Summary of group research

We did quite well in our group research. We found out:

• the gross income on the first weekend it was released
• the distributors
• the special effects companies
• the production companies
• marketing

We didn't find out how they got the money to make the film.

We realised that the US film had a lot more information than the UK film. They had more distributors, marketing and gross income.

Lastly we didn't find out where the film was shown.

All the information we didn't get we could do if we did this excersise again.

In our research we found the groos income for each film on the first weekend from both the UK and USA. We also sought out how they marketed each film differently and who the distributors of each film were.

"La Haine"

Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
Year: 1995

Looking at:

1. Performance
2. Mise-en-scene
3. Cinematography
4. Editing
5. Sound

1. Performance:

• right at the beginning the person is angry- we don't know why
• 2 groups: 1 group is calm while the others are trying to make the other's angry by dancing
• looks of determination
• clearly set against each other
• distance between the men and the police shows that they're not meant to get along
• angry characters
• talks to himself
• Vinz's family seem close even though no-one seems happy
• difference in character; one calm while the other never stops talking
• hubert with punchbag- distancing himself from the other men
• the man cooking hot-dogs- he's calm until Saiid steals one and you can see his annoance (he chases him)
• difference btween Saiid and his brother
• closeness of men and policemen shows that there may be further conflict on the way
• wherever they go they take stuff be it hotdogs and use stuff that isn't theirs like using a friend's tv set. They sort of make it their home
• they talk very fast and when they argue they all argue all at once
• later when they're all sat down. This could be their sort of ranking within the group
• the gormless look on Vinz's face- the look of determination
• Vinz NEVER seems to be happy
• not shaking hands show friction within the group and space between both Hubert and Vinz
• pushing Saiid away- another sign of seperation
• DJ prepares himself; his face, his hat, his t-shirt
• Saiid also talks to himself in the mirror
• Saiid's eyes widen when he's anxious
• when the policemen put on his hat- gives him even more authority
• Hubert's does a lot of different things- this sets up her character
• cigarettes add to the environment in which the 3 characters live in
• they openly say what they think about the opposition

2. Mise-en-scene:

• the same setting- graffetti
• the same clothes- signifies their social status and inequality
• the characters all seem to be shifty
• the gun- the main prop- it's the only power they have
• they are outcasts
• anger is their main defence mechanism
• drugs and cigarettes- culture and criminal world that they're caught up in

3. Cinematography:

• the spectator is part of the gang
• near the poster we walk behind the gang
• this is the same in the hospital
• all dark- their background
• lots of close-ups
• the characters are framed by windows, doors and fences
• documentary filming- the news on the tv- the camera not alaways being steady
• wide-shots- shopping mall- emptiness of their lives

Use of sound in the film "The Graduate"

Director: Mike Nichols
Year: 1967

• happy music that slows down with the car
• diegetic music: cars going past
• sudden music outside church
• music is alawys used when there seems to be hope
• noise is somtimes muffled, e.g: laughing in the back of the bus

Use od sound in "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"

Director: Michel Gondry
Year: 2004

• cars- diegetic
• music reflects how he's feeling- tired and slow
• the music slowly faded away.
• some noises louder than other noises for effect

Use of sound in "Scream"

Director: Wes Craven
Year: 1996

• large bangs make the audience scared
• diegetic noises: doorbell, telephone, etc
• non diegetic noise as well
• pounding music creates tension
• sets the genre
• they make some sounds louder than others
• creaking of the swing- who's hearing it?
• dog- someone prowling in the neighbourhood
• phone was getting louder
• alerts us to the fact that she's in danger
• viscaeral- a feeling sound..... you it in your body like a jolt
• use of violins- like a 'scream'

Use of sound in "Insomnia"

Director: Christopher Nolan
Year: 2002 USA

• drum is like a heartbeat
• a sense of impending danger
• a sense of death
• sets the genre
• stabbing sounds relate to the genre

Use of sound in "Taxi Driver"

Director: Martin Scorsese
Year: 1976 USA

• goes from scary music which is frantic, then to jazz music which is calm. It alternates between the two
• can be hear talking before it changes the shot
• both diegetic and non diegetic
• the opening is like a prologue.
• like "Pyscho"
• the drum beat is like a heartbeat
• the scary music- last career was in the marines
• jazz music- city music
• the music is his split personality
• a sound bridge

Sound

Different types of sound:

• sound bridges
• sonic flashback
• diegetic/non diegetic
• direct sound
• nonsimultanous sound
• off screen sound- like non diegetic
• post synchronised dumbing
• sound perspective
• synchronous sound
• voice over
• silence is a sound

"Speed"

Director: Jan de Bont
Year: 1994

• "classic hollywood" film
• jump shots
• speed of camera shots- goes with the name of the name
• craning shot
• contrasting calmness
• inside of the bus is calm while outside is busy due to the traffic
• camera in the bus and car as if we are passengers
• rhythm- more time on the bus rsther than the car- creates more tension

Editing

• pace
• time lapsing
• parallel action- that are significant
• tension- fast pace
• flashbacks- background knowledge
• flashforwards- opposite of flashbacks

Keywords:

• cross- cutting
• cut-in, cut away
• dissolve
• iris
• jump cut
• establishing shot
• superimposition
• wipe
• eyeline match
• graphc match
• match on action
• rhythm- if it's right you don't notice editing
• continuity editing
• montage- another name for editing ( french word)
• eliptical editing- gap in the story

Use of Cinematography in "La Haine"

Director: Mathieu Kassovitz
Year: 1995

• zooming in
• close-up
• over his shoulder for his point of view
• tracking shot
• looking up- tilted shot

• slow motion- steady camera
• it seems like a tracking shot but it isn't
• over the shoulder shot
• goes from the police to join the gang in one fluid camera move
• the camera is like the 4th member of the gang
• documentary shot- mid shot
• shallow depth of field.
• deep focus
• camera at ground level

Use of Cinematography in "Psycho"

Director: Alfred Hitchcock

Year: 1960

• wide shots
• panning shots
• establishing shot through the window- crane shot
• zooming in and closing in in one go
• we are the camera
• big city, goes to a small couple
• the opening goes against the genre
• dissolve shot
• window- we want to know who's through it
• same shot that is outside as it is inside
• we've kind of 'climbed through the window'
• once through the window the camera stays in one position
• both people are of equal importance- the film could be about either of the

• her point of view
• our point of view- we are 'spying' on her
• it's like we're in the room with her
• reverse shot
• close-up

Fargo- a review

Director: Joel Coen
Year: 1996
Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller

The costumes play a part in establishing characters. This is especially true of Jerry Lundegaard who is portrayed as dull. This is evident in his choice of clothing. They are alawys beige or brown. His office also reflects his personality. It's bare and organised. There are trophies in one corner which could give the idea that he's achieved something. The problem is that he's achieved something in golf; which is really boring.

The use of setting is also akey factor in the use of mise en scene in 'Fargo'. The film's set in a flat area covered in snow. This flatnesscan therefore portray a sense of barreness and isolation. The snow could symbolise errieness and coldness.

The establishment of charcaters is also important in the use of mise en scene. Jerry Lundegaard is portrayed as bland (his clothes) and passive. He also seems to hide his anger and gives tell-tell signs that he's uncomfortable (his fidgets with his face). The two henchmen contrast greatly. While one sits quietly, showing no facial expressions at all and only cracks right at the end, the other one gets angry easily, swearing all the time. All the characters are, however, the same in one way; their accent.

I personally didn't like 'Fargo' as i don't like thriller films. The killings didn't seem as much of a surprise as I thought they were going to be because they happened all the time. I also thought that the storyline was boring and lacked any sort of momentum. The thing I have learn from 'Fargo' about film-making is that you don't always have need non-diegetic noises to create tension. There is an example of this at the end of the film when the police officer sees one of the henchmen puttintg the other one through the wood-chipper. Coen creates the tension via diegetic (the woodchipper) and not by diegetic noises (background music).

Shrek- use of mise en scene (22nd Sept)

Director: Andrew Adamson
Vicky Jenson
Year: 2001 USA
Genre: Animation/Adventure/Comedy/Family/Fantasy/Romance

• the book- panning shot, taking the micky out of Walt Disney films
• use of light- the beam on top of the book
• diegetic (doors slamming) and non-diegetic (background music0 are both used
• using everyday actions to introduce cast.
• shrek uses the same actions as the hunts men- not that different
• underneath camera angle make the hunters look big
• shrek looks small through his window
• lighting on shreks face make him look dangerous
• when he comes out of the toilet at the beginning the angle is low making him look large
• shows where he lives- the use of lighting (surrondings are the oppiste of the owner)
• map on the ground might show what happens later on.
• Shrek is relaxed while the hunters are busy and hurrying around
• the part where the hunter threatens the ogre. Shrek over powwers him immediately. Shows power and weakness- quite sarcastic

Piartes of the Caribbean- Curse of the Black Pearl (14th Sept)

Director: Gore Verbinski
Year: 2003
Genre: Action/Adventure/Comedy/Fantasy

Opening Scene:

• many clues about bad luck coming: pirate song, woman being on board, fog.
• opening scene sets the tone for the rest of the film.
• with Elizabeth's singing, the lack of background noise and the camera angle slowly zooming in on her back this all creates a sense of tension.
• this tension is obvious when the man taps her on the shoulder and she jumps with shock.
• Lone umbrella, Will on the wreckage, builds up to the burning ship.

Thelma and Louise (10th Sept)

Director: Ridley Scott


Year:1991


Genre: Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller

• deigetic- cutlery, tv, talking, washing up



• no deigetic- background music



• falling over- comedy genre



• putting food in and out of the fridge- knows that she's not allowed to have it but she gives in



• angriness of the husband gives the idea that he's the domineering person.



• lighting



• women are very opposite



• part of the film where Thelma puts the gun in the bag seems important- it makes it seem as though she might use it later on in the film



• Thelma is tied-down while Louise is free



• The husband swinging his keys could show his arrogance



• Thelma is packing everything- she may not be coming back



• sports car- shows off, red car (colour of anger), arrogance, loves the car more than hiswife.



• husband lives with wife but treats her like a mother doing everything for him.



• trapped in the house- passive



• husband moans at Thelma for doing anything


• 'people always buy carpets on a Friday'- could mean that the husband's having an affair


• the packing sequence is short: 'real time' is longer


• Scott builds up the clues: gun, the time that Lousie picks up Thelma, mountains in the background, etc

North by North-West (9th Sept)

Director: Alfred Hitchcock
Year: 1959
Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery, Thriller.

• Location, camera angle. A baron landscape from his point of view.
• Scale, the lonliness, out of place.
• camera angle when the trunk gos past and picks up all the dust.
• sound- no background noise when establishes tension.
• sound emphasises loneliness.
• establishing shot: where the scene starts.
• anigma: a puzzle
• sky shot: shows vast area of space- a canvas.
• views around him are from his point of view.
• trunck going past- close up afterwards shows his reaction.
• camera moving forward and the character moving forward show his point of view but from two different aspects.
• character standing next to road shows the scale once again- he is small compared to the surronding area.
• low shot for vulnerability