'Our Friends In The North' change in Mary + wider context

How does Mary change and how does this represent the wider context?

With contrast to the previous scene Mary seems less passive, when in conversation with Tosca she questions him and has a more equal say in the conversation, whereas before she would have tolerated Tosca's strong willed manner. Mary's changed attitude as stronger, less passive and independent women reflects the wider context and ideology at the time. Women where bringing to push for independence and break free from the constraint of a patriarchal society, the development of a strong willed feminist movement which prompted the change of social values and representation of women.

What signs are there that Tosca and Mary have different ideologies? Who struggles with the shift in hegemony?

The conversation between Mary and Tosca in this scene reveals a clear clash of ideologies. Mary is pushing for independence, to break free from the constraint as a housewife and an arrogant strong willed husband. Tosca views Mary’s want for such things as selfish. He does not believe it is right for her to want to be independent, get qualifications and separate from the ideology of a housewife which, is what Tosca would much for prefer she to be. Tosca  believes that he should not have to financially support her and pay for house keepers, when he believes she should be doing it. Tosca is fixed in a then growing old ideology of an obedient housewife. Tosca is arrogant to the change of social values and the increasing strength of the feminist social movement. He is arrogant because he struggles with the unfolding shift in hegemony; his arrogance helps him believe that it is not happening.

Shooting Schedule example

How is the camerawork and editing used to emphaise difference in the clip from 'Our Freinds In The North'?

Two shot of Nicky and Helen Winsor establishes a retionship between the two characters and unity as a couple. They are both smiling this shows they are comfortable and confident. They are smartly dressed this conotes that they are well manered, socially confident and are most probably used to going out.  This is a master shot and is linked back to at the end of the footage.

Two shot of Mary and Tosca establishes a relationship between the two characters. The over the shoulder shot creates a sense of intensity and reflects Mary and Tosca's discomfort. Having Nicky and Helens faces out of focus in the shot gives the feeling of Mary and Tosca being watched and maybe judged, as if comfrentational.

Long shot establishes contrasts between the couples and emphasises the awkwardness of the situation. Mary Tosca and Nicky have smiling faces whereas Helen does not, as a result of a witty remark Tosca had made mocking Helen. Helens straight face shows establishes top the audience that she is not amused by this incompetent humor, reflecting points about her character.

The close up of Helen establishes the intensity of the scene and conflict between Helen and Mary. The lighting in the background is quite dark with Helen faces illuminated making her face stand out this is done to make Helen's face and expression a focal point and drew the audience’s attention to it. This also intensifies the awkwardness and confrontation of the scene.

This close up of Tosca illustrates his daftness and is bad mannered with little social etiquette. His action is clumsy he is clearly out of place and this is shown by his failure to eat spaghetti. The shoulder of Mary can be seen connoting the enclosure of the characters in this awkward situation enclosed in the almost claustrophobic confrontation.

Prelim Task questions

1) What camera and editing techniques and codes did you use in your film and how do they influence the audience’s understanding of the film? (e.g. camera angles and shot types etc; Match on action, Shot/ reverse shot , 180 degree rule )

For the opening of the film we used a long shot to establish the surroundings, using the vanishing point of the road, and the line of the trees as a mark of the third, with Dan to the left. This was followed by a medium side shot of Dan from the side establishes him - his dress, age, style and the bicycle. After this a tracking shot and then a high angle pan and close ups of Dan locking up the bike all establishing to the audience his journey and surroundings – school. We used a long shot of Dan walking into common room to establish the surroundings influencing the understanding of the audience. The dialogue was shot to match the action using the 180 degree rule, Dan and Andy having the same left/right relationship to each other shooting over the shoulder, the closer a camera is placed to the axis, the more emotionally involved the audience will be having the camera placed on the characters shoulder - over the shoulder shot meant the audience where more evolved and made the situation clear to understand.


2) How did you use new technologies in your construction, planning and evaluation (e.g. digital cameras; non-linear editing software; YouTube and blog) and what skills do you have at using this technology? (Strengths and weaknesses. e.g. steady/ shakey camera; variety of shot types; smooth/ clumsy transitions; independence when using technologies.)


The functioning of the camera was easy to pick up. With the aid of a tripod are shots could be done steadily and on even ground with guide the sprit level. When shooting our first shot and using the zoom it was unsteady and jumping with some practice repeating the shot I gradually mangered to make the zoom smoother. After this practice I found zooming easier and found that my zoom was steadier and less jumpy. When shooting the tracking shot of Dan on the bicycle I found it hard at first to keep up with him this was due to the small maneuvering space. To resolve this we decided to slow the action down and I held the camera in front of me to help make keeping up with Dan easier and keep him in shot, from the result of this the shot was done more successfully.
In are film we used a varity of shot types, using the tripod we shot long and mid shots, this was done easily and successfully, and with handheld filming we shot a tracking, panning and over the shoulder shots, with out the aid of the tripod it was harder to keep the camera steady and with some practice mangered to make are shots steadier. When filming the dialogue it was hard to hear the dialogue due to loud background noise. We repeated the shot loudening the speech but this didn’t improve as the background noise was too heavy. To resolve this we decided to use clip on microphones’, I found the microphones’ easy to use, they plugged straight into the camera and on the person speaking. Reshooting using the microphones the dialogue was vastly clearer and louder and from aid of the microphones greatly improved from before.
When editing our film it was the first time I had used the software. With some guidance I found the programme fairly easy to use, the programme is laid out simply and I found it easy to identify the tools. We cut our film - repeat takes added transitions to smooth some of our footage and added music. I found cutting the film fairly easy to do and using the razor tool and by making the timeline bigger with the slider easy to find the exact moments to cut. We used a transition to cut a long piece of footage which we felt was too long and also used one to smooth out a skip in the footage. When then found a music track which we felt fitted with film, this was then saved to a memory stick and added to the footage. The music was then cut so it wouldn’t go over the dialogue. Then we added sound effect to our footage. From looking on free sound we found a good bicycle bell sound effect and added it to our film, the site was easy to use and had many good sound effects.


3) How successfully does your final product meet the brief?


The final product includes film of Dan crossing the common room walking over to Andy pulling out a chair and exchanging a couple of lines with him. This dialogue was shot to match the action using the 180 degree rule, Dan and Andy having the same left/right relationship to each other shooting over the shoulder

Thriller research

What I want to find out

Investigate sub genre
What the audience expect of
location
Props
Characters
Settings


How I am going to investigate

Interviews with resources
Questionnaire
Clip screening followed by questionnaires


5-10 Minute clip screening
Possible clips:

- Once Upon In America

-Psycho
- Layer Cake
- Thelma and Louise


Followed by questionnaire/ discussion of
-Expectation of
location
Props
Characters
Settings
Etc
 -Comparison of a mainstream with independent - Using films also in the sub genre are film will be - crime/british gangster thriller.
for example
-Essex Boysv Casino Royle
Discuss auidence expectationsof mainstream and independent thriller film discussion will be filmed and someone allicated to ask questions and lead the discussion.
-Will shall also have a short question aided with visual prompts.

Rough dicussion question ideas
-What do kinds of conventions do the auidence expect?
-Do they prefer mainstream or independent?
-Do they expect different or cetain  locations, props etc from a mainstream, independent?
-Discuss what the audience think of thrillers that challenge them as an audience? Say challenge generic conventions - Taritino's Jackie Brown challenges the generic convention of a male white lead.
-What are there expectations of mainstream and independent films?- What do they expect of them? Which do they prefer?

Cosmetics Unit - Perfume Advert - Assement Sheet

Developed location ideas

I took these photos of location idea for the briefcase exchange - meeting of Christian and Joules, and the assult on Joules. Trowse - pumping station and under Trowse bridge. Under the Trowse bridge and around that area are delelict industrial buildings. There are various old doors and buildings under the bridge. hiya. There is also in this area a large old industrial building and more similar buildings at the back. Ajacent to the area under the bridge is the Norwich - London train route.
Close up of the area under the bridge has old rail and storage rooms which are now boarded up. There is still evidence of the rail past. There are several interesting aged doors and arches in this area.

Midium shot the same area, in this photo the arc of the connecting bridge from the quary (Lafarges) can be seen with the train way just beyond this.











Medium shot of a large derilict industral building in the area. Beautiful arced window and door and clock tower. Run down, old, abanded and quiet making the perfect place for the briefcase exchange.

Close up of the door of the above building. Beautifully old. Could be possible place of briefcase exchange the arc of the door representing the framing of Joules. Below a photo of more buildings in this area, large and towering.

Inspiration for the setting came from watching previous thrillers such as Once upon a time in America and The Thrid Man.Where as you can see, the dark, gloomy back-alley setting has been proved as a great generic thriller signifier, and we feel that this would give the perfect feel to our thriller, as the dark, gloomy, isolated streets give a sense of fear, that danger may just be around the corner... For example in this shot of the character 'Noodles' coming out of a doorway round the back of a dark alley.  The Third Man a noir thriller  is set in the post war derelict urban streets of Vienna, Austria. The buildings show signs of the war that has past, smashes windows boarded up doors. The streets are often wet and gloomy. The buildings looking striking and dominant with there wet glaze of the raining sky and dark and light on dark contrast. Characters shadows climb the dark walls looking mysterious and threatening. The dark provides perfect places for a lurking character, hidden in a doorway. The darkness can make characters look strong, mysterious, threatning but on the other hand vunrable and alone. 

Prelim task

Soundtrack - initial notes

We feel that to have a soundtrack to the background of our thriller opener would be a great effect which is used in nearly all successful thrillers. Having listened to a selection of songs and bounced different soundtrack ideas off of each other, we found that this song 'Club Foot' by Kasabian would be an ideal song for our opening, as it has the exact right feel about it and would fit perfectly into the opening shot when Joules is stepping off of the train and walking through the station. Our idea that the song would work well in a thriller is supported in the video itself when the time is at roughly 1:18, the makers of the video include a handgun, which is a generic signifier of the genre. Also at 2:04 you can see a briefcase being used, another signifier which we ourselves are using in our film.
Obviously, because of the ruling that we're not allowed to use copyrighted songs by signed artists in our videos, this particular song is not a possibility. But we may well look for other alternatives for a soundtrack by unsigned artists who might have a song giving a similar effect to this kasabian classic.

Soundtracks and thriller film genre reseach


Pulp fiction
-Dick Dale ''Misirlou''


No film score was composed for Pulp Fiction, with Quentin Tarantino instead using an eclectic assortment of surf music, rock and roll, soul, and pop songs. Dick Dale's rendition of "Misirlou" plays during the opening credits. Tarantino chose surf music as the basic musical style for the film, but not, he insists, because of its association with surfing culture: "To me it just sounds like rock and roll, even Morricone music. It sounds like rock and roll spaghetti Western music." Dick Dales rendition of ''Misirlou'' is as famous as the movie its edgey fast pased famous guitar riff opening perfectly sets the film that follows.

Reservoir Dogs -
George Baker ''Little Green Bag''


Original released in 1969 'Little Green Bag'' was written by Jan Visser and George Baker. In 1992, when the song was used in the film Reservoir Dogs featuring during the iconic ''hero walk'', it became an international cult classic. Tarantino has said that he feels the music to be a counterpoint to the on-screen violence and action. He also stated that he wished for the film to have a '50s feel while using '70s music.



http://www.unsignedbandweb.com/

From searching unsigned bands in google we found this website. The allows unsigned artists to make an account and uplaod their music, giving chance for downloading and artist information. The site is divided by artist and genre. There is an very good extensive varitey of genre From christian rock to ska. We searched through genres we felt where relative to are film - instrumental, alternative, jazz, big band and blues. Finding several good tracks we saved them to a memory stick. The site is brilliant and we will be looking further into the site.

Costume - initial notes

The costume that we intend to use for the characters in our film is a modern smart, formal dress (for example suits, briefcases, overcoats and flashy jewellery. We decided to have the characters in the proposed costume because it reflects our characters as being fairly 'well-off', high up in society. A character in smart dress conotes importance and strenght. For emaple in 'Resiorv Dogs all the powerful, strong male characters are in suits, they stand out to be important, the way they dress shows that they are in control.

 Joules is business man character and will be wearing a full suit, long jacket and smart shoes to reflect this. He will be also wearing a designer watch and have a briefcase with him. The watch reflects Joules obbession with his look and 'youthful' cockiness. The briefcase - the generic sig, is large and black.

Christian will also have a very similar dress and some rings and a  watch more 'gentlemen' to clearly establish his wealth and importance in his particular business, possibly a cigar on-the-go too could also give connotations of the kind of character we are trying to achieve. Christian is a smart and flashy but not to the extend of being cocky like Joules.

Briefcase
Generic convention

In thriller films briefcases are used to carry illegal items - stolen goods, documents etc the briefcase decises these items it conceals the occupiers attentions and goods. A briefcase could hind the occipiers emotions - remorse they are detacthed from the moral imlications of the crime. The briefcase could also seperate the occupier from the crime, it is a metaphorical brick wall. Pulp Fiction joins the intersecting storylines of Los Angeles mobsters, fringe players, small-time criminals, and a mysterious briefcase. The dress-suited pair  (John Travolta as Vincent Vega and Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield)are on their way to retrieve a briefcase from Brett (Frank Whaley), who has transgressed against their boss, gangster Marsellus Wallace. Marsellus Wallace's briefcase in Pulp Fiction basically serves as the item that the drives the plot and yet which contents are never revealed. Subsequently, much speculation has arisen as to what the significance of the briefcase is and what it contains.

Our inspiration for the costume for the opening of the triller film came from watching other thriller films where with similar smartly dressed chracters which where powerful criminals who where street wise and well dressed.  We looked Pulp Fiction, Casino Royle and reservoir Dogs. All of which have male leads who are ingaged in criminal activites, are powerful, street wise, flashy and smartly dressed, they are in control.

Casino Royle

James Bond is know for being well dressed, suited and booted. His dress reflects his self control, power and social status. What ever situation he gets in Bond is always smart.

Pulp Fiction

Isabella

Isabella is well dressed and is dressed suitable to portray a costume of that of a modern femme fatale in the case of Isabella she dresses flatteringly, tight skirt, shirt, long winter jacket with a fur trim, ankle boots. Her costumes reflects her well off, high social status and her personal importance to look good.

Make - up
Dark strongly defined eyes connote confindence and strenght.

The eyes are framed drawing the audiences attention to them.

Red lips draw attention also connoting confidence and strenght and divience.

The fur coat simblises Isabella's wealth and status. A fur coat is a luxary item and shows the auidence that Isabella is wealthy, well fashioned and concerned with her appearence but not nesscercelly what people think of it; the fur coat could also symbol individuality and diversity, standing out making a statement, a fur coat is seen by some as a 'taboo' item of clothing to wear.

The tight pencil skirt and ankle boots and feminine and reflect Isbella's deviant nature. The shoes are patent and black similary is the skirt they are matchingly smart to Joules and Christains dress and being black they do not stand out, they make it easy to lurk in the darkness. Isabella's dress in strong and invidual smart and apprioately reflecting her character.

Dress experimentation 1


First experimention with dress


Long beige coat
Lace tights
White shoes
Red lips
Dark Eyes
Suitcase

The coat looks good and fits the ideology of the character
The shoes look good but these may be changed for boots for convience in a later scene.
The red lips and dark eyes look striking and also fit well with character ideology.
The suitcase is smart and again fitting to the character.
Overall this costume fits the character ideology and reperesents the character suitably and as entended. The costume makes Isabella look confident and sophisticated.