Critical analysis of P-02 Thriller Video

Cinematography
A lot of our video is done using handheld camera work which gives it a very shaky and rushed feel to it. Tis increases the pace of the video and adds to the confusion we wanted to bring across. There is also a lot of shaky, over the shoulder shots which allows the viewer to view what going on from both the terrorists point of view and the people in the building. In addition to this, the use of tracking shots during the running scenes adds to this effect. In the scene where the terrorists are running up the stairs, there are a few low angle shots from beneath the staircase which both follows the action of the characters but at the same time hides the identity, and adds to the intimidating feel we wanted to give them.

Mise-en-scene
in our video, we used a variety of locations to try increase the scale of the video. For example, at the beginning we used a long shot of the big complex near the college. This helped the video to look more professional and authentic. The costumes in the video were representational of the different characters, for example at the beginning the newsreader wore a smart jacket and scarf. This is different to the workers in their casual clothing and the terrorists in black covered costumes with balaclavas, which made them more intimidating.

Editing
Additionally, the cuts are quick to increase the sense of disorientation throughout the video, and to make the whole scenario look more dramatic. It also darkens the look of the characters, hiding their identity. When the credits appear they fit in time with music. They then appear distorted and fuzzy, which conveys the corruption in the video.  

Special Effects
The shots where the terrorists are breaking in have a black and white effect. This separates the present day and past sequences and makes it darker and seem more sinister.

Sound
Throughout the video there is a voice over that describes the events that are taking place on screen. This gives the video a direction and some context. As well as the voiceover there is an eerie sound track that corresponds with the feeling of the visuals and also fits in with the editing. The news jingle at the beginning of the video also adds to the authenticity of the video as it identifies it as a news report to people straight away.

Analysis of thriller.

Cinematography:

• Begins with a panning close up shot of detailed information board of reoccurring murders.
  Close up: this allows the viewer to look at the written details and pictures, setting the scene and establishing the genre. It also forces the viewer to obtain detail that can reveal the plot. 
  The use of a panning shot instead of using cuts makes the duration of the shot long, causing the pace to be slow, creating intensity. This could reflect how the murders in the plot are becoming a on going occurrence. 
  
• When it changes location an establishing shot is used. The shot pans across the the location, every a few seconds the shot fades to black for a short amount of time to make a blinking to effect to make the shot feel like its from a point of view.
  
• The close ups are used the show the emotion and feelings of the characters. It also focus on the face to show the blood and bruises making it more realistic. Mid shots are also used to show how the characters are reacting with each other and the location.
  
• As the shot changes and goes to a flash back the camera zooms into an extreme close up of the characters eyes as they shut making clearer that the character is thinking back.
  
• Whilst in the flash back a long shot is used the show the character walking towards the camera whilst a dark figure walks past the window in background. This adds to the suspense.
  
• Once the flash back ends and goes to the present, a high angled shot is used to make the character appear vulnerable suggesting danger is coming.

Editing:

• A dull coloured filter is used on the whole clip to make the atmosphere and locations feel dark and dingy making it fit the genre.
• A black and white filter is used to highlight that the shot is a flash back, reflecting how the characters memory is hazy.  
• A shuter affect was used when ellie is looking around the barn, this both gives a point of view shot aswell as making the viewer feel more into the film , as if he or she is sitting in ellies place, the shuter represents the blinking.
• Shot reverse shot was used when ellie sees emma. This shows the interaction between characters, one of which seems to have gone completely insane.
  

Sound:

• The use of digetic and non digetic sound helps to build tension and suspense.
• The echos of ellies voice help build up the idea of isolation.

Application and micro-element U2 - 64

Sound :
The sound is non diegetic, and gives the effect on the audience that, there is something going to happen, the sound is tension building. As the intensity of the sound increases,  the audiences tension builds.

Video:
Many jump cuts which builds suspense as the audience doesn't know what's happening when, which makes them have no idea what's going to happen. Close ups to the face shows this is serious as there are no emotions.

Mise en scene:

fake blood, shows the audience that, the character has just murdered someone and is trying to wash the blood and maybe conscience off his mind.  

Editing:

We used 

Use of micro elements in my thriller video

Editing - The edits that we have used are quick, especially the transitions between shots. We did this to give the extract urgency and make the audience feel empathy for the panic of the character. We use edits like jumps cut to increase the pace of the thriller, for example when you can see the killer from the side holding his gun out then there is a quick edit to a POV shot. This technique is very useful for the thriller genre as it keeps continuity while skipping unnecessary shots.

Special effects - We didn't really use any special effects in the extract, apart from running... We made Chris run so that the audience could see that he was in danger and make the extract feel panicked.

Camera - We used a variety of different shots and angles, most of them were used to either make the extract feel panicked or to make the killer character more mysterious and scary. We used shots like POV, hand held and made the camera man run through the forest, this puts the audience in the victims shoes and keeps them involved in the extract. We also used panning shots, this allowed us to see both the characters running through the forest but also it gives the audience a break from all the POV and hand held shots and just lets them spectate what is going on.

Mise-en-scene - We faded the colour in the extract so it was almost black and white but had small tints of colour. We felt that this would give the extract a darker and more sinister look plus it is quite conventional of the thriller genre to be dark and not very colourful. The lighting is the same story we kept it quite dark so that it would enhance the mood. We used a gun instead of a knife because a gun has more impact on the audience plus it would allow us to put in better sounds (gun shots) which again would have a bigger impact on the audience then a knife.

Sound - The soundtrack that we used was quite edgy and quick, this was again to increase the pace of the extract. The sound effects that we used was the gun shot for when the killer fires at the victim, this was used to show that the danger is real and the killer really does want to kill. 

Micro-Elements:

Sound
We used Visceral sound to add emphasis to sounds which could be considered disturbing. (Idea from Dexter) e.g door creeking, mascara being put back.

We added sound effects on some of the actions like putting mascara on and putting objects in the bag to emphasis perfection and a aural foreshadow of events.

-There was volcano at the beginning and end, a slightly eery sound that was not very loud because we wanted the focus to be on the visuals (dead person) instead of the sound.
-We used contrapuntal music within our thriller to create a sense of psychosis and distort the veiwer.
-Through some sections we didn't put any music and just used diagetic sound to build up suspense.

Editing
We sped up sections (e.g eye seen) to keep the audience attracted and to add distortion to the video.
We used jump cuts

Match on Actions help keep audience attention.

Mis En Scene
-We tried to make our character dress really smart to help emphasis the factor of being a psychopath.
room all neat and tidy, All cosmetics all in a line to help show OCD (factor of a psychopath)

-Dead person dressed similar to reflect psychopath obsession and weirdness. 

-Objects layed out, all important reflect important job.

-Badge to help audience understand the person is important and instead of objectifying her give the audience some background information.

Cinematography
We used a track shot as an establishing shot to help set the scene.
We used exteme close ups on everything with our psychopath but never showed her face fully to objectify and not show her as a full person and reflect the idea of a psychopath by showing her precise grooming.
Match on Actions were used several times to help keep the reader interested and help make the video flow.

Special Effects

Evaluation of micro elements of our thriller U1-32

Sound.

The soundtrack is sound dark, by using a prolonged drone throughout. The dark sound sets the tone of the opening, and the viewer is shown the dark thoughts of the main character. Also, by adding in sharp high pitch noises during the flash backs gives them an individual personality, which helps the viewer see that they are from the past. The distorted sounds let the audience know something isn't right which helps built the mystery. Theirs limited dialogue which was diegetic in this scene. This is because it is representing Micheal's memory, and as he suffers from amnesia.

cinematography.

By using a close up in the image above it shows the facial expressions of the actor. By using this shot it helps to show how the actor is feeling and we used this to show depression. By having his head in his hands it shows the audience that he is in a poor frame of mind and is feeling aggrieved.

 

 The image above shows a close up of the actors hand. This is to show an emphasis on the tattoo that plays a major part in the film. By using the close up it helps to tell the audience that this is important and that they should take note of this.

special effects

there is lots of different types of special effects used in the thriller. For example, when Jonny hit Chiv with a spanner. during the shot an actual spanner was used but the angle of the camera made it look like chiv was actually struck with the spanner. this special effect was used to make the shot look as realistic as possible. Also screen wipes are used, mainly when James is sat on the train station, Jonny walks past and the screen wipes followed by some credits. By using this type of screen wipe it allows the film to carry on rolling but the credits come into the scene, making it look more realistic. Black and white footage is used through out the the first half of the film. Black and white footage is used to help show the audience that james is having flashbacks, this is a very useful and effective special effect.

Editing-

In our thriller opening we used parallel editing. This was to show James characters flashbacks which reveal the narrative. It added to the mystery of the plot which is essential to a thriller. We kept to the 180 degree rule which made it clear to audiences to watch and understand. The editing is quick towards the climax of the attack on my character, this is to build up tension. It also represents James characters understanding of the events in the plot, which lets audiences identify with James character as a thriller conventionally consists of a strong male lead.

What I'd do different.

If we were to re-do our thriller project we would do very little different. However, what we would change is our location at the beginning of the thriller. This is because it is very basic and looks unprofessional for a police interview room as there are books in the background and the room was not suitable on the whole. Apart from this, we would change nothing.

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Thriller Analysis

Micro Elements:

Editing:

• Fade in's and out's were used to make a smoother progression throughout the film
• the jump cuts used at the start of the video build the tension and suspense at the start of the video, it also develop the narrative to show that something serious is going down.

Sound:

• At the start the music is good because it creates suspense and is a fast tempo but as it does not change throughout the film which ruins the suspense because its builds the audience up but nothing happens
• Lack of dialogue means there is not a very good narrative

Mise en scene:

• Good use of props including drugs and phones to help form the story and make it more believable and realistic
• Costumes where typical drug dealer clothes like hoodies and trackies.
• The locations used in the car park with the dark lighting help to represent the thriller genre of the video aswell

Cinematography:

• close up of person washing his hands helps to represent the genre of a thriller but was not really linked to the storyline very well
• over the shoulder shot of person creates suspense and mystery because you dont know who he is
• point of view camera shot was used to develop the narrative as it shows to the audience that he got away
• The still shots that were used in the car park in the video were a bad thing about the video as it was meant to be a fast tempo to create tension and make the audience nervous when it infact did the opposite.
• the long shot which is supposed to develop the narrative is pointless because it does not do anything

Special effects:

• The stunt in our film was a fight scene which was supposed to develop the narrative but was not very believable and not very well explained

Application of micro element to U1 - 44

  
Special Effects

• Car sequence
• Screensaver and general computer use (Google Maps)
• White noise etc

Creates atmosphere and believability. It wouldn't be a sci-fi thriller without strong use of technology.

Cinematography

• Long shots to establish location
• Close ups of computer screens
• Handheld - gives it a sense of urgency

Fairly simple shot types, but used to give it diversity. Also, manipulates the audience by not showing certain things (location etc). It also keeps the identity of the hacker a secret. This makes you want to watch more as it provides a question to keep the audience captivated.

Editing

• Parallel editing
• Split screen

As above, doesn't reveal the identity of the hacker or the location. Parallel editing shows both groups at the same time, and split screen gives it a 'crime thriller' feel. (Character profiling) The split screens also add to the technology aspect of this thriller as it does not use the conventional one shot size/type and creates more interest in the storyline.

Sound

• Car sound effect - Visceral
• Diagetic typing
• Technological noises (white noise noise etc)
• Score - Sound Bridge - continuous sound
• Dialogue

Keeps it technological. Fits with the visuals, makes it realistic and believable.
Limited dialogue keeps the tension high and doesn't distract the audience.
Sound bridge keeps the tension high and links the parallel editing together.

Mise-En-Scene

• Very dark Hacker scene
• Fancy pancy house
• Fancy pancy car
• Lighter for the agents - Means the audience takes sides with the agents because they are 'lighter' and therefore 'better'.
• Technical looking - white noise etc
• Props - computers

Lighting makes it eerie and 'thrillerish'. No obvious costumes, so we don't know much about the characters and whether they are 'bad' or 'good', we rely on the lighting, but this could be purposefully misleading.

Media Language: Micro Elements

Application of Mise-en-scene to Harry Brown

Application of Special effects to Harry Brown

Application of Sound to Harry Brown

Application of Editing to Harry Brown

Application of Cinematography to Harry Brown

Cinematography:
Angles
Shots
Movement
Distance

Verity Smith

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