Research

3rd September 2013
There are 3 ways to look at films:
Art
Business
Technology

Very early cinema used lanterns and still pictures. Early cinema was like a toy in the sense that light was projecting an image and there were no sounds or actors. 

 1872 - 12 cameras to set up a few seconds of footage

 1889 - First celluloid film by William Dickinson. He was interested in making moving images with sound. 
Sound was then introduced but was poor quality therefore they got rid of it and just kept the picture. There were no stories to the films as people didn't think it would catch on. 

 1895 - First theater/cinema opened involving actors, props and sounds. 

 How has cinema changed?
Cinema has changed a lot since early cinema. Cinema started as just a lantern projecting an image that had no sound or actors. This then developed with technology in 1872 to a few seconds of footage with cameras. This went on to introduce sound, despite the poor quality, the sound sound was introduced with the more advanced technology. 

 How is modern cinema changing?
Modern cinema is changing because it is coming more to people at home. A lot of films are coming out on DVD and on the TV at the same time as they come out in the cinema. Films are also released on websites such as Netflix as well as illegal downloads and piracy, meaning people will not visit the cinema as often.. Multi platform released is used by the DVD and cinema, both releasing the same film at the same time as well as it being on the TV. This is mostly used with low budget films as the directors and people who own the films want to get as much money as possible, which will be done so from all different places. 

 Micro - elements that are technical and symbolic, eg lighting, camera, sound, editing, mise en scene. 

 Macro - The above elements combined to create an overall representation, eg, genre, narrative. 

 Camera shots

  • Establishing shot - To show where the action takes place
  • Long shot (wide shot) - to show the background
  • Master shot - from head to tow, shows all the action
  • Mid shot - character and setting as well as background (best for conversation)
  • Close up shot - shows emotion and facial expressions
  • Two shot - good for conversation, shows two people in a shot
  • Point of view - to show things from a person's perspective
  • Ariel shot - to look down on people, good for making people look strong/weak
  • Over the shoulder - good to shoot dialogue.
Face Off
A close up shot is used on the assassin before he shoots the man and the boy. This is used for dramatic effect to show how fearless he is about what he is about to do. This is also used so that we are able to get a closer look at the villain's face to get a sense of his emotions during the scene. 
There is a point of view shot from the assassin's perspective in this scene when looking at the man and the boy. This is to make us feel like we are actually there watching the action as it happens. This is used by the director to give the audience more of a thrill while watching the scene, which will keep them in anticipation. 


9th September 2013
Angles and movement:
Straight angle - a straight angle is an eye line angle. It is used for a point of shot and gives you the chance to see the scene clearly. It is a general and neutral shot.
High angle - a high angle is shot by the director from above the head. It is used to represent dominance and to make people seem small. This is very relative and important if trying to make a character seem powerless or to make them seem isolated.
Low angle - a low angle is shot from low and by the feet. It is used to make people or buildings look larger to the audience. It is used to make a character look powerful and look more dominant to people.
Canted - a canted angle is when the camera is placed at a certain angle, it can be used to show imbalance. For example, it is used regularly in horror films or in action films.

 Face off
A high angle shot was used in the opening scene of the movie Face Off. It is used when the man and his son have been shot and we, as the audience, are looking down on them. This angle is used a lot to show how the subject is powerless, which is the effect that the director wanted to give to the audience. This is also used to make the subject look powerless as they are dominated by the sniper.
In Face Off, a straight on angle shot is used when looking face on at the sniper. This is used usually because it is a very neutral shot and is a direct angle. However, in this scene in is used to make the sniper seem powerful and to make us, as the audience, have direct eye contact with the sniper so that we feel that we are in the film and actually looking at the sniper himself. The sniper does this because he is thinking about whether he is going to shoot the man and his son or not. This is important for the director 
In the opening scene of Face Off, a low angle shot is used when the man and his son are shot by the assassin. After they are shot, they fall to the ground off the carousel. The camera is placed on the floor so that it looks as though the man and his son are falling onto the audience, in this case, us. This is very effective as it creates an atmosphere for us and for us to feel as though we are in the action. 
Camera Movements
Pan - To pan with the camera meant to move it from left to right, or right to left of a wide area. It is very steady as it is usually on a tripod. 
Tilt - A tilt can be high or low and is usually used to show the full length of someone. This is when a camera moves up and down. 
Tracking - Tracking is when the camera follows a track. This means that it is steady as it follows a moving subject for the scene.
Dolly - A dolly is a moving platform, much like a track. However, it is a lot more free as it can move in, out up, down, diagonally and around a certain subject. 
Crane shot - A crane shot is a camera on a crane up in the air. This makes it easy to film scenes in which the director wants to move in and out, very helpful for zooming. 
Steadicam - A stabilized camera, attached to a camera man by a harness, meaning it is very flexible. 
Handheld camera - When the camera is held by a person, there is no support from a harness. Used a lot in horror films as it is unsteady.
Zoom - When the camera moves in and out on a subject. Used a lot to make the audience focus on certain subjects. 

Face Off
A tilt is used in the opening scene of the film Face Off. It is first used when the man and his son have first been shot, to show the balloons flying away. This is very effective because the balloons are significant to the scene. The balloons are used to represent the innocence that the man and his son have, therefore when they are shot, they fly away to show how that innocence is lost. This has a very good effect on the audience which is what the director wanted to show to people. The tilt is used when the balloons are flying into the air, as it follows them upwards. 
The tilt is also used when looking at the snipers face, so that we have eye to eye contact with him. 
The crane effect is used when first seeing the sniper at the start of the scene. It is used to create an atmosphere for us and to make a more tense feeling when looking at the assassin. The zoom in effect is used when looking at the assassin after he has shot the man and his son. It is used to give effect and change the magnification of the subject, it is used in this scene to try and get an emotion out of the assassin. A pan is used when looking at the father and son. This is very significant to show the relationship between the father and son. The director used this to make sure that the audience were aware of the special relationship and bond that they have, and how that bond is broken when the boy is killed. There are also signs of a handheld cam that has been used. This is used when the father and son have just been shot. It us used effectively because it shows the panic that the father is in when he realises that his son has been shot. We know that a handheld cam has been used because it is a very unsteady frame. This is very relevant for the thrilling effect of the scene. 

Framing and Composition
Focus - dictates the depth of the picture in which objects are in clear focus. This is effective for the audience as it makes you focus on certain points in the frame. 

Deep focus - when every plane in the frame is focused. This means that both the foreground and the background are clear to the audience, there is no specific part of the frame that the audience is focused on. It makes the audience feel as they are watching a real life image rather than a film and is very realistic. It is used a lot in many films to make a scene seem more interesting. 

Shallow focus - This restricts the depth of the focus and is used to direct the viewer's attention to one element in the frame, this could be a building, or a person etc. This can be used to make a scene seem a lot more intense. 

Composition of a shot - what the frame is made up of and the arrangement of people in the frame. 

Framing - This decides where the shot begins and ends
             - aids the narrative
             - can cue us to take shots as the subjective
             - associates views with characters or situations 
             - by framing two objects together, can apply a connection between them. 
Face Off
Framing is used in the opening scene of the film Face Off when the father and son are on the carousel. It is used to make sure that your attention is immediately drawn to the two characters on the screen at that particular time, and makes sure you are not looking at anything in the background of the scene. It is also used so that the are able to see the character's emotions and body language, depending on the type of shot. 

Focus is used in the opening scene of the film Face Off when the villain first takes the cover off the sniper. Shallow focus is used in this section of the opening scene so that the audience's attention is drawn to the sniper and nothing else in that frame. This shows that the scene seems a lot more intense and leaves the audience in anticipation. 

Train Clip
The director filmed this clip to make us feel as though we were on the platform when the train was coming and for it to look like it was coming towards us. He does this by using a master shot or a wide shot as in the clip, it is in the same point throughout, this may cause the viewer to lose interest as just one shot throughout the whole of a shot can be boring for the audience. If I were to change this clip, I would start by doing a point of view shot and showing how the train was coming towards me. I would then use a track to follow alongside the train as it pulled up to the station and went past. A track would be the best way to do this as I could move with the train while it still being a steady shot. 

Rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is used to allow the viewer to see the frame better as it is more aesthetically pleasing to the audience. It is very effectively used because it directs the viewer to what you want them to look at. The image is more realistic if put in a third of the frame as you are able to see scenery at the sides and the whole frame becomes more balanced. 
Face Off
Rule of thirds are used in the opening scene of Face Off, for example, imagine that this screen shot is split into three different intersections. The main intersection, where the audience will be focusing, is the intersection, in which, the villain's eye is shown. This is used to make sure that the audience are focusing on the correct imagine in the frame and are not distracted by props in other intersections. 


10th September 2013
Sound motifs
A sound motif conditions the audience emotionally for the arrival or actions of a particular character. This helps to clarify narrative functions. For example, whenever James Bond comes on screen in the James Bond films, the theme tune of all of the films is played. This is either done at full volume, or is sometimes broken up in to separate pieces. 

Score: An example of a score is used in the opening scene of the film Face Off. It is used at the very start when the credits are coming up. This music that is played is very happy and upbeat which represents the characters and the theme of the movie. This music is a score as it is used specifically for the movie. This is very important for the movie as the score is a very atmospheric piece of music. 

Soundtrack: A soundtrack is a collection of music, usually by different artists, that have been used in a specific film. Soundtracks are generally released to help to promote a movie. Soundtracks generally lean towards a gray area as some soundtracks are re-recordings with alternate orchestras that were not present in the film.

 Foley: Named after Jack Foley, who was a sound editor who worked at Universal Studios. A foley is the reproduction of everyday sounds, this can be anything from wind to chalk on a chalkboard to footsteps. An example of good foley art is when the audience is unable to tell that the sound has been put into the film clip. Foley is usually used in films as a background noise and usually us undetectable to the audience, therefore the are used to make the scene in the film seem more natural to the audience. 

 Sound effects: A sound effect is anything in a film clip that is not speech or music that has been made for the movie. It is usually added into the clip in the editing process to make the recording more interesting for the audience. 

 Incidental music: Incidental music is music that has been composed to go with any action or dialogue that is being said/done in a movie. For example, we may know when a certain character has appeared or is about to appear on screen because the music has started to play. This technique is done by the director as a motif. 

 Ambient sound: An ambient sound is when background sounds that are in a certain scene of a film. Ambient sounds that are very commonly used consist of wind, birds or traffic, however there are many different types of ambient sounds that are used in film production. 

 Voice over: The voice that accompanies a scene on a television or film by an unseen commentator is a voice over. It is used to go into more detail about what is happening on the screen, for example, a commentator on a football television show would talk about what was happening in the football game.

 Stings: short pieces of music that are used in films and television shows to signal changes in a scene or a character. 

 Sound bridge: A sound bridge is when a scene starts with the same piece of music that the previous scene ended with. This is often called the carry-over sound. 

 ADR: dialogue that is can not be heard properly when recording and listening to the production tracks have to be re-recorded in looping or ADR. ADR is sometimes used if someone is recording outside and are faced with bad weather conditions, for example, strong winds. This means you are unable to hear the person speak clearly. This person then has to re-record their speech in a sound booth which they watch themselves say the lines at the same time. This way their speech will have clarity and will sync in with their lips moving in the film. 

 Sound perspective: When the projection of the sound is changed of the effect of the scene, for example, making sounds louder because there is a dramatic scene. 

 Dialogue: Conversation between two or more people.

 Theme: Music that will always go with a certain programme or character, For example, the James Bond music. 

 Mode of Address: the mode of address is how media is projected to the audience, for example, how magazines are shown to their audience. 

 Face Off Sounds
A foley is used in the opening scene of the film Face Off for the sound effect of a cover coming off the sniper. The assassin pulls off the cover of the gun and when doing so, the projection of this is increased greatly. This is done to make the whole scene seem more dramatic as it quickly changes from happy music to the foley, to dark dramatic music. This is done to increase tension in the scene and to make you aware that something is about to happen. The scene would seem unrealistic to the audience if the sound effect was quiet and at a normal volume. 

 Stings are also used at the starting scene of the film Face Off at the very start when introducing the film. This is done when the credits of the film are coming up. The music that is used at this point is very dark and scary, creating a thrilling atmosphere. This correctly fits the genre of the film and prepares you for what is about to happen in the opening scene. 

 Denotation - the dictionary definition of something

Connotation - the suggested meaning of the elements in a scene, what we think of as soon as we see something. For example, seeing a cross and thinking of religion. 

Mise en Scene - 

  • what is put in a frame/scene (what is put infront of the camera)
  • Gives essential information to the audience
Mise en scene is made up of 5 elements: 
  • Setting & props: Play an important part in film-making, sets are either built from scratch or have had time spent to make them. Settings can manipulate the audience. 
  • Costume, hair & makeup: Indicator of the job, status and personality of the character. Tells us immediately whether a film is set in the present, past or future, and what society and culture a character is from. 
  • Facial expressions & body language: Provide an indicator of how someone is feeling, for example, if someone is smiling, we as the audience would assume that they are happy however, they may be plotting something. Body language between people shows relationships. 
  • Positioning: Can draw attention to an important character or object in a scene. A film maker can use positioning to indicate relationships between people. 
  • Lighting & colour: Used to achieve different effects. Used t highlight important characters. Shade is used when looking at mysterious characters. Used to reflect a characters mental state. Different colours are used to reflect different moods of characters or atmospheres in films. Low key lighting creates a mysterious feel whereas high key lighting is used to portray happy and fun atmospheres. 
Black: Used to signalize death, sadness, loneliness or sinister. 
Red: Used to signalize romance, blood, love or passion. 
Green: Used to signalize jealousy, envy or nature. 
Yellow: Used to signalize cowardliness or happiness. 

Mise en Scene in Face Off
Setting and props 
Mise en scene is used in the form of setting and props in the opening scene of Face Off by the use of the fairground. The opening scene of this film is set in a fairground which shows that the man and his son are having a family day out. This shows happiness as a fairground is usually associated with happiness and fun. This also shows the special relationship between the man and his son as they are bonding and spending time together. This then adds a more dramatic contrast, going from a fun connotation from the fair ground, to the assassination, giving the audience the impression that no place is safe. 
A prop that is used in this opening scene is a gun. The gun shows the major difference between the carousel and the gun which makes the audience shocked as you associate both things with completely different feelings, for example, you would associate the carousel with happiness and fun, where as you would associate the gun with danger. 

Costume, hair & makeup
Mise en scene is also used in the opening scene of Face Off in the form of costume. It is used when looking at the assassin. This is because he is portrayed as a dark character due to his dark clothing. This is done by the director to show that he is mysterious. This is also used to show that something bad will happen as dark colours are associated with bad things. The assassin also has the use of makeup to make him seem more like a dark character and to further make his appearance fit his character. The assassin has very dark eyes which makes him seem mysterious. 

Positioning
In the opening scene of Face Off, Mise en scene is used in the form of positioning. This is used as the assassin is at a lot higher level than the father and son. In this scene, the assassin is on a hill where as the father and son are on the carousel. This is very effective as it reflects the status of all of the characters. For example, we are able to detect from this scene that the assassin is at a much higher status and is a lot more powerful and in control than the father and son. This tells us that the assassin has the upper hand in this situation. This also shows the assassin's authority over the man and his son.
Colour & lighting
In the opening scene of Face Off, colour and lighting is used very effectively and is key for the scene. Through the duration of the opening scene, everything is filmed in black and white. This is used to show that the scene is a flashback that someone is having of what had happened 6 years earlier. The colours are very dark and dull which immediately gives us the impression that it is not a happy flashback and only certain things in the opening scene are in colour. For example, the balloons that the child is holding during the opening scene are in colour. These are in primary colours to show the innocence of the son and and later shown floating away to show that this innocence has been taken. Another time in the opening scene that colours are shown is when the man and his son have been shot and there is blood on the carousel horse. This is important as it shows death in the scene and although it is only shown for a few seconds, it shows the effect that has been had in the scene and the contrast from a very happy atmosphere to a dark one. 

Facial expressions & body language
Facial expressions are used very effectively in the opening scene of Face Off, for example, when the man's son has been shot, we are instantly shown how he feels through his facial expressions. We can see the sadness that has filled him by the way he is looking at his son. We are also told how he feels via his body language as he cradles his son's body and cries. We are also shown how facial expressions are used and essential in Face Off when the assassin is about to kill the son. Before doing so, he takes a sip of his drink and considers what he is doing before doing it. He has a very puzzled look on his face and looks as though he is thinking about what he is doing before doing it. The assassin almost looks as though he is reconsidering what he is doing. We are shown a good example of how body language is important in the opening scene of the film Face Off when the man and his son are on the carousel. This is important because they are close together and laughing and giggling which on the carousel. This shows the important father and son relationship and shows how close they are. This is very important and key for the scene because it shows the contrast of how important the man's son was to his, which further shows us why he was so sad when his son had been killed. 

Film editing
Editing is how you bring parts of a story together. This is done in post-production via cutting sections out and putting things in. There are two types of editing: 
  • Non-continuity - going back in time, for example flashbacks or flash forwards, but still makes sense to the story.
  • Continuity - Putting clips of the film in order to make it go from start to finish. 
Transitions
Cut - a simple transition which is used frequently in films. When one shot is immediately replaced by another. 
Dissolve - an outgoing shot gradually disappearing while an incoming one appears. 
Fade - fade out: gradual darkening of a shot until the image disappears. 
fade in: dark screen gradually getting brighter. 
Wipe - One picture chasing another off the screen. 

Length of takes
Long takes - takes an unusually long length of time, i.e more than a few seconds. This allows the audience to take in more detail about the scene. 
Short takes - takes that only last for a few seconds, usually used in action films where only short snippets are required. 

Continuity editing
180 degree rule - when the characters must remain in the same position in the action. This makes the shot more realistic and will not confuse the audience about what is happening.
Match on action - Two shots are used in this process. The first shot shows the action starting, and the second shot shows the completed action. For example, if someone is lifting a gun, the first shot may show someone starting to lift the gun, and the second shot will show the gun being held horizontally. 
Shot reverse shot - Two images in order, usually used to show a conversation between two people. This can also be used to show a facial expression in response to something happening or something that someone has just said. 
Eye line match - A shot of someone looking at something, then followed by a shot of what the person was looking at. For example, a shot of a man looking down at something, then a shot of a gun on a table. 
Cross cutting - Two completely different stories that are cut up and put in between each other. These are edited together in post-production. 

Continuity editing in Face Off
Continuity editing is used many times in the opening scene of Face Off, for example, a shot reverse shot is used when looking at the assassin's face, then looking at the father and son. This gives the audience an indication that something bad is going to happen between these two different stories. The whole opening scene is a flashback of what had happened 6 years ago. Also, many transitions are used in the opening scene, such as dissolve, which is used while looking at the man and his son on the carousel. A long take is used during the editing process to focus the audience's attention on the assassin. This is essential because it shows the importance of what the assassin is about to do. It also gives the audience a chance to take in the character and his facial expressions. A shot-reverse-shot is used when looking at the man and his son on the carousel to show their special relationship.  This is also giving us the impression that something bad is about to happen, hence the showing off of their special bond. 




16th September 2013
Codes & conventions - lesson work:
The main elements of a thriller are to: 

  • build up suspense. 
  • Death/murder
  • Shadows.
  • Confined spaces - done through framing
  • Crime
  • Tension
  • Fight scene and chase scenes
  • Investigations
  • Revenge
  • Conspiracy 
  • Obsession
  • Excitement
'Thrillers are often not defined by their subject matter. They are not usually about how a crime is committed, but about how the build up to the crime has been done.
'Thrillers provide a rich literary feast. There are all kind of thrillers including police thrillers, political thrillers, high-tech thriller, religious thriller, romantic thriller, historical thriller. All thrillers are designed to generate an all-important thrill.  If a thriller doesn't thrill, it is not doing it's job.' - James Patterson, June 2006.

Genres are often divided into sub-genres. For example, spy-thriller. Genre is always a very vague term with no fixed boundaries. The thriller genre has many sub-genres. 

Sub-genres of thriller:
  • conspiracy thriller
  • disaster thriller
  • legal thriller
  • medical thriller
  • psychology thriller
  • supernatural thriller
  • crime thriller
  • mystery thriller
  • political thriller
Narrative
  • Narrative = the plot
  • Cliff hangers = when you're expecting something to happen but it is just left
  • Themes of identity are common: mistaken identity, doubling/doppelgangers, amnesia.
  • Plot builds to a climax
  • The tension usually arises when the character/characters are placed in a menacing situation, such as a trap from which escaping seems impossible. 
  • Life is threatened, usually because the principal character is unsuspectingly or unknowingly involved in a deadly situation. 
  • The narrative presents ordinary situations in which extraordinary thing happen. 
The heroes in most thrillers are frequently ordinary characters who are accustomed to danger. However, more common in crime thrillers they are sometimes 'hard men' who are accustomed to danger such as police officers. While some heroes have been traditionally men, women lead characters have become increasingly common, for example Kill Bill. The protagonist will be seen in peril in one or more scene before a resolution. violent confrontations are standard plot elements. A thriller climaxes when the hero finally detects a villain saving his own life and often the lives of others. The protagonist has an 'Achilles Heel' meaning a weak spot that is found by the villain. 

In a thriller, the hero must foil the plans of an enemy rather than uncover a crime that has already happened. In a thriller, the identity of a murderer or other villain is known all along. Thriller occur on a much grander scare, the crimes that have to be prevented are mass murder etc. 

Mise en scene
  •  Thrillers usually take place in ordinary suburbs/cities.
  •  Themes of seeing, reflection and mirroring.
  •  Low key lighting is used in thrillers.
  •  Stairs.
  •  Use of photographs 
  •  Shadows create an eerie and dark atmosphere.
Cinematography
  • Use of black and white - done in editing
  • changes of camera angles. 
  • Music is used to build up tension, this is used to build suspense also. 
Sound
  • Music that builds tension - heavy drum beats and fast pace music. 
Editing
  • Obtrusive editing
  • Quick cuts
  • This supports the drama and action on screen

Bourne Identity Essay
To what extent does the extract adhere to the codes and conventions of a thriller?

The purpose of a film in the thriller genre is to thrill the audience who are watching. It usually will contain action or violence scenes. In the film Bourne Identity, codes and conventions are used well through the use of sound. At the start of the clip, music is used to build tension in the scene. The music gets more upbeat as the scene progresses, however it starts very soft. This gives us the impression that something is going to happen, as the suspense rises. This is very appropriate for the scene and the action on screen as the body language of the main character Bourne, as he has fast reactions. The use of asynchronous sound is used in this scene as a siren goes past Bourne. This sound is high pitched which creates suspense and tension. There is also relief when Bourne realises that the siren is not a police car. This is greatly important to the codes and conventions of the film as it gives us an indication that something bad is about to happen. Suspense is greatly enhanced in this scene as Bourne walks infront of a train in the opening scene. This creates tension and suspense for the audience, and shows off some of Bourne's personality traits, for example, this shows that he is fearless and is not afraid of putting his own life in danger. He is also made to seem like an ordinary person, which is a main code and convention of a thriller film. Foley sounds have also been used when Bourne is walking down the street as he listens into people's conversations. This is used to make the scene seem more realistic to the audience. These sounds together get louder and louder which creates an atmosphere and gives the impression that something is about to happen. This is one of the main things that makes this film a thriller. 

 The clothes that Bourne are wearing are casual and are used to make Bourne seem like an every day person. This is done to show the audience that situations such as these could happen every day and gives the film a more realistic look. This is a use of Mise en Scene. 
When Bourne is walking down the street,  a wide shot is used to include more people around him. This is also used to make it seem like a more realistic scene. Action shots are also frequently used in this scene as Bourne is looking around. There is a lot of use of quick cuts used in this scene. This creates a suspense as they are short, snappy shots that entices the audience member to see what will happen at the end of the quick cuts. 
Bourne uses a prop, in the form of a passport during this scene, as there is a close up shot of one in this sequence. This is very important as it is used to show identity, which is one of the main codes and conventions of a thriller film. 

 When Bourne enters the embassy, the loud music that was getting more and more upbeat as the scene went on, comes to a quick stop and changes to soft, quiet music. This is used to show that when Bourne enters the embassy he is in a safe environment.This change of setting makes the audience feel safer, as well as the character in the film. Sound perspective is used as Bourne walks in the embassy as his footsteps get louder. This gives us the impression that it is important that he is walking and increases the drama in the scene. 

The use of a tracking camera is used when Bourne is walking down the street to make us feel as though we are walking along side him. This leaves the audience in suspense as they are wondering where he is walking to and what will happen next. 

 Other shots that are used in this extract are point of view shots. This shot is used when Bourne is hanging down off the top of the building and has dropped his bag. He is looking down on his bag and we also feel as though we are doing the same through the use of this shot. This involves the audience in the scene and fits in perfectly to the thriller genre. Point of view shots are also used when Bourne is walking down the street as he looks quickly to look at police cars and things that are passing him by in the street. This makes the audience wonder what Bourne has done and why he is acting in a paranoid way towards the police cars. The audience are now guessing what Bourne has done which fits in with the codes and conventions of a film in the thriller genre. 

 Cinematography is greatly enhanced in this extract as there are many dangerous scenes. For example, when Bourne is hanging from the rooftop. The fact that he is hanging on the edge of the building shows us a lot about Bourne's personality and how he is a risk taker. This also shows a risky situation which makes the audience aware that something could go wrong at any second, leaving them in suspense. A handheld camera is used for this section of the extract as it is more shaky and is appropriate for the thriller genre. 

In the chase scene section of this extract, there are lots of quick cuts and changes in camera angles. A two shot is also used as we follow the two different stories, Bourne running away from the police, and the police chasing Bourne. Also during this chase scene, there are a lot of violent confrontations as Bourne fights people who he comes into contact with. This is important as we see the contrast from a calm scene in an embassy to this fight scene. A lot of stairs and confined spaces are shown in different quick shots under dull lighting to create a tense atmosphere to the audience which links in and is vital for the correct codes and conventions of a film in the thriller genre. 

 There are many different elements in this opening sequence that I liked and will include in my own thriller sequence. One of these things were the use of the point of view shots as we saw Bourne hanging over the ledge. I enjoyed this section of the scene as it kept the audience waiting and gave an anticipating atmosphere to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. I also enjoyed the use of quick cuts during the fight scene. The shot reverse shot as well as this fight scene, we very effective as the shots got quicker and quicker, increasing tension for the audience and making them want to continue to watch the film to find out what the outcome will be. These are a few things that I will consider using in my thriller opening sequence. 
Independent cinema research - 16th September 2013
  • Production: the action of making or manufacturing something eg a film
  • Distribution: sharing something out to one or many people eg advertising a film
  • Exhibition: a display or demonstration of a particular skill eg a film festival
What is an independent cinema?
An independent cinema is a term used to describe films made outside the traditional studio system. Any film funded with less than 50% of the big 6 major film studios. Any character driven film made outside of Hollywood. 

What is a mainstream cinema?
A mainstream cinema is a cinema that shows mainstream films. Mainstream films are films that are distributed to move theaters which give these films wide releases.

Mainstream cinemas show films that are largely known worldwide and are usually described as "big". Whereas independent cinema films are lesser known to people and usually have a smaller budget. 

Production companies who produce independent films:
  • First Born films
  • Edison Trust
  • Republic Pictures
Production companies who produce mainstream films:
  • 20th Century Fox
  • Paramount Pictures
  • Universal studios
How do independent film companies fund their projects?
Independent film companies manage to fund their projects by getting money from other film/production companies. They usually hire equipment from other companies and smaller production companies are allowed to use talent found from the public. 

Distribution: someone who tries to sell their films to television stations. It will also show films at film festivals which will bring a larger audience to the production. 

Why are film festivals important?
film festivals are vital as they bring a larger audience to the film. They interest the audience as well as buyers and other production companies. 

Online distribution

Some companies make their money by distributing their films on certain sites, for example sites such as Netflix. 

Vertical Limit Script
In this task, we were asked to read the Vertical Limit script, and with one colour, to make notes on how we personally would direct this clip, for example, what types of shots we would use, transitions, sound effects etc. We were then asked to watch the original clip, and with a different coloured pen to write what actually happened in the film and what the director used. This was useful as we were able to see the different ideas that can be used when directing a clip. It was also very helpful as we were able to take into consideration what does and does not look good in the opening sequence of a thriller film, giving us more ideas of what to put in our own clips. From this task, I was also able to see which camera angles are effective, for example, close up shots are very useful and are great for creating suspense and keeping the audience in anticipation. As well as this, sound effects are very useful and will be something that I take into consideration when we make our opening scene. 




10 Thriller films
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight (2008) Poster
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart. 
Production company: Warner Bros, Legendary Pictures, Syncopy, DC Comics.
Distributors: 
AND MANY MORE DISTRIBUTORS.
Age Rating (UK): 12A
Brief Plot Summary: When Batman, Gordon and Harvey Dent launch an assault on the mob, they let the clown out of the box, the Joker, bent on turning Gotham on itself and bringing any heroes down to his level.
Any other information: Mainstream film, $185,000,000 budget

Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction (1994) Poster
Director: Quentin Tarantino
Cast: John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson,
Production Companies: Miramax Films, A Band Apart, Jersey Films. 
Distributors: 
Age rating (UK): 18
Brief Plot summary: The lives of two mob hit men, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of diner bandits intertwine in four tales of violence and redemption.
Any other information: $8,000,000 budget, independent film. 

Inception
Inception (2010) Poster
Director: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ellen Page
Production companies: Warner Bros, Legendary Pictures, Syncopy
Distributors: 
Age rating (UK): 12A
Brief Plot Summary: A skilled extractor is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible.
Any other information: Mainstream film,  $160,000,000 budget 

Goodfellas
Goodfellas (1990) Poster
Director: Martin Scorsese
Cast: Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, Joe Pesci
Production companies: Warner Bros
Distributors: Warner Bros (many different countries)
Age rating (UK): 18
Brief Plot Summary: Henry Hill and his friends work their way up through the mob hierarchy.
Any other information: Mainstream film, $25,000,000 budget. 

Se7en
Se7en (1995) Poster
Director: David Fincher
Cast: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Kevin Spacey
Production Companies: Cecchi Gori Pictures, New Line Cinema
Distributors: 
Age Rating (UK): 18
Brief Plot summary: Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his modus operandi.
Any other information: mainstream film, $33,000,000 budget. 

The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Poster
Director: Jonathan Demme
Cast: Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Lawrence A. Bonney
Production Companies: Strong Heart/Demme Production, Orion Pictures Corporation
Distributor: 
Age rating (UK): 18
Brief Plot Summary: A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims.
Any other information: Mainstream film,  $19,000,000 budget. 

The Usual Suspects
The Usual Suspects (1995) Poster
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, Chazz Palminteri
Production Companies: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Spelling Films International, Blue Parrot, Bad Hat Harry Productions, Rosco Film GmbH
Distributors: 
Age rating (UK): 18
Brief Plot Summary: A boat has been destroyed, criminals are dead, and the key to this mystery lies with the only survivor and his twisted, convoluted story beginning with five career crooks in a seemingly random police lineup.
Any other information: Independent film, $6,000,000 budget

Rear Window
Rear Window (1954) Poster
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: James Stewart, Grace Kelly, Wendell Corey
Production Companies: Paramount Pictures, Patron Inc. 
Distributors: 
Age Rating (UK): PG
Brief Plot Summary: A wheelchair bound photographer spies on his neighbours from his apartment window and becomes convinced one of them has committed murder.
Any other information: Mainstream film,  $1,000,000 budget. 


Léon

Léon: The Professional (1994) Poster
Director: Luc Besson
Cast: Jean Reno, Gary Oldman, Natalie Portman
Production Companies: Gaumont, Les Films du Dauphin
Distributors: 
Age rating (UK): 18
Brief plot summary: A professional assassin rescues a young girl whose parents were killed in a police raid.
Any other information: Independent film

Psycho
Psycho (1960) Poster
Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Cast: Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles
Production Company: Shamley Productions
Distributors: 
Age Rating (UK): 15
Brief Plot summary: A Phoenix secretary steals $40,000 from her employer's client, goes on the run and checks into a remote motel run by a young man under the domination of his mother.
Any other information: independent film. 

 conclusion: 
From researching these thriller films, I have learnt a lot about thriller films in general. Many of the films contain a convict as the villain, and a police or investigator as the hero of the film. There is often a love interest involved in thriller films also. In many thriller films, money or something of a high value is included. Some of the characteristics of main characters in thriller films include being brave and having a lot of authority. Common certificates of these thriller films are usually 15 or sometimes 18 depending on the use of strong language and sexual content. This research has been very helpful to me as it has given me ideas for plot lines and things that shall be included in our thriller opening. 

 Thriller timelines:
FACE OFF:
 KILL BILL:
 PULP FICTION:
In this task, we were asked to watch the opening scenes of different thriller films. We were then asked to, at either side of the page, write down the different things that came on the screen at different times. This included every detail, as well as the times they they came up and how long they were on the screen for. Things we needed to include were: when the title was shown, when the directors name came up, when actors names came up, when people were on screen, camera shots, etc.
This was helpful as it helped me to notice that quite often, the production company will show first, followed by the directors name, which is the either followed by action, or the film title. The actors names and crew's names often have different transitions and come up at the bottom of the screen during the action. These names usually fade in/fade out and will come up every 6 seconds and will be on screen for different time periods depending on who they are. If it is the names of the main actors/actresses or the director, they will show for approximately 7-8 seconds, however minor actors/actresses and crew may be shown for the shorter time of 4-6 seconds. This has been useful as it has informed me and given me an idea of how long cast and crew's names need to be on screen for and in what order they need to be on screen, as well as for what period of time.  



Se7en Essay opening
To what extent is the opening of se7en a successful thriller?
The purpose of a thriller to is to thrill the audience with suspense. The opening of a film in the thriller genre is possibly the most important part as it is what entices the viewer to want to watch the rest of the film. 

The film se7en does this through the use of a score. A score is used to increase the atmosphere in a scene. This works very well for the opening scene of the film se7en as it films into the theme and the thriller genre very well. A foley is used in the opening scene of this film as it starts with a loud explosive sound. After this explosive sound, there is a lot of scratchy, metallic type sounds. This makes the audience feel uncomfortable and gives the impression that something bad will happen. Another foley is also used shortly after as a person is screaming. This creates suspense for the viewer. 
As the credits begin to come onto the screen, we see that they are in an unclean font. This scratchy typography is used to give the impression that these things have been hand written which is very appropriate for this opening scene as we can see a man putting together a scrapbook. It created a negative impression of the film and the fact that it moves quickly all over the screen makes the audience feel uneasy. 

 The images that are used in the opening scene of the film Se7ev are scary and are appropriately selected to give off this impression to the viewer. These images include a man holding a razor blade as he cuts of the tips of his fingers. This is an uneasy and different opening to some films. This makes the viewer feel uncomfortable and tells us more about what is likely to happen in the film. The fact that the character is trying to remove his own finger prints, gives us the impression that he has done something very bad. This is appropriate for the genre of a thriller as it keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat and makes them want to watch the rest of the film and continue watching to find out what the man has possibly done. The music and sounds as well as this clip creates a negative atmosphere which shows the audience that it is inevitable that something bad will happen. 

 The shots that are used in the opening of this film are very quick and very short. This not only creates a good atmosphere to the viewer, but tells them a lot about the story in the film. This has been done by the director in editing and has been put together in the style of a montage. The director has done this to show more about the characters, as the director wants to show that the murderer has put things together. For example, from all of these clips being pulled together, we are able to decipher that the work that is being done by this man is being done over a long period of time. In these shots we are shown different things, these include magazine articles, newspaper articles, diary extracts and pictures. All of these shots are show as close ups to allow the audience to get a clearer glimpse of what the man is doing. This gives the viewer the impression that the man doing all of these things is a psychopath or has some sort of mental disorder. This short elision of time allows the main character in this opening scene to plan more murders in a lot more depth. While these short snappy shots are occurring, we also see a few short shorts of the man's face, however these are very short glimpses as the director wants to keep the identity of this man concealed. This intensifies the atmosphere as the audience are getting very short glimpses of the man doing all of this. 

 In conclusion, the film Se7en has a very different film opening to many thrillers, but this is used effectively and appropriately. The use of camera angles and dark dull shots makes the audience know that something bad has either happened or is about to happen. This makes the audience was to continue watching to see what else has happened. It is a very mysterious opening to a film but at the same time is very effective. The music is one of the main factors of the opening scene and is used appropriately to fit into the thriller genre. 

KILL BILL
How successful is the opening sequence as a thriller film?

Kill Bill is a very successful opening to a thriller film for many different reasons. The main aim of an opening of a thriller is to thrill the audience and keep the audience in suspense. There are many codes and conventions of a thriller in this clip that prove that this opening sequence is a successful one.
The first thing that makes the audience want to continue watch is the fact that the film going straight into action before any credits are shown. This gives the viewer a taste of what they are about to watch and will make them decide whether they want to continue watching or not. When the credits do show, they are in black and white. This contrast between two opposite colours are used by the director to show good vs evil. Before any action is shown, we are given a long period of time to look at a black background. This then quickly adds some text reading 'Revenge is a dish best served cold.' This is used to give the audience a taste of what the film will be about and creates one of the main themes for the film, revenge. This is a very good effect used by the director to make the audience want to continue to watch and to catch their attention. It also prepares the audience for dark scenes, such as death. This fits in well to the thriller codes and conventions and works well as the opening sequence of a thriller as it creates a sense of nostalgia for the audience. The quote fades out, which is one of the main transitions used during credit sequences of thriller movies. After the action in the opening scene, credits slowly follow, starting with the director's name; Quentin Tarantino. This director has made a lot of thriller films, that are all equally as appealing and attractive as this. This is the 4th film made by Quentin Tarantino, therefore the audience know what is coming. In many of his movies, he starts showing some action, which is then followed by credits. This unique technique is used to make viewers want to watch more of his films and create a wider audience. The next name to be shown during the credits is Uma Thurman. This is shown in a large text that takes up a lot of the screen, to tell the audience that she is the protagonist of this film. The text is also bold and in capital letters, telling us that she is important to the story, allowing the audience to make assumptions. After watching this film, the audience will associate Uma Thurman with other thriller films. The title of the films is not shown until after the action and credits. This creates suspense and makes a build up to the title and creates a story line, as we know from the opening sequence that a man called Bill is involved. 

When we are first introduced to the main character, Uma Thurman, we are welcomed with an asynchronous sound of her heavily breathing. This thrills the audience and leads them to wonder why she is panting heavily. When we are eventually shown Uma, we are shown a close up shot of her pinned down to the floor wearing a wedding veil. The director portrays Uma as helpless, as her face is covered in blood and it is obvious to the audience that she has been beaten up. This is a use of mise-en-scene and costume that is often used in films in the thriller genre. The close up shot is effective as it shows us only Uma and makes us focus our attention on her and nothing around her. This shows the importance of her character and the importance of this scene. This also gives you a chance to see only her face and take in her emotions and feelings, in this case, her helplessness. The mise en scene is used effectively in this scene in the form of costume. This is used as makeup is shown by putting blood on her face and making it obvious to the audience that she has been beaten up. Her face and veil are also dilapidated, which is a good use of mise en scene with the costume and makeup. This makes the opening sequence of Kill Bill a successful one as it creates many questions for the audience. For example, why is she bleeding, why is she wearing a veil /wedding dress. The drama of the whole scene in increased which is often used in the opening sequence of thrillers, therefore this clip a successful thriller. From seeing the protagonist in this state in the opening scene, it makes the audience wonder what state she could be in later on in the film. After seeing this, we also realise that Uma is not the villain in the film, therefore she must be the hero or the love interest, however we have depicted from the cover of the film and trailers that she is infact the hero of it. The director uses longer takes rather than shorter ones in this scene, so that we can take in more about the character. This is a good technique from the director as we are able to get a good close-up look at the main character and get a look at the state of her. It also makes the audience feel more involved with the action and helps them to understand what is going on, and allows the audience to understand that Uma has been emotionally broken by Bill. This leaves the audience wondering what is going to happen next and makes it clear to us who the main character is. It also sets up the audience for what is going to happen in the rest of the film, due to the violence shown in the opening sequence. 

 There is not a clear indication in the opening sequence to where the film is set. This is due to the fact that we are unable to see any of the background due to the close up shot of Uma. Before we actually see Uma, we are shown some text on a screen for a short period of time. This text is in Japanese which creates questions for the audience which may have been the main aim of the director. The audience may also think that the film is set in a church due to the fact that in the close up, the only things we are able to see is Uma wearing a veil and wedding dress. This also gives us the impression that it could be on a wedding day. Mise en scene has been used in the form of costume and makeup as Uma has been made to look battered. This has been used by the director so that the audience are asking questions about the scene. This makes the opening sequence of Kill Bill a success as it makes the audience want to continue watching the film. This successfully matches the codes and conventions of a film in the thriller genre as the director us giving us enough information to make the audience want to continue watching, but leaves out a lot of the information to keep the audience in anticipation. 

The mood and tone of the opening sequence of Kill Bill are used very effectively. They are used in the opening scene to show the danger which is also shown in the whole film. They are used to thrill the audience and to create a lot more suspense which is exciting for the audience. The mood and tone are firstly set throughout the scene by the way that the whole scene has been shot in black and white. This is used to create a dark and dull atmosphere that creates a mood for the scene as well as the rest of the film. Long takes are also used in this scene which are very thrill seeking to the audience. These are used by the director so that the audience are able to take in more about the scene and what is happening with the main character. As well as this close up shot, eye match shots are used as well as asynchronous sounds. These are used when we are looking at Uma and we can hear the footsteps. A tracking camera is used so that the audience feel as though we are there in the action, as Bill walks up to Uma and we are looking at his feet. We quickly go from Uma to Bill's feet, and then back to Uma. This is used to create mood within the scene and let the audience know that something bad is about to happen and violence is inevitable. The sound of the footsteps have been added as a foley to make the scene seem more realistic, as well as enhanced sound perspective to build up tension in the atmosphere. Mise en scene has also been used by showing Bill's shoes. They are black, showing the importance of the dark colours to show evil, and to make him seem important, as well as portraying him as important due to the smart wear. 
This opening scene also fits in well to the thriller genre by the tone of Bill's voice. When we first see Bill, we only see small parts of his body, for example, his feet and his hand when he wipes away the blood on Uma's face. This type of shot has been used by the director to create intensity and give a sense of mystery to Bill's character. The audience's attention is bought to his hand wiping away the blood on Uma's face due to the fact that we dont see much of his body. When Bill begins to speak, the audience's attention is immediately struck and attracted as this is the first dialogue that we hear in the whole film. When Bill speaks, he uses a very vengeful tone. He has a very threatening voice which shows that he is the one who is control in the scene, showing that Bill is the superior person. This use of tone and mood shows that the opening sequence of Kill Bill is a very successful thriller. At the end of this scene, we see Bill shoot Uma, followed quickly by the credits which are accompanied by "Bang Bang." This soundtrack is used as the lyrics of the song successfully accompany the action which makes people want to continue watching the film. 

 The genre is very clear from the opening sequence of Kill Bill. We know that it is a film from the thriller genre due to the violence in the film. We also get a sense of the genre from the tone of Uma's voice. We hear that she is scared from the sense of terror in her voice. This tone in her voice, combined with the long shots is what makes this opening sequence a thriller, as the audience are waiting and anticipating the violence that is yet to come. The fact that the film has been changed to black and white in post production also shows that it is dull and dark which is quite often used in a thriller film, therefore this opening sequence matches the codes and conventions of a film in the thriller genre. In the opening sequence of this film, we see the main character, Uma, getting shot. This is effective for the audience and the director has chosen to do this so that the audience are left questioning what will happen in the film. The audience will be asking themselves what will happen to the main character as she has been shown in the trailer and advertisements of the film. Mise en scene has been used, that we are able to see when looking at Uma through the close up shot, in the form of props, when we are able to see Bill shooting Uma with a gun, which tells us that this is a thriller film. The close up shot in this sequence brings attention to the violence that Uma has suffered, which we are able to see as her face takes up a lot of the frame. This adds suspense to the scene and for the audience as they wonder what is happening outside the frame. This captures the attention of the audience and shows that the thriller genre is obvious to the audience. 

 The main shocking event that happens in this scene is Uma getting shot in the head by Bill. The main reason that this comes as a shock to the audience is because Bill is being nice to Uma by wiping blood off her face and helping her. The gun shot sound is a sound effect and has been used to make the scene seem realistic and make the audience believe that it is real. After being shot, mise en scene has also been used in the form of make, with the splattered blood on the floor behing Uma. This has been used to add a gruesome look to the scene and to scare the audience but to also thrill them. The whole scene is shot in the exact same position which adds a very shocking and tense atmosphere to the audience  as it is inevitable that something bad is going to happen at the end of it which keeps the audience in anticipation. The close up shots allow us to take in everything that is happening in the scene and allows the audience to decide for themselves what is happening. There is also a close up shot chosed when Uma is pleading for her life, which allows the audience to know that she is about to die or that some violence is about to take place. This fits in well to the codes and conventions of a thriller film, and shows many shocking and thrilling scenes that encourage the viewer to continue watching the film. 

The main question that is asked by the audience is why Uma was shot by Bill. This is a very important question as we see Uma in a wedding veil and covered in blood, which makes the audience wonder what could have happened to have got her in this state. After Uma has been shot, the audience want to continue watching in the hope that the scene is continued as we cut straight to credits after the shooting. The audience also only get to see what is happening, as there are only 3 different shots in the whole opening scene. This causes the audience to wonder what is happening with the world outside. Great atmosphere is caused by this work of the director, and questions are left unanswered for effect, so the audience are able to think of resolutions for the action for themselves. This is a very successful use of an opening, as it requires the audience to continue watching to see if they were correct or not. 

 In conclusion, the opening scene of Kill Bill is very successful as a thriller as it leaves the audience questioning what is going to happen next, as well as why certain things are shown how they are. This creates a thrilling atmosphere for the viewers which requires them to continue watching to find out why these things are happening. 
Sin City
How are the characters presented in the extract from Sin City?

There are 3 main characters in this extract from Sin City. The Love interest, the villain and the hero. These 3 characters are all presented in very different ways. 

 The Love interest in this film is Shellie. She is portrayed in a very different way from the hero and the villain. One of the main ways that Shellie is portrayed is through the use of Mise en scene. Shellie is dressed in very different ways to the other two characters as she needs to be shown in a different way. She is shown as not wearing much, which shows how she is helpless and a vulnerable character. This also shows her confidence however, which tells us a lot about her character. She is also a lot shorter than the other two characters which is used by the director to show status. Mise en scene has been used through the use of makeup to make Shellie look very pretty and attractive, which is an attribute used frequently for the love interest character. Close up shots are frequently used when looking at Shellie as we want to see her character closer. This angle is used to show how Shellie is a helpless person and relies a lot on other people. The director uses this shot to show how the audience and other characters are dominant and she is not. High angle shots are often used in thriller films to make the love interest character look and come across as inferior to others in the scene. This is especially significant in this scene and she needs to be shown as inferior to the men surrounding her, hence her crouching in the scene. Shellie is also shown through the use of body language to be helpless and naive. This is due to the fact that whenever Dwight is in the frame, she is also very close to him and touching him. This gives us a taste of their relationship and how she looks up to him to protect her. Their relationship seems like a close caring one due to their different in height, which also shows their difference in status and how Shellie looks up to Dwight. Whenever Shellie is on screen, high lighting is used to show how she is angelic and innocent. This is also used to show her comparison to the other characters. Mise en scene is used a lot when looking at Shellie's facial expressions. When we look at close ups of Shellie, we are able to get a taste of what she is thinking and feeling, and also get a taste of her past. When speaking to Jackie Boy, she always looks innocent and scared, which tells us that she has been previously hurt and distressed by Jackie Boy. 

 The hero in this film is Dwight. Dwight is presented as a good looking attractive character which is often a feature used for the hero of a thriller film. When Dwight first comes on screen, he is seen wearing all black apart from his shoes. The whole scene has been filmed in black and white, therefore the fact that Dwight's shoes are red, shows a difference in his character. The fact that the shoes are red symbolises danger, due to the colour red. This gives us a taste of Dwight's character. The fact that all of his clothes are dark and leather, shows his masculinity in the scene. His face is flawless and has very slick dark hair which makes him more attractive to the audience, this is a correct use of mise en scene through costume and makeup. Mise en scene as been used through the positioning on the screen when both Dwight and Shellie are on screen at the same time. Their body language when next to each other, shows that Dwight is very protective and caring towards Shellie, by the way that he stands broadly when next to her. He is also taller than her, which shows his powerful character. When he is speaking, we are shown a close up of his face, and how he stays very still. This is very effective as it shows that he is focused on what is happening and is determined. When we focus on his character, we see that he gets close to other characters, which shows that he is very fearless and brave, which is very often a feature that the hero of thriller films have. 

 The villain of this film is Jackie Boy. When we first see Jackie Boy, we are unable to see much of his character and what he looks like or what he is wearing. This is due to the fact that the director has chosen dark lighting to be put on him. This is very effective as it shows that his character is mysterious and tells the audience that he may be a threatening character. We are unable to see much of Jackie Boy's face which adds a sense of suspicion to his character and allows the audience to make up their own minds about him, this is very often used in a thriller film. The use of mise en scene is used effectively through body language when we see Jackie Boy's character, as we see that he is not afraid of getting into people's personal space. This tells the audience that he is a very confident and fearless man. When he speaks, we hear a threatening tone to his voice, which leads the audience to draw conclusions that he is an abusive man. During the extract, we find a scene in which Jackie Boy has his face forced into a toilet by Dwight. When this scene is shot, the audience are looking on the action from a high angle, which shows that sometimes, Jackie Boy is not always the superior character, and can be dominated by Dwight. When Dwight leaves, we are able to see the anger in Jackie Boy's face which tells the audience that he loses his temper rather quickly and will not stand to be made a fool of. Also during this extract, we see Jackie Boy be abusive towards Shellie, which shows how he is angry with her and he is a very threatening character who is not afraid of anything.

 Overall, the characters in Sin City are all presented in very different ways, with many different techniques. These techniques are always obvious so the audience get a clear understanding of which character is which, and they will never get them mixed up. Shellie is portrayed as an innocent character who is naive and relies on other characters with higher superiority. Whereas Jackie Boy is a character who is very abusive and isn't afraid of anyone. Finally, Dwight, the hero of the film, is presented exactly as a hero should be, confident and powerful. 

BOND MILESTONE
How successful is this opening sequence of a thriller film?
At the very start of the opening sequence of Casino Royale, we first see an Establishing shot. This is used to show that it is set in the city, which is a frequent code and convention of a thriller film. It is also used to show that the place that this film has been set is desolate and there is nobody around, which adds to the mystery of the film. Also, dull lighting is used to add more suspicion to the scene, as well as the whole frame being shown in black and white, which is also a code and convention of a thriller film. We see within the first few seconds of the film that it is set in Prague showing the change of location and the fact that it is an international film. 

 When we are first introduced to a character, we are shown him by looking through a low angle. This is used to show the audience that he is important and so that he looks better to people. We also see that mise en scene has been used by dressing this character in black, giving the audience a chance to make assumptions that he could possibly be a boss. He is also looking around a lot when exiting the car and before entering the building, which shows that he is suspicious, giving the audience a clue about the character. Quick cuts are then used to show the character walking through the building, as well as point of view shots. This gives the audience the impression that he is trying to get somewhere quickly, and adds a dramatic impact to the scene. 

 Along with point of view shots, we are shown long/wide shots. These are used to show the audience where the man is, and gives them a chance to see that it is out of hours time in the building, which adds mystery to the scene, which is a code and convention of a film in the thriller genre. We are also able to see tracking movements, which are used to emphasise the movements of the characters. As well as this, shadows are used to increase tension in the scene. Shadows are a very common code and convention used in thriller films, and are used to make the audience guess what is in the room. 

 Close up shots are used for eye match shots and point of view shots when the villain is looking at the safe. A safe is also a code and convention frequently used in a thriller film. The close up shot is giving the audience information about the story from the director. It also pans left, so the audience are able to see what is around in the scene. 

 An over the shoulder shot is used in this opening sequence, with a deep focus making the audience's attention immediately drawn to Bond. This is used to inform the audience that Bond is a very important person. The over the shoulder shot is also very effective as you are unaware that Bond is there in the room with the Villain, therefore adding surprise as well as tension to the scene, which is also a main code and convention of a thriller film. 

 When the audience are first introduced to Bond, the mise en scene has been used through the use of costume to make Bond wear black. This is one of the main codes and convention of a thriller film as it shows that bond is camouflaged, giving the impression that he is hiding and waiting for something or someone. His body language also tell the audience a lot about his character as he is sitting comfortably, showing that he is laid back and brave. The fact that bond is able to get into the building without raising suspicion from anybody, shows the audience that he is a spy. The high lighting on Bond's face is used to show that he is the main person in this scene, as well as being the protagonist in the film. 

 The use of a score is introduced and followed by the Villain saying 'Haven't killed anyone', telling the audience that he is a cocky character, as well as allowing the audience to know that something is about to happen, which is frequently used in thriller films when a score is introduced. 

 A flashback is used, with emphasis on the light to show the difference between the current day and the flashback. The flashback is used to fill in information about Bond's character and allows the audience to know what is happening. It tells us that Bond is a brave and fearless character, as well a giving off the impression that he is strong and powerful as he is fighting and beating another man. It is also a contradiction to what is being said in the current day, which adds more suspense to the scene and leaves the audience in anticipation as gaps are filled for them. 

 Quick cuts are used in a powerful way as they are fast and show violent action. These shots are accompanied by a fast build up of a score which matches the fighting scene as it is happening. A shot reverse shot is used during this scene as we go from seeing Bond calm in the chair in one scene to him fighting in the other scene. This shows that only bond and the audience are aware that bond has infact killed someone, and the villain is showed as ironically in the dark. 

 A prop is used in the form of a gun, which is a main code and convention of a film in the thriller genre, and shocks the audience, contributing to a successful opening scene of a thriller. The score builds up more and more as the scene goes on, giving a scary impact on the audience and building up tension. 

 Sound effects are used as the trigger for the gun is pulled. The expression of the villain immediately drops and is used as a close up shot. The villain's face quickly goes from cocky to embarrassed. Bond looks smug as this happens, as mise en scene has been used in the form of body language to show that he is laid back and has the upper hand in this situation. He is also seen as proffessional as shot reverse shot is used when bond informs the villain that he knows the location of the bullets to his gun. 

 A low angle is used to show that bond is the dominant during the fighting scene. This also shows Bond's authority and shows that Bond has subdued the villain. Quick cuts go from the flashback scene to the current day and are slightly blurred and shot at a canted angle to give the impression to the audience that it was a long time ago. The scene ends with the famous bond trademark and ends with a zoom in to bond, with the special effect of red blood, indicating danger. The title of this film appears after the action, which is one of the main conventions used in a thriller film. Before this title, credits are shown, one of these credit's being Ian Flemming's name, which is significant as he wrote the James Bond books. 

 There are many things in this opening sequence that I liked, one of the main things being that the Title and main credits appear after much of the action. This is one of the things that I will use when creating my own opening sequence to a thriller. Another thing that I enjoyed about this was the contrast between a calm atmosphere in the office, and the up beat tense atmosphere which was dangerous in the fight scene. I will consider using this contrast when doing my own thriller sequence. 

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