Research Task- Amy Homewood

Blog Post TEN

For my research task, I have chosen to create short YouTube videos of text on top of the file to analyse the sequence a bit more in-depth than just writing big paragraphs. Below is 4 analysed and further analysis of thrillers that I have chosen to produce. 

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo

The link for the video can be found here

Camerawork

• Establishing shot is used as well as a pan and a de-focus effect to show the package- this makes the audience question what the package is doing there, why and what is in it
• Close ups used to see facial expressions and emotions on the character opening package
• Long shots to show location when hooded character appears
• A lot of ECU are used throughout the sequence, especially when the package is being opened up with a knife
• Mid shot used for first sneak peek reveal of hooded character

Editing

• Long cuts are used when the package is being opened and the character reacting to the photo frame- this creates more suspense for the audience and puts them on-edge to what is in the package
• When hooded character is introduced, short and quick cuts are used in time with music (somewhat acts like a time signature), as the cuts get faster, the music produces to be more intense 
• Match on action is used when opening the package between ECU and mid-shot

Sound

• Foley is used whilst the package is being open to create suspense for the viewer of what is going to be inside
• At the time of the package being opened, minor non-diegetic music is added as that is the area of the sequence that the viewers are getting closer and closer to the package reveal
• When the package is open, there is a key change in music, from minor to major that connotes the reveal as 'god-like'
• Foley is used when the old man is almost crying as he is reacting to the photo
• Volume and density of music also builds when the old man has observed the photo
• Synchronous and descend sound is used when hooded character is introduced- this is instrumental through the use of violins 
• Music slowly gets softer when there is dramatic scene change

Mise-En-Scene

• The old man- seen as stereotypical, business-like. He is dressed in a shirt, a burgundy tie and a cardigan, with white silk gloves and gold lined glasses
• Possible antagonist- dressed in a black hoodie and leather jacket, with blue/grey jeans, a black leather side bag
• The package opening scenes use unsaturated, dull and almost grey lighting to possibly connote the mood or density of this package however lights up when picture and frame is revealed
• Location of old man is in an office- this is seen through long shots and could give the audience a clue to where he is from. It shows that the man is living with a grand location, so clearly he is weathly
• Hooded possible antagonist- seen walking through under grounds, city centres and sparsely populated areas, this might connote the characters position within the thriller

The Usual Suspects

The link for the video can be found here

Camerawork

• Close up is used as the establishing shot to show the light from the match onto the cigerette
• Restricted camera movement is used through a tilt so that the audience cannot be revealed to the identity of the antagonist
• Mid shots and long shots are the main two shots used in this sequence, they are used to set the scene 
• A mid shot is used when the antagonist pulls out the gun- this is unusal for thrillers as usually a close up or ECU would have been used to make the gun seem like its being used out of the ordinary, however, in this sequence in particular, is used much more casually
• Silhouette through lighting is also used

Editing

• Short cuts are used when the bigging of the sequence to elongate the whole lighting of the match and cigerette
• Match on action is used when the first character is lighting the cigerette
• Shot reverse shot is used within the sequence between the antagonist and the other male character, this continuty edit is simply used so the audience can see who the converstaion is between
• A slow zoom is used to the end of the sequence, there is a zoom into the ropes. This might signify something that will happen later during the film

Sound

• Foley is used when the character is lighting the match at the beginning of the sequence
• Diegetic sound is used throughout the scene, it is used through a foley and it is the fire reactin to the urine on the floor- therefore it produces a crackeling sound
• Foley is also used when the man is urining onto the floor, this makes the audience question what he is doing and why he is there ASWELL AS he gun shot at the end
• Non-diegetic sound is used from when the two characters meet, this is used to build tention between the two characters- this is produced through instrumental uses
• Music slowly gets louder during the end of the sequence, it causes the whole scene to be dramatic 
• Diegetic sound effects (such as a police car siren) is used towards the end of the sequence, this obviously links with the gun shot

Mise-En-Scene

• What the audience would assume is the antagonist wears a black costume, which would be seen as symbolic 
• Low key lighting is used to add to the suspence of where they are, who are the characters and how they ended up in that location
• Dead bodies are placed around the location to again, add to the suspence of the opening scene, I suppose that you could say that this adds enigma.
• When the lighted piece of paper is thrown into what the audiene would guess is urine, you are revealed to another dead body, which again, creates enigma

Lovely Bones

The link for the video can be found here

Camera

• Close up on the snow globe, the dialogue running alongside it
• Mid/long shot used to show the little girls home- this shows the type of stereotypical family
• Close up on the books that the female is reading- again this slows the kind of stereotypical family (e.g. a nuclear family, with the female reading cooking books)
• A close up is used every time there is a new character introduced
• POV and hand held is used in the sequence to represent the girl taking a photo
• 180 degree rule is used at the end of the sequence when the girl is running outside to take a photo

Editing

• Quick cuts are used when the couple are fondling, this can show the density of the situation- intensity 
• Match on action is used when the child is playing with the 
•  fade in through black is used at the beginning of the sequence- this creates a calm effect
• An ellipsis is used half way through the sequence- this skips from the child being really small to her growing up- despite the fact she is telling a story from a past memory 
• Another ellipsis is used to jump 12 years ahead- this saves time with editing and keeps the viewers engage 
• A zoom is used during the opening sequence out of the snow globe

Sound

• Diegetic sound is used, it sounds as if it is a child's toy- quite creepy, this creates a sense of disorientation
• Dialogue is used throughout-the story is told through first person of the child, this has an effect on the way in which the viewers watch the film as they can see it from one point of view
•  The music dramatically changes when the character 
• Foley is used when the little girl is taking the photo- it sounds as if a sound effect has also been placed on
• As soon as the parents are introduced- the music changes from the childish song to a guitar solo, quite major key

Mise-En-Scene

• Location throughout- is the home. The older the girl gets within the sequence, the more the house changes
• The main character (little girl) is dressed stereotypically in a white blouse, red over all
• Father figure is dressed in a shirt and trousers- this again is quite stereotypical
• The lighting throughout the start of the sequence is saturated, this looks as if is a first person flash back

Pulp Fiction

The link for the video can be found here

Camera

• The opening scene used a long shot in order to show location as well as the characters talking to each eachother- this is one continuous shot 
• Mid shots are used when the conversation is getting more intense and the conversation turns to robbing and killing different locations
• OTS is used during conversation between the two, this is used in order to not break the 180 degree rule
• A Close up is used when the two characters are being intimately affectionate 

Editing

• Shot reverse shot is used throughout the conversation between the man and women- this is used so the viewers can understand/feel apart of the conversation
• As soon as the conversation increases to get more intense, fast pace cuts are used to represent both characters getting into conversation

Sound

• As soon as the 2 characters are beginning to rob the cafe, major, fast paced music is used, this may represent the adrenaline going through the two characters bodies 
• Non-diegetic sound is used throughout- this is what viewers would suspect that the cafe sounds like- e.g. chatter, coffee pouring, knife and forks being used
• The main sound used in this specific thriller opening is dialogue between the female and male character, this is used to create a more sense of normality before robbing the cafe

Mise-En-Scene

• Location used is an vintage cafe- this adds to the scene as it might relate to what type of characters they would be 
• A prop is used- gun weapon is used in order to rob the cafe, aswell as typical cafe decor, such as plates, food, tea etc
• The female character is dressed in a purple top with a gold necklace in
• The male character is dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, a brown shirt and what looks like jeans
• Lighting throughout the sequence is very natural, as soon as the SRS is shown, natural sunlight is shown through the window to create a sense of normality