Research Task - Mae Webb

The Book Of Eli - the narative structure begins with a dis-equilibrium which goes against Todorov's theory of classic narative. This draws the audience in as they want to know what has caused it. Includes many of the conventions of a thriller such as: low-key lighting, eerie non-diagetic music, iconography of guns/weapons and slow motions which creates tension the whole way through and raises loads of questions.

Here is a video of the full opening scene

• sequence begins with a Fade In from white, which is seen as a pure colour and often represents someone's death and perhaps ascending to heaven, therefore it creates juxtaposition when a dark forest is revealed. 
• sound also adds to this - hear a non-diagetic explosion-like bang when the white flash appears and creaking noises creating an uneasy atmosphere.

• establishing shot of a forest - typical setting for a thriller. 
• lighting is very low key and there is barely any colour creating a dark atmosphere. 
• see what appears to be ash falling down - suggests there has been a fire or explosion, which links back to the sound at the beginning. 
• creates restricted narration as audiences doesn't know what happened
• underlying eerie non-diagetic music throughout - also diagetic sound of ash hitting the floor. creates intense mood.

•  The camera then pans down where we see a CU of  a prop (a gun) and then the first character, the body of a man, with a shallow depth of field drawing attention to him and creating restricted narration raising questions who is he? how did he die? why did he have a gun?
• we see he has ash on his body suggesting he has been there a while.

•  the camera pans right revealing a dirty looking, hairless cat sniffing around the dead man - rather than cute fluffy cat creates eerie feel - people tend to dislike them
• raises questions who does the cat belong to? why is it there? why aren't there other animals?

• camera continues to pan right and reveals another man with a prop, an arrow in a crossbow, making him seem bad - adds to characterization
• his costume, a gas mask, gloves and camouflaged jacket suggests he was prepared for whatever happened to cause the ash. 
• there is non-diagetic sound of the man breathing and the noise as he draws back the arrow which builds suspense.

• see ECU of the head of the arrow and focus pull is used to draw attention to it
• makes the audience feel nervous as it is like it's being pointed at them.
• hear man trying to get the cats attention creating unrestricted narration as the audience knows the cat will be shot but the cat does not.

• the camera cross-cuts back to the cat and we then see a POV shot from the cat, adding to the suspense of the unrestricted narration as the audience sees that the cat does not notice the man.
• makes the audience on the edge of their seat as the suspense builds

• the non-diagetic music builds up to this point when we see a BCU of the man. 
• music then cuts off creating a false climax and we hear the man breathing loudly (diagetic sound) keeps audiences attention and throws them as it is unexpected.

• cross-cutting is used as we then see an ECU of the cat creating a 'stand-off' between the two characters. creates more suspense.

• we see an ELS of the man from a Birds Eye view angle as he releases arrow 
• then see an ECU of the arrow when it is released and slow motion is used 
•  allows the audience time to process what has happened and raises question of if it will hit the cat or not - tension is created as they wait
• diagetic sound of arrow going through the air, enhances it and creates intense atmosphere

• see a MCU of the man from a worms eye view angle
• makes him seem superior and big, may make audience feel intimidated
• non-diagetic music comes back but still hear diagetic sound of him breathing and his footsteps

• ECU of the man pulling arrow out of the cat, shows the blood and makes audience focused on it
• hear diagetic sound of arrow being pulled out may make audience feel uneasy. 

• ELS of man holding cat and walking away - raises questions: where is he going? why did he shoot the cat? what will he do with it?
• Sequence fades out to white - suggesting this was a past event/a dream and it is going back to normality

4.3.2.1 - the narrative structure starts with the equilibrium which makes the audience want to keep watching to find out how it gets to that point. this uses shock and restrictive narrative to keep the audience feeling suspense and uses low key lighting and iconography to create a dark atmosphere which makes it work as a thriller.

• BCU of girl, hand held camera which is shakey creating nervous feeling- clue that something is wrong (action code)
• see her facial expression - sad/worried, shows she's been crying
• tight framing raises questions as can't see surroundings - where is she? why is she sad?
• non-diagetic music creates eerie atmosphere
• no non-diagetic sound shows she's not focused on whats going on around her
• camera quickly tracks out to an ELS
  (establishing shot) reveals where she is, on a bridge in London (composition shows iconic london eye)
• still no diagetic sound which adds to atmosphere as there would be a lot of sound there.

• CU of girl shows her facial expression again looking more distressed than before.
• day and time revealed- they are of importance - suggests this is in the future
• non-diagetic sound of clock ticking - suggests her time is up? something's going to happen?
• composition shows a car pull up behind her and people getting out
• lighting allows you to see her face

• ELS shows she is standing at the edge of bridge - this creates shock as the audience did not know this before (restriced narration)
• composition makes her look small and weak
• lighting is low-key creating dark atmosphere

• MCU of another character holding a prop (a gun) iconographicy as guns are often in thrillers - shows first sign of danger - establishes bad from good characters
• creates enigma as audience does not know why she has the gun - raises questions

• MS of three characters, dialogue begins as character with gun speaks - reveals they want something the other girl has
• make up shows cut on her head suggesting she has been previously in a fight
• raises questions - who are they?       
• cross cuts between them - creates suspense

• CU of her hand - revealing what it is the other characters want 
• shallow depth of field focuses on them. draws the audiences attention to them - significant.                                                                                                       

• diagetic sound of her breathing - creates tension
• see her facial expression - thinking about what to do
• raises questions as audience do not know what she will do
• see her stumbling at the end of this shot - clue that she may fall (action code) 

• MLS of her, camera shakes as she falls down
• the shot is very fast pace creating shock as audience don't have time to take it in
• non-diagetic music cuts off when she falls - dramatic
• discontinuity editing - shock cut - audience doesn't know what happened

• sequence cuts to black -title appears
• upbeat non-diagetic music begins to play - contrupuntal to what has just happened - showing that this hasn't happened yet as it goes back to normality.
• raises questions as we don't know if she falls or not (restricted narration) audience want to find out what caused this to happen

44 Inch Chest - again this begins with the equilibrium allowing the audience to think for themselves how this happened. 

this works as a thriller because the contrapuntal sound creates a completely different mood to what is expected which makes it interesting to watch because it toys with your emotions, and it raises loads of different questions throughout .

Here is a video of the full opening scene

Sound

• Throughout the whole opening sequence there is non-diagetic music of the well known song Without You - Harry Nilson. 
• music is contrupuntal - as it's a slow, sad love song and the scene shows the damage of an attack and the audience are led to believe a murder has occurred
• creates a calm atmosphere to what should be hectic and panicked
• may be a clue that love has something to do with the wrecked apartment

• sequence begins with a dissolve in - focuses on an ECU of some smashed glass
• tight framing restricts the view 


• Close Ups of smashed furniture/objects  - raises questions - what has happened? who did this?
• the shots are slow pace - focuses on the objects - gives audience time to think for themselves what has happened.

• LS of a dog - body language shows it looking scared - hiding under chair
• looks innocent - draws audience in as they like the dog and feel sorry for it
• creates juxtaposition showing a sweet innocent dog in this setting with danger all around

• LS of sofa - reveals it has been ripped up
• still camera work used for observation
• raises question - why did someone rip up the sofa?
• may suggest someone was looking for something as they've ripped the pillows
• frontal key lighting only creates a gloomy atmosphere

• Camera slowly tracks into this shot revealing a body on the floor - raises questions who is he? is he dead? if so how did he die? who killed him?
• composition shows that the door is open - suggests there was a break in
• wide shot shows the extent of the damage 
• low-key lighting with only lamps on - creates mysterious mood - lots of shadows
• shot is slow pace so audience have time to register it - creates suspense

• CU of the characters hand - shows he is not moving suggesting he is dead
• the hand on the floor is quite iconic of thrillers
• tight framing creates suspense - haven't revealed his face

• Birds eye view CU shot of the man's face - he still appears to be dead as his facial expression does not move
• his hair is stuck to his forehead with sweat - suggests he had been moving around - perhaps fighting someone?
• shot is very long - leaves audience waiting for something to happen
• raises more questions - how did he die?

• after a while facial expression changes as he closes his eyes and mouth revealing he is not dead
• throws the audience - makes them re-evaluate what has happened
• different questions raised - why is he laying there? is he hurt?

• title appears - plain writing doesnt give much away - keeps audience guessing
• discontinuty editing - shock cut audience are left wondering what happened

Limitless- narrative structure also begins with the equilibrium and the voice over gives clues as to what happened

works as a thriller because it keeps the audience on the edge of their seat and plays with their emotions. it also uses distorting shots (birds eye view, ECU) to engage their full attention. it uses parallel non-diagetic music throughout to create the right mood.

• Title credits - off screen diagetic sound of people talking and loud banging - creates an intimidating atmosphere - grabs audiences attention
• voice over of character starts to speak

• then goes to a LS of a door - realise the diagetic sound is someone banging on it
•  restricted narrative as we don't know who is outside or what is going to happen
• then goes to ECU of door which distorts audience and focuses them on it - significant.

• establishing shot shows an apartment
• boxes around suggests the person has just moved in or is moving
• lighting is well lit
• quiet non-diagetic music underneath banging - eerie tone

• cross-cutting back to door creates suspense as the person banging may get in 
• repeating shots - the door is important
• creates suspense as the person banging may get in
• banging gets louder and more aggresive - unnerving 

• camera tracks left revealing dead bodies - iconography
• low key lighting- creates a dark mood
• reveals danger - shock to audience bodies are an enigma 
• raises questions - how did they die? who killed them? who are they?
• non-diagetic music becomes louder - creates suspense

• Camera tracks out and the moves up the building at fast pace (sped up) creating excitement and thrill
• a fish eye camera lense is used which distorts the audience
• the non-diagetic music changes from an eerie tone to a dark rock song with a fast pace creating an entirely different atmosphere.
• throws the audience and makes them feel different emotions

• camera movement slows down as it reaches the top revealing ELS of a man at the top of the building
• composition makes him look small
• his body language makes him appear in control as he's broad with open body language
• costume - wearing a suit makes him seem important
• non-diagetic music goes back to the quiet undertone
• voice-over continues, allows audience to relate to character - trust him as he knows what's going on

• Birds eye view shot of man looking down
• creates suspense and makes audience feel nervous as they see what he sees - as if they are there - draws audience in
• diagetic sound of sirens - suggests police are on their way - he may be a wanted suspect
• raises questions -who is he? is he going to jump?

• ECU of his feet at the ledge - creates suspense
• shallow depth of field draws attention to the movement of his feet
• non-diagetic music gets louder again creating climax
• grabs audiences attention, raises question is he going to jump???

• climax interrupted by diagetic sound of a loud bang 
• MS of character looking behind
• composition allows audience to see the door again - suggests the people may get in - creates a panicked mood

• CU of his face allows us to see his facial expression looking worried and nervous
• creates suspense as audience does not know what's going on
• lighting from the left side only - creates mystery as though there is something to hide

• camera tracks in to a MS from behind
• creates suspense as it appears to be a POV shot of someone else - they may push him off
• low key lighting creates dark atmosphere.