I intended to do all my Evaluation on a PowerPoint but when i came to transferring it all onto my blog, it wouldnt play the audio so i couldnt do it the way i wanted to. I have used slideshare to upload the majority of my presentation, however the audio clips are now on a seperate one.
This audio clip is of a member of the target audience for our Thriller, on the slideshow with a picture of a girl in the middle, listen to this audio clip and the answers are shown on the screen.
The definition of Thriller in the Film Studies Dictionary
“Thriller is a loose genre term referring to any film that generates suspense and excitement as a major aspect of its narrative.”
G. K. Chesterton: The Transformed City (early 20th century) Argued that thrillers took urban settings and transformed them into exciting locations for dramatic stories.
Northrop Frye: Heroic Romance Frye argued that Thrillers were stories that took ordinary people and threw them into extraordinary situations An example of this is Jaws, when we analysed this Thriller film we noticed that they were just ordinary people but involved in something very rare.
John Cawelti: The Exotic Cawelti argued that Thrillers took the elements of ordinary life and added an exotic element.
W.H. Matthews: Mazes and Labyrinths Matthews writes about how human beings have a fascination for physical puzzles – often seen in mazes and labyrinth Thrillers often use the idea of a mysterious quest in a confined location that feels like a labyrinth
Pascal Bonitzer: Partial VisionBonitzerdiscusses how in thrillers the audience is given a partial view of things – with important details being obscured.
Noel Carroll: Question and Answer Argues that thrillers are structured around a series of questions for which the audience is led to want answers.
The opening scene of Seven is the main character Morgan Freeman in his apartment, the apartment is pretty ordinary, nothing modern about it and he lives alone. The fact he lives alone shows the audience he is more job orientated and committed to his job rather than a marriage. He is shown collecting all his items from a table, he has them all lined up and puts them in his jacket in a certain order, this shows he is so used to his job that it has become a set routine.
After this scene with Morgan Freeman, it shows a murder, this is really effective on the audience because you get to see what type things you will be expecting throughout the film and also it gives the audience more of a clear background of the characers jobs. After seeing the crime, we are then introduced to the main characters in the film, the detectives.
In conrast with this, it then shows Brad Pitt (the other detective) in his house, unlike Morgan, he has a wife and you can immediatily see the connection between the characters as Brad turns and kisses his wife as soon as he wakes up.
Their is a lot of pathetic fallacy used within this film to set the mood (rain) eery atmosphere, a popular code within thriller films.
Characters
Both characters in the film dress very steriotypical to what you would expect detectives to look like, they both wear white shirts, long coats, however Morgan dresses a lot more formal than Brad, this shows he has more experience and knows a lot more about what to expect within the film. He is the most dominant character. The other detective seems to aspire to be like Morgan Freeman in this film. Because Brad Pitts character is new to the city, his lifestyle contrasts Freemans dramatically because he is so organised. Sound The sound is very important in the opening to this film, you can hear siren noises very loudly throughout which symoblises violence, crime, the main theme of this film. However, In Morgan Freemas apartment the sound isnt as emphasised as it is in Brad Pitts apartment, this shows how he isnt used to this new city and new life as much as Freemans character is. Dramatic noises then follow, and eerie sounds then start quietly as the credits begin. The sounds are mainly of things squeaking and buzzing, music then starts quietly. This type of sound is scary and adds suspense to the opening credits. (opening credits also show photographs of different parts of the crime scenes which will unfold troughout the film)
When the credits are being shown on the screen its pitch black with deep red graphics. using the colour red symbolises blood, death violence, passion. It is very limited to what it shows you which creates a really tense atmosphere and wants you to keep watching to know for the film to be unravelled.
Gradually, you start to see a small image in the corner of the screen, this image begins to get bigger and bigger until you can see a screen of characters.
In an office, looks posh, upper class, wealth.
Character
The characters are all dressed very smartly and are in an office which suggests they are at an interview. It seems very secretive because one of the characters keeps mentioning something and whispers which gives the audience a sense of mystery because they want to know what their hiding.
One of the characters is stood up, suggests power and control over the situation.
There are three characters and one the right hand side there are two of them and on the left, only one. This suggests rivalry between the two groups because they are separated on screen and the clear divide is shown because of the long camera shot.
Sound
There is background music whilst the titles are showing, this creates an eery and mysterious atmosphere because this enables the audience to know what type of film its going to be.
There is aspects of diologue in the opening but its very brief and limited to what it tells you.
Mise en scene Start- underwater, the camera is moving around the water as if its in the sharks perspective. this creates effect and tension because you want too know what the shark is going to do. Underwater looks very dark and eery. Lonely, secluded. Not very much is going on. On land- A group of teenages, drinking, smoking, around the fire. The atmosphere is calm and relaxed. Contrast with the shark. Gives the audience the idea that something bads going to happen. Calming atmosphere contrasts with the chaos underwater. Characters are oblivious to events. Character the female character that is the first victim is first seen around the camp fire. The rest of the characters are all in a circle wheras she is sat alone. This symbolises lonleyness and that she is being picked at from the crowd. It also draws attention too this character and you also get the feeling something will happen to her. In contrast with this, she seems to be the stronger character, when the female is running along the beach, she is controlling him and telling him what to do. She seems like the stronger character. Music At the beginning of the film when its underwater, you can hear the signature Jaws theme song, this gradually gets louder and more fast paced as the shark moves faster. There is then a sudden change in music type, it becomes a lot more peaceful. When the girl is getting attacked you can hear screams, and cries of the girl shouting for help as the shark attacks her. once the girl has been dragged under the water, it goes deadly silent. this is really effective because it symbolises death, the end of something.
The setting was a posh resturant, camera angles that zoomed in on the meals that were being served by waiters in smart uniforms. This shows status and that the film is set where upper and lower class are clearly divided.
Then there is a total contrast in setting, it goes too a nightclub with loud music and people smoking/drinking ect.
Happy atmosphere which creates the atmosphere that something bad will happen too create chaos in the "happy" environment.
A close up on the credit card too show wealth.
the setting then changes and shows Particks apartment. The colour used symbolises innocence and purity which is in total contrast with his abnormal character.
Character Too show the audience a clear description and background too what the main character is like, it goes through is dail routine and what he takes priority in. Clearly, this character takes time on his appearance, keeping fit and this comes across sometimes feminin. He is a murderer in this film and in typical thrillers they are potrayed as masculine so this is a convention that isnt typical in a thriller. He comes across very job orientated but only works in an office. He lives alone, this could be because his job is his main priority or because he cares too much about himself too care about anyone else. Controlling. camera- their is a shot in this scene of him taking off a facemask, this could symbolise that he keeps his true identity hidden from the world.
Sound Music that makes the audience feel tense and creates suspence about upcoming events. The character regularly wears headphones and listens too music- blocking out everyone else. Very alone. Doesnt pay attention.
Mise En Scene The first thing you see in the opening of the film is a camera shot of a forest. It looks really eery and mysterious, the trees are bare which could symbolise that everyhwere in the woods is empty and secluded. There is a lake shown which is a typical convention in a thriller film. This gives the audience pleasure of recognition because they would know what too except with the upcoming events. Also, the colours used are very bland which creates a mysterious atmosphere. The trees that are clearly shown at the beginning could symbolise lonleyness because they have no leaves on them. This could show that the victim in this film is lonely and has nobody to help her. You then see a women running through the forest like she is on a obsitcal course training for a job. Keeping fit. This shows the audience she is very fit and healthy. The dark lighting foreshadows mystery and the mist obscures her vision. There were also three signs shown as the character was walking into her works building, Pain, Agony, Hurt. Sence of urgenry and makes the audience feel tense as they know something is going to happen. The fact she was training on her own also gives a sense of isolation. Character The female character introduced seems very job orientated but very alone. Their is a part of the introduction where she is in a lift full of men. This symbolises that she doesnt fit in and the job she has is very male dominated. In steriotypical thriller films the women show a lot of flesh and take pride in their appearance to show a more weaker and conventional female character, in this the female character doesnt take pride in her appearance and not at all objectified to other Thrillers. Sound Gradual build up of music. Becomes more fast paced and louder as she progresses with her training course. You can hear the characters breathing. (exaggerated) (fear, frightenend) Camera Work The camera was behind her when she was running as if someone was following her. You could see the side of the characters face and you could clearly see someone stood next to her but the face couldnt be identified. Captivating.
