I am now going to do some more specific research into my chosen genre which is 'action, thriller mystery hybrids'. I will look at and analyse the opening scenes of three movies which fit this genre. I will pick out the common conventions and narrative features.
This will help me in creating my own film opening as i will understand the conventions i need to use more and be able to use them more effectively.
I need to clearly explore my audience. The age range of my audience is around 18 to 30 years old C2 and higher. They would range from Mainstreamers to aspirers and rebels. They would read books such as those written by Patricia Cornwell. They would have a preference of smart, expensive cars, if they could not afford them they would still have a keen interest.They would prefer to travel abroad for holidays. Their favourite drink would range from wine and spirits, to beer a lager. They are most likely to have office jobs. Their favourite tv programmes would be programmes such as life on mars and CSI. They are likely to dress casually. They would live in new housing estates.
No country for old men
This film is an action thriller set in America. There is the binary opposition of sheriffs and outlaws. The movie uses action thriller conventions such as the location which is in the wilderness. The mystery is added by abandoned cars and unusual props such as the oxygen tank.
There is then the disruption which is a murder which is typical of the genre. The audience realise that the murderer is going to be the problem for some part of the movie and that the movie will be a build up to the resolution of this problem. The audience are introduced to the possible hero of the movie who is the narrator who is introduced in the voice over. The audience hears this character before they see him which adds mystery to who he is.
James Bond:Casino Royale
This film contains many of the conventions of the genre. It starts with the introduction of an unknown character who then meets James Bond who has broken into his office. There are flashbacks to a situation Bond has been in which is related to him finding the unknown character. This hints to the audience that the unknown character is in danger. However the conversation continues calmly until the unknown character pulls out his gun which is another conventional prop of the genre. However the gun is empty and James Bond has emptied it which establishes him as a dangerous, intelligent person. He is dressed smartly and is a stereotypical British agent. The flashbacks continue and depict Bond killing a man in a bathroom. He strangles the man and the man is assumed dead. The scene then returns to the office where Bond kills the man in there. There is another flashback to the bathroom and the man whom we believe Bond has killed stands up behind him and Bond quickly shoots him. The credits then begin as blood runs down the screen. Violence, guns and blood are typical conventions but the suit and British accent are typical conventions of the sub genre of British espionage.
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Monday, 19 January 2009
Video - Film openings: initial research
I have chosen video for my main project as i enjoyed this preliminary task more. I will be making the first two minutes of a new movie.
To start off my project i began looking at different forms of film including different genres. I looked at Hollywood,Social Realist and Art House films.
I found that Hollywood films all share the same conventions depending on the genre. They are quite generic in that they use the same ideologies eg. male hero, female interest etc. The films all usually end in the simple narratives being resolved.
I found that Social Realist films handle more difficult topics and more real life situations than Hollywood. The narratives are not always resolved and the characters are usually simple working-class people rather than super heroes.
Art House films do not follow a narrative or the generic structures that Hollywood and Social Realist movies do. The audience tend to be more upper class and the movies focus on style more than content.They tend to be more independent films.
Institution
Holly wood films are distributed by large media conglomerates such as Universal, Paramount and Warner. All of these conglomerates own many companies in a range of different media formats so are at an advantage as they are able to promote their films across a large range of media. These companies all stick to generic dominant values which are reflected in the majority of their films. Movies produced by such companies tend to be big budget and contain all-star casts.The movies are aimed at a large audience and have high profit margins.
Social Realist films are made by smaller film companies such as Protozoa Pictures. They are therefore not as widely distributed as Hollywood movies.These movies have more complex narratives as they do not have as much money to lose as Hollywood film companies and can therefore afford to take risks, however aspects of the generic narratives are still visible. These films are smaller budget and have fewer stars but provide opportunities for upcoming actors and actresses to break through.These movies are for smaller audiences with more specific interests and do not have as high a profit margin.
Art House movies are usually made by independent directors but can sometimes be picked up and distributed by larger companies.They are usually played at small local cinemas and are not widely distributed. They often contain no narratives and do not follow the general structures of many films.The movies usually reflect personal issues of the creator and take more risks.They are made on small budgets for 'niche' audiences and are made more for the style than the content.
Narrative and Genre
It is important for film openings to use generic features and narrative structures so that the audience can build preconceptions and anticipate what will happen in the rest of the movie. In the first few minutes the audience should understand the genre of the movie and be able to establish what they feel will happen.
As part of my research I looked at film openings. In particular I looked at the opening of the tongue-in-cheek horror movie ' Dog soldiers' and took note of the specific conventions and narrative structures. It is quickly reconisable as a horror movie,however it is also recognisable as a member of the sub-genre of werewolf movie.Using the Proppian character functions the opening introduces the victims, the villain and a possible hero.The audience therefore build expectations. They expect the potential hero, who is seen as an underdog, to provide the resolution to the problem. An enigma code is used also which helps shape the expectations of the audience and is an icon of the sub genre. Using the Todorovian theory we see the disruption.
Narrative structures and techniques used include clear binary opposition of innocent and evil.
The use of these generic and narrative structures allows the audience to enjoy the movie more as they can predict what is going to happen and can gain pleasure from trying to work out for themselves what is going to happen. The audience is able to follow the genre and plot more confidently and clearly and there is no confusion.
When I make my own opening I will need to use these structures so that my audience will understand my chosen genre and will be able to pick up on part of the storyline.
To start off my project i began looking at different forms of film including different genres. I looked at Hollywood,Social Realist and Art House films.
I found that Hollywood films all share the same conventions depending on the genre. They are quite generic in that they use the same ideologies eg. male hero, female interest etc. The films all usually end in the simple narratives being resolved.
I found that Social Realist films handle more difficult topics and more real life situations than Hollywood. The narratives are not always resolved and the characters are usually simple working-class people rather than super heroes.
Art House films do not follow a narrative or the generic structures that Hollywood and Social Realist movies do. The audience tend to be more upper class and the movies focus on style more than content.They tend to be more independent films.
Institution
Holly wood films are distributed by large media conglomerates such as Universal, Paramount and Warner. All of these conglomerates own many companies in a range of different media formats so are at an advantage as they are able to promote their films across a large range of media. These companies all stick to generic dominant values which are reflected in the majority of their films. Movies produced by such companies tend to be big budget and contain all-star casts.The movies are aimed at a large audience and have high profit margins.
Social Realist films are made by smaller film companies such as Protozoa Pictures. They are therefore not as widely distributed as Hollywood movies.These movies have more complex narratives as they do not have as much money to lose as Hollywood film companies and can therefore afford to take risks, however aspects of the generic narratives are still visible. These films are smaller budget and have fewer stars but provide opportunities for upcoming actors and actresses to break through.These movies are for smaller audiences with more specific interests and do not have as high a profit margin.
Art House movies are usually made by independent directors but can sometimes be picked up and distributed by larger companies.They are usually played at small local cinemas and are not widely distributed. They often contain no narratives and do not follow the general structures of many films.The movies usually reflect personal issues of the creator and take more risks.They are made on small budgets for 'niche' audiences and are made more for the style than the content.
Narrative and Genre
It is important for film openings to use generic features and narrative structures so that the audience can build preconceptions and anticipate what will happen in the rest of the movie. In the first few minutes the audience should understand the genre of the movie and be able to establish what they feel will happen.
As part of my research I looked at film openings. In particular I looked at the opening of the tongue-in-cheek horror movie ' Dog soldiers' and took note of the specific conventions and narrative structures. It is quickly reconisable as a horror movie,however it is also recognisable as a member of the sub-genre of werewolf movie.Using the Proppian character functions the opening introduces the victims, the villain and a possible hero.The audience therefore build expectations. They expect the potential hero, who is seen as an underdog, to provide the resolution to the problem. An enigma code is used also which helps shape the expectations of the audience and is an icon of the sub genre. Using the Todorovian theory we see the disruption.
Narrative structures and techniques used include clear binary opposition of innocent and evil.
The use of these generic and narrative structures allows the audience to enjoy the movie more as they can predict what is going to happen and can gain pleasure from trying to work out for themselves what is going to happen. The audience is able to follow the genre and plot more confidently and clearly and there is no confusion.
When I make my own opening I will need to use these structures so that my audience will understand my chosen genre and will be able to pick up on part of the storyline.
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