Megan Williams AS Media: October 2015

Friday, 23 October 2015

Vox Pop Analysis

Vox Pop Analysis

What have I learnt?

A vox pop allows a body of everyday people to give their opinion on a particular subject, these people are often taken from a random sample in a public place and are filmed in an interview-like way, however the interviewer cannot be seen and no direct eye contact is made to the camera to keep it as informal and relaxed as possible. From this research I have learnt that people like a wide range of thrillers but they are all big blockbuster films that are quite popular and well known. The most common favourite was Bond films as they have been a classic spy-thriller for a great amount of time and are globally known for their adrenaline-fuelled action. In the video I can identify that people:

· Are more likely to continue viewing a movie if the different features create enough tension and enigmas so that it draws them in.

· Look for different things depending on their preferences.

· Judge the characters depending on how they are portrayed and by whom.

What do audiences like in an opening thriller?

From this vox pop I have discovered that the key features people enjoy in an opening thriller are:

· Music- creates tension and atmosphere within the scene.

· Special Effects- to show the budget of the film and if it is a high-budget mainstream Hollywood film or a low-budget film.

· Enigmas- to create mystery and leaves the audience wanting to know more, drawing them in.

· Characters/actors- if they are highly recognised and are specific to a genre then they may be an ideal and recognisable character for a role.

· Plot twists- to create something different and can help avoid clichés, it gives the element of surprise.

· Tension- keeps the audience on the edge of their seat and interested in what happens next.

How has the information influenced my opening?

This information that I have gathered has helped me to identify the key features of an opening that a target audience may like, the target audience is typically students who seek excitement, adventure and to get away from everyday lives. It has helped me to learn the key parts to focus on, for example the music and how it relates to the action and changes the tension and atmosphere in the piece. It has given me ideas on how to raise the tension to make the opening effective by creating enigmas and using plot twists, creating questions in the minds of the audience what the significance is of that particular prop/character that is the enigma.

Thriller Sub-Genres and Conventions

Sub-Genres:

Techno-thriller:

Sci-fi
Fiction
Futuristic

Action-thriller:

Violence
FBI/CIA
Chase sequences
Weapons
Ticking clock scenario
Daring stunts

Conspiracy-thriller:

Domesticating
Investigator
Historical
Area 51
Conspiracy theories

Crime-thriller:

A crime has been committed
Usually a murder
Detective
Pursuit of a criminal

Disaster-thriller:

Natural or man-made disaster
Cliché
Day after tomorrow
Families/relationships

Eco-thriller:

Solely focused on natural disasters

Forensic-thriller:

Forensic psychologist
Investigations
CSI
Pathology

Legal-thriller:

Law
Criminal case

Medical-thriller:

Set in a hospital
Injuries
127 hours
Mystery

Mystery-thriller:

Antagonist/protagonist
Da Vinci Code
Finding hidden clues
Enigmas

Political-thriller:

Political element
Contrast between two groups
Politics
Campaign
12 Years A Slave
Dictatorship/leadership

Religious-thriller:

Da Vinci Code
Religious characters
Historical

Psychological-thriller:

Explore the subconscious
Insomnia
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
Detectives
Confront peoples fears

Romantic-thriller:

Emotions
Difficult relationship
Finding success
Disruptions

Spy-thriller:

Stunts
Action chases
Discoveries
James Bond
Political views interrupting

Supernatural-thrillers:

Aliens
Ghosts
Disturbing
Fine line between supernatural thriller and horror

Conventions:

SICARIO:

Narratives/themes:

Crime-thriller
Action-thriller
Criminal pursuit
CIA/FBI

Enigmas:

Who are they?
What are they getting into?
Who are they against?

Mise-en-scene:

Weapons
Law enforcer costume
Location- desolate, high crime rate
Iconic locations

Roles of actors/characters and their representation:

Woman playing a part of the FBI
Partnership - good
Not a stereotypical woman's role - female protagonist

THE WALK:

Narratives/themes:

True story
Action-thriller
Psychological-thriller
Ever-present danger
Phobias
Realism

Enigmas:

Will he make it?
Will he fall?

Mise-en-scene:

Iconic location- twin towers
New York

Roles of actors/characters and their representation:

Woman- love interest
Real characters

CRIMSON PEAK:

Narratives/themes:

Supernatural-thriller
Solving a mystery
Period-thriller
Finding something out

Enigmas:

What is haunting the house?
Significance of past

Mise-en-scene:

Period mise-en-scene
Secluded
Isolation

Roles of actors/characters and their representation:

Female victim- stereotypical

SAN ANDREAS

Narratives/themes:

Disaster-thriller
Eco-thriller
Survival
Find each other - families and relationships
Ticking clock scenario

Enigmas:

Will they survive?
What is happening to the world?

Mise-en-scene:

Location- built up city

Roles of actors/characters and their representation:

Stereotypical hero

Vox Pops

Vox pops are interviews with the members of the public; they help to gather information on a variety of opinions from a variety of people. They can be identified by looking at the setting, clothing and the look of the person being interviewed. The interviewed person does not look directly at the camera as he/she looks at the interviewer.

Conventions of a vox pop:

· Vox pop is short for ‘vox populi’ which means ‘voice of the people’ or ‘man on the street’ in Latin.

· Name, age and occupation of the interviewee

· Usually on the street or a crowded area.

· Question to the public and answers from the public.

· Interviewer not visible, interviewee stands slightly to the right of the screen.

· Straight cut between people.

· Random selection of people.

· Title with the question instead of hearing the question being repeated.

· Duration of each shot is very short to avoid boredom for the audience with a rotation of people answering the given question with short, snappy answers.

· Gaze is off camera, indirect gaze towards the interviewer, more informal.

· Background is out of focus to avoid distraction from the interview.

6 questions to be asked in vox pops:

1. Favourite thriller film opening? or What is your favourite thriller film?

2. Why?

3. What makes it different?

4. What does a thriller need to make you want to watch on?

5. What are the key conventions you would like to see in a thriller?

6. What thriller openings do you remember?

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Effective Thriller Openings

What elements make an effective thriller opening?

Atmosphere- tension, suspense

·         Black and White?
·         Complication
·         Cast- crew, director etc.
·         Enigma- questions in audience’s mind
·         Establishing shot
·         Fast pace editing
·         Key props- weapon
·         Low-key lighting
·         Montage of shots, no lingering on a shot for too long
·         Movie title
·         Narrative- flashbacks, story
·         Opening credits
·         Product idents
·         Recognisable characters/ antagonist, protagonist and victim
·         SFX
·         Sound- diegetic, non-diegetic, synchronous, asynchronous
·         Soundtrack, ambient music, orchestral
·         Text- backstory

Mise-en-scene

·         Deserted, dead, desolate, dry
·         Handcuffs, sheriff badge
·         Natural
·         Pressurised tank- enigma, intrigue
·         Car
·         Police Station
·         Crazy- serial killer
·         Skyfall- actor, villain
·         Dark costume
·         Police uniform

Camera

·         ELS montage of the US Midwest
·         Creates enigmas- face is shielded
·         Close up- tank, significant- reaction shots

Editing

·         Slow pace
·         Action- faster paced
·         Flashback

Enigma

· Narrator
· Pressurised tank

Characterisation

·         Ruthless/emotionless killer- enjoyment
·         Black humour
·         Calm and reserved

Atmosphere

·         Loneliness
·         Isolation
·         Silent violence

Titles

· Production companies

Conventions of an Opening Title

What are the conventions of an opening title

They are also known as an opening sequence.

Features:

·         Production ident
·         Cast and crew (main)
·         Director, producer, key roles, about 6 shown minimum
·         Music, related to the genre and atmosphere
·         Visuals, introduces the setting
·         The titles are often shown in key role order
·         Indie – low budget
·         Introduces genre
·         Title of the film is shown, usually near the end

Common titles:

·         Name of the studio
·         Name of the production company
·         A (producer name) production
·         A film by (director name)
·         Starring
·         Film’s title
·         Featuring
·         Casting or casting by
·         Music or Music composed by or Original score by
·         Production design or Production designer
·         Editor or Edited by
·         Director of Photography
·         Producer or Produced by, Executive producer
·         Story or Story by
·         Based on the book (Play, graphic novel etc.) by
·         Based on the characters by or Based on the characters created by
·         Writer(s) or Written by
·         Director or Directed by

Notes:

·         Titles are used in film and TV and acknowledge the work of the institution, cast and crew on a product.
·         Opening titles are shown at the very beginning and list the most important members of the production.
·         They are now usually shown as text superimposed on a blank screen or static pictures, or sometimes on top of action in the show.
·         There may or may not be accompanying music. Where opening titles are built into a separate sequence of their own, the correct term is title sequence.