Analysis of the Preliminary Task

Our Preliminary task took about 2 weeks to film, we filmed all of it inside the school and took about 3 takes of each shot. I think we worked well in terms of working with the disruptions of working in the corridor and using a handheld camera for the first time, and we did plan effectively when making decisions about what the plot would be, where we would film and the different shots we were going to use. 


There are a few things we could have improved on however. During production, one of the rooms we needed was taken, so we had to use a different room that looked similar from the outside. We did do this, but because we filmed on two separate days we didn't have the "managing director" sign for the final scene. We didn't think about this when filming, which means that there was a lack of continuity editing in that respect. 


I think we did use a good range of shots, we didn't use some shot types, but this was because we didn't really have the opportunity to do so, for example extreme close ups or cutaway shots. We did use a range of close ups, establishing shots, mid shots and long shots. We did use a high angle shot when using the CCTV effect, and some of our shots were used to good effect as we were trying to be fairly secretive about the characters until there was a confrontation. 


The editing was not a particularly long job, simply because we only had a 100 second clip, and there were a few fairly large clips. Most of the time we didn't have any transitions, we just used straight cuts from one clip to another, but at the end we used a fade to black, and the credits were white text on a black background, and we did use a sound effect of an aeroplane taking off. We used this as it made a buzzing kind of sound, which is often seen in films when viewing a camera. 

Memento

Analysis of Memento

Memento is a Psychological Thriller, typically revolving around mystery with a non-linear storyline. Many conventions are used both typically and uniquely in this film. At the very beginning of the film there is a use of a gun and Polaroids of a picture of a bloodstained room, the denotations used are guns and blood, which connote death and danger, these are conventions of the thriller genre and intertextual with other films.

The non-digetic sound is also used to very good effect; the introduction contains a large amount of disconcerting string sounds which leave the audience both wondering and right on the edge of their seats. Later on there are sounds which carry a drone to them, they rumble which goes well with the monologue being spoken by the main character, this gives a sense that the story may do the same thing, it signifies unhappiness and almost death, which the main character seems to have committed to in a way. The sounds are almost a taste of what will happen in the story, as it reveals negativity, matching the black and white and dark colours used in the mise-en-scene.


At the beginning of the film there is a black background with blue writing over it when introducing some of the key characters. This is very unconventional for a thriller film as typically we see white on black. This different text gives off a sense as if a bold statement is being made.


In the opening of this film, there is a strong use of footage being literally reversed - although this is not a distinct convention of the genre, the emotions it causes the viewer certainly are. When watching, without any further clue, the audience gain a sense of confusion because what is going on seems very enigmatic. It does not seem to be realistic.

Analysis of The Happening

‘The Happening’ is a film which was produced in 2008. It was released as a psychological thriller – there are many different aspects of the film which we see in the first five minutes that we can analyse to define which genre the film belongs and which conventions are used effectively in the film.

In the opening scene, we can see it is a typical day. When viewing the mise-en-scene, there is nothing out of the ordinary whatsoever. There is a public path and a green area with children playing and many people walking. It is a summer’s day with the sun out and a slight breeze (however we only take this into account after watching the scene several times). In a typical thriller film everything is opposite to this, they are usually set in the night time with very few characters around, however this is only the opening of the film so we do not really consider this.

Similarly, in the building site, it is a summer’s day with a slight breeze. There are several men working there who suffer the same fate. In these two different settings, despite the atmosphere being the same there is a contrast in characters. In the park, there are mostly women and children, whereas in the building site there are many more men – as they all suffer the same demise it becomes apparent to the viewer that everyone is in trouble, irrespective of age, gender or anything else. The convention of people dying is certainly intercontextual with the thriller genre, but not too often is there mass death in the very early stages of the film. This shows that although using any conventions well in this film, they are also used very uniquely to make the film different to other similar films.

Both digetic and non-digetic sounds are used in the opening to the film, and both are used to very good effect. The digetic sounds used are mainly the characters speaking to one another, as well as the natural sounds recorded such as dogs barking, and most importantly, the sound of people screaming and dying.

The only noticeable non-digetic sound used is during the introduction of the film – this is the eerie music added at the start to the images of moving clouds. This gives us a sense that wind is being portrayed as dangerous and we realise that it will play a big part in how the story is told.

In the very early scene in the film, including two women reading books. When the virus takes over one of the women, she takes a sharp weapon from her hair and stabs herself in the neck with it – the sharp object shows a direct link with many thriller films, all of which usually include death, and sometimes with a sharp weapon, this means that it is intercontextual with other thriller films, as it meets one of the most typical conventions in the genre.

The other signifier that it may be a thriller is some of the camera work that the directors use to good effect. There is everything from extreme-long-shots to extreme-close-ups used, to show the setting, or extreme detail respectively. The emotions shown in the movie are that of worry and fright, these are typical signifiers in films that something bad is happening, which is usually the sort of thing that takes place in a thriller. The same goes for the setting, especially when backed up by eerie non-digetic sounds.

Period 5 - Week 2 - Glossary of Editing terms

Glossary of editing terms

Continuity editing – This is a form of editing which maintains spatial relationships in a film – it makes the viewer aware of specific objects. It also allows the film to have a rhythm and shows action and reaction.

Transitions – this is how two shots are put together in a film. The most common is a straight cut, where one shot cuts straight to the next. It keeps a pace with the film.

Dissolve – this is a gradual transition from one shot to another – the first shot fades into the second shot.

It can help the continuity, and is often used to show a transition of locations or events in a passing time.

Fade to black/white – This is when one shot fades (gradually or quickly) to black or white. It creates a sense of time passing if done gradually, or if done quickly, is used for flashbacks.

Fade in/out – a shot is faded in from a blank screen or fades out to one. It shows progression of time or a sense of chaos. Is often used for a montage effect       often shows peace.

Cross-cutting – action cuts between two sequences to create links, parallels or contrasts between two storylines and their settings. It can create tension. Often used in action films.

Wipe – A line moves across the screen showing a transition from one shot to another. It is a signifier of change, can be in terms of location or time.

Jump cut – an abrupt cut between two shots. It is used to be dramatic, perhaps at the beginning or the end. It often looks poor if done badly!

Analysing editing – When analysing the way something is edited, three questions should be asked.

1. When does the shot change?
2. What is the effect of the editing?
3. How fast/slow is the editing?

Visual effects – this can range from using black and white images to a CGI (computer generated image). A lot of effects are used such as making a new film seem old using a graining effect or CCTV style image.

Digetic sound – this is heard on and recorded from the location of the film, for example speech or ambient sounds.

Non-digetic sound – this is added when the film is edited to add to atmosphere, such as sound effects or music.

Montage – Allowing the audience to make meaning from the sequencing of images. Also used to show passing of time and progression of a character or relationship.

Shot Reverse Shot – edits together two shots from two different camera positions to give an impression of a conversation taking place.

Match on action – When shots are edited together to shot how actions progress through time – shows cause and effect.

Mise-en-scene – means anything in the shot. Could be characters, outfits, props, or location. Consider where it is set and what does it tell us about genre?

Period 5 - Week 1 - Glossary of Media Terms

Glossary of Media Terms

Composition – where objects are placed or arranged in a shot.

Rule of thirds – when looking at a shot imagine a grid over the top of it – the points of interest are often when the lines cross. In the picture, the lines cross where the tussle is going.

Again in the picture on the left, the points of interests occur when the lines cross. This is called the Golden Mean.

Framing – this is what you choose to include in the shot and what you leave out. What you leave out can be more important, as in thriller films there is a lot left out to increase the tension.

Extreme Long Shot (ELS) – the subject is not clearly visible but it shows the surroundings of the subject. It shows the audience where the action is going to be taking place and can be good if said action is going to be widespread.

Long Shot (LS) – In this shot the subject of the picture takes up almost all of the shot – the person’s feet are almost at the bottom and the head is almost at the top. It is most often used to show the character in their environment, for example in this picture you can see he is sitting on a bench in front of a wall, possibly in a public place.

Mid shot (MS) – this shot shows the subject in some detail while still allowing the audience to see some surroundings. It’s almost like having a conversation as you focus on the top half of their body as the bottom is irrelevant. It is a good shot to have someone speaking without too much emotion. This is often used when you see someone making an announcement like on the news, and also allows for hand movements and gestures.

A medium close up is half way between a mid shot and a close up, and it shows the face more clearly without getting uncomfortably close to the subject.

Close up (CU) - makes the face or a part of the subject take up most of the frame, and is useful for taking up most of the frame. It emphasises their emotional state and shares the feelings with the viewer.

Extreme Close Up (ECU) - used to get right in and show much more detail. There would have to be a specific reason to come in this close, for example reaction to dramatic scenes, or to show important detail on a subject.

Cutaway (CA) – A cutaway shot is one that is used to show something other than the current action. It could be a different subject or a close up of a different part of the subject. It is used as a buffer between shots or to add interest/information.

Two shot - A two shot is mostly used to show a relationship between two people, like in this picture. If you see two news presenters together then they are going to be co-hosts. If they are next to each other it normally implies that they will equally contribute to the scene.

It is a good way to follow interaction between people without getting distracted by their surroundings.

An Over the Shoulder shot is framed behind one person who is looking at the subject. The person who you see from behind normally takes up about 1/3 of the shot so you’re still able to see them clearly. It establishes the expression and feelings of the other person being looked at and quite often is cut from view to view during a conversation.

A Noddy Shot is common in interviews; it shows a person listening to the subject. It is also common in an interview to take videos of the listener nodding to keep the fluidity of the interview fairly clean.

Point of view shot – this is used to show what the subject can see and there is often a clear indication of this, for example in this picture, the biker’s hand.

Low angle shot – it is taken from below the subject looking up at it. It gives a scale of power, size or authority. It makes the viewer feel inferior.

High angle shot – it is taken from above the subject and gives them a sense of inferiority, it puts the viewer in a position of power and superiority.

A pan shot is used to show the subject moving along; it gives the viewer a sense of particular action and speed. It always tends to go from left to right and is mostly done on a tripod to give a smooth movement.

A tracking shot is a camera that moves on a dolly and follows the subject. Like a pan, it also gives a sense of moving with the action or the speed.

Tilt – a tilt is when the camera pans up and down on a particular shot, it gives a sense of size and height.

Dutch angle shot – it is not straight towards the subject, and it often gives a sense of chaos, insanity or things being out of the ordinary.

Arial shot – The camera is positioned in a plane or helicopter to get an extra long shot/high angle shot. It gives a sense of location, scale and size. 

Crane shot – The camera takes a high angle shot looking down on the subject. The crane can track, pan and tilt.

Psycho Shower Scene Assignment

Media lesson - 09/09/2011

The lesson today was more of a taster introduction to the course that we are going to be doing, a basic start to the AS Level of Media.

First we were given the sheet to show us how the lessons would be planned out and some of the expectations in terms of time frames for the things we would have to do in the lessons to follow. I now know alot of the tasks ahead of me and can plan my time both inside and out of the lesson accordingly.

After this we learned some of the theory behind media and some detail behind film. We covered nearly all of the camera angles that we are (hopefully) going to use in all of the practical films we create. Most of them I had heard of before but was interested in the one I hadn't used or heard of in the past.

In the lesson before we had learned alot about different genres of films and had taken notes about them. A list of genres is as follows:

Romance

Comedy

Zombie

RomCom

RomComZom

Horror

Thriller

Fantasy

Sci-fi

Western

Fiction

Slasher (such as scream)

Anime

Musical

Documentary

Gangster

I had not heard of some of these. In today's lesson we summarised everything we had learned in the lesson before and the lesson today.