Practical tasks -

 Practical Tasks:

1 Day in Lockdown.

1 Day in Lockdown - 

- Montage

- Indoor & Outdoor settings

- Diegetic and/or Non-Diegetic
 

Plan:

Practical Task Practice : Re-creating Toast

 Re-Creating Toast

 

Prop List:

Bread (burnt and un-burnt)

Plate

Hairdryer

Lighter (using a candle instead)

Setting:

 Kitchen

Dark Room

Table

Casting:

- 1 character:

- Boy (teenager)

- Brown Hair

Grey long sleeved top (using a jumper)

Scenes:

Duration:                      Shot:

4 seconds.

2 seconds.

1 second.

1 second.

2 seconds.

1 second.

2 seconds.

3 seconds.

2 seconds.

2 seconds.

2 seconds.

1 second.

1 elephant

3 seconds ( 0.5 seconds of darkness)

1 second.

1 second.

2 seconds.

1 second.

1 second.

2 seconds.

2 seconds (0.5 seconds of darkness)

2 seconds.

3 seconds.

3 seconds.

2 seconds.

2 seconds.

3 seconds.

6 seconds.

Final Version:

Coursework Tasks

 Task 1 - Horror

Three professionally made films openings - 

Opening One: The Ring

This scene is set at the start of the film to hook the audience and introduce them to the monster.

In the opening scene, we see a young, vulnerable school girl, alone in a house (which is common convention of horror). It is set at night and has dark lighting, which is also a horror convention. We learn that she is scared of the TV and feels like someone else may be inside the house. The lighting and supernatural  affects, as well as the focus on the TV also gives the film a slight Sci-Fi genre hybrid. By the end of the opening, we see that the girl is possessed and/or murdered by an unseen thing.

The sound of the TV creates an eerie and distorted effect which makes it seem scarier and more menacing. The film is set at night inside a suburban house, which creates the contrast of fear and danger with safety and sanctuary. The scene is lit with a greenish light which imitates the supernatural enemy in the film. It is also similar to the tv screen and light that it produces.

The end of the opening, has a silent jumps acre, where the girl is possessed and/or killed. She screams in silence, adding to the horror, as she seems helpless. The modern aspects give the film a natural and modern look while also having a very scary and mysterious style, created by the ghost.

Opening Two: You're Next

This opening two kills are at the beginning of the film and act as a way to hook the viewer and let them experience the murders and gore that is throughout the film.

In this opening sequence from You're next, we are introduced to two unnamed characters, a man and a women. We also see for a brief moment, a man in a wolf mask, who kills both two characters. This tells us that the couple aren't important, but that the killer is. We can tell that the film is contemporary, from the stereo system and the automatic lighting. The setting is a nice, expensive house that seems to be isolated. It is also set at night, which, like many other horror films, is a common convention. By the end, the genre of horror is undisputable. This is because we see the dead, bloody body of the girl and we see the man being attacked. We see a large amount of blood, and the machete, which are common conventions of horror.

The film looks quite modern, but also old fashioned, as it has dull, beige and brown colours, rather than silver and white. It uses a smaller house, rather than a large city, which gives it an indie style. 

The opening uses a song, but despite that, to focuses in on the subtle sounds such as the dispenser, shower and workings of the cd player. This makes the scene seem normal and calm, so the few jump scares are mainly made by sound, such as the shower curtain, and the spike in sound when wolf-mask-man appears.

Opening Three: Halloween

The film is set at the beginning (about 15 years before the rest of the film) and sets up the story around the murder which helps the viewer follow the story more clearly.

In this opening, the scene, is shot from a POV (Point of View), from the perspective of the killer. We can see that it is set at night and that a boyfriend and girlfriend are kissing. This mirrors the cliché of the first kill in horror films. Seeing it from a POV makes the audience feel guilty and in the moment. We can see a knife and a clown masks which a common amongst killer in the horror genre. The scene is shot as a continuous long-shot which builds up the tension. The aspect of the two teens, sets up that the film has also got a very heavy teen genre hybrid along with horror. The score also works at increasing tension, as it creates an ominous and looming sense of doom. The small suburban house creates a stereotypical horror film setting. By the end, we see that the murderer, is actually a ten year old, and we can guess that he has just murdered his sister, once his parents get home. The reveal of the murderer being a child, creates an instant impact on the audience, as we see how irregular the situation is. The look of the film is very urban, which fits with the time period it was made in. It also makes the setting seem safe, which creates a false sense of security for the audience, making the murder seem more shocking.

Three Student-made film Openings

Opening 1: 

The opening is unknown as to where it places in the whole film, but seems like it would be at the beginning of the story to set up the 'first-kill' convention in horror films. The girls disappearance could serve as the plot for the rest of the story.

The opening has a sombre and gentle opening score to build suspense and tension. It cross cuts between a girl getting ready for a run, and a mysterious figure. The audience can instantly realise that these two characters symbolise the opposites of good vs evil and we can assume that they will meet at some point. We see from the clothes choices, a simple set of exercise clothes for the girl, compared to the muddy and more disgusting boots and coat that the villain wears. We then cut to the woods, which is a stereotypical of horror films. The score gives us tension until the characters meet. This builds tension for the audience. The score is interrupted when we see the disguised figure sitting in the car observing the girl as she begins her run. There is a sudden musical spike designed to act as a jump scare for the audience, but in my opinion it doesn't really work. The slow drawn out editing creates tension and makes the scenes seem longer.  The scene is set at day with lots of light which is different to our expectation of horror and the convention of darkness.

As she starts to run we see her pass the man leaning on the tree. We see them laugh which we can assume is fake but it creates an image of disease and ill-health. We can see him hold a bottle and a clothe which is clearly meant to be chloroform which shows how this figure clearly has evil intentions. However, there is also uncertainty as to what is in the bottle which leaves the viewer ins suspense. It ends by having the girl be apparently kidnapped and the cliff-hanger it leaves the audience on makes them want to watch more to know who the figure is and what happened to the girl.

Opening 2:

The narrative here is unclear, as we aren't able to tell if this is showing the opening of the film, or weather this a part of the middle or end.

In the beginning of the opening, we meet a girl who seems to live in an ordinary the house. The setting of the house which appears regular and colourful, suggests that she is a regular teenager and that nothing bad should happen, as home is where people feel safe. This idea is undercut, by the sinister and mysterious score that puts the viewer on ease and slowly builds tension until we see how the opening ends. We see shots of her in casual clothes around the house to once again try and show the normality of her life. We don't assume that anything bad could happen, but know that something will. It then takes a dark turn when we see a close up of her reaction to her nosebleed. This creates a mild gory image but her reaction show us that this is unusual or strange to her and so it should be to the audience.

We then cut to two locations: a heavily graffitied, dark tunnel, and an abandoned warehouse. Both settings create an ominous tone as they appear scary and unusual to us. We cut between the blonde girl, who's facial expressions show that she is scared and confused as to where she is, as well as a brown haired girl who appears to be looking for the other girl, in order to help her. As well as close ups on a figure in a black coat and white mask, which are common props in horror movies We then cut to close ups of toy dolls, with their eyes crossed out, which creates a very menacing image of death, that scares the audience and makes us worry for the girls. We see the blonde girl run out alone with blood on her face which suggest something bad has happened. The audience get hooked from this and end up wanting to know more about what happened, but we also feel relief that she is safe.

The final is shot is of a bloody knife which is a very common convention of horror films and leaves the audience with an ominous and menacing image. The opening has a very dark and cryptic look which helps build the suspense.

Opening 3:

Here, the narrative point of the opening (beginning of film, middle of film, end of film) is unknown which adds both mystery to it but also makes it a bit harder to understand when the scene is on its own.

This opening does a great job at building suspense and creating a tense environment for the character. The first few shots are are shot from a low-angle-shot looking at our main character. This tells the audience that this is the person we should focus on. The shot and light coming from the monitor almost makes the watcher seem as if they are watching the character through the monitor, almost spying on them, which creates a creepy and ominous tone for the viewer. We then meet another character, who is most likely his brother/ or father. The inclusion of family creates an innocent and safe setting. We can tell that it is most likely night tie as the curtains are drawn. This and the single artificial yellow lightbulb adds to the ominous tone. The opening has the credits being typed into a google search-bar. This is a smart and unique way to show credits and shows the type of film it is. 

We see shaken cam footage creeping towards the front door and hear the sound of something trying to bash in. The makes the audience fear for the character. We see him move the bins which shows the audience how he is a realistic normal person which makes us connect with him more and thus, makes us worry for him. Intercut with him doing chores, shows a hand reach out of the monitor. Although it doesn't grab the boy, the audience suddenly become much more heightened with fear as we know more than the character does. The hand makes the audience questions what it is and whether or not the boy summoned it by using his computer.

Task 2 - Planning 

- Idea Generation: I started off with a completely different idea, but once I watched the film Unfriended (2014), I got the idea for the film. I really liked the blend of cyberbullying but mixed with a horror and supernatural aesthetic, and realised that I could make a tense and suspenseful opening, that fuses the common conventions of horror with modern day problems and issues.

- Location Recess: Night Time: Room (dark), Attic, Stairs, damp, mould patch, Single orange light.

 Room

 Attic

 Hatch

The film is horror, so I want to film at night to add to the fear and mysterious tones of the opening. The single orange light I want to use, is to provide a low level of light, a common convention of horror, to make the scene seem ominous. I want to use orange, from the lamp on the desk, as I think it gives a feeling of fear and danger, as oppose to blue with is more peaceful and calming. The use of an upstairs attic, is because it is the highest point of a house, which in films means that once someone goes up, they can easily be trapped. This is the thought I would want to make the audience feel, as like many horror films, they know that going upstairs is always dangerous. I want to use the mould on the ceiling, to give a feeling of disgust to the audience, which I hope will put them in an uncomfortable mood.

- Character Profiles: Short, Skinny, Male, Vulnerable.

A teenage boy that seems to be quite cruel to people as he can abuse his anonymity .Trying to make them seem vulnerable which makes it easier to believe that they would be attacked and preyed upon, but it also shows why the act and treat people the way that they do.

- Casting Justification (COVID-19 AFFECTED): Tom: Short, Male, Vulnerable, Skinny, 16-17 years old.

Comfortable on camera. Fits the part.

- Props List: Phone, Laptop, Baseball & Bat, Catcher's glove, Fizzy Drink, Dollar

I want to try and set the opening in America, as I personally believe that American media, allows for more bullying. I also think America has more cases of murder due to different laws and restrictions. To make it seem American. I want to try and and use American dollar bills, and baseball gear, to show how this is set in America. I also want to use a baseball bat, as it can be used as a weapon, something I want to use as a Chekov's gun, as it will come back and be referenced throughout the opening. Both the phone and the Laptop, are designed to be used by the main character as weapons used to bully and attack people. I want to build a dislike for the character, so that although his supposed murder is awful, it feels somewhat deserved, and builds mystery into why, what happened, did.

- Costume List: White Top (Baseball Tee), Jeans, White socks.

The clothes are contemporary, to show that the opening is set in a modern world. This allows for the aspects of cyber bullying to occur with is an integral part of the story. I wanted to make the clothes seem casual to show that it's a teenager, but also wanted to give them a sense of style to show how the main character still cares about their looks. Minimalistic and natural hair and make-up. 

Storyboard - 

1st Draw - 

Plot Synopsis:

A teenage boy enters his home and stares at an odd stain on the ceiling. He walks up stairs and enters his room. We see on his phone that he is starting to bully and argue with people online, under an anonymous username. He hears a few bumps coming from the hatch entrance to the attic. He goes to the toilet and as he passes, we see that the bat he put down in the opening is gone, and that the sensors outside have set the light off. When he comes back, he opens his laptop and proceeds to continue to bully. Eventually the bumping from the attic becomes too much and he goes up. He gets up there and eventually sees what appears to be shoes behind a box. He investigates and sees that there isn't anything there, and the opening cuts on a figure standing behind him.

Later on in the story, it would go on to show that the teen's bullying led to a girl's suicide, and that the boy has been missing for the last week. It would eventually be revealed that it was more than just one murder, and that all the friends and family of the girl, grouped together to kill the teen boy.

Script 

[NIGHTTIME, HOUSE] -  

-Teen Boy enters the house.  

-Puts down a baseball bat by the door.  

-Looks up at a stain on the ceiling.  

-Walks up the stairs and enters his room. 

[NIGHTTIME, ROOM] -  

-Puts drink on desk. 

-Looks at phone. 

-Messages something cruel. 

-Hears a bump and looks at the attic. 

-Opens Laptop. 

[NIGHTTIME, INSIDE – LOOKING OUTSIDE] -  

-Boy passes past window and camera. 

-Light outside turns on. 

[NIGHTTIME, ROOM] -  

-Sits down at desk and access laptop. 

-Proceeds to cyber bully on the internet. 

-Hears another bump. 

-Gets out of chair and lowers the attic hatch. 

[NIGHTTIME, ATTIC] -  

-Boy checks through the attic.  

-Finds a bloody knife. 

-A figure appears behind him. 

END 

Shooting Diary - 

-    Night-time [From 8 pm to 9 pm].

Rough Images - 

Applying Narrative theory to the Opening scene of ATB and SM

Applying Narrative theory to the Opening scene of ATB

Attack the Block has a linear narrative that goes from the beginning to the end. The opening scene is therefore a very linear scene. The scene starts with Sam walking from the train station to the block. This is the equilibrium. The disruption is when Sam spots Moses and his gang. This is also the recognition, because in this part, Sam knows that there is a good chance that she is going to be mugged. The resolution is actually another disruption, which is the arrival of the first alien, which lets Sam escape, but signals the arrival of the alien invasion. For Sam, the new-equilibrium is her heading back to the block, after being mugged. However for Moses, their new-equilibrium is after they kill the first alien and take it back to the block.
The opening of the film immediately shows Strauss' theory of binary opposites. We have Black vs White and Rich vs Poor to set up the class between the gang and others like Sam and Brewis. The Idea of good vs bad is repeated throughout with the gang, who start off bad, become good as they fight the worse enemies like the alpines and Hi-Hatz.
There are also quite a few or Propps' character types like the Hero (Moses/Sam), The helpers (The rest of the gang), The villain (Hi-Hatz/ Aliens) and the Quest-giver (Aliens).

Applying Narrative theory to the Opening scene of SM
Slumdog Millionaire has a circular narrative were it Begins at the End. The Opening scene is split between Jamal on WWTBAM and his interrogation. Him on WWTBAM is the equilibrium, which is then cut with him being interrogated by the police for suspicion of cheating (Disruption and Recogniton) This is intercut to Jamal as a child in the slums playing with his friends. This is the New-equilibrium, which is et before anything else we have seen.
The opening scene has a lot of binary opposites. We see the difference between Rich and Poor as we watch Jamal and the host talk to each other on the game show, which shows how unaffected he is by the sense of getting money. We also see privileged life vs slum life when he is interrogated by the police. He is constantly ridiculed for being a slumdog by the cops, who both think that they re better than him.
There is a few of Propps' character types we see in the opening scene, The hero (Jamal), The villain (At this point there really isn't one, other than the bad cop), The quest sender (The good cop, that asks Jamal about his early life), and the Princess (Latika).

The effects of Film History on Attack the Block.

The effects of Film History on Attack the Block.

In this scene, there is a very chaotic and fast-paced chase scene. This scene and other like it, wouldn't have the same effect without some advancements in film history. The first of these are synchronised sound that was introduced in 1927. This makes the chase scene that much more action packed, as you can hear the dialogue of the boys showing their fear and desperation for getting away, as well as the sound of the monsters chasing them. This creates a scary and tense chase scene. Another example of vital improvements are the steadicam in the 1970s and hand held cameras in the 1950s. The handheld cameras allow for scenes to be shot outside of a set. This allows for the scene to be primarily set outside and for moveable possessions that gives the scene a flow of never-ending action. The steadicam technology allows for more stable fluid movements that don't look like they are being filmed by a person. This is used throughout the scene to show more fluid action and make the chase look seamless rather than having very little movement and lots of editing. The stead-cam allows for less editing as it is able to take longer more dynamic shots so less editing is need to make a good-looking scene. The last major advancements was the paramount case in 1952. This meant that companies could no longer own cinemas, crews ad cast. This meant that ATB can have multiple small companies helping out and a variety of small crews and cast. It also means that it can be shown in any cinemas. Without this case, the film would have struggled to be made, as it wouldn't have much in the way of cast and crew, and wouldn't be shown in  many major cinemas which would have heavily minimises its release.

Genre Film Questions:

1- What episode of Mark Kermode Secrets of Cinema did you watch?

Horror Genre

2- Apply Daniel Chandler's theory of conventions of content to this genre.

Settings of haunted houses and other places, props such as guns, knifes, masks, facial expressions of fear, anger and worry.

3- What ideas does Kermode discuss in this documentary?

A journey between normal and weird, ominous themes, social issues.

4- What films had you already seen?

Silence of the Lambs, Psycho, The Shining, Get Out

5- Which films hadn't you?

The Exorcist, The nightmare on elm street.

6- Which films made you think 'i'd like to watch that' and why?

A nightmare on elm street, Us

7- What film did you watch?

Us

8- Apply narrative theories of Todorov, Propp and Strauss to this film

Strauss: Rich vs Poor, Black vs White, American vs Other,
Propp: The Hero(s)(The family), The villain(s)(The tethered form), The donor/false hero(The Tyler family)
Narrative: The film is linear, but is decorated with flashbacks: The film starts with the family going to Santa Cruz. At night they find a family outside their house. They realise that the family are their dopplegangers. They have to try and kill their doppelgängers but realise that the doppelgängers are everywhere and are taking over in a 'Hands across America'. The film ends with the family driving away past a line of thousands of the tethered.

9- Apply Daniel Chandler's conventions of content to this film

The film is obviously a horror film. It primarily takes place at night. A family is being ambushed by invaders. The villains wear scary costumes( with in particular wearing quite a scary mask. The villains also carry shears and we see them use them multiple times when they kill. Multiple bodies are seen. The villains talk and walk in odd ways.

10- Apply Stuart Hall representation theory to this film

As with Jordan Peele's other work, the film heavily represents social America and what it means to be American. it also focuses heavily on what it means to be human as well as things like black lives in America and the importance of community. The film uses the idea of 'Hands across America' to emphasise this importance in community. The film tries to represent a real life America but tells it through a more fictitious way.

11- Apply Stuart Hall audience theory and Blulmer and Katz audience theory to this film 

The film could heavily be used for both entertainment and if you have a social relationship with the characters. The film is a horror film so it is heavily used for entertainment but due to the American and black culture within the film, lots of people will have a strong connection with them. I think the film heavily uses the oppositional reading as the film does have a meaning but it can be interpreted in many ways.

1- What episode of Mark Kermode Secrets of Cinema did you watch?

Crime Genre

2- Apply Daniel Chandler's theory of conventions of content to this genre.

Props like guns, bags costumes. Costumes like boiler suits and masks. Settings of banks, and warehouses

3- What ideas does Kermode discuss in this documentary?

A simple recipe that is always used over and over again but it still seems unique.

4- What films had you already seen?

Ocean's series, Inception, Reservoir Dogs, Inception, Heat, Baby Driver

5- Which films hadn't you?

The Italien Job, Dead Presidents, Sexy Beasts

6- Which films made you think 'i'd like to watch that' and why?

The Italian Job, Sexy Beasts, The Asphalt Jungle

7- What film did you watch?

The Italian Job

8- Apply narrative theories of Todorov, Propp and Strauss to this film

Propp: The hero(s)(The criminals), The villain(s)(The police/government), The helper(The donor(Mr Bridger))
Strauss:Good vs Bad, Rich vs Poor, Oppressed vs Oppressors, Police vs Criminals
Todorov: The film starts off with Charlie getting out of prison. He sees a recording on a possible job he can pull. He gathers resources and people to pull off the heist. The mafia realise that a robbery is being planned. The crew pull of the heist and escape past the mafia and police. The film ends with a cliffhanger as the gold dangles of the end of a cliff.

9- Apply Daniel Chandler's conventions of content to this film

The film has common settings like banks, police and government HQs. Common costumes like boiler suits and masks. It has a lot of props such as guns, cars, money, gold, weapons, and common 

10- Apply Stuart Hal representation theory to this film

The film does have quite a constructionist approach as it tries to represent the 1960s society while producers also try to fill the film with its own meanings and oppinions. 

11- Apply Stuart Hall audience theory and Blulmer and Katz audience theory to this film
The film is only really to be used for entertainment purposes as it is quite a fun, paced action thriller film. It doesn't really have much in the way of social connections and relationships, as it was made in 1969 and most films were quite basic in their representation. The film also has quite a basic reading as the film wants the audience to feel a certain message of: the oppressed trying to move against the oppressors.