Individual Analysis 1

SEVEN

Seven (SE7EN) is a crime drama (thriller) that I've chosen to analyse. This thriller stars big names such as Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt. The film has gripping and experienced characters which contribute to making the film successful. This opening sequence is a good example to choose because it has a wide variety of different types of mise en scene, sound and lighting.

The first scene is where the two main characters (Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt) meet and the majority of the scene initiates the relationship of these two, it is shot at a low angle shot to show dominance and power between the two characters and others who look up to the police force. The auteur, David Fincher, uses motifs which are reoccurring styles through out his films including Seven such as;

• his use of silhouettes - where characters are frequently in the shadows where you cannot make out their faces. 
• his films usually involve serial killers and/ or finding them. 
• they often end with the villains "winning" or not receiving proper punishment.

A combination of shots are used to open the film, we see a male character (Freeman) who is a detective or police officer. A point of view shot shows how Freeman's character is neatly organised by having equipment laid out precisely in order and the use of shot/reverse shot here shows how he places each piece of equipment onto his body (like placing pens in the trouser or shirt pocket) connoting that this man has a certain lifestyle which involves being precise.  An over-the-shoulder shot shows Freeman's character in the mirror, he is adjusting the collar on the shirt that he wears, connoting that this character is clearly a man of pride, and likes to take care of his appearance.

The metronome in Somerset's room. 

Later, the use of shot/reverse shot shows Freeman's character William Somerset, talking to a younger detective, David Mills played by Pitt. During this shot combination, the use of dialogue shows that the detective are cautious, connoting that they're having to hide something from the public eyes and ears.  Shortly after, we change location again to Freeman's house. There is a close up and shallow
depth of field on the metronome, it ticks slowly away, this can possibly connote that Freeman's character's time is running out, or the first chapter of this story is just ending leading into the rest of the film.

Also, within the opening titles, there is many camera angles, point of view shots to show the detective looking at case files, close ups on a stop bath in a dark room, and a strand of string with a hand sewing together pages of what seems to be a case file. The use of all fours technical areas here made a very good opening to a thriller film.

In the opening scene of the film, we as the audience begin to think that this film will have a rather calm storyline and not focus much upon horror. However, the mise-en-scene presented in it's succeeding scene immediately contrasts that, by having a body that's covered in blood and there are many detectives, investigators and police within the scene connoting that a crime scene is always a busy atmosphere.

In this film, it doesn't seem to be just the personalities that contrast between William and David (Freeman and Pitt) but also the clothing too differentiates. Freeman's clothing consists of a formal dress code, a shirt, tie, trilby with a slick trim and a long cream/if not brown overcoat. However, Pitt doesn't follow this dress code as his character. He sports a black leathery jacket, and still keeps some sense of formal dress by having a shirt and tie, a smart casual look is what you'd call David's style. Freeman's costume connotes a high sense of formality. Throughout the extract that we watched, a lot of diegetic sound is used, street noise, and sounds of photographs and footsteps in the crime scene all relate to the conventions of the real life situations explored.

As explored within camera shots, a metronome is used before the titles, it connotes this significance of time running out which we as the audience are almost expected to assume that it signals the near ending of William (Morgan Freeman). Throughout the title sequence, there are lots of layered sound used, the use of interference/white noise. The effect of this discording sound doesn’t fit in with the title sequence. Relating to when we were talking about William's possessions. The use of an insert combined with an eyeline match connotes how significant these objects actually are to Freeman's character's life. Later on in the extract, at the point where Freeman and Pitt's characters are exchanging dialogue, the continuity system makes the editing appear almost invisible, so the conversation and number of shots flow continually.

However, this isn't always the case, there are a few jump cuts in parts of the extract which can connote that this film's pace may not be calm at all, but more in fact an Action Thriller.
The editing of the title sequence is very well done, it's very dramatic, and emphasis that the camera provides isn't lost by editing, it creates a rather sinister overtone when using monochrome colours
combined with tints of red.

Media Techniques: Sound

SOUND

Diegetic Sound: Usually refers to the sound that clearly and believably actually exists in the films world. Cn either be on or off screen. For example, character voices, sounds made by objects. 

Non-Diegetic Sound: Sound that is not visible on screen. For example; narrators commentary, sound effects for dramatics. 

Synchronous Sounds: Sound that is matched to certain movements occurring in the scene. For example, when footsteps correspond to feet walking.

Asynchronous Sounds: Are not matched with a visible source of the sound on screen. Such sounds are included so as to provide an appropriate emotional nuance, and they may also add to the realism of the film. 

Sound Motif: A sound effect or combination of sound effects that are associated with a particular character, setting, situation or idea through the film. 

Sound Bridge: Sound bridges can lead in and out of a scene. They are one of the most common transitions in continuity editing styles, one that stresses the connection between two scenes since their mood, usually suggested by music, is still the same. 

Class Analysis

What is a title sequence?

A title sequence is the opening of a film, where it shows the names and give credit to the actors, directors and other crew members who helped make the film.

What is the purpose of the opening sequence?

It allows the viewer to to see what the film is about and to really engage in the film, it also may introduce some of the main characters and build the storyline.


Memento: Opening Sequence

The opening title sequence  or the film memento begins with credits sequence introducing the cast and crew. The  protagonist played by Guy Pearce and Chris Nolan. The blue font connotes the sadness of the character and a deeper meaning. The text is far apart showing the gaps in the characters memory. The transition used is called a slow fade. 

For most of the opening sequence the camera seems to be stationary.
Throughout the opening sequence several close up are used such as: of the photo which is shaken, a shot of the blood running down the walls, the bullet laying on the floor and Teddy’s glasses laying upside down on the floor. Low angle shots are used on the main character during the flashback, which shows Leonard to have all of the power.

A lot of the shots in this film are close-ups of things making the key feature to appear in the middle of the shot.The credits appear slowly and transition very slowly. The credits are blue and in capital letters meaning the character is sad and possibly has an mental issue that needs to be dealt with. The blue connotes sadness and coldness. The letters in memento are spaced wide apart; the gaps could represent the characters memory. In the polaroid is a dead body and it’s a close up shot. This opening scene has many narrative hooks which leaves the viewer wanting more as the sequence is played in reverse.

The non-diegetic sound in the film is melancholy sounding which could show that the man in the opening sequence did not want to murder the man and feels sad about it. The diegetic sound is the sound of everything moving in reverse and then the viewer hears shouting. This may leave the viewer very tense and wanting more as they will be guessing what happens next.  The characters equilibrium is quite dispassionate and unaffected by the polaroid of the person who he murdered, this could show that he is most likely used to this or is very desensitized to this kind of thing. The enigma for the audience because we as the viewer start to question if this character is aware of what he is doing.

Reverse matched cuts in where the sequence of events after looking at the picture seems to be replaying backwards – such as the picture itself going back though the camera at the start of the film. This may confuse the audience to what is really happening. The film starts with a close up of a photo. The photo is shaken and then shown to the camera again. Every time the photo is shaken the image that is meant to be on it slowly disappears. This is symbolising how Leonard sees the world because in a few minutes of Leonard doing something the memory of it fades and he cannot retain that information anymore. This may confuse the audience until they have seen the whole of the film.

Media Techniques: Editing

Continuity Editing

Is the dominant editing technique found in narrative feature films, television and web content. it is used to unify a series of disconnected shots into a scene that plays out in a logical fashion. Part of what makes editing unique is it allows the viewer to see something they wouldn't in real life.

Match on Action

is an editing technique for continuity editing in which one shot cuts to another shot portraying the action of the subject from the first shot.

Non Continuity/ Discontinuity

Discontinuity editing intends to be visible these effects call attention to themselves and violate viewers of expatiation of continuity.

Eye-line Match

Is based on the premise that the audience will want to see what character on screen is seeing. The eye line match begins with a character looking at something, followed by a shot of what they're looking at from their point of view.

180 Degree Rule

An imaginary line is created across two characters, on on right, one on left and on on right making it very clear the relationship between the two.

The rule can be broken if the director is trying to show the actor/actress as confused or disoriented and maybe to show chaos.

Passage of Time

When a period of time is shown through editing to show that time has passed without taking "real time".
















Adobe Premier Pro

Media Techniques: Mise en Scene

Mise en Scene;  (noun) /mize un scene/ meaning the arrangement of scenery and stage properties a play. The setting or surrounding of an event.

Production Design

The overall look of a film that illustrates the setting and visual style of the story. This includes the design of the sets, location choices, choice and supervision of props.

Costume Design

Costume, hair and make-up can be an instant indicator to us about a characters personality, status or job. They can immediately indicate location society. They can signify a lot of meaning or internal thoughts about the character.


Props 

Props are objects on a set that are small or light enough to be carried by actors. These are distinct from larger pieces of furniture or decor which merely for the background of the set. They can have particular significance or be an important focal point in the film.

Lighting

Lighting plays an important part in creating the atmosphere in a film. The amount of light and the direction of the light source can give meaning to the viewer of the film. For example, lighting is used to indicate the time of day.

Key Lighting

It is usually directed onto the main character. Fill lighting can be added to soften the effect of shadows.

Back Lighting

It is used to create a silhouette. That character can be made to look mysterious due to the effects of the shadows. It can create a sense of impending doom and is often used in horror movies

Colour Design

Colour is one of the most important things in your scene because it can make it look completely different. The colour can be symbolic or suggestive. The colour differences can be used to suggest brightness or many different things. Colour can make the audience feel a lot of different types of emotions.

Questionnaire

Questionnaire

A questionnaire is a primary type of research method to gather information from the general public. This questionnaire was to my peers to understand what they look for in a film and what entertains them so I can consider it when creating my original film. 

Below are the results of a few questions from the questionnaire...

Script Writing

How To Write A Script

Fade In
The first item on the first page should be these words "fade in".

Scene Heading
A one line description  of the location and the time of day of scene. Known as a slug-line.

Action
The narrative description of the events of a scene, written in present tense. E.g, JOHN walks quickly to his car.

Transition
Film editing instructions.

Characters First Appearance
A description of the character. The name should be CAPPED. E.g, LIAM, a thirty year old journalist with something on his mind.

Dialogue
Lines of speech for each character. Dialogue format is used anytime a character is heard speaking, even for off-screen and voice overs. E.g, JOHN (VOICE OVER) What time is your train?



Script: ENDGAME

Saul Bass

SAUL BASS

	Definition
Production Credits	The audience knows who will be starring in the film
The animation in the opening/ imagery	Gives a basic outline of the plot
Music	Hints towards the genre of the film (there was chase music)
Main Character (Protagonist)	Revolved around the character and gives the audience an idea of what they’d be like
Setting	Gives an idea of where/when the film is set
Genre	The genre is given to show what the audience will be watching
Mood/Atmosphere	Still allows the audience to know what type of film they are watching

Saul Bass was an innovated designer that greatly influenced the media community as well as the film industry. His most influential designs were made during the 1950s, which was his start in corporate identity logos and film sequences. Saul Bass has greatly influenced graphic design not only through creating iconic corporate identity logos but by also launching graphic design in the film industry through the use of title sequences. During his career (over 40 years) he had worked with some of the best names in Hollywood such as Alfred Hitchcock and Martin Scorsese. Whilst Bass worked with Hitchcock, he designed many well known sequences and he invented a new type of typography for films such as 'Vertigo' and  'Psycho'.

Other film sequences that he had created were for films like:

• Casino
• Anatomy of a Murder
• Seconds
• West Side Story
• Spartacus
• Exodus
• Ocean's Eleven
• And many more... 

Alongside all of these title sequences, and many more, he designed various logos for big corporations in America, which were some of the most recognised logos of their time. Towards the end of his career, Bass was “rediscovered” by James Brooks and Martin Scorsese, who urged the Bass to return to main title design. Saul Bass has become a media legend and his work has continued to influence others even after his death. For example, the film "Catch Me If You Can" has an opening sequence which reflects the work style of Bass. (see below)