explores pushing the boundaries of what people will believe is really successful and interesting.
Rating: ***
Monday, October 29
Inspiration: Past Thriller Projects
Under the Gun
I think that the Mise-en-Scene and Cinematography in this opening sequence is particularly good. The colour in it appears as if it used to be so vibrant and saturated, and it's not that now it's cold with blue/grey tones, it's just that it's faded and become so much less passionate. The lighting also creates suspicion from the audience, the shadows and dark corners seem very sinister, connoting something very illegal/underground etc. The Mise-en-Scene as a whole creates the sense of past glamour/the darker side of glamour - the glamour connoted by the suit, cards, crystal glasses, but it's all dragged down by the grimey ashtrays and tiny box room. The cinematography is full of tight frames, the use of CUs and MCUs and low angles shows the panic of the male character and the disgust and passion/feistiness of the female. It also shows how to-close-for-comfort the tiny room is, and how intimidating the male lead is.
Exposure
I think the continuity in this opening sequence is by far the best because it follows all of the rules.
It has lots of brilliant matches on action - for example when he bursts through his bedroom door
It had dissolve transitions to slow the pace down and to heighten emotion
It also has a fade to black at the end of the clip which conventional symbolises the passing of time, so possibly the opening sequence is in a separate time frame to the next part of the film.
It increases realism with loud diegetic sounds like the running water, keys rattling etc
The pace is fast at the beginning which a little unconventional but it balances this out by slowing it down after a minute or so.
I think that the Mise-en-Scene and Cinematography in this opening sequence is particularly good. The colour in it appears as if it used to be so vibrant and saturated, and it's not that now it's cold with blue/grey tones, it's just that it's faded and become so much less passionate. The lighting also creates suspicion from the audience, the shadows and dark corners seem very sinister, connoting something very illegal/underground etc. The Mise-en-Scene as a whole creates the sense of past glamour/the darker side of glamour - the glamour connoted by the suit, cards, crystal glasses, but it's all dragged down by the grimey ashtrays and tiny box room. The cinematography is full of tight frames, the use of CUs and MCUs and low angles shows the panic of the male character and the disgust and passion/feistiness of the female. It also shows how to-close-for-comfort the tiny room is, and how intimidating the male lead is.
Exposure
I think the continuity in this opening sequence is by far the best because it follows all of the rules.
It has lots of brilliant matches on action - for example when he bursts through his bedroom door
It had dissolve transitions to slow the pace down and to heighten emotion
It also has a fade to black at the end of the clip which conventional symbolises the passing of time, so possibly the opening sequence is in a separate time frame to the next part of the film.
It increases realism with loud diegetic sounds like the running water, keys rattling etc
The pace is fast at the beginning which a little unconventional but it balances this out by slowing it down after a minute or so.
Techniques: Continuity Editing
For all films with all genres in order to make it seem real to the audience and to make the action seem continuous there are certain rules/techniques that a film maker must follow. These rules ensure that the film seems to be in real time.
Rules
Camera
30 Degree Rule
If the camera switches shot but has more or less the same framing (i.e. changes by less than 30 degrees) then the camera seems to jump and it makes the clip seem jumpy and amateur.
Eyeline Match
This ensures that the clip is realistic, so for example if one character is tall than the other, the short one is seen to be looking up and the taller one down.
Match On Action
During action, for example a car moving or a person running, if you decide to cut to another angle or distance then it is important that in the second shot the car/person appears to have moved. Otherwise the action (car moving/person running) seems to repeat.
Shot/Reverse/Shot
This rule is for shooting a conversation
1st shot: Master shot - both characters
2nd shot: CU character 1
3rd shot: CU character 2
Further shots: BCU to show emotion MS can also be used
Editing
Transitions
Rules
Camera
Shot Order
So that it makes sense you need to move your audience across space smoothly by using a logical order, for example:
LS to MS to CU
Jumping straight from first to last is a little disorientating and should only be used to effect
180 Degree Rule
In a scene there is a 180 degree line which the camera goes up and down but does not actually cross, this is one rule which is never broken because the effect it produces is only confusion. It is mainly applicable during conversations because if the camera crosses the line the 2 subjects appear to be looking in the same direction.
30 Degree Rule
If the camera switches shot but has more or less the same framing (i.e. changes by less than 30 degrees) then the camera seems to jump and it makes the clip seem jumpy and amateur.
Eyeline Match
This ensures that the clip is realistic, so for example if one character is tall than the other, the short one is seen to be looking up and the taller one down.
Match On Action
During action, for example a car moving or a person running, if you decide to cut to another angle or distance then it is important that in the second shot the car/person appears to have moved. Otherwise the action (car moving/person running) seems to repeat.
Shot/Reverse/Shot
This rule is for shooting a conversation
1st shot: Master shot - both characters
2nd shot: CU character 1
3rd shot: CU character 2
Further shots: BCU to show emotion MS can also be used
Editing
Transitions
- Cuts are most common for seamless movement from one shot to another, creates pace and rhythm
- Dissolves provide a slow and relaxing atmosphere (sometimes for a montage effect). Can also be used to show time moving forward and to show a relationship between 2 shots.
- Fading (up/out/to black/from black) shows a significant amount of time passing
- Wipes aren't conventionally used in film, mainly for children's television
Sound
Diegetic
This heightens the realism of the film for the audience as it makes it seem more like the real world
Non-Diegtic
Music can alter the mood dramatically, and is particularly effective at creating suspense because it lets the audience know that something is about to happen. Voice over's aren't very common in films but if they are present they help the audience understand/empathise.
Sound Bridge
This is a way to link 2 scenes quite effectively. It is when the picture and diegetic sound change at different times. Conventionally the sound from the second scene is heard before the picture is shown.
Opening Sequence: Scream
I thought that the opening sequence to the film was the best (maybe even the only good) part of the film. The use of the scary voice on the end of the telephone and the thought of that person being in the house really hooks the audience in, creating such tension and suspense. I think it particularly shocks the audience because the girl shown in the first few minutes is set up as the main character - she is sweet, blonde hair, and flirty at first so the audience expects her to escape. So then when she doesn't and is brutally murdered it hooks the audience in further because they realise that this film is going to be very hard to second guess and will keep them interested until the end.One of the main reasons i think the opening sequence is so good is because it immediatly taps into audience fears, not just current but on going, because one of the scariest t
hings to most people is the thought of someone being in your house, so that you are so vulnerable, without your knowledge. Another good part is when she turns on the porch light and her boyfriend is there, this makes her seem less isolated though as there are others in the vicinity, but it makes the whole thing seem a lot more sinister and twisted.One thing which i thought was awful about this film (and the opening sequence) is how unscary the villain was, some costumes (such as halloween ones) can seem sinister but this one made the whole film a lot less scary because it was quite comical.
Rating: **
Syd Field's Theory: Fatal Attraction
Applying Syd Field's theory to Fatal Attraction:
Act 1
The audience are shown Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) is normal caring husband with a perfect life with a wife (Anne Archer) and children.
The main hook for the audience in the first 30/40 minutes is that Dan risks all of this by sleeping with Alex Forrest (Glenn Close), but mainly it is plot point 1...
Plot point 1 - Alex slashes her wrists, this is when the story changes dramatically as Dan realises just how serious this little 'fling' has become.
Act 2
Alex starts to stalk Dan despite his attempts to move house and change his number, to the extent that she feigns pregnancy (possibly real) and also befriends his wife.
Plot point 2 is the boiling of the bunny, this forces Dan to realise that Alex has to be stopped before anyone is harmed and that he can't really do this by simply talking to her.
Act 3
The final confrontation is physical and ends with a struggle between Dan, Alex and Dan's wife, where Alex tries to stab both of them and finally Dan's wife shoots Alex.
Act 1
The audience are shown Dan Gallagher (Michael Douglas) is normal caring husband with a perfect life with a wife (Anne Archer) and children.
The main hook for the audience in the first 30/40 minutes is that Dan risks all of this by sleeping with Alex Forrest (Glenn Close), but mainly it is plot point 1...
Plot point 1 - Alex slashes her wrists, this is when the story changes dramatically as Dan realises just how serious this little 'fling' has become.
Act 2
Alex starts to stalk Dan despite his attempts to move house and change his number, to the extent that she feigns pregnancy (possibly real) and also befriends his wife.
Plot point 2 is the boiling of the bunny, this forces Dan to realise that Alex has to be stopped before anyone is harmed and that he can't really do this by simply talking to her.
Act 3
The final confrontation is physical and ends with a struggle between Dan, Alex and Dan's wife, where Alex tries to stab both of them and finally Dan's wife shoots Alex.
Thursday, October 18
Another Narrative Theory
3 Act Plot Structure - Syd Field
Act 1
During in the first 10 minutes the audience decides whether or not they like the film
Therefore they need to be shown/given a reason why the should care - like a hook
Then for the rest of the first 30 mins we learn the nature of the problem
Plot point 1 (particularly important points in the story, which alters the general dynamic of the film - they occur 3 times, in between acts and one in the middle)
Act 2
The main characters fight their enemies helplessly, in more and more extremely problematic situations
There is then normally a point where the situation begins to improve - possibly the protagonists win a small battle, but there is still a long way before a resolution.
Plot point 2 - the protagonist realises they have been tackling the problem in entirely the wrong way, this then leads into act 3
Act 3
The hero takes control and will normally battle the enemy on their own territory
Act 1
During in the first 10 minutes the audience decides whether or not they like the film
Therefore they need to be shown/given a reason why the should care - like a hook
Then for the rest of the first 30 mins we learn the nature of the problem
Plot point 1 (particularly important points in the story, which alters the general dynamic of the film - they occur 3 times, in between acts and one in the middle)
Act 2
The main characters fight their enemies helplessly, in more and more extremely problematic situations
There is then normally a point where the situation begins to improve - possibly the protagonists win a small battle, but there is still a long way before a resolution.
Plot point 2 - the protagonist realises they have been tackling the problem in entirely the wrong way, this then leads into act 3
Act 3
The hero takes control and will normally battle the enemy on their own territory
Tuesday, October 16
Actors
This is a friend of mine you i think would be good for a thriller role: 
This are just some extra shots i took of her in Grovelands park:
- she is taking AS drama
- she is petite
- she has an innocent and sweet look about her
This are just some extra shots i took of her in Grovelands park:
Location
I think my local park - Grovelands - would be an ideal environment in which to shoot a thriller:
Although there is the down side that it could end up looking a little 'blair witch-ey'
Sunday, October 14
So far...
I don't really want to start putting solid ideas together, i want to gather themes, characters, locations etc which i like and then start to piece them together.
- A 'normal' setting - suburban
- Innocence - corruption of
- A sickly sweet, cute (innocent) female
- A false hero
I don't tend to like films in which the villain is medically mentally unstable, i think it's much more unnerving for the audience if the villain has nothing physically wrong with them - more of a socio-path
Titles
The titles of films can tell us a lot about the film just at a quick glance and they therefore act as a hook for the audience.
There are some very common themes in thriller titles but criminal activity features more or less features in them all.
There are some very common themes in thriller titles but criminal activity features more or less features in them all.
- Death
- Supernatural
- Watching/Following
- Obsession
- Isolation
- Memories/Pasts
Titles are the most carefully chosen aspects of a film, they need to connote many things at once, yet be enigmatic to make you want to find out more/if you suspicions are correct - this is where a blurb comes in - to give the audience a little more information and often hook them in even further.
For example:
Fatal Attraction - this connotes obsession, seduction, death, betrayal/unfaithfulness
Memento - memories, the past, leaving a mark
The Silence of the Lambs - corrupted innocence, death, massacre, isolation
Memento: Was i right?
I analysed the cover of Memento before i watched the film and after watching it i realised that most of the presumptions i made from analysing the cover were correct - i believe this is probably due to representations - the type of signifiers which are universal - e.g. black which always symbolises the unknown/mystery/darkness
'All of this is set on a black background
This suggests a very mysterious/murky background to the story - the reason/logic behind it is very unclear'
- This is particularly true because the film is backwards, so we have absolutely no idea of any of the reasons for the events.
'The man is wearing a very stylish cream and black suit, yet it is unclear what she is wearing. This suggests the film is set in a high class area - possibly a very corrupt one with lots of skeletons, the enigma in the narrative is again presented through her unclear dress. The fact we know more about him than her shows that perhaps she is more mysterious than him.'
- this is half correct, it isn't set in a nice area at all, but quite a run down one, but it is very corrupt because people take advantage of the Leonard even though he has disabilities. For example, the motel owner charges him for 2 different rooms, and Natalie takes advantage of him by getting him to kill Dodd.
' The man looks quite handsome and rugged - stubble/shaven head/suit
The suit shows that he is respectable but that perhaps he is a little rough around the edges (stubble) - this could possibly be how he used to be - and old life is trying to escape from.'
- This is right just in the wrong order - he used to be respectable with a steady job etc, but now he spends his time looking for revenge.
Because of their facial expressions i think they don't know each other very well and are probably curious, but i think their is definitely an element of sexual tension.
- This was completely true, they meet half way through the film and he wakes up next to her practically every new day.
I was quite wrong about the connotations of his gesture code (looking over his shoulder) - it's not because he is worried someone knows his secret it's because he is constantly confused and looking around in all directions trying to make sense of things. Also because he is living for/in the past as this is the only thing he wakes up every morning remembering.
My summary was: The DVD cover doesn't really reveal anything concrete about the storyline, it mainly connotes secrets and watching. One very prominent theme though was the idea of a murky past - with lots of skeletons and perhaps trying to forget this past and run away.- This was mainly right because Leonard is trying to forget his past because he believes once he has avenged his 'dead' wife he will be able to get over it every new morning
'All of this is set on a black background
This suggests a very mysterious/murky background to the story - the reason/logic behind it is very unclear'
- This is particularly true because the film is backwards, so we have absolutely no idea of any of the reasons for the events.
'The man is wearing a very stylish cream and black suit, yet it is unclear what she is wearing. This suggests the film is set in a high class area - possibly a very corrupt one with lots of skeletons, the enigma in the narrative is again presented through her unclear dress. The fact we know more about him than her shows that perhaps she is more mysterious than him.'
- this is half correct, it isn't set in a nice area at all, but quite a run down one, but it is very corrupt because people take advantage of the Leonard even though he has disabilities. For example, the motel owner charges him for 2 different rooms, and Natalie takes advantage of him by getting him to kill Dodd.
' The man looks quite handsome and rugged - stubble/shaven head/suit
The suit shows that he is respectable but that perhaps he is a little rough around the edges (stubble) - this could possibly be how he used to be - and old life is trying to escape from.'
- This is right just in the wrong order - he used to be respectable with a steady job etc, but now he spends his time looking for revenge.
Because of their facial expressions i think they don't know each other very well and are probably curious, but i think their is definitely an element of sexual tension.
- This was completely true, they meet half way through the film and he wakes up next to her practically every new day.
I was quite wrong about the connotations of his gesture code (looking over his shoulder) - it's not because he is worried someone knows his secret it's because he is constantly confused and looking around in all directions trying to make sense of things. Also because he is living for/in the past as this is the only thing he wakes up every morning remembering.
My summary was: The DVD cover doesn't really reveal anything concrete about the storyline, it mainly connotes secrets and watching. One very prominent theme though was the idea of a murky past - with lots of skeletons and perhaps trying to forget this past and run away.- This was mainly right because Leonard is trying to forget his past because he believes once he has avenged his 'dead' wife he will be able to get over it every new morning
Review: Memento
I can't say i enjoyed Memento because it was quite a hard film to watch, before i saw the film i visited the website so i realised it was backwards fairly quickly due to the address - http://www.otnemem.com/. However i did find it incredibly interesting and challenging, normally I'm good at second guessing films but i love it when - like Memento - i did not see the ending coming at all.
The film is shown in reverse chronological order, the director says this is done to confuse and bewilder the audience so as to put them in Leonard Shelby's (Guy Pearce) shoes - who suffers from short-term memory loss due to an attack and he can only remember things for a few minutes. Leonard wakes up every day to the memory of his wife being raped and murdered by an intruder, and in this way the audience is very sympathetic towards him.
Narrative Theory
I think it would take me a very long time to try and do a plot synopsis of Memento and in all honesty that wouldn't be very productive so instead I'm going to apply Todorov's theory of narrative structure, which in itself i think will be a challenge.
1.) Equilibrium
2.) Disruption - event
3.) Recognition of disorder
4.) Attempt to repair
5.) New equilibrium is established
1.) The audience is never really shown the equilibrium in the film's time frame but in flashbacks of him holding and cuddling his wife.
2.) The disruption to Leonard (Guy Pearce) is the death of his wife
3.) The recognition of this disorder happens to him everyday as he wakes and remembers she is gone
4.) Leonard attempts to avenge his dead wife by searching for 'John G' - through a series of methods - tattoos, Polaroid photos with scribbled notes.
5.) A new equilibrium is never truly shown, at the end of the film it is established that there are many 'John G's' and that Leonard is going to spend his life going round and round in circles finding new men to hunt down and kill. By the end of the film to audience is told that he has already killed 2 men.
The Website - http://www.otnemem.com/
I think the website was established possibly because the film is so difficult to understand, so the website was set up to give clues. Personally i think that the website is brilliant because of the way it is cleverly laid out. The main page is of a magazine article (which itself is little misleading because in the frame of the film a murder is never really investigated - so i think this article is used to keep the audience detached from the characters at this stage).
In this article as you go over certain important words it is clear that it is a link, this takes you to a separate Internet window in which notes and photographs are depicted. For example: The word SUSPICIOUS links to this photo:
Clicking on each of these photos leads to the next one, in doing this if the audience reads into this they can gather from the biros word 'tattoo' and the need for something permanent that he is going to tattoo things he needs to remember all over his body. This therefore gives the audience a heads up to the film so that they can spend more time concentrating on following the plot and looking for more clues.
The film is shown in reverse chronological order, the director says this is done to confuse and bewilder the audience so as to put them in Leonard Shelby's (Guy Pearce) shoes - who suffers from short-term memory loss due to an attack and he can only remember things for a few minutes. Leonard wakes up every day to the memory of his wife being raped and murdered by an intruder, and in this way the audience is very sympathetic towards him.
Narrative Theory
I think it would take me a very long time to try and do a plot synopsis of Memento and in all honesty that wouldn't be very productive so instead I'm going to apply Todorov's theory of narrative structure, which in itself i think will be a challenge.
1.) Equilibrium
2.) Disruption - event
3.) Recognition of disorder
4.) Attempt to repair
5.) New equilibrium is established
1.) The audience is never really shown the equilibrium in the film's time frame but in flashbacks of him holding and cuddling his wife.
2.) The disruption to Leonard (Guy Pearce) is the death of his wife
3.) The recognition of this disorder happens to him everyday as he wakes and remembers she is gone
4.) Leonard attempts to avenge his dead wife by searching for 'John G' - through a series of methods - tattoos, Polaroid photos with scribbled notes.
5.) A new equilibrium is never truly shown, at the end of the film it is established that there are many 'John G's' and that Leonard is going to spend his life going round and round in circles finding new men to hunt down and kill. By the end of the film to audience is told that he has already killed 2 men.
The Website - http://www.otnemem.com/
I think the website was established possibly because the film is so difficult to understand, so the website was set up to give clues. Personally i think that the website is brilliant because of the way it is cleverly laid out. The main page is of a magazine article (which itself is little misleading because in the frame of the film a murder is never really investigated - so i think this article is used to keep the audience detached from the characters at this stage).
In this article as you go over certain important words it is clear that it is a link, this takes you to a separate Internet window in which notes and photographs are depicted. For example: The word SUSPICIOUS links to this photo:
Clicking on each of these photos leads to the next one, in doing this if the audience reads into this they can gather from the biros word 'tattoo' and the need for something permanent that he is going to tattoo things he needs to remember all over his body. This therefore gives the audience a heads up to the film so that they can spend more time concentrating on following the plot and looking for more clues.Rating: ***
Sub-genres
There are many sub-genres within the genre of thriller:
Spy: The hero is normally a government agent - From Russia with Love
Political: The hero helps to ensure the stability of the government - A Few Good Men
Legal: Not only is the case at stake in these films, but a lot of lives too - The Pelican Brief
Psychological: Conflict is emotional/mental rather than physical - The Talented Mr. Ripley
Horror: The conflict is mental, emotional and physically - SAW I/II/III
Disaster: the main event is a natural disaster (volcanoes etc) - e.g. Earthquake
Serial Killer: The villain has numerous victims and often a unique style of murder - Disturbia
Supernatural: where one character has supernatural powers - White Noise
Crime: Plot is based on illegal activity (robberies, kidnaps etc) - Reservoir Dogs
Although the majority of thrillers do entail illegal activity and elements of the horror genre.
(With some help from http://www.wikipedia.co.uk/)
Spy: The hero is normally a government agent - From Russia with Love
Political: The hero helps to ensure the stability of the government - A Few Good Men
Legal: Not only is the case at stake in these films, but a lot of lives too - The Pelican Brief
Psychological: Conflict is emotional/mental rather than physical - The Talented Mr. Ripley
Horror: The conflict is mental, emotional and physically - SAW I/II/III
Disaster: the main event is a natural disaster (volcanoes etc) - e.g. Earthquake
Serial Killer: The villain has numerous victims and often a unique style of murder - Disturbia
Supernatural: where one character has supernatural powers - White Noise
Crime: Plot is based on illegal activity (robberies, kidnaps etc) - Reservoir Dogs
Although the majority of thrillers do entail illegal activity and elements of the horror genre.
(With some help from http://www.wikipedia.co.uk/)
Thursday, October 11
Review: Primal Fear
This film is a mixture of psychological and courtroom thriller and, as i said in a previous post, is one of the most amazing films i think I've ever seen.
The film is all about the murder of the archbishop and the prime suspect is an altar boy (Edward Norton - who is pure genius in this role) as he is found covered in blood running from the police - all he remembers is that he 'blacked out' like he has been since he was smaller.
The reason for these black-outs turns out to be due to schizophrenia, the scene where his schizophrenia is discovered is shown below, and is probably my fabourite out of the entire film.
The schizphrenia is thought to have occured from the physically and emotional abuse Aaron (Edward Norton) suffered at the hands of his father and the sexual abuse he suffered from the archbishop - this being his alleged motive for the murder.
What i particularly enjoyed about the film was how it explored blind trust and instinct, Martin Vail (Richard Gere) is the Lawyer of Aaron and he blindly trusts him with nothing but his word as the evidence stacks up against him.
Rating: *****
The film is all about the murder of the archbishop and the prime suspect is an altar boy (Edward Norton - who is pure genius in this role) as he is found covered in blood running from the police - all he remembers is that he 'blacked out' like he has been since he was smaller.
The reason for these black-outs turns out to be due to schizophrenia, the scene where his schizophrenia is discovered is shown below, and is probably my fabourite out of the entire film.
The schizphrenia is thought to have occured from the physically and emotional abuse Aaron (Edward Norton) suffered at the hands of his father and the sexual abuse he suffered from the archbishop - this being his alleged motive for the murder.
What i particularly enjoyed about the film was how it explored blind trust and instinct, Martin Vail (Richard Gere) is the Lawyer of Aaron and he blindly trusts him with nothing but his word as the evidence stacks up against him.
Rating: *****
Applying theory: Primal Fear
My dad recommended Primal Fear for me to watch because the acting is amazing in it, it is a thriller but a mixture of psychological and courtroom.
It was one of the most fantastically enthralling and incredible films i have ever seen - definitely the best thriller - so therefore i wanted to study it somehow and i decided to apply the narrative theories to it:
Binary Opposites
There are mainly only opposite from the genre psychological/courtroom thriller
Sanity vs. Insanity - very very important
Innocent vs. Guilty - typical of courtroom thrillers
Right vs. Wrong - always a sense of this with murders
Action/Enigma Codes
There isn't really a sense of action codes playing much of a part in this film - obviously events lead to other events and there are of course examples of it, but the film isn't particularly suspenseful for the large part so it doesn't keep the audience wondering and guessing.
Although one very good example is in the final courtroom scene when the audience guesses that the Gere is trying to get 'Roy' to come out of Norton and it keeps you on the edge of your seat because you really want it to happen - you want to know if his heckling will lead to Norton's other personality coming out.
There are a lot more enigma codes than action, they don't create instant suspense but more of an ongoing questioning int he audience's mind:
- Who killed the Archbishop?
- If it was Aaron then why?
- What are the reasons behind his schizophrenia?
The brilliant thing about this film is that even thought there are lots of questions, the audience thinks that they have it all sussed out right up until the last scene when the biggest of twists is unveiled - one which i don't think anyone would have see coming. It turns out that 'Aaron' never really existed, the personality of 'Roy' is who he actually is, and he just pretended to have schizophrenia to get away with the murder.
Narrative Structure
1.) Equilibrium - The Archbishop is alive and well
2.) Disruption - He is brutally murdered/Aaron is blamed
3.) Discovery of event - Murder is overheard by postman
4.) Attempt to repair - Trying to bring killer to justice/free Aaron
5.) New equilibrium - It is discovered who murdered him/also that he wasn't such a saint as he sexually abused the altar boys
The new equilibrium is certainly different because lots of secrets have come out - the archbishop was a sexual abuser/also that he died to begin with/Aaron is no longer a sweet altar boy.
Folk Tales Character Types
It was one of the most fantastically enthralling and incredible films i have ever seen - definitely the best thriller - so therefore i wanted to study it somehow and i decided to apply the narrative theories to it:
Binary Opposites
There are mainly only opposite from the genre psychological/courtroom thriller
Sanity vs. Insanity - very very important
Innocent vs. Guilty - typical of courtroom thrillers
Right vs. Wrong - always a sense of this with murders
Action/Enigma Codes
There isn't really a sense of action codes playing much of a part in this film - obviously events lead to other events and there are of course examples of it, but the film isn't particularly suspenseful for the large part so it doesn't keep the audience wondering and guessing.
Although one very good example is in the final courtroom scene when the audience guesses that the Gere is trying to get 'Roy' to come out of Norton and it keeps you on the edge of your seat because you really want it to happen - you want to know if his heckling will lead to Norton's other personality coming out.
There are a lot more enigma codes than action, they don't create instant suspense but more of an ongoing questioning int he audience's mind:
- Who killed the Archbishop?
- If it was Aaron then why?
- What are the reasons behind his schizophrenia?
The brilliant thing about this film is that even thought there are lots of questions, the audience thinks that they have it all sussed out right up until the last scene when the biggest of twists is unveiled - one which i don't think anyone would have see coming. It turns out that 'Aaron' never really existed, the personality of 'Roy' is who he actually is, and he just pretended to have schizophrenia to get away with the murder.
Narrative Structure
1.) Equilibrium - The Archbishop is alive and well
2.) Disruption - He is brutally murdered/Aaron is blamed
3.) Discovery of event - Murder is overheard by postman
4.) Attempt to repair - Trying to bring killer to justice/free Aaron
5.) New equilibrium - It is discovered who murdered him/also that he wasn't such a saint as he sexually abused the altar boys
The new equilibrium is certainly different because lots of secrets have come out - the archbishop was a sexual abuser/also that he died to begin with/Aaron is no longer a sweet altar boy.
Folk Tales Character Types
This film is a good example of when directors/writers mess with the conventions of characters - and therefore they become very obvious to the audience.
Due to the fact that the discovery of Aaron's non-existent schizophrenia changes the dynamic of the film and the audience's perceptions so much, there are 2 different sets of the 8 character types established; before we discover Aaron was lying, and after.
Before
- The Villain: the prosecutor
- The Hero: there are 2 - the Lawyer (Vail) and Aaron
- The Donor: the second altar boy who tells of the sex tape
- The helper: Vail's assistant working at his firm
- The princess: there isn't really a princess here, unless you count the prosecutor who seems to have a past with Vail
- Her father - as a courtroom thriller there isn't so much a reward for anyone except justice, so perhaps the judge is the father here
- The Dispatcher: in this case, is the lawyer's craving for fame that sends him on his way
- The false hero: there isn't one just yet.
After
- The Villain: Aaron - because he really did commit the murder in a sane state of mind
- The Hero: the Lawyer - because he trusted + believed (and clearly Aaron is no longer a hero)
- The princess: there isn't really a princess here, unless you count the prosecutor who seems to - The false hero: is Aaron also as we are lead to believe he is a hero for all except 5 minutes of the film
The hero, turned false hero at the end, really messes with the audiences head and indeed the real hero (Vail). I think this rule is the one which is most often broken by directors/writers because it is the most effective at shocking/thrilling and making a great statement.
Narrative Theories: A Brief Summary
Binary Opposites - Claude Levi-Strauss
Claude decided that they were a good way to understand the production of meaning within a narrative - and that it made it easier for the audience to understand and empathise.
A very common example is Good vs. Evil
Each genre also has their own binary opposites - for example Westerns often have Sheriff vs. Outlaw
Action/Enigma Codes - Roland Barthes
Action + Enigma codes are narrative codes which films are made up of - they are the 2 ways in which suspense is created.
Action Codes refer to actions - events leading to other events, the suspense is created by the audience wondering what the next event will be.
For example, in Disturbia when the villain realises Kale is watching him, we wonder what is going to do.
Enigma codes raise questions - the audience asks the reason for an event.
For example, in Disturbia we wonder why was there a blood smear on the window?
Narrative Structure - Tzvetan Todorov
1.) The fictional world begins with equilibrium
2.) Then it suffers a disruption
3.) A new equilibrium is produced
The 5 stages the narrative can go through is circular (not linear). The plot/narrative is driven by attempts to restore the equilibrium.
1.) Equilibrium
2.) Disruption - event
3.) Recognition of disorder
4.) Attempt to repair
5.) New equilibrium is established
However, the final equilibrium is never the same as the first, through the disruption to characters or situations events happen which cannot be undone - for example a murder. And the disruption which occurs is always out of the ordinary frame work of the fictional world
Folk Tales Character Types - Vladimir Propp
He identified 8 common roles:
Claude decided that they were a good way to understand the production of meaning within a narrative - and that it made it easier for the audience to understand and empathise.
A very common example is Good vs. Evil
Each genre also has their own binary opposites - for example Westerns often have Sheriff vs. Outlaw
Action/Enigma Codes - Roland Barthes
Action + Enigma codes are narrative codes which films are made up of - they are the 2 ways in which suspense is created.
Action Codes refer to actions - events leading to other events, the suspense is created by the audience wondering what the next event will be.
For example, in Disturbia when the villain realises Kale is watching him, we wonder what is going to do.
Enigma codes raise questions - the audience asks the reason for an event.
For example, in Disturbia we wonder why was there a blood smear on the window?
Narrative Structure - Tzvetan Todorov
1.) The fictional world begins with equilibrium
2.) Then it suffers a disruption
3.) A new equilibrium is produced
The 5 stages the narrative can go through is circular (not linear). The plot/narrative is driven by attempts to restore the equilibrium.
1.) Equilibrium
2.) Disruption - event
3.) Recognition of disorder
4.) Attempt to repair
5.) New equilibrium is established
However, the final equilibrium is never the same as the first, through the disruption to characters or situations events happen which cannot be undone - for example a murder. And the disruption which occurs is always out of the ordinary frame work of the fictional world
Folk Tales Character Types - Vladimir Propp
He identified 8 common roles:
- The Villain
- The Hero - a character who seeks something - he is motivated by a lack of something (money/love). Sometimes not heroic in the conventional way - can be male/female courageous/cowardly
- The Donor - provides an object/information of value
- The helper - a sidekick aiding the hero
- The princess - hero's reward, an object of the villain's schemes. Princess could be male
- Her father - who rewards the hero
- The Dispatcher - sending the hero on his way
- The false hero
They become more interesting/noticeable when the rules are broken - they are only really noticed when they are broken. For example in psycho the character perceived to be the hero is killed in the first half an hour.
I'm planning to watch a film and try to apply these theories because in order to potentially break them for my thriller i will have to understand them. I am considering doing this to create more of a twist on convention and essentially more of 'a thrill' to the audience
Wednesday, October 10
Filming
Whilst i was on the Picadilly Line last weekend i happened to have my camera so i did a quick film, it's very poor quality but i like the idea of point of view shots etc for my thriller, and i think the tube is a good setting because it's so normal and people can feel really involved.
(ALSO! apologies for the length of my skirt :/)
(ALSO! apologies for the length of my skirt :/)
Tuesday, October 9
Memento: Narrative image
The construction of the narrative image on the DVD cover through:
Camera
CU of a man, but the tip of his head is cut off, he is looking off the frame to the left
The cut-off distorts the photo slightly and makes it look a little wrong, the fact that he is looking off to the left shows he is looking at/for something - almost searching. We can see his emotions clearly because of the CU.
The woman in another shot is also in a CU, with a slight high angle and looking straight at the camera
However it doesn't feel as if she is looking at 'us', i think that her and the man and looking at eachother. Even though the high angle should make her look vulnerable, the confident/bold expression on her face makes her look even more menacing.
The photograph is at eyeline for one photo, and a high angle for the second
This in no way involves the audience, we are very much made to feel like an onlooker
However the poloroids are splayed out as if they are on a table
Therefore maybe we are an all-knowing onlooker
But again this is slightly contradicted by the blurry and undetailed backgrounds of the photos
So perhaps we know what is going on right now, but perhaps not the past/why it is happening
Mise-en-Scene
The title of Memento
This is one of the main signifiers which holds the whole carefull constructed narrative together, it helps the audience piece the bits together and they all link back to 'a memento' - a memory of something, either phsyically or emotionally
The photograph of the man is a poloroid
This connotes being watching/followed as a poloroid is an instant memory of that moment
Then within that poloroid there is another of a woman
This suggests that he is watching her
But then again within this is his photo again
This connotes she knows he is watching her - this carries on and it all suggests lots of watching and secrecy and 'smokes + mirrors' - no one ever knows the full story
All of this is set on a black background
This suggests a very mysterious/murky background to the story - the reason/logic behind it is very unclear
The man is wearing a very stylish cream and black suit, yet it is unclear what she is weraing
This suggests the film is set in a high class area - possibly a very corrupt one with lots of skeletons, the enigma in the narrative is again presented through her unclear dress. The fact we know more about him than her shows that perhaps she is more mysterious than him.
The text reads 'some memories are best forgotten'
This is where most of the information is given about the plot - it connotes memory loss, secrets, skeletons in closets, running away from your past. We are given lots of options so it doesn't give too much away, it really just allows the mind to wander and jump to conculsions - which is a kind of hook to the film
The font of the text is very childlike and almost scribbly
Anything to do with children + the corruption of innocence makes people think of warped + twisted events
The backgrounds to the photos are blurry
This again suggests murky pasts, skeletons in closets, definitely something very bad has happened
People
The man looks quite handsome and rugged - stubble/shaven head/suit
The suit shows that he is respectable but that perhaps he is a little rough around the edges (stubble) - this could possibly be how he used to be - and old life is trying to escape from.
He is in his 20s/30s, white, American or British
Shows he is just an average guy on the surface (maybe other things deeper down) or he has just got caught up in something he shouldn't have.
The woman is around the same age, but she looks perhaps spanish or latina, very naturally beautiful
The beauty makes her probably quite self-confident, quite content,
[Gesture codes] The man is looking over his shoulder
This is a VERY KEY signifier to the plot, it shows he has something to hide (secret/skeleton) that he is worried someone will find out/already knows - something he wants to forget
The woman is directly addressing the camera (possibly him), boldly and almost aggressively
Possibly she knows his secret and she wants to remind him, she wont let him get away with it
They both have shadows on their faces (hers are more predominant than his)
This suggests yet more enigma and question raising from thre audience and shows them to both be a mixture of good and evil
Camera
CU of a man, but the tip of his head is cut off, he is looking off the frame to the left
The cut-off distorts the photo slightly and makes it look a little wrong, the fact that he is looking off to the left shows he is looking at/for something - almost searching. We can see his emotions clearly because of the CU.
The woman in another shot is also in a CU, with a slight high angle and looking straight at the camera
However it doesn't feel as if she is looking at 'us', i think that her and the man and looking at eachother. Even though the high angle should make her look vulnerable, the confident/bold expression on her face makes her look even more menacing.
The photograph is at eyeline for one photo, and a high angle for the second
This in no way involves the audience, we are very much made to feel like an onlooker
However the poloroids are splayed out as if they are on a table
Therefore maybe we are an all-knowing onlooker
But again this is slightly contradicted by the blurry and undetailed backgrounds of the photos
So perhaps we know what is going on right now, but perhaps not the past/why it is happening
Mise-en-Scene
The title of Memento
This is one of the main signifiers which holds the whole carefull constructed narrative together, it helps the audience piece the bits together and they all link back to 'a memento' - a memory of something, either phsyically or emotionally
The photograph of the man is a poloroid
This connotes being watching/followed as a poloroid is an instant memory of that moment
Then within that poloroid there is another of a woman
This suggests that he is watching her
But then again within this is his photo again
This connotes she knows he is watching her - this carries on and it all suggests lots of watching and secrecy and 'smokes + mirrors' - no one ever knows the full story
All of this is set on a black background
This suggests a very mysterious/murky background to the story - the reason/logic behind it is very unclear
The man is wearing a very stylish cream and black suit, yet it is unclear what she is weraing
This suggests the film is set in a high class area - possibly a very corrupt one with lots of skeletons, the enigma in the narrative is again presented through her unclear dress. The fact we know more about him than her shows that perhaps she is more mysterious than him.
The text reads 'some memories are best forgotten'
This is where most of the information is given about the plot - it connotes memory loss, secrets, skeletons in closets, running away from your past. We are given lots of options so it doesn't give too much away, it really just allows the mind to wander and jump to conculsions - which is a kind of hook to the film
The font of the text is very childlike and almost scribbly
Anything to do with children + the corruption of innocence makes people think of warped + twisted events
The backgrounds to the photos are blurry
This again suggests murky pasts, skeletons in closets, definitely something very bad has happened
People
The man looks quite handsome and rugged - stubble/shaven head/suit
The suit shows that he is respectable but that perhaps he is a little rough around the edges (stubble) - this could possibly be how he used to be - and old life is trying to escape from.
He is in his 20s/30s, white, American or British
Shows he is just an average guy on the surface (maybe other things deeper down) or he has just got caught up in something he shouldn't have.
The woman is around the same age, but she looks perhaps spanish or latina, very naturally beautiful
The beauty makes her probably quite self-confident, quite content,
[Gesture codes] The man is looking over his shoulder
This is a VERY KEY signifier to the plot, it shows he has something to hide (secret/skeleton) that he is worried someone will find out/already knows - something he wants to forget
The woman is directly addressing the camera (possibly him), boldly and almost aggressively
Possibly she knows his secret and she wants to remind him, she wont let him get away with it
They both have shadows on their faces (hers are more predominant than his)
This suggests yet more enigma and question raising from thre audience and shows them to both be a mixture of good and evil
Because of their facial expressions i think they don;t know each other very well and are probably curious, but i think their is definitely an element of sexual tension
Summary
The DVD cover doesn't really reveal anything concrete about the storyline, it mainly connotes secrets and watching. One very prominent theme though was the idea of a murky past - with lots of skeletons and perhaps trying to forget this past and run away.
Thursday, October 4
Psycological Thrillers
There are many sub-genres within 'thriller', but my personal favourite is psycological thrillers:
Psycological thrillers: in which (until the often violent resolution) conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional rather than physical.
I particularly like 'the Talented Mr. Ripley':
The film explores human nature's wants, desires and the lengths they are prepared to go to keep them. The main character - Thomas Ripley - , so when he meets Dickie Greenly, he falls into a twisted, dependant and obsessive love. I believe that he is probably an emotional starved person so when Dickie decides it is time for their friendship (in his eyes) to end, Thomas is broken. A particuarly fast-paced and seat-gripping scene of the two in a small boat way out at sea depicts the very unforeseen murder of Dickie. After which, Tom takes over Dickie's life to the extent of murdering a friend of Dickie's who becomes suspicious (and anyone else in his way) and in the end fakes Dickie's death.
I personally enjoyed the film alot because it began to scare me how much i empathised with Tom, and i really wanted him to get away with it. I think it showed the dark side of human nature's dependance and obsession fantastically.
Rating: ****
Psycological thrillers: in which (until the often violent resolution) conflict between the main characters is mental and emotional rather than physical.
I particularly like 'the Talented Mr. Ripley':
The film explores human nature's wants, desires and the lengths they are prepared to go to keep them. The main character - Thomas Ripley - , so when he meets Dickie Greenly, he falls into a twisted, dependant and obsessive love. I believe that he is probably an emotional starved person so when Dickie decides it is time for their friendship (in his eyes) to end, Thomas is broken. A particuarly fast-paced and seat-gripping scene of the two in a small boat way out at sea depicts the very unforeseen murder of Dickie. After which, Tom takes over Dickie's life to the extent of murdering a friend of Dickie's who becomes suspicious (and anyone else in his way) and in the end fakes Dickie's death.
I personally enjoyed the film alot because it began to scare me how much i empathised with Tom, and i really wanted him to get away with it. I think it showed the dark side of human nature's dependance and obsession fantastically.
Rating: ****
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