Se7en: Title Tagging

I was set the task of editing the opening titles to Se7en, to include descriptions of the conventions used and the effect they have in the sequence.

Camera Angles: Research

Camera Shots.

Shot type/Shot size: Refers to the distance between the camera and its subject.

Types of Shot: Long Shot, Mid Shot, Close up. There are differentiations of each of these shots.

Iconic Thriller Directors

Insight into the Camera Positions: Memento.

For this task Mr Barton assigned my group the opening scenes of  'Memento' which is directed by Christopher Nolan. I was given questions to answer regarding the camera positions of the shots. 

What does the audience expect when watching a thriller?
The audience expect to be confused by the initiating scenes so that they are enticed to watch more, such as in Memento, the beginning shots are in reverse, therefore the audience are wondering why the main has this picture, why was the man in the photo murdered? and why are we seeing the murder before we have seen it happen? The enigma codes of Memento entice the audience to watch on and find the answers to these questions. 


How are camera effects used in the opening scenes of Memento?
At the beginning of memento, Christopher Nolan uses one of his classic flash backs, as he has done before in other films such as Following and Inception. Except this flashback is different as the events taking place are in rewind, so we start with the very first shot we see; a hand holding a polaroid photograph in which has a picture of a dead body on it, this shot is a close up, therefore it enables us to see the picture in great detail.

What other effects are used in the opening scenes of Memento to captivate the audience?
The polaroid photograph shot at the start has been edited so that the sequence is going backwards rather than forwards as if we are slowly rewinding the film, for instance the first thing we see is the polaroid photograph with a dead man on it but as the character holding the picture flicks it for what we think is to develop it, isn't, instead the picture fades and fades until it is a blank polaroid.

9 Shot Storyboard: Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels

26th September 2011
In this lesson we were allocated groups where we had to watch the poker game scene from Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and capture 9 different shots to use in a story board and to then progress into filming the sequence ourselves. We ensured that we payed close attention to the position of the character and props, referring constantly back to the pictures from our storyboard. We filmed each shot by starting and pausing the camera, ensuring we did not break the 180º rule and that we had match on action continuously, therefore we then uploaded the shots onto the computer to edit our work with Final Cut Pro. 

Mood Board: Thriller

Enemy of the State - Opening Title Analysis

When watching this opening title, the use of CCTV shots such as sweeps of the city and Ariel shots, showing crimes being committed, accidents and general  footage, this established a sense of mystery; what is the title referring to? Why is it showing these specific locations? What is the significance of the locations? Plus, watching carefully, the opening sequence starts and finishes with the same shot which I think is a very clever and useful technique as it really does make the audience review what they have just seen.

The font used is in the typical colour white, which is generally used in thrillers, plus the font is comparable to that used on computers, as it looks very squared and computerised. 

The music choice for this sequence was classical music, which I think was very well chosen as it contributes to the atmosphere of suspense and mystery, by going from piano to crescendo which ascends and descends creating suspend as to when the next pitch will hit, like the desired effect of the opening sequence as a whole.

In all, the sequence is very fast which means the audience has to pay close attention in order to really capture the many aspects incorporated. 

Opening Sequence of a Thriller.

For this lesson I was assigned the opening sequence of Se7en, in which I had to analyse and note down the aspects that I see and the meanings behind them. 


My previous opinions of opening sequences to any film, was that they were pointless. However, in light of recent analysis of thriller opening sequences, I found that they did have a point and are very vital in the making of films. For instance, the opening title sequence to Se7en incorporates iconography associated with the thriller genre, hence establishing an atmosphere or suspense and mystery. Such iconography in the sequence includes; a man slicing of a part of his finger tip with a razor blade, blood dripping on a piece of paper and blacking out the eyes of people on photographs. Therefore from the very start of the film we are in tune with the mood the makers want us to feel.


The opening title, alike to the general storyline of thrillers, builds up the suspense by leaving a lot to the imagination, as in Se7en, there is no inclination of a pattern and leaves us with an enigma code; What is going to happen in this film? Who is this person in the opening title?


Music*
Font*

Iconography of a Thriller.

For the iconography of thrillers, I composed a mood board in order to demonstrate the typical aspects in which make up a horror. For example, as you can see in the mood board below, I have included images such as blood,  weapons and a dark city setting, imagery also known as genre conventions found in films of the thriller genre. 

In order to incorporate the correct images which coincide with the Thriller Genre, I conducted some research into the genre itself and the conventions commonly found in the genre. 

My research included watching various thriller films, such as; Fight Club, The Descent, Double Indemnity, Inception, Shutter Island and Enemy of the State. I analysed each thriller as I watched and noticed that each thriller contained at least one of the following conventions. These conventions can be divided into the following:

Characters

Psychotic  individuals

Detectives

Criminals/Antagonists

Victims/Protagonists

Themes

Forms of death; Suicide, murder, etc.

Character's being watched or followed.

Deception.

Psychological trauma.

Narratives

Revenge, personal vendettas.

Entrapment/Isolation.

Enigma Code.

Iconography

Blood.

Weaponry; guns and knives in general.

Dark city landscapes.

Street lamps.

Running water.

Shadows.

Red, black and white.

Confined spaces.

Continuity Sequence

For this lesson we learnt about the three aspects of Continuity; Match on action, Shot Reverse Shot and the 180º Degree Angle.


The 180º angle is the process of a shot continuously filmed on a 180º line, as shown in the video above. It is essential when filming to ensure that the line is not broken. This is due to the constant eye line of the characters in the scene being shown at the same angle so that it is clear where their eye level is focusing. If we break the 180 angle then the shot does not have the same effect and the eye levels are not in the right direction.

Match on action refers to the continuous flow of a shot so that the audience is well aware of what is happening as it happens, the shot is generally one narrative. For instance, even though the camera angles may change, the shot still shows the character's continuous movements from shot to shot.

Shot Reverse Shot is a film technique where the camera angle alternates between one character to another, this denotes to the audience that the two characters are interacting with each other, for instance having a conversation.

Se7en - Opening Sequence

For this task my lecturer assigned me the opening sequence of Se7en which I had to analyse. I took note of the conventions used within the sequence and compared them to those used in the Thriller Genre.

In the opening sequence of Se7en there are many aspects in which coincide with the conventions of the thriller genre. As a group, we were assigned the task to use Garage Band to create a voice over describing the aspects in question.

The Definition of a Thriler: MindMap

I have composed this mind map in order to brainstorm the different aspects that make up a thriller.

Welcome!

Hey guys, welcome to my AS Media blog.
My blog is for the sole purpose of showcasing the essential information including images and video clips in which demonstrate the journey I will be taking on this course. I will be posting regular updates on my progress and the work at hand. 
So, welcome and enjoy!