This is my version of the original shot below
Evaluation of reconstruction
For my reconstruction I wanted to choose something from a project or production I’ve previously seen that I was personally interested in. I chose the French 1999 film la haine. This film sticks out in my mind as a big inspiration not only through script or for acting purposes, but most importantly cinematography. This film released out to me as it was the first relatively modern film I had seen that was filmed in black and white, upon first viewing I really realised the power of a film when all the colour is drained out of it, and I knew for sure this is something I wanted to use in my final Project.
First of all I wanted to pick a scene that was very creative in the way it was shot so I picked a scene where the main characters are standing on a balcony and the cameraman performs a dolly zoom. Although the effect is heavily used in cinema especially in films in the horror genre, I do think it’s a very impressive technique. The closest location I could find that looks the most similar as to the original shot was opposite the National Portrait Gallery just by Trafalgar Square. Upon practicing the shot I realise that it was going to be very difficult without a track to roll the camera on top of. Soon enough I realised there was an alternative technique, where buy the camera man tilt the camera on the to tripod front legs, so the camera on top moves forward in a smooth movement. Although it doesn’t give you the exact same effect as the more professional method it does the job.
Upon recollection of my reconstruction there were probably some things I would have done differently, one of these would be colour grading, as the black and white is quite true to the original the difference in lighting is quite different,
As subjects faces are lighter and buildings of darker. I also would i’ve tried to bring something with wheels to create the smooth motion.
Although these things do stick out to me when I watch my reconstruction I do not think they hold Me Back, and when I’m looking at it from a distance I do like the final product. The video isn’t what I’m happy about the most, it’s what I learnt from creating it. This challenge of creating a 10 second video might seem small but really gave me the hunger to create, a very good final major Project.
Codes And Conventions
The Genre that my final major project Falls under would be a crime thriller. I have done research surrounding different productions that fall under this category. These productions include films and TV shows, all of these films follow a similar criteria throughout, that I will be researching was also mimicking, as my final Project preferrably would be a perfect fit for the crime thriller genre. In my project the crime that is being shown is a mugging which when filmed into reproduction is usually surrounded with aggressive scenes and gritty sets and locations.
Upon searching for productions that feature dark and gritty locations I stumbled across “Luther”, this television production relies heavily on a gritty mise en scene. He seems incorporate dark and grimy estates and back alleys behind warehouses and factories as their main set peices. This subtly aggressive vibes are sprinkled in with lots of thought, it puts the image in the audiences head of a reoccurring danger that’s always around the corner, so that the audience is always on edge just like the characters, therefore managing to fit more emotion into the production by allowing the audience to sympathise with the protagonist.
For my production i’m going to be looking at locations that have quite aggressive and gritty undertones. I will also put these very carefully throughout the production as making sure that locations with more of a dangerous vibe will only feature in the production when danger is imminent for the characters. This will also highlight the stark contrast between the protagonists home and the location where he commits the crime showing that he goes from a nice life to one on the cusp of the law.
Another convention that’s heavily used in Productions of the same genre is an emotive soundtrack. No production is known better for this reason then Nicolas Winding Refn’s 2011 film “Drive”. The story follows a similar theme to my production as it’s about a reasonably well mannered person dipping their toes into the life of crime, pushing the boundaries even further, risking getting caught. The soundtrack is full of low deep bass Lines that are scattered throughout scenes of high tension, anticipation and paranoia. An example of this is the song “tick of the clock” by Chromatics. This song features a very deep echoing baseline that picks up to the end revealing a screeching clicking chorus that establishes and highlights moments of stress and panic throughout the production. I think this convention is one of the most important in bringing the film to life. As Productions made by students that haven’t paid much attention to sound design really shows as it immediately makes the film look quite low budget and amateur.
Arguably in my opinion the greatest invention with the most influence in a crime thriller would definitely be colour grading. All of the best Productions in TV and film history that feature themes of crime and violence always have a very unique look in terms of cinematography but most importantly colour. If you take the 1999 Wachowski Brothers classic “the matrix” you will immediately notice a very heavy green look to the film, this immediately becomes very noticeable as soon as you see the first shots, it immediately highlights the corporate dystopian world portrayed in the production, as everything has this dark green colour grading to it gives it this very mucky digital feel which corresponds completely to the feel of the production.
Another example of fantastic colour grading would be 1995’s Mathieu Kassovitz french classic La Haine. The film follows three disgruntled teenagers living in the aftermath of a Riot in a heavily police controlled Paris, in search of a gun the main character tries to prove himself regularly through the film with acts of stark violence. This film was originally shot in colour, when the rough cut was put together the director and his team decided to change all the colour grading to black and white, as it Express the themes and ideas behind the production perfectly, by sucking the colour off the screen you are also taking ideas of hope and beauty as well. This is extremely effective as the audience realises that the story is very negative and aggressive by the mass of lack of colour.
The very first sequence in your production is very important as it establishes the Themes around the film as a whole, this gives the audience an idea of what they’re in for and where the story might take them before any characters are introduced. This idea is betrayed in no better place then in Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund’s 2002 Brazilian film “City of god”. The film follows a group of children growing up in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro in the 70s, riddled with violent crime and massive manslaughter numbers the city is a hot bed the killing. The film opens for the powerful image of a chicken about to be slaughtered in a market. The chicken makes lots of noise but the salesman does not care and proceeds to kill it, this immediately makes the audience uncomfortable as there’s no mercy slaughtering is a very reoccurring theme throughout the film. This idea definitely struck a chord with me as I now plan for my opening sequence to be the sound have a piercing alarm clock with dotted sirens in the background. Hopefully this mix of sounds will give the audience enough information to keep watching as they are intrigued as to where it will lead, but also get the message that the production will deal with themes that are quite dark.
Throughout my research I’ve noticed many things, one being that all of these codes and conventions may seem very small in theory but when put into practice can change reproduction completely. I’ve also noticed that the first sequence in your production is very important to keep audiences on their seats and also be intrigued to watch more, I’ve learnt that colour grading plays a big part in film, as the general look at the production is what drives the basic emotion. All of these techniques and lessons I will try to apply into my final Project, this is also made me excited to start creating a production as I am eager to see the final result.
Production Moodboard
FMP Genre Mindmap
Media Theories
There are lots of different Media theories that apply to lots of different Productions. These can range from different techniques used towards the audience, or different techniques used within audio to give the production of certain feel.
One of these that I find it very important with in production, would be camera angles, as someone that’s very interested in cinematography I find this really important. A camera angle might seem like an obvious choice when thinking of things that can make or break a production, but it has lots of subtle effects. Lots of different genres used camera angles differently, and for different effect. The camera angle can give a certain vibe or emotion to a scene.
Genre within production that utilizes unique camera angles to its advantage would definitely be the Thriller genre. Basic codes and conventions that feature a lot in thrillers would be, high stress levels, a constant underlying feeling of paranoia and moments of strong suspense. All of these can be boosted through camera angles. For example very mainstream thriller would be “the bourne identity” this film features many creative camera angles that boost dramatic effect. There is a scene where the main character is running through Liverpool Street station in London, he is the way he is being watched and knows very well the risks are very high for his physical well-being. The same features many camera angles of the main character but shot from very far away, this long zoom put the audience in the main protagonists shoes, as the associate with these long shots as seeing through the eyes of the antagonist watching the main character. They also give you a sense of nervousness as you soon realise that the antagonists can see the main characters every movement, giving them the upper hand. This camera movement is very powerful within the scene, as it boosts the suspense but in a subtle way that the audience barely notices.
Another very famous use of camera angles, would be an Alfred Hitchcock masterpiece, ” vertigo “. In this film the Story follows a policeman with an intense fear of heights, he is assigned a case to stop a woman from jumping off a building. Alfred Hitchcock was set with the challenge when making this movie, as he wanted to give the whole audience of fear of heights even if they didn’t have one. Although a lot of his best work is done in the editing room, alfred Hitchcock is a master of camera angles. This film relies heavily on cinematography, as it’s scattered with many very wide shots on top of very high buildings. A technique that has become synonymous with this film is known as the dolly zoom. It’s when the cameraman moves the camera backwards but also zoomed in, bending the image into a nausea inducing warping effect, that simulates vertigo completely. This is so effective as it replicate the feeling that the protagonist feels also gives it to the audience to share his dread.
Another technique that people in production use would be silence. Lots of different genres you silence within the production philosophy different reasons. Although it sounds quite silly, sometimes a lack of sound can almost appear louder on screen. Keen example of this would be in martin scorsese’s ” raging Bull”. This film follows the story of a boxer, going from amateur fights too big title shots. In one scene here’s a couple rounds deep, into his hardest fight yet. The sound slowly drowns out, as his opponent raises his fist. The scene turns completely silent that’s the protagonist receives a very hard punch to the face. This lack of sound draws in the audience, and almost sharpens the senses, which in turn makes the scene so much more powerful.
Another genre this is heavily used in would be horror, horror is quite a wide is on raw as it’s full of many different codes and conventions as it’s one of the oldest types of film. Different techniques come in and out of fashion but one always remains the same as a signal post throughout the Decades of film, and that would be silence. In every single horror film you watch before a scene which features loud panic and scary visuals you always have silence. Although this features in nearly every single horror film for decades, one would think that it’s been over used. But it’s a technique that never goes out of fashion as it never loses its power. When the sound goes down in a horror film you know you’re about to jump, because the lack of Sound amplifies the loud noise after. This is a very smart technique and for that reason is used heavily for us cinema.
Milo Cunningham 