Genre: Horror
Group members: Unknown - will likely be done alone
Friday, December 20, 2019
Film Opening Research No. 2 - It Happened One Christmas
How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
Six (6) titles are displayed within the relatively short opening.
What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The film opens with a image of a shifting cosmic starscape, accompanied by prayerful wishes by a host of unnamed individuals. This is immediately followed by an establishing shot of the town the movie takes place in, with snow whirling and falling from the sky.
What connotations do the images carry?
The images in the opening connote that Christmas time is here, and generate feelings of warmth, security, and hope to emphasize this. This is especially true regarding the scene at the beginning with the image of the stars and the sounds of people making Christmas wishes.
How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The imagery of snow is highly prominent and serves as a symbolic code of the Christmas setting in general. Stars are also a symbolic code for the season as they are often put atop Christmas trees during it.
How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
The film does not really establish an enigma, as that is not representative of the genre; however, the identities of the people making the wishes can be considered a mystery.
What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The film's all-around wholesome connotations imply that the film as suitable for all ages and audiences.
How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.
The slowly panning shots of the camera create a feeling of slow pace and relaxation, and the non-diegetic sounds such as Christmas bells and joyful music add to this connotation of happiness.
Six (6) titles are displayed within the relatively short opening.
What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
The film opens with a image of a shifting cosmic starscape, accompanied by prayerful wishes by a host of unnamed individuals. This is immediately followed by an establishing shot of the town the movie takes place in, with snow whirling and falling from the sky.
What connotations do the images carry?
The images in the opening connote that Christmas time is here, and generate feelings of warmth, security, and hope to emphasize this. This is especially true regarding the scene at the beginning with the image of the stars and the sounds of people making Christmas wishes.
How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The imagery of snow is highly prominent and serves as a symbolic code of the Christmas setting in general. Stars are also a symbolic code for the season as they are often put atop Christmas trees during it.
How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
The film does not really establish an enigma, as that is not representative of the genre; however, the identities of the people making the wishes can be considered a mystery.
What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
The film's all-around wholesome connotations imply that the film as suitable for all ages and audiences.
How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.
The slowly panning shots of the camera create a feeling of slow pace and relaxation, and the non-diegetic sounds such as Christmas bells and joyful music add to this connotation of happiness.
Film Opening Research No. 1 - A Nightmare on Elm Street
How many titles are displayed during the opening sequences to the film?
Twenty (20) titles are displayed throughout the opening.
What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
There are many close-ups of Freddy Kreuger, the notorious dream murderer of the film, putting on his signature clawed gloves. Many shots also depict a young woman dressed in white (possibly to signify innocence) who is running through some kind of underground passageway, presumably in a dream world given the nature of Freddy's killing. There are also intermittent lamb sounds (possibly a hint that she is in the dream world, hence the phrase 'counting sheep')
What connotations do the images carry?
The images work in tandem to create strong connotations of fear and vulnerability; it seems that no matter how far the woman tries to run, Freddy is always catching up to her. The music and camera work add to these feelings of anxiety and trappedness.
How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The genre is strongly reinforced through a masterful combination of erratic camera movements and the frequent usage of the color red, mainly in the studio name, the transitions, and Freddy's red-striped attire. This red color may symbolize blood, murder, or wrath.
How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
At first, we as viewers don't know for sure that Freddy is the one putting on the claw gloves in the beginning. We also don't know where the woman is or what she is doing there, why there are intermittent lamb sounds and live lambs, and/or by whom she is being chased.
What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
A generally uncomfortable and frightening tone is set by the music and imagery, one that would likely deter younger children from watching the film.
How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.
The camera angles are shaky and erratic to create a feeling of confusion, and the transitions are frequent and abrupt to create tension and a sense that the events are happening at a fast pace.
Twenty (20) titles are displayed throughout the opening.
What images are prioritized in the opening sequence?
There are many close-ups of Freddy Kreuger, the notorious dream murderer of the film, putting on his signature clawed gloves. Many shots also depict a young woman dressed in white (possibly to signify innocence) who is running through some kind of underground passageway, presumably in a dream world given the nature of Freddy's killing. There are also intermittent lamb sounds (possibly a hint that she is in the dream world, hence the phrase 'counting sheep')
What connotations do the images carry?
The images work in tandem to create strong connotations of fear and vulnerability; it seems that no matter how far the woman tries to run, Freddy is always catching up to her. The music and camera work add to these feelings of anxiety and trappedness.
How is genre reinforced through symbolic and technical codes from the outset?
The genre is strongly reinforced through a masterful combination of erratic camera movements and the frequent usage of the color red, mainly in the studio name, the transitions, and Freddy's red-striped attire. This red color may symbolize blood, murder, or wrath.
How does the film establish an enigma from the outset?
At first, we as viewers don't know for sure that Freddy is the one putting on the claw gloves in the beginning. We also don't know where the woman is or what she is doing there, why there are intermittent lamb sounds and live lambs, and/or by whom she is being chased.
What strategies are used to ensure the film appeals to its target audience?
A generally uncomfortable and frightening tone is set by the music and imagery, one that would likely deter younger children from watching the film.
How has technology been used effectively? You might want to consider camera angles, transitions and editing techniques.
The camera angles are shaky and erratic to create a feeling of confusion, and the transitions are frequent and abrupt to create tension and a sense that the events are happening at a fast pace.
Thursday, December 12, 2019
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Week 3 - Agent Carter
Agent Carter (Marvel One-Shots, 2013, dir. Louis D’Esposito)
Clip duration: 5:09
Start point: 00:00
End Point: 05:09
The following is an analysis of a clip from Agent Carter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It chronicles Strategic Scientific Reserve agent Peggy Carter as she fights off atomic-level threats that have emerged after or as a consequence of World War II.
The shot opens with a close shot of Captain America in the cockpit of an aircraft of some sort, flying downward at a high velocity. There is an intense sound of the engine that adds more tension to the scene as the Captain continues to plummet. It is revealed that the landing will not be safe and that he is forced to crash-land. It cuts to a similar close shot of Carter in some kind of control room, listening to the Captain's final words of "Peggy...this is my choice," before he crashes into what can be assumed to be the ocean and presumably dies.
Time flashes forward to a year after that scene, and there is an establishing shot of New York City bathed in sunset light, with the caption "One Year Later." The camera transitions to another establishing shot, this time of an office bustling with suit-clad men. One of them receives a call and subsequently discloses the whereabouts of an enemy known as Zodiac who is apparently armed and extremely dangerous. The mise-en-scene is done exceptionally, with the office desks and their contents appearing cluttered to add to the mood of the office setting. The lighting is largely natural (i.e. through sunlight), and the camera work remains close through the scene. In the next scene, Carter is shown addressing her boss about why she hasn't been sent on her first mission even after three months. The boss, and a few other men, merely tell her to relax and then depart for drinks at Nelson's. Immediately after, she receives a call containing enemy coordinates and rushes to the scene in spite of her boss' orders.
The next scene is in an urban setting at night, where Carter meets two men that attempt to ward her from their building, presumably affiliated with the enemy. Carter proceeds to dispatch the men in unarmed combat, sending one of them through the window. The lighting here is very low-key and the mise-en-scene is done to create a feeling of 'the bad part of town.'
Clip duration: 5:09
Start point: 00:00
End Point: 05:09
The following is an analysis of a clip from Agent Carter of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It chronicles Strategic Scientific Reserve agent Peggy Carter as she fights off atomic-level threats that have emerged after or as a consequence of World War II.
The shot opens with a close shot of Captain America in the cockpit of an aircraft of some sort, flying downward at a high velocity. There is an intense sound of the engine that adds more tension to the scene as the Captain continues to plummet. It is revealed that the landing will not be safe and that he is forced to crash-land. It cuts to a similar close shot of Carter in some kind of control room, listening to the Captain's final words of "Peggy...this is my choice," before he crashes into what can be assumed to be the ocean and presumably dies.
Time flashes forward to a year after that scene, and there is an establishing shot of New York City bathed in sunset light, with the caption "One Year Later." The camera transitions to another establishing shot, this time of an office bustling with suit-clad men. One of them receives a call and subsequently discloses the whereabouts of an enemy known as Zodiac who is apparently armed and extremely dangerous. The mise-en-scene is done exceptionally, with the office desks and their contents appearing cluttered to add to the mood of the office setting. The lighting is largely natural (i.e. through sunlight), and the camera work remains close through the scene. In the next scene, Carter is shown addressing her boss about why she hasn't been sent on her first mission even after three months. The boss, and a few other men, merely tell her to relax and then depart for drinks at Nelson's. Immediately after, she receives a call containing enemy coordinates and rushes to the scene in spite of her boss' orders.
The next scene is in an urban setting at night, where Carter meets two men that attempt to ward her from their building, presumably affiliated with the enemy. Carter proceeds to dispatch the men in unarmed combat, sending one of them through the window. The lighting here is very low-key and the mise-en-scene is done to create a feeling of 'the bad part of town.'
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
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