Research into Mise-en-Scene

Mise-en-scene encompasses the most recognisable elements of a film- it includes five micro elements, including makeup costume, props and all the other details that make it conventional to a particular genre. The term miss-en-scnee is french meaning roughly 'put into the scene'.
Scream was released in 1996, it was written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven. The opening of 'scream' shows a young lady being harassed over the phone by a unidentified voice who seems to fit the role as the antagonist. The voice asks numerous questions which the young girl is happy to answer until the voice says 'i want to know who I'm looking at' as soon as this is said the mood of the scene changes completely. Sound effects such as a dog barking is heard, this creates tension and suspense as the audience can see that he has been watching the girl. After hanging up the phone the voice tells the girl to turn ion the patio light again which is where the 5 minute clip ends.

Setting and iconography

A vital element of miss-en -scene within the sequence, the opening scene is set in a reasonably sized modern house, it is located in the country, is far from a police station and away from any close neighbours. The scene takes place inside the girls house then later we are given a look to outside the girls house. This is all entirely conventional to the thriller genre simply because these events take place inside the girls home, this is because the conventions of being in your own home gives the illusion that the girl is entirely safe from harm, however in this scene the house looks very big and no doubt be scary to be left alone in. This is where the films plays with the connotations of being safe in your own home yet the girl is on her own which creates suspense and we can see the girl is helpless.

Costume hair and makeup

 From watching the opening sequence the audience can easily see this is part of the thriller genre, this is because of the atmosphere and mood set by the sound editing and camera shots. The use of the anonymous voice which is not painted with a face of a character creates pressure.

Costumes are one of the key elements which makes fills conventional to their genre for example, in this sequence the young woman (Casey) is scene to wearing a white woolly jumper and plain jeans; this tells the audience that she feels relaxed where she is and feels safe in the comfort of her own home. Furthermore we can also tell this film was set in America due to the accent of the character. Casey's boyfriend was wearing a football jacket which American footballers often wear. In addition Casey tells the anonymous caller 'He's big and he plays football'. By this the audience are able to identify her to be an American. By wearing such clothing they are able to see how innocent Casey is she looks very young as if she could still be in high school, which means she still has her life to live, which creates empathy on the audiences behalf as we can see where this phone call is heading. The house that


Casey lives in suggests the film was not set in the modern day. This is due to the lay out of the house and colour scheme. In 1996 dull colours were popular to diorite your house with. Lastly the quality of the camera does not look modern the scene looks pixelated and grainy. The costumes props make this film conventional to the thriller genre as the audience believe this film to be real life due to the common furniture and props used.

Positioning of characters. 

Camera  shots play a big role on the effect the film will have on an audience, for example, within this scene we see many different shots which all have a separate effect on the audience for example the zoom shot and reaction shot are both used in the scene when the mystery character says something to Casey that changes her hole mood towards the Phone call. The mystery character on the phone says to Casey ''Because i want to know who I'm looking at''. The camera then instantly zooms into her face to capture her reaction to this comment, this is where the soundtrack is then changed to create a more chilling and cold atmosphere and build tension. This is done to capture the emotions created by Casey's facial expressions as she is going through a stage of insecurity and builds tension. This is done to capture the emotions on her face as she feels vulnerable.

Facial expressions and body language 

A mid shot is used when the audience sees Casey crying and yelling thought the phone, her hysterical crying suggests she has been affected by what the man is saying to her and is genuinely fearing for her life. Her facial expressions also reflect her paranoia. Further while seeing this mid shot the audience are forced to see how scared she is which is portrayed through her body language. This is conventional to the thriller genre because the audience start so empathy for her, sacred and paranoid with her, by doing so the audience feel tension as they wait for the climax.

At the start of the opening sequence the girls face suggests that she usually encounters prank calls, her facial expressions were happy as she's goes about the house twiddling her hair. After she puts the phone down and the strange call keeps phoning her she seems so become scared. She seems fearful as she locks the doors to prevent anyone from being able to enter the house. This shows that although she is an adult we can she see is weak as she fears the unknown, it makes the audience feel sorry for her as the audience are also unaware of who is on the other end of the phone . This is conventional to the thriller genre as the audience feel sorry for the victim and are scared of whats going to happen. 

When Casey is talking on the phone she leans over her kitchen counter and has both elbows on the table her slanted body language suggests she is comfortable within this environment. Showing the audience she is comfortable and in control of the situation. 




Lighting in colour

 Ultimately the opening sequence of the film scream Relates to the scream logo (a blade) this is because the use and image of knives is emphasized upon a lot during the scene. An example is when Casey begins to play with a kitchen knife while she was on the phone to her anonymous caller. This in turn is such a controversial event as we also hear the anonymous caller ask the girl if she liked scary movies and she mentions another movie where the killer uses a knife to kill their victims. This is controversial due to the killer in scream also uses a knife to kill their victims. In this scene, the lighting used inside the house is more or less natural lighting, this tells the audience that it is dark outside due to all the lights being on while she is at home, this symbolizes the innocence of the girl and the peaceful and open atmosphere within the house. However as we progress through the opening the lighting starts to change and turn in to low key lighting, this starts the build up of tension and suspense as the audience are watching the innocence of this girl steadily slipping away from her as she is exposed to the anonymous caller. At the end of the scene the lighting ended up completely in the low-key state, this adds to the death of Casey and it also symbolizes the atmosphere of Casey's parents and the audience. Further the film onscreen film title is written in the colour white to represent a Ghost; it also relates to the way the antagonist is dressed in the film as he has a white mask which looks like a howling ghost. The title colour then changes to red to symbolise danger and blood which suggests that this film is a horror-thriller.

Conclusively; I have decided that the opening scene of scream is slow- paced however very effective due to the pressurized build up of tension created due to the location, soundtracks used, camera angles etc. Scream is a conventional opening to a thriller film simply because it stays within all the norms of a film of its origin for example we see a young vulnerable girl alone in a big house with glass doors. Elements such as these are conventional to thriller films as the audience expect things to happen but when they don't happen as the audience had expected it allows a build up of tension throughout the film. This opening scene has taught me to not always show what is expected by the audience and to think outside the box when creating my own thriller sequence. From analysing this opening scene I have also learnt how to make my thriller conventional to the thriller genre, furthermore I am now able to use and pick out key micro-elements which will enable me to achieve and create a realistic atmosphere within my thriller sequence.

5) Re-consider the points that you have made on the positioning of the characters, and focus on the sequence and not through the cinematography 
6) Add a conclusion

Research into the BBFC - Miss Miller

The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC). Is an independent organisation which has given cinema films age restrictions since it was established 1912. It is a non profit organisation, the company has never received funds from the film industry and as it is a non governmental organisation they receive no subsidies from the government. The BBFC's job is to protect the public especially from content that could be potentially harmful to younger viewers, ratings such as 12A's give parents the right to make informed viewing choices for their children. By using primary research the BBFC is able to see the changing social attitudes towards media content. Constantly asking the public for their opinions helps the BBFC to take in into account the changing social values.

U Certificate

The U symbol represents the word universal. All films with the U certificate must be suitable for children the age of four and over. Unfortunately all children react to films differently so it is uncertain what might upset a particular child. In a film with the U certificate only mild swear words are acceptable like 'damn' or 'hell'. U rated films do not contain sexual behavior however there may be kissing or sexual references. Violence in a U film may be minor where characters are in trouble yet the outcome will be positive and the plot will be resolved.


Themes often presented in films rated U are usually ones of loyalty, honesty and friendship. ‘Finding Nemo’ (2003) is an animated Disney film. The adventure Nemo's father finds himself on is dangerous and threatening. This includes meeting a Shark with sharp teeth and getting lost in a swarm of jellyfish. Although Nemo's father finds himself in various different situations all these moments of mild jeopardy are quickly overcome and are accompanied by humour to lighten the mood. There is a small sad scene towards the start ouf the movie where Marlin (nemos father) realises that all his children besides Nemo have been taken away by a shark. The scene is quickly cut short and to a time where Marlin and Nemo are playing together. Nothing too disturbing for little children. The film does however contains mild bad language when a young fish calls a boat a ‘butt’ by mistake.

PG Certificate

The letters PG stand for ‘parental guidance’. This implies the film is deemed acceptable for general viewing although some scenes may be unsettling for young children. A PG film should not

unbalance a child over the age of eight. Parents are given the choice to consider if the content may be unsuitable for their child. Most PG films are made with the aim to reach a younger target audience but this doesn't mean to say the older generation would not enjoy it just as much. The certificate does mean that the themes throughout the movie are appropriate for children over the age of eight. Along with U rated films mild bad language may be used but nothing deemed unsuitable for children. There is however more violence in PG films compared to U rated films, there will not be great detail but there may be some blood in animated films. Anti social behavior such as bullying or paying with electricity, will not be seen as acceptable or go unchallenged.

In the film Tangled (2011) there are a few scenes of violence, in which kitchen utensils are used to hit a number of people round the head. The main scene of violence happens when the protagonist is stabbed to death with a knife. There is no intricate detail shown all we do hear groaning and there is no sight of blood as he is laying on the ground positioned away from the camera. This scene then we see the evil witch fall to her death from the tower which goes beyond the guidelines for a U certified film which is why the film was given a PG certificate due to the scenes of mild violence.

12 and 12A

The 12 and 12A certificate are very similar they both contain material that is unsuitable for children under the age of 12. Children under the age of 12 are not permitted to watch a 12A unless accompanied by an adult. Parents planning to take their children to watch a 12A must contemplate whether or not they believe it is suitable for the child they are taking. This is followed by all cinemas around the UK and a cinema may lose its licence if this is not enforced. The overall tone of a 12 or 12A is usually unsettling compared to a PG. There is strong language in a 12A and 12 films and depending on the amount of bad language is whether it is suitable to see without an adult. Sex may be brief and discreet yet the film may include verbal sexual references but neither should not go beyond what is deemed acceptable for teenagers.



12A
Pitch Perfect 2 is classified as a 12A it is a comedy sequel about a group of girls who are all involved in an a Capella singing group who thrive to enter the USA world championships. The reason for it being a 12A is the fact there are moderate sexual references including one onstage revealing one singer's genitalia to the audience. There is bad language included and inappropriate hang signals are also used. The language is inappropriate and goes beyond what is acceptable for a PG harsh swearwords may be used. The guardian is responsible for making sure they think the film is appropriate for that particular child and wether they want their child to hear language of that sort.


12

The Hunger Games - Mocking Jay Part 1

The reason for being a 12 is becuase in one scene a lady is attacked by a young man, he hits her violently to the floor and attempts to strangle her. This is followed by a scene where the attacker gets hit and the woman's injuries are covered by a neck brace. There are scenes in the movie where commoners rebel against soldiers and some get shot yet there is although there is very little visible injury. Wounded and dead bodies are scattered throughout some scenes which should not be available for young audiences to see. These are only shown quickly and there are no close ups of the wounds. Throughout the film and plott the main characters wind up in danger where cities are under attack and innocent people try to seek asylum. The plot overall is quite complicated which may be hard for younger viewers to follow. With reference to death by hanging and taking into account the story line it has been certified appropriately.

15 certificate

In a 15 rated film you would expect to see; strong violence, sexual activity with strong references to sex, sexual nudity, drug taking, discriminatory language and behaviour. In a 15 there is no upper limit on how much bad language can be used, however if is aggressive and continuous the BBFC may not pass it as a 15 and consider it as an 18. There may be racist or other discriminatory language used although it must not be endorsed and accepted as a whole. Strong gory is not acceptable however there can be strong violence which may play on injury. Further in 15 rated movies there will be sexual references not in strong detail but crude and raunchy references are allowed.

Bridesmaids is a US comedy where two women are in rivalry to plan their ‘best friend's’ wedding. It was classified as a 15 due to the inappropriate language, crude humor and sexual references. The main female character has an argument with a teenage girl in the jeweller's shop. Her aggressive language is overheard by her boss which immediately gets her dismissed from her job the fact that this was verbal, and seen as inappropriate by her boss further the fact it was not followed by physical violence means it is still permissible as a 15. The opening scene of bridesmaids is a sexual scene between the main female character and a man. Although there is no nudity the scene is not quick and not discreet thus being rated as a 15. The film also contains drug references but this is not followed by any visible hard drug use. If hard drug use was involved it may have been certified differently.

18 certificate

Films that are rated 18 are made for adults and are inappropriate for younger viewers. In an 18 film no theme is required it may be seen as offensive to some viewers due to the racist, homophobic and sexual themes. There can be strong portrayals of sex including full nudity. At 18 there can be strong violence portrayed with intricate detail and gore. The whole plot can be based around inflicting pain or injuries, even scenes of sadistic sexual violence. At an 18 rated film it does not condemn drug taking yet there may be drug taking shown. Although many things that fall under the 18 category are acceptable if criminal behavior which if copied can put people at risk of being harmed it may be cut.

The Texas chain saw massacre

In one of the very first images at the beginning of the film shown is a dead corpse on top of a fence post the camera then zooms in to reveal the head of a second corpse (Too much gore and detail t be a 15). This violence and gore is suitable for adults only. The violence is extreme and later in the film we find out the Leatherface’s mask is a humans face removed by him, this behaviour should only be watched by an adult as it may scare younger less mature viewers. The profanity is not extreme and only references a few swear words. Substance abuse is apparent in one of the first scenes where a man appears to be drunk yet no drug taking is shown, the main reason why this movie is an 18 is because the movie has the horrifying feel that it is real life which may psychologically harm young audiences. The general tone is very dark and twisted the scary scenes and general atmosphere makes it unsuitable for children.

Conclusion
The BBFC's job is vital, firstly age certifications are in place to protect children and sensitive adults from potentially harmful and unsuitable content. They empower parents to make informed viewing choices for their children. The thriller film genre is extremely popular with  young adults from the ages 15-25. This is due to the intense story lines and graphic action which is a common convention of the thriller genre. Revealing the twisted narrative as the film plays out and trying to work out the film ending before it has happened attracts the older viewers to this category of film. Personally I think my thriller sequence will be a 15 or 18 as these are the audience that like to be kept on the edge of their seats. The audience also expects to be engaged with the characters and the story line. Each character usually has their own story which are revealed to the audience as the film progresses and they usually fit in with the overall storyline of the plot. The fact that this is quite complex to follow makes it suitable for the older generation of film watchers as they will be able to keep up with what's happening. In my opening sequence i will be mindful not to add gore defiantly no drug taking and make it suitable for children the age of 15. In my sequence I plan to use typical narratives from films that are suitable for teenagers.

Cinematography - Miss Miller

The focus of this blog entry is the cinematography around the 2010 film Shutter Island, starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels and Mark Ruffalo as his partner Chuck Aule. It is important to identify the definition of cinematography; the techniques used in films using various camera angles and photographical effects to evoke certain emotions and moods, creating a specific atmosphere within in the audience. This can be through done through angles, position and movements of cameras within the film. Cinematography can often identify the genre of film shown, for example, eye level shots are common in romance films so the audience can almost take on the role of the characters. To explore the cinematography in this film, I have chosen this specific clip (www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmmJsgfNSIM) as it clip introduces us to the main characters and their surroundings, whilst diving into Teddy’s flashbacks giving some background to the character himself. It also shows the audience some of the people who work at the institution and looks into the extravagant office area of Dr Cawley, showing cinematography can be used in scenes to influence the audience without direct action. As a thriller, this film has a haunting storyline of a disappearance at a mental institution on an island separated from the outside world, which is where we meet the main characters.

At the beginning of this clip (0:01), a two shot camera position is used, drawing audience attention to the main characters in the film. This shot has a dark background which reflects the story line of the film; the dark colours and rain in the scene foreshadow the events to come.  This also signifies mystery which is conventional to the thriller genre and their jobs as detectives which is outlined by the clothes they wear in the shot. The puzzled look on their faces shows the audience that they do not trust the situation or what is being told to them, creating doubt and suspense as the audience are unaware of why they are puzzled. Are they being tricked? Is there a hidden storyline? Furthermore, Teddy is standing in the foreground of the shot with Chuck closely behind him; insinuating that Teddy is dominant, the boss, within this working partnership. On the other hand, this could suggest to the audience that Chuck takes a step back on purpose, letting Teddy take control of the situation.

As you progress into the scene, the characters arrive in Dr Cawley’s office. To set the scene there is some music playing in the background and this is clearly recognised by Teddy. This encourages a flashback of a darker time in his life; a panning movement of war prisoners (0:53). This movement conveys to the audience that he has some pervious involvement in war and is still haunted by it. This shot shows that these prisoners are cold and helpless, evoking sympathy and sadness from the audience; the barbed wire demonstrates that they are captured and treated with disrespect like caged animals. The camera movement pans sideways along the barbed wire, to show that there are many in this horrible condition, showing only hands at first before faces; this connotes that their faces are not important, they are one of many in this situation.

In the office, Teddy and Chuck are introduced to the main psychiatrist in the institution, Dr Jeremiah Naehring (1:07-18). The first glimpse the audience gets is of the back of the chair, which makes them think, why is this person hidden, or, what do they have to hide? This character is clearly portrayed to the audience as influential and intimidating as it takes a while to reveal his identity through the use of a tracking shot and steadicam, therefore creating a flowing shot without breaking the 180 degree rule. The audience see a gradual introduction of his face, therefore suggesting them to question him and his role within the institution. Despite eventually seeing his face, throughout the conversation you only see him side on, this implies that he is a secretive man and could potentially deceive others. Is this person to be trusted?

Furthermore, whilst having a conversation with the psychiatrist, Teddy experiences some more flashbacks (2:08-14). It is here where the audience sees his flashbacks of an office, where the audience is immediately drawn to a picture of Hitler in the background. This suggests that they are in a German general’s office, an establishing shot, which, depending on the audiences’ knowledge, can provoke certain emotion or tension. This is also an extreme longshot, which enables the audience to take in the frame as a whole, especially as it is positioned at eye level if the person was to stand at the edge of the room. Paperwork starts to fall from the ceiling, the only thing in the room that moves. Without any people in the room, it builds suspense for the audience as they are not sure as to why they are seeing this shot or what the paperwork is; producing questions such as, how does this relate to Teddy? Is he at this place? Why is he seeing this flashback? This suddenly cuts back to Teddy’s face, showing the audience that he is haunted by war, maybe making the audience feel sorry for him.

Finally, during Teddy’s flashbacks the audience are presented with a gory scene of his days in the war (3:54-57). He approaches the German general who lies on the floor with a serious face wound, struggling in pain which immediately produces a surprise or shock to the audience because the man is severely injured. The camera holds on a point of view shot, where the audience take on the role of the general and are looking up at Teddy. This insinuates that he is the superior, the person in control of the situation. After a quick shot of an emotionless face from Teddy, the camera frame then cuts to show the general striving to reach a gun. This is presented through a shallow focus and a low angle shot. The audience’s attention is drawn to the gun in the foreground, as the background blurs. This provokes the wonder of whether the general is reaching to the gun to kill Teddy or to end his own pain; either way produces an emotional response in this scenario. This camera position purposefully creates a connection between this gun and the audience, building suspense as to what is going to happen next and questioning the actions of Teddy.

In conclusion, cinematography in this clip of Shutter Island demonstrates how suspense, shock and tension can be built up for audiences even in scenes without any major action or scary activity and this clip has inspired me to do the same if I was to make my own opening thriller clip. I believe it is important to sometimes create reactions in audiences in smaller, less graphic scenes. Camera positions and movements can make the audience feel intimidated, scared, sympathetic or puzzled with the scene and if they were presented in other ways, they may produce different reactions. Cinematography techniques and other elements like soundtracks are used to produce a certain reaction in the audience and create a specific atmosphere when watching the film.