Sound

Words associated with sound in film
Diegetic - Natural sounds which were produced while the recording was happening. For example, a door being slammed in a scene or a dog barking. The effect of this is that the scene seems more natural and realistic.
Non-Diegetic - Sound which was edited into a film after it had been recorded. For example, sound effects like car sirens and gunshots or music. These can be used to exaggerate parts of the film or to draw your attention to certain things happening in the scene.
Tone/Atmospheric - Sound with characteristics of a certain mood creating a certain mood or feeling for the audience. For example, a piece of music in a Thriller can make the audience feel full of suspense and tense but a piece of music from a Romance film can make the audience feel elated.
Pitch - Specific frequency of sound. This is most effective in thriller films when a low pitch is used which created mysterious tension or in horror films when a high pitch is used to make the audience jump (feel frightened).
Pace - How quick or slow music sounds. Fast paced music is used in action films so the music is synchronous to what is happening on the screen while a slow pace can be used in romance films to create a relaxed feeling.
Asynchronous - Music which is not in synch with what is happening on screen. For example, if there is a joyful melody used during a bloody scene in a horror film, this could show the killer to be seen as a sadist because the joyful sound implies that the killer is feeling pleasure from causing pain.
Synchronous - Music which is in sync or 'matches' what is happening on screen. An example is fast paced music in a thriller film to match the action happening on screen.
Loud/Quiet - The volume of a piece of music. The volume can create the audience to jump if it is loud in a horror film or the volume of music in a film can be very low if it is in the background while there is speech.
Silences - A period of complete silence during a piece of music. This can be used to make the audience think about what has happened after a scene or it can be used to create a sense of tension during a piece of music.

Editing

Important things to think about when editing:

• How many cuts are being used?
• How long is each shot?
• What order are the shots in?
• Who's perspective are the shots in?
• Are the shots narrative - is it a single or dual narrative?
• Are the shots chronological?
• Is the editing faced paced or slow?
• What effects/transitions are used?

Transitions

• Straight cuts are the most common transition and keep the continuity and pace of a scene
• Dissolve transition means when one shot gradually fades to another and cross fades can represent time passing or a change of location
• Fade usually fades the shot to one colour (usually black or white). Fades can be used between shot to create a cross fade before gradually revealing the next shot. They are useful for giving a contemplative mood and a meandering pace
• Fade in or out is used at the beginning or end of a sequence to create dramatic effect or can be used during a sequence of shots to create a montage effect e,g, 'Quantum of Solace' Trailer
• Cross cutting can link to story lines together or contrast between them while also creating a sense of tension
• Wipe moves across the screen and can show a change of location or time
• Jump cut is similar to a cross cut but it is much more abrupt and jumps between shots quickly 

Continuity editing is a system of cutting used to maintain continuous and clear narrative action by following these rules:

1. An establishing shot: A long shot reveals the spatical relations between objects/characters and their setting
2. Shot/Reverse shot: Two shots which alternate between characters usually during a conversation
3. 180 degree rule: The angle between any two shots does not exceed 18- degrees in order to maintain spatical relations between people and objects and allows the audience to keep up with the shots. It is important not to cross the line of vision because the scene might lose sense to the viewer
4. 30 degree rule: An angle between any two consecutive shots is not less tan 30 degrees so the person and objects in shot maintain spatical relation
5. Cross cutting: Editing which alternates shots between two or more different locations
6. Match on action: One shot cuts to another shot portraying the action in the first shot e.g. a man shooting a machine gun in shot 1 and the machine gun shells hitting the floor in shot 2. This creates a 'visual bridge'
7. Eye line match: In one shot a character is looking at something and in the next shot it shows you what they are looking at while still being at their eye level (So it feels as though you are in the characters' position)
8. Re-establishing shot: A shot that returns to a view of space or location after a series of close up shots

Film Noir Facts

Film Noir means 'Black Film' in French and the dark themes reflect the tension and insecurities of the time period which was just after World War 2 so the films show the anxiety and suspicion of the 1950s. Fear, mistrust, bleakness, loss of innocence, despair and paranoia are all themes of 'Noir' which reflect the threat of war (The Cold War) at the time. Film Noir films were full of anti-heroes such as criminal, misogynistic, greedy and violent men who are a reflection of society's evils. The films rarely ended happily or optimistically. 

Conventions of Film Noir

• Themes were usually melancholy, pessimistic, moral corruption, evil, ambiguity and guilt
• The heroes of the films were usually 'anti-heroes' who were crooks, war veterans, criminals, murderes or 'plain-Joes' 
• These 'anti-heroes' were morally-ambiguous and came from a dark world of moral corruption and crime
• The story lines are usually very twisted and complex
• They have a non-linear beginning and the story is told through flashbacks and witty dialogue
• The non-diegetic sound was normally sudden noise/heavy breathing/protagonist voice over
• The diegetic sound was usually jazz/grating/foreboding music and city/urban sound effects
• The films usually showed the dark side of human nature or doomed love
• The harsh atmosphere was made to feel like anything could go wrong and fatalism was a strong theme
• The lighting was expressionistic and full of shadows
• Camera angles were often dutch or high/low angles to make the viewer uneasy or uncomfortable while depth of field shots were common
• The settings were usually urban and in dark offices/secluded warehouses/claustrophobic rooms/dingy apartments or rainy night life

Characters

• Anti-hero - Main protragonist who lacks characteristics of the usual hero. The character lacks morals, courage and honesty. Sometimes alienated by society and is facing extreme life crisis (it seems like it is fate that he will always fail). The anti-hero in film noir could be a police officer, gangster or an 'average Joe' who gets into trouble by crime or the scheming of the femme fatale.
• Femme Fatale - Independent woman who rejects the typical view of what a woman should be at the time (devoted house wife). Sometimes the plot starts with the woman murdering her husband to get out of the loveless relationship. She is usually a provocative and sexually liberal woman who gets the hero or 'anti-hero' into trouble. The look for a femme fatale is usually fully made up with makeup and has short curls while wearing provocative clothing.

 

Thriller Films

Characters

Thriller films use suspense, tension and excitement as their main elements. The tension usually arises when the main protagonist is placed in a life or death situation. Thriller plots involve characters who are in conflict with each other or outside forces and the menace is usually mysterious and dark. Themes of thrillers include terrorism, crime, political conspiracy, pursuit and romantic triangles which lead to murder,

• The Protagonist is the male Hero is focus your attention on, fear for their life and they are relatable and likable e.g. 'Sherlock Holmes'
• The Damsel in distress is wrapped up in danger and needs to be saved by the hero e.g. Evey from 'V for Vendetta'
• The Antagonist is usually skillful, smart and in some cases psychologically disturbed e.g. Le Chiffre in 'Casino Royale' 

Mise-En-Scene

• The lighting in thriller films is usually dark and mysterious 
• The props vary from weapons in Crime Thrillers and everyday house hold objects in Psychological Thrillers
• The sound in Thriller films vary from diegetic sounds (such as police car sirens, traffic and sudden loud bangs) to non-diegetic sounds (such as suspenseful music and orchestral screeches)
• Costumes are not specific in Thriller films as they range from Police or army uniforms in Action-Thrillers and common everyday wear in Psychological-Thrillers
• The shots used are wide shots for action scenes, extreme close ups for suspense and dutch angle shots to create confusion and uneasiness
• The emotions created by thriller films are meant to be mixed: fear/anxiety, excitement, nervous etc. 

Narrative

• The beginning of a Thriller film usually introduces the main characters and we are given general information about them and their life (e.g personality, family, where they live/work). We also find out what the initial problem is that the protagonist causes or is pulled into. Mystery can be involved and the audience begins to feel excited to solve it. You are also introduced to any people who could be dangerous or suspects so the audience becomes interested to find out the result of the film.
• The middle of the film is when the protagonist begins to solve the problem and the film reaches it's climax. This is when the audience is on the edge of their seat with excitement and they feel tense. Sometimes the character solving the problem can cause other mini problems which need solving before the films ending.
• The end of the film is where all the questions are answered and antagonists are revealed (if they were a mystery). However at the end of some Thriller films, particularly crime/psychological/supernatural, some questions are unanswered and it ends with a cliff hanger.

Genres

• Sub genre means a genre within a genre, for example a 'Psychological-horror'/'Comedy-horror' etc.
• A Hybrid genre is two different genres mixed together e.g. 'Romantic-comedy'

Sub Genres of Thriller Films

• Action Thriller films are full of faced paced editing and pyrotechnics, action (like car chases, fight scenes and stunts), danger (usually the protagonists life) and the plots usually have a twist. The films usually involve hero's and villains.The music is faced paced and dramatic to match the action and keep the audience excited and involved. Extreme close ups are common because they show how tense/angry/fearful the character is. An example would be 'The Bourne Identity' 

• Crime Thriller films are usually about serial killers, terrorists, murders, kidnappings or stolen goods. They always involve a protagonist and an antagonist and police are always at the scene for investigation. Crime-thrillers usually create an enigma so that the audience are interested and eager to solve the crime. They involve action scenes (such as car chases) so cross cuts and wide shots are commonly used. An example would be 'The Bone Collector'
• Film Noir films are always black and white and were most popular in the 1950's. The films always involve a hero or an anti-hero who is either wrapped up in crime/gangster crime or is an everyday person who accidentally becomes involved in crime or morally wrong situations. A femme fatale is also always in film noir. Femme Fatale means 'fatal woman' and this character is usually beautiful, provocative and gets the protagonist involved in bad situations. Flashbacks are commonly used as well as dutch angle shots. An example would be 'The Asphalt Jungle'

• Psychological Thriller films are always meant to keep the audience involved and asking questions. Dutch angle shots are commonly used because these can confuse the audience and non-diegetic music compliments the unnatural aspects of the films. The plot is usually very twisting and they are always dramatic, full of mystery and usually have a shocking ending. An example would be 'Taxi Driver'
• Sci-fi Thriller films are full of unnatural things. The shots are dutch angle, birds eye or very low angle because these are positions that confuse and are unnatural for humans. The usual theme for Sci-f thrillers are Aliens or other-worldly areas of land which the characters explore. Either way, the audience is always kept on the edge of their seat and the unnatural aspects allow the films to be shocking because in theory, anything could happen. An example would be 'District 9'

• Religious Thriller films have themes of the devil, demons and ghosts. Many of the films involve the church (Nuns and priests) and people who refuse to believe in either God of the Devil. However some religious-thriller films are about religious artifacts which need to be found or protected. Since these films are also have unnatural themes, birds eye and dutch angle shots are used and religious music is featured. An example would be 'The Da Vinci Code' or 'Rosemary's Baby'
• Paranormal Thriller films can be about ghosts, demons and supernatural occurrences. Sometimes a handheld camera is used by the protagonist which increases suspense and the audiences sense of fear. CCTV effects are effectively used and the lighting is commonly dark and sinister. The music is sometimes religious which references God and the Devil but sometimes only diegetic sounds are used to create a realistic feel which increases fear. An example would be 'The Sixth Sense'

Target Audience

Categories for Target Audience

• Demographic information is used to classify an audience into age, gender, race/nationality, and socioeconomic class Age, Gender, Race/Nationality, Socioeconomic class (A-E) and other categories. 
• Psychographic segmentation divides the market into groups depending on a persons interests, hobbies, lifestyle, personality and their job.

The Socio-economic class scale:

A- Top management, bankers, lawyers, doctors and highly salaried professionals

B- Middle management, teachers, graphic designers etc.

C1- Office supervisors, Junior managers, nurses, specialist clerical staff

C2- Skilled workers, trade persons (white collar) 

D- Semi-skilled and unskilled manual workers (blue collar)

E- Unemployed, students, pensioners, casual workers

Target Audience for 'The Day Of The Jackal'

'The Day Of The Jackal' is a crime/drama thriller and is certificate '15'. The film is a hybrid genre which makes it accessible to a wider range of people because the film contains crime, drama and action. Although the film certificate is a 15, because of a twisting plot, the film may be better suited towards 35-50 year old people. The setting of the film is in France and the film is aimed more towards European people as the people and politics involved are all about Europe.

The film is about a professional assassin code-named 'Jackal' who plots to kill the president of France, 'Charles De Gaulle'. Due to this, people who are interested in politics would find the film interesting. People who are interested in History would also like this film as the history behind the film is all true, although the actual plot of the film is not true to life. On the socioeconomic scale, the film is aimed at class C2 and upwards because those people may be more educated in history and politics which would make the plot easier to understand and more interesting.

Key Vocabulary

• Star Persona means an actor associated with a certain genre of film and a certain character personality. An example of this would be Liam Neeson who appears in many thriller films as the protagonist.
• Typography is the style of text or font used on a film poster
• Film slogan is like catchphrase for the film. It is sometimes called a premise which means a hint of narrative and this hooks the audience.

Camera Angles

• A 'Low Angle Shot' is taken from below looking upwards and can give the subject power while making the viewer feel weaker.

• A 'High Angle Shot' is taken from the corner of a room and can make the subject look weak/vulnerable.

• A 'Pan Shot' is a side to side movement, moving with the action or to show full surroundings.

• A 'Tracking Shot'  is used to follow the subject.

• A 'Tilt Shot' is an up-down motion and can be used to give a sense of size/height or to appreciate the subject.

• A 'Canted/Dutch Angle Shot' is when the camera angle is tilted and shows chaos/insanity.

• A 'Zoom in/out Shot' can be used to show detail. 

• A 'Handheld' can be used to move with action or create suspense/tension.

• A 'Crane Shot' is a high angle shot and can track/pan/tilt with the subject and shows the scale at which the subject fits into the setting.

• An 'Aerial Shot' is taken from a plane/helicopter and shows the location or scale of something.  

Types Of Shots

• An 'Extreme Long Shot' is an establishing shot to show setting, a subjects surroundings can be used to show wide areas of action. 

• A 'Long Shot' is where the subject takes up most of the shot and can be used to show a character in their environment.

• A 'Mid Shot' shows a character from the waist upwards and can be used to show a character without revealing too much emotion and gives room to express hand gestures.

• A 'Medium Close Up' is halfway between a close up and a mid shot sand is used to show the face more clearly than a mid shot.

• A 'Close up' is used to show a certain feature and reveals detail and emotion.

• An 'Extreme Close Up'  is used to show extreme detail and is a very personal shot.

• A 'Cut Away Shot'  is used to show a different subject or a close up instead of the current action happening. It can be used as a buffer between shots or to show detail or information.

• A 'Two Shot' helps establish a relationship between two characters and can be used to follow action without a background distraction.

• An 'Over The Shoulder Shot' is used during conversation/argument and the person facing the subject usually take up 1/3 of the screen.

• A 'Noddy Shot'  can be used during interviews to show interviewers reaction.

• A 'Point Of View Shot'  shows the view from the subjects perspective.

Composition & Framing

• The composition is where everything is placed or arranged in a shot.
• Rule Of Thirds: The key points of interest are where the lines cross:

• Balancing elements: Having your main subject off center but create balance in the background:

• Framing is what you choose to leave in the frame ('in shot') or out of the frame ('out of shot'):

Screen Shot Analysis

'Black Swan'

• Camera Shot- The camera shot is a close up. This allows us to see the emotion on the woman's face which is fearful and nervous. The shot also shows the glow of sweat on her forehead which also implies nervousness and anxiety. 

• Mise en scene- The background is blurred and the focus of attention is the woman. However the mirror and ballet bars are still visible in the background and this gives an impression that the woman is a dancer. This is also proven by the hair and make up; the make up is very simple like it would be if you were exercising and the hair is pulled back into a classic bun which shows the ballet style. Her head slightly tilted to the side gives the impression that she is afraid to turn around and her expression if fearful. The lighting is dim with more light focused on the woman and her reflection. The woman is positioned slightly to the right which allows her reflection to also be seen in the frame. This is important because the woman's reflection is shown to have moved without the woman actually moving which shows that this is the reason she is frightened.         

• Camera Angle- It is an eye level angle which allows us to see the woman as though we are standing right in front of her. This increases the amount of emotion we see and allows us to see the way she isn't fully turned to look at her reflection because it is the thing that's scaring her.