Shot by Shot - Behind the scene pictures.

Here are our behind the scene pictures from out shot by shot remake of Collateral.

Thriller Conventions of Memento

Memento is an incredible psychological thriller. It allowed the audience to think thoroughly about the plot of the film. The film came across as confusing, but we begin to understand the whole plot as the story unfolds, which involved retracing previous scenes of the film. 

The key conventions of a psychological thriller would be;

• Using editing to create an overwhelming effect
• The use of non digetic sound to bewilder the reader
• The building of tension
• Confusing the audience

Memento consists of all the key conventions as without them, it wouldn't be the incredible psychological thriller is is. The editing of the films plays a huge part of the film as the black and white filters allows the audience to understand the present scene is in the "past". Also Memento starts off with the end of the story and ends with the start of the story, which is the main reason why the audience had to retrace previous scenes. This is one of the reasons why the film could confuse the audience.

Memento has eerie and soft music that creates an overwhelming feeling that causes the audience to be pulled in to the film. This would eventually build tension as the combination of sound and editing helps overwhelm and confuse the audience and put them on the edge of their seat. Without confusing the audience, the film Memento would not be a psychological thriller -but a normal thriller film. Confusion is significant to the success of a psychological thriller as this type of thriller makes the audience question the story  and consider different outcomes. 

RESEARCH - Intertextuality

Intertextuality the way in which texts refer to other media texts that producers assume audiences will recognise. Intertexuality is shown in many different films as ideas, scenes, camera work and many other techniques are used time and time again. This may be because it appeals to the target audience, the audience have a rough idea of what could happen as they've seen a film in the same or similar genre.

 

Examples of intertextuality:

 

One famous example of intertextuality is the 'shower scene' in Psycho.

 

 

Many films have remade this scence or copied certain aspects of it. Here are a few examples:

 

The Stepfather (2009)

 

The Roomate (2011)

 

Fatal Attraction (1987)

The fact that this scene from the movie pyscho has been re-made and copied so many times shows the popularity and success of the movie. Also viewers know what to expect when shower scenes appear in movies due to this iconic scene. 

Types of Film Openings

There are 4 types of film openings with each creating different effects on the audience whether being good or bad, these are:

• A narrative opening with the titles opening throughout

"Trainspotting", Renton

This type of opening is used to introduce a character while the audience is watching, the credits are associated with the actors. During this type of opening, the audience may hear the narrative voice of the character. In "Trainspotting", we meet a Renton, the audience is quick to realise that the narrative voice is his as his character is first to be introduced.Also the narrative voice is parallel to the character who is seen in the shot. During the start of the opening scene the camera is focused on Renton, which illustrates that Renton may be a key character. Sound in the opening scene is key as the non digetic music which is upbeat and lively may be representation of Renton's life also his accent allows the audience to understand where he is from. This allows the audience to interact and relate with Renton.

• A discrete title sequence

Discrete titles sequences are usually heavily edited with fast paced transitions to unexpected filters which create a sense of confusion. This sequence often includes subtle clues from the film, these clues could be related to the location, the plot, the climax or anything in particular. However due to so many clues, the opening sequence would leave the audience bewildered and intrigued to get into the plot of the film. 

A great example of a discrete title sequence would have to be the film "Se7en", the opening sequence creates a creepy and ominous atmosphere from the help of the eerie music and screechy sounds. The opening has shots of the clues; drawn hands, a book being turned ominously, the semantic field of death which comes from the colour red and credits which are in between clues. All these clues may be fundamental to the plot of the film so the audience can create a perception of what to expect. However the "clues" could be used to throw the audience right off the plot of the film, so when the audience encounters the climax they will be surprised.

• Titles over a blank screen

Titles over a blanks screen are probably the worst opening sequence as they don't create a good atmosphere and are pretty boring to watch. These openings normally consists of a plain background with text related to the movie such as production companies or directors. An example of one is from "Shutter Island", the opening sequence is about 30 seconds long which only has a black background and wordart. Luckily for the audience, they wont be bored to death as the length of the opening is short due to the lack of "clues", although the films plot will not get ruined from the clues.

• A stylized editing

 Stylized edited openings are similar to discrete title sequences however a stylized editing takes more times during post production and doesn't include many clues. The opening is heavily edited and has transmissions, 3D text, filters, music parallel to the pace and a lot more. Due to the heavy editing the audience may be drawn to the screen as the opening creates an adrenaline rush or leaves the audiences wanting more. A great example of a stylized edit is "The Taking of Pelham 123", the film consists of a change in pace which causes a shift in the audiences liveliness and has tonnes of editing which is  all parallel to the upbeat and lively music. At the beginning of the opening the pace is nice and slow but has editing along with credits. However once the upbeat and lively music plays, the pace is fast and everything is sped up which would put the audience on the edge of their seat. Lastly the opening also focuses on certain individuals which may or not be in the plot and establishes the location which is New York. 

RESEARCH - Film Audiences

TARGET AUDIENCES.

Different subgenres usually attract different audiences. For example a comedy thriller such as 'Scary Movie' would attract younger audiences. Whereas Political thrillers such as 'Enemy Of State' are more likely to attract an older audience.

Here are a few of the other types of film genres and their target audiences :

Thriller
Most thrillers will appeal to older audiences because they usually contain violence and some psychological issues that can be disturbing for younger audiences. Also Psychological thrillers like 'Memento' are more intellectually demanding, the target audience is about 25-45 years old.
Cross genres like Horror thriller and Action thriller which are less intellectually demanding attract a younger audience (teens) because they want instantaneous excitement.

 

(Scary Movie - Comedy Thriller which would usually attract younger audiences like teens)

 

 

(Enemy of State - Political Thriller which tends to have a male audience)

 

(Momento - Psychological Thriller which has an older target audience)

Comedy
Comedy can please majority of audiences as most people like to laugh and be amused. However depending on what type of humour that is used in the film the audience can vary. For example their is adult humour which may be inappropriate for younger audiences. Where as 'slap stick' humour may appeal more to the younger audiences.

Romance
Romance has a big female audience and usually conforms to the typical storyline of 'boy meets girl'. Younger females tend to be more interested in watching 'fairytale like' movies where there is usually a happy ending. It is said that older women/men usually dont find these movies interesting because they want to be intulectually stimulated whilst watching a film.

Action
Action usually involves stories that are based on fighting, they may involve characters like spies or be based around solving a crime. This type of movie tends to have a big male audience and therefore this is the audience that most action movies target. The main character is usually a man who is confident, goodlooking, strong and is a typical alpha male.

 

 



Genres & Sub-Genres

A genre is a category characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter. These genres are often divided into sub-genres. However on some films genres overlapp for example romcoms (romantic comedies). For example What happpens in Vegas, their is a love story between the two main characters and also comedy throughout the film. It also conforms to the traditional conventions of this type of genre as we have the chase at the end where the two characters seem as if they may not get together but in the end they usually do.

Historical and Disaster Thrillers are my favourite type of thriller that inspire me the most. Often to two are combined into one film and they usually connect to audiences as the disaster is so horrific and historical thrillers are usually based on true events in history. An example of this is the recent film 'The Impossible' which is based on the 2004 Tsunami which swept acrossed South Asia. The film stars Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor and is directed by Juan Antnio Bayno.

 

 

 

Another example of a film that is both Historical and Disaster (and also romantic) is the classic film Titanic. A fictionalized account based on the true story of the sinking RMS Titanic, it stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as members of different social classes who fall in love aboard the ship. The example below is the new 2012 version which was shown in 3D.

 

 

 

These examples could influence my film opening because they show characteristics of sub-genres of thrillers. They also give ideas of audiences expectations of the genre and I could use this as a guideline for my own film opening. However it could also inspire me to challenge these conventions and make a more unique thriller film opening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Intertextuality

Intertextuality often refers to the general relationship between two or more media texts that will be recognised by audiences from the assumption of a producer. Intertexuality can also be defined as one media text shaping concepts of another. These concepts can be either subtle or obvious to the audience, however these concepts are identified based on the audiences knowledge of the films.

A films genre is significant to the audiences identification, as without the genre, audiences may not be interested. Genre is key to intertextuality as films inherit concepts of popular films which have the same genre. The 'Popular' films may contain concepts which are easily identifiable from the audience, this is the main reason why 'other' films supposedly copy these concepts to portray a similar idea.

There are many films which use intertextuality such as;

• The "Scary Movie" Franchise, which mimics scenes from the "Scream" and The "Final Destination" Franchise as well "Paranormal Activity" in "Scary Movie 5"
• The films, "What Lies Beneath", "Step Father" and "Fatal Attraction" contain key elements of the popular thrilling shower scene in "Psycho"
• Also "Disaster Movie" consists of popular characters such as "Iron Man", "Alvin and The Chipmunks", "The Hulk", "Miley Cyrus" and many more, it also includes story lines from "Indiana Jones", "Enchanted" and many more

Intertextuality from Psycho: 

The Stepfather, 2009

What Lies Beneath, 2001

Psycho, 1960

Fatal Attraction, 1987

The film "Psycho" is famously known for it's shower scene, which is used in many other thriller films which are located on the side All these films have a character who have or are being killed by someone. These characters are all against a wall or having their face towards the camera which is similar to the film Psycho. Also all these scenes take place in a white bathroom in a bath tub which accentuates how murder occurs in a isolated and a private place. This highlights how the movie "Psycho" is a good role model for potential thriller film. 

 Intertextuality in Scary Movie: 

From Scream: 

Scary Movie 1

Scream 

Scary movie 1 took the killers mask from the franchise of Scream. Scary movie 1 is a spoof of scream however the audience will be able to realise that Scary Movie 1 is a spoof of Scream through the mask.

From Paranormal Activity:

In Scary Movie, they have used the same scene where there is a "stranger" waiting ominously outside also in both images there is a white window frame as well as curtains.

Paranormal Activity 4

Scary Movie 5

Both character in the film are blonde which highlights the similarity although Scary Movie is a spoof, the audience will be able to identify that Scary Movie is based on Paranormal Activity.