Blue Velvet

The opening starts off with non-diegetic sound of a violin type sounding music, it starts off quite calm and quiet and then gets louder. This along with the first few scenes gives the reader a false sense of security as we see a typical suburban life in America. The music building up could represent what will happen in the film, it will build up to something drastic. A tilt shot is used first to reveal a nearly cloudless blue sky with a white picket fence and red roses, it looks like a perfect setting- normal community based home, like something out of a Disney film, this adds to the idea of everything being a bit too perfect and the viewer gets a foreboding feeling- as time goes on something will change this 'perfect neighbourhood'.

The red roses in the opening are significant as red represents danger and blood but as a contrast roses are meant to be seen as romantic and loving, this shows the contradictions throughout the film. The roses could also represent loss or a funeral, which again could be something that comes later on in the film.
In the next scene it is sunny still and we see and establishing shot of a house with a car parked on the drive, this shot is a bit darker showing how this house could be a negative impact on the film. It cuts to a man watering his garden and then to his wife sitting and watching television inside which has a gun on it, another foreboding feeling of death which it quite a contrast to the upbeat, happy music.

 We then see a few close ups of the tap and hose pipe the man is using, not working, the pipe twists which shows something is going wrong and the straight after the man has a heart attack which is very surprising as you would expect the it to be raining or the scene to be quite dark but it s not. there is then an establishing shot and a pan of the surroundings which look idyllic and there is water spraying everywhere, we also hear the diegetic sound of a dog barking and then see the dog and a child in the background, all of the combined with the still cheerful music makes the heart attack seem positive or normal. 

We then finally see a close up of a small insect in the grass, this represents the seedy underbelly of suburban life. And also how something like this death is nothing compared to the bigger picture as the insect is tiny compared to the rest of the grass.

Media- film script draft

CAST

Detective Lance Bullock – Callum Prendgast

Tony Slinger/ Maroni Falcone – Charlie Bell

Bobby Slinger – Reece Mountford

Lisa Statham – Georgia Turner

Ben Woodward - Thug

SCRIPT

Scene 1 – LB’s Intro ET: 35 seconds

*Throughout this scene “I don’t want to set the world on fire by the ink spots 1941 is playing, almost as an alarm. There is an establishing shot of a house at night; the only light source is lampposts in the shot and the shot will fade in from black and will last about 3 seconds. The shot will then cut to grass blowing in the wind, until finally a close up of an alarm/radio clock that is the source of the music. A hand reaches out and smacks it down, this stops the music. The room is dark, only a portion of light is reaching the room via blinds. A man (whose face you do not show during this opening scene) sits on the end of his bed rubbing his face. A narration begins:

Detective LB:  “Todays gonna be a helluva day, Head guy Phillip J House has made sure of that, he’s been busting my balls about this for a while now, he’s got it out for me I swear. See he’s got me inspectin’ some kind of college for a Maroni Falcone, see you wanna hear a funny story? 3 murders, one of them a cop and over 15 assaults and this guy is hiding in a school would’ya imagine? Me personally *pause* I think it’s a load of crap but like I said; House may be an ass, but it’s rare he’s wrong. and so that’s where I come in, me, Detective Lance Bullock, I gots to find this guy, if there even is a guy and take him out. Easier said than done when hiding in a hoity-toity school, and better yet, word is that his men already know that we’re catching up and planning this little undercover shindig, if Maroni really is there, he’s good, but I’m better”

*Throughout this scene there are different cuts of the detective. One stumbling to the blinds and peeking out, doing his top buttons up, lighting a cigarette with a match (shisha pens and vapour) and a shot of the smoke blowing out, and finally a shot of him doing his tie up and walking out of shot, this shot should be when he says “But I’m better”

Scene 2 – TS, PS and BS Intro ET: 

The shot then cuts to an EST shot of the school, until a OTS shot of Bobby walking down the main halls, past the stairs, then a mid-shot of him walking towards the camera (David Fincher style) with the camera on a dolly, he fixes up his tie. He pauses as he hears loud noises he looks around the corner and the camera does the same. Tony has Paddy Statham up the wall and Bobby is watching in intrigue

Lisa Statham: Please honey I'm sorry!

Tony: Just get out of my face damn it

Lisa runs off past Bobby crying.

 

Tony spots Bobby and Smiles. He’s wearing a different type of Tie to Tony.

Tony: Bobby my boy!

Bobby: Uncle Maroni!

Tony Slaps Bobby

Tony: Keep your god damn voice low, it’s Tony here, and will be till I can secure a way out to Mexico, none of this Maroni business, you get me?

Bobby: Yeah sure uncle…Tony

Tony: Good any questions?

Bobby: What was that about just?

Tony: Don’t you worry your pretty little mug about that said whilst gently slapping his face walk with me boy.

They walk down the corridor, the detective walks past the shot casually but the audience don’t know it’s him as you never see his face in the first shot

Tony and Bobby walk down the corridor dolly camera again.

Tony: Reece, you’re new, you’re my nephew but you’re not special, I don’t care if you’re my son, you don’t cross family understood?

Bobby: Understood boss

Tony: I like you already. 

As they walk off the camera pans to the detective watching from the second floor balcony. A high angle shot showing that he is superior and he has been watching

Feedback 1

A sound analysis of features in film noir that shows that you have processed information from whole group activity.  You could analyse the opening sequence from a film noir in further detail to show full undertanding with examples from a key text.

You are beginning to move beyond the descriptive to analyse key features of opening sequences and how meaning is created. You are using subject specific terminology which will develop as the course progresses.

When analysing texts you are covering the key points and reproducing points discussed in class which shows that you understand the task. 

The next step is to go beyond the obvious to extend the analysis showing perception and initiative in conducting further research to enhance your understanding.

Analyse the opening sequence from Blue Velvet to see if you can de-construct this individually.

Use images and clips to enhance the presentation of the blog.

Codes and Conventions-Film Noir

Film Noir is a genre of film based around the 1940's. The films are normally in black and white, theses colours are used because at this time Warner bro's- the main makers of these films, had little money and the dark shadows would prevent the viewer from seeing the set and other things that shouldn't be in the shot.



The plot to these films are often the same- there is a detective who is quite hard faced and who doesn't speak much, a woman who is very beautiful and who seems innocent (femme fatale). The woman almost always is in some kind of trouble, she goes to the detective for help and he then tries to help, towards the end of the film we find out that the woman has the power and she has deceived the detective who at this point cares about her, the woman is then brought to justice and the detective will probably then fall in love with the 'good, reliable' woman. in every film there is some sort of enigma- something the plot revolves around- it is usually and object that someone wants.

The reason there are so many of these type of film with the same plot is because most people like these kind of films and therefore it is a good,easy way to make money.

In Film Noir the iconography is:

• A trilby hat and trench coat for the detective.
• Alcohol consumed by the detective quite a lot.
• The detective smokes a lot.

These three aspects allow the viewer to instantly know what type of film it is, alongside the black and white/ dark colours, these are the features that define Film Noir.

In these films there are may different shots used, a key ones are high and low angle shots. If the  woman is a level above the man and a low angle shot is used to look up at her, this shows her superiority, the same effect is given when there is a high angle shot down onto the man, this shows his lack of superiority.

Other shots used are- close ups to show someones reaction, establishing shots to show where the film is set, mid shots and long shots to show what the characters are wearing. These all set the scene and allow the viewer to be drawn into the film.



Lighting is a big thing in these sorts of films. In general there is little lighting, most blinds are down so no light is let in through windows, there is usually 1 light which highlights the characters face and makes lots of shadows to create tension in the film and add to the effect.



At the start of the film there is normally a voice over or titles to tell you what s going on, in Maltese Falcon there is no voice over but titles to tell the viewer what is happening. A voice over is effective as well as it allows us to have an insight into what the detective is actually thinking and to give us information fast (another way to do this is to have a picture of the front page of a newspaper).


In these films the costumes are dated and usually formal. They represent the upper class with the detective wearing a trilby hat, suit, and trench coat. The props used are normally things such as guns and other such things related to detectives. Most of the scenes are set in a office, or outside in a well known place such as a big city.


Music also plays a big part in Film Noir, in most scenes there is music in the background to create tension- in light hearted scenes the music is up beat whereas in more serious scenes the music is quite low, this adds to the mystery. When something big in the plot is revealed the music increases in tempo to put the viewer on edge.


The detective uses language such as 'darling' and 'sweetheart' to try and show superiority and give the woman innocence. It also shows the difference in gender roles at the time because if a man did that now he would be seen as being sexist. This adds to the whole narrative of the film and the idea that the men in this film should be seen as the better person. An English accent is also commonly used for the femme fatale as it is viewed as high class and a woman like this should be of that class.


In 'The Maltese Falcon' a famous film noir, all of these aspects are included. The detective- Sam Spade and his partner get a visit from a woman- the femme fatale, whom turns out to be a murderer and she gets sent to prison.


In the opening we see the 2 main characters so it immediately sets the scene and the plot, Establishing, mid and low angle shots as well as close ups. The costume, lighting, locations and props are all typical to film noir, the detective wears a suit and trench coat, it is in black and white with only one light used. There is a gun used and the start of the film is based in an office. Throughout the rest of the film the features mentioned above are all used, therefore showing all of the classic aspects of film noir.

Seven

At the start of the clip we see a mid shot of a man (Morgan freeman) in a small kitchen wearing a formal white shirt and black trousers, this allows us to see that he is obviously very professional and that due to the contrast in colours of his clothing there might be two sides to him (light and dark).
In the background we can hear the diegetic sound of people talking in the background- city life. So from the start we can see that the character more than likely has a busy lifestyle.


Morgan freeman's character then continues to put the rest of his suit on and then we see a close up of him picking up a police badge which leads us to believe that he is a New York or another major city police man. In these types of films this could either mean he is a good or bad character and the methodical way that the character picks up each item of clothing and each prop shows an air of mystery hinting that we do not know what kind of character he could be yet.


The scene then changes to a dead man lying of the floor, it is hard to distinguish what it is a first as the whole shot is very dark, as it has been throughout, this again adds danger and mystery, it is done to put the viewer on edge. The scene then changes again to the character walking down a corridor towards the camera. He is walking slowly, as if pacing himself and is wearing a hat and long cloak- the stereotyped image of an inspector. He continues to talk to another character out of shot, his voice is slow and he doesn't answer immediately showing that he wants to take in everything the other person is saying and doesn't need to be rushed. By wearing what he is he gives the viewer a sense of security as this is what a 'goodie' would look like.


He continues to say 'did the kid see it' which shows his caring side- he is unlike other 'cops' who may want to rush the job and don't seem to care, perhaps because he is older and has seen this type of thing a lot he doesn't understand why this sort of thing is happening. This idea is backed up when the other person replies saying 'we are all gonna be real glad when we get rid of you Summerset' and asks why he is always asking questions. This is contradictive as he has only asked one question, this shows the stereotype of American policemen.


Another man then half runs up some stairs in a mid shot, like Summerset he is wearing black and white, showing the link between them, he is a lot younger though so we can instantly see the difference between the two- the age difference and one is slow and methodical whereas the other is quick, as if rushed. The man is called 'mills' and is another detective-again putting them on the same level, mills has chewing gum in his mouth again showing his care free attitude.


The setting then changes and from a low angle shot we see the pair going outside. Although it is slightly lighter outside it is raining to emphasise the cold, down atmosphere. As they start walking Summerset almost pushes in front of Mills to show his dominance and power but in a subtle way.  As they continue to walk Mills bumps into a few people again showing that he is inexperienced and too rushed.


Summerset says to Mills 'I want you to look and I want you to listen' this is a command not a question so we can see who is in charge again, despite this they are both standing still and are at the same level showing that they are even/equal. Mills has his arms crossed which makes him look like a child who can't get his own way- he has a very childish nature and is probably to been like a boy in comparison to Summerset.


The scene changes again to Summerset lying in bed, the camera zooms in slightly so that we can see he was reading a newspaper- a sign of intellect and patience. The room is lit by a single lamp next to Summerset- which shines so that you can just see his face, this could connote that he is important - the light is shining on him. We then see a close up of him putting his glasses on the side and turning a metronome on. This could be to drown out the sounds of the city- it sounds calm and methodical like him and seems relaxing.


To begin the opening credits we can hear thunder and it immediately cuts into the music for the credits. Notebooks can be seen with writing all in them as wells as someone cutting of the top layer of skin on their finger. This seems to be the serial killer and from all of the snippets of video's we see that they are planning something meaning these aren't random murders but methodical giving a hint at what the plot could be. The main colours used are black and white but occasionally red to show blood or fear.

mission impossible

The clip opens with a fast tracking shot through mountains which seems to be the Grand Canyon. This allows the audience to see the surroundings so that they can make their own presumptions as to where the film is set. This also allows the viewer to see the potential danger as the mountains are vast and if anyone fell they would die, so from the start we can see danger showing what type of film it is.

 

The camera then zooms in on a man climbing up a mountain, by showing the size of the mountain vs the height of the man it gives us an indication as to how far the fall would be, again showing a hint of danger. Due to the fact that he is climbing a mountain we can summarize that the man is a thrill seeker, fitting into the idea that he is a spy. The fact that he is rock climbing in the Grand Canyon shows the characters capability.

 

There is diegetic sound of wind and birds which links in with the shot- a birds eye shot, the shot pans around the character which makes the viewer feel like he is being watched- this has been used to make it look like an eagle or another bird that you would find in this area is circling round him like he is the birds prey.

 

At this point a contrapuntal sound comes in- a very quick up beat piece of music that does not fit with the film opening because from what we have seen so far the film is very heavy and the character is in danger. The music gives the viewer a false sense of security and is used to give us an insight in the characters personality- fearless, upbeat and doesn’t see the danger in what he is doing.

 

The camera continues to pan around him until it finally comes to a stop when a close up shot of his whole body is shown, and then the camera zooms out, at this point the character is kneeling between two rocks and has his hands behind his back- making what he is doing look effortless, his clothing is brown and black making him fit in with the setting, this shows that he does this quite a lot and fits in well with his job.

 

The shot then changes to a close up of his feet on the rocks allowing the viewer to see again danger but also how easy it is for him to move about. The more into the scene we get. The more the tempo of the music increases making the viewer feel on edge and giving a foreboding feeling of what is going to happen.

 

As he I climbing even further up the rock the camera then zooms out showing the scale of the character against the rocks again, this also adds to the foreboding feeling as we begin to feel less at ease than before because we can see the drop again and we are reminded of the danger.

 

The music quietens as if about to stop when the character jumps from one rock to another in slow motion, this is a good representation of how the viewer and perhaps the character is feeling- like his/our hearts are about to stop in fear. After this there is a close up shot of the character sliding down the rock, this is shown at different angles and allows the viewer to see it from different perspectives. He then falls and is dangling from the rock with only one arm, this is near impossible so we link this to the fact that only he could do such a thing.

 

We get a close up of the determination on his face and then a mid shot as he turns his body to face the camera, his arms are spread out and he is in a position like Jesus on the cross showing that he is like a saviour in the film and we get an idea of what his character will be like in the films. We then see a close up of his face which again shows determination and we see that nothing fazes him. He then swings round and continues to go up the mountain and the camera follows him until he stands at the top and we see a 360 degree shot of him which shows that he has conquered the mountain and can conquer anything, he has a look of power and ownership.

 

After this we hear and then see a helicopter, we get a close up of a man standing in it, in black, which allows us to connect it to men in black.  He then holds up what looks like a gun and an object comes out of it, it looks like a bullet aimed for the character but instead of hitting it hits the rock. The music then changes to a slower more fitting sound so we can see that the main plot is beginning rather than the light hearted start of the film. The character then walks towards the ‘bullet’ and we see a close up of his face which is in disbelief and he is smiling showing that the helicopter and everything else is normal for him.

 

There is then a close up of the ‘bullet’ and a pair of glasses comes out of it, which the viewer is not expecting but the character evidently is, showing that this film is full of surprises and the character will more than likely know more than he lets on throughout the film. The glasses are not what you would expect this character to wear as they look to smart for what he is wearing but  when he does out them on he doesn’t look out of place in them, showing he can fit may characters.

 

Once he is wearing the glasses we see a point of view shot and a lot of shot reverse shots are used to show the characters reaction- he doesn’t have much of a reaction to what is being said as he seems to be concentrating. The dialogue used is in an English accent, because stereotypically English people are related to films such as these as they are seen to be in control and the idea of James Bond is in most spy films. When we see the character on his own with vast amount of land surrounding him he seems very isolated but his persona shows that he doesn’t care. Once the message is over the character speaks for the first time and his voice seems controlled and there is a hint of arrogance in what he saying, showing that he believes in himself, which is seen as good in films like this.

 

The music then goes into the theme tune and as he throws the glasses the opening sequence starts. Most of the shots in this are close ups of pictures of things like dragons. Everything is mainly red, black and gold colours showing danger, fear, and defiance. It looks as though a bomb is about to go off perhaps signifying that whatever his mission is he has little time to do it. The images of dragons and symbols like it show what the plot might be and it gives the viewer a chance to see weather they will like the film or not.