Textural analysis of a film poster

GROWN UPS

Grown Ups is the 2010 comedic phenomenon directed by Dennis Dugan produced by Columbia starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James and David Spade. The narrative follows the reunion of five men who were on the high school basketball team and following the passing of their old basketball coach the men decide to get their families together for a reunion for the Fourth of July weekend. 

The film poster for Grown Ups is taken from a low angle which allows the audience to see the actors' full bodies and it also allows the audience to see the background of the picture which provides context on location and setting. The use of a low angle is usually connoting an empowering and intimidating character. However, in this context it is to make the audience think that they are actually going down the slide and that the fun is going to come right at them in a splash! The use of this camera angle allows the audience to establish that the men are at a water park and that they are having a lot of fun. This allows the audience to establish the setting and location of he film and it provides the information that there is going to be a scene at the waterpark and it is going to involve the men all going down the water slide together.

The use of the bright light and colour also connotes the element of fun and excitement and it also links in with the genre and the narrative of the film and the fact that the men act like kids which provides an element of comedy throughout the film. The use of the bright colours denotes happiness and joy and also the use of bright blue sky suggests that the film is set somewhere where the weather is good and that they have a big waterpark. The lighting works harmoniously with the connotation that the mood is going to be very light and that it is going to be a fun and enjoyable film to watch. The colour connotations used in this poster make it stand out and grab the audience's attention. The use of the blues show the connection to water and the waterpark within the narration, the yellow is connoting happiness and the sun which again is a happy image and the use of the red for the release date makes it stand out. The use of the primary colours which children learn early on also connotes that this is a children's film and that it is aimed at children and families and so the colours used are recognisable for children and bright to attract their attention.

The use of the image of the yellow rubber rings denotes that the narrative will involve a water park ride and also the use of the semiotics connote that there will be an element of excitement and thrill due to the image of a waterpark being portrayed in the film poster. The use of the splashing water suggests an element of unpredictability shown in the behaviour of the water and this is mirrored in the behavioural characteristics shown in the men. A waterslide and waterpark is usually conotated as a place where children and young people have fun and hang out. However, the audience are provided with hints as to what the narrative will entail with the fact that these middle aged men are going on the waterslide and acting like children and having the time of their lives which provides a genre connotation of a comedy aimed at families. The image is very appealing and appropriate for families and it is an easily established image even for young children.

The use of the highly animated facial expressions connote that the film genre is a comedy as the characters are laughing and smiling and look like they are having an amazing time, although there is also an element of fear which is usually shown through the facial expression of someone on a waterslide experiencing the thrill of the ride. Their facial expressions and body language suggest that they are having a great time although they are trying to hang onto the inflatables in order to stay on the ride.

The fact that they are all on the slide together also connotes that they are not following the rules and that they are partaking in some dangerous and unadvisable behaviour which also provides some connotations as to what the narrative will entail and what the characters are like. This isn't the behaviour you usually see from a father who is trying to set a good example for his children and so this provides a connotation as to what kind of fathers these characters are and also the kinds of lessons they are teaching their kids; this also provides a genre connotation for a comedy aimed at families. Also the character positioning used in the film poster also conotes the status and importance of each of the characters. The fact that Adam Sandler's and Kevin James' characters are positioned closer to the camera than David Spade's character conotes that they are going to be more important characters in the film and that their character will have a higher status than the other characters.

The use of costume, hair and makeup also provide the audience with information about the individual characters. All of the characters are wearing swimming shorts and a t-shirt/rash vest which denotes that they are at the waterpark and that they are partaking in the activities and enjoying the rides that the park has to offer. The use of the costumes ties in nicely with the setting and location and also the use of semiotics and props. The hair and makeup is natural and suggests the age of the characters; fathers and middle aged men.

The use of the tag line,'Boys will be boys... some longer than others' also provides information for the audience about the type of film it is going to be and also works harmoniously with the title of the film. The tag line sums up the film and also supports the image and the semiotics used. The fact that the actors in this film are well known A list actors helps to make this a good film poster and also will attract many fans and was a very clever technique used on the part of the media institution to increase the audience numbers by using well known/ famous actors. Also these actors are well known for portraying comedic roles and are in many other comedic films and so audiences associate these actors with comedy and this also works as a genre connotation and helps the audience to identify the genre of the film and they know it is going to be funny because of the great names featured in it.

Overall the use of the camera angle, mise-en-scene and connotations help to make this a great film poster and also serve well in providing the audience with enough information about the film to intrigue them but it doesn't give too much away and lets the audience know that this is going to be a hilarious film, fun for all the family to enjoy and definitely worth the watch. 

Camera Lesson 2

We had our second camera lesson today in which we learned about the 180 degree rule and how to shoot sequences. We used the Sony FS100 camera in this lesson to do this and it was quite a challenging yet interesting and enjoyable lesson.

We started off by learning and understanding about the 180 degree rule and how to put it into practice. The 180 degree rule states that you should imagine a line separating the camera and the actor. The actor remains on one side of the line and the camera remains on the other side of the line and the actor can move anywhere in the space as long as they don't cross that line and the same principal applies for the camera. As soon as the camera goes onto the other side of that line the sides on which the actor enters, exits or stands is going to be the opposite to if that had remained on the original side of the line.

For example, if a character walks from the left side of the frame to the right side of the frame during the clip on one side of the line. When the camera moves to the other side of the line the actor will appear to move from the right to the left side of the frame. This can generate mistakes in shots and lead to the audience being confused due to the lack of continuity in the shot. 

We tried this principal out using a director, actor and a person who checks the continuity of the shot. This ensures that the different shots taken over a period of time will fit well together and there will be continuity to the scene which eliminates any confusion the audience might have about the location or character positioning in a scene.

After learning and practicing the principal of the 180 degree rule we then proceeded and started to create our own sequences keeping in mind this rule and the implications put in place to avoid the consequences of this rule from occurring.

My group used the Sony FS100 to shoot a scene where the actor moves from the left side of the frame and then when she is central of the frame she takes her phone out of her pocket, checks it, and then places it back in her pocket before continuing to walk until she exits the right side of the frame. This is a very simple sequence although there were careful precautions put in place to ensure the continuity of the scene and we used different camera angles to get different perspectives and we filmed multiple shots of the event occurring.

We were given a tip which was that you should always film for longer than you need because this makes it easier when editing the sequence as it is much easier to cut down a clip rather than elongate a very short clip. We also learned about the various commands and terminology used on set before a scene is shot. The director will start of by saying ‘quiet on set’ and this is to let every know that a clip is about to be filmed and that any background noise will interfere and could affect the success of the clip. The director will then say ‘camera rolling?’ which is aimed at the camera man and he will only respond with ‘rolling’ once he can clearly see in the view finder that the camera has begun to record and then the action can start. The director will then say ‘action’ and the recording will proceed.

We used many different camera angles and movements that we can later edit together into a sequence that has variations in the angles/perspectives the event is seen from. We used a close up of the girls' face to show her facial expression and this will help the audience gain a deeper insight into what the character is thinking and feeling. We then shot a close up of the phone to show the audience the context of the scene. We had to do this from an over the shoulder angle as the girl was facing profile to the camera. We had to make sure when filming this shot that we took  into account the 180 degree rule to ensure that we were still seeing the girl from the correct side and that the phone would be in the same had as it is in the previous shot. We also shot some mid long shots and long shots which show more of the actresses' body and show her moving across the space and also provide the audience with information on what she is wearing, where she is and how she walks which again give the audience a deeper insight into the character and context during the sequence.

We used what we had learnt from our previous camera lesson about how to set up the cameras and use them appropriately and effectively. We also used what we had learned about the different connotations behind the various different camera angles and movements in order to create an effect and diverse sequence.

Overall, I really enjoyed this camera lesson and it really helped me understand the differences between the Sony NX5, which I learned how to use last week, and the Sony FS100 which we used this week and how the different cameras work and how they differ from each other in terms of the angles and shots they can produce, the differences in the locations of the various features and also just generally how they are different as cameras. I now understand more about the 180 degree rule and I am looking forward to editing the sequence that we filmed today. 

Camera Lesson 1

Today, we had our first camera lesson where we learnt about the different types of cameras and how they operate and what they can do. We had previously learnt about the different camera angles and camera movements and so it was really interesting learning about how these are actually achieved and learning about the various bits of equipment and how to go about using them productively.

We were firstly introduced to the tripods and how to set them up. We had to take the tripod out of the bag and place it on the floor making sure that the florescent green dot was facing towards us. This ensured that the tripod was facing the correct way. We then had to set up the tripod by adjusting the heights of each of the legs. I didn't find this part too difficult and I was able to follow the instructions on how to adjust the legs individually ensuring that the tripod was set up correctly.

We then had to attach the panning arm to the tripod which would enable us to move the camera lens from one side to another; pan. 

We were then introduced to the three different types of camera which all had different features enabling different angles and movements. My group used the Sony NX5 camera which was a very professional looking camera with many features which appeared daunting at first but I soon adjusted to the new technology and by the end of the lesson I understood the basics of how to use the camera effectively and correctly.

We were then shown how to place the camera onto the grid on top of the camera properly and we did this by pushing in a small lever on the left hand side and then placing the camera on top of the grid and sliding it forward until the camera was in place. We then had to adjust a few things to ensure that the camera would stay in place and wouldn't tilt; move up or down whilst keeping the horizontal axis constant. This was quite difficult as I had to figure out how to make sure that the camera was slotting into the appropriate place on the grid and ensure that the camera would stay in place. It took me a few attempts to achieve this but I soon got there!

Following on from this we were shown how to place the battery in the camera and where the battery release button is situated on the camera. For the particular camera we were suing, the Sony NX5, you had to make sure that the arrow was facing the correct way (down) and that the metal bands were in the correct place to ensure that an electric current would form making the camera work. In order to get the battery into the correct place we had to place the battery into the slot making sure that it was going up and then push it down until it provided us with a satisfying click. I soon established that if you had done something correctly that the camera would respond with a satisfying click and this pleased me immensely! 

After correctly placing the battery in the camera we were able to turn the camera on by pressing down the small green button on the right hand side whilst turning the dial until the white mark matched up with the word 'on.' This was a very simple step and I feel like the location of the power on/off button was placed very well and was easy to find for someone who had previously never used this particular camera.

We then used the view finder to help us with the next step of learning about the focus, zoom, and exposure dials.  We had to turn the dials each way to figure out what they did and how this affected the shot. We were then given a tip which was that when trying to focus on something you should always zoom in all the way to the image then focus the lens on the image at that short focal length and then zoom out and it will be focused properly. This was a very useful tip as it helped me to realise that although the image appeared to be focused from the zoomed out angle, when you are zoomed in it can appear out of focus so you must always check that the image is focused from all focal lengths. Once we had worked with the zoom and focus dials we were introduced to the exposure dial which changed the amount of light intensity on the image. We had to figure out what exposure would best suit the image depending on the surroundings; in a studio or in daylight and how much light would be appropriate to show the image clearly.

This was then followed with making sure that the camera was balanced on the tripod and that the weight of the camera was evenly distributed across the tripod. We did this by adjusting a dial on the bottom of the tripod and as we did this we held onto the camera and moved it around until the bubble was in the circle shown on the right hand side of the camera. When the bubble was inside the circle this meant that the camera was balanced and so the horizontal axis would be accurate and exactly straight. In order to see the bubble and the circle there was a small light which was placed above the bubble/circle for convenience. I enjoyed this part of the process as it helped me to be precise and ensure accuracy when using a camera. We had to be very careful and this process involved us helping each other out, so one person would adjust the dial beneath the tripod and then tighten it when the bubble was in the correct pace and the other person would move the camera accordingly to ensure the bubble was inside the circle. This helped us to communicate together in order to achieve this and also helped us work together as a team.

Following on from this, we learnt about the white balance feature of the camera. The white balance ensures that the colour balance is correct in order to make the image appear natural by adjusting the amount of light. We used a white reflector to do this, which is essentially just a large white circle which the camera can focus on and can be used to achieve the white balance of the image. However, you could use any white object to achieve this, such as a piece of blank white paper. The white balance is achieved by pressing a button on the camera and allowing the camera to figure out how much light is needed in order to make the image appear natural. The white balance is different depending on your surroundings and can make a impact on how other colours are seen on the screen. The white balance varies depending on whether you are in the studio with artificial lights or outside in nature with the natural light of the sun. Underneath the white balance button on the camera there is a little switch which enables the camera man to switch between white balance settings without having to repeat the process of using the reflector. This is particularly useful when filming changes from in a studio setting to outside and it enables the camera man to save time and also it allows the light balance to be effective and appropriate for each location.

Going into this lesson I was a bit apprehensive as I had never used any of the equipment before. But I felt like I had achieved something when the lesson finished as although it was all very daunting, I just got myself stuck into it and had a go as that was the only way I was going to learn how to use it. I thoroughly enjoyed using the technology and I feel as though I understand how a camera works now and I also learned a lot of camera terminology in this lesson. I am looking forward to using the cameras again in the near future and also learning more about the different features that the cameras possess. 

Comparing and Analyising 3 Opening Sequences to Films refering to camera work

Into the Woods

The 2014 musical fantasy film 'Into the Woods' is directed by Rob Marshal and was adapted for the screen from Stephen Sondheim's Broadway phenomenon. It stars Meryl Streep, James Corden and Emily Blunt and begins with a high angle shot of Emily Blunt; the baker's wife looking down at some beans and the camera then tilts up into a close up shot of the baker's wife in the bakery. This gives the initial impression that she is insignificant compared to her surroundings and the use of this camera angle reflects her status in society as the baker's wife. The connotation behind this image is that she is low down in the social hierarchy and the use of the image of her grabbing the beans symbolises her yearn to reach for a high place in society and her need for a better life. This then goes into a Mid Long shot which is taken from above the knee and this not only allows us to see what the characters are wearing but this wide angle also gives the audience context and the image shows the location of the scene. The denotation of this image is that they are in the bakery and they are quite poor because their clothes are dirty and not very lavish or expensive looking. This image also tells the audience what time period the film is set in which again gives context.

The use of the zoom when Anna Kendrick, who plays Cinderella runs up the the gates and then the camera zooms in closer her face allows the audience to see her facial expression portraying anguish and determination. The use of close up not only allows the audience to read her facial expression but also conotates that she is the protagonist and the good character and so the use of this camera angle brings you closer to her character not only physically but emotionally and so allows the audience to be on her side. The use of the zoom also works with the use of tracking which allows us to see deeper into her facial expression and also keeps her central, allowing us to focus on her.

The next camera angle/movement which I thought was effective was when little red riding hood moves towards the camera through a gap in the trees. This provides a long shot as we can see the full length of her body but it also serves to give the audience context as to where the character is and gives them information about the new location. We also see how small she is compared with her surrounding which denotes her vulnerability.

The use of the cutting between scenes allows the audience to follow each of the characters journeys although it also creates a sense of confusion as you don't know where they are or where they are going. The camera angles and movements used in the different short images suggest an element of the characters being inferior in comparison to their surrounding. The use of colour, such as the darkness of the woods and the greens of the trees and the nature surrounding them conotates a sense of them being with nature and  a sense of danger through the use of the dark colours which conveys an element of mystery.

The use of the extreme long shot at the end of the opening sequence gives the audience the depth and scale of the situation and also allows them to see the characters coming together on their journey although the audience is aware that they characters are unaware of the other characters being near them. The use of this shot conotates that they are all oblivious to what is going on around them and there is a suggestion that this could lead to trouble later on. This sense of impeding danger is connotated through the use of the sunlight coming through when the camera tilts up above the trees and the use of the colours of yellow and orange are suggestive of a warning symbol through the use of warm colours and they are connotating a 'heated' conformation later on in the film. This works harmoniously with the use of the establishing shot at the end of the opening sequence which gives a sense of scale of the situation and also provides context of the location of the scene. The establishing shot shows a mass of tress and forest landscape from a high angle which also conotates the inferiority of the characters compared with the overpowering feel of the forest and surroundings. The connotation behind the establishing shot is that the characters are so small and insignificant in comparison to the overwhelming power created by the forest landscape.

The Lion King

The opening sequence to this epic Disney musical animation film aimed at families and young children begins with an establishing shot of the sunrise in the desert. The use of this camera angle gives context and informs the audience about the location of the scene. The use of the reds and yellows create a sense of warmth and happiness which is appealing to a younger audience. This works hand in hand with the image of the waterfall which is very peaceful and connotates the start of a new life which works well with the title of he song used in this scene; the circle of life. There is a very nostalgic feeling to this scene and the use of the extreme long shot of the waterfall gives depth and scale to the location and also provides more context for the audience.

The use of the establishing shot of the giraffe looking over the landscape creates the connotation of the giraffe being a superior figure looking down onto what is happening in the surroundings the use of the high angle makes the other animals in the distance appear insignificant compared to the scale of the landscape.

The use of the image of the sun reflecting in the water before the zebras jump into the water is a very comforting and comedic image for children as it shows the excitement of the animals which will then be imitated by the children watching. The connotation of the sun reflecting in the water is symbolising a new start and it a very symbolic image.

Another effective camera angle/movement used is the use of the point of view shot of the various animals running together which creates a unity and connection between the different animals and is symbolic of the friendship the animals have together and this again is a very happy and comforting image. The use of the point of view shot allows the audience to feel part of what is happening. This camera angle also helps the audience feel connected with the characters and this can be very effective in allowing the audience to feel involved with the situation. This then goes into an establishing shot of the animals running towards a large rock on the hill and this creates a unity between the animals and also establishes where the scene takes place and gives the audience context. The use of various colours really brings alive the image and creates a sense of happiness and enjoyment and also the use of the landscape and animals creates a sense of being with nature and is very pleasing for the audience. This works harmoniously with the point of view angle which is used when the bird flier over the establishing shot towards the rock which the other animals are running towards. this again allows the audience to feel part of what is happening and also makes the audience feel like for that particular moment in the opening sequence that they are a bird following the other bird and so this is a very pleasing and nostalgic image created.

The use of the over the shoulder shot of Mufasa looking down at the bird shows the interaction between the characters and although it is commonly used with dialogue in this case you can see the non verbal communication between the characters. The fact that the bird bows in Mufasa's presence suggests how important Mufasa is and how superior his status is compared with the of the bird. This works well with the superiority of the baboon shown when her walks through the crowd of animals and they all bow to him and the use of the bright light following him shows his superiority and connotates how he is looked upon highly by the other animals and he must have high status. The use of the camera angle at this point makes it appear that the camera a is one of the animals bowing to the baboon which again conveys a sense of the audience being a part of the action of the scene and creates a sense of belonging.

The use of the close up of Symba allows the audience to see his facial expression and also having him in his mother's arms shows how small he is in comparison to her. The use of the image of the three lions together shows the family unit though a mid shot angle which allows us to see their facial expressions and also allows the audience to feel a connection with the charters. The use of the image of the family unit is very symbolic and ties in nicely with the song title and the body language sued by the characters shows a sense of protection and nurture. This is a very comforting image to the young audience and the use of the warm colours supports this well.

The use of the low angle showing the baboon makes the Baboon appearing imposing and overpowering and makes him seem bigger than he is and this is strongly contrasted with the use of the high angle when Symba is playing with the rattle and this is to show how small Symba is in comparison to the rattle. The connotation of this is that he is very small but has so much potential and how new life is very precious and everything appears so big in comparison to the small baby lion.

The use of the high angle and establishing shot used when the baboon is just about to show the rest of the animals what the new baby looks like creates a sense of large the scale is and how many animals there are waiting to see the new baby. The use of this angle also shows how small the animals are in comparison to their surroundings and how this reflects their status as characters. The connotation of this image is that from a higher angle everyone looks smaller than they are from a normal angle and how all the animals appear as equals from this high angle which suggests a unity and a sense of equality in the community of the animals.

There is a very poignant moment which is when the baboon lifts Symba into the air to show him to the rest of the community. This is a very happy and pleasant moment and the use of the low angle shows how tiny Symba is and this shows how inferior he is in comparison to the other animals but also this shows how important he is through the fa t that he is raised into the air and all the animals celebrate how wonderful he is and this is an connotation how how important and special a new life form is. We then see just how special Symba is when the white light from the clouds comes through and points at Symba which conates that he is something holy and special and how he is almost worshiped by the other animals. this is reiterated when they all bow down to him which again shows how special and unique he is.

The use of the zoom out leading into an establishing shot gives a scale and depth to the scene and also establishes where the scene is and gives context to the audience. It also allows the audience to appreciate just how seminal this moment is and how important Symba is going to be as a character later on in the film.

The Fault in our Stars

The phenomenon 'The Fault in our Stars' is a romantic drama directed by Josh Boone and is based on the novel by John Green. One of the camera angles used in the opening sequence is an over the shoulder shot showing Hazel laughing this is a pleasing image as it shows that even though she has many struggles in the course of her life, she can still manage to laugh at the good moments. Te use of the over the shoulder shot shows her reaction to the other character and shows her facial expression during the interaction with another character. This shot is used with a tracking shot which then goes towards her face and then over her shoulder into a different clip this allows the audience to get a close up shot of her facial expression and also allows them to get closer with the character not only physically but emotionally too.

This works well with the use of the high angle and close up of her face when she is lying on the ground looking up at the stars. The camera is placed above her which suggests her inferiority and conotates how she is so insignificant in the big scheme of things and this works well with the fact that she is looking up at the stars as it is almost as though she is looking up and searching for a better life and she is looking up and aspiring to be something better than she is and the audience see this and appreciate this connotation through the use of the high angle shot. The close up of her face allows the audience to connect with her and feel close to her emotionally and also see her subtle facial expressions which convey what she is thinking and how she is feeling which helps the audience to understand her situation.

The use of the dialogue over the blackout is a connotation of how life can be extinguished so fast and this links very well with the story the film is conveying. The dialogue used over the top is very personal and allows the audience to connect with the character on an emotional level. When the camera is on a close up there is a vice over of her voice saying 'this is the truth' and then when there is a black out she says 'sorry.' This allows the audience to empathise with her character and we understand how she is ashamed of her story and who she is which gives the audience a deeper insight into the kind of character she is and how she views herself and her life.

The next camera angle used is a low angle which is just a close up of her swinging her legs and this denotes boredom and also we can see in this image that there is an oxygen tank which suggest that something is wrong with her health which again creates a sense of empathy for the character. This then cuts into an extreme close up of her face where we can see the tubing attached to her face allowing her to breath which again shows how she is in a precarious situation and her health is at risk and so the audience empathise with her even more. The use of the extreme close up also allows the audience to see her facial expression and especially here eyes in which we can read her facial expression to understand what she is thinking. Right from the very beginning of the opening sequence we know that she is the protagonist and that she is unwell and so we as the audience are on her side and support her throughout and this makes us want to know what is wrong and how it will pan out in the end.

The next camera angle shows her mother and a doctor discussing her medical situation and this is taken from a mid shot angle allowing us to see their facial expression but also we get to see what they are wearing which allows the denotation that she is a doctor and it also allows us to see where they are; the medical centre, which provides context for the audience. The next camera angle shows Hazel sitting on a medical bed in a medical robe and with equipment usually found in a hospital surrounding her. This denotes that she is in a medical centre and that she is unwell. This can all be seen through the use of the mid shot of hazel allowing us as the audience to see all of this and establish what is going on in the scene and understand more about her medical situation. 

The opening sequence to this emotional roller coaster of a film really establishes the mood and the emotions felt by the characters within the first few minutes of the film. The use of the various camera angles and movements allow the audience to see the surrounding in order to gain a deeper understanding of the context of the film but also allow us to see deeper into the facial expressions shown by the characters and have an emotional connection with the characters through the use of the close up shots.

Comparison and Analysis

These three opening sequences are all very similar in some respects yet so different in other respects. Both 'Into the woods' and 'The Lion King' use a very specific soundtrack in order to create atmosphere and mood. The soundtrack used in 'Into the woods' is very suspenseful as it uses different dynamics and there are moments when the music and the image really work well together such as the music dies down when the characters are looking around then when they are wandering in the woods and this creates suspense although this contrasts with the fact that the music builds up near the end when they are all together wandering around the woods and this creates a sense of anticipation as to whether they will find each other in the woods. The soundtracks used are very effective in working well with images shown in order to convey the mood and what the characters are thinking/feeling. The use of the soundtrack is used similarly in 'The lion king' as there are moments when the music really heightened and builds up and this is mirrored in the images being shown such as when Symba is raised into the air there is a big climax in the music as this is a seminal moment and both the music and the actions shown in the image convey this.

The use of colour is also used well in all of the opening sequences to create atmosphere and mood. The use of the dark colours used in 'Into the woods' and 'The fault in our stars' create a sense of impeding danger and suspense whereas this contrasts with the bright, cheerful and positive colours used in 'The Lion King' to create a sense of happiness and this works well with the mirroring of the song title with the idea of a new start and the brightness and happiness that comes with a new start.

There are also many similarities and differences in the use of the camera angles and movements used in each of the opening sequences. All of the opening sequences seem to use a close up shot at some point to allow the audience to connect with the character and also so that they can see their facial expression which helps them to understand what the character is thinking or how they are feeling. Into the woods and The Lion King both use an establishing shot to give context and inform the audience about the location of where the scene takes place. Whereas the opening scene for The fault in our stars only goes as far as a mid shot so that we can see above their stomach and see their facial expression yet we don't see any full body shots or shots of the surroundings or location.

There are many connotations seen in the opening scenes and all of the films show connotations which help the audience to understand the deeper meaning behind the images and also to try and understand the characters and their situations more. The connotation behind The Fault in our stars is that we are all inferior compared with the stars and the world around us and that our stories never end how we want them to. Whereas the connotation behind The Lion King's opening sequence is that Symba is going to be a very important character later on in the film and that is because of the denotation that all of the animals worshiped and bowed down to him showing his superiority. This contrasts with the connotation behind Into the Woods which is that all of the characters are on mission to find something but they are unaware of the other people in the woods who are also on a mission to find something.

Overall, all of these opening sequences show many denotations and connotations which are useful to the audience in order for them to find out more about the plot and the characters and also the clever use of the camera angles aid these denotations and connotations and allow the audience to be intrigued by the narrative and want to continue watching and find out what happens next and how the story evolves over the course of the film. 

O

What's in a thriller?

The film 'Inheritance' appears to be based around a terrorist group attempting to recruit or inherit new members into the group. We can see this through their relaxed attitude which makes the audience assume that this appears to be routine to them and they know what they are doing and where they are going. We know that they are terrorists due to the fact that they are using the white masks smeared with black paint to hide their true identity.

The opening sequence builds tension by cutting between scenes and the director has chosen to use different music depending on whether they are inside or outside of the car. Another way in which tension is built through this opening sequence is through the limited dialogue. The only dialogue said throughout the opening sequence apart from the muttering in Spanish heard from the driver, is ‘Get your hands on the f**king steering wheel’ which is shouted by one of the men in the masks. The use of the expletive creates tension as it shows his aggressive manner and he says this whilst holding up a gun to the window of the driver seat. The use of the limited dialogue creates a lot of tension in the opening sequence because we are unaware of what the characters are thinking or feeling because they do not express this in their dialogue.

Another element of the opening scene which heightens tension is the amount of cutting between scenes. This is confusing for the audience which creates an element of unpredictability. This works harmoniously with the use of different eerie music used when cutting between scenes. This creates a tense atmosphere and shifts the mood into one of suspense and tension. The scenes where the terrorists are holding the guns outside is intercut with the shots of the driver and the protagonist; the young boy tied up in the back of the car.

The filmmakers have used the technique of using a soundtrack that creates an eerie atmosphere which will create tension and produce an element of mystery. The filmmakers have also used close up shots of guns to create tension as it again produces an element of unpredictability and also guns are usually denotated with death and danger which again heightens tension. The close up shots of the masks also create tension because their identity is hidden and therefore this produces an element of suspense and makes the audience weary of the situation. The filmmakers have also decided to use the technique of having the camera inside the van and inside the car at times so that the audience feel part of the scene and so are intimidated and feel threatened by the tension produced by the characters.

The clever use of the blackout and sudden stop of the car also create tension within the thriller because they produce an element of transience which makes the audience precautious, but also intrigued. This works hand in hand with the fact that the music crescendos at this point which creates tension as it shocks the audience and the use of the sound effect of a car screeching to a stop is used which provides context but also serves as a shock tactic for the audience because it is unnerving to them.   

There are three men who are the terrorists who wear dark clothing and the whiter masks smeared in black paint. The use of the dark colours for the costumes creates tension as black and generally dark colours provide a connotation for evil, mystery, danger and death. We are meant to feel threatened and intimidated by the men in the masks due to the fact that they are holding guns which implies danger and also the fact that they are wearing masks implies that they want to hide their identity which creates tension through the creation of mystery. The use of the aggressive body language possessed in the masked men creates tension as it makes the audience feel more intimidated by them and also adds a sense of power and superiority to the men. This close up camera angle showing the masked man and a gun is very uncomfortable for the audience and it makes them feel threatened because of how close they are to the character’s face. Although they are unable to read his facial expression due to the fact that he is masked.

However, this contrasts with the character of the young boy tied up in the back of the car with tape over his mouth. The audience are supposed to feel sympathy for him because of his vulnerable state in his precarious situation. His body language denotes that he is scared and trying to escape from the torture and this again creates tension as the audience don’t know why he is in this state.

The other character was the driver of the car with the young boy in the back. The driver appeared sullen and neutral which to me indicated that he was used to this and it appeared to be routine for him and therefore it doesn't come as a shock to him. This made me wonder whether he was in on the plan as he remains still throughout the opening sequence and doesn't even flinch when a gun is held to his head from outside the window. The driver also appears emotionless which again creates tension as we don't know what he is thinking because of his neutral facial expression and so this puts the audience on edge because they can't read his facial expression. However, in a short clip during the opening sequence filmed from inside the car you can hear the driver mutter some words in Spanish. This makes him stand out and creates tension because stereotypically the foreigner is the villain and so this makes the audience loose trust in him. This creates tension because his stillness is unnerving for the audience and it makes them think that something very shocking is going to happen. We as an audience also learn that the other group must be international and therefore this denotes an evil nature which ultimately creates more tension as the battle/conflict over the possession of the boy is international. We are meant to feel confused by how the driver is reacting as it isn't the usual reaction you would expect from the scenario. We feel this early on because we instantly see when we are first introduced to the driver that he is emotionless and still and so we are meant to feel uncomfortable about his reaction and unsure as to what his objective is.

The dark clothing worn by all the characters is contrasted with the daylight that is seen when the terrorists exit the white van. The produces tension because daylight is usually denotated as being safe and welcoming. However, this is sharply contrasted with the use of masks and dark clothing which create tension because they create mystery and a sense of suspicion. The white van creates a threatening image because white vans are usually associated with kidnapping and they are very stereotypical of portraying something bad. The use of the white van again creates tension because it is denoted as a negative image suggesting danger.

The masks worn by the terrorists are white but have black smears across the top and this symbolises how although these men are doing a bad thing they are actually trying to protect the young boy. The black symbolises how their innocence and purity is being robbed from them and this is the connotation behind this image. We soon realise that the masked men are actually trying to protect the young boy and they are actually the good guys which reduces the amount of tension and we feel more at ease knowing that they are trying to protect rather than capture the young boy. The use of the close up camera angle of one of the masked men before he puts his mask on allows us to see the subtle changes in facial expression and also allows us to understand what he is thinking through these changes in facial expression. The denotation of him being the only member who has his mask off indicates that he is the leader of the group which gives him status. The use of this close up heightens tension because we see his unmasked face and therefore we can see his objective of saving the boy although at first he appears to be angry and aggressive.

Given the tone and the limited language used in the opening scene I think that the rest of the plot will follow the terrorist group trying to pinpoint the location of the boy they are trying to save from being inherited/kidnapped by another group. I think that the young boy could have possibly been captured by a different group and his family who have high status and wealth were being asked for a large ransom but the terrorist men were trying to protect him from being 'inherited' into the other group. I think that there will be more tension built in the actual plot around whether he will be saved and protected by the terrorist group or whether he will end up being inherited by the other group. I think that the opening sequence is a flashback and at the end of the opening sequence it goes back to the beginning of the plot and tells you how they get to the point shown in the opening sequence. 

My Favourite Film

BOYHOOD

I can honestly say that I have never seen a film that quite captured me and transported me like Richard Linklater's Boyhood did. Richard Linklater created a story in 2002 about a six year old boy and his family and this project continued for the next twelve years culminating in a 'spellbinding' film which has made 'cinematic history.' The drama was released on the 15th of August 2014 in the USA by IFC productions and Detour Filmproduction and once it reached cinemas critics were immediately calling it 'A masterpiece, that isn't quite like anything else in the history of cinema.' (Andrew O'Hehir, Salon)

The groundbreaking story following the intricate stages of growing up focuses on the main character Mason played by Ellar Coltrane and then is closely followed by the development of his family members including his sister Samantha played by Lorelei Linklater, his mother who is played by Patricia Arquette and finally his father played by Ethan Hawke.  The story is told through the eyes of the protagonist Mason and as an audience we witness him growing up on the screen before our eyes. There are snippets from all the different poignant moments in the family's life including birthdays and the children's graduation, but what really captured me was how important and special the moments in-between were and how transcendent they were. The film could be described as a 'nostalgic time capsule' which is truly exhilarating.

Patricia Arquette won the oscar for best performance by an actress in a supporting role for her role as Mason's mother and the film won golden globes for best motion picture -drama and Richard Linklater won best director-motion picture. The film was also nominated for many other awards including BAFTA's and Screen Actors Guild awards.

What makes this film one of my favourites is that despite not having one of the most captivating or intricate plots or stories it is relatable to so many people on so many different levels. Due to the fact that it deals with subject matters including coming of age, domestic abuse and growing up and is also set in a twelve year time frame it allows itself to be relatable and enables the audience to make a connection with the plot and the characters, You could say that technically this film could be about any family in America because the characters portrayed are so archetypal and paradigmatic.

Another reason why I personally like the film is because it has so many life lessons in it and it shows similar events that happen in other families' lives too. For example there is a scene where the father takes the children bowling and Mason asks to have the bumpers up during the game to make it easier for him but the dad responds, 'life doesn't give you bumpers' this really touched me and made a great impact on me as you could see the child receiving a life lesson from his father which is probably the same life lesson that your parent has told you or will tell you in the future. This particular quote provides a very poignant moment in the film as the quote relates to the struggles that Mason and his family experience as his parents are separated and Mason's mother is domestically abused by her second husband and so this really hit home as it shows how much Mason has to deal with at such a young age but also the things that he and his family are experiencing or have experienced are similar to that of other families across the world and so I really like the reliability of this film and the meaningful quotes carefully placed throughout the astonishing film.

Another thing that really made me like the film was not only did you experience Mason's story but also his family and friends' stories and you were able to watch each of the characters grow up and experience different crucial points in life in different ways. I was particularly impressed with the acting from Patricia Arquette as I thought she did a phenomenal job of portraying a broken down mother having to deal with raising two children alone. Her performance was really mesmerising and very impressive as to how she portrayed how she coped with the scenarios experienced and how she struggled so much. I believe that she did an amazing job in creating a character that other mothers can watch and see how all mother experience similar feelings and her character is highly relatable.

Another one of my favourite moments in this film is in the earlier stages when Mason and Samantha are fighting in the back of the car and the mother is telling them to put up the barrier between them; a pillow. I find this a very humorous and again relatable part of the film as this is something that me and my brother used to do and so I can see me and my brother within the characters which makes the scene more appealing. This also makes this such a different film from any others I have seen and definitely makes it stand out because you can see parts of yourself within the different characters and you can really relate to them which allows you to make a greater and stronger connection with the characters and the story.

However, the thing that I liked the most about this film was the ending. The last scene is filmed on the top of a mountain with Mason and his new friends at university. I interpreted this scene as representing that it was almost as though throughout the entire film we had been hiking up the mountain with Mason and his family with rocky bits along the route and when we got to the end of the film, or the top of the mountain it was like the end of an era. This really created a seminal moment for me as it was like we had experienced an era with him and now as he continued his journey over the top of the mountain he was starting a new chapter of life. I really liked this imagery as it really summed up life for me and how as one chapter ends another one opens.

Overall, this film definitely made an impression on me and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to watch Mason and his family grow up. I believe that Richard Linklater did an amazing job of creating a film that is one of a kind and unique in its own way. In my opinion, Boyhood is a truly extraordinary film and most definitely worth the watch, despite being 165 minutes long!

This image is a timeline of the different stages that we see in Mason's transformation from young boy into adolescent. 

This image is the film poster for Boyhood, one of Mason's hands is reaching up. I interpret this as him reaching for his future which I believe really captures the meaning of the film.