Camera Shots

There are different camera shots in which we used when we filmed this.
The Long Shot-
The Tracking Shot
The Tilt Shot
The Zoomed in Shot
The From Above Shot 
The Looking Down & Approaching Shot

Film Language

Film Language

Camera Framing

Camera framing is what we can see within the frame of the camera screen. 

We concentrate on how far the camera is from the subject and from what angle the shot is taken.There are different types of shots these are; Long shot, Close-up, Point-of-view shot and Mid shot. Different types of shots are used in combination to give you information about where and when something is  happening.

Camera Movement

Camera movement is used in the same way that framing is used to enhance out involvement in the film action, as the way the camera is moved can be used to direct our attention to a particular viewpoint.

Camera movement includes:

A panning shot - this is where the camera moves slowly across from side to side from a fixed axis

A tilt shot - this is where the camera moves up and down from a fixed axis

A crane shot - this is where the camera is mounted on a crane moves around at a distance above ground level

A tracking shot - is where the camera follows the action

A rolling shot - is where the camera moves diagonally, which makes the image askew

Mise En Scene

Is a French term meaning 'Everything in the Frame' A simple shot of a tree can be made to look threatening by stripping of its leaves, adding a creature or some lightening and shooting it in darkness.Giving the Mise En Scene a deathly, haunted atmosphere.The same tree can be given a different look if it is surrounded by children and shot in a sunny light.Giving the MiseEn Sence a happy, normal atmosphere. Settings

The settings used in film are very rarely just backgrounds to the characters' dialogue and we will often see shots of places without any action taking place. Settings can also be used to manipulate an audience by building certain expectations and then the action turns out different.

Props 

Props is the name we give to objects in the setting 

which play a part in the action, rather than just being part of the background.It can also be used to complete someones costume eg, a man in a suit carrying a breifcase. CostumeCostume plays a large part in the mise en scene (everything in the frame) because it can be an instant indicator to us of a characters personality, social status and their job etc. It also tells us whether the film is set in the past, present or future, and what society or culture it will be about. It could also provide a clue to part the part the character will play in the action, througout the film.Make-Up

In the early days of the cinema and film, makeup was used to highlight the actors facial features as black and white film stock could not register detail very well and detail would be lost, especially in their faces. Some certain genres traditionally use make-up more than others. 

And make-up can also be used to create different atmospheres and mis en scene, and could be used to create a more surreal look eg, zombies, dead people etc. 

The Birds

The Birds is a film in which was made by Alfred Hitchcock.
Starring: Rod Taylor, Tippi Hendren and Susan Pleshette.

The birds is a film in which s based in San Francisco and is about a woman who follows up a man due to suspicion and then ends up falling in love. Unfortunatley they end up getting attackted by birds, the whole town comes under attack and as the number of birds increases the amount of hurt and deaths increase. This shocks the audience as not only are men killed but so are women and children, it is vicious.

The film has elements typical to a thriller film, such as fast, frequent action, suspense, a MacGuffin etc.

An example of the fast paced, frequent action are the bird attacks, which happen numerous times throughout the film.

MacGuffin

The term Macguffin was created and often used by Sir Alfred Hitchcock. It is used in a film to drive the plot along, it is an object which the plot envolves, but what the object is, is unimportant to the film and audience.

Coursework Breif

Course Outline AS
Media Studies AS

 -Assessed by coursework

-50% of AS level

-Two pieces of coursework

-Preliminary Exercise - short filmed sequence demonstrating basic understanding of film language.

-The titles and opening of a new fiction film in the thriller genre.

North By Northwest (1959)

Alfred Hitchcock: North By Northwest 1959

North By Northwest is a film based on an innocent New York advertising executive ( Roger Thornhill) being mistaken for a government agent by a group of foreign spies. he is pursued across the country while he looks for ways to survive and escape being hunted down. He is mistaken for a man called "George Kaplan" and he is kidnapped, taken to a house belonging to Lester Townsend on long island. In desperate measures to find out why they want him and what they are going to do with him he sets out on a mission to find "George Kaplan" and ask him himself! But on the way he finds himself a woman who he starts to like, she covers his tracks a few times but then he finds out she is working for the spies in which are trying to catch him... actually it gets even more confusing because she is actually on his side she is just working with the opposition to find out information. As well as trying to survive, trying to track down Kaplan he also makes it his mission to save the woman he has fallen in love with, this results in him rescuing her from the spies. Can it get more complicated? YES. The result turns out that George Kaplan isn't even a real person, it was all part of the secret services plan to get these villains away from the real secret agent that they are after, Thornhill and his woman run away together. 

North By Northwest is a thriller... HOW? 

"Thrillers are characterised by fast pacing frequent action" 

In North By Northwest this is shown in many ways, the first way would be the drunk car scene. 

As you can see in the picture above he does not look sober, or in a normal state to be driving a car. In this scene Thornhill was taken to long island to Mr. Townsend's house, he was forced drink down his throat, alcaholic drink which made him incapable of even walking let alone driving. The spies didnt want "kaplan" alive so to make it look like suicide they put a drunk Mr.Thornhill in the car and pushed the car on its way rolling towards the end of a cliff. This type of action from getting him drunk to dragging him and putting him in a car keeps the audience interested and constantly watching the film. 

Another example in North By North west would be not long after when Thornhill is trying to prevent being captured by the spies that he creates a scene in the bidding room. 

As you can see above he is being arrested. In this scene he is surrounded by the spies and he knows if he tries to walk out of the room he will be captured and they will most definitely try to kill him again. Therefore he creates a scene making inappropriate jokes and bids on items so that the hosts will have to call the police and he will be arrested. Therefore this is what he does, there is a fast pace as he keeps doing bad things so you don't know what he is going to do next, you do not know if the spies are going to get him before the police do and there is a lot of action! 

"Resourceful heroes who must thwart the plans of the more powerful and better equipped villains" 
The bidding scene again is also a prime example of this however it is not the only one. Thornhill also has another way of displaying this is the film "North By Northwest".

This is when he is in Mr Kaplan's hotel room.

When he is in Kaplan's hotel room, he outwits the villain by playing along with there foolish games and pretending to be Kaplan therefore outwitting them.


UNFINISHED

Analysis on Citizen Kane Opening Scene

Challenge: Analyse a short extract from a film

Charles Kane - Citizen Kane- Opening Scene 
What is the film about?
The film is based on an inspector investigating the death of Charles Kane, it shows various flashbacks of his life and was a world wide story. It concentrates on his death and the research behind his last words.

Why did you choose this film?
I chose this film because it is so interesting to watch, there is a mystery behind it and its almost like a thriller which makes you feel like you cannot take your eyes of the film! Also because it shows different shots which are good to analyse and talk about.

What is so good about this scene?
This scene displays so many different shots which allow you to create different stories in your head as to why these are being shown. Also the movement between scenes is fantastic, there is an effect which allows you to see all aspects creating a very spooky atmosphere. It also shows the moral of the story which is about the death of Charles Kane, this is the stimulus and its effective as it says one word throughout the whole scene setting a mood and almost a motive to concentrate and pick up on throughout the film.

Analysis of this scene:

The sound in this opening scene is almost typical haunting, horror movie sound which gives the idea that it is going to be either a horror or a thriller, the sound also compliments what is going on in the scene which means that it is diegetic sound. The sound gives the impression that there is more to this place than meets the eye! 

The colour in this scene is very dark, its a very old film therefore it is in black and white but that doesn't mean that there isn't different contrasts. There are different shades of grey which makes it more interesting for the viewer, it also shows the imagery more clearly which makes it more of an atmosphere and even more spooky than before. 

The cinematography of this scene is amazing!
There are many different shots that include:

This shot is a close up shot of the gate, its a CU shot of the gate which is emphasisng the "K" standing for Kane, the main character. Its also a shot which is on a Canted angle which means slightly diagonal in the positioning. This highlights how dark and dull the backround is creating a tense atmosphere. The misty background shows that this is a big place and something which should be explored. You can also see the change (fading out) which is going into the next shot! 

This shot is also a close up shot which you could almost say is like a fixed pan shot. It looks like a BCU shot which means really close. It creates tension and is almost like a warning not only in the film but to the people viewing the film putting you on edge and questioning in your head why it is there. Also it is very abstract and the colours seem old which makes it more scary to watch.