Lighting helps to convey mood and atmosphere. It can be used to guide the audiences attention to a particular object, person, emotion or gesture. Lighting is significantly important in films as it could mirror the characters thoughts and emotions. The use of light can influence the meaning of a shot.
Angles of lighting
Under lighting comes from below the person. This tends to have a disorting effect on the character.
Top lighting comes from the above, highlighting the features of the character and creates a glamorous look.
Back lighting source is behide the person, sihouttes are created.
Types of lighting
Low-key the lighting is dark with small areas of light, which also creates shadows. Sub-genres of thrillers that may us low-key lighting include; action and psychological.
High-key the lighting appears more natural and realistic to our eyes. Sub-genres of thrillers that may use high-key lightings include the following; crime, action and sci-fi.
Colour in scenes
Colour in scenes have different connotations to them and give different interpretations of the scene.
In the opening scene of the moon and the gutter we see colours such as red in the begining which may be used for love, romanace or death. The use of the colour white of females dress may show her innocence and represent purity. However, we start to see the use of blue and the scences get darker and darker. Blue may represent feeling cold or fear. On the other hand low-key lighting has been used. Most parts had dark scenes with areas of ligh which created shadows and created fear for the audience. The use of lighting has created fear,mystery. At the end of the scene we see the colour red again but this time its blood and we can infer that the colour used in the first scene actually represented danger and death.
Mise en scene is an expression used to describe aspects of a threatre or a film production. It is a frence term that means ' placing on stage '. This has four important elments which include the following;
Setting and Iconography
Lighting and colour
Facial expression and body language
Costume, hair and make-up
These elements allow the producer to express emotions as well as setting a mood which shows the state the characher is in.
Iconography and Setting
Iconography is the use of images and symbols to potray a subject. In films different objects are used to control how the audience feels and set expectations. By using these objects we can mirror the characters emotions to the audience. Thrillers use things like knife, gun, blood, money and mirrors to create mystry and fear. For example picture of innocent people used in a film could create a obsessive theme.
Iconography and sub-genres
Iconography used in crime genre may include blood, knife, gun, phone, handcuffs and dolls.
Also iconograpy used in action films may include cars,knife, guns, drugs and money. These are all typical things that are used in different genres to allow the audience to feel and experience the same things as the character in the films. It also creates suspense which is state or condition of mental uncertainty or excitement. It makes the audience ask questions such as what will happen next, for example a knife used in a scene may lead the audience think if it will be used by the protagonist.
Setting
Setting is where the scene is set. Examples of settings used in differnt sub-genres would include the following; Psychologicaln thiller would be in a house, rehab, hospital or a forest. Also a action film may be set in a busy road, house, forest or a bank.
In this scene different objects have been used in order create emotion from the audience. The use of blade may scare the audeince as blade is something sharp and you could easily cut yourself with it.
Body language is a way which shows the movement of someone and the way they present themselves. Different characters in different films would use differnt body language style in order to mirror what type of character they are to the audience.
The conventional body language of antagonists are up right, relaxed, emotionless and confident. This shows that they dont care about anything thats going on around them, however this type of body language make the audience scared of the character could actually do. Protagonists or victims on the other hand are innocent, someone whos not confident. This represents them as individuals who are innocent and scared of what might happen to them.
This is the last scene in the movie Se7en. Body language and facial experessions have been used significantly in this scene. It shows how much main the protagonist is in as he breaks down and how Brad Pitt bends down to calm himself down. However, this is not the case with Kevin Spacey which is the antagonist in the film and he stands uprigt which makes him look strong, confident and strong.
Facial expressions are how characters emotions are patrayed to the audience. The look on their face, and the meaning this creates the audience. The way characters express themselves will be conventioanal to many other films of the same genre. The conventional facial expressions of antagonists are evil, scary and calm.
From this task I have understood how facial expressions and body language is used in films. Also how these create the character and how it has meaning. This allows me to understand the signficance of these features in films to be able to attract the audience. I will make sure that when I make my own thriller I will know the importance and use these effectively.
Sounds are one of the most important features in films. Sounds are used to represent understandin for the audience and to create more meaning about the character and their emotions. Thrillers would have sounds and soundtracks to allow its audience to feel what is happening in the scene and it create a response from the audience.
Diegetic sound - these are sounds which are a part of the film, examples include the following; radio and jukebox. The sound can be on or off screen. The sound that we hear doesnt have to appear on the screen it could be someone speaking or laughter. Whatever we hear as the audience it allows us to know what is going on in the scene.
Non-diegetic sound - These are sound which are not part of the film and it is added on afterwards examples include the following; soundtrack, sound effects and voice overs. Usually these sounds are added after the film is taken and added on to make specific scences more effective. Voice overs are one example of non-diegetic sounds and these can be a way to explain events and this can make the scene easier to follow and understand or even make some scenes more scary with the voice tone used.
On screen sound-You can see where the sound is coming from examples include; radio and car. On screen sounds help the audience what is happening as the audience can see where the sounds are exactly coming from.
Off screen sound - You can hear sounds but you cannot see where it is coming from. Examples include traffic sounds and coughing. For example a basketball game and as the audience you can hear people cheering and shouting.
Parallel sound- is when the sound you hear in a film is what is expected. For example, a scene with children playing on a beach the parallel sounds would be laughter, talking and the sea.
Contrapuntal sound- is when the sound does not match the expectations of what you are viewing an example of this is Jaws,
theme song "dur dur dur", this sound does not match with the happy
images which confuses the audience and also builds up tension and
suspense for the audience.
Editing is one important part in all types of films. It increases the mood of the scene and attracts the audience. Editing is very common in film trailers and allows the audience to see what they will be watching. Film trailers are a great way of connecting an audience to a film. Typically speed and mixture of editing style techniques are used. Its a easy and effective way of advertising films to people.
Speed of editing
Films are joined together at certain points. The length of each shot determines the pace of the film and help determine the mood.
There are two types of editing when we talk about speed and these are slow and fast editing. Different genres would use different editing tecniques, for example we are more likely to see slow editing in romance and comedy movies and fast editing in horror or thrillers. Fast editing would build tension. Also fast editing can be a chase scene, however in thriller moves this fast editing is used when someone is getting attacted or getting chased.
Slow editing is when clips are put together at a normal pace and this is to capture action.
Fast editingis when clips are put together at a fast pace and this is to create suspence in thrillers and scencs that include fighting and chasing becuase it allows the scences to look more realistic.
BATMAN BEGINS FIGHT SCENE
Straight cut
This is when one shot moves into another shot and it is away used in editing to not confuse the audience. This makes it easier for the audience to follow and makes the audience feel as if the film is real.
There Joker Party Crashing
Fade to black
This is when on shot moves into another shot and there is a black filter in between the two shots.
In the Se7en trailer fade to black filter is used, it created mystery, builds tension and attracts the audience to get them wanting to watch the whole film.
SE7EN TRAILER
Wipe cut
This is when two seperate shots slide into another.
Dissolve
This is a smooth transaction of one shot into another without confusing the audience.
Editing types
Reaction shot
Shots that are usually used as a cutaway in which a subject reacts to a pervious shot. The shot shows the characters reaction towards something and without this shot the audience would have no clue of how the character reacts and this wouldnt be effective enough.
180 degree rule
This is when the scene is filmed either on the left or the right of the characters. Imagine a hyothetical line drawn between two actors. The camera must not shoot on the other sider of the line and the reason for this is because it ca confuse the audience.
Shot-reverse shot
This is mostly used in films where a conversation is taking place and one shot follows another in a quick pace. This is shot allows the audience to see the facial expressions of both characters. From the facial expressions of the characters the audience can understand what they are actually thinking and it allows to reflect both of the characters emotions.
Jump cut
A drastic camera movement that is noticeable to the eye.
Montage
Putting different images together at different pace, it creates exitment.
For example, montage is used in trailers.
Conclusion
From this research task I now know the different editing tecniques and how they look. Also the reseach that I have carried out on editing allowed me to make a decision on some of the tecniques I could use when making my own thriller production. For example, the 180 degree rule is one area that i must give importance to and i also want to use fast editing as it is typically used in action and thrillers. However, when using these tecniques I will have to use them carefully in order to create something effective to the audience. If I do use these tecniques it will allow me to create tension and suspence.
Cinematography Cinematography is way of looking at the movement of the camera and how the shots are framed. The different angles allows the audience to see the characters and the importance of their roles and respond differently. Camera angles include the following;
High angle- this means that the camera is positioned above the character looking down.
Low angle - this means that the camera is positioned below the character which has the opposite effect of high angle shot and makes the character look in status.
Shot sizes (camera stays still)
Close up - This shot shows the characters full face focusing on the emotion of the character rather than the scene or what is happening in the film. The audience is presented with the characters emotions and this would allow them to experience the same emotion e.g. character is scared of something.
Extreme close up allows the audience to see something in detail, this could be the characters face to show emotion or an item to create tension.
Medium close up - shows the characters shoulders and face.
Establishing shots are typically used in the beginning of the film to show the audience where the scene is taking place and also this creates mystery. Usually thrillers star of with a establishing shot and a action causing sound effects or music.
Over the shoulder shot - this allows the audience to see what is happening in front of the character. This camera view helps the audience to feel like the character and experience the scenes.
Medium shot - this shot is taken from the character waist and upwards, it captures action well.
Long shot - shows the characters full body.
Extreme long shot is created to show the scene and the character.
A long shot shows the whole body and shows the actions of what the character is doing. It also gives a understanding to the viewer about the type of place they’re at and allows us to infer what’s happening. The example I’ve given shows what the character is doing and this reflects on the surrounding that he is in.
A establishin shot has been taken in this scene from the Lord of the Rings. This is ussed to show the audience where the scene is taking place and this creates mystery.
Close ups are used to show the characters facial expressions. The image below is from the 'Psycho' movie which is showing a close up to the characters face and it clearly shows the face allowing ther audience to understand the emotions of the character. The charter looks slightly angry, looking straight.
This is also from the Psycho movie, it shows a close up to the character face. This shows the female victims face is wet suggesting that she is in the bathroom. Her facial expression clearly shows the fear that she is experiencing. Camera movements
Planning shot - this is were the camera moves across.
Tilt shot shows the camera moving up and down.
Crane shot - the camera is placed on a crane and its movements are flexible which is usually used in the opening scene or chase scenes.
Filming techniques
Point of view is is when the camera shows the scene from the characters point of view.
Hand held - the camera moves as the character moves.
Conclusion
I have create a post on what cinematography is and what it includes. This research has allowed me to understand what cinematography is and how I may use the different techniques when creating my own production for AS Media studies. I think that I might use the low angle camera angle to show high status and also use close up to show emotions to the audience. Also an establishing shot would allow me to introduce where the scene is taking place and also to create mystery and allow the audience to wonder what is going to happen next.
