Mrs Thrasher helped me to identify possible problems that i would have during shooting and problems that our group might have too, we then thought about how induvidually we could contribute to avoiding these problems:
1. Bring food and clothes
For the test shoot i brought, several bagels, a flask of tea, chocolate (for dipping) and crisps, plus gloves, scarf, hat and several layers. This meant that on a more practical note, when holding the boom, camera, light or writing the production notes my hands were not cold and i was able to do the job properly.
2. Be Organised
I packed a bag before each shoot this just gone weekend which had everything i needed in it so then we i came to leave i jsut had to pick up one thing. I always had battery and credit on my phone so i could contact other group members if i wanted to change where we were meeting or what time we should get there.
3. Organising the actors
As the actors have signed contracts agreeing to do the shoot we need to keep them informed on when exactly they are needed so that we can avoid waiting around for them to turn up or them getting annoyed because they are standing around not doing anything.
4. Weather
Not much I could do about it, had plastic bags to cover equipment if it started to rain though.
5. Referring to shot list and shoot/view/reshoot
After shooting a specific shot looking back for quality check and referring to shot list so i knew what i wanted to do next.
I think our group worked really well together and the only problem i am really anxious about is the weather as we had very slight drizzle on the test weekend but if it properly rains we won't be able to film at all. x
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Sunday, 4 November 2007
Today been looking at inventive title sequences and creative credits and i've decided to comment on Psycho's title sequence as i really love the way such a weird uneasy feeling is already created before the first shot of the film.
For some reason the video wouldnt embed but here is the url that you can watch it at:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j3QcS2iovss
As soon as the clip starts the violins come in, the music was written by Bernard Herrmann and i checked out some of his other soundtracks (North by Northwest) and he is absolutely incredible at creating suspense through music.
What i liked about the credits was that they were very simple but interesting to watch, you didnt get bored watching the opening credits with the music like i think you can easily do with most films. In fact it was very well synchronised with the names moving and the strings playing making it more something to watch and enjoy rather than just credits.
The white and grey writing on the black background also have connotations of a thriller or scary film, and the way that the names are cut up in the sequence give you an idea about what film you are about to see and give it a brand identity.
For some reason the video wouldnt embed but here is the url that you can watch it at:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=j3QcS2iovss
As soon as the clip starts the violins come in, the music was written by Bernard Herrmann and i checked out some of his other soundtracks (North by Northwest) and he is absolutely incredible at creating suspense through music.
What i liked about the credits was that they were very simple but interesting to watch, you didnt get bored watching the opening credits with the music like i think you can easily do with most films. In fact it was very well synchronised with the names moving and the strings playing making it more something to watch and enjoy rather than just credits.
The white and grey writing on the black background also have connotations of a thriller or scary film, and the way that the names are cut up in the sequence give you an idea about what film you are about to see and give it a brand identity.
Saturday, 3 November 2007
Continuity
Was looking around for any videos on the internet that may help with continuity ideas to make our thriller seem more naturual rather than a series of clips edited together. This is a video i found of a student demonstrating continuity editing for their film course.
Although it is a very simple sequence, i think the whistling makes the sequence seem very smooth and also that he is playing with the keys in several shots making it feel much more natural rather than an edited sequence of different shots.
Although it is a very simple sequence, i think the whistling makes the sequence seem very smooth and also that he is playing with the keys in several shots making it feel much more natural rather than an edited sequence of different shots.
Pretty coo thriller
Watched a french thriller the other day called Harry, he's here to help to try and get a more independant and creative view on contemporary thrillers.
It made me think about ideas for our thriller so i 'll just summarise the plot.
SpOiLeR!!!!
Ok..
Mother + Father with 3 girls (2-6 yrs old) are driving in their old poorly air conditioned car to their messy 'holiday home' which they try to DIY every half term. At a service station father meets old schoolmate who suggests a drink but ends up coming, with his girlfriend to the holiday home. As the girls are too hot and crying etc. in the car they get into this new guys car with the mum as its a mercedes with air conditioning.
What i liked about this whole sequence was that you absolutely did not want the girls to get in the car, but knew that they would building up an incredible amount of suspense, but on the drive nothing out of the ordinary whatsoever happened building up even more tension.
When they arrived, over dinner the old schoolmate reminded the father aobut poetry and a short story that the father had written for the school journal. The schoolmate had it memorised in a slightly creepy kind of way and strongly tried to persuade the father to continue his work, even though it was years and years ago and about flying monkeys..
This old schoolmate realises that it is the father's children, wife and parents getting in the way of his writings so he kills the guys parents, and then tries to kill the children and wife.
The opening credits were really good, following both cars with an aerial helishot as they went along the motorway and actor names etc. running along in different lanes at similar speed to the cars and then dropping out of the shot to be replaced by another name but unfortunately no one has uplaoded this clip to youtube so i cannot show it here.
So, mainly what a liked aobut this film were the way they intergrated the credits into the film in an independant and creative way but also i liked the idea of the past coming back to haunt you, used in quite a few thrilelr films but i think timelessly effective.
It made me think about ideas for our thriller so i 'll just summarise the plot.
SpOiLeR!!!!
Ok..
Mother + Father with 3 girls (2-6 yrs old) are driving in their old poorly air conditioned car to their messy 'holiday home' which they try to DIY every half term. At a service station father meets old schoolmate who suggests a drink but ends up coming, with his girlfriend to the holiday home. As the girls are too hot and crying etc. in the car they get into this new guys car with the mum as its a mercedes with air conditioning.
What i liked about this whole sequence was that you absolutely did not want the girls to get in the car, but knew that they would building up an incredible amount of suspense, but on the drive nothing out of the ordinary whatsoever happened building up even more tension.
When they arrived, over dinner the old schoolmate reminded the father aobut poetry and a short story that the father had written for the school journal. The schoolmate had it memorised in a slightly creepy kind of way and strongly tried to persuade the father to continue his work, even though it was years and years ago and about flying monkeys..
This old schoolmate realises that it is the father's children, wife and parents getting in the way of his writings so he kills the guys parents, and then tries to kill the children and wife.
The opening credits were really good, following both cars with an aerial helishot as they went along the motorway and actor names etc. running along in different lanes at similar speed to the cars and then dropping out of the shot to be replaced by another name but unfortunately no one has uplaoded this clip to youtube so i cannot show it here.
So, mainly what a liked aobut this film were the way they intergrated the credits into the film in an independant and creative way but also i liked the idea of the past coming back to haunt you, used in quite a few thrilelr films but i think timelessly effective.
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Update
Just a quick update, been thinking since i took the photos earlier i like the idea of an innocent or child friendly place that would normally be seen as safe changing when its dark or empty, to portray this we could shown the swings in a playground swinging with no one around and pan across the playground or something to show the empty space. I also when watching Latymer thrillers form previous ideas, i can't remember which group but 'the stepfather' had a very nice normal domestic sense about it but in the context with the stepdad it seemed very abnormal and weird. Generally i think id be keen on doing a paradigm situation similar to 'exposure' aswell in which we make the audience assume one thing with very obvious connotations but then completely flip round their point of view at the end with a key piece of information. We could have subtle hints and red herrings aswell which would layer the clip and mean it could be watched several times with added meaning, something which i think is key in a very good film.
Quite media'd out for the night so im going to bed.
x
Quite media'd out for the night so im going to bed.
x
Thriller locaton photos
Just scouted around my area for possible locations and i think ive found some really good ones as frankly being in hackney with a digital camera was scary enough after bedtime. I really like the way that the streetlamps cast a yellow light and the autumnal leaves on the ground reflect this. Will upload some of the photos now and hopefully talk to the group about them tomorrow to see what they think.
This first shot is of the outside of an abandoned electricity power station. The front windows are boarded up and surrounding trees and streelamps make fantastic shadows on it.
At the front there are massive double doors and i shot at a low angle to emphasis this. Also, see the warning: danger of death sign accentuated by the flash it looks bright yellow in contrast to the green doors and bricks.
This alleyway i think is perfectly framed with bars on one side and the side of the old powerstation on the other. The streetlamp shines a great yellow light seen on the wall and leaves on the floor and creates both a sense of decay and urban wasteland with the harsh metal corrugated iron and.
This abandoned hut is just past the bars, unfortunately the park was locked but from the inside we could get some great shots. I think the harsh flash of the camera creates a very different and noticeable effect to the streetlamp with the whiteness of the leaves and bars maknig it very eerie.
This is shot form the opposite end of the alley and gives a different but less effective perspective as there is a school and road in the background.
This first shot is of the outside of an abandoned electricity power station. The front windows are boarded up and surrounding trees and streelamps make fantastic shadows on it.
At the front there are massive double doors and i shot at a low angle to emphasis this. Also, see the warning: danger of death sign accentuated by the flash it looks bright yellow in contrast to the green doors and bricks.
This alleyway i think is perfectly framed with bars on one side and the side of the old powerstation on the other. The streetlamp shines a great yellow light seen on the wall and leaves on the floor and creates both a sense of decay and urban wasteland with the harsh metal corrugated iron and.
This abandoned hut is just past the bars, unfortunately the park was locked but from the inside we could get some great shots. I think the harsh flash of the camera creates a very different and noticeable effect to the streetlamp with the whiteness of the leaves and bars maknig it very eerie.
This is shot form the opposite end of the alley and gives a different but less effective perspective as there is a school and road in the background.
I took this shot to emphasise the effect of the streetlamp on the yellow and brown leaves which i think works really well in giving a spooky halloween-esque look.
This is a shot of closed methodist church on the left of the power station, i really like the architecture of both of these buildings and think they have a very suitable worn down look.
This is a shot of the inside of an adventure playground. I think the idea of childhood and everyday activities becomes really sinister when no one is around and it is dark, something that id like to definately explore myself.
This is a shot from one end of an estate to the other. I think the harsh pale lighting does really well to give a sense of modern and urban living and gives it quite a cold electric feel. I also like the way this empty space in the middle is framed by the two opposing estates giving quite a trapped feel if you stand in the middle and are unable to see what is on either side.
That's all for now, hope you liked the pictures, I think there are definately some locations there to follow up in more detail at different times of day etc.
Previous thriller projects
Just watched a series of previous Latymer thriller projects from 2005 and 2006 and one i singled out as i think it is particularly good is 2006 group 6's thriller 'exposure'
What i liked particularly was the way idea was infact very simple and somethnig we are all familiar with in the world of film: someone packing their bags and trying to run away form someone, something or a situation. As the clip focuses solely on this character we see him as the protagonist and sympathise with him to a certain extent as he is clearly running away form something. This clip uses a paradigm effect so that as the audience does not know about the situation, we sympathise with the guy but when we see the stalker-esque photos we no longer sympathise with him and think he is probably tyring to run away form the law. His camera that he packed earlier is no longer a camera but an object of his crime. I really like this idea for a thriller, how you can have a very simple situation but with one piece of information switch the audiences point of view completely.
I also liked the change of pace at 1:22, there are a series of very short shots showing his eagerness to leave the house but then the camera remains on his hand on the door as he hesitates (i feel this group were very good at portraying the characters emotions and feelings and showing them to us. The is closely followed by a very slow low level track into the photo room. The slow throbbing music and the camera circling the man as he turned in circles himself was very successful in showing his emotions.
The continuity editing was also seamless, when doors were opened, in the next shot they would be slightly further open and when the tap was running, as the shot changed there was no difference in sound and in the scene with the mirror films continued to fall in a similar way and he was still in the same place as before when it cut back to the same shot.
What i liked particularly was the way idea was infact very simple and somethnig we are all familiar with in the world of film: someone packing their bags and trying to run away form someone, something or a situation. As the clip focuses solely on this character we see him as the protagonist and sympathise with him to a certain extent as he is clearly running away form something. This clip uses a paradigm effect so that as the audience does not know about the situation, we sympathise with the guy but when we see the stalker-esque photos we no longer sympathise with him and think he is probably tyring to run away form the law. His camera that he packed earlier is no longer a camera but an object of his crime. I really like this idea for a thriller, how you can have a very simple situation but with one piece of information switch the audiences point of view completely.
I also liked the change of pace at 1:22, there are a series of very short shots showing his eagerness to leave the house but then the camera remains on his hand on the door as he hesitates (i feel this group were very good at portraying the characters emotions and feelings and showing them to us. The is closely followed by a very slow low level track into the photo room. The slow throbbing music and the camera circling the man as he turned in circles himself was very successful in showing his emotions.
The continuity editing was also seamless, when doors were opened, in the next shot they would be slightly further open and when the tap was running, as the shot changed there was no difference in sound and in the scene with the mirror films continued to fall in a similar way and he was still in the same place as before when it cut back to the same shot.
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Analysis of 'Peeping Tom' DVD cover
Camera
In the foreground there is a large old fashioned film projector which dominates the picture. There is a man almost hiding behind the camera in the background, we can only see his forehead and eyes as the rest of his face is obscured either by the camera or text 'Peeping Tom'. The camera and title give the effect of framing his eyes.
I think it is very significant that there are only two things in the shot: a face and a projector. It shows us exactly what the film will be about and reinforces the anchorage of the title 'Peeping Tom'- being a phrase we are all familiar with. But at the same time, is too simple for a film creating an enigma as we want to know what the twist or induviduality will be. The film projector creates themes of voyeurism as we already know it is about a peeping tom, and the fact that the man is actually physically hiding behind the camera reinforces this voyeur idea. The title and the projector together make a frame around the man's eyes reinforcing the idea that he is hiding behind something.
Mise-en-scene
All of the cover is in sepia tone, there is light in the foreground on the man's face and projector but this light fades out at the bottom and the background although still in sepia is a very dark brown. The projector and man are facing away out to the left of the shot and are coming from the right and almost dissappearing into the dark behind them. The title is straight across the front of the cover obscuring parts of the man's face and in a contrasting bright white. The font is simple and in bold capitals.
The sepia tone gives the cover a feel of the past, also given across by the old fashioned film projector. We are not sure why this theme of the past is put across but it creates enigma, is he hiding from his past? The man and projector also seem to be reaching away from behind them and looking out in front from the right to left. I think this signifies that he is hiding form his past and looking out into the future, again creating enigma as we don't know what in his past he is hiding or trying to run away from. This idea is also reinforced by the dark background compared to the foreground and the fade at the bottom. I think that the title is branded across the man's face like an accusation and feels like it should be shouted as it is accentuated by the bright white, bold and capitols.
People
There is only one person on the cover, and it is a CU of their head, the top of their hair is cut off and their neck and ear are obscured by the projector. The man's eyes are his most prominent feature and match ou own eye level as we look at the cover, however they are looking away off screen. The man is young and handsome, with a classic hollywood face.
As this man is only person on the cover we know almost 100% that he is the 'Peeping Tom' the title refers to or at least anyway that he will be central to th film. The man's eyes are framed and at our own level but looking away, this is obviously meant to draw us to his eyes signifying the fact that they are looking away, possibly to show he is ashamed or as i said earlier looking to the future away from his past. The fact that the man has a normal young handsome face shows that he is not a stereotypical killer, mass-murderer or psychopath and perhaps a soci-path showing us that anyone can be a murderer.
Thriller Summary
'Notoriously difficult to define as a genre'
From my understanding of the Thriller genre it is not a jack of all trades but rather a collection of crossovers and sub-genres.
Thus making it difficult to define as a genre. However, this is a list of things that i think are nearly always applicable to the Thriller genre.
-Thrillers are all about the construction of suspense through narration.
-Thrillers feature convoluted narratives and complexities of character.
-They often involve dark criminal worlds, seedy underworlds, conflict, ambiguity and colliding moral forces.
-They also often feature themes such as deception, treachery, corruption and murder.
-They may feature detectives or detective like characters who operate on the edge of the law.
-They can often involve clashes between: wealth and power, crime and business, law and order.
Thrillers will generally stick to stereotypical conventions of masculinity and femininity. Female characters are often only the femme fatale, the female victim or the gangster's wife. For men, they will generally be the psychopathic stranger, the victim hero, the lone detective or the gangster. This is why it is all the more interesting when films such as Alien (1979) choose to break these characteristics.
From my understanding of the Thriller genre it is not a jack of all trades but rather a collection of crossovers and sub-genres.
Thus making it difficult to define as a genre. However, this is a list of things that i think are nearly always applicable to the Thriller genre.
-Thrillers are all about the construction of suspense through narration.
-Thrillers feature convoluted narratives and complexities of character.
-They often involve dark criminal worlds, seedy underworlds, conflict, ambiguity and colliding moral forces.
-They also often feature themes such as deception, treachery, corruption and murder.
-They may feature detectives or detective like characters who operate on the edge of the law.
-They can often involve clashes between: wealth and power, crime and business, law and order.
Thrillers will generally stick to stereotypical conventions of masculinity and femininity. Female characters are often only the femme fatale, the female victim or the gangster's wife. For men, they will generally be the psychopathic stranger, the victim hero, the lone detective or the gangster. This is why it is all the more interesting when films such as Alien (1979) choose to break these characteristics.
Alien- Enigma and breaking of conventions When marketing the film Alien the producers decided that in order to make sure that people would watch a controversial thriller, you had to put it across as a sterotypical conventional thriller. To do this they create a false narrative image of the film, for example, on the poster for the film this was personified by the slogan 'In space no one can hear you scream.' This was also backed up by the graphic image of an alien egg. The narrative image connoted from this would lead you not to expect the actual plot and idea of the film centering around the heroine's sang-froid.
Enigma in Thrillers
Marketing of thrillers relies heavily on enigma. By this I mean that marketing campaigns for thrillers and even thriller titles are vague and ambiguous, leading to the audience asking questions and wanting more. This need can only be satisfied by watching the film, thereby creating a very successful advertising campaign for marketers.
Here are a list of enigmatic thriller titles:
-Rebbeca
-Seven
-The man who wasn't there
-The wrong man
-The third man
-Out of the past
-Hannibal
These titles are enigmatic as they make you question the film:
-Who is Rebbeca? and why is she the center of the film
-Seven what? deadly sins?
-Who is the man, and in what way is he 'not there'?
-What is out of the past?
-Who is Hannibal? deliberate similarity to the word cannibal?
The only way to find the answers is to watch the film. This is what the film marketers try to create, in order to stir up interest and a fan base for the film before it is released.
Marketing of thrillers relies heavily on enigma. By this I mean that marketing campaigns for thrillers and even thriller titles are vague and ambiguous, leading to the audience asking questions and wanting more. This need can only be satisfied by watching the film, thereby creating a very successful advertising campaign for marketers.
Here are a list of enigmatic thriller titles:
-Rebbeca
-Seven
-The man who wasn't there
-The wrong man
-The third man
-Out of the past
-Hannibal
These titles are enigmatic as they make you question the film:
-Who is Rebbeca? and why is she the center of the film
-Seven what? deadly sins?
-Who is the man, and in what way is he 'not there'?
-What is out of the past?
-Who is Hannibal? deliberate similarity to the word cannibal?
The only way to find the answers is to watch the film. This is what the film marketers try to create, in order to stir up interest and a fan base for the film before it is released.
Iconography, Narrative, Themes and characters in Thrillers
Iconography in Thrillers:
Mise-en-scene
Lighting
Camera
Setting
Editing
Props
Colours
Dress
Narrative in Thrillers:
Plot
Structure
Events
Dialogue
SFX
Music
Themes in Thrillers:
Reactions
Responses
What the film is about
Idea that underpins narrative
Characters in Thrillers:
Roles
Types
Characteristics
Features
Behaviour
Motivation
Action
Mise-en-scene
Lighting
Camera
Setting
Editing
Props
Colours
Dress
Narrative in Thrillers:
Plot
Structure
Events
Dialogue
SFX
Music
Themes in Thrillers:
Reactions
Responses
What the film is about
Idea that underpins narrative
Characters in Thrillers:
Roles
Types
Characteristics
Features
Behaviour
Motivation
Action
Rear Window v Disturbia
Simlilarities and differences looking at characters, themes, iconography and narrative in Rear Window and Disturbia.
Character similarities:
-Male protagonist and antagonist
-Love interest
-Antagonist = Older man
-Themes of 3 (characters)
Character differences:
-In Disturbia, the girlfriend character needs persuading
-In Disturbia, the villain is a serial killer
Narrative similarities:
-Protagonist stuck in house
-Love interest
-Protagonist sure, but doubted by friends/family
-Technical camera aspect
-Protagonist and Antagonist confrontation
-Gardening
-Police go round to investigate
-Party, acting as a distraction
Narrative differences:
-Different physical restrictions on protagonist
-Relationship established during Disturbia
-Police against him in Disturbia
-More advanced camera technology in Disturbia
-Disturbia spends much longer establishing before actual murder
-Nature of murders different
-Different noise and surroundings urban/suburban
Iconography similarities:
-Windows
-Binoculars
-Lenses
-Frame within a frame
-Dead animals
-Woman = blonde
Iconography differences:
-Pajamas in Rear Window
-Duller colours in Rear Window
-Suburban in Disturbia
-Graphic violence in Disturbia
-More technology in Disturbia
Thematic similarities:
-Spying/voyeur
-Obsession
-Murder
-Entrapment
-Suspicion
-Boredom
-Useless police
Thematic differences
-Isolation in Rear Window
-Motive for killer in Rear Window
-Comedy in Disturbia
-Family relationships in Disturbia
-Trust in Disturbia
Character similarities:
-Male protagonist and antagonist
-Love interest
-Antagonist = Older man
-Themes of 3 (characters)
Character differences:
-In Disturbia, the girlfriend character needs persuading
-In Disturbia, the villain is a serial killer
Narrative similarities:
-Protagonist stuck in house
-Love interest
-Protagonist sure, but doubted by friends/family
-Technical camera aspect
-Protagonist and Antagonist confrontation
-Gardening
-Police go round to investigate
-Party, acting as a distraction
Narrative differences:
-Different physical restrictions on protagonist
-Relationship established during Disturbia
-Police against him in Disturbia
-More advanced camera technology in Disturbia
-Disturbia spends much longer establishing before actual murder
-Nature of murders different
-Different noise and surroundings urban/suburban
Iconography similarities:
-Windows
-Binoculars
-Lenses
-Frame within a frame
-Dead animals
-Woman = blonde
Iconography differences:
-Pajamas in Rear Window
-Duller colours in Rear Window
-Suburban in Disturbia
-Graphic violence in Disturbia
-More technology in Disturbia
Thematic similarities:
-Spying/voyeur
-Obsession
-Murder
-Entrapment
-Suspicion
-Boredom
-Useless police
Thematic differences
-Isolation in Rear Window
-Motive for killer in Rear Window
-Comedy in Disturbia
-Family relationships in Disturbia
-Trust in Disturbia
Narritive theory - Disturbia
Levi-Strauss - Binary Opposites
Levi-Strauss said that binary opposites cause conflict during the film but are often solved by one triumphing over the other at the end of the film.
Typical opposites are:
-Good v Evil
-Adult v Youth
-Normality v Abnormality
-Society v Situation (sympathy of)
-Fear v Happiness
-Light v Dark
-Freedom v Entrapment
Some that apply to Disturbia are:
-Murderer v Kale + Mother
-Induvidual v Family + Society
-Good during day v Bad at night
Todorov - Narrative Structure
Todorov said that films will start with a certain equilibrium then to be disrupted but equalling in a final equilibrium different but comparable to the original. He also said that there will be thwarted attempts at a new equilibrium before we can settle on a final equilibrium.
In disturbia the normality at the start lies in the very natural family life shown in the film by the fishing trip/talk about life with the dad and the call home to the mum.
This is then disrupted by:
-The death of the dad
-Kale punching his teacher
-House arrest
-and Kale seeing the 'murder'
This disruption is followed by thwarted attempts to catch the Rob Turner such as telling his mum, best friend and girlfriend.
Equilibrium is finally restored by:
-The death of Rob Turner
-Release from house arrest
-and getting the little boys on his street back
Barthes - Action and Enigma codes
Barthes said that in a film significant things will happen leading to other events (action codes) and somethings will happen that will make us question why they happen and make us guess or act as a red herring (enigma codes).
Action codes in Disturbia:
Car crash --D what will happen next?
Punching of teacher --D what will it lead to?
House arrest --D what will it lead to?
Ashley sees boys spying on her --D what will that result in?
Turner sees Kale watching him --D what will he do?
Enigma codes in Disturbia:
Why does turner buy a shovel in the supermarket?
Why do we hear about past victims?
Why is Turner's car dented and scratched?
Propp - Character Types
Propp believed that in all thrillers there will always be certain character types. The following are how i applied these character types to Disturbia:
Protagonist - Kale
Antagonist - Rob Turner
Helper - Ronnie/Ashley
Princess - Mum
Donor - Dad/Mum
Dispatcher - Ashley/Dad
Father Figure - Dad/Mum
False hero - Policeman
Levi-Strauss said that binary opposites cause conflict during the film but are often solved by one triumphing over the other at the end of the film.
Typical opposites are:
-Good v Evil
-Adult v Youth
-Normality v Abnormality
-Society v Situation (sympathy of)
-Fear v Happiness
-Light v Dark
-Freedom v Entrapment
Some that apply to Disturbia are:
-Murderer v Kale + Mother
-Induvidual v Family + Society
-Good during day v Bad at night
Todorov - Narrative Structure
Todorov said that films will start with a certain equilibrium then to be disrupted but equalling in a final equilibrium different but comparable to the original. He also said that there will be thwarted attempts at a new equilibrium before we can settle on a final equilibrium.
In disturbia the normality at the start lies in the very natural family life shown in the film by the fishing trip/talk about life with the dad and the call home to the mum.
This is then disrupted by:
-The death of the dad
-Kale punching his teacher
-House arrest
-and Kale seeing the 'murder'
This disruption is followed by thwarted attempts to catch the Rob Turner such as telling his mum, best friend and girlfriend.
Equilibrium is finally restored by:
-The death of Rob Turner
-Release from house arrest
-and getting the little boys on his street back
Barthes - Action and Enigma codes
Barthes said that in a film significant things will happen leading to other events (action codes) and somethings will happen that will make us question why they happen and make us guess or act as a red herring (enigma codes).
Action codes in Disturbia:
Car crash --D what will happen next?
Punching of teacher --D what will it lead to?
House arrest --D what will it lead to?
Ashley sees boys spying on her --D what will that result in?
Turner sees Kale watching him --D what will he do?
Enigma codes in Disturbia:
Why does turner buy a shovel in the supermarket?
Why do we hear about past victims?
Why is Turner's car dented and scratched?
Propp - Character Types
Propp believed that in all thrillers there will always be certain character types. The following are how i applied these character types to Disturbia:
Protagonist - Kale
Antagonist - Rob Turner
Helper - Ronnie/Ashley
Princess - Mum
Donor - Dad/Mum
Dispatcher - Ashley/Dad
Father Figure - Dad/Mum
False hero - Policeman
Wednesday, 3 October 2007
Surprisingly i am finding this new blogging system surprisingly enjoyable, as you can see, i have customized my blog with a scary purple and groovy black theme.
I also watched a thriller the other day called 'Dead Calm'- Nicole Kidman's film that first made her famous. I have watched disturbia and rear window and and waiting for the discussion thiws next lesson before typing up my notes.
I also watched a thriller the other day called 'Dead Calm'- Nicole Kidman's film that first made her famous. I have watched disturbia and rear window and and waiting for the discussion thiws next lesson before typing up my notes.
Sunday, 30 September 2007
1st post
not really sure how to do this so hopefully i can get some help in the lesson, i have acquired copies of psycho and disturbia(good price!) and im watching them tomorrow, but didnt have time to today as play rehearsals meant i got home at 7:30.i'm currently enjoying the thriller genre, i looked at the top 100 thrillers on the imdb and i dont think half of them are actually thrillers as we've been studying but i've seen a lot of them and enjoyed most of them so i'm jsut generally happy to be working on this project. started thinking about 2 minute video we're making and can't wait to start planning and filming it, think it'll be fun, so yeh, i'll continue this and add depth in the lesson tomorrow.ciao for now.
Monday, 17 September 2007
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