- Main character as femme fatale
- Femme fatale murders an employee from her husbands company
- Murders him to frame her husband because he's cheating on her
- Once she frames him and he's in jail she plans on getting the company
Monday 26 May 2014
Planning for assignment
So for my group has come up with the idea of:
Looking at movies with Film Noir
During class we watched a series of movies and video clips that had the features of Film Noir, the features include:
- lighting options
- light coming through shutters
- light focusing on a characters eyes
- a characters shadow
- misty - foggy environment
- focus on one particular aspect of something or someone
- using the aspects of Film Noir usually means that the timeline of the film or video clip is not in chronological order
Sunday 11 May 2014
Film Noir:
Film Examples:
Sunset Blvd.
The Letter
Double Indemnity
Visual Characteristics:
Long, irregular, verticle shadows cast upon the walls.
Elaborate "vanishing points" (points where characters enter or exit a scene)
Long plate glass windows with verticle blinds (that also sometimes serve to cast the shadows on the wall inside.
Narrative Characteristics:
sense of entrapment
complex plot
flashback
Sunset Blvd.
The Letter
Double Indemnity
Visual Characteristics:
Long, irregular, verticle shadows cast upon the walls.
Elaborate "vanishing points" (points where characters enter or exit a scene)
Long plate glass windows with verticle blinds (that also sometimes serve to cast the shadows on the wall inside.
Narrative Characteristics:
sense of entrapment
complex plot
flashback
Analysis Assignment Draft
The film that I’ve chosen to analyse is a clip from the movie ‘Chicago’ of six minutes and thirteen seconds. Throughout this document I will be analysing this clip using the elements of mise-en-scene, cinematography, sound and editing. Chicago was released in 2002 and was directed by Rob Marshall - an American theatre directer, film directer and choreographer. He is a six-time Tony Award nominee, Academy Award nominee, Golden-Globe nominee, a four-time Emmy Winner and his most noticed work is this 2002 Academy Award for Best Motion Picture, Chicago. The main genre of this film is Musical with the sub-genres being crime fiction, drama and comedy.
Mise-en-scene is one of the most important aspects to be used in the creation of any film and Marshall has filled all these aspects perfectly. The setting/location is a very important part of mise-en-scene because it sets up the whole scene. In the jail scene its dark and cold but clean and not cluttered, keeping the focus on the dialogue being said, because its a very important part that is needed to be known for the next scene. The press conference is outside, during the day, outside the courthouse, showing that it is avery serious matter and the main character is under some serious charges. The musical scene occurs in a theatre thats small and classical but is also used as if Richard Gere (Billy Flynn) were using as it as a puppet show, this meaning that he's conducting it all for the press to print what he wants to make ‘Roxie’ look innocent. The newspaper and black and white scene is on a TV but the newspaper is shown over New York City, then cuts to out the front of shops and then again to inside Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart) house where her crime was committed, this really helps relate back to the main genre and storyline of the film also showing how far back in time that this is set. Props/costumes, gives the audience an opinion of the characters and set and what it represents. In the musical scene it is used as a metaphor to get a point across so Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart) is wearing a blue dress with a wooden handle on the back that ‘Billy’ controls her with, skin coloured tights, blue heels, makeup and hair done for a performance on stage. Richard Gere (Billy Flynn) is wearing a flat hat with a stripy suit and bow tie, dress shoes, pocket watch and his makeup too is done for a stage performance. The props used were; journalists dressed like puppets behind ‘Roxie’ and ‘Billy’ on the stage with strings contacted to them, the chair ‘Roxie’ and ‘Billy’ sit on together, an audience and a spotlight on ‘Roxie’ and ‘Billy, proving further that the whole point of this scene is like putting on a show and performing. Lighting too is very important in this clip because in the main scene which is the musical scene Marshall uses many different tints of the lighting to change the mood without changing the environment. The lighting he used is reds & oranges to excite the ‘press’ and get them interested - becoming friendly with them, it then changes to blues & purples when explaining her story making her sound innocent - making the ‘press’ feel sorry for her and believe her. The final tint was a light pink - saying everything she did was understandable and alright. The style of acting obviously is very well done as it is a musical and the whole film is very theatrical so they fit it perfectly and I couldn't see it any differently. As well as these two aspects of mise-en-scene there is an importance of cinematography used throughout the clip.
Cinematography is where the director has positioned certain aspects in or in a particular place in the frame. In the scene that took place in the jail the aspects of cinematography are; the rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal) - this puts characters in places that an audience members eye would immediately go to if watching, the camera is low and canted to give a lay back and non-stressful environment, it is a medium shot only showing the waist up, its underexposed to show that they are in fact in a jail and its not a good place to be, it is perfectly in focus being crisp, clear and sharp. In the musical scene cinematography is very important which is why the director used the rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal) but in only some parts of the scene otherwise the main focus is dead centre so the audience can not be distracted from the main point. The camera is in a low position - almost as if the viewer was sitting in the audience, its a whole body shot, underexposed because they're in a theatre, in focus and there is a very deep depth of field. Not only is mise-en-scene and cinematography important but without sound and editing there would be nothing interesting about the film.
Editing and sound can make or break a film. The editing in this clip, in between or in the scenes is quick, clean cuts. The director also used slow editing - rhythmic editing, also including rhythmic matches throughout the clip. There is a use of temporal editing between the jail scene to the press conference, and a temporal editing montage used in the musical scene, there is visible editing through the whole clip. The sound in this clip when the characters are talking is very clear and well heard, with the quality of sound in the whole clip being excellent. The musical scene is done to perfection getting the message or metaphor its trying to get across easily, and the timing is perfect. All three of these elements are needed for a good quality, functional film.
‘Chicago’ a 2002 film that won many awards with the main genre of musical but also with sub-genres of; crime fiction, drama and comedy was spot on with their use of elements to contribute to a brilliantly written film. Every single aspect of this film in my opinion was done to perfection using every possible aspect to make sure its perfect. As it is seen earlier in this document every aspect complimented the genre’s film right where necessary, never missing a point or have anywhere to improve.
Mise-en-scene is one of the most important aspects to be used in the creation of any film and Marshall has filled all these aspects perfectly. The setting/location is a very important part of mise-en-scene because it sets up the whole scene. In the jail scene its dark and cold but clean and not cluttered, keeping the focus on the dialogue being said, because its a very important part that is needed to be known for the next scene. The press conference is outside, during the day, outside the courthouse, showing that it is avery serious matter and the main character is under some serious charges. The musical scene occurs in a theatre thats small and classical but is also used as if Richard Gere (Billy Flynn) were using as it as a puppet show, this meaning that he's conducting it all for the press to print what he wants to make ‘Roxie’ look innocent. The newspaper and black and white scene is on a TV but the newspaper is shown over New York City, then cuts to out the front of shops and then again to inside Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart) house where her crime was committed, this really helps relate back to the main genre and storyline of the film also showing how far back in time that this is set. Props/costumes, gives the audience an opinion of the characters and set and what it represents. In the musical scene it is used as a metaphor to get a point across so Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart) is wearing a blue dress with a wooden handle on the back that ‘Billy’ controls her with, skin coloured tights, blue heels, makeup and hair done for a performance on stage. Richard Gere (Billy Flynn) is wearing a flat hat with a stripy suit and bow tie, dress shoes, pocket watch and his makeup too is done for a stage performance. The props used were; journalists dressed like puppets behind ‘Roxie’ and ‘Billy’ on the stage with strings contacted to them, the chair ‘Roxie’ and ‘Billy’ sit on together, an audience and a spotlight on ‘Roxie’ and ‘Billy, proving further that the whole point of this scene is like putting on a show and performing. Lighting too is very important in this clip because in the main scene which is the musical scene Marshall uses many different tints of the lighting to change the mood without changing the environment. The lighting he used is reds & oranges to excite the ‘press’ and get them interested - becoming friendly with them, it then changes to blues & purples when explaining her story making her sound innocent - making the ‘press’ feel sorry for her and believe her. The final tint was a light pink - saying everything she did was understandable and alright. The style of acting obviously is very well done as it is a musical and the whole film is very theatrical so they fit it perfectly and I couldn't see it any differently. As well as these two aspects of mise-en-scene there is an importance of cinematography used throughout the clip.
Cinematography is where the director has positioned certain aspects in or in a particular place in the frame. In the scene that took place in the jail the aspects of cinematography are; the rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal) - this puts characters in places that an audience members eye would immediately go to if watching, the camera is low and canted to give a lay back and non-stressful environment, it is a medium shot only showing the waist up, its underexposed to show that they are in fact in a jail and its not a good place to be, it is perfectly in focus being crisp, clear and sharp. In the musical scene cinematography is very important which is why the director used the rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal) but in only some parts of the scene otherwise the main focus is dead centre so the audience can not be distracted from the main point. The camera is in a low position - almost as if the viewer was sitting in the audience, its a whole body shot, underexposed because they're in a theatre, in focus and there is a very deep depth of field. Not only is mise-en-scene and cinematography important but without sound and editing there would be nothing interesting about the film.
Editing and sound can make or break a film. The editing in this clip, in between or in the scenes is quick, clean cuts. The director also used slow editing - rhythmic editing, also including rhythmic matches throughout the clip. There is a use of temporal editing between the jail scene to the press conference, and a temporal editing montage used in the musical scene, there is visible editing through the whole clip. The sound in this clip when the characters are talking is very clear and well heard, with the quality of sound in the whole clip being excellent. The musical scene is done to perfection getting the message or metaphor its trying to get across easily, and the timing is perfect. All three of these elements are needed for a good quality, functional film.
‘Chicago’ a 2002 film that won many awards with the main genre of musical but also with sub-genres of; crime fiction, drama and comedy was spot on with their use of elements to contribute to a brilliantly written film. Every single aspect of this film in my opinion was done to perfection using every possible aspect to make sure its perfect. As it is seen earlier in this document every aspect complimented the genre’s film right where necessary, never missing a point or have anywhere to improve.
Analysis Assignment Planning
Research and Element Analysis
Film Title: Chicago
Director: Rob Marshall
Information about the director:
American theatre director
film director
choreographer
six-time Tony award nominee
Academy award nominee
Golden-Globe nominee
four-time Emmy winner
most noticed work is 2002 Academy award for Best Picture, Chicago
Genre Identification: Identify the film sequence’s major genre and relevant sub-genres:
Main Genre:
Musical
Sub-genres:
Crime Fiction
Drama
Comedy
Research and identify specific genre conventions relating to these genres
Mise-en-scene:
Style of Acting:
Jail:
Catherine Zeta Jones (Velma Kelly)
Fits role very well
slow and quiet talking / matter-of-factly
Press Conference:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
Attempting to speak up
wanted to do her own thing
Richard Gere (Billy Flynn)
Speaking over ‘Roxie’
Very aggressive in getting his way
Musical Scene:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
Fitting role very well
acting as if ‘Billy’ is controlling every word she says
Helpless
Richard Gere (Billy Flynn)
Controlling ‘Roxie’
making sure she says the right things to the ‘press’ so they believe the story he made up for her
making the ‘press’ feel sorry for her
him controlling the ‘press’ as a metaphor to show that they are believing the story and that will help her case
Christine Baranski (Mary Sunshine)
Her agreeing with the story convinces the rest of the ‘press’ to go along
friendly with Billy
Newspaper & Black and White Scene:
Narrator
talking about case and ‘Roxie’
getting everyone interested
Setting/Location:
Jail:
dark and cold
clean
not cluttered
Press conference:
outside
during day
outside courthouse
Musical Scene:
in a theatre
small
classical
also as used is if Richard Gere (Billy Flynn) were using as it as a puppet show
Newspaper & Black and White Scene:
news paper over new york city
outside/in shops
inside Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart) house where her crime was committed
Lighting:
Jail:
blues
light focusing on Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
intensity very focused on the cell bars and background
texture was light - no harsh edges
three point lighting is being used in this situation in the foreground of the frame
Press conference:
yellows
day lighting
low intensity
light texture - no harsh edges
a lot of side lighting but also three point lighting
Musical scene:
reds & oranges
blues & purples
pinks
night lighting - inside
high intensity - used on an introducer, actual body wasn't in the shot but the shadow was
heavy texture - harsh edges on faces
background lighting
foreground lighting
three point lighting
Props/Costumes:
Jail:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
jail uniform
book
Catherine Zeta Jones (Velma Kelly)
jail uniform
Press conference:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
long fur coat and blouse
hair and makeup done
Richard Gere (Billy Flynn)
suit with fur collar
hat
tie
Props:
podium with microphones
interviewers and journalists
cameras
Musical Scene:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
blue dress with wooden handle on the back
skin-coloured tights
blue heels
makeup and hair done to be on stage or performing
Richard Gere (Billy Flynn)
flat hat
stripy suit with bow tie
dress shoes and pocket watch
makeup done for a stage show
props:
‘journalists’ dress like puppets behind them on the stage
strings connected to them
chair that they sit on
audience
spotlight on them
Newspaper & Black and White Scene:
newspapers
flyers
dolls
wigs
people acting throughout the city
clothes and other possessions being sold
Cinematography:
Jail:
rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal)
low and canted camera position
medium shot
underexposure
in focus - crisp, sharp, clear
very deep depth of field
Press conference:
rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal)
high camera position
close-up
even amount of exposure
in focus - crisp, sharp, clear
shallow depth of field
from the perspective of a journalist
musical scene:
rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal) in only some parts of the scene otherwise the main focus is dead centre
low camera position
whole body shot
underexposed
in focus - crisp, sharp, clear
very deep depth of field
from the perspective of an audience member
Sound and editing:
Editing:
all done in cuts
slow editing - rhythmic editing
rhythmic matches also used throughout
temporal editing used between jail scene to press conference
temporal editing used - montage - musical scene
visible editing
Sound:
when talking very clear and well heard
quality of sound throughout the clip is excellent
musical scene done to perfection
timing right on
Film Title: Chicago
Director: Rob Marshall
Information about the director:
American theatre director
film director
choreographer
six-time Tony award nominee
Academy award nominee
Golden-Globe nominee
four-time Emmy winner
most noticed work is 2002 Academy award for Best Picture, Chicago
Genre Identification: Identify the film sequence’s major genre and relevant sub-genres:
Main Genre:
Musical
Sub-genres:
Crime Fiction
Drama
Comedy
Research and identify specific genre conventions relating to these genres
Mise-en-scene:
Style of Acting:
Jail:
Catherine Zeta Jones (Velma Kelly)
Fits role very well
slow and quiet talking / matter-of-factly
Press Conference:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
Attempting to speak up
wanted to do her own thing
Richard Gere (Billy Flynn)
Speaking over ‘Roxie’
Very aggressive in getting his way
Musical Scene:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
Fitting role very well
acting as if ‘Billy’ is controlling every word she says
Helpless
Richard Gere (Billy Flynn)
Controlling ‘Roxie’
making sure she says the right things to the ‘press’ so they believe the story he made up for her
making the ‘press’ feel sorry for her
him controlling the ‘press’ as a metaphor to show that they are believing the story and that will help her case
Christine Baranski (Mary Sunshine)
Her agreeing with the story convinces the rest of the ‘press’ to go along
friendly with Billy
Newspaper & Black and White Scene:
Narrator
talking about case and ‘Roxie’
getting everyone interested
Setting/Location:
Jail:
dark and cold
clean
not cluttered
Press conference:
outside
during day
outside courthouse
Musical Scene:
in a theatre
small
classical
also as used is if Richard Gere (Billy Flynn) were using as it as a puppet show
Newspaper & Black and White Scene:
news paper over new york city
outside/in shops
inside Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart) house where her crime was committed
Lighting:
Jail:
blues
light focusing on Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
intensity very focused on the cell bars and background
texture was light - no harsh edges
three point lighting is being used in this situation in the foreground of the frame
Press conference:
yellows
day lighting
low intensity
light texture - no harsh edges
a lot of side lighting but also three point lighting
Musical scene:
reds & oranges
blues & purples
pinks
night lighting - inside
high intensity - used on an introducer, actual body wasn't in the shot but the shadow was
heavy texture - harsh edges on faces
background lighting
foreground lighting
three point lighting
Props/Costumes:
Jail:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
jail uniform
book
Catherine Zeta Jones (Velma Kelly)
jail uniform
Press conference:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
long fur coat and blouse
hair and makeup done
Richard Gere (Billy Flynn)
suit with fur collar
hat
tie
Props:
podium with microphones
interviewers and journalists
cameras
Musical Scene:
Renee Zellweger (Roxie Hart)
blue dress with wooden handle on the back
skin-coloured tights
blue heels
makeup and hair done to be on stage or performing
Richard Gere (Billy Flynn)
flat hat
stripy suit with bow tie
dress shoes and pocket watch
makeup done for a stage show
props:
‘journalists’ dress like puppets behind them on the stage
strings connected to them
chair that they sit on
audience
spotlight on them
Newspaper & Black and White Scene:
newspapers
flyers
dolls
wigs
people acting throughout the city
clothes and other possessions being sold
Cinematography:
Jail:
rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal)
low and canted camera position
medium shot
underexposure
in focus - crisp, sharp, clear
very deep depth of field
Press conference:
rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal)
high camera position
close-up
even amount of exposure
in focus - crisp, sharp, clear
shallow depth of field
from the perspective of a journalist
musical scene:
rule of thirds used (vertical and horizontal) in only some parts of the scene otherwise the main focus is dead centre
low camera position
whole body shot
underexposed
in focus - crisp, sharp, clear
very deep depth of field
from the perspective of an audience member
Sound and editing:
Editing:
all done in cuts
slow editing - rhythmic editing
rhythmic matches also used throughout
temporal editing used between jail scene to press conference
temporal editing used - montage - musical scene
visible editing
Sound:
when talking very clear and well heard
quality of sound throughout the clip is excellent
musical scene done to perfection
timing right on
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