Comparing Psycho to an Amateur Film

The first thing that I have noticed is that during the title sequence, the amateur film doesn't contain any special effects that have denote a special meaning. instead, just bold text appears on the screen without any transitions. This is a great difference when compared to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. This is because during Psychos tile sequence, lines run across the screen and the structure of the text snaps in and out of place. Many people believe that this has been done to denote how a psychos personality can "snap." This emphasises how much time and consideration went into the Psychos title sequence ass opposed to the amateur thriller film.

(Amateur title sequence)

(Psycho tile sequence)

The second thing that I noticed it that the camera in the amateur thriller film was shaking throughout. this is very bad, making the movie look very unprofessional. The camera did not shake once during Psycho, emphasising how important a steady camera is when making a movie.

The third thing that i noticed was how the amateur movie footage was un-necessarily dark. Having the movie very dark was very bad because it makes it hard for viewer to see what is going on. This can lead to them not understanding the whole movie. This emphasises how essential having the correct lighting is within a movie. having the correct lighting is not only used to make the movie easy to see, but it is also used to create a certain atmosphere. For example, dark lighting is used frequently within Psycho to create an scary and uneasy atmosphere.   

(un-necessarily dark footage)

Final big difference was the characters props and costumes. The props and costumes looked rushed.For example, the killers costume looked very out of place, making that whole scene seem unprofessional and rushed. This was a big difference that instantly set apart the professional from the amateur film.

(Amateur mise-en-scene)

Shutter Island- Trailer Analysis- Part Three

Straight after this, he is about to run into a man in a white lab coat, he stops in shock as though he is not supposed to be there. In this scene he is wearing white clothes which raises question to whether he has been confined and is being held as prisoner. The man looks like a typical 50's doctor with a smart suit on and the classic white lab coat. He says "going somewhere?", this is very intimidating as the audience is wary of everyone working in the institution and will find it hard to know who to trust. The main character's name is shown 'LEONARDO DICAPRIO' and the same build-up music starts. The detective is shown looking angry and insane with papers floating down around him. There are quick shots of police and the detectives together as the bald man says "i have built something valuable here and i'm not going to give up without a fight". From this the audience now knows that the detective has found fault with the institution and wants it to be shut down, the only thing they don't know is why. The following scene shows the detective with a gun, kicking down a door and frantically running up stairs, we hear his partner say "what if when you were looking into them they were looking into you!". Quick shots show the guard looking stern, the detective looking around the corner, walking through the rain, gates closing. His partner continues "now they have us both, here, now!" This confirms that the detectives are unsafe in shutter island. A scene is shown of doors flying open and heavy rain pours over them both. The detective is questioning more patients, he says "let me see your face, LET ME SEE YOUR DAMN FACE NOW". The patient slowly turns around and reveals his stapled slash-cut on his face and a lit matchstick to match the one the detective is holding. In the next scene the detective picks up a gun and screams "DON'T MOVE DON'T MOVE!" we can see him losing his sanity the more we see of the trailer. A shot of a young girl and her mother is shown with a big explosion in the background, then a girl underwater assumingly dead, perhaps the young girl shown with the blonde woman. Fast paced editing is used to show the next few shots which is a patient walking through the corridor, the detective running with his face as though he is screaming and him walking through a room with fire in it. This shows there is more to the film, the audience will question the relevance of the woman and child. A blonde woman is shown opposite him and he reaches out for what is in her hand, a gun, the next shot shows him holding the same woman who is grey and turns to ash in his arms, with ash falling from the ceiling of the room. The past few scenes of the trailer have a theme of fire, so the audience can now make links that maybe the blonde mother died in fire which would explain ashes. The daughter was not shown using fire, but instead a small body in water, which could show she died from drowning. Even faster shots are shown of papers flying around; the bald man watching something and showing him again shows his relevance to the film, a girl laying in snow/ash opens her eyes. Perhaps the same girl who was with the blonde mother. Then the detective walking with a shotgun. The name of the film is shown before the last scene which is supposed to make the lasting impression. The bald man speaks, over a scene of the detective walking. "Wouldn't you agree when you see a monster, you must stop it", a bald patient attacks the detective, pushing him against the fence and dragging him along the walkway. When he attacked, a loud sound effect was used to make the audience jump, this would appeal to viewers who like this sort of genre. Finally there is a black screen and the words 'FEBRUARY 2010' are shown. It finishes on two shots of credit sequences.

Shutter Island- Trailer Analysis- Part Two

The trailer then, at nearly one minute in shows the main storyline of the film. A photo of a girl, close up to show importance. From here instead of transitioning using the slow blinks of a black screen, they flash the black screen twice to build up suspense and the quick blinks go with the music. He summarises the plot through his dialogue in the film "so this prisoner escapes in the last 24 hours" and the bald man replies "we don't know how she got out of her room, its as if she evaporated straight through the walls". This tells us the detectives are here to investigate the disappearance of this girl and where she could be. There are quick shots of the girl covered in blood and mud with loud fast paced music, this shows that the woman is capable of murder and also this scene gives off the feel of it being a psychological/horror thriller too. The detective speaks to the other saying "we haven't heard the truth once yet, but no-one will talk, its like they're scared of something". As soon as he finishes speaking, lightening and thunder is shown at the institution, this would raise questions for the audience. It creates mystery to why the institution wont talk and why. From here, the camera shots are fast paced. A man is shown telling the bald man and detectives that the lines are down and even radio. The next shots are showing heavy rain in the darkness while the detective speaks "whatever is going on here, its bad". In this scene, the detectives are getting into a car. The dialogue and them leaving gives the impression that something drove them out of the institution, especially as the detective looked back at the bald man with a look of betrayal or confusion, this makes the audience question who can be trusted. Music builds up faster and faster, the classic thriller music, leading to the next scene of the detective sitting opposite a patient and he says "we need to ask you some questions okay?", she is shown to pass him a notebook, the music increasing in speed, which is then revealed to say 'RUN'. The build up music stops and instead slows down. The camera focuses on the word and music slows down, sounding as though something is shutting down, this links to the upcoming scene of lights going on and off. The detectives walk towards a room resembling a warehouse, the voiceover speaks "do you know what fear does to the mind?" there are quick shots of the dark, jail-like looking institution and of a nice looking apartment before showing two different shots of the detective's face. In the two settings shown, it is as if he has two personas each for the setting. This is shown through mise-en-scene, particularly his clothes.
Papers are shown falling onto the floor and being ruined this could represent how the situation is getting out of control. "It corrodes it, rusts it", while this is being said, a patient's wall is shown to have engraved 'stop me before I kill more' on it. Once again, this highlights the mental state of patients in the institution. What looks like the detective's hand, is shown to be touching the wall, this could show he is trying to get in the same mind-set as the patient. He turns around fast with a face of fear and lights a matchstick, peering into a cell. By him doing this, he provokes a patient to attack him. "This is a game" he finally gets a patient to speak, "you're a rat in a maze". The patient is warning the detective he's going towards a dead end. The detective asks "who did this to you", the concern on his face shows he is caring more about the patients compared to before when he stated the opinion that they should not be treated with calm. He is suspecting the institution workers instead. 

Shutter Island- Trailer Analysis- Part One

Shutter Island



The trailer shows the production company 'Paramount' and eerie music starts to create the mood. It shows quick shots of a ship and then a close up on a man while another speaks saying "they give you a briefing on the institution?". The word institution normally references towards a mental asylum or a place for dangerous people to stay. This is then confirmed when the man replies "all I know is that its a mental hospital...". It shows an island. We now know that to get to the institution you have to travel on water this would create mystery to why the institution is made to be there, why would it be so hard to access? The audience can now link the island to the name of the film 'Shutter Island'. The trailer uses flashes of a black screen as transition between each scene. It shows a police van drive by and the man continues on to say "for the criminally insane". The director's name is shown first 'A MARTIN SCORSESE PICTURE'. "Gentlemen, welcome to Shutter Island" the man and his associate are escorted in with policemen. The trailer attracts attention to a scene where police men are asking the men, who can now be identified as 'federal marshalls' or detectives to hand over their firearms. A close up is shown of their badge, this builds suspense. They are visiting a dangerous place but cannot be armed?
The policeman gives some information on Shutter Island by saying "we take only the most dangerous, damaged patients, ones no other hospital can manage". Information like this gives the audience more to worry about and forewarns that the danger in the film could emerge the patients. It then shows a patient with very little hair and a pale face who puts her finger to her mouth, this gives an insight on the mental well-being of the patients. The trailer then snaps relevant parts of the inside such as a sign saying 'restricted area authorized personnel only'. The detective speaks "these are all violent offenders right here.." the camera zooms into a syringe and a small medicine pot, "they've hurt people, murdered them in some cases". As the detective was saying this, a shaking hand surrounded by a small pool of blood was shown and a gun retrieved. This shows that the patients are very much capable of murder. The next part shows a bald man in a suit speak "in almost all cases, yes. We like to provide them with a measure of calm". The detective seems to be against the 'calm' treatment of the patients when he says "personally doctor, I'd have to say screw their sense of calm". 

Location Report- The Basement

The Basement

  

Forthe kidnapping part of our film we chose to use Jessica's basement because we thought that it had the right feel about it as it is dark and creepy.

 

This is where Lora will be tied up and stuck sitting there.

 

 

This is where we are going to have the silohuette of the man looking over Lora.

 

We are going to put the top/ jacket on top of here so that it is easily seen for Lora and the audience.

 

Taken - Trailer Analysis

Taken

The trailer begins with slow paced editing, showing how happy and calm the daughter is during her birthday.

After the daughter mentions wanting to going on trip to Paris the screen rapidly flickers black and white several times. Also, a sudden low pitched sound (sounds like a lightening bolt) happens simultaneously. This is done to suggest danger related to the trip to Paris.

After this, the editing becomes very fast paced. This is done to increase the tension, making the audience focus.

The next shot is a close up of a phone ringing. After the daughter answers her fathers phone call, the screen splits into two sections. One section shows the father and the other shows the daughter. This is done to show the actions of both characters as they talk to each other over the phone.

The next shot shows the daughter talking to her father, frightened as she sees her friend (Amanda) being kidnapped. As the daughter panics, the screens splits back into two sections showing the daughter and Bryan mills (the father) talking on their cell phones. This is done to show how professional Bryan reacts at knowing that his daughter is going to be kidnapped. We see Bryan quickly open a suitcase filled with gadgets that will help him uncover the kidnappers identity.

This is done to show how resourceful, prepared and determined Bryan is in trying to find his daughter.

The daughter quickly runs into a bedroom and hides underneath a bed. This is done by several jump-cuts, emphasising how quick the daughter has to hide if she wants to avoid being found.

The screen then splits into 3 equal sections. One section shows the daughter hiding underneath a bed. Another section shows Bryan embracing his daughters imminent fate, saying "they are going to take you".

The next shot is a medium close up of the daughter being pulled out from underneath the bed. This is very effective as the audience sees the daughter suddenly disappearing from the scene. This shot is know to make people "jump" because it is so sudden and tense.

The camera shows the speaker where the man at the other end breathes. Within extremely fast cuts, a beard flashes showing foresight into the kidnapper.  

"I don't know who you are. I don't know what you want. If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don't, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you."

Director Analysis- Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese is an American director, producer, screenwriter, actor, and film historian. Part of the New Hollywood wave of filmmaking, he is widely regarded as one of the most significant and influential filmmakers in cinema history.

In 1990, he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation. He is a recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award for his contributions to the cinema, and has won many awards.

Scorsese was raised in a devoutly Catholic environment. As a boy he had asthma and could not play sports or do any activities with other children and so his parents and his older brother would often take him to movie theaters; it was at this stage in his life that he developed a passion for cinema.

Enamored of historical epics in his adolescence, Land of the Pharaohs and El Cid, appear to have had a deep and lasting impact on his cinematic psyche. Scorsese also developed an admiration for neorealist cinema at this time. He recounted its influence in a documentary on Italian neorealism, and commented on how Bicycle Thieves alongside Paisà, Rome, Open City inspired him and how this influenced his view or portrayal of his Sicilian roots.

Scorsese's body of work addresses such themes as Italian-American identity, Roman Catholic concepts of guilt and redemption, machismo, modern crime, and gang conflict. Many of his films are also notable for their depiction of violence and liberal use of profanity.

Christopher Nolan - Director

Christopher Nolan is one of the best established movie directors of the 21 century. 

Christopher Nolan was born on the 30th July 1970. Being on one the highest rated movie directors of all time, his films have received 26 Oscar nominations and winnig him seven awards.

From just 9 movies that Christopher Nolan has directed, he has generated over $4.2 billion worldwide.

Christopher was born in London. However,  he spent most of his childhood living in both London and Chicago. Christopher began making movies at the young age of seven, taking his fathers camera to shoot short movies of his action figures. 4 years later Christopher realised his dream and began working towards becoming a film director. 

In aspiring to become a professional film director, Christopher Nolan became the president of the Unions Film Society. While in this society, Christopher used his own money to produce 16mm films during his summer break.

Christopher has undoubtedly had an late impact on the movie industry. One film critic, Mark Kermode said that Christopher Nolan was "living proof that you don't have to appeal to the lowest common denominator to be profitable".

Inception - Character Analysis

Character Analysis

Arthur is Dominick Cobb's right-hand man. Although Cobb is the master planner, Arthur is the most logical, skeptical individual of the group. I saw this near the beginning of the film, Cobb was shouting at Arthur for messing up the details, Arthur looked affected and confused as though it surprised him to make a mistake. Cobb and Arthur are like a duo, a 'Batman and Robin', the film shows that both of their works flow and support eachothers. He is the organized one, he does the research, the one making sure everything is in its right place. Sharing dreams is not just a job for him; he finds his work fascinating. As such, he often deals with the details of missions, leaving the grand schemes to the others. His solution to the problem of creating a kick in a zero-gravity environment is evidence of his resourcefulness and knowledge of physics in action. Because his mind is so organized and stable, Arthur is often used as the dreamer for secondary dream levels. Arthur is very knowledgeable about the technical aspects of the World of the Dream and is readily able to explain it to others in very simple terms. He is also very capable at hand-to-hand combat, defeating several guards in the hallways of the hotel. 

Inception - Props

Props

Gun- Common prop used in a thriller and the weapon used by the team and every antagonist
Briefcase- Common prop used, to create mystery until you know whats in there and it is used to carry important objects
Helmet- Motorcyclists wore full black protective helmets in the first level of the dream
Papers- These were used in the hotel room scene when gravity was lost because of the car losing control in the first level. The papers showed that it affected the setting aswell as Arthur and the people in that level.

What are genres? Types of thriller genres?

What are genres

In film theory, genre refers to the method based on similarities in the narrative elements from which films are constructed. Most theories of film genre are borrowed from literary genre criticism.

Types of thriller genres

A Thriller is a story that is usually a mix of fear and excitement. It has traits from the suspense genre and often from the action, adventure or mystery genres, but the level of terror makes it borderline horror fiction at times as well. It generally has a dark or serious theme, which also makes it similar to drama.

• Disaster-thriller: A story including serious and immediate danger, where the protagonist's job is to both survive, and to save many other people from a grim fate, often a natural disaster, but which may also be a terrorist attack or epidemic of some sort.

• Psychological thriller: Emphasizes the psychological condition of the hero that presents obstacles to his objective. Some psychological thrillers are also about complicated stories that try to deliberately confuse the audience.

• Crime thriller: A story that revolves around the life of detectives, mobs, or other groups associated with criminal events in the story.

The effect thrillers have on audience

A thriller provides a sudden rush of emotions, excitement, and exhilaration that drive the narrative, sometimes subtly with peaks and lulls, sometimes at a constant, breakneck pace. It keeps the audience on the "edge of their seats", similar to a sensation of hanging from a cliff, as the plot builds towards a climax. Literary devices such as red herrings, plot twists, and cliffhangers are used extensively. A thriller is usually a villain-driven plot, whereby he or she presents obstacles that the protagonist must overcome.
Common subgenres are psychological thrillers, crime thrillers, erotic thrillers and mystery thrillers. Successful examples of thrillers are the films of Alfred Hitchcock. The horror and action genres often overlap with the thriller. Thrillers tend to be psychological, threatening, mysterious and at times involve larger-scale villainy such as espionage, terrorism and conspiracy.

What is a 'thriller'

A thriller is defined as :

A novel, play, or film with an exciting plot, typically involving crime or espionage.
"A very exciting contest or experience."

 

Thriller is a genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension, and excitement as its main elements. Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods, giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and terror. Films of this genre tend to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-paced.

Inception- Mise en scene (Costume Analysis)

Costume

Fischer- grey suit- everyday suit but slighter nicer to show he's rich
Arthur- shiny waistcoat, dark bungundy tie- striped shirt button done up- hair slicked back same as Cobb- shows importance. Most professional looking, got work to do- real deal- determined
Yusuf- Shirt, button undone. Jacket- not as important, he's the advisor and driver.