The Notebook Opening Scene

The Notebook

Use Of Camera: The scene starts with a establishing shot of a person on a boat in the lake, this sets a sweet romantic tone to the scene and makes the audience relate to it. As it is an establishing shot it shows the setting of the sunset which indicates it is a romance film. The shot then cuts to a long shot of the boat with the main focus on the sunset, the whole frame is tinted red which suggest passion and emotion which are main connotations of the romance genre. The shot creates a peaceful tone and creates a very relaxing picture for the audience. The way the camera is focused on the sun expresses a amorous, nostalgic effect making the audience emphasise with the moment and imagine what the film is going to be about. The shot then cuts to a medium shot following the boat, in the boat the audience can see a figure which looks like a man, creating a mystery and makes the audience wonder who it is. The camera then changes to another medium shot from the side showing the ripples in the water, this shows the pureness and expresses a natural side of love in which this film could focus on. The scene then carry's on until we see a woman looking out the window at the boat, this is the only other character in the scene which could suggest the film is going to be focused on their love.

Sound: The scene starts with non diegetic music which creates a peaceful atmosphere, this is the only sound we hear for the whole scene. This enhances the mood as it makes the audience feel that they are on this calming journey of love as the person rows down the stream. This creates a sense of innocence and the picture that is being painted is really natural and pure. The way non diegetic sound is used is it compliments the rest of the scene nicely as it creates a harmonious effect. The reason the director has used non diegetic sound is to attract the audience and invite into this classic, simple scene. The non diegetic sound also refers to the genre as the naturalistic way the scene has unfolded is a clear indicator of the romance genre.

Narrative: The scene doesn't give the audience much of an idea of what the film could be about, however from the scene the audience can start to question who the person is on the boat. As the boat is following a long stream it could suggest that the film is going to be about a journey following a couple through their whole lives, this gives the audience an understanding of what the film could be about. The way the shot is tinted red could suggest emotion as the colour red connotes passion and love. These two aspects could refer to what the film is going to be about.

Genre: There are many indicators that this is of the romance genre the main one being the sunset which portrays a romantic, passionate aspect of the scene. The setting connotes romance as it uses a sunset which typically is used in romance films. The non diegetic music indicates that it is a romance film as it is calm and peaceful making the audience feel happy and content. The idea of the boat rowing down the lake connotes romance and love and attracts the audience into the film.

Dear John Opening Scene

Dear John

Use of Camera: The scene starts with a high shot of the main protagonist, from this angle the audience can see that he is injured, this makes the audience feel sympathy for him as he is seen as weak as the camera is looking down on him. The camera then cuts to a medium shot of John as a young boy, showing him happy, which is a contrast from the moment he's in at the moment. This flashback shows the audience, him as a young boy at a coin factory. The camera then cuts back to him being injured with a extreme close shot of his eyes, this shows him to be dazed and not in control. The camera then changes to another soldier which is a low shot looking through the main protagonists eyes, this angle shows him to have authority as he is above john and is shouting at him. Also with the close up the audience can see the terror on his face showing the brutal situation they are in. The camera then keeps cutting between the flashback and the present moment showing john to be helpless as the last shot is a high shot of him lying on the floor. This suggests to the audience that he is vulnerable and not the strong brave soldier in which you'd expect. The last shot makes the audience emphasise with john as the audience feel sympathy for him and this entices the audience to watch more.

Sound: Before the scene starts there is non diegetic music which creates a sense of sadness and suggests to the audience that the scene will have an upsetting aspect to it. Then scene then moves on to the music being interrupted by a non diegetic voice over, the voice is of the main protagonist telling the audience what he was thinking when he was shot. As the voice over carry's on, the melancholy music is still present, this enhances the mood and attracts the audience more into the film. The scene then cuts to a flashback with diegetic sound of coins falling, however this could reflect on the situation he is in as the coins falling and hitting the ground sounds like bullet cartridges falling in gunfire. The scene then keeps cutting between the flashback and the present moment, the audience can hear the diegetic sound of war and destruction showing how bad and brutal the situation is for him. Near the end of the scene John says that the last thing that entered his mind was "you" which creates a mystery as the audience is left wondering who he is speaking about. The use of the non diegetic sounds intensifys the atmosphere of the scene and nicely compliments the diegetic sound of the war which creates a sense of realism and lets the audience picture themselves there.

Narrative: The scene starts with a soldier injured who the audience assumes is the main character as the scene is mainly focused on him. The scene in then introduced to a voice over of the main character explaining what has happened, this captures the audiences attention as they start to understand and realise that he has been shot and start to feel compassionate for him. The scene then cuts to a flashback which shows the main protagonist John as young boy at a coin factory which shows a contrast in the situation he is in. It then cuts back to the war in which we see him lying helpless and it makes the audience start to wonder what is going to happen and if hes going to be okay. The story focuses on a soldier who is speaking to a loved one in a voice over  and we are seeing the events of the past in which he is speaking about. Also the title 'Dear John' suggests that it is going to be about a soldier as it sounds like a letter from a loved one. The audience is left wondering who he is speaking to, this attracts the audience to watch more to find out who.

Genre: The film is of the romance genre and has many indicators such as the helpless soldier, making the audience ephasise more with the character, also the sad music indicates that it is a romance film as it enhances the sad nature and makes the audience connect with the character. The way the title is used suggests it is a letter and could be a letter from a loved one writing to John who is fighting for his country. In the romance genre there usually is a dominant brave man which is clearly shown as he is a soldier in war. Stereo typically soldiers are strong and brave and are usually the main protagonist in a romance film as the role shows authority. Romance films are aimed at young women as it makes them wish for a man who is courageous and heroic like John.

Romance target audience

Romance

Films of the romance genre are usually aimed at young women and couples, this is because couples can connect and relate the story with their own relationship and women like to picture themselves being the female character who rely on the man to be the dominant strong one. This conforms to the stereotype that men are strong. Women also like to picture themselves with the masculine male protagonist who protects the female and takes care of her. Romance films usually focus on pure love in which the couple have to overcome many obstacles to make their relationship work. This attracts the female audience and make them want the type of love that is being shown, the traditional love where a man loves and takes care of the woman. Also woman prefer this genre to others because its light hearted and is happy not like horror in which many people die. The romance genre caters to the fantasies of woman and they enjoy the passionate and emotion aspect which comes with it, where as men prefer action as this caters their fantasies of being a hero.

Action target audience

Action

Many action films are aimed at men aged 13-25, this is because men enjoy the violence and gore that the film has to offer, also men don't really focus on the story, but the amount of guns and explosions. However women usually like to focus on a story making action films less appealing as it lacks a deep story and mainly focuses on killing and exaggerated explosions. Men like to watch action films as it makes them feel empowered and makes them picture themselves as the main protagonist who saves everyone at the end. However women can connect to an action film if the main protagonist is a woman as this subverts the stereotype that women need men and creates a sense of feminism which could also empower the female audience. Action films are usually aimed at a younger age as many people have immature thinking and want to see guns, bombs and deaths where as an older audience would crave a deeper story which has more meaning rather than a pointless unrealistic story.

Horror Target Audience

Horror

Horror films are mainly aimed at men and women aged 15-25 this is because men, more than women, like the thrill and excitement you feel when you watch this genre. The audience watch the film in the comfort of their own home, so they feel protected and safe, however still amerce themselves in the world of the horror movie. Although many people think men watch more horror, a study has shown otherwise. Roy Morgans results show that women watch more horror than men with 58% of the audience females and 42% being men, this could be that women like the feeling of being protected by the alpha male protagonist and therefore connects with the story more than men. Most men usually watch horror films for the gore and violence and the thrill however women get a sense of security which conforms to the traditional stereotype that men are strong and brave and protect women from danger. Horror films are designed to take people out of their comfort zones and put them in an environment which is quite frightening to them however still can watch from their cozy front room.

Conventions of the action genre

 

The Vow Opening Scene

The Vow

Use of Camera:

The scene starts with a high angle shot panning down into a medium shot of the couple walking out the cinema. The shot then cuts to a front view low angle shot, this makes the audience empathise with the characters as they seem happy and this makes the audience look up to the couple and relate the situation with their own lives. The camera then cuts to a long shot of the setting looking from the perspective of the characters eyes, this gives the audience a view of the setting and the romantic sight of snow, which is an indicator of the romance genre. It then returns to the low angle shot of the character as they huddle close showing the intimacy and love of their relationship. Also the couple are the main focus in the shot as they take the centre of the screen, this captivates the audiences attention to focus on their love and relate with the couple. The camera then cuts to a close up shot of the girls face from a side view, this shows the steam coming from her breath and her shivering showing a vulnerable side of her. The shot then changes to a low angle shot looking out the front windscreen at the man as he clears snow of the car. This shot suggests that he is strong and dominant as he induces the cold while the female gets in the car to warm up. This conforms to the stereotype that woman are weak and have to rely on men. The shot then cuts to a close up shot from the back showing the characters in close proximity suggesting they have a strong bond in their relationship. The couple then drive off. the camera then changes to a over the shoulder view with the main focus on either one of the characters, showing their facial expressions and the chemistry between the couple. This make the audience wish to have this relationship as everything seems perfect at the moment. The car then stops and the camera pans around the car showing the couple together in the car. This then changes to a medium shot of both characters sharing an intimate moment completely oblivious to the danger which is approaching. The shot shows the back windscreen with bright lights coming towards the car, this engages the audience and grabs their attention. The camera than changes to a long shot of the car and the lorry approaching showing the range in size of the vehicles and preparing the audience for what is going to happen. This then changes into a close up shot of the impact in slow motion, this this shows the detail of the crash and shocks the audience as it was unexpected. The girls then smashes through the front window screen in slow motion showing the detail of impact and lands on the bonnet in which then the camera zooms out into a high shot of her laying there. This suggests to the audience that she is going to be the most injured and also the angle shows her to be helpless and in a fragile state.

Sound: The first part of the scene features non diegetic sound such as the music which is quite calm and happy, it also is the main sound other than the diegetic sound of the characters dialogue. This sets a particular mood for scene and gets the audience to empathise and engage with the characters. The next scene uses more diegetic sound of the couples breath, this shows the audience more of the setting and starts to entice and transport the audience in to the environment of the film. The scene when the couple are in the car also features diegetic sound to create a moment and show the bond and connection between the couple. The couple then stop and then very faint non diegetic music starts to play this creates a mood change as the audience can see the truck approaching. Also the scene also uses diegetic sound to express the impact of the collision such as windows smashing, skidding of the tires and the initial crash. By using a mix between the two it creates a realism effect with the non diegetic sound enhancing and aiding the effect on the audience. The non diegetic music starts to increase as we see the devastation unfold and the woman crash through the window on to the bonnet.

Narrative: The scene starts showing a happy couple coming out the cinema, this engages the audience as they see the affectation and love that they share and relate it with their own lives. The audience then start to see the setting and that this romantic sight could also be a very dangerous place if they were to drive. The couple then get into the car and drive off listening to a song that enlightens the mood. The car then stops and the couple then share an intimate moment, however in the background the audience can see bright lights approaching this alerts their attention and attracts the audience to watch more. From the impact the girl crashes through the front windscreen onto the bonnet, this leaves the audience questioning whether the couple are going to be alright, or will they be injured. This makes the audience want to know more and keeps them hooked and makes them watch more.

Genre: There are many genre indicators in the opening sequence such as the close intimate bond the couple share with each other which shows the audience how strong and how much their love is for each other. Also the setting is a indicator that it is of the romance genre as snow usually connotes romance and love and happiness. Also the scene conforms to many stereotypes such as the man being strong and dominant and the woman being weak and vulnerable. The target audiences would mainly be woman who watch it, the idea of a powerful willing man who looks after the female is appealing and makes the audience connect with the characters and reflect the characters upon themselves. The mise on scene, such as the costumes, indicate that it is the romance genre as the woman wears a bright red coat. The colour red usually connotes love and passion however could connote danger which could foreshadow future events.



Scream Opening Scene

Scream Opening Scene

Use Of Camera: the scene starts off with a close up shot of the telephone, which shows the audience the main focus of the scene. The shot then pans upwards into a medium shot of the girl talking on the phone. The girl then hangs up the phone and it rings again making the camera go back to the close up shot of the phone, this creates tension as the audience are wondering who is calling. This is then followed by another medium shot showing the girls facial expressions which suggests that she is happy and comfortable with the situation. She then puts the phone back down and the camera shot cuts to a long shot of the house she is in. The house looks like it is big and in a remote location which is an indicator and connotation of the horror genre. The camera then pans down showing the swing swaying which creates tension and suspense. The camera cuts into a close up of the popcorn and then tracks to a medium of the girl however also in the shot the audience can see a set of knives which creates a sense of horror as knives represent death. The girl then lifts the knife out of its hold and wields it so the audience can see; this connotes danger which could be foreshadowing future events. The camera shot then changes to a tracking shot of the girl walking away, which shows she is innocent and is oblivious to what is going to happen.

Narrative: The scene starts with the phone ringing, she then picks up the phone and starts speaking, the audience are not sure who the person is on the other side. This causes tension as the voice sounds mysterious; this makes the audience wonder who the person is. Once the girl puts the phone down the mysterious caller rings again, which gives an ominous effect as we realise it's the same voice from earlier. The same pattern keeps happening and in the end the girl becomes seductive and starts to flirt with the guy who she believes is not a threat. The guy then rings back and he starts asking lots of questions, this alerts the audience as they know that he could be a threat as it’s of the horror genre. The couple start talking about scary movies, this is ironic, and as the film is a horror movie. The stream of questions make the audience feel tense and they start to feel concerned for the wellbeing of the girl. The man on the phone then confirms the audiences suspicions as he says "I want to know who I'm looking at" this immediately captures the girls attention and creates fear within the audience. This is the first moment in the scene where the girl realises that she is in potential danger and starts to panic.

Genre: The scene has many connotations of the horror genre such as, a large house in a remote location which is way too big for the occupier and also the way the director uses the theme 'fear of the unknown' which creates suspense and creates more fear as not even the audience knows what the threat is yet. Also the scene conforms to stereotypes of women being weak as she is seen to be helpless and it is inevitable that she will be killed. Also another stereotype is that women are stupid (bimbo) which seems to be the case in this scene. After many clues as to what could happen she stills stays the innocent venerable girl as she was at the beginning talking to a random man and giving him details. Only up until the man says and hints that he is looking at her. Also the scene features many other horror connotations for example in the shot where she was leaning over the counter which also prominently features a set of knives which connotes danger and also is main indicators that this is a horror movie.

Sound: The scene starts with some diegetic sound of the phone ringing; this brings the audience's attention to the phone as it becomes the main focus of the scene. The characters then start exchanging dialogue with the women using more of a seductive flirty voice where as the man is more mysterious and the audience are unsure of the intention of the call. Following this is more diegetic sound of the phone this creates suspense as the audience assume it’s the same mysterious voice as before. The shot then cuts to a outside shot where we hear more diegetic sound however it’s only the sounds of nature which express that she is in a remote location and that no one is around to help her if she’s in danger. This makes the scene more dramatic and increases the disturbing nature of what might happen. As the girl is leaning over the counter she pulls out a knife this creates more diegetic sound of the knife being removed from its hold, this chilling sound causes more tension and the audience have an indication of what might happen. When the women is near speaking to the man he says "I want to know who I’m looking at" at this point the scene introduces its first non diegetic sound which is a deep low sound to show the mood of the scene is changing, and that this mysterious man has intentions of more than just speaking on the phone. This part of the scene changes the mood and the audience become more involved with the plot.

Woman in Black

Opening Scene Analysis For Woman In Black

Use Of Camera: The first scene opens with a extreme close up of a teapot suggesting that it is set in the past, most likely Victorian era. It then pans to a close up of the doll, which gives a sinister effect and creates fear and tension. It then changes to a medium shot showing the three girls playing together however it also creates tension as the audience is wondering what is going to happen. It then pans to another doll which enhances the audiences fear as usually a doll has connotations of ghosts and possession, which could also suggest to the audience what the film is about. The shot then changes to a long shot of the three girls all focused on a particular thing that the audience can not see, this makes the audience curious as to what it is and why it is there. The girls all together look away to another thing as if they are being told what to do and are under control by someone. The camera then shows a medium shot of the window which the girls were looking at which makes the audience question what is going to happen. This is then followed by a medium shot in which the camera is moving back as the girls walk towards the window and the camera, this shows the girls facial expressions which are plain and looks like they are possessed and do not know what they are doing. The shot then changes to a long shot behind the girls showing them reaching for the window, this gives the audience an understanding of what is going to happen next. The camera shots at this point are almost in slow motion which creates more tension as every action is being emphasised. It then cuts to a close up of a doll which looks creepy and links back to the idea of ghosts and demons being main connotations of dolls in horror films. The shot then changes to a long shot of the setting and also a mysterious figure at the edge of the shot which then helps the audience understand what the three girls were looking at.

Narrative: The scene starts with three girls having a tea party, the usual game of a young girl however this particular one has an un-easy feel about it, which is then confirmed as the girls look at a particular figure off screen, this makes the audience question what is going to happen. The idea of the director using children creates more fear as children are seen usually to be sweet and innocent and are easily led, which conforms to the stereotype that young children are pure which makes the audience feel sympathy for them. The children then rise up and start walking toward the window, this makes the audience wonder why they are doing this and what has caused them to do this. The girls then reach out  for the window and then jump out - this shows the antagonist to be very powerful and can harm many people by possessing them to do the things it wants. The audience are then at this stage wondering what the film is going to be about however they also know that it is going to be about a demon who harms people and there must be a protagonist who defeats or destroys it. As all these questions are being asked by the audience this makes them more engaged in the film as they want to know what is going to happen.

Sound: In the first scene there is non diagetic sound which is quite child like and is similar to the 'jack in the box theme' which is used for effect, as children are the main characters in this scene. This then changes to another non diagetic sound of the clock ticking which creates the sense that something is going to happen as a clock usually represents a timer or counting down to something.The volume then increases to create more tension as the girls walk towards the window the audience can hear diagetic sound of the dolls crushing and the tea pot breaking which makes the scene more intense. The girls then jump out the window and the audience then hear a scream and a thump which creates horror in the audience as they understand what has just happened.

Genre: The scene starts of with many connotations of the horror genre such as the dolls and the old Victorian setting, also the non diagetic sound is a clear indicator that this film is a horror as it is quite sinister and creates tension. The use of children being the first victims is another main connotation as it brings out the nurture side of the audience as they want to protect these innocent children. Also at the end of the scene the children jump out the window creating a chilling effect as death and and murder are the main focus of a horror movie.

Zombieland Opening Scene Analysis

Zombieland Opening Scene Analysis

Genre:

• This is a horror/comedy
• The features of horror in the film includes zombies, gore and violence.
• The feature of comedy include the humorous voice over which has a step to step guide of how to survive the apocalypse.

Narritive: From the narrative we can tell that it is set in a post apocalyptic world. We can tell that the film is going to be a horror/comedy genre as the voiceover was quite comedic and the person who we assume is the protagonist makes jokes and doesn’t take it seriously. From the narrative we can see that the story going to be about survival but more of a comedy aspect to it

Camera Angles: At the starts of the scene there is a close up of the American flag with the background out of focus but slowly starts to regain focus and the audience are able to see that the car is upside down and the white house in the background. The zombie enters the scene it is a high camera angle to show that the zombie is more powerful than the guy filming. As the zombie is eating the camera guy the shot turn into a close up of his face which shows him eating flesh in close detail. It fades into a bird’s eye view of the earth to show that it is spreading all over the world

Sound: As the first scene introduces itself there is loud music playing which is not coming from the world of the film. The music is of the American national anthem however it sounds quite distorted which could express the destruction in the world. after the music has stopped the audience starts to hear the sounds of what's happening in the surroundings such as cars burning and groans from the zombies.

Saw Opening Scene

Saw Opening Scene Analysis 

Genre: The audience can tell that this is a horror as it has many indications showing connotations of the horror genre such as, low key lighting and non-diegetic music to create tension. Also other indicators are that the character looks like he is in a remote unused place where no one can hear his screams, this is a typical situation in which the victim is in.

Narrative: as the clip starts the audience sees a man tied to a work surface in a dark old creepy room, this makes them question why and how he got there which intrigues the audience to watch more. Once the killer 'jigsaw' appears we understand that the man is here because he is done wrong and hurt others, this immediately arouses the audience’s attention as they start to wonder if this is justified and is 'jigsaw' a vigilante who kills for good reasons. This opening leaves the audience asking lots of questions about the rest of the film. However as this is the 5th installment in the saw franchise the films would already have an established audience which know that jigsaw is actually a crazy killer who kills people in horrific and horrible ways.

Use Of Camera: The scene starts with a close up of the man’s face and from this we see that he is the victim and in some sort of danger This shot clearly highlights the terror and fear on his face and gives the audience a bit more insight into what is going to happen. The shot then pans around him giving the audience a look at the setting and the dark room, creating tension as they know something bad is going to happen. This then changes and the camera then zooms out into a Birdseye view of the victim lying helplessly on the table. This shot creates and effect of empathy as the audience feel sympathy for the man and as the camera is above him it also expresses that he is in a vulnerable position and may be perceived as weak. The camera then focuses on a TV in a close shot of who the audience presumes is the person who did this to him showing a puppet like figure speaking which creates fear in the audience as the figure is quite disturbing with red lines on his face showing that he is powerful and strong and that he’s also a psychopath.

Sound: As the titles are rolling, the audience gets a sense of what the film is going to be about as the music is quite chilling and sharp, which is a typical convention of a horror film. As the scene starts the audience can hear non diegetic sound, which is scary and starts to create an uncomfortable atmosphere. This is then followed by some diegetic dialogue where we here the victim struggling and from this the audience can tell this man is in danger and is terrified for his life. The audience then hears more diegetic sound but coming from another character who is not present in the room, the voice is a low deep tone and sounds evil, from this we know he is the villain and that by what he saying we can tell he has no empathy or sympathy for the guy who is about to die. When 'the game' starts the audience can hear the swinging motion from the pendulum as it gets closer to the man this creates tension as we wonder if he is going to escape or not.

Conventions of the romance genre

Romance Conventions

• The heroine should initially be involved with a possessive creep, a catatonic Wasp, a perfectly harmless fellow she's been dating for years, or Mr Wrong. It is never clear to the audience what she sees in him.
• Boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy finds girl again
• Pushy but lovable mother
• Unlikely pairings
• Harried, befuddled father
• Damsel in distress
• The male lead has a best friend who is a lovable slob. Not until he can ditch this slob friend is he ready for the big time, relationship-wise.
• Love is an obstacle course
• The female lead almost never ends up with the man she was originally supposed to spend the rest of her life with.
• The gay neighbor or co-worker who knows what you're going through because he's had his heart broken so many times himself.
• Replaces boyfriend, the guy she replaces him with may work with his hands or live in Montana or raise bees.

Children Of Men

Children Of Men

Use of Camera:                                                                                                                                        The scene starts off with a high angle shot in the cafe looking down on the extras as they focus on something we can only assume is a TV.  As the characters look ahead, we see a man who is pushing through the crowd to get to the front. He is not fazed by the news story that is being told on TV, to get to the front, this shows us he is the main protagonist as he pushes right to the center of the scene. The camera then follows him outside where the audience sees a long shot of a futuristic London which they can relate to, and be taken out the film for a second to imagine and wonder. The camera then pans across and starts to follow the main character once again, he then stops and the camera then pans around him into a long shot in which the explosion happens in the background. The camera quality becomes quite natural after this as it looks like the camera man is running giving that natural, realistic effect, this then turns into a long shot where we see a girl holding her own arm walking out the explosion.

Sounds:

At the start of the scene the audience can only hear diegetic sounds coming from the world of the film, such as the news report on TV, which is the main focus of everyone attention and gives an indication of what the film could be about. Also in the background we can hear cars and traffic which gives the effect of making the audience feel like they are in the film and are experiencing this event. We also hear some dialogue from the main protagonist which is very faint but noticeable as every other person is silent. The man then walks outside and we follow making us feel like the audience is there with him experiencing everything that he hears, sees or feels. During this we also hear traffic and the usual commotion that you would expect from an early morning. The audience also hears an explosion which captivates their attention as they wonder what’s happening, this is then followed by screams which tells the audience people are hurt and creates tension and fear. Also the audience can hear an alarm which also alerts them and others to what’s happening. During the scene every sound used is a diegetic sound and has no non diegetic, this is because by only using diegetic sounds it gives an effect of realism and makes the audience feel like they are.

Narrative:

From the clip the audience can tell that the main protagonist is disaffected from society and not fazed by the news in which the youngest person has died, this makes the audience question that he is and what is his back story. The man then leaves the coffee shop and goes outside where he adds what we can only assume is alcohol to his coffee which gives the impression that he is under stress and not following the norm of society. Soon after this there is an explosion which leaves the audience wondering why and if it was connected to the news story they just heard a second before.

Genre:

The genre of this film is a thriller sci-fi, it has mainly connotations of a thriller but also the setting is set in a futuristic London. This film is clearly a thriller as by the end of the opening scene the audience is left questioning everything that has just happened in the scene. Also thrillers normally have a plot focused on a disaster such as in this case the youngest man dying at age 18, also the whole realism aspect of the film gives the effect of a thriller as the audience feel involved and the plot becomes more literal and they become more involved within the film. 

Conventions Of Horror

The Conventions Of Horror

Settings:

*Small communities or isolated places.

· Urban environments
· Dark streets

· Abandoned houses/cabins
· Basements
Use of Camera

*Camera work is very expensive and not natural; high and low an angle connotes fear.
*POV shots are important because they allow the audience to see the world from the killers or victims eyes.
*Long shots are used to establish a setting and also create tension.

Iconography:
*Visual style: often dark colours like red & black (links to evil, blood and danger etc)
*Common objects include: weapons, masks, icons of the supernatural/religious etc.
* The iconography of the monsters helps to connote extreme fear, disgust, and terror.
*Low-key lighting can help to create dark shadows and unfamiliar shapes in the blackness. Lighting can be motivated in the world of film (e.g. bonfires, fireplaces & torches)
*Props help us to further identify horror genre. Specific props can be identified with a certain villain or character (e.g. chainsaws, machetes, knifes, firearms, costumes)
Narrative Structure:

*Classic narrative structure largely made applicable to the horror genre but it can either be left for closure or maybe perhaps leave room for a sequel and enable a franchise (e.g. Friday the 13th, Halloween & nightmare of Elm Street)
*There’s always a ‘hero’ or protagonist, a man or a ‘final girl’ of the film, keeping with the normal conventions of the genre. Usually the hero must go on a mission or quest to kill or solve problems in order to save themselves or others around them.

Character Types:

· The main protagonist, often the victim/hero of the movie.
· The villain, often a monster, mutated freak, alien or serial killer .
· The stupid teenagers that always get killed
· Creepy children

·Themes:

· Good vs Evil    ·
· Revenge    

· Supernatural · Beyond death
· Zombie Apocalypse

Most succesful director

The most succesfull director

 

In my opinion the most succsessful director is Steven Speilberg an American filmmaker and business magnate. He is considered one of the most popular and influential filmmakers in the history of cinema with films such as Jurassic Park, War Horse, Saving Private Ryan, and of course the idianna jones films and much more. Speilberg has covered many genres icluding his sci-fi futeristic in his early years of film making, leading to him challenging themes such as the Holocaust, the transatlantic slave trade, war, and terrorism. He has won three acdemy awards, and nomited for seven, nine of the fims he directed were up for the best picture oscar.  In 1987 he was awarded the Irving G. Thalberg Memorial Award for his work as a creative producer. Steilbergs main influence was by the public, he used the public as a way to tell which direction to go on,also another influence is the relationshipship with his father 'daddy issues'. Steven Spielberg, one of the industry’s most successful and influential filmmakers, is a principal partner of DreamWorks Studios. Formed in 2009, Spielberg and Stacey Snider lead the motion picture company in partnership with The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.

 

 





Genre conventions

Genre	Conventions	Film Titles
Action	Usually in an action film there is a main character who is good and the hero who is against a bad person. This consists of lots of violence and non-meaningful deaths, many of these films are predictable and quite repetitive.	Die hard Bourne films The expendables
Comedy	Many comedies feature a venerable person, this type usually focuses the comedy aspect around their life. Other comedy films focus on unrealistic plots which wouldn’t happen in everyday life.	Tammy Carry on films Naked gun films Monty python
Horror	In horror films usually it features a targeted victim and lots of killing and death. The setting is creepy dark and mysterious. It has unexpected twists in the plot and lots of moments that make the audience jump.	The decent Paranormal activity Saw
Fantasy	In fantasy films many have a setting on another planet and include creatures that don’t exist. They usually have characters with powers and special abilitys.	Mortal instruments Avatar
Romance	In romance films usually two attractive people fall in love but have to overcome many problems such as an ex to make it last.	The Vow The fault in our stars The other women           The notebook

XMEN - Analysing genre

XMEN (2000)

Analysing genre...

XMEN conveys lots of aspects of an action, fantasy and adventure film as the first two minutes include an un-ordinary setting set in Poland in 1944 with the character who is expected to be the main character is in a concentration camp. The idea of a concentration camp brings the effect of destruction and sadness which suits the idea of mutants and these 'monsters'. During the opening two minutes the audience can hear rain and thunder which could portray a melancholy theme which could relate to a horror however as there are lots of German soldiers the audience knows that guns and fighting are main connotations of a action film, and mostly likely will expect many battles during the film. Many action films feature the first opening scene as a back story which shows a background and how they become to be how they are, for example a hero seeing his parents killed who then seeks revenge in the rest of the film. The camera shots also show effect as when the Jews are walking in the mud it is a high shot which shows how they are being looked down upon and shamed and as the character is in this crowd the audience may feel that hes weak rather than strong which is a main feature of an action film, a hero starting of as weak but then becoming the strong mighty hero at the end. Although this film is an action adventure film we don't see many features of it we see many features of horror such as screaming, thunder and rain, and also the thick wet mud that the Jewish have to walk through.

Favourite Film

Favourite Film

My favourtiote film of all time is 28 weeks later,which is a film set in an apocolypse where people despartely try to surive.



Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

Cast:

	Robert Carlyle Rose Byrne Jeremy Renner Harold Perrineau Catherine McCormack Mackintosh Muggleton Imogen Poots Idris Elba Genre:  post-apocalyptic, science fiction, horror film.

Plot: 6 months after the original outbreak in the UK, the US army help secure the virus in a small part of london so the survivers can start again, however not all is how it seems... The deadly virus spreads like wildfire once again as mistakes are made and consequences are learnt. However its not all doom and gloom as a boy who inherited imunity from his mother is among the survivors. Once the US army realise this, he is the most important person there and a struggle to get him evacuated by helicopter is epic.

This extremley well made film is one of my favorites as i enjoy a heartfelt story of desparate people who will do anything to survive, where loyalty and human rights do not matter as its 'every man for himself''.