Friday, 28 December 2012
Monday, 10 December 2012
What do directors seek to establish in the openings of thrillers?
Above, is my Thriller cobweb; confirming what aspects within an opening of a particular thriller are established, whether this be thoroughly established (outer circle) or less established (inner circle). From one look, we can immediately see that almost all of the thrillers studied, seek to establish the characters within the opening. Location is also an important factor within many of the thrillers in which the directors seek to establish. However, certain thriller openings establish one particular factor in more detail, than others. For example, from looking at the web, "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" establishes locations and tone/mood particularly well in comparison to genre and theme, "Seven" establishes character and LA Noire establishes themes.
Establishing Location:
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) immediately establishes location in two aspects; the background in which the possible protagonist is standing in front of and, his accent.
"Right, let's sort the buyers from the spyers, the needy from the greedy and those who trust me from the ones who don't"
This opening sentence is spoken in a cockney accent, with slang and rhyming words, typical of a cockney. From the accent alone, the director (Guy Ritchie), has established the location of London, specifically the East End. And when we think of East End London, we think of Hackney, the working class, urban streets. When we think of Cockneys, the connotations expressed are "cheeky chappy" dealers of the streets. Whether the "dealing" is good and honest, or a crime, is up to you. Therefore from just the accent, the audience are already familiar with the character's surroundings and possibly places he will go next.
Establishing the tone/mood:
"It's as long as my arm, I wish it was as long as something else [background laughter]"
The tone/mood of "Lock Stock" is clearly established in the opening as a comedic gangster light, with cheeky and mischievous characters. This is established through the humorous lines spoken by the protagonist. The laughter amongst the other characters/spectators hints that the audience too should be laughing. This therefore establishes a light hearted tone.
"Left leg, right leg, your body will follow. They call it walking."
The comedic factors of the slow motion running and spilling all the stolen goods, is in complete contrast to the bleak, abandoned locations; the characters seem full of life, creating a lively tone which fills the empty locations. This particular film also establishes a completely different tone in comparison to the bleak and enigmatic moods of "Double Indemnity" and "The Third Man", under the genre of Film Noir.
Finally, the choice of fast pace, adventurous music enables the audience to enjoy the chase, without feeling tense or uncomfortable. It suits the mischief of the characters.
Establish the character:
Se7en:
Although enable to find the exact clip, the director of Se7en (1995) thoroughly establishes the character of Lu-tenant Detective Somerset within the opening scene.
The opening scene starts within Detective Somerset's house. The Mise en scene is neat, clean and controlled. This is in contrast to the sirens and noise outside. This connotes that the character is isolated from the chaos, remaining calm and collected at all times. One of the objects in the protagonist's house, is a chess board, expressing his mental capability; he is an intelligent man, not afraid of something more complex and challenging (preferably what his work offers him). Whilst getting ready for what supposedly is work, Lu-tenant picks up 5 key objects which, in a nut shell, establish the character completely. Keys, badge, knife, pen and a hankie-chief. These 5 objects are very functional and practical; he is a practical, sensible man. The badge immediately establishes he is a detective, whereas the hankie-chief hints that he has a softer, sensitive side.
David Fincher not only establishes him through the Mise-en scene (also supported by his smart clothes; dated, elements of Film Noir) but also through speech.
"Look at all that passion on that wall"
"Kid"
This incredibly cynical line somewhat puts Detective Somerset on another intellectual level than his fellow colleagues, isolating him once again from the gritty, dark work he is in. The fact that he asks about the murdered "Kid" connotes his caring nature, linking to the sensitivity of the cleanly folded hankie-chief, within the line of objects.
The scene(s) end with the protagonist in his bed, falling asleep to the sound of a metronome (0.15). Up until this point, he has never left our screen, expressing his importance throughout the film.
Establishing plot and themes:
The 'Film Noir' style video game, 'L.A. Noire' immediately establishes plot and themes within the game, just through its opening monologue/cut scene alone.
Referring to the video above throughout, instantly, the theme of glamour and fame is established just from the title and light's of 'L.A. Noire'; the connotations that are triggered from the location of L.A. alone (fame, urban, acting, busy, glamour, pace) are enough to establish plots and themes. However, this is juxtaposed by the flickering of the lights on 'L.A. Noire' possibly hinting themes of corruption and deceit, as the sign isn't as bright and clean as you would expect, from the initial connotations of 'L.A'
The opening to the game starts with a slight panning shot upwards to reveal a car shop and two business men. Not only do these archetypes establish a possible theme of business, deals and negotiation, but the location of the car shop itself suggests that the plot will be heavily dependant on the gamer being in control; like you are with a car. This is supported by the narration of:
'A new type of city, based not on the man but the auto-mobile....freedom and vitality...'.
'The city of opportunists'
Crime can often be two things; very well thought and planned, or simply an opportunist moment. Therefore this quote is somewhat establishing crime, corruption and the breaking of rule, in order to seize a 'great opportunity'.
Thriller Planning; Treatment
Treatment:
Quick, fragmented establishing shots of Norwich at night, with overpowering sounds of city life (sirens, footsteps), artificial lighting from shop lights and lamp posts, along with obscured, tilted shots (with each shot not lasting longer than 0.5-1.0 seconds). We cut to a close up of a young woman talking on the phone in Polish. Cut back to a long shot to reveal she is leaving her house, as well as a close up of her feet. Quick, panning, long shots of the woman walking through Norwich, distracted by her on-going phone call. As the shots pan off the young women, a tall man is revealed lurking in the shadows. He is following her. The young woman reaches her destination of a dark alleyway where she is greeted by an acquittance. Cut to a close up of the man. Suddenly, the man jumps out of the shadows and holds a gun to the young woman. Cut to a close up of the terrified woman. Cut to a close up of the man, a confused look on his face. A series of quick, fragmented flashbacks are then shown of two holding hands. Notice the bracelet. Flash back close ups of the young woman, smiling. The man begins to lower the gun. Cuts to a low camera angle, looking up at a glamorous woman. She uses the imperative "just do it". Bang. The gun is fired. Cuts to a slow motion shot of the young woman's hand falling to the floor. Notice the bracelet.
Treatment Influence:
Influences
Influences for our thriller include White Chapel's opening of fragmented shots, L.A. confidential's femme fatale of Lynn Bracken, and the morally ambiguous character of James Bond in Casino Royale. Within the opening, we hope to establish the male protagonist and his similarities in moral ambguity to James Bond. The panning shots are very much like those in Layer Cake, except the smooth cuts and transitions (within Layer Cake) do not connote a glamorous and sophisticated tone; for our thriller, it is much more of a dark and gritty tone.
Quick, fragmented establishing shots of Norwich at night, with overpowering sounds of city life (sirens, footsteps), artificial lighting from shop lights and lamp posts, along with obscured, tilted shots (with each shot not lasting longer than 0.5-1.0 seconds). We cut to a close up of a young woman talking on the phone in Polish. Cut back to a long shot to reveal she is leaving her house, as well as a close up of her feet. Quick, panning, long shots of the woman walking through Norwich, distracted by her on-going phone call. As the shots pan off the young women, a tall man is revealed lurking in the shadows. He is following her. The young woman reaches her destination of a dark alleyway where she is greeted by an acquittance. Cut to a close up of the man. Suddenly, the man jumps out of the shadows and holds a gun to the young woman. Cut to a close up of the terrified woman. Cut to a close up of the man, a confused look on his face. A series of quick, fragmented flashbacks are then shown of two holding hands. Notice the bracelet. Flash back close ups of the young woman, smiling. The man begins to lower the gun. Cuts to a low camera angle, looking up at a glamorous woman. She uses the imperative "just do it". Bang. The gun is fired. Cuts to a slow motion shot of the young woman's hand falling to the floor. Notice the bracelet.
Treatment Influence:
Influences
Influences for our thriller include White Chapel's opening of fragmented shots, L.A. confidential's femme fatale of Lynn Bracken, and the morally ambiguous character of James Bond in Casino Royale. Within the opening, we hope to establish the male protagonist and his similarities in moral ambguity to James Bond. The panning shots are very much like those in Layer Cake, except the smooth cuts and transitions (within Layer Cake) do not connote a glamorous and sophisticated tone; for our thriller, it is much more of a dark and gritty tone.
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