Thursday, 11 June 2015

RESEARCH: WOMAN IN BLACK TRAILER



I watched the Woman In Black trailer on YouTube, looking at the codes and conventions. I liked many aspects of the trailer and has inspired me to possibly make a thriller trailer as my course work.

I have made a SlideShare of my research. SlideShare is a useful technology as it allows me to showcase my work in a unique and interesting format that is easy to read.


Woman In Black posters

I have made a PicMonkey of a selection of Woman In Black posters.


Wednesday, 10 June 2015

RESEARCH: NEXT DOOR


I watched a short film Next Door (2014). The film explores a stereotypical 'geek' male's 'stalker' behaviour towards his female next door neighbour, Destiny; displaying his increasing need and want to find a girlfriend by intensely watching the television show, 3 Guys 1 Girl on the TV Channel DAVE. The town that the two neighbours live in is revealed in the short film as a dangerous, unstable location where the residence are in dispute with the government or authority. Even though the film is ultimately set in two main locations: the males open plan ground floor of his house as well as the two neighbours residential street, the violent, dangerous outbursts of violence between the residence and the authority influences suspense amongst the audience. This makes the audience feel on edge as they are unaware of what is going to appear next in the film in terms of violence, blood and shooting. 


The film appears to have a twist at the beginning. For example suddenly a gun is shot and sharp piece of rock shoots through the glass window of the males house. This is unexpected as the serene almost clinical, minimal white decorated house is destroyed by an unexpected terrorist-like attack. This adds enigma, making the audience believe their is a twist in the story due to the unexpected bomb. 



The slow motion 'flashback' between the two neighbours is an example of the geeky, males dream. He dreams of his next door neighbour, who has been exposed as a terrorist, being his girlfriend. He basis his dream of their relationship on the relationship, dating show he has been viewing on the television. The editing of the flashback: showing a quick edit of the two completing a scientific experiment together with a static version of the geeky, male witnessing their actions in the background. This adds a comedic element to the film, as personally I can't help but laugh at the males desperation; this also adds an element of sympathy towards him. 



The use of CGI such as the computer generated map of the pair route to escape features animated footprints as if the two neighbours were walking together. This is portrayed in the geeky, males dream. This makes the dream appear to be twee, making the audience cringe at the bittersweetness of the situation: the males desperation and helplessness and the truth that the girl wouldn't even accept his offer of being her boyfriend. 


The quick, fast paced shots of the pair trying to escape through the gated, barred areas in the residential street and shot adds suspense as the shots are low angled, dimly lit with low paced, slow, heavy beat music making it appear the pair are not safe and are in danger. Also the authorities are flying a helicopter shining their bright torch onto anybody who they suspect are trying to escape or cause mischief. This adds to the suspense and enigma as well as the audience doesn't know what is going to happen next or would question if anything is going to add to the twist made at the beginning. 

RESEARCH: HIGH MAINTENANCE


I watched Short Film (winner at Sundance Film Festival) High Maintenance (Dir.Philip Van 2012). I was impressed by the 9 minute films enticing and imaginative near-future storyline about a woman's desire to exchange her robotic husband who 'lacks ambition and adventure' for a new robotic, personalised version of himself. However much to my surprise, when the new robotic husband is 'delivered' the audience see the female and her new husband renacnt the establishing candle lit dinging room scene eating food and wine. The quick, fast paced, match cuts between the female and her new robotic husband continue spookily the conversation she led with her previous husband, 'so tell me about your day, dear'. Swiftly, the new robotic husband switches off his wife by flicking the switch at the back of her neck, leaving him to turn the television on in the living room. I found this funny as it captivated my attention with witty actions made by both the wife and her new 'robotic husband'. This fast paced, plot 'twists' keep the audiences attention and adds enigma; questioning and wondering what the wife or husband is going to do next. 

The previous or 'old' husbands actions influenced a factor of suspense at points in the beginning of the film such as when his wife aims to pour him a glass of white wine which is swiftly responded by himself placing his right hand on the rim of the glass. This camera focussed on his hand for a couple of seconds; this emphasised the rejection of wine as well as the fact he made no eye contact towards his wife. This added suspense; making me personally feel on edge as firstly this isn't an action that you would normally make, made him look distant and 'cold'. This also added enigma as I wasn't sure whether he was going to switch moods and become angry. 


The use of sound significantly influenced the mood of film. The use of chewing of food and slurping of wine added to the awkwardness of the situation at the dinner table between the couple. The scratching, tapping and scrapping of the silver cutlery also added to the awkwardness between the two. The pacing classical piano music made me feel as though the night was becoming relentless with very little talking. 

The grand mise-en-scene in the dining room scene made the evening of their anniversary seem intentionally important and special for the both of them to celebrate. This grand, extravagant, expensive mise-en-scene included silver candle holders, silver cutlery, white china plates, silver gravy jugs and bowls on the table, bread baskets and white table cloths. With both of them sat so far apart on a long dining room table, it made me think that they were used to regularly socialising with the wife making dinner. The husbands awkward atmosphere and ora made the evening feel ruined as it was meant to be an evening they could celebrate; this added suspense to the evening.