Film Noir

Film Noir

Film Noir is the term given by French film critics to a group of films made in Hollywood from 1941 to 1958.


These characterized their pessimistic, dark themes that show the darker side of human nature.

They are filmed using low key lighting to give the film hard, sharp look with strong areas of contrast between light and dark.

Lightning is used to create atmosphere in these extracts:

This is an extract from Farewell my lovely
The lightning used here is low-key lightning and we can see shadows on the wall and silhouettes.

This is an extract from The Big Combo 
The lightning used here is very low so they used low key lighting in this scene. since this was a low budget they didn't have enough money to get what they wanted so instead of an airport they used a car park and instead of an airplane they used an off screen sound of an airplane and flashing lights to cause the illusion that there was an actual plane in the scene when there wasn't. So lightning is a very powerful tool in the film industry and can be used for a lot of things.

The Art Of The Title

I used this because it is a very creative and unique way of opening a film which no other films have done or even if it has been done before, at least no to this standard. I like the way this is edited with Deadpool beating up the criminals whilst they are frozen in time. He seems to be having the time of his life, even through the debris and blood splashing around him, what makes it even more interesting is the fact that Deadpool has the time to communicate with the audience whilst in a brutal fight. He says funny things which makes it more engaging for the audience. This is certainly a thought out opening sequence of a film.

Title Sequences

The production company of panic room is Columbia, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment. The title ident became popular as Columbia( Sony Pictures is a part of the big six in Hollywood Studios)





The production team of the girl with the dragon tattoo was also produced by Sony but they used an ident not recognised by the audience as this was the first film Sony had produced.







The production team of this film was Newline Cinema, which is owned by Time Warner which is also popular as it counts as one of the big six studios. We see the title through a short footage which is the first thing shown in the trailer. The title "panic room" gives viewers an idea of the genre that the film will portray because panicking is a negative emotion.

Idents

IDENTS 

FILM PRODUCTION STUDIOS: INDEPENDENT AND BIG SIX

  These are the six major command approximately of box office taking of 90% 

1. Paramount 
2. Universal
3. 20th Fox Century
4. Warner Bros Pictures
5. Walt Disney
6. Columbia Pictures

The Indies or Independent Film Productions

1. Warp
2. Film Four
3. Icon Productions
4. Focus
5. 

THE PURPOSE OF STUDIO IDENTS

 Ident is designed to identify a particular studio. It is the the logo. it needs to be memorable and easy for the audience to recognise.

The purpose of it is that it is designed to give you some form of announcement as to watch program or channel you are on 

Re branding so the channel can keep up to date.

An indent is a moving image so it makes it visually stimulating so you can identify what the narrator is talking about.

Continuity Editing

Continuity Editing: retains a sense of chronology  and generates the feeling that time is moving forward.

• May use flashback or flash forward but the narrative will still be seen to be progressing forward in an expected or realistic way.

Key Techniques

• Eye line match

We see a character looking at something off screen and then we cut to a shot of what they are looking at.

• Match on action

We see a character start an action in one shot and then we see them continue in the next.

• Graphic Match

When two shots are linked with a similar shape or composition of an image. When two consecutive shots are matched in terms of the way they look.

• The 180 degree rule

This is the basic guideline that states that two characters in the same scene should always have the same left or right relationships to each other.

If the camera passes over the imaginary axis connecting the two subjects it is called crossing the line

Shot/Reverse Shot

Used in conversations and arguments.

Speed/Style of Editing

EDITING

Editing is the process of looking at all the footage shot during or making of a film/TV Programme and placing it in a desired and joining it together.

• there are two key areas to concentrate when editing

1. Speed of editing- How long does each shot last.

• In each film a seconds lasts for a couple of seconds or minutes
• The speed of editing will help determine the mood of what is taking place on screen
• If the audience is to feel anxiety and suspense the editing will be quick- scenes and shots changing frequently. Example in an action sequence.

If the scene is a relaxing scene then the shots lasts longer and doesn't change frequently. For example in a romantic comedy.





















Nevertheless a film does not have to have editing. the film Russian Ark does not have any editing at all, it was all dome on one take with the use of a stedicam and a digital camera. This required a lot of organisation.

Scenes at the beginning of a film must be long enough us to be able to understand what is going on. It is also slow to introduce the main character as it begins to tell its story. Lets use spiderman as an example.

We can see that the pace of the opening sequence is different based on the speed of editing.

STYLE OF EDITING

This is hoe shots are linked together. The movement from one shot to the next is called transition.

Straight cut- It is the common and "invincible" form of transition.
One shot moves instantaneously to then nest without the audience realising it. Straight cuts can help maintain reality. They do not break the viewers suspension of belief.

WIPES

One image is pushed off screen by another image. It is used to signal a movement between different locations that are experiencing the same time.

JUMP CUTS

A jump cut is where the audience's attention is brought into focus on something suddenly. This occurs by breaking the continuity.

Analysis Of Modern Thriller Openings

In this blog post i am going to analyse these for the openings of thrillers:

• Camera
• Editing 
• Sound
• Thriller conventions
• Mise en scene

Thriller conventions

• Cliff hangers
• Red herrings
• Maguffin
• Suspense
• Shock
• Enigmas

MEMENTO

This film has an extremely difficult narrative structure where events are told in 10 minutes segment but backwards. This echoes the confusion that the main character feels as he tries to remember events that took place.

The opening scene of Memento is a really effective one based on the editing and the sound or music put in place to go with it makes it very suspenseful as well as confusing for the audience. It allows the audience to almost immediately connect with the main character because neither of them know what is going on so they share the same confusion.

BRICK

This is the opening scene of a film called Brick. It functions quite well as an opening scene as it gives elements of suspense which is what you find in every thriller. It uses a lot of close up shots to show the emotions of the character although it doesn't really give anything away regarding whether he killed the girl or found her dead. It is a bit similar to the opening of Memento where it has someone dead and cuts to when they were alive and the story begins to unfold.

ZODIAC

This opening scene was really surprising and editing. At the start it started off normally with no suspense but then it stats to build up and what really created a shock was when the two characters were killed out of no where that was really surprising and not expected.

SOUND EXERCISE AND EVALUATION

Our plot for this sound exercise is about a woman who is being investigated by a detective for murder. We tried to include all the sounds that we could regarding diegetic and non diegetic.

At the start we used a non diegetic sound which was a little narration of the suspect talking about her being caught.

via GIPHY

In this give we showed a diegetic sound with both the suspect and detective slamming their hands onto the table and it was very effective as it showed their heated argument.










via GIPHY


In this scene we used a non diegetic sound where the detective slam the door when coming in and this is shown by the suspect getting startled in the GIF and you can hear the sound more clearly when you watch the actual video which will make the non diegitic sound technique more effective.

















via GIPHY


And here we have a diegetic sound of the chair slamming which is to show the frustration that the suspect is going through. Again this GIF will be more effective once watched in the actual video above with sound.
There is a lot of dialogue that is diegetic as well. I think we captured each sound effectively as it can be heard clearly. This is due to the way we handled the sound equipment given to us to use. We made sure that the equipment was not too close to the actors and not too far so the sound can be captured.

Shifty

Rope

Rope

Rope is a psychological film. it was adapted from Patrick Hamilton's Play which appeared 1929. The play was based upon real life murderess Leopold and Loeb who killed an innocent man to see how it felt. The case became very famous in America. It was linked to the ideas of Nietzsche and his of notions of "Superman" a morally superior being. Nietzsche ideas influenced Hitler and the rise of the Nazis.

Alfred Hitchcock

The film was made in 1948 and directed Alfred Hitchcock. The unique and interesting thing about the film is the editing. Hitchcock wanted to film the story as one long continuous take so it like watching a play and the audience felt they were living the action. However, before the digital, film came in ten minute rolls. Hitchcock had to compromise and each unedited scene is ten minutes long. Changes between scenes appears rather "clunky" to a modern audience.

Using this editing technique creates a feeling of claustrophobia. The actors and the audience are both trapped in the film. The trunk with the body in the present throughout which adds to the tension. Because both the audience and the actors whether or not the trunk will be opened or if Philip and Brandon be discovered.

Another fascinating element to the film is the way homosexuality is portrayed. The strict censorship of the 1920s meant that the subject could be implies not openly stated. 

Thrillers use such devices as:

James Stewart

• Suspense- We constantly for the body to be discovered in the trunk
• Cliff hangers- At the end of the film with Rupert Cadell( played by James Stewart) be killed by Brandon and Philip?

Source Code

Psycho

Janet Leigh

Psycho is a psychological thriller. its a film in two halves. in the first half we see Marion Crane(Janet Leigh) steal money and flee to be with her adulterous lover. she is murdered halfway through the film which shocks the audience because she was meant to be the main character.

Anthony Perkins

The second half of the film is about Norman Bates(Anthony Perkins)trying to cover the killings of his "mother".

Alfred Hitchcock

Hitchcock used the device of the Mcguffin to move the plot forward. The audience doesn't care about the McGufin but rather the hero and what happens to them. In this film, the McGuffin was the stolen money.

This film was made in 1960 and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. As often happens in Hitchcock's films there is a blonde woman and the blonde woman in this film was played by Janet Leigh  to be the victim as they look more innocent and any danger seems worse when its happening to them. In this film Marion Crane is brutally murdered.

Unlike other thrillers there is no hero

Thrillers are villain driven plots. 

Norman Bates

Norman Bates is the central character for the second half of the film. He is an unusual villain in that he appears so normal and likeable.

Thrillers use devices such as 

 

• Suspense- Marion Crane buying the car with the policeman watching.

Red Herrings- We think Normans mother is the killer.

Cliffhangers- Is Marion's sister going to be killed in the basement at the end?.

The shower scene is one of the most famous in cinema history. The very fast editing and discordant soundtrack by Bernard echoes the knife entering the body. In 1960 the scene was so shocking and Janet Leigh, the actress claimed to have never had a shower since. 

Colour and Lighting

Colour: Denotation And Connotation

Denotation is the literal description of an idea, concept or an object.

Connotation is what we associate with a particular idea, concept or object.

Red Denotation is the colour itself red. The literal meaning.

Red Connotations

• Danger
• Death
• Anger
• Blood
• Love
• Romance

Blue connotations

• Pure
• Sea
• Sad
• Calm
• Cold

 Lighting

Standard Lighting setup includes:

• Back light
• Reflector/ Filler Light
• Key Light

The KEY LIGHT is the brightest and most influential.

The BACK LIGHT helps counteract the effect of the key light or creates an outline or silhouette. 

FILLER LIGHT helps soften the harsh shadows that use of key and back light creates.

UNDER LIGHTING is when the main source comes from below the subject. Used in Thrillers and Horror Films.

TOP LIGHTING is when the main source of lighting comes from above- highlighting the features- used to create a glamorous look.

Low-key And High-key Lightning

LOW-KEY LIGHTNING is created by using only the key and back lights. This will produce a sharp contrast of light and dark areas on the screen as very deep, distinct shadow are formed known as Chiaroscuro(from Italian for light- Chiaro and dark- Oscuro

HIGH-KEY LIGHTNING

• Here, more filler lights are used. Lightning appears realistic.

Camera Techniques Thriller

 This is a short film made to show camera shots. The first camera shot we see in the first seen of running is the high angle because it is been shot from a height angle and it enables the audience to know how vulnerable the person running is.

Camera Techniques Exercise and Evalation

We done this work so we could show the different camera angles. Some of the camera angles that we done were:

The story of this was that Stefan was getting chased by Patrick and Stefan injured himself in the process. This led to Stefan falling over and patrick punching him out and Stefan waking up on the bench without any memory of what happened. Alexandra found Stefan and checked on him

Use of the Camera

In this blog I am going to talk about the use of a camera. There are two types.

Camera shot
Camera movement

CAMERA SHOT

 This is an example of a long shot. A long shot is used to show an entire object or figure when filming. it can also be known as a full shot or a wide shot. they are used to set a scene or show when something is going on.

Medium shot: A camera shot in which the subject is in the middle distance, permitting some of the background to be seen

This picture is an example of a medium shot

Close up shot:  In a close up shot, a certain feature or part of a subject takes up most of the frame. a close up of a person emphasis their emotional state.

This is an example

Extreme close up shot:  this is used to focus on a particular detail of the subject.
Here is an example











Point of view shot:  it is a short film scene which shows what the character is looking at which is represented through the camera

Here is an example of a point of view shot.






















Low angle shot:  it is a shot from the camera angle positioned low on a vertical axis, anywhere below the eye line looking up.
This is an example of a low angle shot


















High angle shot: it is where the camera looks down on the subject high angle and the point of focus often gets swallowed up. These type of shots can make the subject seem vulnerable.


This is an example of a high angle shot





CAMERA MOVEMENT







Pan: it is when the camera is turned horizontally so that it can sweep around the scene.

this picture is an example of a pan.















Tilt: this is moving the camera up and down without changing its horizontal axis.

This picture here is an example of tilt












Tracking shot: this is when the camera follows a person or an object physically moving with the subject.

This picture here is an example of a tracking shot














Crane shot: This shot is used to view the actor from above or to move up and away from them. Also a common way of ending a movie.

This picture here is an example of a crane shot








Steadicam: It is a brand of camera stabilizer mount for motion picture cameras that mechanically isolates it from the operators movement.

This picture here is an example of a Steadicam.







Rolling shot: This is used to show car motions in a scene

This picture is an example of a rolling shot.

"North by Northwest" The Perfect Thriller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qk0GbTMMbP0 the trailer is effective in many ways as the scenes displayed in it draws the audience to it and makes them want to know what happens next.

It is very interesting to the audience i think because the trailer doesn't give the whole film away there are still certain parts that us a mystery and that is why it is appealing to the audience. Also because there are a lot of famous good looking actors featured in this film and it is directed by one of the most famous directors ever, Alfred Hitchcock.

Stars featured are:



Cary Grant: Who played an innocent New York advertising executive(Roger Thornhill) who was mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies, and is pursued across the country while he looks for ways to survive.









Eva Marie Saint: Who played a woman(Eve Kendall) who seemed to be working for the villains at first but turned out to be actually with the heroes and helped Thornhill through his obstacles.




  


James Mason: Who played the leader of the foreign spies(Mr Vandamm) who were trying to capture Thornhill.    

• Thrillers are characterised by fast pacing, frequent action. For example in North by Northwest the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlY5kaZC2N0 Drunk Driving Scene 

Thrillers often have resourceful heroes who have to thwart plans of more powerful and more equipped villains. He escapes out of a lot of scrapes:

• Steals a car  after the share cropper scene
• Deliberately gets arrested in the auction scene
• Gets a message to Eve Kendall at Mount Rushmore

North by Northwest has devices such as red herrings, cliffhangers and suspense and this is why it makes a good thriller. 

Suspense: Hitchcock builds up the suspense in The Square Cropper.

Red herrings: We think Thornhill is dead when Eve Kendall shoots him

Cliff hangers: Thornhill and Kendall are literally hanging on to the edge of a cliff in the Mount Rushmore scene.

 

CLIFF HANGING SCENE

The crop duster scene where Thornhill is attacked by a plane is one of the most iconic scenes in this film. It has frequent action sequences and fast editing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g458w2X9uHc

This film was made in 1959 and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. As often as it happens in Hitchcock films there is a blonde woman. Hitchcock chooses Blonde women( Eva Kendall) to be the victim in his films because they look more innocent.

Alfred Hitchcock

Thriller Conventions

 Alfred Hitchcock said that thrillers allow the audience to "dip their toes into cold water of fear and see what its like". 

Alfred Hitchcock

The word thriller a broad term. There are lots of types of thriller. Examples include: 

       

Seven(Crime Thriller)

              

Psychological Thriller

Legal Thriller

Thrillers have resourceful heroes. These heroes are usually male.

• James bond- Daniel Craig (Skyfall)

• Jason Bourne- Matt Damon (The Bourne Identity)

Bryan Mills- Liam Neeson(Taken)









Sometimes thrillers are "hard men" an example is Clint Eastwood







   







At other times they are female heroes. An example is Ripley in Alien.



Thrillers have frequent action sequences with fast editing. A good example is found at the start of James Bond films.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jygRWM3nIA0 This YouTube clip is from 007 Spectre, car chase scene.


Thrillers are villain driven plots. The hero is usually reacting to what the villains have done. These villains are usually powerful and have more men and resources than the hero. E.g. in James bond films the villain is usually trying to take over the world. In James Bourne films the hero is against the CIA.

Thrillers use such devices as:

• Suspense
• Red herrings: When the audience is deliberately mislead.
• Cliff hangers: Where the hero is literally in danger of dying any second.

Thrillers are different mystery stories. In a mystery story we do not know who committed the crime and want to find out. In a thriller we often know the villain at the start and want to see if the hero escapes and thwarts the villain.