BBFC

What might you see in a 15 rated film?

• Strong violence

• Frequent strong language

• Portrayals of sexual activity

• Strong verbal references to sex

• Sexual nudity

• Brief scenes of sexual violence or verbal references to sexual violence

• Discriminatory language or behaviour

• Drug taking

Our thriller opening will not include much strong language, if any, and there will not be any portrayals of sexual activity. However, there will be some strong violence and fear portrayed. I feel like our opening could be classes as a 12 but due to the theme and nature of the rest of the film it will have to be rated a 15.

How this will help me to create my thriller opening:

This research has helped me to understand what I am allowed in a 15 rated film and if this will be appropriate for our opening. It has allowed me to set boundaries in terms of what we will include.

Editing

·        Must show in exam: how editing helps to aid meaning, varied shot transitions

·         The physical joining together of the shots, known as montage.

·         This term is used because it suggests the creation of meaning

·         How long does each shot last?

·         How’s each shot joined to the next?

·         The most common technique is the cut:

o   A sudden change of shot from one viewpoint or location to another

o   There is always a reason for the cut

·         Matched cut:

o   A cut in which a familiar relationship between shots make the change seem ‘smooth’.

·         Jump cut:

o   An abrupt switch from one scene to another, used to make a dramatic point.

·         Motivated cut:

o   A cut used to show the viewer something not immediately visible

o   This is most commonly used for changes of speaker and known as shot/reverse shot.

·         Cross-cut:

o   A cut from one narrative or line of action to another

·         Cutaway:

o   A ‘bridging’ shot between two shots of the same subject; often used to soften uncomfortable jumps in time or space.

·         Match on action:

o   A cut in which two parallel actions are mirrored in order to suggest a strong relationship between two scenes.

·         Reaction shot:

o   Any shot in which a participant reacts to events/action. Often used to guide the audience’s reaction to a scene.

·         Fade shots:

o   A transition to or from a blank screen (usually black).

·          Dissolve shots:

o   A slow transition as one image merges into another.

·         Both are used to suggest differences in time or place. Dissolve shot can suggest a strong connection.

·         Most films use continuity editing

o   Makes the action as fluid as possible so we are not aware of the construction process

·         The speed of editing determines the pace and mood.

·         Tense=quick editing.

·         Relaxed=slow (less frequent) editing. 

Lighting and sound

·        Mise-en-scene (in the picture, setting)- creates mood and atmosphere

o   Props

o   Lighting

o   Costume

·        Lighting helps convey mood

·        Audience can be directed with bright lighting

Consider when analysing:

·        What’s illuminated/in the shadows

·        Hard (bold shadows) or soft (diffused illumination) lighting?

·        Direction of light

·        High contrast lighting or symbolic

3 point lighting:

·         Key light- brightest main light

·         Back light- balances the light

·         Filler light- softens shadows

·         Under lighting- main source of light comes from blow the subject. Tends to distort and is often used in horror films.

·         Top lighting- main source of light comes from above, highlights the features of a character. Often used to create a glamorous look.

·         Back lighting- light source behind the subject. If used with no other lighting then silhouettes are created.

Sound

·         Most sound is added in post-production

·         Creates atmosphere

·         Adds realism

·         Emphasise a characters actions

·         Draws attention to a particular event, place or object

·         Diegetic sound- sounds and music which come from within the world of film (conversations, typing etc)

·         Non-diegetic- sound that is put in during post production and does not originate from the world of the film.

·         Selective sound- to emphasise key sound elements within a sequence

·         Ambient sound- to create a particular atmosphere or a sense of place

·         Film sound can either be:

o   Synchronous- caused by some event on screen so that sound matched the action.

o   Asynchronous- separate from the visuals, such as voiceover or dialogue from another scene.

o   Parallel sound- the sound you hear complements the image you see

o   Contrapuntal sound- the sound does not fit what we see. Sometimes done to create a more dramatic effect.

·         Sound bridges- the use of sounds to help transitions between sequences pass more fluidly.

·         Sound effects- these are used to create a sense of realism or to create some psychological impact or effect.

·         Music- creates atmosphere to link shots or sequences

·         Silence- used to provoke a reaction from the audience

Film techniques of Alfred Hitchcock

Everything is designed in mind of the audience:

• Hitchcock knew that people went to the cinemas to have fin, the more fun they'll have, the quicker they will come back.

Frame for emotion

• Wide shot has less emotion
• Closer image means more emotion
• Emotion is the ultimate goal in each scene, emotion comes directly from the actor's eyes

The camera is not a camera

• Hitchcock's camera moves around just like a person's eyes
• Allows the audience to feel like they are involved in uncovering the story
• This is used more in silent films

Dialogue means nothing

• "People don't always express their inner thoughts to one another, a conversation may be quite trivial, but often the eyes will reveal what a person thinks or needs" Alfred Hitchcock

Point of view editing

• Start with a close up of the actor
• Cut to a shot of what they're seeing
• Cut back to the actor to see their reaction
• Repeat as desired

Montage gives you control

• The famous shower scene from 'Psycho' uses montage to hide the violence. You never see the knife hitting Janet Leigh.

How this will help me to create my thriller opening:

Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most famous directors of all time and helped to shape the thriller genre. This means that from this research I know what worked well all those years ago and is still being used in thrillers today. I know have a better idea of what conventions and techniques will work in my horror-thriller.

Non-verbal communication and opening credits analysis of the opening of 'The Bourne Identity'

The first example of non-verbal communication shown in the film 'The Bourne Identity' is when you see the sailors playing cards on the boat. All of the sailors are playing a game of cards while looking happy and smiling, hence setting a cheerful and relaxed setting. This is soon juxtaposed with one sailor in particular as he looks out across the sea and sees a body floating. His facial expressions show that he is confused, scared and worried. Therefore, making the audience feel tension as the mood has suddenly dramatically changed. Once they have pulled the body out of the water and realise that he is still alive one person on board starts to remove the bullets from his back. As he is doing this he does not speak at all, he mainly shows focus through his facial expression. Shortly after he cuts out a bullet shaped micro chip like laser. As he does this he shows confusion and surprise, this makes the audience feel tense and inquisitive as they want to know what it is that he has pulled out of the mysterious' man's back.

The opening credits to 'The Bourne Legacy' appear just after one of the sailors sees the body floating in the sea. The credits fade in from a side view of the body floating, they fade in onto a completely black background. The fact that the titles appear after an image of the body might suggest that the body is linked with the main plot of the film or is the main theme. The titles are in block capitals which could suggest authority within the film or that it is quite a serious film. The black and white used could also suggest a serious theme/plot.

How this will help me to create my thriller:

Watching 'The Bourne Identity' and writing this has allowed me to find out more about the importance of credits, music and non-verbal communication. This means I know now more about what my opening credits and how important the use of sound and music will be in my opening.