How to Create a "Cool" Character: Thriller research and planning.

Analysing TV Dramas: Opening sequences

Television drama, otherwise known as "Dramatic Programming" is scripted and normally, fictional TV content. Excluding the news, sport and reality, TV drama includes a wide variety of genres such as medical drama, crime drama and period dramas.

I have chosen to analyse 3 opening sequences from the TV drama genre of Crime Drama; The Bill, Sherlock and CSI. I shall particularly be focusing upon the sequences initial use of Crime Drama conventions.

The Bill:



From the 2009-2010 opening sequence of Police Procedural (sub genre within crime drama) drama "The Bill", the first shot we see, after a blur of light, is an extreme long shot or, establishing shot, of an urban area; London. Immediately, the programme uses the genre convention or more over, location of an urban city. The urban location connotes a busy, fast pace, a hard, strong story line (from the concrete buildings) and finally, grit and crime.

This is then cut to a zoom in and travelling shot, where the audience are following a police car through London's busy streets. Specifically at 0.02, the shot attains somewhat of a grey scale, portraying a tracking device, often used by police.

Conventionally, as the pace of the music increases, as do the shots. After a slow corner turn, suiting the music, quick shots of the police car follow; the police car reflection, going into a tunnel, an over the shoulder shot in the police car, busy streets etc...

The urban location allows a crime drama to foreshadow it's conventions of confusion, morals and crime. For example, the tunnel in which the car drives into is dark, grim and unknown, much like urban crime. However, the car attains lights itself and is also bathed in light in the tunnel, connoting the "bills" hard work and good nature. Also, at 0.14, we see a blurred shot of horizontal bars; the cold steelwork of London foreshadows the bars in which the criminals will eventually, after an episode, be behind.

The audience are clearly established to who they should be focused upon and who is "good". This is concluded with the strong bold lettering of "The Bill"; two clean transitions in which the lettering is in capitals, capturing the attention of the audience as well as being white, signifying the good and trustworthy, against the dark black background.

Sherlock:



Within the opening sequence of Sherlock, under the sub-genre of private detective, the programme uses the convention, like The Bill, of an urban establishing shot; again, London. 

The busy night scene, increased by the time lapse of the shot, connotes the fast pace of the show, in contrast to the fade in day shot of the Thames and London Eye. The daylight location, light buildings and introduction of the eponymous hero and programme title Sherlock, connotes a sense of revelation (due to the light) and security. This again, establishes Sherlock as a "good guy". The time lapse could also suggest Sherlock's intricate and detailed way of thinking, with everything moving double the normal speed, yet "just so".

Within this opening sequence, we see the use of close up shots to reveal clues and weapons, such as a picture and a gun. These conventional objects suggest that there is something to be solved and, that more characters are involved. The quick close ups add an uncomfortable tone, particularly at 0.11; a staggered close up shot of someone's face, which could possibly be a conventional character of a victim. 

The sequence ends by zooming into blood, only to see hundreds of germs. Blood is conventional within a crime drama, as many of the crimes involve murder or injury or, for use of DNA. In this particular shot the ECU connotes complexity, detail and intensity within the plot or, of the characters (Linking to the clockwork time lapse of Sherlock).


CSI:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WseRJMQf1U

The forensics drama starts with extremely fast panning and travelling shots of America at night. The shots are enough to establish the audience on location but also, like the previous clips, connote the fast pace of the show.

Within this particular opening, we see a lot more objects such as the conventional gun and, the forensic equipment; specific to the sub-genre. Also, we are introduced to several potential characters who all look determined and focused; their job is a serious one, and so is the programme. However, some of the characters turn and smile at the camera, reassuring the audience that they are the "good guys" once again.

 The conventional shots of blood reiterate the sub-genre of forensics, but also the grit and potential gore of a crime drama.

 The quick shots are cut in time to the fast, upbeat song. With reference to the lyrics, "Who are you" foreshadows the convention of a question, enigma or, crime to be solved. Explosions are also seen on the beat of the music, creating high action drama.

The quick shots consist of close ups but also, slow motion shots, creating a sense of intensity and detail; within the crime drama, everything must be carefully searched for clues.

Finally, the opening sequence ends with white writing of "CSI; Crime Scene Investigation". The white colour not only stands out, but connotes that the CSI team our pure, good and trusted with  solving a crime.

Potential and Scouted Locations

The scouted images below consist of primary photographs, in which I was responsible of collecting from the previous table.

Views of Norwich:

• Car park, establishing views
• Norwich Market
• Playhouse River

Car Park, establishing views:
This location is to be included within the first frames/seconds of our thriller opening; a quick shot, yet has to establish the location.
Advantages:
As predicted, this potential location establishes Norwich very well, portraying an urban, fast paced, busy life, as well as suiting the fast pace of the shot cuts. Thisis connoted through the movement of the cars. The urban setting links well to influencial opening thrillers such Layer Cake and Essex Boys. However, Layer Cake portrays a more glamorous tone, whereas we want to achieve the grit and grime of Essex Boys. Finally, logistically, this location was easily accessible. 
Disadvantages:
Although the dummy shots below capture a rewaerding view, we aim to film in the evening when it is dark. Although there will be faint, artificial lights from shops and cars, this is something to consider. However, no back light from the car park assures that no unwanted light will be in the shot.


Dummy shot



Dummy shot





Extended potential locations:
The location of a car park, not only for the views, presented the opportunity for a gritty, urban shot to be briefly included within the fragmented shots.

Potential shot. Shows view, but also bleak tone from water and  crime, from the bars.





Dummy shot;  tilted shot creates obscurity and confusion for the audience, while the grey concrete and water connotes a bleak tone. Becuase of the tilted shot, the low ceiling and bar entrap the audience, creating a sense of claustrophobic.

Norwich Market:

This location is to be included within the first frames/seconds of our thriller opening; a quick shot, yet has to establish the location.
Advantages:
The Long shot establishes Norwich, in which we want to achieve a recognisable location.
Disadvantges:
This particular location has a variety of bright colours in shot. However, this is a disadvantage as we want to achieve a bleak, dark tone. Artificial lighting and silhouettes are dependant on whether shops are open. But, if we can access this, the outcome could be very good.
We must take into consideration that these will be particularly quick, fragmented shots, shot the establishment is primarily what we need from the audience.

Dummy shot; Although an (extreme) long shot, the frame is filled. The harsh square building and silhouette of the tree are particulary cold and enigmatic.

Extended angle. For a potential shot, the slope creates and angle and a metaphor;.  we taking the audience down into the dark depths of crime....

Playhouse River:

This location is to be included within the first frames/seconds of our thriller opening; a quick shot, yet has to establish the location.
Advantages:
Advantages of this location are the accessibility of the bridge itself and, the river. The river enables us to capture a reflection of the lights which are evident against the dark backdrop. This creates a sense of enigma and also, claustrophobia, as the frame is either filled with building, or water. Also, The river location adds slight variety to the fragmented shots; still urban, but quieter and more eery.
Disadvantages:

 From the shots taken, the location was very dark, with, in particular, the picture below, appearing quite dark and out of focus; is the amount of light is not enough, the location might not be clearly seen by the audience. However, from the other location shots, light is available artificially from lampposts and nearby shops. 

This shot is particularly dark, but captures a good reflection upon the river, creating a sense of claustrophobia for the audience.

Dummy shot; This close up could be used within the opening, with the light being very striking and enigmatic, and the bars hinting crime.

Open Space:
Mulbarton Common:
This location is to be included within the flash-back scenes consisting of 2 shots; a man and a woman smiling and, two hands holding each other.
Advantages:
Logistically, this particular location is easily accessible, with plenty of open space and little disturbance. The flat land and distant trees create an idyllic and peaceful backdrop, making the audience feel comfortable.
Disadvantages:
Even though this location depicts the appropriate tone for the flash-back shots, the peaceful, dream-like tone that we wish to achieve is dependant on the weather and positioning of the sun.

Haze created by the sun connotes a dream like state; idyllic and peaceful.

Dummy Shot; an extreme long shot establishing the location. Shots like this could also be the backdrop to close ups.

Blackout room:

CNS Drama Room:

This location is to be included within the "femme fatale" flash back scene, where we are first introduced to "Miss River".
Advantages:
This location poses many advantages such black out blinds, reel curtains, and artificial spot lights; creating focus and power upon the character and a dark, serious tone on the audience. Back lights can add definition upon the character if needed. The drama room is also very accessible for booking and use. There is also plenty of space for filming equipment.
Disadvantages:
Noise disturbance may be heard from other rooms, especially as these shots are silent, accept for the dialogue, which is extremely important for the decision Damien makes, and, the plot. Logistically, initial organisation as to when actors and film makers are free may be a problem.

Dummy shot; low angle shot looking up into the spotlight, with dark background, connoting the characters power on the audience.

Dummy shot; Long shot with centred black curtain (shut the black out blinds) and centred spot light.

The spot light links to the image of the femme fatale; a dark lustrous women (black background), but seen as a glamorous and pure figure (white spotlight).

Note:
Because of the controlled lighting and blinds, the drama room could also be used to express the moral ambiguity of Damien Crowe (close up's). However, this may affect the continuity of our thriller, as this part of the opening takes place in an alley way. We would not want this transition between locations to be noticeable, which it could be.

Potential Locations

Locations



This table shows the potential locations for our thriller opening. The table consists of the location needed, the advantages and disadvantages of that particular location and, who will be responsible for scouting photos for the location.

Essex Boys

Essex Boys


Influence:
I particularly like the meanings and connotations behind the locations within the opening; gritty derelicts, unwanted. This has influenced our choice of locations for our thriller. For example, we will take into consideration the tone we want to achieve, and how this can be portrayed through our location; dark, wet, empty streets or open, light spaces.

How do Thriller's tap into our fears and our everyday lives?
By using familiar, everyday locations, thrillers such as Essex Boys create a sense of danger, often quite sinister due to the plot taking place in such an "every day" location. It therefore makes the crime and violence happening within the thriller seem somewhat closer to the audience's experiences.
Other thrillers also tap into the audience's fears. For example, in "Se7en" and "L.A Noire", the victim or, culprit, is often unknown and, at the start, quite ordinary. This unsettles the audiences by making them aware that it could happen to anyone. Also, as analysed in "The Thrid Man" Sewer Scene, claustrophic spaces and extreme lighting/shadows poses a sense of confindement and restraint on the audience; the rather undesriable situtaion makes the audience feel trapped and as a result, scared.

How might our Thriller do the same?
When considering our thriller opening, we aim to tap into the fears of the audience by highlighting crime (even more so murder), within an extremely recognisable and relatable location of Norwich. Although this takes places in a dark and dingey alley way, the audience are fully aware, from the establishing shots, that the alley way is in Norwich. "Welcome to Norwich. A fine city." or is it....?

Characters, Costumes and Props

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.

From this particular still, the audience can see a male character against  a stripped, dirty grey metal background, possibly a garage door or steel security you see on shops. Metal and steel connotes industry, inevitable in urban areas (also supporting the link to the East End from the accent). The fact that it is dirty, cold steel, connotes grime, back alleys and crime, within the location.

This still, (from 1.27 in opening scene) establishes more of the location even still.  The location is very much urban, but, somewhat in decay. This is visible through the wet floor, litter, and barred shop in the background. This unwanted, morally ambiguous setting is much like those in Essex Boys (Marshes, Fish Market...). 

Also, at 1.37, we see two characters crashing into an stairway. The stairway is completely black, possibly connoting the dark, black persona's and actions of the characters. The director creates a sense of claustrophobia by the camera at a low angle, looking directly up at the stairway; there are no empty spaces or, way out. This is emphasised further by the light reflecting off the stairs and walls, making the audience aware of the small narrow space they are in, and the "narrow" escape they have just had from the law. The extremely obvious white graffiti is connotes that within the chosen location(s) and film, vandalism or moreover crime, is always present.

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...'. 

Throughout the opening, no actual or evident characters are established. However, possible achetypes such as a police officer at 0.20 establishes the theme of detection or crime. With no characters being introduced, our attention is firmly upon the establishment of the narrative and any themes that may arise.

With particular reference to this still above, the theme of deceit is evidently established, as we learn from the outward zoom on the camera, that the man isn't actually on a horse; it was all a pretence. This then poses the question of secrecy, and is it for the greater good? This is possibly a plot line we, as a gamer may have to find out.

This still taken from 1.01 to 1.06 establishes the theme of revelation and interrogation, connoted through the bright camera flashes. Looking carefully at the mise en scene, braces, a low hat and a camera is often the stereotypical attire of a journalist or detective, therefore establishing the plot and theme of discovery.

'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'.