Media Lesson - 6th November
Today I watched another thriller "Silence of the Lambs" and analysed it in the same way as JAWS and Se7en using a gridsheet. Another analysis further helps my understanding, to ensure I remember as many media terms as possible.
THRILLER ANALYSIS
Se7en
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
The narrative structure of Se7en is linear. The book opening at the beginning represents the start. There is a clear beginning, as the audience can see someone organising notes and building up to do some form of research or action. The audience know someone is doing some form of research but there is not enough information to make it clear what, or who he really is.
THRILLER CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Partial vision is used, as the audience can only see hands with items to raise questions, and cannot see anything else. It is displayed throughout the opening titles. Concealment and protraction is used. The actions of the hand, including slicing is fingertips indicates he could be the shady figure/killer, but the audience is unable to see who he is. The location could be anywhere, but including elements of "The transformed city". The audience asks questions (question and answer model) throughout the opening titles such as "Who is he?", "What are the notes on?", "What are the notes for?", and "Why is he slicing his fingertips?".
CAMERAWORK
There is extreme close ups, which are blurry at first and go into focus. There are close ups of a book opening and a man slicing his fingertips, focusing mainly on the book. A collection of extreme close ups are used, concealing things and showing the research is important.
MISE-EN-SCENE
The mise-en-scene is unclear for the most part, however it appears to be some sort of office. The character moves slowly, with precision, knowing exactly what he's doing. The camera angle is so close the audience do not get much from the mise-en-scene.
SOUND
The sounds are distorted in the opening titles, including thumps and sharp noises. There is a heartbeat at a normal pace, and a scratchy/screeching noise which is disturbing, including the creaking of a chair. The editing matches the pace of the music, and changes just as the audience gets used to it. The sounds build up to a climax, with the beat kicking in indicating something urgent is about to happen. There is a voice at the end, saying "You got me closer to god".
EDITING
There are several scenes edited together with sharp shaky transitions on the opening titles. Jump cuts are used, emphasising the passing of time. There is fast paced editing which disorientates the audience. Dissolves and split screens are used, as well as lots of cuts which match the music.
GRAPHICS
The font on the opening titles is handwritten, shaky and distorted. White graphics are used with a stroke outline, which are childlike that flicker and jump. The titles are haphazard, as if someone hasn't thought about where it's going.
JAWS
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
The narrative structure of JAWS is linear, with an all flowing, clear beginning. There is a group of teenagers on a beach, two run off and one goes in the water. There is an equilibrium which turns disequal, as there is something in the water.
THRILLER CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Partial vision is used, as the audience cannot see what the thing in the water is. Transformed city is also used, as a beach is usually considered a safe place to go. There is also concealment and protraction, as the shark is hidden, and what the teenages are going to do when the two run off. Question and answer model is used as the audience ask questions such as "Will the girl die?", "What is in the water?", "Why isn't someone coming to save her?"
CAMERAWORK
First person perspective is used as a point of view shot, the audience does not know who they are or where they are going, which is unsettling. The camera also uses a tracking shot through the reef. There is a mid shot of teenagers having a party, while the camera tracks to make the audience feel like they're in the party, and aligns the audience with the characters. There is an over shoulder shot which makes the audience feel like they shouldn't be there. The tracking stops and changes to a close up of the aligned character, looking at the other character with desire. A high angle shot is also used to make the teenagers look vulnerable. The camera is then stationary, as the characters move into shot, following their journey. There is a low angle shot of him falling, and a long shot of the girl as she swims into the water, with an extreme long shot of the buoy.
MISE-EN-SCENE
The opening sequences is set on a beach, which is commonly associated with safety and happiness. There are teenagers on the beach with no urgency, chilling and doing naughty things. The teenagers are dressed in typical teenage clothes, indicating normal people. Two main characters move to the sea urgently for naughtiness. When the girl goes to swim, the audience can't see them clearly, and know something is about to happen but it is too dark to see what.
SOUND
The theme tune is iconic, building up suspense for the audience. Non diegetic music is used, which is there for the purpose of the audience. Diegetic sounds of actors within the narrative are heard, including sounds such as a harmonica, guitar and the fire. The bell on the buoy rings to signify danger to the audience. When the girl is dead, the bell is the only sound left, signifying the end.
EDITING
The shot doesn't break and spans for a long time, building tension. Shot reverse shot is used as sexual tension is built up between the two main characters. There is a long take under the water as the camera moves as the creature, which then cross cuts from the reef to the beach.
GRAPHICS
The graphics are white and bold, big and central. The font looks like a ship text, keeping with the film's theme. The large font "boasts" the production crew, indicating a good film.
Silence of the Lambs
NARRATIVE STRUCTURE
Silence of the Lambs has a linear narrative. There is a woman running through a forest, and the audience is unclear whether she's running from someone. An FBI officer tells her she's needed, the audience assuming she's done something wrong. The place itself is a man's world, which makes her look out of place. She goes in to a room and sees something important, but the audience is unable to see it. The boss comes in as the audience sees the horror on the wall, but the audience doesn't know what's going to happen to her.
THRILLER CODES AND CONVENTIONS
Question and answer model is used, as the audience ask questions such as "Who is she?", "Where is she?" and "Why is she running?". Partial vision is used, as the audience don't know who is watching her or what's on the wall. Enigma code is also used, as the audience don't know what's going on or who she is, which makes the audience carry on watching. Elements of the transformed city is evident, as the location seems like a place a danger but is actually the police HQ. There is also exotic elements as the woman doesn't fit in the man's world, the woman being tiny in the lift compared with the men surrounding her.
CAMERAWORK
There is an establishing shot of the woods, and lots of panning shots are used. There is a crane shot over the forest down to the woman, with mid shots to make her look vulnerable. There is an over shoulder shot of a man, which raises suspense.
MISE-EN-SCENE
The woman is dwarfed in the lift as she is made to look really small. She is wearing grey which makes her look unimportant. Even though she seems like she doesn't fit, she belongs there as she is not intimidated by the guns in the gun room. Her movement is quite manly, showing she's not afraid. Some things are hidden in the mise-en-scene, although the audience are given some sort of clue on the wall, but the audience still don't know what's happening.
SOUND
There is diegetic sound of her feet on the leaves and sounds of the forest such as the animals and trees, including her breathing which suggests a scary atmosphere. Non diegetic music is used, which is misleading. It gets more "dangerous" and louder as her breathing increases. There is very little dialogue until she arrives in her boss' office at the end, and uses official diaolgue.
EDITING
Eyeline match is used, as the audience can see the pictures on the wall from her point of view. There is match on action, as the audience feels like they're following the main character down the corridors. Slow paced editing is also used, which builds up suspense.
GRAPHICS
The credits are bold and in black, with a white outline. They are central and prolonged which signifies importance. The audience are unable to see everything behind it because of the graphics blocking the scene.
