Film Stills

Scarface

The angle for the character scarface is from a bird's eye view which enables him to demonstrate his anger and frustration therefore an excellent way to demonstrate the anger and the action. However, for the audience, they are as if the audience are there by a low angle shot and there isn't much lighting to damage the scene where by the use of lighting will help take the audiences attentions away.


Batman











Here this show is effective because the use of back lighting creates suspense as we cannot see the characters facial expressions in addition, this shot is engaging the audience into the film because it is as if Batman is coming to the direction of the audience and also because there is back lighting creates mystery because the audience aren't aware why the character cannot be fully seen and that is also adding to the costume used is black which also creates suspense and tension.

The God Father

The medium shot of the character enables the audience to realize the characters facial expressions and the use of back lighting supports this because the audience cannot see the characters full face and perhaps could show that there is two characters to him dark and evil, good and bad. In addition, the back lighting and the dark background could perhaps be a way of introducing the film.

Film Language - Cinematography

Scarface >original version< (1932)
Directed by Howard Hawks

In the beginning of this extract taken from the movie, the audience acknowledges the use of lighting and the way it has been used for the audience to discover the meaning. The pace in which the lighting has been used of a contrast of light and dark lights connotes two situations or two dilemmas coming together. The use of both lighting's represent good and evil, the good- where the police try to shoot the character down and the evil- where the main character is shooting back and cunning his way out of the situation. After this, a jump cut is made where the audience are forced to focus on something dramatic and according to this extract the beginning scene is a loving moment where the audience do not expect dramatic actions to occur because the lighting used in the beginning scene there is low-key lighting to allow the audience to focus on both characters in the scene and their facial expressions.

Afterwards, there is a P.O.V. shot where the audience gain the view of the character from a high angle this makes the scene more dramatic as the use of lighting makes the audience eager to see what the characters are seeing and by the use of P.O.V shots this is fulfilling their needs in order to gain the best action possible. Therefore, the use of the P.O.V shot is effective to create drama and to mirror the lightings effects by effective editing to create an action pack movie.

This particular scene has only one setting and the drama of the lights and the actual action that is taking place within this scene perhaps shows what type of characters they are and in this particular scene both the man and woman are the perceived to be a big character within the film by the majority of police there are and this adds to the drama of the scene. Another, feature which was interesting was the choreography and the timing in which the actions took place also added to the scenes drama.

Scarface (1972)

The reason I chose the original and the updated Scarface was to show the same movie over a different period of time and as you can see by the trailer of the updated version it is clear the differences. Scarface's narrative has changed to some extent because in the 1932 film you can see the woman was the typical heroine whereas now in the updated version Scarface now has got the female character within the movie but not as much because within the updated version because now it is pure gangster to show the high intensity of violence and to take out any unnecessary glamorous features and allow the audience to focus more on the narrative. As you can clearly see here that the difference from between the 1932 extract and the 1972 extract is the technology and the camera movements and works.

Key Differences

As the trailer begins the audience can see that the differences are the camera work where there are more P.OV shots to allow the audience to engage in the storyline. There are

also more edits such as jump cuts and fades and also the sound effects of the music which was done in post production whereas in the original version there wouldn't have been much difference in post production to enhance the movies narrative. In a addition, the areas in which the updated version had slow motion and the pausing where colours are used and the diegitic and non- diegitic sounds where made in order for the trailer to continue to obtain the audiences attention. Also, the most obvious difference is the lighting which in a way could possibly deteriorating the audience's attention because there is more to look at, whereas in the original version the black and white movies were able to capture the audiences attention's and allowing the audience to face only on the facial expressions.

Lighting and its effects

Suspicion (1941)


The image represents a sense of mystery because the use of low key lighting allows to emphasize he characters facial expression to show what emotion will be carried out throughout that particular scene. In addition, the effects of the lighting when to be specific a lighter shade of light is used in the top right angle of the image this allows the director to portray the distance between the man and the woman here and also allows the audience to acknowledge who the main character is and the use of lighting used on the woman in particular shows she is the dominant character within this image/scene.


A Few Good Men (1992)


The lighting used in this extract was specifically used to portray the main characters as heroes by using back lighting to allow the audience to focus on their facial expressions and also a use of key lighting was definitely essential to the audience as a way of acknowledge the seriousness of the film. In addition, the use of low key lighting in a particular scene where the man is being murdered and where the lighting is coming in from the window, this is used to portray the scene as horrific and sad as possible in order to catch the audiences attentions.

Film Noir

Film Noir is used to make crime dramas in the 1940's and 1950's more stylish and it is used to emphasize actors versatile characteristics in movies to connote two different people by using low key black lighting. By the use of low-key black lighting it allows the audience to acknowledge that there is more to the scene or characters that meets the eye. This is used to add a sense of mysteriousness within the film to keep the audience in somewhat in the 'dark' because if the lighting isn't fully clear then there must be something unusual going on. Film noir used in crime dramas are particularly realistic, in the sense because the colour black used in films connote mystery, suspense and shock or possibly danger. Therefore, film noir used in films allows the audience to be focused in the film without any fancy off putting lighting or allow any unnecessary features within the film to distract the audience. Film noir's representation's in a film are specifically used in crime dramas because the effects in where one character has no lighting on a particular part of their body, this immediately portrays to the audience as something mysterious is going to happen and also film noir is sensationally used to truly emphasize the characters facial expressions and this is why film noir was extremely popular in the 40s and 50s because it allowed to grab hold of the audience's attentions and to consistently keep hold of the audiences focus throughout the film because film noir with low key lighting is not giving away a lot of information for the audience to predict what is about to take place and is exellent way to create a good film.

Mise -en-scene Comparison

Drama/Thriller


Musical

















Horror/Thriller

C- The costumes in ‘Deep blue sea’ and ‘Dream Girls’ both represent the genre of the film and the narrative in a way. However, in XxX, there were no costumes used much however, there was a use of hi-tech gadgets, which can appeal to the audience well. In Dream girls, the costumes of a skimpy dress could represent the actors attitude revealed throughout the film. In dreamgirls the hair wigs used represented the costumes and the dress sense of the 60’s.

L- Lighting used in XxX was dark and had different fiery/ hot colours, which could represent Vin DieselJ. In addition, the use of low-key lighting could represent mixed attitudes of the actor (s) in the film. In addition, the use of the bright and fiery colours could connote a fast epic movie, which could bring out the tensions and the build up to the climax could have a high intense finish to the film. In Deep Blue Sea, the lighting used is filler light-, which helps to soften any shadows created by other lights and allows the audience to witness the huge shark in the background and acknowledge the genre, which the film consists of.
A- The actors in the films are not as well known but can be a positive affect on the movie because this will allow the audience to become more engaged in the film and become more focused on the performance.

M- The make-up used in each film poster is not well seen however, in XxX, the audience acknowledges the woman alongside him, and by the make-up, this can add to the storyline by portraying Vin Diesel as the hero.

P-the props used in XxX are not seen, as well as is Deep Blue Sea and in Dream Girls the props used are microphones, which represent the films narrative and genre of a musical.

S- The settings in XxX are in the city of a busy country. Where evil and danger could be lurking right around the corner. The setting of the movie Deep Blue Sea represents the films attributes because the setting was in a isolated area full of sea. The setting of Dream girls was in an uptown place in Las Vegas which is an area where ‘dreams come true’ and a really eye catching busy area.

Still Image analysis

'Changing Lanes' (2002)

C-Costumes used in this image is smart, to connote the level of professionalism in the film. By using costumes within a film usually is linked with gangster films to hide their identity and maybe this may be the case in the movie. The suits may have been used to also attract a wider audience of an older age due to the suite, which connotes adulthood and maturity. The glasses as well are a good use of costume because it could also back up the point made about suits and how they could hide your identity. In addition, the use of suits could be projecting that both actors could be linked however due to the same clothing there maybe more than meets the eye.

L-lighting the lighting used in this poster is low key lighting within the background to connote a sense of darkness and perhaps evil in the film being portrayed and also the use of the black background could be used to make the audience address the actors rather than the poster itself. The lighting used also has some light on each of the characters faces and a darker side of the other face and again could be reinforcing the movie's title changing lanes and perhaps the other halves of their faces are shown and the rest has dark lighting could create an effect of when the two characters eventually change and due to the lighting they could be met with difficult and evil challenges that lie ahead.

A- Actors the actors in this film are well know actors and are a good way of attracting a wider audience of preferences such as, gangster, comedy, horror, thriller and drama, and an audience of different races. In addition, the actors are of different race and could connote the film poster's title of changing lanes and perhaps the changes in experience of race. The facial expressions connote a sense of seriousness of the tensions that their facial expressions consist of. The direct view of the actors are in a straight view to create a direct approach at the audience and looking as if they are looking towards them which is a way in which the audience can automatically witness the tensions rising about the films also, the actors that have been on other movies are usually either drama movies or thrillers and this could be a way of attracting a wider audience.

M- Make up- the make up used in this film is very rare to see and perhaps if there was it was maybe to create a simple look and not to attract attention to the actors face or even enhance their features to make the look good and to make them detached and make the audience focus only on their performance as actors.

P- There are no props in the film used in the poster this allows the audience to predict whether the two actors are alongside each other or against each other because the use of props can connote what audience the film is aiming at and maybe the film was to keep it simple and make the audience wonder how the film is going to pan out.

S-The setting of the film is in New York. A film based in a busy city where everybody goes to work which could explain the use of suits in the film poster to show professionalism to everybody but danger underneath and cities are areas which connote darkness and that’s where evil and crime is most likely to be committed, due to the alleyways which shows danger and evil. In addition, the use of cars of each sides of the lane used could again connote a long and dark journey between both actors ‘lanes’.

Target audience: The target audience of the film is to a wide range of audience and aiming towards a mature age. Therefore, the film could be aimed towards ages 15+ -35.

Genre: The genre of the film is drama/thriller which is represented within the film poster, i.e. lighting, facial expressions and also could represent the actors usual genre that they specialize in, Ben Affleck is usually in drama films while Samuel L Jackson is in horror drama and sci-fi.

Type of shot: The type of shot used is medium close up allowing the audience to witness both actors and their facial expressions, and to fit in all the typography used in the film.

Typography: The typography used has a large font to attract the audience and in the style of a lane on the side of a road. This is used to attract the audience and to make to poster eye-catching and link back to the title of ‘changing lanes’ The typography used in grey was eye catching because each word was in an upper case form to really show the films seriousness and the typography used in this matter came across in a threatening way.

Heroes ''MIGRAIN'Analysis

http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/
Heroes is a science fiction television drama. Hugely popular in the US and in the UK.
-1st season of 23 episodes on average gained 14.3 million viewers.
-produced by Universal Media Studios
-Broadcasted by NBC
- Hearoes is now on multi-media (meaning it is promoted and talked about on different types of media platforms) i.e now heroes can be attracted to a younger audience because there are internet sites in which you can play games. The audience are able to access the different types of games made such as comic games which can be appealing to a younger audience. There are also Video and Mobile games and therefore now becoming more interactive and keeping the audience interested. There are also books and publications such as comic books and magazines, and finally there are now action figures for collection for the audience to purchase and again NBC are aiming to a much younger audience and making 'HEROES' appealing to a wide range of audiences in order to increase the amount of viewers watching the programme on NBC itself.

M-