... Analysis Of 4 Film Stills ... x

Analysing different camera angles and their effects.

Rush Hour ...

In this still image from Rush Hour, a medium shot is used, to show the audience the use of the characters actions and also parts of the mise-en-scene.
The medium shot helps the audience see a lot of things in the shot.
Firstly the characters facial expressions, the audience know the character must be a police traffic warden due to the clothing the character is wearing. So by the character having a funny facial expression it shows the audience a sign of comedy, as it also looks like the character is dancing in the shot, as he also has earphones in his ear. This connotes to the audience that instead of doing his job properly he is doing it his own way by dancing and signalling at the same time. Also as the medium shot is used the audience can see that the setting is set in a city, so this connotes to the audience that the film is likely to be set in the city.

You Got Served ...

In this still image from You Got Served a medium shot is used.
As the film is a dancing based film, the medium shot plays a massive effect on this still image. As the director is not focused on one character, he is focused on them all, so therefore a medium shot was used to show that everyone in the shot is important.
In addition the medium shot shows the characters actions as they are dancing and also their facial expressions showing that the characters are passionate and trustworthy towards their dancing.

Saw IV ...

In this still image of Saw IV a close up shot has been used.
As the still image is very gruesome a close up shot has been used to show the audience what is going on in the image. Also the audience can see the characters facial expression due to the close up shot showing blood. The close up shot may make the audience feel the same pain as the character is feeling as the blood connotes pain and hurtfulness the audience can see the character is in a lot of pain as his mouth is open he may be screaming for help or painfulness, so this close up shot therefore connotes to the audience he needs help or is getting killed.

Home Alone ...

In this still image of Home Alone again a close up shot is being used.
The close up shot is being used this time to show the characters facial expression and emotion.
As the character is a child, the close up shot used by the child covering his cheeks whilst his mouth is open indicates to the audience that the child may have done something wrong. Also as the child looks like he is in shock this can also connote to the audience that he may be scared or worried. The close up shot makes the audience want to know what the child has done or why he is worried.

... Cinematography ... x

Psycho...
16 June 1960...

And


Home Alone...
7 December 1990...



Psycho is a horror/thriller film that was directed by Alfred Hitchcock, and was released on the 16th June 1960.

From the start of the extract the audience can see that close up shots are used through at least four shots of the beginning of the trailer. These close-up shots are: firstly a wet hand being scratched down bathroom tiles, secondly a pair of wet feet in a bath, thirdly a strange hand about to pull the shower curtain and lastly another close up shot of the shower curtain hooks being shaken and breaking.
This gives the impression to the audience straight away that the genre of the film is going to be horror as the close up shots are showing bad things happening, and also the use of the non- diegetic sound causes suspense which shows the genre of the film is horror.

Moreover after the close up shots have been used in the beginning of the extract, a use of long shots have been used to show where the film is set and the places that the events will be happening.
In addition a point of view shot has been used in the early beginning of the extract (just 11 seconds in) to show the audience the film is going to be about suspense. As the voiceover in the extract tells the audience that the house is a scene of crime place, there is a medium shot used of the characters face looking anxiously at the same house.
Also when the characters are having a conversation with each other a use of medium shots has also been used as this creates suspense to the audience, as they are thinking it is a horror film, but why are people so calm and civil towards each other.
Moreover once again close up shots have been used to show important stuff that the audience might need to remember during the film for example, close up shots are used on a envelope of money and a suitcase full of wealthy clothes.
There is also a long shot used in the extract of a old fashioned house, this connotes to the audience that this may be the place in film that the bad things are going to happen in, as the long shot showed the whole house in the shot.
Further on in the extract a high angle shot is used to show man holding a woman in his arms carrying her down the stairs. This high angle shot is used to show the audience the whole shot of the two characters and the setting around them.
Close up shots are mostly used throughout this extract to show the characters facial expressions, so the audience can tell the hero from the villains. And as a result a medium shot is used at the end of the extract to show a characters facial expression as he smiles, this is used so that the audience will remember this character as the villain, as his facial expression connoted to the audience he was the villain.

Home Alone is a family comedy film that was directed by Chris Columbus and was

released on the 7th December 1990.

At the beginning of the extract medium shots are used to show everyone in the shot from the family. This is showed so that the audience can figure out that the genre is going to be comedy family based.
Secondly a low angle shot is used to show the aeroplane taking off so that the audience can feel the same way they are feeling. After this shot is used, a long shot is used to show a wealthy huge house, this may confuse the audience as they just saw an aeroplane take off but now see a house. Throughout the extract medium shots are used, the director may do this because the paste of the trailer is quite fast, so by using medium shots it will show the audience everything in the frame.
Also when something funny or bad happens in the trailer medium shots are used so that everything in the frame is shown to the audience, in addition by the whole trailer having medium shots this creates an enigma for the audience as by no close up shots being used facial expressions are not shown.

Key Differences ...

More close up shots are used throughout the trailer Psycho, however in Home Alone no close up shots are used.

In the Home Alone trailer a low angle shot is used to show the aeroplane taking off, however in Psycho a high angle shot is used to show a character holding another character in his arms down the stairs.

.. Still Image And Extract Comparison..x

The Others...

Throughout the extract low key lighting is used, this is because it connotes tot the audience that the genre of the film is going to be horror, so in order for the extract to be horror a use of low key lighting is going to be used, which has been. Moreover underlighting has been used throughout the extract has it creates a distorted effect, as the genre of the extract is horror. Top lighting is also used as it shows the characters facial expressions more clearly, and as the woman playing an important role in the extract is a celebrity, the top lighting makes her look more glamorous.

In one part of the extract there is just a candle being used, and therefore filler light has been used, this helps to soften the shadows created by the other lights. The lighting effects throughout the extract create an enigma for the audience so they can carry on watching the extract. To conclude as the extract has used a huge amount of low key lighting this grabs the audiences attention as they don’t know what to expect with the rest of the extract, and this makes them want to go and watch the film to see what is going to happen.

Still Image From Psycho...

The actor in this still image is positioned far from the light source and slightly to one side. The effect is a low key light and shadow across the actors face; this therefore can emphasize personality of the actor. The low key lighting can connote to the audience that he may be the villain in the film. Back lighting and fill lighting are kept to a minimum, resulting in sharp, angular shadows which are shown on the wall and ceiling above the actor.

Hitchcock also uses camera angles to reveal all the audience needs to know about the troubled minded actor. As he did with the lighting, Hitchcock shapes the scene in terms of contrasts. Hitchcock, however, moves out of the comfort zone to shoot the actor from an unnaturally low perspective. These two camera angles in-and-of themselves mean nothing. Only when they are juxtaposed can any meaning be taken. The shift to Norman's angle suggests that the actor may feel like an outsider. We feel uncomfortable in this position because we are not used to viewing the world from such an angle and to do so makes it difficult to extract meaning.

... Film Noir...x

Film Noir

Film Noir is another meaning for "black film". Film Noir uses low-key lighting schemes commonly linked with the classic mode which is used in the tradition of chiaroscuro technique using high contrasts of light and darkness. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American film noir.

The audiences view of the typical noir hero was underscored by the use of high-key lighting, the most notable visual feature of film noir.

The use of the low-key lighting techniques was used to inspire the genre. The lighting also helped to define the character’s identity, including tilted cameras to present the images more clearly and a dark atmosphere in which only the faces of the actors were visible.

These lighting effects were used in Hollywood by cinematographers such as Gregg Toland, John F. Seitz, Karl Freund, and Sid Hickox .Classic images of noir included rain-soaked streets in the early morning hours; street lamps with shimmering halos; flashing apartment buildings; and endless streams of cigarette smoke wafting in and out of shadows.

Such images would lose their indelibility with realistic lighting or colour cinematography.

^^^ The image above shows a use of high and low key lighting. Although the woman is in a dangerous place (railway track) the high key lighting is used on the woman’s body and actions.

The low key lighting is used on the train track and to shadow the out the things behind the woman, making the audience more focused on what the woman is doing and why is she is there.

... Analysis Of A Still Image...x

Men In Black...

Costumes: The costumes the two characters are wearing are posh expensive black suits. This implies to the audience that they are two important men and could be detectives. The outfits they are wearing are identical including the watch and sunglasses. This shows the audience also that they must be partners who work together and are on an adventure.

Lighting: A large amount of low key lighting has been used throughout this film poster. The low key lighting connotes to the audience that the majority of the film could be shot at night time, and that adventures may have to be solved. Therefore this creates an enigma on the audience as they want to find out what the film is going to be about.
However high key lighting is also showed on the film poster as there is high key lighting reflecting off the actor’s faces and also the title of the film. Reasons for the high key lighting on the actors face are that it connotes to the audience that they are important in the film, and may be heroes.

Actors: There are two actors in this poster who are of both different races however what they are wearing and the position they are in are identical. Also Will Smith is a popular actor so this therefore makes huge fans of Will Smith go and watch the film.

Make Up: No makeup is used on the actors on the film posters, as they may have wanted a more natural look.

Props: There is no use of props in the film poster. This makes this important to the audience as they now have to wonder what sort of props are going to be used in the film. The only way they can do this is to watch the film so by the film poster not having any props causes suspense for the audience.

Setting: The setting of the film is very dark, this connotes to the audience that the film could be very serious however the star lights in the background of the poster connote to the audience that there may be suspense of adventure and space. These stars suggest that the film may have to be with sci-fi.

Target Audience: The target audience for this film may be for people who are interested in sci-fi based films as the stars in the setting portrays that the film is sci-fi based.

Genre: The genre of the movie sci-fi based as the stars in the background connote that it is. However it could also be sci-fi comedy, as Will Smith is a famous actor known for his comedy, so therefore the film may be sci-fi comedy based.

Type of shot/image: A medium shot has been used in this film poster, as it gives the audience a chance to see both characters clearly and see the facial expressions on both characters. Also to show the audience the costumes that have been used so they can figure out what the actors may play in the film.

Typography: The typography used is each part of the poster varies. Firstly the names of the actors are across the top of the poster and are nearly camouflaged with the background of the poster, secondly the typography of the tagline is all in capitals, and this grabs the audience’s attention as they may thin as it is in capitals it is important for them to read. Lastly the typography of the actual name of the movie is also in block capitals, and is attracted to the audience as the poster is in low key lighting; however the title of the film is in high key lighting so this attracts the audience’s attention.

What the film may be about: As the film poster has two famous actors and are both dressed in suits, they may be partners who are special agents. In addition as it is sci-fi based the film might be about weird creatures or people who enter the world from a different planet, and therefore the two main characters will have to solve the problems by saving the earth.

... Film Poster Mise-en-scène Analysis ...x

Silent Hill ...

Star Wars ...

The Mummy ...

Horror

Animated Sci-fi

Adventure

Costumes: All costumes in all three film posters differ very largely as they all wear costumes that are relevant to the genre of the film. For example: in the star wars film poster the costumes are knight costumes- costumes that they fight in sci-fi based films.

Lighting: All three film posters have mixtures of both high and low key lighting. For important bits of the poster low key lighting is used. For example in Silent Hill the little girls face is high key lighting as this is what the poster wants the audience to examine, as the girls hair and background is in low key lighting. Also in star wars the props used and the characters faces are used in high key lighting and the background and floor is in low key lighting to show the audience it isn’t important as the characters and props.

Actors: In Silent Hill the audience are shown a little girl who has no lips and a face made up of pieces, this grabs the audience’s attention as they are straight away going to be asking questions about the actor, similarly in The Mummy there are no actors on the film poster however it is the mummy itself, this connotes to the audience that the villain must play a massive role in the film and the only way to find out what actors are played in the film is if they go and watch it. Lastly in Star Wars all actors are shown however the most important ones are focused more on as they are in the middle of the poster with again high key lighting on them.

Make-up: All three film posters have a similarity and this is that there is no use of make-up used in the film posters for the actors. This gives a more natural look to the poster.

Props: Similarity both Silent Hill and The Mummy do not use props in their film poster, as they want the audience to go and watch the film and find out what was used. However, in Star Wars a variety of props are used in the poster such as: swords and battleships. This enthrals the audience as they want to find out what they are used for in the film and why.

Setting: Silent Hill has no setting as the poster wants the audience to focus on the little girls face and nothing else. Similarly in Star Wars and The Mummy a setting is used. In The Mummy the setting of the poster is in Egypt as it has pyramids, this shows the audience that the film may be set in Egypt. In addition in Star Wars the setting is Earth but could also be an empty land, this shows the audience that there is a sci-fi adventure that has to be solved.

Case Study #2...x

Pathe!....

Pathé is the name of various businesses founded and originally run by the Pathé Brothers of France.

It was founded in France, Paris on September 28th 1896. Pathé became the largest film equipment and production company in the world as well as a major producer of phonograph records.

Pathé has a major presence within the UK film industry, operating as a fully integrated studio. It is involved in all aspects of film- making, from production and development through to international sales and distribution.

One of the UK’s leading independent film distributors, Pathé Distribution releases around 20 titles each year, ranging from quality and specialised films to crowd- pleasing mainstream movies and genre titles.

Pathé have 11 films distributed in France and 9 in the UK in 2007. Nevertheless, they have 550 films in the film library.

Today Pathé operates by:

Cinema:

• Production
• distribution to theatres and homes
• the international management of a catalog of more than 500 films
• movie theaters

Pathé have distributed films such as:

• AdULTHOOD
• Chicken Run
• Crash
• Deep Water
• Jeepers Creepers 2
• Oliver Twist
• Silent Hill
• Wrong Turn