Tools Required for Textual Analysis

As follows is the basic equipment required to analylise an opening sequence of a film:

DVD or VHS to watch a film on a television.

Pen and paper to note down and identify various techniques the director has used.

Finally, laptop or computer to put my notes into a understandable and instresting paragraph to post on my blog.

When analysing the opening sequences of films I will be focusing on the following production techniques:

Camera Angles - how they were used, the effects, what they helped portray

Editing - was it invisible or made visible

Special effects

Sound - digetic or non- digetic, soundtrack

Representations - how are the characters being portrayed

Mise en scene

Verisimilitude

Movement

Pacing

Storyboard for Short Film Production

Before we began filming our short film, a storyboard was made to determine the different types of camera shots and angles we would use in the different scenes. We also began to come up with a plot in relation to scenes and came up with a mini-script alongside the scenes to enhance the viewing pleasure.

The storyboard was a great help as it gave our group (especially the camera operator) a rough outline of what sort of shots to use such as, close up shots of the face to display anger and fear.

In the future, I will be definately using a storyboard to give myself or the group I'm in a better understanding of placement of characters, camera angles and shots.

Short Film Production

On Monday 16th November, myself and fellow class mates produced and directed a short film based on the thriller genre.

We ourselves starred in the short film with myself being a bully character and my collegue Leeroy as a victim. All in all the production ran smoothly and took our group an hour to finish.


What went well?

The production ran smoothly.

In some scenes only one take was needed for our group to be satisfied.

Our group listened to each others opinions on how to make the scenes more effective.

Even without a tri-pod our camera operator maintain a steady hand throughout the production.

We managed not to break the 180 degree rule.

Camera angles and shots gave the viewers a better understanding of location and a good idea of the plot.

What didn't go so well?

Sometimes our group disagreed with eachother on what type of shots to concentrate on in certain scenes. This lead to slight arguing.

I feel if we were able to obtain a tri-pod our shots would have been more accurate.

Communication was lacking slightly between the group when scenes ended. For instance, sometimes myself and the other actor was not clear on when the scene ended therefore, the scene would be ruined.


Things to Improve on

I feel our group hasn't reached our full potential in production skills therefore, we are determined to keep practising to make our next short film excellent, which is an opening sequence of a film based on a particular genre.

As well as this, in my opinion I feel we can introduce more shots of objects and natural everyday things that tend to happen such as, the public walking by to make the scene more realistic and in the real world. I feel by putting this sort of stuff in the scenes, will create a more enjoyable watch for the audience.

Textual Analysis: 'Scream' 1996 directed by Wes Craven

The opening sequence of the horror movie 'Scream' plays on very typical conventions. For instance, the location of where the young american teenage girl is a large house in the countryside. The area is covered in forest and woodland which is a typical setting in many popular horror movies. The teenage girl is also alone in the house which gives the audience the impression of isolation and lonliness the character may be feeling. She goes around doing her normal everyday stuff like making popcorn however, the teenage girl is interupted by a suprsing phonecall. The 'killer' calls many times throughout the night in a short period of time and each time is tormneting the girl by dropping hints that he may be watching her. This technique builds a great deal of tension as the female's emotions in relation to the phonecalls potray how we as the audience would feel if this were going on in our own homes. 


The female actress at the time is making popcorn for herself on the cooker. Throughout the phonecalls and general panic of the teenage girl, the popcorn can be heard cooking and expanding in size as it is heated. Occasionally the camera cuts between the female's actions and the popcorn which gives off a good tensional contrast between the two. For instance, any moment the popcorn can explode which relates to the 'killer'; he will pounce any moment.

Target Audience Questionnaire

Target Audience Questionnaire

Personal Details


Name:


D.O.B:


Address:


Telephone:


Email:










1. How often do you attend the cinema per month? (Please circle answer)






0-2      2-5      5-8      8+






2. What is it that attracts you to watching the horror genre?
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3. What makes you not want to watch a horror film?
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4. What types of typical conventions do you expect to see in this type of genre?
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5. What would you say if your favourite film in this genre? (Please state your reason)
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6. What would you say is your least favourite film in this genre? (Please state your reason)
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7. Who is your favourite actress/actor in this particular genre?


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8. On what format do you prefer to watch this particular genre? (Please circle answer)


Cinema      DVD      Online      Other






9. What film certificate rating do you usually watch? (Please circle answer)






U      PG     12      15      18

Textual Analysis: The Hamburg Cell (2004, Directed by Antonia Bird)

For this textual analysis, I watched the opening sequence of the film 'The Hamburg Cell'. This film is in the thriller genre due to the various conventions portrayed in the film.








Firstly, the first scene the audience see in the film is a group of foreign men driving towards an unknown destination. While this takes place diagestic sound is edited into the scene. High tempo music can be heard throughout their journey which gives the impression to the audience that they are the way to perform a heist of some sort. However, this is not clear as the director has purposefully left the audience asking questions and wandering what is about to happen after they arrive. As well as this, whilst the group are driving, the camera shows a establishing shot of the whole city to let the audience know where the film is set and a great percentage of the audience will recognise the city and instantly get an idea of what the film is going to be about.






Another scene in the opening sequence of the film shows a group of men in a religious environment. The audience can tell this as again, diagestic music is once heard, however this time in the shape of violins. Whilst the violins are being heard, a religious, wise elderly man is preaching and even maybe brainwashing to the group of men about the pain and suffering certain military groups have caused. The violins combined with the elderly preacher's dialogue give off an hatred and eerie feel to the scene. As well as this, throughout the speech real life cut scenes of people who have been brutally murdered are shown and are portrayed as being the imagination of the group of men. All in all, the cut scenes provide the viewers with a better insight into what the preacher is talking about. Diagestic sound plays a major role in the overall feel of suspense in this film. To mark the start of the imaginational real life cut scenes, the preacher character forms his hand in the shape of a gun and pretends to shoot. A real gunshot sound is added to this range of movement by the character which I feel entices the viewer.

Task 2: Research into Exsisting Products (Horror)

Horrors

Horror films are designed and set up to make the audience jump out of thier skin and feel uneasy whilst watching.

Good suspense filled horrors, use a technique where you watch a little bit of the scene to know what is going on then scene is cut for your mind to fill in the gaps. (Sort of guess what has happned to the victim). For instance, a film may show a murderer about to saw off the victims hand however, the scene cuts and your are left to fill in what has happend in your mind. The directors use this technique to get into the mind of the viewer and make them even more aprehensive.
The majority of horror films play on suspense and tension which is dragged on throughout the film.

The settings of horror films are usually in dark places and places that you wouldn't like to be in if you had a choice. For instance, a dark forest is a usually setting which is found in horror films. Other settings include houses/cottages in the middle of nowhere; maybe in the countryside.

After analysing several horror films, diagestic sound is added to certain scenes of a film which gives the impression that something uneasy and frightening is about to commence. Instruments are used to create mysterious music. As well as this, environmental sounds are added. For instance, when watching the film 'Scream', the opening sequence of the film contain an array of diagestic sounds. Some of which were, a swing hanging from the tree began to sway and screechy sound is heard.