Still screenshot analysis

Inception

 

 

In this screenshot from the film Inception it shows a veichle driving the opposite way in comparrison to the other cars, this could give the audience a sense of destruction and danger as it suggests that the driver of the veichle is going to cause problems with the surroundings of it. The tracking shot used to follow the movement of the veichle emphasises on the pace of it, also the editing used of fast pace creates a sense of speed and exaggurates it. The mise en scene used in this shot are the props around the main subject which is the additional cars, this shows that the event was unexpected and that it was originally a stereotypical day on a street road.


 The assymmetrical composition of the cars implies that they were unprepared for the distruption of the other veichle and are avoiding danger, this also gives a more realistic reaction to what is happening. The yellow cab is a stereotypical element America which makes the audience aware of where the scene is set and can show that the location of the setting is an urban area suggesting that it is typically busy which emphasises on the destruction that the veichle will cause.


The mise en scene used has important significance to the shot and the event of the film as it makes the audience aware of how dangerous the event will be and gives them a sense a more realisitc perspective of how much damage it will cause, this will cause more suspense and tension to the audience. The composition used is the 'golden rule' as the main subject falls on the diagonal line across the shot and the main veichle is centralised to emphasise on the importance of it.

Glossary of media termonology

Composition:

Rule of thirds

Imagining a grid on a shot, points of interest occur where the lines cross. This creates emphasis on what's important in the shot.

The golden mean

A diagonal line over a composed shot, points of interest occur on this line. This shows the audience what should be the main subject.

Framing

Choosing what to include and what to leave out in a shot and can have caution of space around a specific object to show importance.

Types of shot:

Extra long shot

The subject of the shot isn't clearly visible, it is often used to show establishment for the audience and can be used to show a location.

Long shot

This is used to show a character or object in their environment, shows the audience the subject and the location.

Mid shot

This shot shows the main subject in more detail and is used as an 'emotionally neutral shot', it also allows some gestures and movement.

Medium close up

This is used to show the subjects facial expressions clearly. This can create a realistic atmosphere for the audience as they are vaguely aware of the emotions of the subject showing understanding of the event.

Close up

This creates emphasis on a specific feature of the subject, it typically takes up most of the shot, it shows the emotional state of the subject which could create sympathy from the audience.

Extreme close up

This shot is used to show the extreme and precise detail of the subject but this camera shot is too close for gestures so it focusses specifically on a feature to show the audience what is important.

Cut away

This is a shot of something thats an addtion to the main subject and is used as a buffer between shots, it creates a questionable tension to the audience making them question what relevance it has to the event.

Two shot

it is typically a mid shot consisiting of two people and is commonly used to show establishment to the audience of the relationship between both subjects, this can either be a strong or opposing relationship between each other.

Over the shoulder

This shot face towards a main subject over the shoulder of another significant character, the main subject takes up 2/3 of the frame and it can be used to establish the position of both characters during the event of the film.

Noddy shot

The noddy shot is most commonly used during an interview, it shows the interviewers reaction to the response of the subject being interviewed. This can create a biased atmosphere to the audience to cause them to agree with the interviewee more.

Point of view

This shows the current event within a film through the main subjects eyes, it shows their perspective of the event and makes the audience feel more interactive with whats happening.

Camera movement:

Low angle shot

This shot is to show the subject as a powerful figure whereas the audience is appeared as recessive, it creates the effect thatthe audience is looking up to something.

 

High angle shot

This is opposite to the low angle shot so that the audience is seen as more dominant and the subject as weak and more vulnerable.

 

Pan (panoramic)

Panoramic is a steady shot and moves at the same level, it can either move from left to right or right to left.

 

Tracking shot

This is used to follow and track the movement of the main subject, this can be used during a chase of a film. It also gives the sense of speed and movement of the action for the audience.

 

Tilt

This is a panoramically vertical camera movement, it moves up and down the subject to show appearance and it can give the audience a sense of the height size or appreciation of the subject.

 

Canted shot

A 'wonky' and unbalanced shot of a subject which isn't directly facing them, it can be used to create the impression that a subject is losing conciousness or is in danger.

 

Zoom in/out

The zooming technique is used to focus on a particular detail with many surroundings such as a person within a busy street, zooming in to out is typically used more frequently than the reversed movement.

 

Steadicam/handheld

This is a movement of a person that follows the action of an event by hand, this can create a more realisitic movement for the audience to follow.

 

Crane shot

This is an extreme long shot, in perespective distance of a crane and is a high angle shot looking down on the subject.

 

Ariel shot

This shot is positioned in s helicopter to emphasise on the distance from the camera and the location/subject.

 

Transitions:

Crosscut

Where it goes back and forth between several different shots at a certain pace, this may be used in a chase scene to show the fast pace between the protagonist and the antagonist.

 

Crossfade

A gradual fade from one shot to the next and can also be known as a mix or a dissolve transition. It is similiar to a crosscut but is much slower, it can create a relaxed mood for the audience as it is typically used on a peaceful event.

 

Fade

Can be used to signal the ending or beginning of a scene or the opening of a subjects eyes, The shot fades into one block of colour or the colour fades into a shot.

 

Wipe

Where one shot is repeatedly replaced with another shot in a geometric pattern, it can be used to show the audience the change of the location or environment.

 

Digital effects

This transition uses colour replacement, animated effects, pixelization and focus drops, these are usually inserted during post production of a film.

 

Thriller Genre Conventions

Thriller Genre Conventions

• Mise en Scene
• Camerawork
• Editng
• Characters/Actors
• Themes
• Audience appeal

   

  
  

A thriller genre narrative is mainly based around a crime such as murder or theft as a thriller is typically based on something that can happen in real life. The common conventions in the thriller genre include mise en scene consisting of props such as guns, cars and planes and dark clothing. These props are used frequently in thriller films as it creates more suspense for the audience. A generic signifier in thrillers are weapons such as a gun, this is because it signifies danger and showing the audience that the dramatic tension has increased. The setting of a thriller film is usually somewhere abandoned adding to the suspense of the story line, it creates a more realistic atmosphere towards the audience making the film more interesting.

In all thriller films there is the role of a protagonist and antagonist as it is stereotypically used in all film genres, it shows the clear contrast between the heroes and villains. Other mise en scene is camera work; the most used in the thriller genre mid shot and close up, this is because it focuses on the actors facial expressions making it more obvious to the audience of their emotions during the event the film is at. Editing used is usually the changing the pace of the camera movement during an important event, this could be a chase or the climax of the film. Another common element used in thriller genre films is sound editing; the use of non-diegetic sound such as screams creates natural sounds making it seem more realistic. Synchronous sound used is typically in time with an event happening in the film so it emphasizes on the tension that is created during the event occurring. This is a convention of the thriller genre as it’s typically used to increase the suspense of an event by making it seem tenser. 

Target Audience Analysis

District 9

 

Demographics is a way of characterizing a population to meet the success of marketing and to record the increase or decrease of an average age in a certain population. Demographics can cover age categories, social class and gender and additional coverage can be the knowledge of language, disabilities and employment status.

 

Psychographicsincludes the research of an audiences’ personal interest, personalities and the common interests and behaviour aspects of an individual. This use of study is useful and valuable within the marketing industry.

 

Both demographics and psychographics are used when identifying a target audience for a specific film or genre as it narrows the audiences profile down and puts it in a certain group so it is easier to categorize a target audience.

Thriller Film: District 9(age rating 15)

 

Overview of the film: “In 1982, a star ship bearing an alien population called ‘The Prawns’ appeared over South Africa. Many years later the welcome by the human population faded. Refugee camp where the aliens located had deteriorated into a ghetto named ‘District 9’. During 2010 the munitions corporatizing is called to evict the population with the villains in charge. Throughout this event ‘Wikus’has been exposed to the alien chemical and depends on the assistance of his remaining two ‘prawn’friends.”
 

The themes including in this film are racism and xenophobia which are not typical themes included in a thriller genre indicating that the film may use not use the stereotypical conventions of a thriller film.

 

Target audience analysis:

 

While researching district 9, it is apparent that the most common age category for the demographics of the audience would range between 16-24 years; this is because the rating of the film is 15 showing that the content would not be appropriate for any age younger than this. Also the content consists of unrealistic features such as aliens implying that an additional genre is sci-fi, this is typically a common interest in young adults and teenagers which meets the criteria for demographic B as it states that this audience are ‘creative’.Creativity would be required to imagine the film as a realistic event and to understand how the conventions used links in with the thriller genre. Another consideration for a demographic group could be D as it is stereotypical for manual /part time workers to enjoy this genre of film.

 

For the psychographics of the target audience would come under ‘explorers’ as typically the audience for this film would be interested in an adventurous and a different plot in comparison to other stereotypical plots and would enjoy the surrealism of the film. Their interests would include interactivity and creativity which links in with the conventions used in this film and how it is structured to entertain this specific target audience.

 

Thriller Trailer Analysis'

The Purge

 

The two shot of James and Mary shows them looking in the same direction with no facial expression in their faces, this shows that they are both protagonist as they are not fighting against others in this shot. The lighting of the shot is dull and dark which reflects on the current mood of the film, also this is because before this shot an event occurs when James turns the lights off so they are not seen. A gun is used as a prop under James’ arm showing that they are fighting or preparing for an attack. This gives the audience an idea of what is about to happen as after this still shot you see the antagonists of the film outside their house. Mise en scene used shows that the event occurring was unexpected, both James’ and Mary's clothing is simple suggesting that they were not prepared to be approached by participators of the purge. No diegetic sound is included in this part of the film as the audience only hears the shouting from the outside of the house and the main focus is the discussion between Mary and James. This attracts more attention as it uses non-diegetic sound creating a more realistic atmosphere.

In this shot the rule of thirds is used as the two main focuses are the ‘bloody stranger’ and the light. The blood on the stranger shows his involvement of a fight and that he only just escaped. The ‘bloody stranger’ looks down blankly at the floor showing distress and some confusion in his facial expression, the light is used as a prop to highlight his face so that the main focus of the shot is the expression on his face. The additional mise en scene surrounding the ‘bloody stranger’ has no relation to his character as it is a doll and children’s drawings showing that he is not supposed to be where he is at this moment. His layered clothing and dirty jeans and his body language is significant as it shows how recessive he is to others in the film as he is described as a ‘tramp’ from the villains.

 

The shot is a mid shot as James slowly creeps towards the trespassers of his house with a gun in one hand and a torch in the other which is significant to the event happening as it shows that he is prepared to take action if he is approached. The only lighting in the shot is the torch creating suspense and makes James the main focus. James is taking the role of the hero as he has taken the heroic job of searching the house and holds the gun firmly in his hand.

 

This is a high angle shot as the two villains are showing that they are more dominant than James and his family in the house, it is also a point of view shot as James is looking through the peep hole of their door. The mise en scene of the masks hides their identity and their casual clothing indicates that they are local people. The shot uses the golden rule as their faces are centralized making them the main focus of the shot and the villain holds a sword confidently in his hand as they are determined to get the ‘bloody stranger’ out of the house or they will take action. The lighting in the shot emphasizes on the main focus which is the masks.

The shot is a close up and the golden rule is used focusing on James’ facial expression and the window of the steel door. The steel door has significance as it shows that James is protecting and guarding his family which adds to his heroic character. The lighting used is from the outside of the house showing that James’ attention is wanted as the villains prepare to enter the house.

 

 

Odd Thomas

 

A mid shot and over the shoulder implies that the main focus is ‘Odd’, the mise en scene used of props is a baseball bat and is focussed on as it is centralised, the bat is significant as it suggests that am event is about to occur.  The lighting in this shot is minimal which creates suspense and more awareness to what is happening at this specific time, the lighting is stereotypical of a thriller film as it is more frequent to use dimmed lighting than bright and bold as it connotes danger and tension. The setting of the clip is a narrow corridor which implies that the setting is abandoned and is a stereotypical convention in a thriller genre.

 

The close up shot of files gives the impression that ‘Odd’ is searching for personal information of someone specific showing that he is participating in some sort of detective work. This shows a contrast on his appearance from the beginning of the trailer as he is originally seen as an average café chef, but then his true colours are revealed as it shows him to be someone who enjoys fights and action. This is typical of a thriller film as it shows that the protagonists personality is two sided but both are heroic. The golden rule is used as in the shot the main focus is the names from the files that are centralised in the shot.

The camerawork used is an over the shoulder shot; it shows ‘odd’ and a hallway with a beam coming towards him. The editing used shows that an unrealistic event happens in the film, also the pace changes to fast as the light comes towards the camera which creates more tension and shows that the beam has importance to future events and it makes it more memorising for future reference in the film or the next event that happens afterwards. The lighting from the outside shining through planks of wood in the windows implies that the setting is abandoned or not used which is stereotypical of a thriller film.

The two shot of ‘Odd’ and the antagonist of the film shows anger in the villains facial expression and panic in ‘Odds’, this shows that they oppose against in each other and their intentions are different.  The villain’s facial expression emphasises to the audience how much he disapproves of ‘Odd’ and it shows that he clearly is a villain and suggests that a fight between them will happen next. The makeup used on the villain makes him look more unrealistic and different to normal human nature, this typically makes him less approachable as he doesn’t look realistic.