Colour Analysis

They key colours used within our film trailer and ancillary texts are black, grey, red and blue. We chose to include these colours heavily due to the meanings we discovered in our research. Below are the key connotations of each of the colours that we have incorporated into our film products which we found in psychology reports and colourist specialist websites;

RED

Red is the colour of blood and fire and so it is associated with danger, energy, power, and determination. Red is an emotional colour, used for danger signs and the colour can be found in national flags showing power. It is a stimulant colour which makes us make quick decisions. 


BLUE

Blue is the colour of the sky and the water. It symbolises intelligence and wisdom. Blue is regarded as a masculine colour, although used in Victorian times as a feminine colour. It can also connote isolation which links well with our film trailer as the point of view camera shots allow the audience to empathise with the character. When we slowed down the shot of the spinning sky at the end of the climax, it is implied that she has been drugged and is unaware. It also suggests that she has given up hope due to the slow eerie music played in sync with the footage of the sky. 


GREY

Grey is a timeless and practical colour that is often associated with loss or depression. Dark, charcoal grey communicates some of the strength and mystery of black. It is a sophisticated colour that lacks the negativity of the color black. Light greys can carry some of the attributes of the colour white. We have consistent themes of the colour grey in our film trailer due to the colour saturation effects on the images and footage. We have used this colour to illustrate our thriller genre clearly. 

BLACK

Black is associated with elegance, power, death, mystery and evil. It is a mysterious colour, it normally has a negative connotation, also black is the symbol of grief. Black is a good contrasting colour, as it contrasts with any colour. We have chosen to have a black background for the credits to allow the font to stand out as we have a white font. It makes the credits more eye catching for the audience when watching the film trailer. We have also incorporated this colour theme on our website and poster. 

Shots and Explanations

Some of the shots we used were intended to be seen as handheld recordings from the kidnapper, including inside the shop and walking down the street.

We included a shutter sound following the girls walking down the street, followed by a still of the shot which was slightly faded around the edge like a worn photograph. This was one of the ways that we wanted to portray the male character as a stalker who is infatuated with the girl and stalked her for a period of time before the attack.

We also used actual CCTV footage in our trailer which was taken when we filmed the actress walking out of the shop. We had finished filming inside and were moving to another location when we looked up and saw this above the door and so decided that it would be a good effect to add in. This impromptu inspiration led to one of our favourite shots from the trailer.  

Key theorists to consider

Syd Field

According to Field, the typical Hollywood film can be separated into 3 dramatic sections/acts.
-The set-up (Within the first 10 minutes the audience decide their opinion of the film and are unlikely to change their minds. Therefore its important to establish main character, why the audience should like/dislike them and hint at what the film is going to be about)
-The confrontation (Longest act of the film, see main character often and in extreme situations or problems, confronting enemies and normally helpless)
-The resolution (Hero finally takes control of struggle, often by confrontation and on home territory, and achieve a final, desired victory)

'Plot points' are what he describes as important pieces of the plot which transform the lives of the characters, change relationships and the overall tone of the film.


Barthes' Code

Text needs unravelling, so audience can encounter  plurality and potential meaning.
Can start by looking at narrative from one viewpoint, drawing on previous experiences, creating one meaning for the text.
The narrative can be continuously unravelled from various angles and thus creating different meanings.
Texts may be 'open' (available for various interpretations) or 'closed' (only one obvious meaning).
These aspects to unravel are called 'narrative codes' and can be categorised into:
-The enigma code (i.e. answers and questions)
-Symbols and Signs
-Points of cultural references
-Simple description/reproduction


Todorov

He suggested that conventional narratives are structured in 5 stages;
-State of equilibrium
-Disruption of equilibrium at outset
-Recognition of disruption
-Attempt to repair disruption
-Reinstatement of equilibrium


Vladamir Propp

Suggested that characters took on the role of narrative 'spheres of action'
1) The Hero - usually male, restores natural equilibrium, often embarks on a quest, saves princess, centre of villain's attention, protagonist.
2) The Villain - creates narrative disruption.
3) The Donor - gives hero something, helps resolution of narrative.

4) The Princess - the reward/motivation for the hero

5) the Dispatcher - Sets the hero on their way

Laura Mulvey 

States that women are often objectified and seen as sex objects, portrayed through the male gaze. She also suggests that's women are seen in one of two ways; as a virgin or a whore. This is the virgin:whore dichotomy. 

Angela McRobbie

McRobbie says that men and women are often represented through stereotypes in the media. This means that traditional gender roles are used, such as women shown as victims, mothers, carers, weaker, etc. and men as aggressive, strong, leaders, etc. 

Allan Cameron 

Says that there are different kinds of unusual narratives including the following:

 - Anachronic Narrative includes flashbacks and flash forwards

 - Forking Path Narrative shows two different outcomes that are different only because of a small change or decision

 - Episodic Narrative separate narratives that have a link in some way

 - Split Screen Narrative different stories, linked by the fact that they are shown on screen simultaneously

Website Inspiration

Before creating a website of our own for our trailer we researched existing films and their sites in order to establish ideas, presentation and key features.

A sample of the websites we used include;

- Paranormal Activity 

Black background, writing made bold by using white and red colouring, thumbnails of multiple pictures to show a variety of shots and scenarios, options to watch trailer, view poster and see tickets and showtimes written on far right hand side with adjoining photos, tagline written under the title, 'now in cinemas'

-Now You See Me 

Grey background with faded title text, film title contrasted with yellow font at the top of the screen, photos of DVD boxes and packaging in order to promote further purchase of the film, trailer to the right in centre screen, release dates written under trailer, links to pages 'watch trailer', 'special features', 'enter site' and 'buy the movie'.


-Shutter Island

We really liked the dark, eerie nature of this website, with the black base colour and three key images. The face of the main character is illuminated by a flame, with the island image and picture of the DVD placed below it. The photos have blurred edges to highlight the unknown elements within the film, and the colour us is dark and cold, including blues and blacks. The website is easy to navigate with key links and information placed in the centre of the site. 

9-Frame Analysis of Black Swan

A spotlight shines on a ballerina, dressed in white - showing us that she will soon be established as the main character. the white signifies that she is regarded as pure, a virgin and clean, whilst the ballet pose not only shows what type of performance she is performing, but also that she is incredibly professional, too.

 

The film has been selected by the Toronto and Venice film festivals, as shown via the use of logos with big, capitalised text which contrasts with the dark, black - bird-like feathered background. we later find this out to be because the main character turns into the Black Swan in the performance. the journey from white to black shows that she is turning from being pure and innocent to being evil, possessed and scary.

 

 

In this shot, we see Natalie Portman, who acts the main role, smiling almost with a bit of pain inside her or that she is a bit confused. She has just been given the lead role in Swan Lake and is probably a bit scared, too. Later, we find out that there is some sort of romance between the owner of the play and Natalie Portman's character. 

 

Again, the use of black feathers is slightly unnerving as you still don't know why they're there and what bird they're from. Black-feathered birds are often thought of as crows or ravens, both of whom signify death. so, 'what will happen?' is what you end up asking. the director is also mentioned as the director of past works, The Wrestler and Requiem For a Dream - this could gain extra fans of those movies, if they decided they didn't like it before seeing that a well-acclaimed director would be directing it.

 A female character (played by Mila Kunis) appears, dressed in black and declares that she is to be the understudy. This shakes Natalie Portman's character up and eventually it drives her insane, psychologically. It is interesting to know that Mila Kunis' character is dressed in black, almost as if she is bad or evil, yet we learn later in the show that she is normal, with Natalie Portman's mind playing tricks on her.



 

This love scene seems very forceful from the male character, yet, as we know, he is the owner of the play - so he is using that to his advantage. The lead female character seems reluctant to be romanced and seduced by the man, yet in the film we are told she quite fancies him.

 

This shot shows the beginning of Natalie Portman's character turning on her, via the use of a mirror, cleverly mimicking her until she stops, back to the mirror, and the reflection turns around and smiles, menacingly, whilst she pants and her eyes are teary. Obviously this shows that she is sad and worried, yet we are not sure if it's psychological or not, despite the mirrored-reflection turning around on her, which isn't possible. It also hints that this could be based on a demon-like side to her.

 

My favourite shot is of a broken ballerina, almost mocking Natalie Portman's main character as she finally got the role she wanted, yet let her mind get carried away with itself and not focussed on her job. It is certainly a reference to how she may have thrown away everything, with her apparent psychological barriers.

She pulls out a feather out of her skin and looks at it with teary, bloodshot eyes - almost prompting us to think she has a psychological problem, and reminds us of schizophrenia as if it's someone telling her what to do, despite being asked not to scratch her back earlier, by an elderly character, who we know is her mum, from the movie.

Shutter Island 9 Frame Analysis

Silent Witness - In a Lonely Place (Narrative Inspiration)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03qgk91 

When we decided on having a kidnapping narrative, we began researching different media texts to gain some inspiration and knowledge of what we can include. I watched this TV programme on BBC1 which allowed me to see how particular scenes were captured and what makes the genre clear. For example, there was a great amount of dark, dimmed lighting  in to order to build the atmosphere. When the kidnapping took place, there was a lot of fast, quick paced shots in order to add suspense and tension. We will ensure that we include these aspects in our film trailer.

9 Frame Structure Analysis - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Textual Analysis - The Lovely Bones Poster

Director: Peter Jackson
Genre: Thriller, Drama, Fantasy
Lead Actors: Rachel Weisz, Mark Wahlberg and Saorise Ronan

COLOUR:

The female character is shown primary bright colours which signify her innocence and young age which could also be used to connote pureness. The lighting around the character is high key lighting which also connotes the idea that she is innocent and naive.

The male character is in dark grey and black tones which connotes that he is the evil character in the narrative as well as hiding his identity which connotes that perhaps the character himself is unaware of his true identity which is common in thriller genres. The dark tones also connote that he is sinister and menacing which automatically makes the audience against his character.
The lighting on the poster clearly seperates the two characters which create binary opposition of the innocent female vs the sinister male.

IMAGES:

The girl is positioned as if she is in the clouds or the clouds are surrounding her which connotes that she is dead and has gone to heaven but still watching the living world. The male character is greater in size and taller than the female which suggests authority and power over the innocent victim as well as his dark inntentions towards the victim. The girl is positioned on the right in the clouds which connotes that she is 'on God's right hand', which also suggests that the film will be about the death of the child. The lighting of the two sections in the poster also connote that the living is a dark, dangerous place where as heaven is a happy and safe place.

TEXT:

The film title is positioned more towards the female which suggests that she is the main character in the narrative. The directors name is above the title so the audience will also see this clearly, will be able to recognize his name from previous work. The text 'DECEMBER' stands out due to its colouring and size compared to the rest of the text so the audience understand when the film will be out in cinemas. 'The story of a life and everything that came after' suggests that the narrative will be about the girls life whilst she is living and then that she has died whilst carrying the narrative of what happens after her death. This is to interest the audience and intrigue them into watching the film by giving them hints of the narrative.

Settings and Locations in Previous Thrillers Trailers

The settings and locations used in The Call are..

1. The boot of a car
2. An estranged house
3. Under a bed
4.  Basement
5. Upstairs/Bedroom

The settings and locations used in Shuttle Island are..

1. 'Restricted Area'
2. On a Boat
3. Prison cell
4. 'Haunted' buildimg
5. Empty large room
6. Isolated Area

The settings and locations used in Pyscho are..

1. The shower
2. An estranged house
3. Wood area/Forest
4. A Motel
5. 'Haunted' House

The settings and locations used in Prisoners are..

1. Forest
2. Bathroom
3. Rundown House
4. Basement
5. Empty Surroundings

Textual Analysis - Cloverfield

Textual Analysis - Shutter Island Poster

Textual Analysis - Shutter Island Trailer

              

A key theme in this trailer is that the protagonist is mentally ill which is common on psychological thrillers. The trailer shows criminals locked away whilst the protagonist calls them 'criminally insane' which reinforces the dominant ideology in the film. The camera shots position the audience against the criminals by making the audience see them in the prison and not in the cell with the criminals as well as using a high angle shot to position the audience to be looking down on the criminals which allows the audience to interact with the film by putting them in the protagonists point of view as well connoting authority and positioning of the characters in binary opposition.

Establishing shots are used on the ship and the island to allow the audience to understand the location and settings. The colour of the island is brown and dull which connotes a dead and unliving compared to bright colours which would suggest alive and thriving. The use of quick cuts of shots of the protagonist and point of view shots suggest that the audience will be following where he goes as well as suggesting that he is the main character of the film. The use of the long shot of the room with handcuffs connotes torture and the surrounding dark lighting connotes exclusion from the world (living). 

The mise-en-scene denotes what time the film is set in, for example the costumes of the characters are old fashioned. Extreme close-ups are used on the badge and the gun so Mise-en-scene is used to connote authority and violence. The  shot when Leonardo Di Caprio is looking through the bars is allowing the audience to see through his point of view. The editing used to create a white flash jump whilst the diegetic sound of a scream suggests that the genre is a psychological thriller.

The distributor logo at the beginning of the trailer which conforms to the codes and conventions of film trailers. From the beginning up until half way through the trailer there is a chronological narrative, then a series of rapid shots of various key moments are used, this creates a series of enigma codes which entice the audience to watch the film. The old lady who signals ‘stay silent’ to the protagonist portrays hints of the supernatural and also psychological aspects.

The audience expects the doctors to be helpful but the diegetic speech of the doctor 'going somewhere?' to the protagonist suggests that he is a 'baddie' and this is also created through the fast cut and non diegetic screetching sound. The trailer gives the idea that narrative of movie involves the protagonist finding out the truth.

Themes in Psychological Thrillers

Watching the psychological films Black Swan, Shutter Island and Pyscho I understand what themes make up a psychological thriller film.

Psycho: Case Study

Out Of The Furnace Film Trailer Analysis

Out Of The Furnace (Starring Christian Bale)

Trailer

It helps the audience to empathise with the character, he appears to have lost a brother whom is killed by a violent, unknown man. It also appears to be a tale of revenge as an old man tells Christian Bale’s character that he “only has one chance” at facing this man.

Written Text

The slogan, "For Hope, For Family, For Justice" is a clear indicator that somehow, someone will get their revenge, however, it will be justified.

Academy Award winners Christian Bale and Forest Whitaker along with Woody Harrelson, Casey Affleck and Willem Dafoe are the stars of the movie. Fans of these stars will want to see the movie. Although, Christian Bale gets the whole screen to a picture of him and his name in slightly bigger writing - showing he is the biggest and main star. With the director, Scott Cooper, it references that he was the director of Crazy Heart rather than his name, which means that if you've seen or know of Crazy Heart , you'll want to watch the film, too.

It has no specific date as the it only says “this Fall" and "Coming Soon”, almost urging you to look out for posters or articles about when it ail eventually come out. With the last two pictures, the clips hint that the film is based in a small, industrial town and we know from the accents of the characters that the film is based in America, too.

There is also the credits at the end of the film, which states which members of the production team, cast and other important members of staff as well as the companies that are involved in producing and marketing the film as well as any other associated companies. 

Using social media to create a 'buzz' is becoming evermore useful as lots of different people can talk about or recommend the film, thus inadvertently advertising the film for the production company, without being paid. Out Of The Furnace uses the hash tag '#OutOfTheFurnace' so that people can search and see what other people are tweeting, posting on Facebook or Instagram-ing.

 Spoken Language

“You work too much” says Christian Bale’s on-screen wife, to him. Why? (enticing the audience to want to go to watch the movie and find out why he works too much and what his job is).

“You’ll only get one shot with this guy” says an old man to Christian bale’s character. (What happens, is he victorious or not? Again, this is another piece of filming which makes you want to watch the movie).

Moving Images

It appears to be a normal American town, something we can’t relate to, unless we’ve visited or lived in such a place, before. However, it makes you feel like you might be able to identify with the characters as it (maybe) could be applied to your town.

Sound Effects

Gun shots and punches help to tell you it’s an action movie, but may also be a thriller movie too, as it's fast-paced which helps the audience to get into the movie idea quicker. The emotive lyrics and dark colours give the audience an idea that the film will be emotional.

Music

One clear lyric is the phrase “Release Me” (from Release Me by Pearl Jam) which seems to imply that Christian Bale wants to be released on a revenge mission to avenge the death of his brother. The story is very much centred around Christian Bale's character, which shows that he is the person that will be "released", and from the trailer, we realise he will be released to avenge the death of his brother.

Additional Info.

• The tag line suggests the genre of the film as being a thriller because you want to see what is "For Hope, For Family, For Justice".

• The pictures above, suggest the film will be set in an industrial town, but somewhere normal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw0qH34cbRE