Evaluation - Question One

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

In my planning I analysed three thriller films in depth. Firstly, 'Se7en', directed by David Fincher and released in 1995. Secondly, 'Cloverfield' directed by Matt Reeves in 2008 and finally 'Shutter Island' which was directed by Martin Scorsese in 2010. In addition I also analysed small clip from the TV series 'Lost' which contained a typical thriller movie scene that was directly related to my own main artefact. 

Throughout the opening sequence of these films I noticed many different codes and conventions that were typical of a thriller move. Here is a list of them all an example for each from the four films that show how the conventions are used in real media products:

Conventions of Real Media Thrillers:

Props: The props used in the opening sequence of 'Se7en' play a key role in portraying the characters. Right at the very beginning we see a close-up shot of Somerset picking up his daily items. These items are laid out very specifically and we can digest that he is a very organised, precise man that likes things done properly and seen through to the end. One ideology of this film is that with age comes wisdom, therefore Somerset's specific ways of doing things, seen in the order of his props, are the most efficient and safest way of doing them. We can also assume what his job is as he picks up a gun, which is a very specific prop for a thriller film as it is unusual it would be featured in a comedy for example. In relation to Propp's narrative theory, these props help to define Somerset as the likely hero of the film.  

Costume: Somerset and Mills’ costumes are important in portraying their character as well as demonstrating the thriller genre. They both wear very smart clothes with a trench coat so we instantly know their profession, just like we could with the props that were paired with Somerset. Although we don’t see John Doe, later in the film the contrast between the costumes, of the heroes and villain, is very prominent. The colours of their costumes are important too. Mills and Somerset's suits are dark dull colours which contrast greatly with the bright orange of John Doe's costume that appears later in the film. This suggests that he is the one that creates all the drama as orange is a bright, bold, exciting colour which implies that he is the character who holds the authority and who will be centre of the ideas proposed. The dull colours of Somerset and Mills costume also represent mystery and danger, as it does not give too much away but also creates that dark eerie sense of danger associated with men in suits. 

Setting: Thrillers usually take place in isolated, run-down places. Shutter Island is consequently the perfect setting. When the detectives are approaching the island we see that it is completely alone  (once again shown by the establishing shot) with no surrounding islands and it is also thick with trees creating the perfect setting for the stock events of a thriller, like getting lost in the woods, being isolated and alone and getting confused as to where you are. 

Stock Characters: In all thriller films and any films according to Propp there are universal or stock characters that you would expect to see. Propp devised a narrative theory deeming that in every film there would be these characters:
The Hero – a character that seeks something
The Villain – who opposes or actively blocks the hero’s quest
The Donor – who provides an object potentially with magical properties
The Dispatcher – who sends the hero on his/her quest via a message
The False Hero – who disrupts the hero’s success by making false claims
The Helper – who aids the hero
The Princess – acts as the reward for the hero and the object of the villain’s plots
Her Father – who acts to reward the hero for his effort
The stock characters in Se7en follow pretty much Propp's theory. John Doe is the criminal/villain and mass murderer. There is more than one victim as Doe kills six people, the seventh being himself. Although, we do not actually see John Doe in the opening sequence or know his 'name' and see his crimes so we know of his existence. In addition Mills and Somerset play the parts of the detectives or people that are going to solve the crime so the audience would expect them to be the heroes. At the end of the film we actually find out that Mills is the false hero as he ends up succumbing to John Doe's plan by killing him.

Stock Events: From my research I found that it is rare to see many if any stock events in the opening sequence of a thriller film. Most start with setting the scene before any action takes place. However, some do go straight into the action before setting the scene, which I find is quite effective as it engages the audience straight from the beginning. 'Cloverfield' and 'Shutter Island' both do not present a stock event in their opening sequences, but the first murder in 'Se7en' can be seen just a few minutes into the film. Murders are very typical events to find in a thriller. They create mystery, tension and fear amongst the audience  once again making them feel on edge in addition to a sense of adrenaline. Todorov devised a narrative theory about the structure of the film which can be seen in all three of these films. The reason for a lack of action at the start of the film is explained by this as he suggests they begin with an equilibrium. This equilibrium is then broken in some way (the first murder in the case of 'Se7en') then by the end the equilibrium is restored but it is different to the first. Enigma codes are very common in horror and thriller films and this can be seen in particularly the opening sequence of 'Se7en' in the first murder. The murder brings about many questions for the audience such as 'who did this?' 'why did they do something so violent' 'why did they choose this victim'. This instant disruption to the equilibrium creates the suspense which draws in the audience making them question the film, and enticing them to stay to find out the answers which would be revealed later in the film. 

Narrative Theory: Todorov's theory about equilibrium can be applied to the start 'Cloverfield'. At the beginning, everything is as normal, there is an equilibrium, a status quo in the lives of the characters. To carry on with this theory the film must next break the status quo, have people plan to fix it, contain the 'fixing' and then finish with a similar but equal equilibrium. From the brief summary of the film it is evident that at least the next stage will occur and looks to follow this theory to the end. the development of Propp's narrative theory can be seen at the start of Shutter Island. So far the audience have been introduced to Daniels who will play the hero. Aule looks as if he will play the helper, and we know that there is a woman that has escaped who will be the villain. We don't have much more insight into any other of the main character types but it seems as if either the Deputy Warden or the Doctor they speak about could be the father figure. We are yet to find out who the donor, messenger and heroine will be, but so far it supports his theory. Levi-Strauss' theory of conflict and good vs. evil can be seen towards the end of the opening sequence of 'Cloverfield' as the disaster/monster strikes against the city. Here the city is the 'good' against this monster who is the 'bad'. In 'Se7en' Somerset and Mills are 'good' and Doe is the 'bad'. In all films there is some example of good vs. bad even if the line is blurred as conflict between two groups is presented. 

Codes of Real Media Thrillers:

Camera Range:  A series of close-ups are used on Teddy in 'Shutter Island' as he convinces himself not to be affected by the water. First we see the side of this face looking out the window then we see his hands getting water from the tap and finally his face. This all depicts his nervous mood and his expressions of his face in great detail giving us an idea of how he is feeling presenting the disjointed feel that the director is attempting to convey. The 'Male Gaze Theory of Representation' can be used as Teddy is presented using relatively close shots of just his face where the emotion and masculinity can be seen. If there were any women in this opening sequence according to the theory their whole body would be shown explicitly to show their femininity perhaps in a provocative way. With Teddy nothing like this is used as the range is close to his face purely showing his aggressive, masculine behaviour. 

Camera Angle: The personality and characteristics of Somerset and Mills in 'Se7en' is defined by the camera angles used on them. When we first see Somerset and Mills in the same shot a low camera angle is used. This portrays them both as the strong characters, not weak which would have been implied by using a high camera angle. Throughout the opening sequence

Somerset and Mills are almost always presented using a low camera angle so the idea of them being strong and respectable is carried on throughout this typical thriller opening sequence. Once again this plays in the hands of Propp's narrative theory, helping to define them as the heroes of the film.

Composition: Usually Daniels in 'Shutter Island' is placed in the centre of the shot. When the three men are walking up to one of the hospital buildings he takes up the centre place indicating that he is the main character of the film and that he is also trustworthy and perhaps the hero of the story. Right at the beginning of the film we view him from the view of the mirror as he is looking into it. Once again he in the middle of the shot indicating his role of the hero (again according to Propp's theory of characters) in this thriller film.

Editing: The editing of the opening sequence is very simple and amateur like  It uses straight cuts as it replicates the nature of watching back a home-made video, where you have recorded something, stopped recorded and then started recording something else. The director does this to create the sense of the naivety of the characters as they harmlessly record the party not knowing what is about to happen. 

POV: All of the pictures used in the first couple of minutes of 'Se7en' are taken from the point of view of the criminal. It is usual that these pictures will be of obscure angles that represent the corruption and insanity of Doe's mind. As the audience is seeing things from his POV it helps the make them feel uncomfortable and as though they are in the film and that they are the insane man planing the murders of 7 'innocent' people. The director has done this to make them feel consumed in the film, living through the fear and the tension that is created by these primary images. 

Music: The only music used in the opening of 'Cloverfield' is at the party, creating the party atmosphere and making it seem like a realistic event, giving the audience the impression that this could happen to any party. The music is very quiet but you can pick it out in the background, and doesn't drown out the dialogue that is taking place, just adding to the atmosphere of the scene. 

Sound: As Daniels is walking up to enter the hospital building in 'Shutter Island' he notices a lady patient doing some gardening. As he focusses on her the voice of the marshal drowns out and becomes muffled as all his attention turns to this one lady. The bird and wind can still be heard but everything else is drowned out and a disconcerting ringing sound is apparent, perhaps reflecting the mental state of the woman. This sound creates an unusual effect for the audience, making them feel uneasy and nervous, exactly the type of feeling that the director would want to be created. 

Graphics: The main titles of 'Se7en' are very typical of the thriller genre in a number of ways. First and foremost writing of the credits uses a font that is scrawny and not the neatest of fonts. The writing jitters about which could mirror the corruption of John Doe’s mind and show how he

jumps from one idea for a murder to another. As well as showing corruption it could imply the repetition and obsessive qualities of his actions. When the writing in the book is duplicated this could replicate how obsessive and repetitive he is with his research or his findings and how he writes everything down that he does, in the same writing so everything looks the same.

Lighting: The lighting throughout the opening of 'Cloverfield' is very dull. At first just a few lights in the room, provide the light as it is completely dark outside, however there are also lightings from the buildings and cars outside which provide some light too. Being filmed in the early hours of the morning enhances the idea of the city that never sleeps, showing how perfect it is and how through the night it doesn't stop, and implying that nothing can. Which will be tested later in the film as the action occurs. Dim lighting is very typical of thriller films, it creates a sense of tension and mystery making the audience feel on edge and in suspense. The directer of 'Se7en' utilises the lighting very effectively. By and large the lighting placed on all the characters is dark and creates a lot of shadows. This makes the film appear mysterious and creates a feeling of suspense amongst the audience. We don’t really see a character that is properly lit until the scene in the laboratory when Mills, Somerset and the forensic scientist are all lit well. This could indicate that there has been some light shed on the case and that Mills and Somerset now have a clearer view on the case as the audience also has a clearer view physically when watching this scene.

Mise-en-scene: All of the items placed in the shots are there for a reason. The hanging cuffs from the ceiling of the boat in 'Shutter Island' show the nature of Daniels' job and his background. It also foreshadows the cuffs that are around the patients hands and ankles in the hospital. The pictures and the record player in the flashback show the happiness of his previous life as they are the standard homely items that really make a house yours and make it more homely. The flowers in the complex are there to represent the new life that they are trying to create for the patients and also create an ironic twist in that something so beautiful and bright could be in a place where the atmosphere is so morbid. 

Ideology: The ideology presented in 'Shutter Island' is that anyone can change and everyone deserves a second chance. The hospital takes patients that can't be kept anywhere else and aims to reform them or at least help them become slightly better. Se7en presents to the audience ideas of normal family ideas and values through Mills and his new wife. After moving to a new city they plan to start a family and get on with their lives. It also presents the ideas of the dangers of religious extremist ideas as all of the murders are centred around the seven deadly sins.

I took these codes and conventions into much consideration whilst planning my main artefact, below are just some examples of how I took the ideas then used and developed them incorporating them into my own piece.

My Film Use of Conventions:

Props: Like in 'Se7en' I used items that would represent my character and indicate which role they would play according to Propp's narrative theory, especially giving the audience a better idea of who the victim was. At the start of my piece, the victim, Daisy starts with a typical, fashionable bag, when she tips everything out of her bag to find her phone the audience sees typical items that would be associated with a teenage girl including a book, lip balm, headphones etc, which also help relate to the social group of teenagers.

Setting: Similar to 'Shutter Island' my thriller took place in a very secluded and quiet area. Woods generally have the connotation of being spooky and full of mystery so I thought this

would be the perfectly place to shoot my thriller. I also made sure I shot my sequence on a 'gloomy' day mirroring the weather as the two detectives approached the 'Shutter Island'.

Costume: The costume of my characters represents their role in the film. Daisy is wearing white to portray her innocence along with jeans which indicate that she could be anyone, and this could happen to any individual. The abductor is wearing a black hoody that covers the majority of his face once again creating a sense of mystery as the audience do not know his real identity. 

Stock Events: My main stock event in my thriller in the chase of Daisy. This creates tension and suspense as well as exhilaration and excitement. I placed the chase right at the start to get the audience thoroughly engaged straight away into the action of the film. In relation to the enigma code, the chase creates the questions such as 'who is she?' 'why is she being chased' and 'who is chasing her?' this makes the audience involved and engaged as they want to discover the answers to these questions. The chase also symbolises the break in equilibrium that Todorov suggested in his narrative theory about the structure of films.


Stock Characters: The victim is main character of my opening sequence is one of the 8 characters suggested by Propp in his narrative theory. The second character seen in my opening sequence is another in Propp's list is the villain - who abducts the victim, Daisy. It is unclear what role the newsreader, Stewart White, is going to play in the film however, his character could develop to be the helper or perhaps the donor, it is yet to be discovered whether he plays a larger part in the story. 

My Film Use of Codes:

Camera Range: In my thriller I incorporated all sorts of different ranges. In parts there are extreme close-ups that do not allow you to see the bigger picture, but in others I have used mid or long shots revealing slightly more information. The variation between the shots presents a sense of tension as the view for the audience is constantly changing at a fast pace. The close-ups especially really capture the emotion of fear in Daisy's face conveying it to the audience.

Camera Angles: Once again I used a variety of camera angles, including high, low and eye-level. The high angles portray Daisy's innocence and weakness just like the low angle portrayed

the strong characters of Somerset and Mills in 'Se7en'. I also used shots that were hand held, and there for extremely unsteady to help create suspense, tension and fear amongst the audience. Some shots were also canted to show the unusualness of the situation. In relation to Propp's narrative theory the high angles aid the audience to realise that Daisy is playing the victim in the film. 

Editing: My editing for the chase seen is rather fast paced. This keeps the audience on the edge of their seats as the action plays out. The chase seen that I analysed from 'Lost' used this technique very effectively conveying very much a sense of fear which I have used and developed in my own piece. 

Music: The music that I chose for this is upbeat and almost eerie. It supports the quickness of the editing and builds the tension throughout especially when the tempo and volume of the piece increases.

Sound: Whilst background sound in 'Shutter Island' is drowned out to cause effect, the background sound in my film has been enhanced. By doing this the audience is presented with a range of different things needing their attention - the birds tweeting, the footsteps, breathing, music. This combination creates a sense of chaos, and drama which increases the suspense and tension in the piece. 

Graphics: The graphics I created for my thriller 'Hostage' were stylised on the graphics of 'Se7en'. I used a rather plain, yet still had an edgy style to them, I also animated them to make them jitter about. Making them similar to those of 'Se7en' increases the authenticity and professionalism of the title sequence. 

POV: The majority of the shots I used were from the POV of the abductor or Daisy. The idea that it is changing between the two creates tension amongst the audience as they quickly see the chase developing from the POV of each character. The small insights from the abductor show just how close Daisy is to being caught and how the abductor is normally one step ahead of her as she runs aimlessly through the woods.  

Whilst planing, I decided that the aim of my opening sequence would not really challenge the forms and conventions of real media products. I thought that if I defied the normal codes and conventions my thriller would not necessarily be recognisable and also would not appeal to my target audience as in my primary audience research they all indicated that they wanted to see typical codes and conventions of thriller films. However, there is one element that on reflection challenges what I found in my research. This is the use of birds tweeting at the start of the film. The completely contrast between the following chase and the birds, in my opinion creates suspension and uncertainty, yet I do not see this in any of the films I analysed. 

Lost Mini-Analysis.

Although Lost is neither a film nor more specifically a thriller film it contains a stock event that would be seen in a thriller film that I wanted to include in my research and take ideas from. The part of my opening sequence is a chase. Quite frequently the directors of Lost have successfully created an effective chase scene which, creates a feeling of tension and uncertainty and therefore would be valuable for my to study in terms of my filming and trying to create the same atmosphere. I have only chosen a few of the codes and conventions which I want to focus on.


Camera Work:
The scene uses a wide range of camera range and angles. The scene starts as Kate emerges from the plane wreckage, the range used here long and the angle is high. This sets the scene and also shows the vulnerability of the three as they try to escape the monster. Following this shot a range of close shots are used. Significantly the one of Jack's face. The proximity of the camera captures the extreme fear on his face. None of the shots are steady shots. All of the have a lot of movement and makes it look like the camera is running away too, creating a lot of excitement and suspense. The majority of the time the shots only show part of the characters bodies. For example at once point we just see a pair of legs running, or a torso, this also makes it more exciting in that, the audience cannot see the whole picture and it, along with the manic shots gives a disjointed effect. Some of the time the camera tracks along side the person that is running. This is most likely to have been done using a track, however I will not have a track to use so if I want to create an effect similar I will have to simply run along side my victim. This good turn out well in that it will have the 'bumpy' effect that is used in Lost as the camera bounces up and down, but it could also end up looking like terrible camera work too, so I will have to do some text runs before I decide whether to use this technique or not. 



Editing:
In total, the chase scene which I am analysing, is one minute long. Throughout this the frame or shot changes just over thirty times. This means that each frame is about two seconds long. All the edits are quick simple cuts changing the shot used. The quick pace of the editing creates the suspense, excitement and tension amongst the audience all of which are typical of a thriller film. When doing the storyboard for my chase scene I had each frame to last about 3 seconds each. After watching this I now know I need to make them at least a second shorter each in order to really create the feeling that I want. The longest shot is five seconds and is just before the character of Charlie falls over. At the end of the chase scene my victim falls over so I will try in encompass this specific finding into my work too. My chase scene was also lasting just twenty-three seconds and after watching Lost I feel I can include more shots and make my chase scene longer to make it still effective. Otherwise, if the scene in lost had finished after thirty seconds the chase would seem petty and incomplete. 

Costume:
The costume in this scene becomes really muddy and wet. Although at the start the clothes were not in the best condition throughout the scene they become significantly worse become splattered with mud and soaked right through. Kate and Jack are wearing white tops whereas Charlie is wearing black. This could relate to the previous scene where Kate and Jack purely went the the wreck to look for survivors and call for help, but Charlie just went to retrieve his drugs. It could also relate to the chase scene in that the black signifies he is the one that will get into trouble be falling over and Jack having to help him. In the picture Kate's top is supposed to be completely white whereas at the moment it gives the impression it has been dipped dyed brown. Also Jack's white t-shirt is covered in mud splatters that he has flicked up as he runs. It would be effective for me to do this as it gives the impression that the victim is running fast and not carefully to miss puddles in order to get away from what it chasing them as soon as possible. 

Sound:
Due to the music at times it is difficult to hear any sound. But when Charlie falls over the music quietens down to just discorded strings and a 'plink' on the piano. Now you hear the rain, the splatter of mud as he falls and then the sounds of the monster getting closer. The only dialogue is also when Charlie falls as Jack helps him up and tells him to run. 

Music:
The music in this scene is very prominent. It is plays throughout right until Kate stops running and hides, and we can just her her subdued cries and the sound of the torrential rain hitting the forest fall.  The music consists of a bass drum hit at random intervals, a symbol also at random intervals and a fast run of notes on string instruments. The whole thing creates a quick, tense and rather scary piece which increases the excitement of the scene and carries it along, fitting in nicely with the change of shots. I think it is necessary that I find or create some music that is similar to use in my thriller sequence.

Shutter Island Analysis.

Shutter Island was directed by Martin Scorsese in 2010. It comes under the sub-genre of mystery thriller. Leonardo DiCaprio plays Marshal Teddy Daniels who is investigating a murderess who has escaped from a hospital for criminals who are insane. This is a different sub-genre of thrillers to the other ones I have analysed so far, and will be useful in planning my opening sequence of a thriller film. 

Codes.

Camera Range:

The film uses a variety of camera angles. The first establishing shot is of the boat that Daniels is on, setting the scene for the first part of the film. Another establishing shot is used a little later on, showing Shutter Island in its entirety and indicating the fate that awaits the two detectives. A series of close-ups are used on Teddy as he convinces himself not to be affected by the water. First we see the side of this face looking out the window then we see his hands getting water from the tap and finally his face. This all depicts his mood and his expressions of his face in great detail giving us an idea of how he is feeling and the mood the director is trying to create. The first time we see Aule is from behind a meshed fence. This could represent the entrapment of either of the two as at the time Daniels is trapped in and Aule is on the outside but it could be viewed that Aule is the trapped one because the camera is in his direction. Similarly is could also indicate that the both of them are trapped just not together. During the conversation between Daniels and Aule lots of shot-reverse-shots are used in their conversation swapping sides every few seconds, this creates a fast paced scene making it seem more exciting than it really is keeping the audience's attention. 

Camera Angles:

The whole time that Daniels and Aule are on the boat the camera angle stays pretty much the same. It is always at eye level with the two, portraying them as neither vulnerable nor strong. The camera moves and wavers as the boat moves on the water creating effect of being on the sea and making it much more realistic than keeping the camera dead steady throughout the sequence. Here the truck looks large, intimidating and strong however, a high angle shot from a helicopter zooms in on the truck driving across the island, and this puts into proportion how small and insignificant the men are and perhaps indicates how little power they have over the situation on the island. Similarly a shot from the truck looking up to the big building of ward C shows the inferiority of the detectives compared to the power of people inside and the building itself, this can make the audience feel uneasy about what it inside and consequently what is to come. From the perspective of the Deputy Warden we look slightly down on the two detectives, this doesn't necessarily depict the two as vulnerable but highlights the authority of the marshal over the situation. 

Composition:

Usually Daniels is placed in the centre of the shot. When the three men are walking up to one of the hospital buildings he takes up the centre place indicating that he is the main character of the film and that he is also trustworthy and perhaps the hero of the story. Right at the beginning of the film we view him from the view of the mirror as he is looking into it. Once again he in the middle of the shot indicating his role in the film.

POV:

The main POV shot comes when Daniels focusses on the lady doing the garden. As he carries on walking the audience views her from his perspective as he walks past her and locks eyes with her. This encompasses the audience in the film very much as combined with the sound it makes you feel like you can't look away and makes you feel uneasy, a common feeling when watching a thriller film. 

Editing:

The editing at the beginning of the film is very interesting. Each frame of the title sequence fades in to the next and then at the end it fades to grey. After a few seconds out of the grey a boat emerges as the grey turns to mist bringing a very dull and mysterious mood over the opening sequence, as the audience waits to see the entirety of the boat emerging from the mist. 

Music:

Before the film even starts the music indicates the nature of the film and is very typical of a thriller film. The normal sound accompanying the 'Paramount' titles is replaced by an eerie suspenseful piece of music making the audience on the edge of their seats an in anticipation for the film. The same music carries on when the film starts and we see the opening shot of the boat. During Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo's conversation the music fades down and almost out but as the flashback begins the volume is increased to it's previous height, implying something is a miss about it and creates once again a sense of tension and mystery. It very much contrasts the expressions on the twos faces as they both look happy when the music is clearly not, this suggests that this is a distant memory and now everything is a sinister as the music. Deep string music is used a little later on as they approach the island once again to increase tension and suspense and indicate the mysterious nature of the island. 

Sound:

As Daniels is walking up to enter the hospital building he notices a lady patient doing some gardening. As he focusses on her the voice of the marshal drowns out and becomes muffled as all his attention turns to this one lady. The bird and wind can still be heard but everything else is drowned out and a ringing sound is apparent, perhaps reflecting the mental state of the woman.

Graphics:

The font used for the title sequence is very straight cut. It gives an industrial feeling and having the colour of grey makes it seem, sombre and dull foreshadowing the mood of the following film and the characters.

Lighting:

The lighting at the beginning is very dull, (seen in first establishing shot at the top) The sky is overcast and a very sombre feeling is portrayed by this. The feeling of sombre is very much a key aspect of a thriller film. We are actually told by the captain of the boat that a storm is coming which could be indicating a serious, grave event that is going to occur. The lighting somewhat reflects the mood of Teddy as he remembers his previous life and enters Shutter Island in anticipation of what he will come across.

Mis-en-scene:

All of the items placed in the shots are there for a reason. The hanging cuffs from the ceiling of the boat show the nature of Daniels' job and his background. It also foreshadows the cuffs that are around the patients hands and ankles in the hospital. The pictures and the record player in the flashback show the happiness of his previous life as they are the standard homely items that really make a house yours and make it more homely. The flowers in the complex are there to represent the new life that they are trying to create for the patients and also create an ironic twist in that something so beautiful and bright could be in a place where the atmosphere is so morbid. 

Ideology:

This film presents the ideology that anyone can change and everyone deserves a second chance. The hospital takes patients that can't be kept anywhere else and aims to reform them or at least help them become slightly better. 

Conventions.

Props:

Ruffalo and DiCaprio both have cigarettes (shown in picture below), normally detectives in films will have cigarettes to 'help the stress' and consequently they have become a necessary prop when playing a role such as this, which are very typical of thriller films. We also see a close-up on the deputy marshal's badge showing the authority and the stock prop that is associated with police men or marshals. Driving along road to the hospital Daniels notices a sign saying 'Remember us for we too have lived, loved and laughed'. This could imply that later in the film deaths will occur or that they have already occurred and it was of innocent people who had ordinary lives. The sign is hanging from one corner which could portray corruption amongst either on the island in general or in the mind of the criminal who committed the murders. Teddy and Chuck are required to hand over their role defining fire arms as they enter the hospital. This somewhat strips away part of their character as they no longer have the power of defending themselves with it and you would expect detectives to always carry a gun in case trouble arises. When removing the pouch in which the gun is contained, Daniels removes it with one swift movement, but Aule struggles and takes a few seconds longer to fully release it, this indicates his lack of experience compared to Daniels. 

Costume:

The two detectives both wear fawn trench-coats, which immediately indicate their profession and therefore their likely role in the film, the two stand out from the standard navy uniform the the US marshals that are on the island when they arrive, this could indicate that they will be more important that the others who blend in more.

Setting:

Thrillers usually take place in isolated, run-down places. Shutter Island is consequently the perfect setting. When the detectives are approaching the island we see that it is completely alone  (once again shown by the establishing shot) with no surrounding islands and it is also thick with trees creating the perfect setting for the stock events of a thriller, like getting lost in the woods, being isolated and alone and getting confused as to where you are. The electrified perimeter of the hospital reflects the entrapment of the people inside and also the entrapment of Daniels and Aule in the case that they are about to become heavily involved in. Notabley ward A and B take on a much more pleasant appearance to ward C which holds the 'dangerous' patients; this gives the impression that C is the one that the two are unfortunately destined for.

Stock Characters:
Leonardo DiCaprio plays a detective called Teddy Daniels and his co-star plays another detective called Chuck Aule. The two are big stock characters of a thriller film. Thriller films usually involve a crime of some sort making it imminent detectives to play main parts in the film and this is precisely the role of Daniels and Aule.

Stock Events:

Within the opening of this film there are no real main stock events, however the debriefing from the Deputy Warden could be classed as one as it is a common ritual that all federal agents have to go through when working on a case so you would expect to see it in a thriller film. We also witness Daniels looking around and taking information in as he walks through the grounds of the hospital this could be seen as him noting evidence or knowledge as a detective should do in order to piece together a story later. For example we see him note the chains that connect a prisoners ankles, which he could use later when working out how murder escaped if they had this chains around their ankles.

Propp's Narrative Threory:
Using Propp's narrative theory of their being eight main characters in the film we can apply this to the first part of Shutter Island. So far we have been introduced to Daniels who will play the hero. Aule looks as if he will play the helper, and we know that there is a woman that has escaped who will be the villain. We don't have much more insight into any other of the main character types but it seems as if either the Deputy Warden or the Doctor they speak about could be the father figure. We are yet to find out who the doner, messenger  and heroine will be, but so far it supports his theory. 

Cloverfield Analysis.

Cloverfield is a thriller film but also has a horror slant to it. I have chosen to analyse this film as I believe it will be valuable to see how the two genres mix and whether from the opening sequence it seems like a thriller or a horror, and what codes and conventions it includes in order to achieve this. With my opening sequence I aim to make it as much like a thriller as possible, so if I come across horror aspects in the opening sequence of Cloverfield then I will try to avoid having these aspects when I film mine. I will analyse the first ten to fifteen minutes of the film to give me a thorough insight into the techniques used.

Codes.

Camera Work:

The camera work in Cloverfield is very unusual, but it creates the desired feeling of curiosity, mystery and suspense. In the opening sequence and then for the duration of the whole film, is filmed from what you would think to be a domestic ‘handycam’. Not at any point within the first few minutes are there any professional cameras used. Using, this technique makes it feel like it’s not a story that’s being told but something that actually happened. This makes the film seem more realistic and that it could happen to the audience, therefore creating more tension and an element of mystery amongst the audience. There are no specific angles or range for the camera work and it is all very erratic, barely holding the same shot for very long. The only time that shots are held for a long time is when the people at the party are giving their testimonial for Rob. Throughout the first several minutes we see flashes of the girl that was with Rob at the beginning on a train. There is 

 

Composition:

There is a distinct lack of composition in the sequence once again due to the nature of the filming. However, when the testimonials are recorded the people speaking are placed in the middle. This gives the impression of two things. Firstly, being placed in the centre implies that they are trustworthy, noble and innocent; none of these characters are going to turn out to destroy the city. Secondly, it replicates the image of a newsreader. They are normally placed in the centre of the screen, portraying the standard position for  interviewing or relaying information, and also once again suggesting they are a trustworthy source for relaying information. If they had been placed at the side that would imply they were not so trustworthy and had a bad side to them. The majority of the shots are canted shots, this could show the drunk nature of parties and also the carefree life of the characters which is all about to change.

POV:

Due to it all being filmed on a ‘handycam’ the majority of the shots are POV shots (as shown in the two pictures above). Once again, this makes it more personal like the audience is the one filming it and makes them more involved. It gives the audience their own character in the play, helping to emotionally trap them in the film, helping them imagine they are at the party, they are running through the damaged streets of the city and they are the ones affected. This is a really useful technique if you want to get your audience involved in your film.

Editing:

The editing of the opening sequence is very simple. It uses straight cuts as it replicates the nature of watching back a home-made video, where you have recorded something, stopped recorded and then started recording something else.

Music:

There is no music in the first few minutes of the film. The only music used is at the party, creating the party atmosphere and making it seem like a real event. The music is very quite but you can pick it out in the background, and doesn't drown out the dialogue that is taking place.

Sound:

All of the sound used is diegetic. At the beginning we can hear the footsteps of Rob as he walks over to the window to look out and we can also hear the sound of the road. This could relate to how quiet and normal their lives were before the big attack. It also helps to create a carefree atmosphere of the party and the life. The dialogue at the party stands out from the background noise. 

Graphics:

The film starts displaying graphics. There is a watermark in the centre reading ‘PROPERTY OF U.S. GOVERNMENT DO NOT DULIPCATE’. From this we can understand that the following footage is under investigation. The font used to this is a serif font, projecting the heritage and authority of the US government. In contrast the font used to display the director’s and producer’s names is a sans serif font. Like on a police tape, there are a series of numbers counting the time the video has been running. Throughout this sequence, distorted black and white shapes interject into the titles creating the typical sense of tension and mystery because you can't work out what it is.

Lighting:

The lighting throughout is very dull. At first just a few lights in the room, provide the light as it is completely dark outside, however there are also lightings from the buildings and cars outside which provide some light too. Being filmed in the early hours of the morning enhances the idea of the city that never sleeps, showing how perfect it is and how through the night it doesn't stop, and implying that nothing can. Which will be tested later in the film as the action occurs.

Conventions.

Props:

During the party the main props used are the drinks that people are drinking. The majority of people are drinking alcohol from red plastic cups. Whilst these are a typical item at a party the colour of red has the connotation of danger and perhaps indicates that something bad is to come for the attendees of the party. 

To the right we can see an example of the red cups and also of the costume that some of the guests are wearing.

Costume:
The costume worn by the characters is a smart dress that coincides with the event of the party. The women are wearing dresses, with their make-up and hair done and the men are wearing suits. This defines the event and also the class of the people. From the first setting of a top floor apartment in New York we can assume that there is some wealth amongst the characters, so naturally the costumes will be up market too. 

Setting:

The setting of Cloverfield is a large city. At first we are in a top floor apartment of a skyscraper, looking down on the bustling city below, the party is in a bar or club assumingly in a similar location. This gives the impression of the perfect sophisticated lifestyle. However it all seems too good to be true, thus making the audience feel tension and making them feel like something big is about to happen.

Stock Characters:

Within the first ten minutes of this film, it is difficult to tell who the main characters will be. We can understand that the man and the woman at the beginning are likely to play main roles within the film but we do not yet have an insight into which. On the face of it, one could assume that they will play the victims, a very typical thriller character, and that perhaps the whole party will fall victim, but technically there is no indication of the role which each of the characters introduced will play.

Stock Events:
Once again like characters, no prominent, thriller stock events are presented in the opening part of Cloverfield. However, the main event is a party so you could look at that and say that it makes the basis of something going wrong or a disaster occurring, thus providing the grounds for the a stock event of a disaster to happen at some point during the film.

Narrative Threories:
Todorov's theory about equilibrium can be applied to the start Cloverfield. At the beginning, everything is as normal, there is an equilibrium, a status quo in the lives of the characters. To carry on with this theory the film must next break the status quo, have people plan to fix it, contain the 'fixing' and then finish with a similar but equal equilibrium. From the brief summary of the film it is evident that at least the next stage will occur and looks to follow this theory to the end. 

Overall Cloverfield does not contain any horror aspects in the opening sequence. It also appears to lack many thriller aspects when comparing it the Se7en. However, the director has cleverly used the camera work among other things to create correct atmosphere for a thriller film. Elements of mystery and suspense show through from tiny little pieces put together like the camera work, setting and idea that you know that something cannot stay as well as it seems. Also the fact that it barely resembles any genre makes the audience be in anticipation for what is the come later in the film, and makes them want more to be revealed. It is evident that Cloverfield is trying to be unique and it succeeds. The lack of camera work and editing subverts the genre conventions of a thriller, this is a risky move to choose but for this film it appears to pay off.