Remembrance

Preliminary Task - The Anti-Climax

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Notes On Analysis Of The Departed Trailer



I have decided to analyse the film trailer of The Departed. It is effective as it uses varied shot types, with clips from the film.

The trailer begins by introducing Jack Nicholson using a tracking shot as he is talking. This shot is very sinister as it just shows the silhouette of him and the viewers are unaware of who it is.

After ten seconds, there is a medium close up of Matt Damon, ‘Colin’ as a police officer, just after Jack Nicholson, ‘Costello’ says “you become cops” and then it flashes to a shot of Leonardo DiCaprio, ‘Billy’ in prison and it pans to the right across the cell, as ‘Costello’ says “or criminals”. This is extremely effective as the shots that are shown quickly of the police officer and criminal relate to what ‘Costello’ is saying and this is seen later in the film. Therefore these shots help to anchor part of the plot of the film. The viewer believes that this clearly lays out the ‘goody’ and ‘bady’ in the film; however this is proven wrong later on.

As Jack Nicholson continues to talk, this effect is used again at 0:15, where we see a slightly low angle close up of ‘Billy’ looking worried, and it flashes to a close-up of someone cocking the trigger of a gun. Then as ‘Costello’ says “when you’re facing a loaded gun”, there is a whip pan shot reaching a police car, and then a medium close-up of a police man firing a gun. This is quickly followed by another close up of a gun being fired twice. These various shots help to anchor the line used by Jack Nicholson, and alerts the viewer of what’s to come in the film (confrontation between two sides.)

As the trailer reaches 20 seconds, the character of Jack Nicholson is revealed using a medium close-up of him saying “what’s the difference” with a slightly different tone of voice. This is related to the fact that there are the previous shots of both criminals and police officers using guns.

At 25 seconds, the viewer is shown flashes of various parts of the police uniform, including close-ups of hats, police badges etc. This is then revealed as medium close-ups of police men lined up, including ‘Colin.’

The next shot is a crane shot, behind a man wearing a suit. This shot is used in order to give a clear idea of the setting and viewers can assume it is the police department, as the shot is used with the line “this is the State police.” The next shot reveals the character from the previous shot with a medium close-up, who is ‘Colin.’

Next is a medium shot in a police briefing, which moves into a close-up of the main picture on the board. The viewers are then shown who it is with a medium close-up of Costello and are officially introduced to him as a character as they state his name. We are then shown a close up of an exchange of money, followed by a two shot which is a long shot of two bodies lying on the ground. This implies that ‘Costello’ set this up, and is therefore the reason that he is wanted.

These shots are followed by an introduction of another character, using an extreme close-up, followed by a tilt up of the character as a police officer. This is then followed by an arc and medium close-up of him pointing a gun (in practice.) In the next shot, it is the same character, but this time in an office. It is first a medium shot, followed by an over the shoulder shot, and then a zooming shot as he asks a question, this is used to get a better idea of his reaction and expression.

At 0:40 there is another pan to the right across the prison cell, containing the character that was just introduced to us, about to be released.

At 0:45, there is a two shot with a slight arc, followed by an over the shoulder shot, and another two shot of the characters in the previous shot. This shows the audience that they are quite important in the film.

0:53 is a bird’s eye view of the character that has just hurt his arm. This gives the viewers a full view of what has taken place. This is followed by various two shots and medium close ups of characters.

1:03 is an extreme long shot of offices with the two main characters in the centre. This gives the audience a wider view and helps give a better idea of the setting.

1:10 is an over the shoulder shot, which shows us that there are two characters, however it gives us a better view of the one that is talking and her expressions.

1:24 is a low angle shot, and makes us feel as though we are in the shot, as the actor is looking directly into the camera. This adds realism to the shot.

At 1:36, it is a slow tilt upwards and gives us a clear view of the character’s expression as he looks anxious.

1:42 is a forward track, following a character that is running. This also makes the shot seem realistic, as we feel present in the scene.

1:45 is a crane shot, giving us a wider view of the setting and showing us the direction that one character is moving in.

1:46 is a reverse track, moving along with the character, and again feeling as if we are there.

Extreme long shots are used in many places to help us see the action taking place in the film clearly over a wider range; 1:51, 1:53, 1:59, 2:02, 2:10.

1:52 is a low angle shot, as one of the characters is about to punch another. This gives us the point of view of the character that is about to be punched and helps us feel fear for them.

2:01 is a high angle shot, directly above the character, as he looks up straight into the camera.

2:17 is a close-up of Matt Damon holding a knife, which immediately alerts the audience of his intentions, and then tilts up to his face, with his poised expression. The next shot of him stabbing a man is less of a shock as we are warned before that he is ready to do it.

This is followed by an extremely fast-paced sequence of various shots and ends the trailer with the same character that it started with (Costello).

Monday, September 29, 2008

BLK feedback

Excellent analysis and reflections on your horror shot - super work Tanya!

Great choice of trailer and very thorough analysis notes too - excellent work.

Your blog looks great and includes all the essentials, plus a great 'moodboard' of stills, so well done so far.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Notes On FDA Videos

These are notes on the distribution of film, after it has been through the production phase. It is based on the information found on the clips on: http://www.launchingfilms.tv/

1. Release of a film:
First, consider its marketability (who is it going to appeal to and who its audience is).
Then develop a campaign that will best communicate and appeal to that audience. Start by calculating how much money will be spent on marketing the movie.
From that they can set an appropriate budget that will enable them to reach the box office potential that they believe the film has got.
Then plan the methods of marketing. Considering options such as whether they will develop working with 3rd party promotions, media partners in radio, newspaper, publicity angles for them eg. is the talent in the movie, are the actors willing to work to help promote by travelling, speaking to the media, doing interviews. Will there be a premier.
Advertising – media spend, eg. outdoor posters, television advertisements, newspaper, radio, internet. There are many options open.
Choosing primarily who will this appeal best to and what are the best communication routes to reach these people in the most effective way.

2. Positioning and Audiences:
Define who the audience is.
Identify the specific genre of the film, eg. thriller, horror, action, comedy etc.
Decide whether it appeals to a certain age group eg. child, teenagers, adults etc.
Who directed the film, eg. in specialised films, they appeal to a more cine-literate audience, therefore they tend to know a lot more about whom certain directors and actors are. Therefore you would specifically target your film to that audience.

3. Target Audience:
Being very clear who your target audience is is important.
People know how to identify their target audience, by using past films that are similar as examples and doing large amounts of research to gather information about this audience.
There is an element of risk as you only have a certain amount of money, and you must use this correctly to appeal to that audience in the right way that will urge them to watch the film.
Different audiences and different age groups react differently and need to be targeted differently. Their whole decision making process, what film they will see and when they will see it, is very different.

4. Competition:
Film distribution is based around competition.
There are many films out there, therefore you need to ensure that your film will stand out beside them, to make yourself noticed.
You have to consider why people will want to watch yours and why is your poster more exciting than the others.
There are many different factors that need to be considered, for example holidays, weather, audience patterns. You have to consider what the audience are most likely to be doing, for example in the winter they will watch more TV, however in the summer, they will see more advertising posters outside.

5. P&A Budget:
This consists of the cost of all of the prints of the film itself, technical elements of the film, shipping it to other places. As well as this, they must also consider what is regarded as the most important part of the budget, which is marketing. This includes everything from designing posters, press ads, gaining television spots, producing trailers.
Then the location of the advertisements must be decided, thinking about who is the target audience and where are they going to see it.
The distribution of the money must be considered carefully.
Television advertising is very expensive, therefore people can use other methods of marketing their film, for example radio advertising is a lot cheaper and still reaches many people.

6. Word of Mouth:
Word of mouth is critical. When you want word of mouth to happen will depend on the movie.
Sometimes word of mouth can be very strong - if the film is early, then lots of screenings can be done before releasing the actual movie. Also if it is early, and they believe it will play very well for the target audience, then they will work with media partners, eg. newspapers, radio, television programmes, cinema chains, and will run advanced screening programmes, which will develop word of mouth. Word of mouth in films that have their screenings very late means distributors have to rely on their advertising money.
Word of mouth is seen to be the most important and credible as it will be your friends’ opinions that you are more likely to believe.
Opening the movie at the opening weekend, then it is down to word of mouth of the public. This determines how long the movie is going to play for. Word of mouth is extremely crucial in marketing, as it can simply ‘make or break’ a film.

7. Marketing Plan:
There are many methods used to publicise a film, the main ones through advertising and through press.
Advertising is the more expensive method. Adverts would be placed into magazines, newspapers, on the television, radio and on the internet. Then there are more free forms of advertising, which is done through publicity and the press, where you look to get the support from the director and the cast of the movie.
Features and stories about the film can be placed into newspapers and magazines. Interviews can be set up with the directors which can take place on television shows or over the radio.
There is also outdoor advertising which is also an expensive way to advertise a film. This includes methods such as big billboard advertising, adverts on the side of buses or bus shelters etc.
Word of mouth, developed through screening programs, which is a better form of free advertising.
The internet can also be used through email - viral campaigns where you can use something interesting to provoke an interest in the film’s subject matter and again enticing people in to watch the film.

8. Film Trailers:
In the movie industry, the trailers are the most important key for selling the film.
It’s the public’s first and only exposure in the cinema to what they are actually going to buy into - the audience’s first ‘taster’ of the film.
They would be in the same environment that they would see the film in, and on the same size screen that they would watch the film on, so it’s very important that the trailer has the right impact and conveys the right message, including graphics, sound and the concept of the film.

9. Digital Marketing:
Digital marketing can help build word of mouth.
Viral marketing is simple. It is where you create something in the element of a game, a piece of video, a quiz etc. and that because of its nature and the fact that it is good enough, will ensure that when it is sent to someone, they send it on to someone else.
This causes people to talk about it and means the most effective marketing of word of mouth can be used. This is because it is the best piece of communication that will mean more to the person and they find it more reliable.

10. Test Screenings:
Research is important and can be done well in advance of testing materials such as poster ideas, trailers, concepts of movies, ideas of visuals for the trailer, making sure it is meeting people’s expectations and delivering to the audience what you want it to, in the way of communicating the things that you want it to.
When the movie is finished, test screenings of it can be done in advance, where they get a recruited audience of what they believe is the target audience, to see the film and then fill in questionnaires at the end. They can also stay to talk about the film in more depth about some of the issues, and what they liked or didn’t like. Then the studios may look at this and can change parts of a movie to apply to peoples thoughts about the film.

11. Persuading Cinemas:
The exhibitors – the actual cinemas must be convinced to take the film, especially if it is one of the more difficult films, like an independent film.
You must use persuasion to find somewhere to put the film.

12. Opening Weekend:
In the cinema industry, the exhibitors work on the important 3 day figure, your opening day which is always on a Friday, and the Saturday and Sunday figures.
By the Monday morning, the film has to have been successful and made more money than others, it’s the ‘make or break’ period. If it makes the least money, the film is removed from the cinema. This is called a holdover and is usually why some films are only shown in the cinema for one week.
Therefore the money made and how successful the film was in the opening weekend is extremely important and determines whether your film will have another play date.

13. Piracy:
Piracy in the UK has increased in the last five years.
In 1996, piracy accounts for 20% of all DVD sales in the UK. This is a huge number of illegally sold films to the British consumer.
It’s a big problem, despite the fact that the British consumer may feel they are getting a bargain, in many cases they are not getting their money’s worth due to the poor quality of the films.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

THR Feedback

A great start! Your posts are very detailed and very clear on the analysis of effects. Well done - very promising for the future!

Analysing Horror Still Shot

1. Describe your shot and identify in what way it could be seen as representing ‘horror’
This shot that we created could represent horror, mainly for the use of lighting and expression, which are key elements in the genre. The medium shot includes a boy (victim) in a dark room who is extremely scared of something, however we do not show the audience what that is. It is left to the audience’s imagination to identify the second character; however we did use a claw/monster hand created in a shadow to add to the horror element of the shot. The positioning and size of the hand is quite distorted to look unnatural, which immediately connotes something scary and something to be feared of. The reaction of the boy, with his action code and facial expression add to the fear. The shot is also quite tightly framed and dark, in order to create the shadows, however it is still clear enough to see the character.

2. What did you actually do to achieve the effect?
To achieve the effects, we used different techniques. For the setting, we found a dark area and plain wall to place the actor against. We then shone one light from underneath the victim and one from further, on the right side. This light was used to create the shadow, which was created with someone’s hand in a weird position, to make it seem larger and distorted. The actor then made a scared facial expression and hand gesture to add to the effect of horror.

3. What is successful about your shot?
In representing horror, I think our shot is quite successful. It creates the feeling of fear and apprehension within the audience, which is important in horrors. The expression of the actor clearly represents this feeling, which immediately shows the audience that they are scared. As well as the expression of the actor, their action code and hand gesture also shows the fright. The use of low key lighting means shadows could be cast on the actor, adding to the sinister atmosphere of the shot. Also the fact that it is a dark room brings in the element of mystery and tension as the audience are unaware of what will happen next. We also created a shadow in the shape of a monster hand, which the audience would identify as the enemy, and the man in the shot as the victim; therefore there is a sense of two characters. The shot is also quite tightly framed, which connotes entrapment and the feeling of claustrophobia. All of these points help the shot look scary and contribute to the elements of the genre of horror.

4. What would you do differently in hindsight?
In hindsight, I would make some changes in order to improve the effect of the shot. I would have used more lighting, or more powerful lights on the face, in order to create a stronger contrast in light in the shot. Increasing the lighting would have also made the shot slightly clearer and therefore easier for the audience to see the character’s expression. This would have made the shot more intense. I would have also liked to make the setting and character slightly more dramatic by using make-up and props. I also could have changed the angle of the shot to make it more distorted and unusual.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Shot Sequence Analysis - Sin City

Shot 1:
This shot is a medium close-up and is taken from a high angle. It uses low key lighting which causes small shadows on the character. However the expression on the man’s face is still clearly shown and it seems to represent fear. His body positioning shows vulnerability as he is lying on the ground, with his enemy almost directly above him. The angle that this shot is taken from emphasises his entrapment and gives us the point of view of the other character. Also his uncomfortable positioning and gestures also suggests struggle as he’s holding the side of his face, which can also imply that he is in pain or is injured. However, despite this and the fact that he is trapped, he seems reluctant to give up as he is holding a gun in his right hand and aiming at another character, which is out of shot. The character and the gun are central within the frame which focuses our attention on the character’s actions and emotions.

Shot 2:
This shot is a long shot and is also taken from a high angle. The second character is introduced in this shot as the camera zooms out, however his identity is concealed from the audience as his back faces the camera, which adds mystery. He is standing over the character on the floor, with his gun aiming in their direction. His positioning seems quite threatening and powerful, which adds suspense and tension for the audience. The other character is clearly shown as a victim here, as he lays defenceless and open. The long shot establishes a better idea of the surroundings and it seems to be a wooden pier/bridge over water. There is also blood beside the character on the ground, which is emphasised by the use of lighting and stands out. The costume of the character standing relates to the genre and theme of the shot as he is wearing a long coat.

Shot 3:
This shot is an extreme long shot and is taken from a side angle. It reveals another two characters into the scene (a young girl tied to a post and a tall man wearing black and a long coat, standing behind the other man, both watching the confrontation between the two men). This angle gives an even better understanding of the surroundings as it is a wider shot and shows further into the distance. The abandoned looking warehouse behind them adds to eerier feel, as well as the fact that it is dark (night - streetlights). The main lighting in the shot highlights where all the characters are, in the centre of the image, which keeps attention on characters and shows the audience where the action is taking place. The use of lighting also highlights the gun in one of the character’s hands, the one wearing the long black coat. This shot also extends the idea that the central character is powerful, as he leans over the defenceless one.


Shot 4:
This shot is a long shot, taken from the same angle as the previous shot, but more zoomed in, with a tighter frame. This results in more focus and emphasis on the two main men and the action taking place there. The use of lighting also highlights the characters, acting nearly as a spotlight. The main man holding the gun has raised it, aiming it at the other again. This develops the tension and suspense within the audience as they wait to see what the result is. The position of the man on the floor can imply that he has already been shot or is panicking a lot. The other character seems much calmer about shooting and his long coat blowing in the wind adds to the atmosphere. This mist and city lights in the distance emphasise the element of isolation that these characters are in, as it is far from this action which seems to be in an emptier area. The little girl is not in the main part of the shot, however we can see that she has turned her head, facing another direction, implying that she is trying to avoid seeing what is happening.

Shot 5:
This shot is a medium close-up and therefore catches the strong emotion of the girl clearly, as we can see that she is crying and extremely upset. From this reaction, we can tell that something has just happened, possibly that the other man has been shot. We feel the girl’s emotions of distress and this helps the audience identify with that. This presentation of strong emotion using a clear expression is an extreme contrast to the other shots, where we had less of an idea of what the other characters were feeling, resulting in us making assumptions. The use of low key lighting casts small shadows over the young girl which makes it more dramatic. She is looking slightly to her right and downwards, implying she is looking at the lying man, with whom she may have a link.

Shot 6:
This last shot is a long shot, taken from a slightly low angle. The man lying on the floor seems motionless, implying he may have just been killed. The man standing over him appears to be in pain, possibly has also been shot; we can see this in his expression and the way he is standing. The man furthest in the background seems extremely relaxed and calm, however we can not see much of the little girl in this shot. The use of low key lighting again highlights the pier and action that is going on in this shot. Further in the distance, we can see smoke and mist, which adds to the sinister and mysterious atmosphere.

As a Sequence:
As a sequence, these shots work well together, as the audience can gradually gain an idea of the narrative and what is taking place. Throughout the sequence, the distances and angles of the shots are constantly being changed; this gives the viewer the chance to see it from another perspective. Also, as more characters appear in the shots, the viewer is unsure as to what will happen, this adds to the suspense. This gradual development of shots keeps the audiences interest and adds to the tension which is very important in a thriller.