In the exam there will be 4 main technical aspects that we need to comment on. These are:
- Mise en scene
- Cinematography
- Sound
- Editing
In terms of mise-en-scene, the costume of the central protagonist such as her jacket and her tight jeans denote that her age is around 16-17. You can tell that the central protagonist is not the typical character of the usual scream queen. Had it been a scream queen, she would have had blonde hair, ripped jeans or even a skirt and maybe have a handbag or clutch with her. The choice of the central protagonist wearing a concervative high collar T-Shirt, also emphasise the fact that there was a counter-typing by using the final girl and killing her instead of the scream queen.
Also, the costume of the killer waering all black and having his hoodie up around the mask denotes the genre. The mask is very good, because it really emphasises on the horror genre. Throughout the entire film, the audience isn't able to see the mask until the last bit where the killer finally appears on screen. This creates tension, and I intend to work a lot more with non-diegetic music to be able to build up the tension. Furthermore, when looking at the 1st rough cut, which was edited by Jonathan, you can see how our final girl is getting a false scare, by a woman who only wants to return her bible.
In this clip, which I am going to edit as well, I will begin with the non-diegetic music in order for there to be continuity throughout in terms of sound.
Moreover, there is a different ambient sound in every single shot. because we hear Bronwen's shoes going over the street and then you hear a car as well in the background. Due to this, I will loop the sound from the first shot, so that there will be continuity in it and that the sound doesn't change in the different shots.
Moreover, there is a different ambient sound in every single shot. because we hear Bronwen's shoes going over the street and then you hear a car as well in the background. Due to this, I will loop the sound from the first shot, so that there will be continuity in it and that the sound doesn't change in the different shots.
The mise-en-scene is very good outside, and the darkness and the natural appearance of the blue tint helps to connote the genre. This location was chosen on purpose because of the very bright lighting that added this specific blue tint as a natural effect. Because it turned out this well, I will be editing the first rough cut, by adding a blue filter when our central protagonist comes out of the church as well.
Another way we could have portrayed our central protagonist as more vulnerable would be to have framed Bronwen on the left or right side in the frame.
There is also some foreshadowing because she is walking towards a less lit space, where it is very dark, which foreshadows that something is going to happen.
Two other angles, that could have been incorporated, would have been a low angle and a dutch angle to make Bronwen appear as more vulnerable.
This shot was done on purpose to foreshadow, how she is going to get kidnapped. In thsi shot, she is a dark silhouette, which connotes that she is practically already gone.
Another way we could have portrayed our central protagonist as more vulnerable would be to have framed Bronwen on the left or right side in the frame.
There is also some foreshadowing because she is walking towards a less lit space, where it is very dark, which foreshadows that something is going to happen.
Two other angles, that could have been incorporated, would have been a low angle and a dutch angle to make Bronwen appear as more vulnerable.
This shot was done on purpose to foreshadow, how she is going to get kidnapped. In thsi shot, she is a dark silhouette, which connotes that she is practically already gone.
The appearance of a blue tint (whether added as an effect or natural) works well - see the opening of the original Halloween which made this a common convention in slashers.
ReplyDeleteThe timing isn't quite right (and it'd be useful to see this with a LITTLE bit of what comes before). Consider an EMPTY (no killer) shot; Bron; killer stood there [you have a pause BEFORE he starts walking; as a single take this is no good but can be a good thing if the take is split up]; Bron; killer moving...
Getting feedback on 2 or more different edits of a short sequence would be really useful, and good to evidence.
Sound isn't bad but needs work - loop the hiss of shot 1 so it feels like ambient sound throughout; you don't want to hear the jump in sound from shot to shot; incidental music on top as well might be useful. The sound of the coat/hood going over is good, and should work well with a title reveal
Also, blog on the tools you used in editing, and try to evidence any major changes you've made too, as well as walk through your preferred reading (Stuart Hall's concept): how you've tried to appeal to and manipulate the audience (the semiotics; the signifiers you've encoded through your media language choices). Treat it like a mini-exam essay, using the same 4 technical areas