Maya Deren

April 29, 1917 – October 13, 1961

She intended for her films to be 'an experience' 

She used editing, multiple exposures, jump cutting, superimposition and slow-motion
Created continued motion through discontinued space, while abandoning the established notions of physical space and time, with the ability to turn her vision into a stream of consciousness

Films have an autobiographical tone to them

Arrived at USA in 1922

How far does the impact of the films you have studied for this topic depend on distinctive uses of film techniques?

The Spanish film 'Princesses' uses specific camera techniques in order to reinforce the racial divide between the prostitutes, yet also- discretely, their similarities. A handheld camera shows the immigrants socialising and mingling, as well as parading around in order to sell themselves. The variety of races and ethnicities shows the diversity that the Spanish culture attracts, consequently offering contrast from the generic Spanish girls they are juxtaposed with. The inconsistant zooming in and out on the girls creates a sense of verisimilitude- as it is obviously filmed from far away, as if in a documentary. A girl in Gloria's salon observes that it's 'like a jungle out there', reinforcing this, while also supporting the cultural opinion on prostitutes: that they are not much better than animals. The mise-en-scene of the fountain also creates the environment of a jungle, as it's as if they are all gathered around the watering hole, as would happen out in the wild. However their similarities are illustrated by their shared entrapment -demonstrated by the blinds on the windows of the salon, as if they are cared in. Consequently, a point of view shot from the Spanish prostitutes means we are looking 'through bars' at the immigrants, but this also means that the immigrant prostitutes are viewed through the same 'bars'- demonstrating that they are both confined by similar issues. 

How far does the impact of the films you have studied for this topic depend on distinctive uses of film techniques?

The impact of Chungking Express relies heavily on the effectiveness of film techniques communicating the anticipation of the imminent social change to reflect what the residents of Hong Kong would soon be facing. This is evident in the scene where we see Faye cleaning 663's apartment, consequently instigating the needed change in his life, while simultaneously easing him into it. The mise-en-scene shows her pouring new fish into a previously dirty fish tank. This could be seen as her breathing new life into his world, after he's been living in an empty void since the last big change in his life- being left by his girlfriend. This can be viewed as a social comment; showing that although the people of Hong Kong may feel abandoned and wary after being deserted by Britain and handed back to China, all is not lost, as it could be a fresh start, with new hope and life. This is reinforced by the use of colour in the scene- as they are bright and vibrant which is a big contrast to the dull, low key lit apartment we saw 663 living in originally. The framing of the scene also implies that this new female in his life will soon become pivotal and vital, as a close up tracks backwards to reveal Faye in the centre of the camera, suggesting she is central to 663's new story. The use of a montage reinforces the importance of time and space; it's manipulation of time along with the fact that it confines the viewer to just one place forms the argument that change is inevitable, and that even if you try to keep everything the same, you can't escape the fact that adaptation is healthy and needed in order to keep up with a and live in the modern world. 

How far does the impact of the films you have studied for this topic depend on distinctive uses of film techniques?

City of God achieves maximum impact through the use of cinematic techniques, and this is arguably used most effectively in the opening scene. The editing used throughout this scene is abrupt and sharp, enforcing a chaotic, hectic, confusing atmosphere that the audience finds themselves immersed in. This reflects the lives that the inhabitants of the Favela lead. One of the main focuses of the editing is the knife in the mise-en-scene, where the shots are extremely short, which could imply that the life span of people around is also very short. The first shot of the whole film, after complete darkness, is of a knife being sharpened on a rock, suggesting that the community is living on the edge of a knife, enforcing how dangerous it is to live there. This technique used reflects the genuine issues of the time the film was set in- in the favelas, someone died every 90 seconds, which demonstrates the short life span. Also, another aspect of the mise-en-scene, a chicken, is used to demonstrate the lifestyle in which the residents of the favelas are forced to partake in. A close up of the chickens foot shot a tag keeping him in place- he is trapped just as the residents are. Later the chicken becomes free and begins to escape, tracking shots show the frantic escape attempt of the chicken as it tries to escape its imminent, inevitable death. A chase sequence ensues and a long take tracking shot at floor level follows the chickens continuous narrow misses before ultimately stopping. This use of mise-en-scene, combined with the mix of long and short takes effectively foreshadows the numerous escape attempts that happen consistently throughout the film adding to the sense of verisimilitude.

how far does the impact of the films you have studied for this topic depend on distincitive uses of film techniques?

The opening scene of La Haine uses constant conflict and opposition and this is demonstrated through the technique of cinematography. This technique is used in order to create an accurate representation of the rocky, agresive world that the characters live in. The film credits themselves consist of real life footage of riots and extreme violence, it has the sense of documentary authenticity, created through the use of handheld cameras, which reinforces the fact that the issues faced by our characters are also faced by people everyday in the real world. This provides the viewer with context of the film- there was social and political unrest throughout the projects, which resulted in conflicts with authority, and in these cases the police. The portrayal of their world is continued in the form of a news broadcast, regarding a youth put in hospotal by a policeman. The zooming in on Abduls face on the screen is very typical of a real life feature, which once again, adds the feeling of authenticity and it being genuine. This is followed by a scene where Said is stood directly infront of a series of policemen. The camera pans to show the intimidating sight of riot vans and policemen. This is used to convey the constant presense of unwelcome characters and the constant intrusion on those in the projects's lives. However, the level of intimidation rapidly decreses when the camera curves round to show Said grafiting their truck. The cinemaography showing this demonstrates the constant challenging of the authority and constant opposition to those they deem outsiders- this continues throughout the film.

La Haine Words

Bleak- The world of La Haine is very simplistic, uninteresting and boring. This is demontrated through the fact that there are many scenes where the trio seem to be just siting around and waiting, with nothing to do. The bleakness of their surroundings could also be demonstrated through the fact that the film is shot in black and white- there is no colour.

Pessimistic-  Most of the characters dont have an optimistic outlook and consequently view every situation as a negative, this creates a hopeless society surrounding them, and begins the cycle of a depressing environment. This is demonstrated through the fact that Vinz expects his friend to die, and is almost waiting for and anticipating the worst, and is banking on it, (he says if he dies, he'll 'even the score'). 

Real- La Haine is easily viewed as real, as it shows the sides of Paris that Hollywood don't want you to see. It's not pristine, it's genuine and the world that the trio live in contrast greatly with the eiffel tower sort of world that we see in the Paris city scenes. Also, the main part of Paris itself is revealed to have crime, similar to the projects, which seems to be an accurate portrayal.

Tense- The film on a whole is tense, as the question of whether Vinz will actually follow through with his pln to kill a policeman, however, the final scene itself is the most tense, as the gun is bein held to Vinz's head then eventually Hubert and the policeman facing off with their deadly weapons.

La Haine

Images for La Haine:

Words for La Haine:

Revolution

Unity

Disunity

Trapped

Family

Liberty

Scenes for Poverty:

The BBQ scene- they have to share and steal the food.

When they attempt to hotwire the car- they have the instinct to steal the car, but aren't privileged enough to know how to drive it.

Scenes for Power:

The shooting outside the club- the youths have the weapon so consequently have the power in that situation.

The final scene/Vinz's death- the policemen have the weapons and consequently have the power, however when Hubert turns and comes back, the power is matched.

Scenes for Conflict:

When Vinz first shows his friends the gun- this creates a divide within their group .

The BBQ scene- the police come and try to get rid of them and they face off.

Case Study: The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game

A 2014 UK/USA film

Budget: $15 million
Stars: Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightly

• Both well known, critically acclaimed actors
• Big names

Genre: Drama/Thriller

• This genre is appealing to people who are interested in historical films
• It is also appealing to those who enjoy a serious film 

Box Office: $233.6

Production: StudioCanal (United Kingdom) The Weinstein Company (United States)

Certificate: 12A
Marketing: Advertising: Posters, trailers, interviews and raising awareness for relevant
issues.
Release Date: January 7th, 2015
Awards: Oscar- 'Best writing/adapted screenplay', Empire Awards- 'Best Thriller', GLAAD- 'Outstanding film'
Reviews: 'Superb Thriller'- Empire, 'Undeniable pleasure'- Rolling Stone, Vs: 'Plain and stolid'- the New Yorker

Short Film Sequnce

Short Film Sequence
Genre:
Drama
Certificate:
15
Diegetic:
Bottle rolling
Alarm clock
Non-Diegetic:
1901 Birdy
Dialogue:
No Dialogue

Section A: Production and Audience

Section A: Production and Audience

1. Study the items in Part A of the resource material, which include:

• a news item from The Hollywood Reporter. January 2014
• a report from reuters.com 

Use the material, together with your own studies, to answer the following question: 

What are some of the main factors that influence different kinds of film production today?

1. Study the items in Part B of the resource material, which include:

• two website pages from blink box.com
• information about events company Future Cinema and a review of a film event 

Use the material, together with your own studies, to answer the following question: 

How far are developments in film exhibition changing the way in which audiences watch films?

Case Study: Spectre

Spectre
The most recent in the series of 'James Bond' films.

Budget- $245-300 million
Stars: Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Andrew Scott.

• Of all the cast, these are the actors with the highest profile.
• Craig and Fiennes are both older, well established actors who have made themselves famous through other works- although it could be argued the Bond films officially put Daniel Craig on the map.
• Naomie Harris and Andrew Scott are both new, up and coming actors.
• However, it could be seen that in such a franchise like Bond. The name itself is star enough and doesn't require a major movie star.

Genre: Spy

• This is an action packed genre that is appealing to a wide range, especially boys.
• There is also an aspect of love/romance which is appealing to females
• The fact that it is an adaptation also assists this, because it means it appeals to more that one generation- one that grew up with the books and one that grew up with the films.

Box Office: $70,403,148, (second highest 007 movie).
Production: Sony
Certificate: 12A

• However it was 'trimmed' as it was originally a 15
• This means it is a family friendly film which gives people the opportunity to go together

Marketing: Advertising: Posters, trailers, teaser trailers, merchandise, interviews/press tours, magazines and photo shoots.




The official trailer was released in anticipation of the film coming out, which is normal for marketing techniques. However, in a style that has become common to modern theatre, Sony released 'teaser trailers' months before the release in order to get people hyped and excited long before the films premiere. It is also an effective way of keeping people interested; in a franchise that's been going on as long as Bond has, it is necessary to keep auidences interested and prevented people 'forgetting' and losing motivation to stay loyal.  

Promotional posters were released showing different aspects of the film, there were new posters and photos that linked to the plot and tone of the story, but these were juxtaposed with traditional, old style 007 poses and styles.



The posters maintained the iconic look of James Bond films- this allowed them to be undisputedly Bond, so minimal information was required on the poster, as everyone already recognises it as James Bond.

The film producers let selected interviewers and interested parties onto the set for 'sneak peeks' further keeping the plot itself mysterious and making it seem like any information was 'exclusive' and a 'big deal'. This was an effective marketing technique because it kept things secret, so the risk of spoilers was reduced, meaning people had practically no idea what they were going to watch, only that it was a Bond film and that they were going to be surprised.



The 'exclusiveness' of the interviews meant that many big news companies were interested in getting details and information, consequently, when any information was attained, it was plastered everywhere- getting the film more coverage.


Another effective marketing technique used by every Bond film is the anticipation and end result of the theme song. Traditionally, new, current, exciting artists are selected to write and sing the song which is almost inevitably a hit. Spectre featured a song by highly successful British singer/songwriter, Sam Smith, and his song 'The Writings on the Wall' was the first Bond film to reach number one in the charts.



The amount of product placement within the film, lead to adverts for individual products, containing Bond endorsing them, this once again gives the film more coverage, and results in it being featured almost every advert break on the TV. 
http://www.brandchannel.com/2015/11/08/spectre-bond-product-placement-110815/ 



Release Date: 26th October 2015

This date is towards the end of the year, this is useful because a Bond film is almost guaranteed to stay in cinemas for a relatively long time, meaning it will still be remembered and associated as a relatively new film even in the new year.

Reviews: Spectre has had great reviews, some dubbing it "a future classic" and others "the best Bond ever".  

Case study: The Spectacular Now

The Spectacular Now
A 2013 independent film.

Budget- $2,500,000
Stars- Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley 

• Although having quite a big cast, these are two notably famous actors within the younger generation.
• However, despite these stars being famous now, at the time, they weren't excessively well known.

Genre- Romantic Comedy/Drama

• This is a hybrid
• This allows the film to cover more topics and appeal to a wider audience

Box Office- $197,415 (USA opening weekend- 2 August 2013) Total: $6,851,969 (USA, 22 November 2013). This tells us that the film was a success.

Production- Andrew Lauren Productions (ALP), 21 Laps Entertainment and Global Produce.

• Independant

Certificate- 15

• Helps attract the audience they're looking for, mature people
• This would be because of the mature themes and content tackled

Marketing- Posters, trailers and interviews.

The trailer and promotional posters were released in order to promote the film.

The stars -Shailene Woodley and Miles Teller took part in interviews in order to promote the film. They had easy chemistry and rapport with each other, which allowed their personality to come through and therefore become likeable, consequently drawing more people to the film. 

Release Date- 13th September 2013

Awards- The Spectacular Now was nominated for an amazing 30 awards, and won 10 of them 
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1714206/awards


Reviews- The Spectacular Now received many complimentary reviews, some saying it "warrants serious attention" and is "lovely". However, there were contradicting opinions from the public, claiming it was "disturbing".

How does the use of mise-en-scene and sound in the clip from ‘The Black Swan’ convey a sense of lost innocence and revelation? 

The scene starts with Nina rushing to her dressing room. In terms of mise-en-scene, Nina’s black swan costume contrasts starkly with the other dancers, (who wear white), as well as the washed-out, grey walls. This juxtaposition implies that she isn’t as perfect and clean as the others, as white being the colour of innocence implies that the dancers are angelic almost, while Nina no longer has that purity and wears black to show her evil side, which reflects the part she plays. 

The Swan Lake score is playing as we follow Nina; this non-diegetic sound implies that what we are witnessing is similar to the production that the music is for. Consequently, we suspect that the main character will unfortunately meet a tragic end. Over this music, as a group of dancers pass, we hear a peel of laughter, however, due to the fact that it is non- diegetic, we don’t see the origin of the laugh. This could be interpreted to be a sign of paranoia from Nina, (a trait found in people who have lost their mind); this could foreshadow the revelation that she is mentally unstable. Alternatively, it could be a representation of voices inside of her head, potentially hinting to us that she has split personality disorder, again, foreshadowing the realization of her mental demise. 

Nina enters her dressing room to find shattered glass and blood on her floor from a previous scene; she looks panicked, but efficiently goes about attempting to cover it up. She selects a pink towel to cover the blood, the mise-en-scene of pink is that it is often associated with little girls, so consequently innocence. This is dramatically ironic; as such a colour is being used in an attempt to cover up a deadly crime. Alternatively, the colour is created through the mixture of red and white, potentially implying that the pink is just tainted innocence, suggesting that even the seemingly loveliest things have another side and aren’t what you originally expected. This inference is a direct parallel alongside Nina’s character- she is tainted innocence and has another side to her. To me, the mies-en-scene of the broken glass and mirrors on the floor with the blood, could be a visual representation of Nina’s life crumbling and shattering around her… at her own hands- as it was her who caused the destruction in her dressing room. As she drops the towel, we hear her heavy breathing, telling us she is nervous and scared of being found out. It could also be seen as guilt, however, Portman’s performance of Nina leads me to believe that the characters mind is set solely on the performance and at the time is disregarding rational human emotions, as she is focusing on playing the role. 

This is reinforced as Nina immediately moves to sit before a mirror where she applies show makeup in order to turn into the swan. This shows us she is completely immersed in the role and is immovably focused. This inhumane behavior, (not breaking down at the thought of her crime), is once again another clue about Nina’s questionable state of mind. 
In terms of mise-en-scene, the colour white is effectively overused. Nina applies white makeup, in a white dress, with white lights surrounding the white dressing table; consequently, the shot is very bright. The white light is artificial lighting, and although this could just be mise-en-scene to create an authentic feel of a legitimate backstage of a theatre, it could also suggest that Nina’s life has now become artificial and false. Her obsession with the role is not natural; consequently, natural light is not used. Nina is also staring directly at the mirror, mirrors in this sequence are vital and extremely significant, as not only does it literally show two of the character, but a common trait of people with multiple personality disorders is that they often look into mirrors- as if to search for themselves, (another clue to Nina’s disorder). A similar shot to this is demonstrated in ‘The Shining’ when we view Jack through a mirror for the first time- as if we are seeing another side of him. After we see him like this, he begins to act differently. His dark side is shown and takes over him, this has links to Nina’s story in ‘The Black Swan’.

The non-diegetic sound of a knock on the door triggers Nina to turn abruptly. She looks very paranoid and suspicious, and as she opens the door, a gasp of shock and fear is clearly audible. She is face to face with Lily, who juxtaposes Nina in this scene, cleverly displayed 
through the mise-en-scene. Although she wears white, as Nina does, Lily has severe, defined features, in contrast to Nina’s’ painted white face and soft, plain complexion. Also, Lily’s mannerisms contrast to Nina’s. Lily is very laid-back and easy going, whereas Nina is very uptight and seemingly petrified. Nina’s face is strained and frightened, but Lily seems to ignore this as she wears a smile and a tender expression. During this exchange, the constant swan lake score becomes frantic and intense- mirroring Nina’s emotions. The music builds and builds until Lily leaves and Nina is once again left alone; with the music busy and racing. Once again the music parallels with Nina’s mind, as her thoughts are obviously racing, as her eyes flicker from the broken glass, to the pink towel on the floor. 
The intensity of the music increases as her panic does, (again, showing correlations between sound and characters feelings). As a result of the building music and the diegetic sound of her heavy breathing and panting, combined with the mise-en-scene of Natalie Portman’s appearing genuinely terrified and confused, I feel nervous and intrigued. I become concerned for the character but also feel on edge, as the music creates an atmosphere of revelation and tragedy, through the dramatic climax. 
As Nina looks down, we see a close up of a wound- red against her white, feather bodice. This shot is vital as it physically shows what the audience had been suspecting- that Lily was a figment of Nina’s imagination, so she consequently injured herself in an attempt to kill Lily. The red set against the white reinforces the continuous theme of tainted innocence, as the deep red has tarnished the white. 

The music stays at a constant intensity until a shard of glass is pulled from the wound. At this point the music slows, as if it has been released and feels relief. However, the iconic bar of Swan Lake immediately kicks in and we see Nina realize what has happened. 
She then gingerly resumes her position in front of the mirror and we are presented with a practically identical to a scene to one we saw earlier- the only change being that she wears white now instead of black- this binary opposition showing the two extreme sides of her. In terms of mise-en-scene, the desk is very cluttered and full, which to me implies a cluttered busy mind. It could be seen that her mind is cluttered and full because practically two people inhabit it. A mid shot originally shows Nina hysterical and sobbing, but almost like a switch has been flipped, her emotions seem to be halted, as she inhumanely, eerily calmly continues to apply her makeup. 

There is a jump cut and we are suddenly confronted with Nina on stage, embodying the character of the White swan, this is ironic, because we know her innocence has, (if not been lost), been compromised by the fact that she has a very dark, deadly side to her. However, it could be fitting, as she is playing the role of the kind, innocent, white swan on stage, and we have now had the revelation that she has subconsciously been playing this role the whole time, in her day to day life. 

The mise-en-scene of the stage is very dark and Nina is dressed in white, this could imply that at heart, she is innocent, but has been swallowed up by the world of obsession and passion- bringing out her evil side. The mise-en-scene of the stage in ‘The Red Shoes’ is quite similar to this, as the main character is dressed in a pale ensemble on a big, dark stage. The story of ‘The Red Shoes’ is a story, which although isn’t identical to ‘The Black Swan’ also deals with obsession. (Nina deals with, or doesn’t, her obsession of her role). 
A close up shot of her shoes while she dances is matched with non-diegetic sound of a birds wings flapping as well as the constant non-diegetic swan lake score. The sound of the wings could imply flying free, which Nina is about to do after her personal revelation that she is battling with the demons within herself. She knows she won’t be burdened with this for long. The use of a handheld camera following her round the stage also reminds me of the fact that she is constantly being followed by her demons- there is no escaping them. A red light also gets cast across her face, the connotations of this colour is not only blood-shed and danger, but also passion which is appropriate as she is indulging in her passion in this scene- dance, however, it has also become her downfall, meaning it is a danger to her. 

In terms of mise-en-scene, I believe the stage represents her state of mind. It is chaotic, busy, hectic and Nina is thrown about by fires in black; potentially visual representations of her battling with her demons. 

Case Study: Mockingjay Part 2

Mockingjay Part 2
The final instalment of the hunger games saga, the fourth and final film.

Budget- $125 million

Stars- Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth.

• All young, attractive, well-known, well liked stars who attract young people from their iconic status. 
• They have lots of charisma and are common media favourites.

Genre- Dystopian Future. 

• This genre has a loyal audience that will come back when they are impressed. They are dedicated.
• This genre appeals to young people in general- not just pre-determined fans.
• This genre appeals to both genders. 

Box Office- $101million opening weekend. (lowest from the whole franchise), although still counting, (overall The Hunger Games franchise has brought in $1.1 billion in the USA alone)

Production- Lionsgate

• Well-know, well-financed, well-respected company.

Certificate- 12A

• Appeals to teens and families

Marketing- Advertising: Posters, trailers, teaser trailers, merchandise, interviews/press tours, magazines and photoshoots.

The official trailer was released in anticipation of the film coming out, which is normal for marketing techniques. However, true hunger Games style, Lionsgate released 'teaser trailers' long before the release in order to get and hyped and excited long before we would actually do this. It is also an effective way of keeping people interested, because of the time necessary to have in-between films, the teasers kept people interested and prevented people 'forgetting' and losing motivation to stay loyal.  


The hunger games was already a franchise before being turned into a film series, meaning there was already a sizeable amount of mercy. established and a lot to go off. There were the books to be redesigned with film covers: 

There were the iconic, easy- to- sell, symbol of the books, the Mockingjay that is easily transferable from pins to jewellery, to T shirts posters and calendars:

The Hunger Games cast are well-known for being funny, entertaining and having brilliant chemistry on and off screen. Consequently, press tours and interviews are always a hit, with their admirable friendship, they are media favourites: 





Also revolving around the media, photoshoots and promotional posters are regularly issued in the run up to the release of the film. The more the public see Jennifer Josh and Liam, the more they are reminded of their new film: 

















Release Date: 20th November 2015

This date coincides with blockbuster season, also, in America, this is the run-up to thanksgiving and black friday, meaning it is a time for families. This consequently would mean that families are more likely to initiate a cinema trip.

Reviews: Despite not matching previous successes of the franchise in the box office for its opening weekend, the reviews of the film have been very complimentary and have dubbed it a great success. 

Film Noir- Reflective Analysis

Our film was based off the traditional film noir genre, so as a result, we tried to take advantage of the fact that it consistently displays clear conventions such as smoking, shadows, a femme-fatale and murder. I think that we effectively accomplished portraying these throughout our short film.
We used torches in order to cast shadows on characters faces, incorporated a femme-fatale as well as smoking and a murder into the story.
My role within the team was director- I instructed actors on where to position themselves, dictated the camera angles and wrote the dialogue. I feel as though I effectively transferred my vision onto the screen, as the majority of the scenes are how I wanted them.
However, I feel as though we didn't create completely appropriate miss-en-scene, but, through no fault of our own. We didn't have access to props, appropriate clothing and lighting assistance, (such as venetian blinds), which consequently meant our sets and general feel of the film wasn't as traditional and faithful to the genre as we would've liked. However, the music my team mate chose and applied to the film was appropriate and gave the film an authentic feel throughout- as the music is constantly playing.
Next time, we will make sure that we have microphones near the actors if the camera is far away in order to limit the amount of background noise, as there is a lot of unwanted sound, and the dialogue is relatively quiet in comparison to the voiceover- limiting consistency.

The Shining

First Scene:

The opening scene of the Shining is important, as it effectively sets up the rest of the film. The use of camera angles and techniques prepare the audience for the tone of the Shining. The camera tracks forwards and zooms overhead of an isolated island in the middle of a lake. This could be foreshadowing the imminent isolation the family is soon to experience- the island in the centre of the lake is completely cut off from the mainland and the only way of accessing it is through great effort and determination. The tracking and zooming of the camera in itself implies stalking and makes the audience feel as if, by watching the events from a distanced view, they are witnessing it all from a predators angle. In the opening scene, there is an unwelcoming atmosphere. This is created from the long shots and establishing shots- we feel as if we shouldn’t be observing what we are, as we are outsiders. Also, the mise-en-scene, that the setting is almost completely deserted and desolate creates a sense of foreboding.

The non-diegetic music is creepy and intense. It is very high pitched and suspenseful, which although it typically correlates with the traditional conventions of horror films, it doesn’t at first appear to suit the scene. The scene is of a lone car driving through twisting and turning roads up mountains, and despite the isolation and deserted setting, had the scene been paired with different music, the scene, and consequently the set of the film would have embraced an entirely contrasting tone. However, the unsettling constant non diegetic music combined with the inhumane noises intends to make the audience anticipate danger and consequently feel on-edge. My personal response was that I was curious as to how an untypical horror setting could shock and scare me.

The typical horror conventions such as ‘monsters’ and ‘dark’ ‘supernatural’ ‘scary’ settings aren’t presented to us instantly, which straight away implies this horror film isn’t going to be a cliché, jump scare, conventional horror film. As a result, my immediate reaction was that it would be a psychological thriller where the fears are closer to home, as no one can control what happens in someone’s head any more than they can control what happens outside of their head. The fact that in the first scene supernatural conventions aren’t obvious and apparent makes it quite scary in an alternative way- as it seems more realistic and relatable. People are more likely to be scared of a believable situation as appose to a supernatural one.

Second Scene:

In the scene, ‘Tuesday’, we are confronted with a shot of the young boy, (Danny), on a trike, a scene very similar to one we witnessed earlier. A convention of a horror films is children being vital to the plot- either as the villain or victim; consequently, combined with the persistent, creepy, non-diegetic music we anticipate danger whenever we are shown a scene such as this one. The use of the camera is very similar to that of the first scene. There is a predatory feeling, and a stalking atmosphere. This makes the audience feel as though there are other spirits at work, as the young boy is seemingly being followed.

The use of non-diegetic music creates suspense and tension, as the young boy slowly advances towards a great mystery. The film very cleverly gives you no answers; consequently meaning you are still very intrigued and invested in the film.

From the scene in the corridor with Danny, we then see Jack, alone in a large room, with the predominant noise being the loud, echoes of his typewriter. The echoes emphasise the emptiness of the room and hotel- reinforcing the isolation the family are experiencing. As well as the diegetic sound of the typing, there is also loud, messy, chaotic non-diegetic music, which abruptly cuts off. The chaos and inconsistency of the music could reflect Jacks mental state, as it is confused and carries no logic.

The camera in this scene shows us a close up of Wendy with undeniable light around her. The close up is used to show the expression of concern on her face, but the lighting is used to emphasise her innocence and purity in contrast to Jacks personality- which is slowly being tainted and stained. This contrast of personalities is also demonstrated through the abnormal shot of Jack. This shot is off centre and quite disorientated. This shot is commonly referred to as a Dutch angle, and although the tilt is only slight and subtle, it is there. This implies although his mental demise isn’t very obvious at this point, it is there and has begun. The Dutch or oblique angle is typically used to demonstrate mental instability and danger; this successfully correlates with the change in character we have seen in jack since viewing him in a mirror for the first time a few scenes ago. The mirror most likely represents the ‘other side’ jack has developed, and an alternative personality he has supernaturally acquired. The mise-en-scene of this shot is also very effective, because as appose to Wendy’s brilliant light surrounding her, Jack is surrounded by black and red- colours of blood, danger and death.

A zoom takes us to a close up of Jacks face where the bright white of the snow is reflecting on his face. This creates quite a ghoulish, ghostly effect, especially combined with his unsettling eyes. This ghostly atmosphere could be the start of implications that there are supernatural forces at work with Jack. It could also foreshadow the ending in more than one respect- Jack dies in the brilliant bright white snow. But also the cliff-hanger at the end of the film implies that Jack was or at least at some point had been dead previously, making him some sort of ghost.

Finally, we are once again shown Danny in the corridor, once again with the trike that we associate with danger. A close up of his face shows his fear and from an over the shoulder shot, we see a very typical horror film shot. Two young twin girls, (a convention of horror films), are standing before us. Jump cuts show terrifying unjustifiable clips of scenes we have no place for in the film just yet, but with blood and dead bodies- sufficient to confuse and scare the audience. My reaction to this scene was confirmation of supernatural involvement, as well as concern for the safety of the characters Wendy and Danny.

Reflective Analysis

Reflective Analysis

The purpose of our film was to thrill the audience and create tension in order to scare them as it was a horror film for 15 year olds.  

This is typically done through the use of appropriate diegetic music and lighting. I feel as though the majority of our film is successful at creating tension this way, as the music slowly builds, but the alternative twist at the climax of the music is unexpected and refreshing. The music for the running/chasing is appropriate as it is fast paced and suspenseful. As well as the music being effective, the silence is also effective- the music cuts out just seconds before a blood curdling scream, making it even more impressive. 

The lighting used is good as well, though ideally we would have shot it at night to take advantage of low key lighting, in order to make it more frightening, we needed the daylight to shoot, but also used the shadows to our advantage. 

We chose a typically creepy setting,(Mise-en-scene), that most would find scary and unnatural, in order to set the tone as well as fit with the story. A graveyard is very appropriate for a horror film, as it has satanic connotations and the atmosphere of the dead surrounding the living is a very strange one. 

We used a variety of camera angles and shots in order to create tension, (like the panning shot does- slowly revealing a new aspect of the shot). Other shots, have other meanings, for example, the high angle shot creates the illusion ad impression that they are not alone and there is a mysterious presence watching them from above. Another camera angle we used was a bird's eye view of feet walking. This is effective because it is like it's from a characters point of view if they were looking at their feet. This makes the audience feel more involved- as if they are the one in the film. It also effectively communicates the fact that characters are travelling which is useful to the story.

My roles in this film were acting and directing. I played a role in the film, and also contributed story ideas as well as camera shots and cuts suggestions. 

Black Swan Analysis

In the clip from the Black Swan, we witness the break down of the mind of a character via the way the film is shot.

The start of the clip is filmed using a hand-held camera, as it follows Natalie Portman’s character around. The inconsistency of the levels create a busy, chaotic effect and also make the audience feel as if they are involved- they feel as if they are the ones following the character, and have entered the world of the film and consequently feel more emotionally attached and involved with the characters.

The use of non-diegetic sound in this scene is effective, as we hear the laughter of girls just after we are prevented with an image of them. We assume that the laughter comes from them, however the fact that we never see it come from them insinuates that the Portman’s character is hearing things, and as a result we question her mental state.

The following series of shots show us the events of the film from the view of those in it. A point of view shot shows us how she sees and the following reaction shot show the character as being scared, confused and guilty. Consequently, the audience feels sympathy for her, but we are also cautious and dubious- as she is obviously unstable.

The following shot is of Natalie Portman’s character looking in the mirror, dressed in her black swan costume. The fact that she is looking in a mirror implies that she has a ‘split personality disorder’. This foreshadows her eventual final conflict with herself. Also, the mise-en-scene of the cluttered desk suggests that’s she has a messy or ill mind, also implying she is mentally unstable. The artificial light not only adds to the realistic aspect of the scene, but also, from the fact that it is ‘artificial’ or ‘fake’, we could deduce that so is she: she isn’t real anymore.

The over the shoulder shots that switch between the two characters effectively show the contrast of the characters through their very contrasting facial expressions. This also reflects the two very different sides to her, engaging in the conflict within herself.

We then witness another point of view shot, this is shot with a handheld camera, and is unstable and inconsistent, implying she is experiencing chaos and confusion in her mind.

The close up shot of her wound shows the audience that she has injured herself, confirming suspicions of her alter ego. The wound itself is symbolic, because as a result of mise-en-scene, the shocking red blood against the typically ‘pure’ and ‘innocent’ white costume, represents how she herself has been tainted. Also, the use of red insinuates danger and passion, both of which are becoming apparent to be themes throughout the film.

Throughout this scene, the iconic music from Swan Lake is playing. This is a constant reflection of her mental state- as the music gets more chaotic and intense, so does her mind.  When the music climaxes, it is at the point she realises her insanity and mental decline. And a close up of her face coincides with this to illustrate the moment of truth.

The fact that the music is that of Swan Lake is not only relevant because of her role in the production but it also foreshadows the character following the fate of the role she’s playing.

We then see her return to her desk in a shot almost identical to one we saw earlier:

The only difference being that she is now wearing her white swan costume as opposed to her black costume. This is dramatic irony- she has realised she has a dark side to her, and has no control over her own mind, (a very scary thought), yet she sits in white clothes, confronted with a visual representation of her cluttered, messed up mind. And calmly continues with her life. The use of white and black contrast reflects the two different sides to her and they both live her life, (both sat in the same seat etc.).

She then proceeds to apply stage makeup to her face. This could be a metaphor for her putting on her mask - it shows her life has now turned into playing a part as appose to just her job. Alternatively, it shows commitment to her role, as even though she is wounded and mentally ill, she is still determined to finish her role on stage and fulfil her destiny. This is her fatal flaw.

The scene then jump cuts to the stage, this shows how closely linked her life and the production are.  The fact that the camera is handheld means we follow her around the stage, we see that this is very full and chaotic- another parallel with her mind. The inconsistency with the camera shows her mental instability.

The production on a whole is dramatic irony. This is the final scene of the show and where everything comes to a close, and the white swan kills herself. This is ironic because it is the characters final scene before she dies as a result of her own actions. Also, the low key lighting in the scene foreshadows the unfortunate imminent events.

Within this scene, the swan is thrown between black figures. This is a parallel for Natalie Portman’s character battling with her mental demons. The handheld constantly following her round suggests that her demons are forever following her around.

We see the climax of the performance as she runs away from others on the stage. This symbolises the end of her life. Dancing and performing was her life, and the fact that she has turned her back on the dancers, (who represent her life), implies it is in the past, and so consequently the end of her life.

She finally turns and faces reality and her fate, and we know she has accepted what she thinks is her destiny.

We then experience a shot reverse shot in order to display the reaction of her mother in the audience, they are both wearing similar facial expressions- panic and distress. Natalie Portman’s character is in the light, in contrast to her mother being in the dark. This suggests that the mother is the villain, this could mean her daughters demise was her fault, as she was too harsh on her whilst raising her.

The bird’s eye view of her jumping off the ledge in slow motion is very effective, as it creates tension, as we see the physical representation of her mind tipping her over the edge. The audience consequently feels emotional and sad about the ending.

Finally, the last shot is one of pure white. Symbolising the end of her life, the story and her being restored of her innocence- there’s no longer any red tarnishing the perfect white.

The instability of the black swan is reflected through how the film is shot, lit and through scene parallels. This presents the mental decline cleverly and effectively, whilst sufficiently fulfilling the audiences entertainment needs.

Horror Genre

In the horror genre, many techniques are used in order to create the right mood and atmosphere for the story. There’s the obvious, intense, dramatic music that is regularly played to create suspense and provoke a fright, (this is an example of non- diegetic sound), but then there’s also the less obvious, more subtle techniques, like the low key lighting, which causes the audience to subconsciously distrust a character.

Other techniques can be used to create the appropriate mood, like the use of camera shots. For example, a close up shot of a characters face in a horror film could result in either the audience trusting and feeling comfortable with the character, or feeling uncomfortable and intimidated by them.

Techniques like this set the tone for the characters. If a character is viewed with a low angle, with darkness surrounding them, or with shadows cast over their face, the audience will feel small, and consequently experience a sense of powerlessness and insecurity. As humans we are all instinctively afraid of the dark, so, if a character is associated with darkness, or has a lot of shadows or black around and on them- it is natural for the audience to feel scared and be fearful of them. In the same respect, long shots and medium shots with bright light is often used to provoke trust for the hero of the story. The light represents honesty and openness and purity- all trustworthy qualities. The medium/long shots show the characters in full- implying there is nothing to hide about them and that they are genuine. In contrast, the close up shots could mean they are open, and the intimacy could also mean they have nothing to hide- as even examining them up close, they are pure.

An angle that is commonly used in the horror genre to demonstrate instability and threat is the Dutch/oblique angle.  This is where the camera shows an uneven so consequently distorted view of the shot. This represents imbalance and is often used in regards to mental instability and danger. Hence its common occurrence in horror films, where sometimes the antagonist is mentally instable.

Another angle that creates a distorted sense of a familiar world is the high angle. This is commonly used to show characters getting swallowed up in their surroundings and seeming insignificant- putting the world into perspective.

Some directors incorporate the use of handheld cameras to create a jerky, ragged authentic effect that makes the audience feel a part of the action. This makes the film more real and consequently more scary- the action feels nearer and more intense, increasing the fear factor.

In most horror films, the focus of the camera is extremely significant. If the focus is on anything in the background, it is probably a clue, but when the focus is on someone talking, what they’re saying is important. Also, a common thread in horror films is the common occurrence of a cross in the background. This is symbolism- relevant because of satanic messages and un-holy themes. This is common throughout the horror genre.