Opening credits ideas

Seven:

This opening is very effective as it has a very particular order in which most opening credits are adapted around; it starts with the name of the production company, then the name of the producer and director, the main actors names and finally the name of the film. During the credits, there are a number of blackouts which draw attention to the white writing as white and black are very contrasting colours suggesting there is a battle between good (white) and evil (black) in the film- possibly a battle of conscience. Whilst the credits are running there are images jump cutting inbetween the text, this is very important as these images set the mood of the film and connote a feeling of disruption and deception. I will use these opening credits as an influence for my thriller opening as this is the look I would like my thriller opening to have.

Wolf creek:

The credits of wolf creek are at the end of the film unlike 'seven' although this is a very common way of showing the credits and it is also very effective! The clip starts with a panning shot of one of the main characters- it is in slow motion and there is no sound- this creates the illusion that the character is in a dream world and he feels numb and self contained.This cuts to a blackout which reveals writing (white) in a font which is very similar to different sized magazine cuttings used to make ransom letters- this strikes fear in the audience. This cuts to a beautiful low angle shot of the murderer walking into the unknown in the australian outback (where the film is set) which is very mysterious and adds enigma as the audience does not know whether there is going to be a sequel to the film or not. This is the cliff hanger which is simple yet effective, it cuts to the list of credits after a long shot of the murderer walking in the outback. The credits start with the main characters names which immedietly draws attention to the actors/actresses, after this there is a long list of all of the other actors then the producer, director, cinematography ect. This is a very effective way of showing the credits yet it does not apply to my thriller opening directly as the credits are run at the end of the film, i will use the idea of the strong cliffhanger and the structure of the credits as an influence for my thriller opening.

Witness 'murder scene' analysis- unfinished

Witness is a drama/romance/thriller released in 1985, directed by Peter Weir starring Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis and Lukas Haas. It had a budget of $12 000 000 and made $4 539 990 in the opening weekend. Witness is about a young Amish boy who witnesses a murder in the toilets of a city train station (Philadelphia).

The clip starts with a medium shot of the boy, it is slightly low angle which shows his significance within the mise-en-scene, his face is framed with a large hat which signifies his Amish heritage- this could represent his innocence as it resembles a halo. His costume is monochrome and the colours blue and black are usually associated with pain and bruising, this could suggest there is going to be violence within the film and some of which could be directed at him. The expression on the child’s face shows that whatever he is looking at is completely new to him and he is not used to being exposed to objects like that, it shows him completely awestruck but slightly nervous. The colours in the scene are dull and the background of the shot is blurred which could suggest that the boy is from a very sheltered background and is finding it difficult to take in his surroundings.

The next shot is a low angle medium close up of an angel statue; this could be classed as a POV shot from the boy as it looks very intimidating and powerful, especially as the boy is so small in proportion to the statue. The angel statue is holding a wounded person in its arms which shows that the statue is a kind of guardian; this would truly astound the boy as he would not get to see art work like this in his community so he may think of the statue as his guardian angel. The symbol of the halo (the boy’s hat) is shown again in the next shot which is confirming that the angel is going to ‘watch over him’, in other word it is implied that he will need help in the near future. The non-diagetic sound is also adding to the feeling of astonishment and admiration.

The cutting to and from the boy to the statue personifies the statue as it seems like the boy is waiting for a reaction from it. The boy seems to feel a true connection with the statue and this is also shown through the camera movement, the shots remind me of shot-reverse-shot which is usually used between people during a conversation- this is why the statue can seem to be personified.

This cuts to an over the shoulder, high angle shot of the boy, interestingly it is over the statues shoulder which could show that the statue is watching over him like a guardian angel. This shot shows the boys insignificance as in proportion to his surroundings he seems extremely small, this is also shown by people pushing into him as they pass, as if he is invisible and no one notices him. This also foreshadows the events which happen in the toilet. From this angle the audience can see how different and out of place the boy looks compared to everyone else which shows that he is clearly not comfortable with his surroundings. The boy’s mother then comes into shot and looks worried, she hurries him away but as they are walking, the boy turns back to glance at the statue which shows he feels slightly attached to it.

This cuts to a long, slightly low angle shot of the mother and the boy, there is an amazing vanishing point in the shot which connotes danger around the corner, this feeling of danger is accentuated when the boy walks into the vanishing point to use the toilet.  

This cuts to a medium, slightly low shot of a man standing in a toilet, he turns, nods and smiles towards the boy confirming that he has just entered the room.

This cuts to a slightly high angle shot of the little boy as he looks at the man and smiles; this indicates his innocence and naivety. As the boy starts walking towards the camera, he disappears out of the shot making the audience momentarily nervous. The mise-en-scene is filmed in a grimy public toilet which has a very good vanishing point which could hint at the action about to happen. Once again a slightly low/long shot has been used to show the size of the room, this is important as it is a very isolated place which is a classic thriller convention.

This cuts to a medium, slightly low shot of a man standing in a toilet, he turns, nods and smiles towards the boy confirming that he has just entered the room.

This cuts to a slightly high angle shot of the little boy as he looks at the man and smiles; this indicates his innocence and naivety. As the boy starts walking towards the camera, he disappears out of the shot making the audience momentarily nervous. The mise-en-scene is filmed in a grimy public toilet which has a very good vanishing point which could hint at the action about to happen. Once again a slightly low/long shot has been used to show the size of the room, this is important as it is a very isolated place which is a classic thriller convention.

Kill bill analysis- UNFINISHED

Kill bill is a Quentin Tarantino film released in 2003 starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine and Daryl Hannah. It had a budget of $55,000,000 and made £22,089,322 in the USA in 3102 screens. Kill bill was produced my Miramax films and is based in the USA.

The opening of Kill bill volume 1 starts with a sound bridge of a woman breathing heavily, this connotes suspense and panic, it also anticipates action to happen in the next sequence. This diagetic sound is used to create the atmosphere of a thriller which is a classic thriller convention.

This cuts to a close up of a woman covered in blood; the audience can see part of a veil behind her head which adds interest as they do not know what is going on in the mise-en-scene. This shot is in black and white which indicates a flashback or memory; it also conveys confusion and a lacked sense of reality. Black and white shot could be a tribute to the auteur directors of the 50’s. The sound in this mise-en-scene is all diagetic, the woman is breathing loudly showing fear and distress yet in the background there is the sound of slow yet persistent footsteps which adds enigma.

This cuts to a low angle tracking shot of someone’s shoes, the costume is very important in Kill bill as the face of bill is not shown in the opening which makes him an enigma figure and also makes him seem more intimidating. From his shoes we can tell that his costume is smart which suggests a powerful and perhaps self absorbed character as he is concerned about his appearence.

Cuts back to the woman’s face, she has become more frightened and distressed which makes the audience aware that Bill is the one who injured her. “do you find me sadistic?” This is the first line of dialogue, this is very fear inducing and it indicates the type of character Bill is which is extremely important as it is an introduction of Bill to the audience, it also shows that he does not take the situation very seriously and sees the woman as a joke. Bill does not seem to be worried that he has hurt the woman which suggests that he is in fact sadistic and enjoys the power he has over his victim.

Bill reaches out and wipes blood off the woman’s face with his own handkerchief which has his name embroidered onto the corner, this shows that the character is very self absorbed and important. We still do not see his face which could mean he has something to hide and there is more to him than meets the eye. The name on his handkerchief could suggest that the name comes up in the film more than the character does, foreshadowing later events. The bracelet on his wrist indicates wealth and importance which is stereotypical of a gangster or someone of that nature.

Animal Kingdom analysis

Animal kingdom is a crime/drama/thriller released in 2010, directed and written by David Michod. It had a low budget of $5,000,000 and is an independent film starring Guy Pearce, James Frecheville and Joel Edgerton.

There are many generic thriller conventions within this film, the use of lighting is particularly interesting as many thrillers use noir, chiaroscuro or dim lighting yet Animal Kingdom is filmed with non-ambient bright lighting as lots of the film is based within a house. The film also uses non-ambient lighting as there is lots of filming done in the day light, this lighting is used to help the consumer to relate with the settings and the characters.

The locations of the film are rather generic of the thriller genre; there are dimly lit streets which connote isolation and danger and wide open spaces which also convey isolation and not being able to hide, it gives a sense of insecurity and panic. The family home of the main characters is a location used throughout the film and this is not typical of the genre, it shows that corruption is everywhere even within a close family and you can trust no one. This location is used to help the audience relate to the characters as it something most people see on a daily basis (their home).

This film stands out from mainstream Hollywood films in many ways, interestingly the actors used are amateur and are not well known, this makes the acting more believable as the audience can relate to them. J did not use much dialogue as he expresses his emotions through his body language which is very effective. Also there are no extreme special effects or CGI which makes it more realistic, as if the audience were watching someone’s life rather than a film. Although this film is very visual, it has an amazing plot which has many twists and turns, it is a very unpredictable film whereas most Hollywood films I have viewed seem to be more visually based and have a very thin plot.

There were many amazingly thought out themes within the film like the extreme contrast between J’s  family and his girlfriend’s, it makes us think that J is very different to his family and that he would fit in with his girlfriend’s family a lot better than he would with his own. It also shows the audience that J’s family are criminals, the scenes in their family home slightly convince the audience that they are behaving in a normal way and that being a gangster is completely acceptable but seeing another families lifestyle makes the audience realise how wrong they are.

The role of the mother in this film is very interesting as there is no father figure in the boys’ life which could be a reason for them all turning out the way they have. They have no masculine guide which makes them respect their mother even more and she is seen as a kind of ‘ queen bee’. None of her sons will do anything to hurt her and they respect her completely, this is something J is not used to as she seems to be in complete control of everything.

There were some extremely brilliant scenes reflecting some generic conventions of the genre, J’s uncle became completely unhinged and ran into the middle of the outback, he was then shot. This shot signifies the wild nature of the sons and shows that they are like animals being hunted in the wild and only the strongest will survive. This is also a link to the title of the film.

Another interesting scene was at the end of the film where J shot pope, this shows that he has overthrown the most dangerous and predatory figure in the household which immediately puts him at the top, this relates to the ‘survival of the fittest’ and also to the name of the film as it shows that he has become one of ‘the pack’.

Layer cake- opening scene analysis (Matthew Vaughn 2004)

I found this thriller very interesting as it has many amazing shots which I could use in my thriller opening. Layer cake is about a drug dealer attempting to retrieve one million ecstasy pills from another group of drug dealers, this is an inspiring crime thriller as it has a very simple plot line yet is extremely cleverly made and there are many twists to the plot which make it very interesting.

The opening scene begins with an establishing shot of a black car door which turns into a medium close up,  the background used in this shot is plain black which connotes danger as the colour black is typically associated with violence and death, this foreshadows events which are shortly about to happen. There is a voiceover (non-diagetic sound) as the car doors are shown, this carries on throughout the opening of the film which makes the audience connect with the main character of the film revealing that the film will be completely focused upon him (Daniel Craig) right from the beginning and it will be from his point of view. This is an effective way to open a thriller as it keeps the audience completely on edge, the dialogue is very interesting and does not tell the viewers a lot about the content of the film but some of the things which are said foreshadow parts of the film as featured in 'Essex boys'.There is an explosion in the car which blows the doors open, yet you do not see the rest of the vehicle; this is shot in chiaroscuro lighting which can make an object look more threatening. The explosion is an extremely good way to begin a crime thriller film as it connotes corruption, power and violence; it also lets the audience know which genre it is going to be as soon as it starts. Just before the explosion the narrator says the phrase “cops and robbers” which completely sums up the films motive-corruption.

The explosion cuts to a very interesting flashback of an armed robbery outside a building, this scene uses very milky non-ambient lighting and is in slow motion so the audience knows it is a flashback, the milky lighting adds tension and mystery and it connotes fire and explosions suggesting the film will be full of suprises. This film has a circular narrative which keeps it very interesting. As the flash back begins the first thing we see is a man walking with a gun, this foreshadows events to come as guns are a very frequent prop within this thriller. There is a tracking shot of the street which turns into a medium close up of a woman’s face, this shot is very effective as it shows the fear in the face of an innocent victim. This is a very significant shot as women are frequently portrayed as insignificant victims in thriller films and are usually dominated by men, this attitude to women is shown clearly within this film as there are only two actresses who have lines and one of them is murdered.

There is an amazing transition shot from the woman’s head to a man’s head which leads to another flashback. This time there is bright, non-ambient lighting which suggests a happier time in someone’s life. The medium close up shows a group of hippies smoking drugs and lounging in someone’s living room, the drugs foreshadow the plot of the film. The tracking shot follows a girl (we only see her bare legs, this shows she is insignificant and is just a thing to be looked at) walking through a hallway, there is a transition shot from the woman walking, to a man walking in a very grey hallway holding a baton which is another signifier of corruption and men being dominant. I think this portrays men's generalised views of women very effectively as the woman is being shown as an object yet the man is shown in a prison holding a baton which shows she is defenceless yet he is very powerful and could be violent. The non-diagetic lighting in this shot makes the tone of the mise-en-scene change from happy to tense and angry. We see that this shot is filmed in a prison canteen, there is only non-diagetic sound (voiceover and soundtrack) and this makes the audience aware that it is still a flashback, this technique makes the audience feel as if the mise-en-scene is unreal as the lighting and the sound are both non-diagetic.

The next mise-en-scene features a tracking shot of a shelf in a shop holding bottles, these bottles are well known companies such as FCUK yet they are selling drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy. This is probably the most important and amazing mise-en-scene within the entire film as it reveals the plot of the film and the reason behind the plot too. The bottles represent a metaphor for the main characters view of the future, he believes that companies will eventually see the immense amount of money conducted in drug dealing and will want to be involved in this industry. This is an amazingly clear connotation of corruption in the modern day as the main character is talking about drug dealing as if it is perfectly fine to be doing it yet he seems to be justifying this by saying there is lots of money involved. Very interestingly, the bottles begin to turn back into modern day bottles letting the audience know this part of the mise-en-scene was a metaphor for the future. As the bottles turn back we notice that the main character is standing in a chemist (non-ambient) which completely contrasts with his view of how the world should be.

We never find out the main characters name which is extremely interesting as it gives the audience something to think about when the film has ended and is very enigmatic. This is a very interesting technique as it shows that even though we have been following the plot through the eyes of the main character, the audience do not know the character at all as they have been out smarted by him throughout the entire film.

Thelma and louise image analysis-( Ridley Scott, 1991)

Characters:

This shot clearly shows a woman holding a gun to a man’s head; this challenges typical thriller conventions as the male is usually domination the woman. The woman is holding a gun which also challenges stereotypes because the gun is a symbol of masculinity and power, something which is not conventionally associated with a woman and she is seen as a ‘femme fatale’ The facial expressions make it clear that something has happened to aggravate Louise and she is dominating and getting her revenge. The man looks slightly worried yet it seems as if he takes her as a joke, he doesn’t think she will shoot him and this portrays most men’s views on women. Thelma is in the background of the shot which connotes weakness and shows she is the victim in the situation; you cannot see her expression but from the way she is standing it is clear that she is distressed.

Camera angle:

The shot is a medium close up so the action is easy to see, this also makes the characters expressions clearer so the audience can see their emotions. Through this angle we can see from the characters body language that Louise is domination the shot which shows that she is domination the situation, it also shows that the character at the back of the shot (Thelma) is vulnerable within the situation yet still important as she is still in the shot; she is seen clearly yet seems insignificant to the action.

Lighting:

This is shot in non-ambient lighting which can seem threatening to the audience as it is focused to draw attention to certain aspects of the mise-en-scene. The barrel of the gun is the brightest part of the scene which draws attention to the main prop and the left side of the man’s face is lit up to draw focus to his emotions. The background of the shot is not as bright so Thelma seems to blend into her surroundings.

Props:

The gun is the most symbolic prop within the mise-en-scene as it represents power and conformity. People sometimes use guns as a warning and a way to change others into either being a better person or into being more of a threat, this gun symbolises the man’s life being out of his own hands and him suddenly being dominated and manipulated by someone else. The man’s costume is very simple and his shirt leaves him slightly exposed which could reflect the vulnerable position he is in within the shot.

Location:

This scene is shot in a car park which is a generic thriller location, they are surrounded by cars yet the car park seems to be empty yet this is not clear in the shot. The emptiness of the car park can make the characters feel alone and isolated from the public, the dark lighting also adds to this effect as the characters are not able to see around them.

Essex boys analysis

Essex boys was released on the 14^th of July 2000 in the UK; It is a generic crime thriller featuring drugs dealers, guns and gangsters and is directed by Terry Windsor. Essex boys was a low budget film predominantly shown at independent and art house cinemas, it was distributed by Pathe-UK and Miramax home video which are known for distributing independent and foreign films, this means the film could already have a  pre- existing audience. When the film was brought out it was shown in 54 UK screens and made £111, 548 in the opening weekend which is a particularly low profit, even for a low budget independent film.

The film opens with a typical thriller location- a gloomy garage. The mise-en-scene features a very prominent vanishing point which immediately adds tension; the chiaroscuro lighting adds to this effect and foreshadows dark, horrific events to follow. The light is coming from above the character so his features are not distinguished, this can suggest he is trying to hide his identity and he is not really certain about who he is or what his purpose is.  The location connotes entrapment and isolation which is a classic thriller convention. Billy walks to the light switch and flicks it on which then reveals more of his surroundings, it shows cobwebs and clutter in the corners of the room yet you still only see a small part of the garage as there is a very good vanishing point which adds enigma to the scene. There is only diagetic sound used at this point of the film which I think is very effective as it makes the character seem alone and isolated, you can hear his footsteps echoing throughout the room.

Billy enters the car and there is a voice over (non- diagetic sound) which is from his perspective, we immediately see that the film is based around this character and would be his point of view, this also makes the audience engage with the character. The voice over starts with the phrase ‘I’ll try anything once me, except bestiality, and maybe Morris dancing’. This is a strong cultural signifier as we can hear that the character is from Essex, it also shows the audience a little about his personality because he makes a joke within the first sentence which shows he does not take himself too seriously. As the character enters the car (another generic thriller convention) we can see his features for the first time which also gives the audience an insight into his personality, age and importance within the film.

The film then cuts to a POV shot of ‘Jason’ as the voice over describes him, the camera angle is supposed to surprise and shock the audience when Jason is revealed yet it also gives the impression Billy knows he is there. It then cuts to a medium close up of Jason showing his features and his costume which is very important as his costume implies he is a thug/ gangster. The expression on his face is very ‘hard’ and he seems to be glaring, this is showing his violent personality straight away and suggests hatred of all people, even himself. His violent attitude makes him seem as if he does not care about anyone or anything and is numb to any remorse.

The film then cut to a shot of Billy’s car driving on an industrial road, the lighting is ambient giving a sense of realism which the audience can relate to yet the sound switches to non-diagetic (soundtrack) which builds tension. There is a tunnel ahead of the car which is a good vanishing point, as the car nears the entrance of the tunnel it builds tension even more. Once inside the tunnel the car is immersed with non-ambient lighting. The tunnel signifies isolation and the unknown; the shot elongates the tunnel making it seem never ending and also makes it look like the barrel of a gun which foreshadows events to come. This cuts to a medium shot of Billy and Jason in the car, there are lights very cleverly reflected in the windscreen of the car which looks like the bars of a prison cell which also reflects the crime and corruption within the rest of the film.

There is a panning shot of a sign saying ‘Essex’ which is another cultural signifier.

As the pair reach their destination there is a medium close up of Jason frowning before he gets out of the car, not recognising that Billy is there. A medium close up of Billy’s face makes the audience aware that he is slightly worried and scared yet he does not want to show his emotions to Jason. Jason enters the factory (ambient lighting) and very publicly attacks a man who is clearly the reason for him being there, the diagetic sound makes the attack seem more realistic as the audience can hear the man’s reactions to each hit he gets. The fact that the attack is in a public place strongly displays corruption within modern society as during the fight there is only one person who tries to help yet even that is a weak attempt, everyone witnessing the attack is either cheering or watching with interest which suggests this is a normal occurrence in this part of Essex. The film seems to encourage a bad image of Essex and plays on the fact that it is a ‘dangerous’ place.

After the action, it shows the featureless, anonymous white van driving along an empty road which is yet another typical thriller convention which adds enigma. The van arrives at the Essex marshes which is a featureless open space with no one around, this means it is extremely isolated from the public and has a very good vanishing point, the shot seems to go on forever giving the impression that there is no way out. This location also reflects jason's predatory personality and it is clear that this was not the first time Jason had been there for ‘business’. Billy says ‘And that was that, job done.’ I think this sums up the way these men live, it shows that they either have to accept what was going on or become a victim and an enemy. It then cuts to a long shot of the enigmatic white van exiting the marshes.

Thriller films i have viewed.

1.) Wolf creek- This is a 2005 film set in the Australian outback, it has typical thriller characteristics such as the psychotic character, the innocent victims and the setting.

2.) Pulp fiction- Ths is a 1994 film directed by Quentin Tarantino. This fits in with the thriller genre along with many other genres such as action. The typical thriller characteristics it includes are settings such as the basement and car boot, it also conveys addrenaline through the characters chosen such as hit men and gangsters.

3.) Ashes to ashes- this is not strictly a thriller film but the series has many thriller elements to it, such as the settings, the mystery and the themes throughout such as murder.

4.) The Matrix- this is not strictly thriller (it is sci-fi thriller) yet it has many thriller elements, this was made in 1999 and directed by Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski. The thriller characteristics introduced within this film are assasins, psychotic individuals and locations such as lifts, on top of a sky scraper and tunnels.

Winters bone (2010) Review

Haunting, Grim, but somehow Optimistic

8 August 2010 | Winter's Bone is about a 17 year old girl name Rolly Dee set out to find her father who put their house for his bailbond and then vanishes. If she doesn't find him, her family will be turned out to the Ozarks. Challenging her outlaw kin's code of silence and risking her life, Ree hacks through the lies, evasions and threats offered up by her relatives and begins to piece together the truth.

Let me, just begin by saying this movie is perfectly acted. Jennifer Lawrence gives an Oscar Worthy performance as Rolly Dee. I was surprised how excellent she was, because I was sceptical of her in the "The Bill Engvall" show. But she turned me to a believer and boy, she can REALLY act. Her performance actually surpasses some of Meryl Streep's performances. Hopefully the Academy will recognize her and give an Oscar nomination or maybe even a win! The film is well directed by Debra Granik and is easily her best work yet. She definitely has potential to become the "new" Kathryn Bigelow. Anyways the film is really bleak and powerful, but it still has a tone of hopeful in it. Very interesting and mesmerizing movie to watch. It is a bit slow at times, but trust me it never gets boring or dull.

10/10 Highly recommended.

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Neo noir, with a twist of white trash., 1 February 2010

Author: dwight ward from United States
This shockingly diverse film offers numerous delights to the viewer. Beginning with simple title credits, and ending in a beautiful display of foliage. Winter's Bone will grab your attention and never let go.

Based on a novel of the same name, it's the story of a seventeen year old girl who is searching for her missing father. Sound like something you've seen before? Well it's not! The basic premise surrounds itself with remarkably new idea's and situation's. A feeling of noir envelopes the screen and each character and action leads you on a most enjoyable journey. The Actor's and more importantly Actress, are dug so deep into their characters that there isn't a single fake second.

Debra Granik does an amazing job in the director/screenwriter role. Her vision entangles the story together and propels it forward to the unforgettable climax. The world that is shown through this film is one i was unfamiliar with, but after seeing it all i can think about is the life those characters lead. And how different it is from my own.

A film that deserved the grand jury award at Sundance and one which I plan to see again. Winter's Bone is a film for everyone, be you young, old, or in the middle. Just walk into the cinema with an empty plate and you will leave filled.

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