Christian Metz is best known for applying the ideas of both Sigmund Freud's psychology and Jaques Lacan's mirror theory, and then adding this semiotic into films. Below i shall identify the stages that Metz developed;
Experimental; a formalisation of narrative conventions.
Horror; The cabinet of Dr. Caligari and Nosferatu.
Rom-Com; Untamed Heart, The Lake House.
Thriller; Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, Psycho.
Classical / Classics; the defined or practiced conventions.
Horror; Frankenstein and Dracula.
Rom-Com; Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral.
Thriller; Red Dragon, Leon
Parody; the conventions have been parodied.
Horror; Scary movie, Abott & Costello meet Frankenstein and Carry on screaming.
Rom-Com; Date Movie.
Thriller; Number 17.
Deconstruction; where other elements and sub-genres are introduced.
Horror; Seven, Scream, The blair witch project, The sixth sense.
Rom-Com; Manhattan.
Thriller; Se7ven, 1408, Silence of The Lambs.
Monday, 15 December 2008
Questionnaire
1. Age?
2. Gender?
3. Whats your favourite film genre?
4. What do you expect to see in a rom-com?
5. What do you like about rom-coms?
6. What do you dislike about rom-coms?
7. What is your favourite rom-com?
2. Gender?
3. Whats your favourite film genre?
4. What do you expect to see in a rom-com?
5. What do you like about rom-coms?
6. What do you dislike about rom-coms?
7. What is your favourite rom-com?
Monday, 8 December 2008
Leon Deconstruction
Leon is a criminal thriller written and directed by Luc Besson. It shows all the classic codes and convenions of a thriller.
In the opening scene, a long tracking shot is filmed down a street to show the place and also surroundings of where the following events are going to happen. The film is typically set in dark and dingy surroundings and denotes gun, drug crime and also a 'hitman' of some sort. However this 'hitman' is kept a secret for the opening of the film, for example; close ups are used so that his identity isn't revealed to the audience. Leon is also always wearing dark glasses when hes on a 'job'. This is his trademark and also shows he's undercover and obscured. Obscure shots are also used to add mystery and hook the audience, as they want to find out the full story. Leon is very revelatory and slow unwinding which also creates a hook for the audience. However, the opening does have some establishing shots, for example; of the house that the other 'gang' are in. This is to show their surroundings and give us a taste of where abouts they are. This group are all dressed smartly and are hiding drugs and carrying guns which gives us the impression they belong to some sort of mafia or gang. These establishing shots also begin to show us the main characters in the film. For example; they give an indication into an italian background through accents of characters.
Throughout Leon, a non diegetic score is used to create tension and also add ambience. Drums are used to add atmosphere and create the feeling that something is about to happen.
In the opening scene, a long tracking shot is filmed down a street to show the place and also surroundings of where the following events are going to happen. The film is typically set in dark and dingy surroundings and denotes gun, drug crime and also a 'hitman' of some sort. However this 'hitman' is kept a secret for the opening of the film, for example; close ups are used so that his identity isn't revealed to the audience. Leon is also always wearing dark glasses when hes on a 'job'. This is his trademark and also shows he's undercover and obscured. Obscure shots are also used to add mystery and hook the audience, as they want to find out the full story. Leon is very revelatory and slow unwinding which also creates a hook for the audience. However, the opening does have some establishing shots, for example; of the house that the other 'gang' are in. This is to show their surroundings and give us a taste of where abouts they are. This group are all dressed smartly and are hiding drugs and carrying guns which gives us the impression they belong to some sort of mafia or gang. These establishing shots also begin to show us the main characters in the film. For example; they give an indication into an italian background through accents of characters.
Throughout Leon, a non diegetic score is used to create tension and also add ambience. Drums are used to add atmosphere and create the feeling that something is about to happen.
Monday, 1 December 2008
Codes and Conventions of a Thriller.
There are some codes and conventions that are essential to a thriller. These codes and conventions are used to immediately draw in and hook the audience. Events occur that form questions that the audience want to find answers to and this also hooks the viewers.
Sound is also used to add ambience to the scene and creates gravitz (which gives it a serious note). In the film, usually the music / sound is harsh and abrasive to build up the atmosphere in the title sequence.
Some thriller openings have a prologue (a pre-title scene which sets up for the rest of the film). Its somewhat like a prologue in a book, telling some of the story. A prologue immediatley captures the viewers attention and sets the tempo for the rest of the film. This can also add many unanswered questions and this makes the audience want to view the rest of the film.
Opening scenes or prologues of a thriller are usually very dark and dull, there will be hardly any bright colours, unless the director wants to draw the attention of the audience to something. Many close-ups may also be used to draw attention to a detail. Sometimes these details dont make any sense and are fragmented at the start of the opening scene, but will be pieced together with other scenes in the film to answer the audiences questions.
The titles and credits of a thriller will also add atmosphere to the film and make the audience anticipate whats going to happen.
All in all; the music, the camera shots and the ambience of the scene piece together to create a successful thriller opening.
Sound is also used to add ambience to the scene and creates gravitz (which gives it a serious note). In the film, usually the music / sound is harsh and abrasive to build up the atmosphere in the title sequence.
Some thriller openings have a prologue (a pre-title scene which sets up for the rest of the film). Its somewhat like a prologue in a book, telling some of the story. A prologue immediatley captures the viewers attention and sets the tempo for the rest of the film. This can also add many unanswered questions and this makes the audience want to view the rest of the film.
Opening scenes or prologues of a thriller are usually very dark and dull, there will be hardly any bright colours, unless the director wants to draw the attention of the audience to something. Many close-ups may also be used to draw attention to a detail. Sometimes these details dont make any sense and are fragmented at the start of the opening scene, but will be pieced together with other scenes in the film to answer the audiences questions.
The titles and credits of a thriller will also add atmosphere to the film and make the audience anticipate whats going to happen.
All in all; the music, the camera shots and the ambience of the scene piece together to create a successful thriller opening.
Action Plan
Up to Christmas; tasks 1 - 7.
W C. 12/01/09 - Filming
W C. 19/01/09 - Filming
W C. 26/01/09 - Logging / Capturing
W C. 02/02/09 - Draft Edit
W C. 09/02/09 - Draft / Final edit
W C. 16/02/09 - Half Term
W C. 23/02/09 - Finalise blog / Final Edit
W C. 27/02/09 - FINAL DEADLINE.
W C. 12/01/09 - Filming
W C. 19/01/09 - Filming
W C. 26/01/09 - Logging / Capturing
W C. 02/02/09 - Draft Edit
W C. 09/02/09 - Draft / Final edit
W C. 16/02/09 - Half Term
W C. 23/02/09 - Finalise blog / Final Edit
W C. 27/02/09 - FINAL DEADLINE.
Notting Hill Analysis.
Notting Hill is a British romantic comedy released in the UK on 21st May 1999. It is one of many rom-coms written by the famous Richard Curtis who also produced pieces such as 'Love Actually'.
Notting Hill begins with TV footage of Julia Roberts, it shows alot of media coverage and paparazzi footage. Also there is what we think is a live radio interview before any music starts. The opening titles are very simple and are in white and purple writing. There is a non-diagetic score in the scene when the opening titles begin, which sounds like a radio playing the song 'She' by Elvis Costello. This type of music allows the audience to relate to the scene and as it is a romantic song it creates ambience. At the end of this scene the camera flashes and then clicks to show that something life changing has / is about to happen.
We meet the other main character, Hugh Grant in a very different way however. It fades from Julia Roberts to Hugh Grant as we see him walk across the road and suddenly he becomes the narrator. He tells us the history of Notting Hill and this allows the audience to really depict the scene and imagine that they are there with him. This introduction immediately gives us the background information into his life. The narration stops when dialogue begins and there is also a break in narration when we meet Spike. This is to draw attention to the character as he is the antithesis (complete opposite) to Hugh Grant's character. Differences are cleverly shown throughout the opening of 'Notting Hill'. For example; Hugh Grant appears to be poor as we get shown his house and then we see where he works, which is a book shop. Julia Roberts is shown mainly through media coverage so we immediately realise she is a famous actress and therefore must be wealthy. These differences denote a famous actress and an ordinary bloke.
Overall, Notting Hill shows all of the codes and conventions of a typical rom-com through light hearted humour, romance and social comment.
Notting Hill begins with TV footage of Julia Roberts, it shows alot of media coverage and paparazzi footage. Also there is what we think is a live radio interview before any music starts. The opening titles are very simple and are in white and purple writing. There is a non-diagetic score in the scene when the opening titles begin, which sounds like a radio playing the song 'She' by Elvis Costello. This type of music allows the audience to relate to the scene and as it is a romantic song it creates ambience. At the end of this scene the camera flashes and then clicks to show that something life changing has / is about to happen.
We meet the other main character, Hugh Grant in a very different way however. It fades from Julia Roberts to Hugh Grant as we see him walk across the road and suddenly he becomes the narrator. He tells us the history of Notting Hill and this allows the audience to really depict the scene and imagine that they are there with him. This introduction immediately gives us the background information into his life. The narration stops when dialogue begins and there is also a break in narration when we meet Spike. This is to draw attention to the character as he is the antithesis (complete opposite) to Hugh Grant's character. Differences are cleverly shown throughout the opening of 'Notting Hill'. For example; Hugh Grant appears to be poor as we get shown his house and then we see where he works, which is a book shop. Julia Roberts is shown mainly through media coverage so we immediately realise she is a famous actress and therefore must be wealthy. These differences denote a famous actress and an ordinary bloke.
Overall, Notting Hill shows all of the codes and conventions of a typical rom-com through light hearted humour, romance and social comment.
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