Case Study - Essex Boys

Essex Boys
Made and released in 2000.
Terry Winsor directed it.
5.9 stars out of ten from around 2,100.
Opening Weekend: £111,548 (UK) (16 July 2000) (54 Screens)
Gross:£441,128 (UK) (6 August 2000)
Aimed at Males between 18-30 normallly.

A majority of the votes have come from males compared to females however the best rating have come from the Females aged 18-29 with a rating of 6.9 out of a possible 10.












Lighting

This is the first scene in 'Essex Boys' where Jason is discovering the car in the claustrophobic garage. Here we have the noir lighting which gives te dark on light effect to the scene.
One can also establish that the light is Non-Ambient and also has been made to be in the spotlight of the scene so we are able to see what else is in the scene and how it is made to be a thriller.

This picture can also be put into the Lighting catagory due to the reasoning that the light in the background is in exactly the correct spot so we are to see through the dirty and smerred window. The light hits the Sean Bean character perfectly like a spotlight which helps us to see him and the way he can be shown to the audience through his costume and his facial expression.






Effects

The effect shown here with Sean Bean being portrayed through a car window shows us that he can be seen as a dodgy character and person. From him being shown through the dirty window also helps us to establish that he is detached from everybody but not in the way which makes him dull or monotonous. This effect also helps us to understand that he is a rather cold character and makes it look as though he is out for revenge of some sort now that he is out of prison.

Here we have a Vanishing Point. This is the third scene of the film where 'Jason' is driving the character of Sean Bean to a destination. This can tell a number of things; firstly being the fact he is driving into a tunnel is like looking through the barrel of a gun which in turn can also show him driving towards another dimention. The Vanishing Point can also portray that he is driving himself into trouble and also into moral darkness which the scene tries to show. We can also see the wet shiny streets which also helps to put across the idea of him going towards trouble. We also have the Primeval of the character where Jason is being dominated by his primitive instincts.

Camera Angles

This camera shot presented is of the Sean Bean character attacking a memeber of a factory. It comes from a Point of View shot from Jason. This type of shot is very effective due to the reasoning that it puts the audience into the shoes of the character and shows us what that character is seeing at that specific moment in time.

This is also an effeective camera angle which has been used. The high angle shot of the character of Sean Bean when he about to get 'revenege' on a second character. This type of shot attempts to show the characters insignificance and vulnerability to the scene. Despite this however, due to the fact that we have already seen what he can do, we know that he isn't this and is actually quite menacing and composed. The shot here also helps to position the audience into the scene.

Location

In Thriller films, locations are a vital aspect towards the genre and the film itself. In these pictures below we can see the bare landscape of the Essex marshes using Point of View and Longshots.

                                              

These pictures helps to set this specific scene as being away from civilisation and out in the open. The landscape which has been used helps to reflect the morality to the character of Jason. It helps to establish to us that Jason is an isolated figure with himself having a detached personality. These pictures also help us to understand that he has no moral boundries. This helps to prove to us that his world is considered to be dangerous.

Sound

Despite the fact there isn't much to mention of the sound of the film, especially during the opening parts, we can establish one important factor which makes the film effective in it's own way. The voiceover from Jason helps us to understand what he is thinking at that moment in the film while also building up the relationship between them and Jason.

Case Study - The Killing

Exploring the Generic conventions in the trailor of The Killing and how they are used with in it.

Lighting

In 'The Killing' we have your traditional Noir thriller as we have the dark surroundings. Here we can see that effect of suspence it creates as we are unsure about what is going to happen next.

There also a use of chiaroscuro lighting which presents the right on dark effect. This also helps to connate us to the illusion and to the nightmare of the scene that is is used in. The use of the torch also helps to create that classic thriller as it can be associated with so man of them.

Mise en Scene - Examples

1. Torches to create the chiaroscuro effect
2. Having a dead body creates again the classic thriller example as you always see a minimum of one dead body.
3. Search parties which are also associated with the thriller are a must as their are always police or detectives in the search for clues as they are in search for who has committed the murder.

Lifts which are also seen in the thriller genre are a signifier for thrillers as is creates mystery and sometimes have people trapped which also creates suspence.

Locations 

As we see in thriller films, there are always the same locations we see which help to make the thriller the genre it is. An example of this would be car parks. This type of location helps to show that if a victim is being chased by the villian in a sense, once you enter the car park then normally there is no escape for the victim; especially multi-story, which if you reach the top then you cannot get away.

Another example of locations can be cities which help to create a dystopia. As you can see below the city looks menancing which cross-references to the film Bladerunner which also uses a city to look menancing. If we look at 54 seconds to 58 we see the use of this through the trailer.

Costume

There isn't really much to say on the costume aspect apart from one major element. During The Killing, we are able to establish that Sarah Lund wears the same Jumper in every episode. This helps to tell us one of two very important aspects to her character; firstly it shows us that she isn't just a typical cliche character and has her own style and way she wants to go about her.

Secondly, linking to the job element is that it implies thats she cares more about her detective work than the appearence of her which also portrays than her job is more important.

To start with, the Jumper look that Sarah Lund took up in the first episode of The Killing looked to be monotonous and dull, whearas it has had quite the opposite effect where it has become an iconic figure when we talk about her character as a whole.

Effects

Another generic convention for The Killing is the use of effects throughout this thriller series. As you can see to the left is a picture of the use of water. The water in the picture is of a character from the series The Killing running through a dark/noir forest. (Again another signifier of the thriller genre) The usage of water in this context helps to reflect the lighting used; whether it being Ambient or Non-Ambient, towards the scene so we are able to make out what is around the character and also where they actually are. It also supports the way it helps to create a sense of mystery as we do not know why this character is running or in more realistic terms to the thriller, What she is running from.

Vanishing point

As you can see above, we have The Killing's trailer. Because I am unable to pick out certain bits and print screen them, I am having to show you this way. If you play the trailer and skip to one minute and six seconds you are able to see the use of the vanishing point that gets used within the series. This, in effect helps to show a sense of danger or even mystery as you are unsure what could be down the corridor or even if anything could be down their such as clues in the attempt to help solve the storyline. They also provide an enigma thus adds to the sense of mystery. Where does the vanishing point go and what is at the end? This type of camera shot is also visually appealing and adds style and interest to a film.

Research on Essex Boys

Essex Boys
Made in 2000
Title Sequence establishes the thriller genre through the Noir lighting at the beginning of the film. It also is established through the screeching of the blackboard.
Director: Terry Winsor

Key word - Primeval - Pre-historic
This is used as an example in Essex boys as Jason is dominated by his primative instincts.
Opening Scene
Contains Noir Lighting to establish the genre straight away.
First scene is set in a garage which symbolises the thriller because it is a clostrophobic space.
We also have the shot of Sean Bean character through the dirty window which portrays to use he is a dodgy, detached and cold character as we look through the dirty smerted screen.
Second Scene
In this scene we have the wet shiny streets which help to show the thriller as this is a classic technique when showing whether or not a film is a thriller or not.
Another way is the vanishing point which is used through the tunnel which symbolises a scope on a gun which can also show that he is driving towards trouble. It also shows us the moral darkness of the scene with the tunnel.
The chiaroscuro lighting is used when the main character Billy Reyonlds driving Sean Bean's character to his destination with the white stripes which symbolise he has only just got out of prison.
The film also uses a voiceover which helps to build a relationship with the audience and to help us to know what he is thinking.

The use of a white van is used in classic thrillers. It makes us what to know what is in it; we see that something terrible is kept in them so we want to know what is in it and creates the classic suspence.

How the landscape reflects characters and their morality.
As we can see in the film that Jason is isolated with his detached personality from the way he tries to keep himself to himself. He also doesn't have any moral boundries which helps us to understand that his world is considered as dangerous.

Development of Evalution

I have decided to take my tutor advice and have opted to talk about which angles worked in our preliminary task and which didn't. Firstly I think that one shot that worked well was our first shot. This was the Over The Shoulder shot which I feel was successful because it helps to place the audience in the position of the character. It also symbolises somebody following the character as well.

It also was a tracking shot which followed the character as they walked towards their target while the Over The Shoulder shot was taking place.

Another shot that I think was used well in our preliminary task was not breaking the 180 degree rule while we filmed it. Here we can establish that during the conversation we have the camera facing the two main characters. We can see that we haven't broken the 180 degree rule and this was because we had a wall behind us and we were not able to do it. We haven't disorientated the audience as they are able to establish where the characters are and have been, and we know they haven't moved.

Lastly, our conversation was school themed. It consisted of one character talking to the other about the media lesson. This was about the media lesson being cancelled and having to catch up on work, where one character was worried that she couldn't whereas the other not minding and thinking a lesson off was goodand she'd be able to catch up easily.

Preliminary Task - completed

Case Study - Once Upon a Time In America

Lighting

Sergio Leone uses Noir lighting with the Chiaroscuro effect in the very first scene of 'Once Upon a Time In America'. This symbolises the dark lighting and also light on dark as well. The Noir lighting is used with an artifical effect as in scene one, Eve walks into the bedroom with light on her whereas the rest of the room is dark which shows she has the spotlight on her.  Another example is this still picture of the three police in search of Noodles which as we can see the light is on the police and the background is dark, again suggesting that chiaroscuro effect. This shows the chiaroscuro lighting to be a thriller signifier and shows danger and to cast a small sense of mystery.

Camera angles 

In his use of camera angles, Sergio Leone uses a large number of close ups in his films as an essential signifier for the genre of thriller films. This picture we can see here is the victim Eve, as she has been killed by the police as she refused to co-operate in their inquests. This image is such an important image due to the fact that from this we can get out a number of things.

Firstly we can see the rule of thirds being portrayed. This may not be as obvious as other examples but we can see the policemen on the right and the middle and Eve on the left; which in turns shows she is the main feature as she has been killed.

Secondly the close of Eve here helps to allow us as the

audience to identify the characters emotions; despite the fact she

is dead she shows a blank face to indicate the vulnerbility of her.

The pearls she is wearing also signifies 'tears' which is where

the 'Femme Fatale' comes in as well. This has all led to the tragic

death of her in this opening scene to this thriller.

Sound

In Once Upon a Time In America we have a classic opening to the film from the early nineteen hundreds as the credits at the beginning enlighting us on who is present in the film and the production of it, is met with a simple noir background. However the first example of sound which is used is around fifty seconds in where 'God Bless America' is being used; remembering also it is supposed to be suggesting a more loving America and also the end of prohibition. This then is supported by a soundbridge. This soundbridge is of the footsteps of our 'Femme Fatale' Eve. These footsteps help to anticipate the next scene of the film.

This is a still picture from the second scene of Once Upon a Time In America showing again the importance of close ups although this time shows the effect to police brutality. The sound which is used during this scene in Diegetic sound. This means that the sound being used is natural and from the environment and characters respectively. While also showing the 'Mise en Scene' as well.

Lastly, if we look at scene three as a final example, we can recall seeing Noodles for the first time as he is being cared for due to the fact he is unwell. Suddenly we hear a phone ring, and Noodles hears it too. However despite the fact he is able to hear it the sound which is used in non-ambient. This is because the ringing of the phone is inside his head which in turns ends up leading to a flashback. The use of non-ambient sound helps to create a sense of mystery in the scene.

Location

In Thriller films, especially noir thrillers we have the location which can play a major part in making it a thriller or not.

 My example for this is in scene three where as you can see we have the classic shiny streets. This shows the utilisation of the noir lighting used by Leone. The rain and wet weather here are used to indicate nightmare on these shiny streets. And also we have the bodies on the floor which shows again the brutality of the police force and also sends out a sense of danger as well.

Costume
Lastly we have the costume in thriller films. This is used to help establish the character in the film.

This picture which can also come back to the lighting of Once Upon a Time In America having the chiaroscuro effect to back up the 'Femme Fatale' of her character.
However in the terms of costume we can establish instantly the pearls she has around her neck. These can help the 'Femme Fatale' aspect of her character but also symbolises tears. These peals can help to show the fact the symbolised tears can show that they are being held within the person and when the pearls break for instance they symbolise tears being shed, however in this case her death could also show the sadness ending.

The pearls can also show a sense of purity and innocence towards Eve. We can see this due to the fact she is killed at the beginning of the film which is supported through the idea of innocence because we don't know much about her so have to think the police murdered her for no reason.

Once Upon A Time In America + Snakes On A Plane research; Femme Fatale

Thriller is a broad genre of literature, film, and television programming that uses suspense, tension and excitement as the main elements. Thrillers heavily stimulate the viewer's moods giving them a high level of anticipation, ultra-heightened expectation, uncertainty, surprise, anxiety and/or terror. Thriller films tend to be adrenaline-rushing, gritty, rousing and fast-paced. Literary devices such as red herrings, plot twists and cliffhangers are used extensively. A thriller is a villain-driven plot, whereby he or she presents obstacles that the protagonist must overcome and these two films are example of the Thriller genre.

Once Upon A Time In America

A former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster returns to Brooklyn over 30 years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.

This film is of the 'Thriller' genre because it is a film that consists of 'egde of the seat' moments and also means there is never a monotonous moment in the film. By watching this trailer we can see that it makes you want to watch more of it and it would also make you go out and watch it as part of an audience at a cinema. Despite the fact this trailer is the 'old' one, we can establish that it still makes you want to watch on to find out what would happen during the film.

'Once Upon A Time In America' is set in 1930's Brooklyn and is based on the prohibition period between 1920 and 1933.
The aim for a thriller like this is to keep the audience alert and on the edge of their seats. The protagonist in these films is set against a problem – an escape, a mission, or a mystery. No matter what sub-genre a thriller film falls into, it will emphasize the danger that the protagonist faces. The tension with the main problem is built on throughout the film and leads to a highly stressful climax. The cover-up of important information from the viewer, and fight and chase scenes are common methods in all of the thriller subgenres, although each subgenre has its own unique characteristics and methods and these are shown in 'Once Upon A Time In America'.
For example, the beginning of this film starts with the 'Dim Lighting' of a room which creates a sense of uncertainty which can also be known as 'Noir Lighting'

Snakes On A Plane
In this film, an FBI agent takes on a plane full of deadly and poisonous snakes, deliberately released to kill a witness being flown from Honolulu to Los Angeles to testify against a mob boss. This introduction instantly appeals to the genre of 'Thriller' and makes you want to know more about this film and want to watch it once it has been released to public viewing and we can see the 'edge of the seat' moments from this trailor. 'Snakes On A Plane' takes place on a Aeroplane on it's way to the LA. Instantly the fact the setting is in a confined space; makes it more believeable and gives the actors/actresses 'No where to hide'. It has something happening at every given moment which makes you 'glued' to your television and wanting the characters to survive so we are always on the edge of our seats.
'Femme Fatale'
In other words 'Fatal female' or 'devient female' which symbolises a mysterious and seductive woman whose charms and ensnare her lovers in bonds of irresistible desire, often leading them into compromising, dangerous, and deadly situations. It is also common for the 'Femme Fatale' to be with the enemy; for example the 'Femme Fatale' and the gangstar, as seen in Gilda' and this clip:

This shows she has a sense of deviousness about her as she attempts to charm and seduce to viewing crowd using her 'Femme Fatale'.