Survey

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Friday the 13th opening

Conventions of a Horror film

Most generic horror films follow the same conventions as it supplies a fright and a scare which is what the audience usually wants. For example, the characters are typically a younger audience with a range of charters who are a group of friends and these are to help relate to the audience . Examples can be cabin in the woods with a wide range in characters from a 'jock' to a 'nerd'

The villain is usually a male middle aged especially in a slasher films such as Friday the 13th

Alternatively, a lot of horror films revolve around supernatural and out of this world beings as it generates fear which is scary.

Themes and story lines of horror films are usually a group of people in a set place where they cannot escape and are being attacked by a deadly person or thing.

In Saw they are trapped and have to fight to escape with one sick minded person controlling it much like in Cabin In The Woods which they cannot leave and this is similar to Blair Witch Project where they try to leave but for some reason cannot. So the setting and the story line are together and the audience get set vibes from the atmosphere by either witnessing the antagonist or the setting.

There is usually a re-occurring prop that in horror films tends to be a weapon or object that summons or links to the scary, horrifying stimulus that the film will be focused around. For example the iconic chainsaw in Texas chainsaw massacre where every time it is seen it is linked to a gruesome death.

This is also the case with the huge kitchen knife in Friday the 13th and is the icon for a brutal stabbing and also the mask which just its appearance is chilling.
Finally, a classic cheap horror film exposes it nature and makes it more personal and connected with the audience if there is a camcorder or a video camera such as paranormal activity or REC.

The lighting and colour of a typical horror film is simple... dark and gloomy with colours such as deep reds which stand out against a white object with a black background. The low key lighting also leads to more shadows and thus an eerie atmosphere.

One of the main aspects of a horror film is Mise-en-scene and because scenes are often dark and dull, when we see something scary it is well costumed or in lots of detail. Directors use a lot of relatable fears in horror films to try and attract a wide audience this is why (^) clowns and spiders/ zombies are often used as jump scares. In addition to lots of gore or high pitched sound! To elaborate on the sound, when we see key elements or occurrences in the film loud sound effects are used to shock and further scare the reader with the surprise effect. Additionally, off putting sounds may also be used such as childrens toys which end up being extremely creepy and off putting. Furthermore, it is conventionaly for horror to lack sound as it helps create suspense.

Even though this is from American Horror Story you can see that the same principles apply.

The camerawork of a horror film tends to consist of tracking shots as it involves the audience more and like the typical shot within the hotel of the shinning we cannot see what is around corners.

The editing is often full of long takes to lengthen the waiting process making the anticipation of waiting for the inevitable jump scare. Rather unusual in other genres half way through a film, but in horror there is often uses of a fade to show a passing of time and horror films, especially classics are over a fairly long time.

From a typical horror opening we as the audience learn who the killer/ the problem is and we see either  inkling of a death so that the audience want to know what happened. We learn a little about the victims or at least the location and therefor the audience learns and knows weather or not the film is for them or not.

What goes on in an Opening?

Who makes title sequences


who makes title sequences?
Title sequences are made to introduce the both the film and the production companies involved. Previously title sequences were short and not very elaborate, however, now title sequences have been made to be very flashy and bring the viewer into the film to make them feel involved and prepared! An example of an old title sequence is this one from 1943 and shows how simplistic they used to be.
However as you can see in this next example, title sequences have changed an awful lot and make the viewer start to feel engaged even before the film has started. (Spectre intro credits) From watching a variety of different title sequences I have learned that over the years it has become vitial to have big flashy title sequences to entice the viewer in, whereas back in old films it was simply made to show who helped create the film and merge this into the film on some way so that it looks in place. From both of these I have learnt that they need to blend in with what is happening in the opening sequence and not look out of place.

Analysing a film opening from the same genre as our opening

The film Insidious is a typical horror film that is based in a creepy house with un-nerving occurrences and of course a child that just makes everything twice as creepy and scary. conventions of a typical horror film opening are some sort of scary thing or person that leaves the audience wondering what/who they are and why they are doing what they are doing. In Insidious this happens as we see a sleeping child and we wonder where are his parents?, is he alone?, what is this demon type person and what is going to happen. these questions hook the viewer into watching on.

Firstly, camerawork is used very effectively and personally i think it makes the whole scene for various reasons. Such as the first real piece of camerawork we are shown is of a light and a 180 tilt is used and this disorientates the audience as they wonder what it is and just makes the viewer confused.

Additionally, the framing of the whole scene is close to the edges of the house and what this does is forces the viewer to see the whole scene allowing them to be vulnerable and open to various jump scares as well as the mise-en-scene with certain objects such as a teddy to be illuminated and so we are focused on that. But the main point about the framing and positioning of the camera is that when going round a corner you cannot see anything until you are fully around it and so this builds up a fright as they are un-controllably waiting for something to jump out. The first half of the whole scene is one continuous tracking shot and this creates anticipation as we are almost hunting or finding something or someone when in reality you wouldn't like to, this adds to the scary atmosphere created.

Finally, the close up of the demon at the end witch we associate with the main antagonist with snooping around a house. It is also holding the only light within the scene which again forces the audience to focus on it and controls what we see in the scene.

Editing is used cleverly in the opening as at first there is a lack of it and towards the second half there is lots that are visible. However, firstly the use on long edits and in this case the long single shot, it allows the film to flow and increase in pace even though long takes usually creates a slow pace. it also creates suspense as it is building up to something that will stop the movement. The lack of edits allows for the continuation of time to apply and so from the child's bedroom to where we see the evil dis-formed devils face is short and this shows us how much danger the child is in and how it is just waiting and creeping up. The establishing shot of the house has been edited so that the colours are inverted and this contrasts the viewers perception of the house and makes the majority of the scene dark and spooky. The titles also fade in and out and give off a misty, smokey residue which implies the idea of ghosts and paranormal.

To finish off, the use of the cross cutting to get around the house contrast with the fluid tracking shot before and cuts the house up as well as segregating rooms such as the babies room and the living room to show how vast and empty the house is and showing us possibly hiding places or where perhaps strange or scary occurrences could happen.


The red titles them selves have a big impact and effect on how we view the opening and this comes under mise-en-scene. the audience is focusing on the actual shots but is being distracted by the titles that fade in and out. The color also implies blood and therefore danger. additionally the way we only see them for a short amount of time and they appear out of nowhere with minimal sounding to back it up creates a spooky atmosphere along with the font as it is sharp and slightly rushed at the same time, has the implementation of ghosts and hiding in the dark type feel and this is how they communicate the horror genre. At the beginning we are shown a white orb which turns out to be a bedroom light and we are immediately proposing questions such as what is it as it contrast with the blank black background so we are drawn immediately to the things we are familiar with and are able to recognize such as the light and also the teddy on the floor is more illuminated that its surroundings so the audience latch onto those key props that stand out.

Even more so, the low key lighting of the scene creates lots of shadows as a result of there being no filler light. The effect this has is it leaves the audiences mind to play tricks as in the shadows lies the unknown! Finally when we are being shown the house with short snippets, the house is very bare and looks like what you would expect someone to move in or be moving out of and so we are getting the story line visually. The fact that the house is empty makes us feel alone and so when we see the shadow of a person or supernatural occurrences it makes it even more scary as you feel isolated.

last but not least, Sound is used cleverly as there is a lot of silence throughout  the clip and so to compensate for that the audience also remain quiet which creates a breathless atmosphere. This is most obvious kust before the main title and it creates false hope. However the faint high pitched sound, that you have to pay close attention to hear which is scary because the more you concentrate, if there is a jump scare, the more likely you are going to jump, shocks the audience and is off putting and puts the audience in an uncomfortable position. The surprise of seeing something with the light from the window so early on in the film is heightened by the screeching of violins to create more 'hype' around it. this carries on and there are sudden spikes in the opening during the cross cuts and because some of the scary things are hidden but they are shown by the use of these spikes and even if you didnt see them it makes yo uwonder where and what was it...

legally blonde analysis

easel.ly

wallender

Mise-en-scene, sound editing and camerawork are all used in the opening of Wallender to propose questions that help intrigue the audience members in and keep them hooked so they watch the rest of the series.

firstly, the mise-en-scene one of the strongest first impressions we get as the audience is the two girls

costume as they do not have any dialogue the audience are forced to make a judgement based on appearance. The dark clothing implies a goth like nature and this is stereotyped with up to no good teenagers however the necklace the older one wears is a razor blade referencing to self harming and so we predict that these two girls might need some emotional help and are not right, it also connotes violence and so we know that she is capable of killing someone but why? Aspects such as the red streaks in her hair and the big bold apparel that they wear for style shows their rebellious attitude and these two young girls who like ready for a night out are located in the middle of nowhere which is rather strange as they are the last types of people you are likely to bump into out on a cliff in a rural location. This is one of many questions that arise from mise-en-scene. furthermore, the whole scene appears to be washed with a dark tint and low in color that emphasizes the dull atmosphere. It also adds to the lifeless feel the whole scene has which relates to the man who is laying there lifeless which with the coloring makes it look dreadful as he is dying on a freezing cold, windy day alone. more so when the two girls are in the back of the police car low key lighting is used to make the girls look evil and appear even more dangerous even though they are going to the police station which makes us think there was more to it than just money.

Finally, the prop of a knife is used to show the danger within and surrounding the girls but its not exactly the biggest baddest knife which leaves imagination open to the brutality that happened, in addition to the blood that is used shows how the two girls do not care and make the mans life seem like an animal slaughter house.

The opening shot is a drone Ariel establishing shot which tells the audience the location is an rural cliff side and it is a rather chilling day with no one around. This wide shot feels so isolated however as a result of the 'nothingness' that is the countryside. there is a focus pull when Wallender arrives in his car which tells us that this man is of high importance and all our attention is directed to him. additionally his importance is backed up by the close up of his face showing his emotions towards the situation which is comparative to the audiences who are shocked after seeing the crime scene however to Wallender it seems to be another day at work with slight disgust to the reasoning behind the attack, this tells the audience that he is very professional at his job and has been doing it for many years. we are then put into his shoes by the use of a POV shot which is focused on the two girls and is very daunting as their emotions do not change almost creating them to be a threat. To conclude camerawork, the use of the extreme close up on the police officer shows he was brutally attacked and he is barely moving and struggling for life. This shot forces the audience to see the damaged the girls caused and how relentless they were. This shot is surrounded by other close ups showing that he was a family man and a innocent guy.

The first way editing is used to generate meaning is when the scene in weaved in by the fade which has the effect on the audience of a eire and gloomy atmosphere. It also sets the slow pace of the scene which is done purposely to allow the audience to get out what they put in and so own judgments are again made or alternatively keeps the audience locked as they wait for the pace to build up and for something to happen. The long takes and linking of shots together in specific orders for example we see the knife after we see the man lying in the car with blood all over him which creates a shocking realization and the long edits allow for the audience to piece together what they are immediately faced with and absorb the impact. Secondly the eye line match from Wallender to the girls helps show whose the protagonist as we are in his shoes and we are seeing what he is seeing and so we know that he is serious about his job.

Finally, the sound is very effective as the hyperbolic wind sound creates that glum air and cold weather which turns the mood down and also creates a grim feel to the audience as they wish not to be there. It also creates realism and the audience can relate back to a time when the wind has been that sharp on shore breeze that bites at your face. A climax is also built up to a quiet track and contrasting music which confuses the audience as they wonder why they have just witnessed what they have and also tells the message of somethings are sugar coated and in quite a sick way humerus as it questions their views as how can light be shed on an assault? The soundtrack is very depressing and yet calm which confuses the audience even more of what they should be feeling. But mystery is still in the air even though we know the girls did the assault and yet when its the two shot of the girls there is a lack of sound which further emphasizes the creepiness of the messed up children!

The Brief

an opening sequence shows the time period, the setting, the situation such as a utopia or post apocalyptic world. it also tells us or gives us an insight into the characters.

here are some examples of opening sequences.

 

Here it starts off by showing us the location of a boys room and then different camera angles and eye-line matches help keep the continuity that all of this is happening there and then without any interruptions. The music help show it is a joyful and fun atmosphere as well as all of the light colours, the POV shot on the chair when spinning and both the toy and andy's legs are swinging shows their relaationship



The opening sequence here i very long and relaxing as the long takes are filled with titles and animals which gives an indication to the genre and obviously its not going to be a scary film as when the snake is shown which might be deemed scary, there is no change in the music or anything and so we know to expect an adventure/ positive attitude to life film.



In the lord of the rings opening we are given the history and context which helps the audience understand the situation. We understand the power of the ring and those who survived the unforgiving battle and we know know some key characters from this. This is told to us by narration and we are bombarded with action which tells us that it is going to be an action packed adventerous film.

sixth sense analysis

preliminary project

In the preliminary task our task was not to create a good story lined short film, rather a test of our skills that had to include the 180 degree rule to remain with the continuity and practice our continuity editing by using action matches which can be seen by the throwing of the rubber which woke me up. we also had to use shot reverse shot which helps communicate that the 2 people are having a conversation. The layout we were given was that someone had to enter a room through a door, walk across the room and sit down, then have a conversation.

www - we showed a good understanding of the 180 degree rule and the transition needed to change sides.
www - we had a good match on action that was different as a result of the rubber throw.
www - our shot reverse shot showed that we had a clear understanding of how to communicate a conversation. 

ebi -  our zoom at the beginning is very sketchy and breaks the fluidity of the video 
ebi - we should have added a shot after sam walked through the door as without it, it broke the continuity.
ebi - additionally there is a point at which i jump in the same shot and that breaks the continuity which is key in an opening sequence. 

Introduction

My name is Michael Metz and I am 16 years of age, the reason for me taking media is because I am really interested in computers and the media that we are surrounded by, due to the increase in technology. I am doing Media Studies A-level and also BTEC Media - 3D design. The rapid increase in the influence media has in our every day life is interesting and I would like to gain a better knowledge of how it is produced as hopefully in the future possible jobs.