AS Aims and contexts

For my short film sequence I will be following the horror/drama genre. I want to make the audience feel uncomfortable and on edge. My target audience is aged 15-25. To get the right response from the audience I will use a lot of closeups on uncomfortable images such as bleeding parts of the body. The context is a young girl who is depressed and try's to commit suicide in the woods, I will use parallel editing to show her parents reaction.

AS Exam practice

Section A

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 this 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?

• Audience                                                   
• Characters
• Franchise
• Actors/actresses
• Gross
• Awards
• Narrative
• Gap in market
• Director
• Book
• Successful

Furious 7 -> franchise + stars = made more than original, already had a audience
Fifty shades of grey -> book + gap in market = Gap in market released on valentines day which was a key date for the target audience.
Straight Outta Compton -> Based on true story + Stars + gap in market = huge gap in market made it very popular, word of mouth between younger generation made success.
The intouchables -> big french stars + awards + gap in market = best selling french film ever

2. 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 this 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?

AS Coursework

Film coursework - Orphan (horror film)
How is cinematography used within the scene in Orphan to create effect?

The film runs in a linear narrative which is not always that common with horror films. The scene starts off with a close up of the monster which is a little girl called Esther. This is not a common horror convention as it usually involves a child as a victim. The close up allows me to see the serious expression on her face and with the non-diegetic music varying between low and high extremes it makes me feel nervous and makes the tension of the scene grow. It then moves to a close up of Max who smiles which suggests her innocence. The mid shot of Esther shows her with sets of tools which foreshadows the type of weapon which will be used in a later scene. 

The tension is again increased with the contrast of the low non-diegetic music and the diegetic rattling of pens and keys whilst there is no speech taking place. This then cuts back to a close up of the hammer in Esther’s hand a long with the non-diegetic music using the high and low extremes again makes me think that the hammer will be her weapon of choice. The camera then tracks up to a close up of her face before moving to a mid-shot of her placing the hammer into the backpack. A shot reverse shot is now used between Max and Esther as it shows a mid-shot of Max jingling the keys before cutting back to a close up of Esther where her eyes appear to be very black which makes me feel uneasy. The scene then moves to a close up of the keys which suggests they are of some significance, maybe the link to the next part of the scene. This is followed with an eye line match from Esther to the safe. As the camera zooms in of the safe the non-diegetic music is very high pitched and increases in volume and pitch the further the camera zooms, this creates a lot of tension and suggest the terror that is yet to come. A high angle long shot is now used as Esther is unlocking the safe which makes it look like they are being watched before it jumps to a close up of the safe being opened and a gun being revealed inside. The non-diegetic music is very high pitch extremes creating more tension as there is another eye line match between Esther and the gun. The close up of Esther shows her smirk which a hints at danger. It then jumps to a close up of Max and her concerned expression again emphasises her innocence before a close up of the gun as Esther places a single bullet in before it moves to a mid-shot of Esther pointing the gun at Max. It moves to a long depth of field to a short depth of field which leaves the focus on the gun but the camera has positioned it so the gun feels like it is pointed directly at me. This is similar to the scene in "Run Lola Run" when the police officer is pointing the gun as if it is straight at me. This again begins to make me feel uncomfortable as I feel on the spot and the non-diegetic music again rises which is a key horror convention. The closeup of Max emphasises her vulnerability before moving to a closeup with the gun in the shot as Max shakes her head. As the pitch of the non-diegetic music increases there is a shot reverse shot between a closeup of Esther and a long shot of the nun through the window. This is also an eyeliner match as Esther turns around to look and then I see a long shot of the nun leaving. It then moves back to the long depth of field with the gun pointed directly at me before it cuts to a closeup of Esther moving the catch of the gun. The non-diegetic music hits a very high pitch extreme which emphasises the danger. 

The next part of the scene is the nun getting into the car. Parallel editing is used as it cuts to a long shot of Esther and Max running through the woods. The clear sharp tones of non-diegetic music as the car begins to drive through the snow is similar to the location of "The shining". Furthermore the isolation of the house on its own is a clear horror convention and again intertextuality with "The shining" as that was also set in an isolated area surrounded by snow. It continues with the parallel editing as it moves from a long shot to an extreme long shot of the girls by a bridge which suggests this will be the location of the action. This moves to a closeup of Esther looking through the bridge before the camera follows along the bridge before moving onto a closeup of Max. There is a jump cut to a long shot of the girls from behind them. As Esther starts talking it moves to a closeup of Max which allows me to see her scared expression which again suggests her innocence before moving back to Esther which is another shot reverse shot. The birds eye view of the car coming down the road portrays it as prey and very vulnerable, this is further emphasised with the drop of pitch in the non diegetic music. The closeup of the wheel foreshadows that something will happen involving the car which makes me start to feel nervous. This idea of foreshadowing is emphasised more as the camera cuts to a closeup of the nun driving the car with a serious expression which makes me think she is concentrating because the roads are dangerous and icy. An eye line match is then made from a closeup of Esther's eyes to a long shot of the car coming down the road which suggests Esther is about to cause trouble. A mid shot of Esther signing to Max is then cut to a mid shot of Max looking very scared and not like she wants to be part of Esther's plan. This makes me feel bad for Max and nervous for what is about to happen. It then moves back to the previous closeup of the wheel before another long shot of the car coming over the bridge but the non-diegetic music is climaxing and hitting extreme high notes which suggests that the danger is near. A closeup of the nun reaching into her bag before an over the shoulder shot of her placing a cigarette in her mouth shows that she has moved her concentration from the road making her vulnerable. The shots jump quickly between a long shot of Esther pushing Max into the road and the long shot of the wheel but this time with Max placed in the right hand side of the frame. This the jump cuts to the car coming towards Max but it feels as if it is coming directly at me which sets me on the edge of my seat. The closeup of Max allows me to see the terror in her eyes which is also exaggerated by the extreme high pitch non diegetic music. The closeup of the nun emphasises her fear accompanied with a diegetic scream. It then moves back to the wheel again but this time a closeup with Max in the right of the frame. The closeup is used to show how close the car is to Max. As the car goes past Max the shot moves to make me feel like I am Max and the car has only just missed me. Next is a montage of shots moving quickly between a closeup of the brakes then the wheel before a closeup of the nun, this is accompanied with very high pitch non diegetic music which is so high that it sounds like screams. There is a long shot showing me the car going out of control before moving to a high angle shot which again suggests the idea of vulnerability. 

There is a closeup of the nun accompanied with the diegetic sound of her sigh suggesting how relieved she is yet she has no idea the terror yet to come. This cuts to another closeup but of Max crying before cutting to a shot from behind the nun as she gets out the car, this further emphasises the vulnerability again as it is like she is being watched. As there is a long shot of the nun running towards Max the non-diegetic music begins to intensify. There is a shot reverse shot starting with an over the shoulder shot which focuses on the nuns concerned face as she begins to fuss Max, then an over the shoulder shot which focuses on Max crying before switching back to the over the shoulder shot which focuses on the nun but this time as the nun moves it reveals Esther stood over her. There is an extreme closeup of Max's eyes before an eye line match . As the non-diegetic music hits a climax we see a closeup of the nun as she turns her head but it feels like it is direct at me like she is looking at me for help. There is a closeup of Esther before it cuts to a closeup of the hammer we saw earlier in the scene. You hear the diegetic crunch as the hammer hits the nun’s head and a closeup of Max as she begins to scream and cry again. A closeup of her head bleeding before a closeup of Esther showing no remorse. The non-diegetic music is now low tones. The scene ends as with a long shot of Esther throwing the hammer as it hits the snow you see the contrast of the white pure snow with the red blood. Blood being another key horror convention. 

AS Case studies

US blockbuster (Mainstream/franchise or popular genre)
Fast and furious 7
Budget: $190,000,000
Opening weekend (US): $147,187,040
Box office: $1.515 billion
Stars: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson
Genre: Action/crime genre
Production company: Universal pictures, Media rights capital, Chine film co, One race films, original film, Dents, Fast 7 productions
Certificate 13
Release: 3 April 2015
Marketing: Social media posts, based on Paul Walker death, live trailer launch
Audience: Fans of the franchise, predominantly male, teens- 30
The film was released in 3D, Imax 3D, and 4DX internationally. Third highest grossing opening of all time. Highest grossing film in the franchise after being released for 12 days. Second highest grossing film of 2015. Fifth highest grossing film of all time. There is a sequel scheduled. 9th biggest opening of all time domestically.
Why was it such a big hit?
Furious 7 was a very big hit due to the tragic death of one of the stars Paul Walker whilst they were filming. It was also a big success due to it being part of a franchise, it made more than the original which is rare in a franchise. It was very popular due to the stars like Vin Diesel, third highest paid actor in the world. There is a mix ethnicity within the film and only 25% of the audience is white so it has a very large target audience.

UK production (Financed within UK)
Fifty shades of grey
Budget: $40,000,000
Opening weekend: $94,395,000
Box office: $570,489,358
Stars: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Jennifer Ehle, Marcia Gay Harden
Genre: Erotic romanic drama
Production company: Michael De Luca Productions, Trigger Street Productions
Certificate 18
Release: 13 February 2015
Marketing: Posters released a year before with "Mr Grey will see you now", Released photo of Dakota as Anastasia, Twitter account, Beyonce released teaser for trailer on social media, three trailers released.
Audience: Predominantly females, Teens and older women
Sequels are scheduled, the film premiered at the 65th Berlin international film festival, was an immediate box office success and broke several box office records, currently the 8th highest grossing film of 2015. Franchise of books.
Why was it such a big hit?
It caused a lot of controversy so a lot of people wanted to go and see it to make a judgement for themselves. Furthermore it was released on valentines day which links to the sexual idea of the film. The book was very popular, especially with women and it is an easy read. The marketing was very good and successful especially with Beyonce backing it.

US independent (low budget)
Straight Outta Compton
Budget: $28,000,000
Opening weekend: $56,100,000
Box office: $200.2 million
Stars: O'Shea Jackson Jr, Corey Hawkins, Jason Mitchell, Paul Giamatti
Genre: Biography, Drama, Music
Production company: Circle of confusion, Cube vision, Legendary pictures
Certificate 15
Release: 28 August 2015
Marketing: A sneak peek trailer at Ice cubes concert, Two trailers released, Dr Dre released an app, Dr Dre released first album in 14 years. Meme generator where you could make your own Straight outta compton sayings used by celebrities such as tennis star Serena Williams, it trended no.1 across social media for two days. There has been at least 400,000 tweets related to the film. An ad played before the first Republican presidential debate. "Compton" was written in the sky across LA and the tweeted pictures became a viral sensation. Also appeared across sky at Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco. Also booked it for August 10th to coincide with red carpet premiere.
Audience: predominantly males, age 15-25
An album inspired by the film was released on 7th August 2015 and debuted No.2 on the US Billboard 200 charts.
Why was it such a big hit?
Already had a huge fan base due to the music and the stars. The marketing created a huge hype and the film lived up to it. A lot of marketing was put into this film

World cinema production (foreign language)
The intouchables(French) Untouchables (UK)
Budget: €9,500,000
Opening weekend: $103,507 (USA) €10,675,385 (France)
Box office: €346 million
Stars: François Cluzet, Omar Sy
Genre: Biography, comedy, drama
Production company: Quad productions, Ten films, Chaocorp, Gaumont
Certificate 13
Release: 2 November 2011
Marketing: Social media campaigns
Audience: adults aged 30+, predominantly females
9 weeks after release it became the second biggest box office hit in France. Biggest French film ever.

   

AS Film noir reflective analysis

Reflective analysis

For our creative task we were asked to produce a five shot film sequence based on the film noir genre.We were asked to include different camera angles and the key conventions of the film noir genre. Our whole sequence was in black and white to follow the theme of film noir. We did not have the right circumstances to shoot in low key lighting and to create the shadows that we wanted. Me and Emma directed, filmed and edited the piece and James did the acting and voice over. Our sequence ran in a circular narrative. Our opening shot was a closeup zooming out to a mid shot of James dying so that the audience understood what was going on. Our second shot was of James was the start of James' flashback which was a long shot and tracking of James walking down the street before a camera tilt to focus on a creepy tree.We did this to set the location of the sequence. Our third shot was a shot of a "strictly no admittance" sign which was also zoomed in on. This was done to indicate the crime within the sequence. Our fourth shot was a mid shot of James looking through venetian blinds as venetian blinds are a key part of the film noir genre. Our final shot was back to the same shot from the start but this time it zoomed in from a mid shot to a closeup. We used a voice over throughout our piece as this explained the story to the audience and is another key convention of film noir. Our story line was that James was investigating a murder before realising he had a split personality and was actually the murderer so he killed himself because of the guilt. In future I would work with Emma again as we work really well together but I would not work with James as he does not commit himself to the work and walks off and chats to his friends instead of filming which meant we had to leave our film to the last minute.

AS The shining

The genre of The shining could be argued to be either psychological or thriller horror. It uses clear horror conventions throughout. It is a 1980s film which was directed by Stanley Kubrick. The narrative of the film is based on a man called Jack who becomes the caretaker for an isolated hotel called the Overlook. He moves him and his family there to look after the hotel whilst nobody is there. Jacks son can view the past and future and can see ghosts. During their time here Jack becomes possessed and attempts to kill his family.


The opening scene of The shining is an establishing shot of the isolated location where the film is set. It moved to a bird’s eye view to exaggerate the isolation and hostility. It follows a single car which suggest the vulnerability. Isolation/alienation is a major horror convention so it already sets the genre of the film. The non-diegetic music varies between very extreme low and high pitch tones which is again a clear horror convention as the contrast sets a tense tone and made me feel on edge. The long shot following the car sets the idea of a predator as it moves in closer on the car. As he enters the hotel the mise en scene is a simple hotel with candles as lights. The candles are a horror convention as they could link to religious meanings or to fire and danger. Furthermore the post section behind the front desk is laid out in a cross pattern which again could link to a religious theme. The long shot shows him dressed in a smart suit which portrays him as quite a sensible and professional character. A cross dissolve edit is then used to move to the next scene. This scene shows a basic flat which is fairly empty. The scenery and the cigarettes suggest a lower class situation. The shot reverse shot switches between the mother and the child Danny to give some context to the audience. Parallel editing is used as it now moves back to Jack in the office. The manager of the hotel is wearing a red tie, the iconography of the colour red is danger and could also be linked to blood. The rule of thirds is clearly obeyed within this scene and the close-ups on the faces emphasise the concerned facial expressions being passed between them. The diegetic sound is them talking about the previous caretaker who chopped up his family which gives a huge hint at the horror genre. The iconography and this diegetic sound make me feel like this is a warning of what is yet to come. The cross dissolve edit is then used to focus on Danny in the bathroom talking to himself, the camera begins to zoom in on him as if something is walking towards him before cutting back to a long shot of Jacks wife, and there is low tones of non-diegetic music before a sharp diegetic sound of the phone ringing. Jacks wife is again in red clothing which foreshadows the danger to come, after the parallel editing of a phone call between Jack and his wife there is an over the shoulder the shot of Danny that views him through the mirror as the camera zooms in on his face with low toned non diegetic music in the background. The close up of Danny allows me to see the shock and panic on his face before it moves to a long shot of blood rushing out of the hotel lifts as if it was rushing directly at me. This begins to make me feel uncomfortable before it cuts back to a close up of Danny screaming, this has clearly set the genre as horror.


The next scene I will analyse is near the end. It starts with a long shot of Danny holding a large knife next to where his mum is lay in bed whilst he repeats the word "redrum". There is very sharp high pitch no diegetic music which makes me feel on edge. There is a mid-shot of Danny writing "redrum" on the door in a red lipstick. Again the repetition of the colour red. The over the shoulder shot of Danny then zooms in on the mothers face to emphasise her scared expression before it jumps to a shot of the mirror which shows the word "redrum" as "murder" written on the door before zooming in on it. The non-diegetic high pitch music makes the scene tenser and creates a climax. Clear horror conventions are now portrayed as she screams before it moves to a mid-shot of Danny hitting the door with a classic horror weapon, an axe. This is intertextuality to the film My Bloody Valentine as both films involve the monster/villain smashing the door down with an axe to reach their victims. Jack is wearing a red jacket again leading on with the theme of red throughout. The mother locks her and Danny in the bathroom which is again putting herself in an isolated position which is a horror convention as she cannot escape. There is more parallel editing as it jumps between Jack smashing the hotel door down with the axe and her panicking and trying to lock the bathroom door. The close up of Danny's fearful facial expression makes me feel nervous for what is yet to come. The long shot of the snow slope suggests this is their only way of escaping. The non-diegetic music begins to get higher as Danny is pushed out the window to escape and I know that Jack is not far behind. The parallel editing of her stuck and Danny walking through the room makes me realise that there is more action to come. The close-up of Jack suggests he is possessed with his wide eyes and strange facial expressions. Jack keeps referring to childish things such as links to hide and seek and children stories such as the three little pigs, this suggests that he sees this as a game and that he knows he is the predator.

AS Reflective analysis

My reflective analysis

In film studies we were asked to create a short film of a thriller/horror genre. We were put into groups of three and were told our film needed to include different film techniques such as camera angles. Our film turned out to be more thriller based as it was not very scary. We did not have the right circumstances to film a horror film so we thought a thriller would be an easier route to go down. We set our film at the local graveyard as we thought that was the most interesting spot around. Our narrative was that Lewis was being chased through the graveyard before being killed by a mystery murderer. I took part in the acting, filming and editing. In our film I played the mystery murderer and I was shot from a low angle as I walked off into a creepy alleyway. We made sure we filmed it so that my back was to the camera so that the audience could not see my face. We shot it from a low angle so it was like it was from Lewis' point of view so the audience understood who I was and the role i had played. We used an establishing shot to set the scene of a graveyard, followed by a closeup of Lewis looking around before he began to get chased, we moved into a long shot before we moved into a tracking shot from Lewis' point of view as he fell which overall made the film seem more realistic. Next was the only diegetic sound we used which was Lewis' scream as he was killed, before moving into an extreme closeup, then my scene, then followed by an eye line match of Alex and Emma finding the body which I filmed. After we came back to the computers and edited the film and trimmed down parts of the videos which we did not need and added some creepy non diegetic music in the back which had a bass drop as Lewis started running which further added to the thriller element. All of the group did filming, acting and editing as we all wanted to experience different aspects of the films so they were shared roles.