JB: Task 14 GG: Shot-by-shot analysis: 'Cabin in the Woods' (Goddard, 2012)

In summary, from this analysis I have learnt about the power of using a predominantly black screen to create effect. This came apparent as it was also used for the titles of ‘SE7EN’, as with the flashy, hypnotic white writing, the text was incredibly noticeable and direct even though the duration the text was on the screen was minute. The same type of shot was used in the opening of ‘Cabin in the woods’, the sequence I analysed. There was a black screen with a dark coloured, blood strain trickling across the screen. Although the blood itself was a rather dark colour, illuminations of orange , to reinforce the connotation of a fire-y themed hell was used against a black screen to create a similar effect. The titles in ‘Cabin in the Woods’ also stood out as a result of this. Although the titles were not particularly large, nor was the colour particularly noticeable as it was a dark red, the black screen gave the writing prevalence and made them constantly noticeable.

 The powerful use of colour was also present when opposite uses of the colour wheel were used to juxtapose each other. This occurred with an extremely quick whip pan at the end of the title sequence. The majorly orange and black screen quickly whipped to a light blue connoting a sky colour and white writing implying the ‘white wispy clouds’ in the sky. This gave the impression that the camera had rotated a full 180degrees. From a hell scene apocalyptic sight looking underground, to a heavenly seemed impression looking up at the sky. 

 

 

FS Task 7 - Individual: Deconstruction of Opening Sequence - Paranormal Activity

Genre:

·        This franchise of films are dominantly a hybrid of supernatural and psychological, this is due to the hauntings set within the domestic sphere, these hauntings however are not a visible character such as Freddy Kruger in a nightmare on elm street.

·        The opening conveys the family, shot through home videos and enables us to see them in a positive, happy light juxtaposing the events to come. This challenges the usual stereotype of a horror as there is no major scare in the opening scene, purely the title sequence along with the parasocial interaction of the family ‘pre haunting’.

·        This text neither conforms or threat the characteristics as the scenes shown are purely based on scenes that are not creating any visceral pleasure.

·        Most of the paranormal activity films conform to this opening, and has a greater build up to the disequilibrium making it more realistic.

Film Language

Camerawork:

·        One of the main characteristics of the paranormal activity franchise is the use and effectiveness of the handheld camera to make the audience feel present in the shot, this not only creates a realistic tone but adds to the verisimilitude created in the film, however in the opening this is just showing the couple together laughing, meaning the audience have more empathy for them when the haunting occurs.

·        the handicam again is used to portray a close up of the wife in a point of view (POV) to show the intimacy between the couple.

Editing:

·        continuous editing is used to convey no sense of urgency and a relaxed tone which is heavily juxtaposed later in the film with fast cutting rates. This use of continuous editing enables the audience to be in a peaceful state of mind before the hauntings occur, creating more visceral pleasure.

·        as the main protagonist is in control of the camera we can see what mood he is in and the tone created through his actions, in this opening the shots are relatively smooth and the cutting rate is slow.

·        there is a filter over the top of the shots composited on top in post-production to create a more realistic mood.

Mise-en-scene:

·        the fact that the opening is set in the same domestic sphere as the hauntings and the disequilibrium will occur in, make it more scary for the audience as there is such a contrast in tones between before and after the ‘hauntings’.

·        the simplicity of the set (inside the house) again makes it more realistic for the audience as they can relate it with their own home.

·        when their house is robbed the set is destroyed creating an enigma code making the audience question the reasons behind this attack.

Task 9 – Analysis of Title Sequence: Dawn of the Dead (Snyder, 2011)

·         RED BOLD FONT – connotes the image of blood, creating a sinister and gory undertone.

·         San-serif font – creates a perhaps informal but more direct and personal script by making the text look more modern.

·         UPPERCASE, RECTANGULAR BLOCK CAPITALS – the uppercase text connotes that the text is very important and deliberately legitimate. Different size fonts show the importance of different texts. Producers name is bigger font than most others.

·         Running of blood, assisted with screams and a splattering effect. Which then dissolves off, this is created to connote the splattering of a bullet hitting flesh, and the rapid spreading of a virus.

·         ‘Dawn of the Dead’, stays up on the screen for the longest in the biggest font, connotes this item of text is the ‘conclusion’ of the opening and most important piece of text.

 

American Horror Story – Opening Analysis

‘What media language techniques are used to create mood and tension?’

Camerawork ·         Tracking longshot – to establish tracking in to house at the beginning. At the end, same shot but tracking out to show action has occurred and scene is finished. ·         Canted angle tracking shot – following action with a more present feel. ·         POV shot – with handi-cam, leading up to murder, makes audience feel present and creates tension. ·         Worms eye view – gives house prevalence, makes boys look irrelevant in comparison

Mise-en-scene ·         Props such as Jars and dismembered parts of the body – connote a sinister tone as implies, someone would have to be ‘messed up’ enough to have to do this, as the jars cannot be there by coincidence. ·         Girls yellow dress – juxtaposes dark music and creates sinister tone similarly to ‘If you go down to the woods tonight’ soundtrack used in horror films.

Sound ·         Dialogue – ‘shithead’, connotes the boys are trying to be irreverent and rebellious by using explicit slang ·         Minor orchestral score – high pitched violin is conventional of horror movies as it connotes screeching, haunted music. ·         Deep base / double bass – leaves a dark background tone which intensifies as action builds up. ·         Song – non-diegetic nursery rhyming type face song. Juxtaposes visuals.

Editing ·         Continuity – walking ·         Increased cutting rate – when attack occurs the cutting rate increases which makes the audience heart beat increase and jump as if the reaction is a ‘rush’.

 

 

FS- Task 14 shot by shot analysis (one hour photo)

Length of shot	camerawork	Mise-en-scene	sound
1	Mid shot in dutch tilt of someone typing on a computer.	Looks like an office and has a white middle aged male typing	Keyboard clicks
Less than 1	Xcu of man clicking the enter button	Same as above	Same as above
Less than 1	CU of Camera flashing	None evident other than the old looking camera.	Flash sound effect
Less than 1	Zoom into the lense of the camera	Same as above	None
3	Mid shot side on of the man presumeably having the photo taken	Blue back drop	Dialogue ‘right there on the orange line sir’
3	Computer screen showing the same side on shot in a police file with details included about him	No other mise en scene evident	none
5	Pan left from an office chair with computer in it to a viewing screen for a police questioning room	Evident that this man is in for questioning, creating an enigma code from the outset	A light buzzing creating an eeriness
20 second continuous shot	Zooming in toward the viewing screen, possibly on a track. It stays still once the detective and the man in question are easily visible. Continuity edit in place.	Black male (detective) walks into the questioning room with a file and sits down at the table	Dialogue ‘you left a camera in the hotel room’ detective says ‘may I see them’ man asked, hints at something suspicious (more dialogue)
10 second	Over the shoulder shot showing detective	Same room	Detective letting man know his rights saying he doesn’t have to speak until his lawyer arrives
4	s/rs showing man’s response to question	Same room	Answering a question about his interest in a particular family connoting he may be a stalker or similar
5	Another s/rs following the conversation to a close up of the mans emotionless face	Same room	Continued conversation.
10	CU of man’s face showing a reminiscent face	Same room	Long violin note with laughter in an echoey way discreetly placed over the top.
5	Flash back,  mls of women holding a camera	Light sepia effect to make it look like a photograph	‘Family photos depict smiling faces’( man) more laughter (from photo)
1	POV of camera showing a group of children	In a garden with all children looking extremely happy	Kids laughing and playing with a light piano riff
3	CU of probably the mother nodding	Same garden	Same riff
2	Long shot of a table	Birthday ballons and hats worn by children in all different colours	‘weddings, holidays’ as well as the same riff
30 second montage	Fades from parents with camera (mcu) to groups of children, to a video of child with cake being pushed into his face	All very happy body language and facial expressions, from water fights to parents laughing.	Voice over of man elaborating on why he was so fond of the photos, finishing with the line ‘no one takes photos of something they want to forget’.
1 second	Cu of camera with film being picked up	Women (mother) picks it up	‘are you ready?’
10 second	Over the shoulder of child playing video games	Violent game shown of two people fighting, child with relaxed body language	Video game sound effects
2	Cut to CU of child turning around and shouting	Slightly unwilling to leave	‘im coming now!’
5	Car driving away	Large house in shot	Sound of the car
2	XLS of super market with car pulling up to it establishing location	Car park in the foreground.	Car sound
10	Tracking shot following the mum going to the photo developers with the child running out of shot	Everyday supermarket, child skips ahead.
30	Montage of photos being clipped and cut in order to be developed showing the family, all in a close up of the film	High end equipment showing that is as a professional business	Relevant sound effects

JB: Shot-by-Shot analysis - Cabin in the Woods (Goddard, 2012)

Shot Order	Screenshot	Type of shot	Connotation
1		Working clogs, Institution – ‘Animated Lionsgate’	Working clogs connote clockwork and the minute details which shows the integrity of the brand.
2		Fiery themed background – ‘Lionsgate’ Fade to black	Eruption styled background connote an angry sky with smoke or a type of ‘hell’.
3		Blood starts seeping over pages – revealing old Egyptian engravings Loud string music with percussion	Blood spills connote a spreading of blood from a body, as if from a gun wound or stab.
4		Egyptian man holding his arms out: First credits appear, hierarchy of importance ‘LIONSGATE presents’. Lionsgate in much larger font and written in red.	Egyptian man holding out his arms connote a strong religious belief as if he is praying or in hope of something. This creates a solemn and sombre tone
5		Camera continues to pan around the screen. Body being cremated as if dead, being watched over by others	The attention being given to the body on the table implies that he is either in grave danger or dead. The conserving people, bent and arms out in despair connote this victim was loved and that what has happened is an atrocity.
6		‘A MUTANT ENEMY PRODUCTION’ – More credits of producing company ‘Mutant Entertainment’ Hooded figure almost celebrating over dead body.	Hooded figure connotes a mysterious antagonist. Arms in the air connote a celebration of victory or praise. Body laying venerable of table gives antagonist prevalence and makes the audience seem subordinate.
7		Name of producer – Andrew Goddard’ over inferno themed massacre	Goddard – in high importance, inferno themed massacre connotes a catastrophe or massive human disaster.
8		Extremely rapid pan to contradicting, modernised billboard styled title. Coffee reference completely irrelevant to previous blood themed splatters. Contradicting colours (Orange and Black)   (Blue and white)	San-serif writing connotes a modern era, juxtaposes previous images of Egyptian era. Contradicting colours (Orange and Black) – hell (Blue and white) – Sunny sky with lack of clouds, relaxing, paradisiacal