Our Recipe for a Film

Genre:
Adventure

Ingredients:
1 handsome, strong hero
1 puny, easily scared sidekick
1 boat
1 massive man-eating shark
1 dagger
1 map
1 vast ocean
1 secret underwater cave

Method:
Take one handsome and strong hero and make him meet a puny, easily scared sidekick in a situation where the hero saves his life and has to take the sidekick with him so that he remains safe. Ensure that the hero has a map with him that shows the way to a secret underwater cave in the middle of the ocean that contains a great amount of treasure. Make the two men buy a boat so that they can travel to the cave. When they are out on the ocean, with land no where near them, have a massive man-eating shark come up to the boat. Have the shark attack the boat with the intention of killing and eating both the men and ensure that the sidekick freaks out but shouts encouragement to the hero who jumps on the shark, gets in an action packed fight in the water and end up killing it with the only weapon he has - the dagger. Allow the men to reach the cave and find the treasure. If you want a happy ending, let the men return home and make plans for another adventure.

Moulin Rouge

Genre:
Musical

Mise en Scene:
Acting:
There is dance and strong body language is the nature of the acting.
Setting:
The setting is theatrical (it looks like a theatre).
Lighting:
Generally there is stage lighting and the colours are very bright with spotlights and strong colour is used. It seems as though artificial lighting has been used.
Props:
The props are often exaggerated which communicates and intensifies the mood of the characters or film.

Sound:
The singing, orchestra and sound effects are very important.

Editing:
A lot of cuts are used.

Cinematography:
High contrast exposure is used.

Film Worksheet

1.
Titanic - Epic/Historical
The Simpsons - Cartoon
Friday the 13th - Horror
27 Dresses - Romantic Comedy
Wild Wild West - Western
Brave Heart - Historical
Moulin Rouge - (Hollywood) Musical
Armageddon - Disaster
Blare Witch - Thriller
Indiana Jones - Adventure
Saving Private Ryan - War
Alien - Science Fiction
The God Father - Crime
Life of John Butler - Documentary
Casablanca - Romance

2.
Best Film - Avatar
Best Actor - Johnny Depp
Best Actress - Anne Hathaway
Best Supporting Actor - Rupert Grint
Best Supporting Actress - Emma Watson
Best Director - James Cameron
Best Cinematic Photography - Lord of the Rings
Best Editing - Star Wars
Best Special Effects - Harry Potter
Best Original Score (music) - Harry Potter
Best Costumes/Wardrobe - Marie Antoinette
Best Title Sequence/Credits - Harry Potter

3.
a. Which clip from a particular film would you never tire of seeing?
The clips from Avatar where the beautiful scenery of Pandora is shown.

b. What trailers have you seen recently that really made you want to go and see the
film?
The trailers of I am Number Four and No Strings Attached.

c. Can you think of any scenes from films you think should have been cut? Or can you
think of any entire film you think should have been banned?
I don't think so. All of the movies that I remember seeing have been pretty good.

d. Which of these features do you, in general, like a film to have:
1. a happy ending? yes
2. a complicated plot or a simple storyline?
3. lots of action? yes
4. a political or social message?
5. totally naturalistic dialogue? yes
6. larger than life or true-to-life characters?
7. (in the case of foreign films) subtitles or dubbed dialogue?
8. lots of close-up shots of people’s faces? not really, I prefer mid or long shots in most cases so that I can see what is happening around the people
9. long sequences of desert, jungle etc.? no, this can become boring
10. a fair number of stars or a cast of unknowns’? it depends - a cast of unknowns can be very good if their acting is also

e. What can the cinema offer that the theatre can’t – and vice versa?
The cinema can offer more scenery and better settings and props. There is also a guarantee that the film will be good every time, whereas in theatre one of the actors could stuff up. Theatre, however, can be a lot more powerful with the actors right there in front of you.

f. Which plays have you seen which you have also seen the film of? How did the two
versions compare?
I don't think I have seen any films that I have also seen the play for.

g. Would you let your ten-year-old son go off to Hollywood to be in a film, with or
without you there?
I might. My decision would depend on numerous factors, including who he was spending time with, where he was staying and what the film was about.

Genre

Genre:
French for "kind" or "sort" from Greek "genos".
Genre is a loose set of criteria for a category of composition; the term is often used to categorise literature and speech, but is also used for any other form of art or utterance.


SCENE FROM ALIENS:

Genre: Science Fiction/ Thriller

Overall emotional/audience response: fear, empathy, frustration, uneasiness

Main character: stupid, silly, naive, absent minded, weak


Mise en Scene:
Lighting:
Dark, gloomy, damp, dull, shadows
All of these contributed to the idea that the character is lost, isolated and are used to create the unknown, mystery, suspense and so the audience knows that something is watching and waiting for the man.
Acting:
There is little dialogue. There is lots of movement by the actor which is slow, short, unsure, cautious and involves him looking around a bit. The body language of the actor is shaky and he has tense muscles.
This acting style makes the audience feel sorry and fearful for the character and his situation.
Props:
- machinery which is unkown, mysterious and seems very technical and advanced which creates a sense of the unkown
- chains that were rattling makes it seem as though evil is lurking
- the man's hat created shadows over his face which created a sense of fear as it makes him seem vulnerable and as though he can't see
- the cat which was very aware and made the audience realise that something else was there
- skin that falls creates fear within the audience
Setting:
The setting is an old lab that is in an unknown location. It is very strange, creepy, rusty and unclean with lots of shadowed areas and is very mysterious.

Sounds:
**(There are 3 types of sound - music, dialogue and effects)
The sounds are very important in this scene. They create a sense of fear within the audience and build up at the end to create an even greater sense of fear. The sounds in this scene are of the man's heartbeat, footsteps and deep breathing, the sound of chains clanging, the running and dripping of water, echo of all noises, creaking sound, the man's loud echoing voice and scream and the screeching or growling of the alien.

Editing:
Cuts are used to create or show different view points or perspectives. They are used in this particular scene to quickly change between scenes to add to the mystery and suspense of it all.

Cinematography:
Camera Speed:
Slow camera speeds are used at first to create suspense. A fast speed is used for the event where the alien comes down and attacks the man to create confusion and fear within the audience.
Exposure:
The light hits things that the creators want you to see which will inflict fear. There is dark lighting on things they don't want you to see yet, which also creates fear. Dim lighting is used on the man's face with certain areas such as the eyes having light on them to further enforce the idea that the man is fearful and that also creates fear within the audience.


SCENE FROM SHANGHAI NOON:

Genre: Comedy/Action/Western

Mise en Scene:
Sound:
There are the sounds of the birds tweeting which indicates the time of day and gives the audience a sense of the place which is the country side. There is also the sounds of weapons which creates suspense and anticipation. The music was of country-western style and was quite fast paced.
Props:
There were horses, guns, knives and the clothing and hats indicated that the characters were in the country and trying to be cowboys. These props enhanced the comedy elements, especially that of clumsiness.
Setting:
This scene was set in the country which was indicated by the landscape which was a paddock, lake and timber shack. This enhances the serenity of the setting and creates a contrast which creates a comic element.
Lighting:
The lighting was very natural, sunny and warm. This further enhanced the setting.
Costumes:
The costumes are cowboy costumes. Jackie Chan has a plait which he is wearing to show that he is playing the part of a native Indian-American.
Acting Style:
The body language is pretty playful and relaxed. The dialogue is comic.

Editing:
Cuts are used.
Rhythm goes from slow to fast when playing with the weapons.
Shot types:
Over the shoulder, wide, long, low angle

Camera Speed:
The camera stopped, then it pans and it moves quite slowly. The subject of importance is always in focus while everything else is slightly out of focus.

My Shot Types (Horror)

Long Shot

Medium Shot

Close Up

High Angle

Low Angle

Overhead Shot/Birdseye View

Over the Shoulder/Conversation Shot

Discussion of Mise en Scene

Scene from Indiana Jones:

GENRE:
- Action/adventure
- Use of lots of sharp cuts and angled shots which make it seem fast paced and mysterious and scary at points

STYLE OF ACTING:
There was not much talking - the actors used their body language and facial expressions more - as is typical of an action film.
Indiana acted knowledgeable and fearless to be like the typical hero in an action adventure while his sidekick was scared and fearsome, which further enhanced Indiana's 'toughness'.

PROPS:

• spear with poison on the end of it is symbolic of the natives in the area and the danger they pose
• old map to signify Indiana is looking for something ancient or historic
• Indiana's whip is symbolic of the fact that he doesn't need a gun, he is a hero who has the
• strength to just use his whip
• a gun is carried by the other man to show that he is weaker than Indiana and doesn't have his own strength
• the golden statue is symbolic of the native's wealth as a culture in the past
• the spiders and cobwebs create a sense of fear
• the rolling giant rock ball shows that there was still a sense of urgency to get out

LIGHTING:
The lighting is quite dark in this scene which makes it mysterious and dangerous. As they enter the cave, the lighting is still dark but slightly bluish which creates a cooler feel to the piece, but the misty air around the characters signifies that it is still humid. In one particular shot, there are shadows on Indiana to create mystery and suspense.

SETTING:
This scene was set in a jungle and then a cave that seemed prehistoric which created mystery and danger because of the unknown.

MISE EN SCENE (PUT IN SCENE)

This is the combination of all the visual elements within the frame.
(frame: the pysical boundary that contains what the audience sees)

ANALYSING THE IKEA AD:

The Story: This ad is about a lamp who got thrown out and was replaced by a newer, better lamp. The old lamp was abandoned and left outside, feeling sorry for himself, whilst seeing the new lamp in the window and being jealous of it.

Why I think the film maker chose to give the lamp human characteristics: To make the audience connect with the lamp and see how good the new lamp was.

Props: Furniture (couch, table, photo frames), garbage bag, cardboard box, trash can, lamp (which is bright red and looking very happy at the start but then goes dull and without colour at the end to show it is unhappy, lonely and unwanted).

Lighting: The lighting was very warm inside at the start due to the yellowy, soft colours which created a sense of homeliness and comfort. Outside, on the street with all the garbage, the lighting is very cold, dull and grey to create a sense of isolation, sadness and being unwanted.

Setting: The setting is homely at the start in a warm apartment with a lot of nice furniture. Outside, it is very cold with not much stuff other than garbage and it is raining.

ANALYSING THE TITANIC ICEBERG SCENE:

The actors on watch start off quite calm and relaxed and are fooling around and cracking jokes until they see the iceberg. When they see it, they begin to panic and the news spreads to the hierarchy, who also begins to panic, creating chaos. The fact that the hierarcy panics shows how serious the situation is and makes the audience nervous. The iceberg sighted is very sharp and pointy in shape which creates a feeling of danger. Down in the engine room, there are lots of gauges and the like which show how fast the ship is moving to try and turn the ship which creates a sense of urgency. The lighting in the engine room also creates this because it is a reddish colour. The lighting in the other places on the ship is quite dull and gives the audience a feeling that there is no hope. The closing of the doors (which clang shut and do so quickly) to make the ship watertight and the way the actors try to get through them to escape create panic and desperation within the audience. The way the shots are quickly cut between also creates panic as well as suspense and the water that comes gushing into the ship creates fear within the audience.

Film Language

Analysing Shots

Shot Type:
Over the shoulder

Angle of the Shot:
Low angle

The intention of the Shot:
To show the perspective of the frog as in how he is viewing the queen. This shot type makes the queen seem more powerful and scary and allows the audience to feel what the frog would.

Describe in detail the visual clues or conventions used to convey meaning:
The person in the background seems as though she is trying to look like the queen - again showing her power. The queen's tiny crown shows that she is not a very good queen and the dark castle makes it seem as though it is an unhappy place and as though the queen is cruel. The queen's facial expression (high, raised eyebrows and pursed lips) and her makeup (the pale white face and bright blue eyeshadow) show that the queen is angry, cold, cruel and unimpressed.

Shot Type:
Wide shot

Angle of the Shot:
Low angle

The intention of the Shot:
The wide shot was used to show the perspective of the room. Combined with the low angle, it creates suspense, gives some perspective on the size of the room and how high the man is. The shot makes it seem as though the man's mind is in a state similar to that of the room, which is boxed in.

Describe in detail the visual clues or conventions used to convey meaning:
The white coat the man is wearing and sign in the background that says 'loose talk is noose talk' makes the man seem like he is a bit mad and is a crazy professor. The lighting makes the room seem dull and cold to create a sense of isolation.

Shot Type:
Close up

The intention of the Shot:
To show the emotion on the Madhatter's face which makes him seem a bit crazy.

Describe in detail the visual clues or conventions used to convey meaning:
The blurred background shows that the Madhatter is out of touch with reality. His eyes, teeth, hair and makeup show he is kind of loopy and all of the colours are dull, except for those on the Madhatter, which makes him seem a bit eccentric, out there and crazy.

Shot Type:
Over the shoulder, wide shot

Angle of Shot:
High angle

The intention of the shot:
The over the shoulder shot shows the way that the cheshire cat views Alice. The high angle shows Alice's vulnerability and how she is lost and doesn't know what is happening. The wide angle allows the scene to be set.


Describe in detail the visual clues or conventions used to convey meaning:
The dull blues and greens and forest environment give this shot an eerie feeling. It creates suspense as Alice is all alone in this scary environment, and her trust and way out is all in the hands of the Cheshire cat.

Shot Types

Wide Shot:

Includes the whole body and is used to show the perspective of the character, to give the audience an idea of the setting and is usually used at the start of a film.

Medium Shot:

Used so that the audience can get a feeling of the personality of a character. Often used to show the clothing, etc of the character.

Close Up:

Used to show facial expression and to get the audience to feel or understand the character's emotion. For example, there is a close up of the frog in Alice in Wonderland which makes the audience feel empathy for the fearful frog.

Extreme Close Up:

Often used in horror films so the audience can see the persons face. It shows the eyes of the person, for greater audience response.

Low Angle:

The camera is placed on the ground. This shot type makes the film more interesting and generally makes the person in the shot seem larger or more powerful and can make them seem a bit distorted.

High Angle:

The camera is placed up high. This shot type generally makes the character seem more vulnerable and smaller.

Over the Shoulder:

Often used in scenes where there is a conversation between two people. It gives the audience an idea of how one character is viewing another.

2-Shot Interview Set Up:

Used in the same context as over the shoulder, but this shot type seems more casual than over the shoulder.