In this essay I will be looking at cinematography which is the camerawork and photography used in the making of films. The different types of cinematography used are to create suspense as well as tension and other conventional aspects found within thriller films. Additionally, the types of cinematography used can foreshadow what might happen later on in the film or can symbolise the characters inner emotions. Moreover, I will analyse a movie clip from the ending of the thriller Se7en released in 1995. I chose this clip as it involves a lot of different angles and camera shots to show the contradictory emotions and reactions each characters have in this scene.
Hand held camera is used when Brad Pitt is pacing around in anger, by using the hand held camera technique it creates rigid and jerky movements. This empathises to the audience how Brad's character David Mill's is angry and that he wants revenge on the serial killer. This relates to the thriller film genre as there is suspense and tension because we are unaware of what his reaction is going to be and what he is going to do next. Moreover, the audience can feel sympathy for David because it portrays his inner emotions making the audience know how he is feeling, as the audience are already aware of what has happened. Furthermore, hand held camera can also infer to the audience that Brad's character is not thinking straight at this time, this is because he has been provoked. Also, by the camera being unstable from the use of it being hand held it connotes to the audience that Davids character could also be mentally unstable. This is similar to how the camera is unstable at this point during the scene.
Deep focus shot is also another type of cinematography shot, in the thriller film Se7en it is used when David is holding the gun and is contemplating whether or not he should shoot the serial killer. This highlights David's facial expression that he is confused and angry about the situation while allowing the audience to still see the outline of his gun. In this part of the scene they could of used a close up however, they chose to use a deep focus instead. They chose this so that the audience can still see the gun and so they know what is going on. Additionally, it also foreshadows that someone is going to be shot by David and allows the audience to feel how the person at the other end of Davids gun must be feeling at this time. Therefore, this deep focus allows the audience to see David as a potential killer which creates suspense. Moreover, it shows the audience what he is feeling through the emotion displayed on his face as well as this it keeps the audience engaged as they want to know what he is going to do next. Also, this is conventional to the thriller genre as suspense is a main theme in thrillers.
A mid shot is used in this scene when William has just hit the serial killer. The mid shot demonstrates Williams sudden rage he has towards the serial killer, we know this due to his facial expression and the way he acts after this has occurred in the video. This is shocking for the audience to see as the audience does not expect William to act in this way after he was trying to calm down David and stop him from doing something irrational. This can relate to the thriller genre as rage and anger is a common theme in thrillers. Therefore, this shot is conventional to a thriller film. This type of shot also makes the audience feel as if they as if there as it is realistic and shows exactly how the character William is feeling.
This is a close up of the serial killers face, it is taken from when he is kneeling on the floor with David and William standing over him. This close up shows the audience the serial killers emotion and how he is feeling through his face. Additionally, it demonstrates to the audience that he is not letting what David is telling him get to him at that we is staying calm and not retaliating as he knows that David is going to kill him whether he reacts to Davids actions or not. This can be related to the thriller genre as it lets the audience focus on how the serial killer must be feeling at this time. Also, this use of close up creates suspense because although you can see he is calm he's actions are still hidden and the audience do not know what he is truly thinking and so this causes the theme of mystery as well as suspense which are both occurring theme's through out thriller films.
Here is an example of a low angle this happens when Morgan Freeman's character William Somerset has just witnessed David Mills shooting the serial killer and killing him. Although, William has his back to the camera and we can't see his reaction to what has just occurred we can see Davids facial expression and the way he is standing symbolises relief that the serial killer is dead and that he has now got his revenge back on him. Furthermore, this low angle implies to the audience not only that the serial killer is now on the floor dead but also that David and William had more power over the serial killer as they are shown as being tall and superior compared to the the killer who is being portrayed as small and weak. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it is shocking that David has shot the serial killer but also it creates suspense as to what it going to happen next which are two main themes through out thrillers. It also makes the audience feel as if Brad Pitts And Morgan Freemans characters might succeed in defeating the antagonist,the serial killer as they are portrayed as being superior.
To conclude, from analysing this thriller clip I can see that these shots and angles have been used to help in creating the theme of suspense throughout this scene. This has an impact of the audience as it draws them in to the film, making them want to know what is going to happen next. These types of angles and shots are effective in creating suspense, this is because we get to see the characters facial expression and see there body language from different view points which lets the audience know what each character must be feeling at going through at this time in the scene. Additionally, the hand held camera movements are most effective and they demonstrate how angry and irrational David was at this time in the scene. This is conventional to the thriller genre as it they help in building the theme of suspense which is a main theme through out all thrillers. Moreover, this work has inspired me to think of what type of angles and shots I want to use in my own thriller opening scene. For example, i will use a close up in my own thriller scene as i think this is one of the most effective ways in portraying the emotion of the character to the audience. Which will help in building up the theme of suspense, shock and surprise in my opening scene.
Final Scene From Se7en (1995)
This is a basic analysis of cinematography, stating the camera technique used and what it creates, but not elaborating on the relate enough, or providing a conclusion.
ReplyDeleteYou need to:
1) Make sure you relate back to genre conventions, and the audience's relationship with characters ALWAYS
2) Make sure you say 'the audience', instead of 'we'
3) Include a conclusion to explain how this research will help you plan what you will include within your own sequence and whether the cinematography used helped to create a conventional thriller sequence
4) Watch SPAG
You have provided a sound analysis of the camera techniques used, as you have included a conclusion staing how this research has helped you understand more about the impact of cinematography, as well as helped you consider what type of angles etc. you might use in your own sequence. You have related back to the audience and thriller genre to an extent, but need to do this more by thinking beyond the obvious and considering more of the impact and connotations behind each technique.
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