Reasearch: Scream analysis

Scream analysis

In the opening scene of scream the female victim is alerted by a phone calls from a unknown caller who ends up deing the antagonist and her killer. The antagonist plays around with the female victim at first  and tells her if she does not awnser his questions correctly he will kill her boyfriend. The scene ends with the female victim being killed and her mother and father come home and find her dead and the antagonist is no where to be found.

How is the opening scene of scream coventionl to thriller films:

In the opening scene of scream a point of view shot is used when she is looking out of her front door window looking for the protagonist who is tormennting her through her phone. the shot creates a connection with the audience and feel the tension and fear that the female victim is feeling when being tormented by the antagonist.

When the scene begins there is natural lighting used this makes it feel like the situation is normal but tricks them as the because the person they thought would be the main character is killed. this is conventional to thrillers becuase they want there audience to be shocked and supriesed.

They use the white colours on the female victim  and has blonde hairthey use the light colours on her because to the audience these colours have the connotation of purity and innocence these shows the audience that she is a sweet innocent girl but also gives them idea that she will be the easy target for the antagonist.

The female victim cowers in a connor after the antagonist reveals he has captured her boyfriend her body language shows the audience how terrified she now is this makes the audience feel like the film is more realistic as this would be anyones reaction in the situatution this makes them be able to relate to the character and show sympathy for her.

The female victim shows a confused or afraid facial expression after she has told the stranger who is the antagoist to stop calling her this makes the audience understand that she is now afraid of who ever is continuely calling her this also makes the audience feel like the movie is more realistic as this would be anyones reaction to the situation.

Iconography is shown when the female victim picks up a knife at the begining of the scene this is very important to the scene as this is the murder weapon used on the female victim at the end of the scene this makes the audience get on the edge of their seats as they are now thinking will the knife have any significance in the scene.

The scene uses slow motion editing when the antagonist is about to capture and kill the female victim the slow motion builds tension for the audience as they are wondering if the antagonist is going to get to the female victim in the scene and kill her.

A non-diegetic soundtrack is used when the female victim is running around her house locking all of the doors and windows the music quickens the tempo of the scene which relates to the female victims sense of enrgence and the adrenaline that she has to make sure she can stay safe this makes the audience feel the way that she is feeling worried and wants her to quickly lock all the doors in her house so that she acn be safe.

Conclusion:
In conclusion the opening scene of screen has taught me what a conventional thriller film should be like and what i can use in my thriller to make the thriller affect my audience the way that i want it to. In this thriller i think i would like to use psychological affect of the audience and victim knowing that the victim is being watched but not knowing what he looks like and also i would like to use the costumes i would like my victim to wear light innocent colours and my antagonis to wear dark scary colours to make it clear to my audience who is who in the thriller.

Reasearch: Censorship

Reasearch on Censorship:


Who are theBBFC and what do they do:
BBFC stands for British Board of Film Classification the BBFC are the board in britain which decidewhich films are aloud to be realiesed in the uk they decide if a film needs to be censored, scenes need cut or if the film needs to be completely banned the BBFC is important because they help to keep people safe from from things would not want to see or there children to see when watching a film they are the people unacceptable content from being able to be viewed in our cinemas.


What things are censord and why?
Things that are sexual violence e.g. rape, graphic killing scenes, torture, strong language, real life references, weapons, nudity, corruption of the young, religion and class. These things are censord in film because they are things that people should be able to watch and enjoy watching as they are things that are either illegal or wrong and should in in cinema also things that could influence young minds and make them think that they are right to do in their everyday life.

Difference between a film being cut and a film being band:
The difference between a film cut and a film being band is when a film is cut it means that certain scenes are unacceptable and need to be taken out of the film and the rest of the film is acceptable and after the unacceptable scene/scene's have been taken out of the film it may be released but when a film is banned it means the whole film is unaccetable and will never be able to be released in cinemas.

Forna for censorship and Kemode against censorship and my opinion:
The argument between Forna and Kemode is that Forna believes that films that need to be censord due to unacceptable content should be censord as they can/could influence young peoples minds to think that the unacceptable acts that take place are normal and acceptable and carry these acts out in later life or at their current age an example of this is the murder of Jamie Bollger who was killed by two young people who watched chucky the movie and carried out the acts taken place in the movie on a todler and then killed him. Kemodes view on this is that all people should have the freedom to watch what they want as its their choice if they want to watch these unacceptable acts in a movie and they are choosing to do it and they have decided that the acts taken place will not affect them. My opinion on this argument is that films that have unacceptable acts taken place in them e.g. rape could and have influenced youg minds to think that the acts are acceptable in real life and their is evidence of this in the Jamie Bollger murder.

Conclusion:
In conclusion i have learnt that about what things need to be censord in films and the diffrence between what it means for a film to be cut and a film to be band. I  now know what things i need to consider when making my thriller that will be unaccetable to be put in my thriller film.

Reasearch: Narrative themes

Reasearch on Narrative themes:

What are themes and why are they important in film:
Themes are the main subject or idea of a film they are important as they define what the film is acctual going to be about and what the film will be like.

Why are themes dependent on genre:
Themes are dependent on genre because they need to have a genre to be able to choose the right thmes for the film that is being made they need a genre becuase with out the genre they could make a film terrible by for example if you put the theme of love into a thriller or horror genre it would not fit and would make the film strange and people will most probably not watch the film as they would not want to watch a film that is ment to scare them be about love and happiness.

Common themes in thrillers and there impacts on the audience:
The most common themes in thriller films are obsession, murder and survival these are all common themes as they are all used to create fear in a audience there has to be murder in thrillers or there will be no fear in the audience as they will feel like that all the characters are always safe survival is common as the victims are always trying their hardest to get away from the antagonist and not get murdered and obsession is common as the antagonist is always obsessed with the victims that he wants to kill.These themes are used to make the audience know clearly they are watching a thriller as these things will always keep theme on the edge of their seat waiting to see what happens next and make sure that they get scared throughout the film.

Conclusion:
Two themes that i want to use in my thriller is murder and obssesions as they are great themes to keep the audience on the edge of their seat and keep the scared throughout the film.

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Reasearch: Narrative Theory

Reasearch on Narrative theory:

What is Narrative and why is it important?
Narrative is the way a story is put together and presented to the audience it is important because the narravtive i what makes the audience it understand how the film is set out and what part of the film they are at because the narrative makes them understand this.

Vladimir Propp’s Theory of Narrative:

Vladimir Propp suggested that characters took on the role of narrative 'spheres of action' or functions. From a comprehensive study of folktales Propp came up with seven different character types:

The hero, usually male, is the agent who restores the narrative equilibrium often by embarking upon a quest (or search). Propp distinguishes between

The victim hero, who is the centre of the villain's attentions, and the seeker hero who aids others who are the villain’s victims. The hero is invariably the texts central character.

The villain who usually creates the narrative disruption.

The donor gives the hero something; it may be an object, information or advice, which helps in resolution of the narrative.

The helper aids the hero in the task of restoring equilibrium.

The princess (the victim) is usually the character most threatened by the villain and has to be saved, at the climax, by the hero. The father's (who in fairy tales was often the king) role is usually to give the princess away to the hero at the narrative's conclusion. He may also dispatch the hero.

The dispatcher sends the hero on her or his task (who can typically be the princess father)

The false hero appears to be good but is revealed, at the narrative's end, to have been bad

Characters can fulfill more than one sphere character type, for example; a princess may also be a helper.

Todorovs Narrative theory:

Izetan Todorov was a Bulgarian structuralist linguist who pulished influential work on narrative from thw 1960's onwards he suggested that all stories begin with a equlibrium or status quo where opposing forces are in balance . This is interrupted by a series of events problems are solved so that order can be restored to the world of the fiction. He clamed narratives are structured in five different stages.

1. A state of equilibrium at the outset.

2. A disruption of the equilibrium by some action.

3. A  recognition that there has been a disruption.

4. An attempt to repair the disruption.

5. A reinstatement of the equilibrium.

Aristotles narrative theory:

Aristotles came up with his theory 2000 years ago he was a scholar his narrative theory is that all stories have a begining, middle and a end this is the most simple theory that there is as this is the theory that every will know without studying it as because his theory was made 2000 years ago it has been passed down through many generations and now everyone knows the theory and simply think every story should have a begining, middle and a end.

What narrative do thrillers use the most: 

Thrillers use Propp's narrative theory the most as in thrillers all the actors/actresses have their roles of what kind of character they are going to be for example in scream you have a hero victim this is the person the antagonist the villain what to kill the most but can not this is how thrillers use Propp's theory.

In my thriller i think i will also be using the most common thriller narrative Propp's theory as it has shown it is very sucsessful theory to use in thriller films.

Reasearch: Setting and Iconography

Reasearch on Setting and Icongraphy:

what are setting and iconography and why are they important convention how can it help with audience understanding:

Setting:
Setting is where the film is set they are usualy built on set or set in a specific location relivent to the film setting is important as it makes the audience feel in different ways and if the setting is in no way related the film the film will not put across the affect on the audience that is wanted.

Iconography:
Iconography a objects that give significance to the scene iconography is important because it shows the audience what is going to be important in the scene and what they can expect from it.

Stereotypical themes of thrillers:
Stereotypical setting for thrillers are dark forest, deserted/isolated houses and homes these are stereo typical because isolated/deserted houses and dark forests are places that everyone will find very scary and will keep the audience on edge and homes are seen as safe places and this affects the audience even more because they think and feel like the victim is safe when in acctual fact the victim is not.  

Stereotypical Iconography:
Stereotypical icongraphy in thriller are weapons, shadows, confiened spaces and street lamps these are all iconography that give ideas of what he audience can expect from the scene they are watching for a example shadows give the idea that the victim is being stalked or watched and could be sneek attacked by the antagonist.

How are setting dependent on sub-genre:
Settings are dependent on sub-genre as the sub-genre is the deeper setting for the film the sub-genre is what the setting will be based on so a psychological thriller will have a setting realated to the sub-genre for example a setting to go with this sub-genre will be a church.

How is iconography dependent on sub-genre:
Iconography are dependent on sub-genre because if there is iconography of a knife in a sci-fi sub-genre it will not make sence so iconogrpahy needs to relate to the sub-genre or it will make the film not make sence.

Setting is shown by using the female victims home that she will feel safe in and secure but in acctual fact she is in danger as she is tormentented by the antagonist the audience realise that her home is not safe at all this makes the audience feel on edge and affraid as they see a home as safe place to be and makes them feel afraid of what is about to happen.

A knife is shown at the begining of the scene and this then used by the antagonist to kill the female victim this is iconography of the knife and shows the audience that the knife is going to be important in the scene this makes the audience feel on edge because they have now seen the knife and curious of what it is going to be used for and who will use it.

Conclusion:
I am now thinking of using a isolated and desterted area in the film and using knife as the iconography in my thriller as both are very common in thrillers and are very affective to use on the audience to create fear and keep them on the edge of their seats.

Reasearch: Facial expression, Body language and Costume

Rasearch on Body language, Facial expression and Costume:

What is Body language, Facial expression and Costume:

Body language is the way a characters actions, movement and the way they represent themselves in film. Body language is a important convention in film because it helps us to understand the way the character is going to be as it will show us if the person is for example crazy their body language will be extravagant and will show us that the person is crazy.

Facial expression is the emotions that someone shows through their face for example sadness. Facial expression is important because it helps the audience  to understand the way the actor/actress is feeling when we are watching the film.

Costume is what the actor/actress is wearing in the film. Costume is important because it shows how a character is going to be represented for example when a female victim will wear white to show the audience that she is a sweet innocent girl this will help the audience to bew the victim in the film.

The connotaions and stereotypes of characters costume:
There are many stereotypes of characters costume in film that all people will expect a victim, antagonist and protagonist to wear in film for example people would expect a antagonist to wear black or a mask and they would expect the victim to wear white clothes or cute clothes and also they could be a child so they could also expect them to wear childs clothes these are stereo typed as they have been used in thriller films for many years.

Stereotypical victim costume:
A stereotypical victim will be a female in her teens they will most likely have long blonde hair to make her look cute she will be very attractive she will also wear a dress on any other clothes that are reveling and she will wear light colours for example white and she will be a easy target an example of this is the female victim ion the first scene of scream.

Stereo typical antagonist costume:

A stereo typical antagonist will wear dark colours like black will wear mask or something to conceal there identity scruffy long hair to make them look crazy and also they could have facial dissfigerments an example os stereo typical antagonist is a jason from friday the thirteenth.

How body language is represented to the audience:
Body language language is used in thrillers to affect them and to make them feel emotions for example body language of a victim would terrified and hopeless and this will make the audience feel empathy towards to the victim.

Stereotypical victim body language:
Stereotypical body language of a victim will be scared, terrified, dum, flurtasios this is because they want the audience to see the victim as a easy target and make the audience feel empathy towards them so that they can feel the way the that the victim feels.

Stereotypical antagonist body language:
Stereotypical body language of a antagonist is confident, calm, strong and intimidating this is because they want the audience to see the antagonist as a scary intimidating person that will create fear for audience when they see him/her.

How facial expression is represented to the audience:
Facial expression is used to make the audience know how the understand the way that the actor/actress is feeling this makes it easy for the audience to understand what kind of film they are watching as in a thriller a stereotypical facial expression would be fear so they would most likely think that is the genre they are watching.

Stereotypical victim facial expression:
Stereotypical victim facial expression are terrified, scared facial expressions this makes it clear that they are the victim and is used to make people show empathy towards the victim.

Stereotypical antagonist facial expression:
Stereotypical antagonist facial expressions will be confident and crazy facial expressions to make it clear they the antagonist as people have stereo typed these facial expressions over a long period of time.

Conclusion: 
My reasearch into Body language, Facial expression and costume has helped me to understand how the acters in my thriller will be able to affect my audience by using body language and facial expression and i have now a idea of what people will expect my victim and antagonist to wear in my thriller. /therefore my reasearch has given ideas of how i can make my thriller a great one.

Reasearch: Mise en scene- Lighting and Colour

What is lighting and Colour and why are they important?

Lighting is the way lights are used to convey a mood or atmosphere in a scene of a film. Lighting is important because it creates moods and atmospheres for the people watching the film it can also guide the audiences attention to a particular object in a scene.

Colour is the way colours are used to make scenes look different and give different meaning to scenes. they are important because they can make a audience see a scene in different ways depending on the colours you use in the scene.

Angles of lighting:

Under lighting:
Light comes from below the actor/actress this tends to have a distorting effect on the actor/actress this is done to make the actor sinister or evil to the audience.


Top lighting:
Top lighting comes from above the actor/actress highlighting their features and giving the actor/actress a glamorous look to the audience.
 

Back lighting:
Light source is behind the actor/actress and creates a silhouette this is used to make the actor or actress look mysterious and not reveal who the person is to the audience.
 

Types of lighting:

Low key:
Dark with small areas of light creates shadows.


High key:
Lighting is brighter than natural lighting.


Natural:
There is no changes to lighting in the scene
 

Lighting conventional to thrillers:
Low key lighting is conventional to thrillers because it creates a dark eerie atmosphere to scenes of films by creating dark shadows through out the scene that add tension to the scenes of a movie and this is essential to the thriller genre.

Examples colour:

Orange filter:
Orange filters are typical in action and adventure movies.
 
Red filter:
Red filter used in horror and thriller.


Blue filter:
Blue filter is used in action, thriller and crime movies.


Grey filter:
A grey filter is used in horror, sci-fi and thriller films.


Green filter:
Green filters are used in crime, disaster and thriller films


Dark blue filter:
Dark blue filters are used in thriller, horror, crime and action films


Many different filters are used in thriller films the most typical filters used are dark blue and green this is because they add a eerie and dark atmosphere to the film and this is what thrillers need.

Lighting and Colour scene analysis:



This scene uses low key lighting to create a scary atmosphere for the audience watching the film we first see it used when the male victim is taking inside the night club the lighting is very low key and crates tension for the audience as they see he has hopelessly walked into a helpless situation that he will not be able to get out of.

A dark blue filter is used to the scene look very dark eerie and the audience feel uncomfortable because the scene look very strange and scary as the all the people in the night club look like they are strange and going to kill the male victim this makes the audience feel tension as they don't know if the male victim is going to survive.

Conclusion:

My research on lighting and colour has made helped me understand what lighting and colour is going to make my thriller film successful and going to affect the audience the way I want it to. In my thriller we will be using low key lighting as it is conventional to thriller films and makes the audience feel on edge and makes them feel the emotions that we want them to.